29 March 2016

Believe in Commas?

"I know some people with mo' money then we'll ever see...they don't believe in Karma, but they believe in commas."
Lecrae in "Confe$$ions"

Money has many slaves in this world, and the queue of the willing seems to stretch on forever.  The thing about the love of money is no matter how much money you have, it never seems to scratch the itch.  The varnish of bigger and better ultimately loses its appeal.  Like superheros lining up to have a go at lifting mighty Thor's hammer after watching others fail, people still covet a chance at great wealth.  Millions are spent on the lottery every day as people dream about a few more commas in their bank account.  The trouble with being a slave to the love of money is you cannot buy your freedom.

Now there is nothing wrong with money in itself, and many would point out much good can be accomplished by it.  I agree, but there is no question it has also cast down many wounded, destroyed lives through addictions and excess, fuels sex slavery and the drug industry, and worst still can become a worthless substitute for God.  Paul warned in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  There is also nothing wrong with being what some would deem rich, but the desire for riches exposes a lack of contentment with what God has given.  Jesus compared hearts ensnared by the deceitfulness of riches as unfruitful ground choked with thorns.  God's good seed is unfruitful even when it falls on that soil.

You do not need to have money to desire money.  Pressing financial needs affect all, even Christians. Many missionaries can be brought to a point of despair for lack of funds, feeling like their God-given calling is being hampered or on hold because of a lack of money.  Trusting God in the area of money is something all people who follow Christ must learn.  The waiting time can be a growing time - not the accumulation of money in an account, but the strengthening of faith and resolve which will later be invaluable in the field.  If God has called you, He will provide for your every need in His time and in His way.

The truth of God's provision is illustrated when Jesus and Peter did not have the money for the Temple tax, but their needs were miraculously supplied when Peter was obedient to Christ to go fishing with a line an a hook (Matthew 17:27).  Every other time in scripture Peter fished with nets.  It seems to be a much more effective way of catching fish, right?  But as Jesus predicted, the first fish Peter brought up with a hook had a shekel in its mouth - enough for both Peter and Jesus.  Many times Peter cast out nets all night long without a single fish, and much effort can be expended in trying to gain financial support without result.  Even if we gain support at first, who knows for how long it will continue?  When Peter was obedient to the directives of Jesus, Peter experienced more gain than he could contain alone.  Whether Paul received financial gifts, worked in a trade to support his ministry, or chained in prison, he learned in all circumstances to be content in God.

Now don't hijack this to be a formula for financial gain.  After His resurrection, Jesus bid His disciples to cast their nets on the other side.  They caught so many large fish their nets were breaking.  When the fish were brought to the shore, Jesus told them to bring their catch to Him.  They were laid out and counted:  there were an amazing 153 large fish, and yet their nets had not broken.  As they were eating of the fish supplied by Jesus (He had some fish already on the coals before they brought their catch), John 21:15 says, "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs."  It may seem a bit strange for Jesus to ask Peter if he loved him more than fish, but Jesus was making an important point.  Fishing was Peter's career, and fish were his primary source of food and income.  It was a question straight to the heart:  did Peter love Jesus more than a career, money, food, or family he sought to support?  It is a fair question for us to answer as well.

It is in Jesus, not in commas or a great catch, where we find lasting security, satisfaction, and salvation.  While the world dreams of winning big, we discover in Christ more wealth than can be contained for eternity.

27 March 2016

The Dividing, Uniting Sword

God endowed King Solomon with wisdom like no other king before or after him.  His wisdom was demonstrated with an incident which involved two harlots who came before him for judgment over a baby.  They lived in the same house together, and their case was a sad one.  They both gave birth to sons, and one of the infants was tragically smothered during the night.  One woman accused the other of switching the dead baby with her living one, and the other denied it.  In those days there was no DNA testing, and being only three days old perhaps the babies were quite similar in appearance and behaviour.  Who was the real mother of the boy both claimed as their own?

1 Kings 3:24-28 reads, "Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other." 26 Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!" But the other said, "Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him." 27 So the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother." 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice."  In his wisdom, King Solomon used the threat of a sword dividing a living child in two to unite a child with his rightful mother.  The genuine mother had compassion for her son - willing to give him up forever to spare his life - whilst the baby-swapping culprit was exposed by her coldness.  The sword which divides can also be used to unite.

Solomon is known for his great wisdom, and Jesus has become wisdom for all who believe (1 Cor. 1:30-31).  Jesus is the one of whom John the Baptist said baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Matthew 3:11-12 says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  John contrasted the living water of the Holy Spirit with eternal fires of judgment.  The example of the harvest is a picture of salvation and damnation:  the farmer brings the good grain into the storehouse, but the worthless chaff is thrown into the fire.  Jesus is a righteous Judge, and uses His Word like a sword to divide believers from the unbelievers.  His Word is like a fire that separates the dross from precious metal, like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces.

To take the illustration of the sword further, consider the impact of the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:34-38:  "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."  The word of God is called the sword of the Spirit (Eph, 6:17) which is able to divide bone from marrow and judges the intent of the heart (Heb. 4:12).  The sword Jesus brings has the capacity to divide men from their family, but is able to unite a man with his Father in heaven.  The scriptures divide people concerning their hearts and belief, but a man whose heart has been pierced by the Word, repents, and believes is adopted into the family of God.

God is brilliant, isn't He?  Only He can use a sword to divide and unite at the same time!  The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  The Bible is a two-edged sword which brings life to those who believe and condemns all who refuse to trust or heed it.

23 March 2016

Rejoice in the LORD Always

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4

How good it is for us to thank and praise God!  Paul exhorted believers to rejoice in the LORD always, and he wrote this whilst incarcerated.  The Christian life is one of faith, not feelings.  I imagine Paul did not always feel like rejoicing in the LORD because of his circumstances, but he urged all to rejoice in the LORD always.  No matter what season of life or the struggles we face, God remains good and praiseworthy.  Jesus gives fullness of joy to all who trust in Him.  Walking in the joy of the LORD is done by faith regardless of how we feel.

We can be so fixed on learning more about God or desirous to receive something from Him we can forget to simply rejoice in Him.  It is easy in this weak frame to forget of God's wondrous works and promises.  Yet how our souls soar when we praise God for being God!  When David's felt there was but a step between him and death, praising God gave his heart wings.  So great was his joy he wrote in Psalm 34:1-4, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."  We can rejoice in David's deliverance by God, knowing He remains a Deliverer for all who trust Him today.

Rejoice in the LORD always!  Thank Him and praise Him!  All who have encountered the presence of God respond with praise.  This morning I read Luke 1 and was blessed by how Zacharias, Elizabeth, and Mary all praised God and rejoiced in His goodness.  We can rejoice in God's goodness to them and can also rejoice that God's grace and goodness is extended to us as well.  Those who were barren God caused to give birth, and He would was dead God has raised in everlasting glory.  Hear the words of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1-2:  "And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 "No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God."  Let us rejoice in the LORD together!

22 March 2016

Big Government and Jesus

It is a pattern which extends through all history:  government and leaders once celebrated by the people becomes increasingly corrupt.  The overthrow of a government does not always usher in the peace and prosperity the people desire.  When the Jews demanded Samuel give them a king and monarchy rather than a theocracy, the decision cost them dearly when Saul took their children, forced them to fight his battles, and oppressed the innocent.  Ask the people of Cambodia who celebrated the end of a civil war when the victorious Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh clothed in black wielding machine guns.  What seemed a day of hope ended up ushering in the darkest season in the nation's history.  The evil which seemed to have been stamped out rose from the ashes with greater force and brutality.

This tendency towards oppression and corruption by leaders was evident to King Solomon thousands of years ago.  He wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:8:   "If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them."  Scandals, perversion of justice, and shades of oppression are evident all over the world today.  Leaders of totalitarian regimes are exposed for their opulent lifestyles at the expense of impoverished citizens. Shady back room deals and the sway of lobbyist groups in democratic nations are often reported publicly, and it is safe to assume more goes on than the public knows.  This should be no surprise in any form of government overseen by men.  When officials are tasked to report to higher officials and God is not the one to whom the top men and women look, there will always be a disconnect from love, justice, judgment, and equity.

God is the ruler over all, and even oppressive regimes are allowed by God for His purposes.  Sometimes big government is a consequence of sin as it is written in Proverbs 28:2:  "Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; but by a man of understanding and knowledge right will be prolonged."  The more a land is corrupted by sin, the more people rise up to govern.  People are understandably leery of monarchies because in a sense all trust and hope is placed in a single person and his progeny to do what is right.  I believe the world is looking for that one person who has the answers, can unite people peacefully, protect innocent people, and provide freedom so all can thrive.  A day will come when people will be so fed up with the corruption in the political systems and place their hopes on one man to unite and save the world.  The Bible speaks of this person as the Beast, or the anti-christ.  He will be the wrong choice, for he is not the man of understanding and knowledge Proverbs 28:2 speaks of.  It speaks of none other than Jesus Christ, the KING OF KINGS and LORD over all, the Prince of Peace who has an everlasting kingdom.

Our eyes are designed for seeing and our ears for hearing.  This seems obvious to me.  It occurred to me the other day though our knees are useful for bending our legs, there is one thing they are designed to enable all men to do:  to bow.  All men must bow before something.  We bow the knee to philosophy, a worldview, to science, our beliefs concerning morality, and God.  Those people waving banners and going door to door to canvass for their preferred candidates or party have bowed the knee to the one they desire to rule.  Some refuse to bow to others and will only bow to themselves.  Human beings were created to bow.  There is something in us which longs to worship.  We see an amazing performance and we bow and wave arms in praise declaring, "We're not worthy!"  We Christians are called to choose to bow our knees to no one but Jesus Christ.  Philippians 2:9-11 says, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Jesus was a King when He came to earth as a servant of all, and He was willing to give His life on the cross so all who follow Him can know God, be forgiven, and live forever.

Before whom or what do you bow?  It doesn't matter if you are a communist, socialist, monarchist, democratic, utopian, or anarchist:  you bow before something because you must.  Man cannot be greater than his ideals.  The only man who transcended humanity, vain philosophy, and hypocritical morality is Jesus Christ because as God He is the One before whom all ought to and ultimately will bow.  He submitted to His Father and heaven, and all who love the Father before Christ must bow (John 14:7).  Every ruler of this world must bow to someone, for not even high officials are exempt.  As the day of celebrating Christ's resurrection draws near, let us bow before Him in worship and praise.

20 March 2016

Turning To God

From my limited perspective in Australia, it seems the entire world stares horrified at the presidential race in the United States.  It is a nation which appears more fractured and divided than ever, and it is clear that no person - no matter how savvy or capable - will be able to bind or heal these wounds.  If I was tasked to describe each of the leading candidates with one word, positive possibilities do not immediately spring to mind.  These candidates should not be blamed for polarising America, for this race has only brought the septic boil which had already been festering to the surface.  Believing a person, political party, or even "the people" have the capacity to create positive change by effort alone without the aid of God is like a man thinking he is able to stop an earthquake with his hands.  The word "futile" comes to mind.

Should Christians vote as led by the Spirit?  Absolutely.  But we are to engage in political process recognising our hope is in God alone, not in government, politicians, or a majority vote.  Unless the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain who build it (Ps. 127:1).  In Genesis 11 when all people banded together to build a tower to make a name for themselves in disobedience to God, He confounded their languages and immediately scattered them.  What God told the nation Israel in Jeremiah 18:6-10 is relevant for all nations for all time:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it."  Nebuchadnezzar was a mighty king of a world empire, but it was nothing for God to raise him up or cast him down (Daniel 2:20-22).  One would hope "a nation under God" would lay this to heart.

So what should be our response to the antics of politicians and their rabid supporters?  One temptation is to retreat from the fray and with grim faces stockpile food, supplies, and ammunition for the apocalypse.  Any such retreat would be a silly, shortsighted gesture.  When God spoke of the Day of the LORD, a day of severe future judgment, He gave His people commands we would do well to consider.  Joel 2:11-13 reads, "The LORD gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it? 12 "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."  Turning away from politics is of little consequence if we do not turn to the LORD!  It was foolish for people to think they could prevent or escape the judgment of God, and refusal to vote will not prevent a candidate you do not support from being voted into office.  One person alone has no control over the future.  But every man with a contrite, humble heart has an audience before the living God.  God's people are called to turn to Him first themselves.  Don't bother bringing a nation before God until you are first willing to humble yourself before Him for your own sin.  He invites all to return to Him with broken hearts over the condition of this fractured world and divided nations.  Are they not all as soft clay in His hand?  If we harden our hearts and put our confidence in men, we are truly without hope.

Our God is a great God, the One we should trust and seek in times of peace or conflict, in seasons of abundance or lack.  He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.  His mercies are new every morning for great is His faithfulness.  God chooses to use everyday people to accomplish His will, not just paid professionals and politicians.  The focus of the media and people seems to be fixed upon a few politicians, but God is looking somewhere else entirely in the second part of Isaiah 66:2:  "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."  The world holds its breath to see who will be the next President of the United States, but believers can breathe easy though our hearts break over the sick condition of a nation who looks to a man or woman rather than God for hope and help.  We do not need to fear regardless who is elected to office, what laws are passed, or if current freedoms are outlawed by a totalitarian regime.  Let us turn to God with all our hearts, fear Him, and look to Him for our bright future.  He's the only One who can save us.

17 March 2016

Remorse Isn't Repentance

God has placed in every person a conscience, a moral faculty which aids us in knowing right from wrong.  The fact we deem certain actions or behaviour immoral shows humans are moral beings.  Without breaking a law we can feel guilty about what we have said or done which is contrary to our own principles.  Though the conscience of everyone develops according to beliefs, even if we were governed by conscience alone all people embrace a system of right and wrong.  As important the knowledge of right and wrong is, knowledge of doing wrong is insufficient to put things right.  Feelings of guilt are not enough to atone for our sin, regardless of how prolonged or profound they might be.  Without repentance there can be no forgiveness, no matter how awful we feel.

One biblical example which comes to mind is Judas, the man who betrayed an innocent man named Jesus to His death.  He secretly sought out the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver.  From that time he waited for an opportunity to deliver Jesus to them.  After Judas led the Jewish leaders to Jesus to arrest him, even a man who had been possessed with Satan felt bad about what he had done.  Matthew 27:3-5 reads, "Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself."  It is evident Judas experienced a massive weight of guilt for betraying innocent blood.  He went to the temple, perhaps hoping the feelings of guilt would subside if he unloaded his sinful wages.  When they refused, he threw the silver at them.  Apparently offloading the silver did nothing to ease his suffering, for so consumed was Judas by guilt he committed suicide by hanging himself.

On the night Jesus was betrayed he said to all His disciples in Matthew 26:24, "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."  Jesus pronounced woe upon Judas, knowing he would not repent.  A smattering of details are scattered throughout the Gospels which show Judas followed Jesus in word but was not a genuine follower.  He certainly had a working conscience, for Judas called Jesus "Rabbi" when the other disciples called him "Lord" (Matthew 26:19-25)  He held a distinct position among the disciples as the treasurer but was a hypocrite and thief (John 12:4-6).  God is absolutely consistent:  all who humble themselves and repent of their sins will be forgiven - and this offer was extended to Judas as well.  Instead of repenting Judas was consumed in guilt and chose to violently end his own life, a fitting end for a man poisoned with sin.

Esau is another classic case of a man who rejected repentance.  When he was swindled out of his blessing by Jacob, he was upset and rightly so.  Yet instead of accepting blame for giving away his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew, Esau felt he had been wronged when it was his own fault.  He nursed a murderous grudge against his brother, and Jacob was not safe until he moved far away.  Hebrews 12:14-17 says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears."  Esau felt really bad and shed many tears, but bad feelings did nothing to restore Esau's relationship with God or his brother.  Punishing himself with condemnation or the guilt of others against him did nothing to cleanse Esau of sin.

We can labour under the misunderstanding our bad feelings of guilt for wrongs are sufficient payment before man and God.  The Jesuits used to practice self-flagellation as pennance for their sins, and people do the same today with their feelings of guilt and self-loathing.  When our wrongs are brought to remembrance we may cry out, "Haven't I suffered enough?  When will my pain ever end?"  These bad feelings can bring us to despair and even turn to anger and resentment.  Continually beating ourselves up over our mistakes or condemning ourselves is never the path God intends.  The truth is, we are already condemned by sin.  Esau was condemned before he plotted to kill Jacob, and Judas was condemned before he betrayed Jesus.  We all must repent and be born again through the Gospel to be forgiven and receive atonement for our sin.  We must recognise Jesus has suffered for us, and we must own our wrongs without any self-pity.  It is necessary for us to own our sin, like when David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba and Urijah.  Repentance should be accompanied with contrition and feelings of sorrow and by grace we experience restoration before a holy, just God.  Remorse or bad feelings aren't repentance but should be evident in our repenting.

Feelings of regret and remorse are useful in causing us to examine our hearts and lead us to repent before God.  Once we have truly owned and repented of a sin we are truly free.  We do not need to condemn or punish ourselves any more - as if Christ's blood is not effectual to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Those who repent are no longer slaves to sin, feeling the need to cover our tracks, justify ourselves, or play the hypocrite.  With a clear conscience before God and man we do not need to defend ourselves, for Christ has forgiven us and set us free.  David's sin was ever before him, but it didn't need to wound him any more.  God brought healing to his soul and restoration before the righteous Judge.  Psalm 51:6-8 reads, "Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice."  Remorse leads only to guilt, but repentance ultimately leads to rejoicing.

16 March 2016

Astonishing Doctrine of Jesus

All Christians have the sober responsibility to rightly divide the Word of truth.  It is important we observe what the text plainly says before we rush to explain what it means.  It is also critical we do not parrot what we have heard but do our best to stay true to the text with our emphasis.  It is a common mistake to transfer assumptions based upon hearsay or our opinions into passages and provide the wrong impression.  One passage where this is commonly done is when Jesus on two occasions cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem.

People have used this passage to justify being angry when the passage never explicitly says Jesus was.  The harmonising scriptural accounts of the Gospels portray Jesus observing the illicit trade in the Temple, fashioning a scourge of small chords, and then driving out the animals and overturning tables.  Those who say Jesus must have been angry (maybe they would have!) might be the same people who assume a parent must be fueled with anger when administering discipline with a paddle to the seat of his/her disobedient child.  This is unfounded.  To say Jesus was angry when He drove out the money changers is conjecture which goes beyond the text.  Looking at Jesus through the lens of our flesh is a huge mistake.

The emphasis and revelation of the text is Jesus taught the people who were in the Temple, quoting from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.  As I read the account of Mark, I noticed the emphasis in a fresh way today I never had before.  The richness of the Bible expands the understanding of those who are willing and patient to observe.  One would have thought the actions of Jesus made the biggest impact, but it was His teaching.  As Jesus held His ground in the Temple and forbade people to carry wares through the courtyard, Mark 11:17-18 says, "Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching."

How clear is this?  Most Christians are blown away that Jesus would make a whip and drive sellers and their animals out of the Temple, but the scribes, chief priests, and people were amazed by His doctrine.  The text says the scribes and chief priests heard what He was saying.  They wanted to kill Him - not primarily because their hope of gain was gone - but because of His doctrine which implicated them.  Jesus first quoted from Isaiah 56, and after talking about His house as a house of prayer for all nations the passage said in Isaiah 56:10-11:  "His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory."  Ouch.  No doubt the words of Jesus cut like a sword through the hearts of the scribes and priests, implicated as blind watchmen, dumb and greedy dogs who could not understand.  No wonder they were upset!

Jesus made a "den of thieves" reference spoken by the prophet Jeremiah.  Hear and feel the full force of His words in Jeremiah 7:1-11, a pronouncement from God against them:  "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!' " 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in these lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.' 5 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, 7 then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. 8 "Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10 and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'? 11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," says the LORD."  The scribes and priests oppressed the people for monetary gain, for money was their god.  These statements angered the rulers and amazed the people, for there stood a man who spoke as God.

Jesus, being God, had the authority to say such things.  To the scribes and priests these were fighting words.  They were infuriated and sought how they might destroy Him.  Jesus spoke the truth in love with a clear, strong voice and the rulers feared Him.  What Jesus did and said all has great significance, and let us be sure we put aside our own assumptions so we can observe and understand what the Bible says!

15 March 2016

Seeing Jesus As Your Way

For many people, happiness and joy is always out of reach.  We hope changed circumstances in the future will make things better, but quite often when we arrive at our destination we face another set of problems.  Like a man looking for an oasis we stumble from mirage to mirage, exhausted and increasingly disillusioned.  We swallow our fantasies and grow sick when they never deliver what they promised us.  Man looks for relief, rest, contentment, fulfillment, and satisfaction, and yet to reach for them is grasping for the wind.

When I worked at a church in the United States, people would often come off the street asking for something.  People would ask for food, money for petrol, bus tokens, to use the phone, for a lift, to leave their car in our carpark overnight, for counselling, anything.  I remember one man in particular who asked for money to fix the transmission on his van.  During my initial conversation with him, it seemed like his broken transmission was the only thing which concerned him.  If only he had his transmission fixed, his life would be fixed to.  I came to find out the reason why the transmission was so important was because this individual was living in his van.  There were a lot of broken things in the man's life; the transmission happened to be his biggest priority at the moment.  When it was fixed, something immediately sprang up to fill the void.

We are all the same.  When the poisonous "If only..." thinking takes hold on our thinking, be warned.  "If only I was out of this relationship..." "If only I had this better job..." "If only people respected me..." "If only I could have a decent holiday..."  "If only" thinking never ends and is never satisfied!  It is reasonable for us to take note of physical pain and treat it medically, even as it is wise to maintain our vehicles so they are able to safely transport us.  But unless we learn to be content in God in our current situation - despite our pain or difficulties - we will not be content even when our dreams come true.  There will be something else waiting to rob you of your joy and contentment.  It is only when we recognise Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him is our only means of being made whole that we can experience true joy and peace which cannot be taken from us.

This truth is illustrated when a blind man called out to Jesus as He came to Jericho.  Jesus stopped and bid the man be called to him.  The man rushed over to Jesus, and Jesus asked him what he desired.  The man said, "Lord, that I might receive my sight."  Mark 10:52 reads, "Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road."  It is telling that after Jesus opened the man's eyes, he used them to follow Jesus, the One who had made him whole.  I believe with eyes of faith this man understood.  His eyes would likely grow dim with age and one day close permanently in death.  So often we are without contentment and ask God to change our circumstances.  In the instances when He does, our tendency is to immediately ask for the next thing instead of following Him today in joyful thanksgiving.  Perhaps God is gracious and good to allow difficult trials so we will realise we need Him and not just something from Him.  The blind man who Jesus made whole teaches all who are willing to see.  Jesus said "Go your way," and the man did:  Jesus was his way, truth, and life.

14 March 2016

Hearing and Pleasing God

"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
Colossians 3:20

After Jesus explained the Parable of the Sower to His disciples, He warned them:  "Take heed therefore how you hear." (Luke 8:18)  Though all in the parable heard the Word of God, only those who received the Word and put it into practice were fruitful.  The hearts represented by the footpath, rocky soil, and thorny ground all heard the same words but they were prevented from having the intended effect.  Only with humble and repentant hearts can we receive God's truth and walk in obedience.

Recently the worship team at our church has played Chris Tomlin's song "Good Good Father."  It is a sweet song which I know ministers to people who need a reminder that God is a good Father to those born again through faith in Jesus Christ.  Not all people have had a loving, close relationship with their biological dads.  It is comforting to know God loves us despite our sins and the offer of His unfailing love is not dependent upon our performance.  Yet we have a responsibility to abide in God's love, and we do this through keeping His commands (John 15:10).  If we only hear what is being said without comprehending the implications, we will never receive or experience all the joy, peace, and comfort on offer by God.

There is one line of the song which reminds me of the importance to take heed how I hear.  In the song it speaks of hearing a tender whisper of love in the night and then comes the phrase:  "you tell me that you're pleased and that I'm never alone."  Be careful how you hear!  These are true biblical statements when understood in their proper context.  Nothing can separate me from the love of God, but should I choose a path of disobedience I cannot walk in His love.  It does not please God when His children embrace sin.  Jesus says He will never leave or forsake me, but that does not mean I cannot willfully depart from the presence of God or grieve His Spirit.  I do not believe it was the intent of the songwriter to offer comfort to people who are far from God, but if not heard correctly it only offers false hope.

As Colossians 3:20 says, there are things we can do which are pleasing to God.  This suggests we can also do things which are not pleasing to God.  For those who are in doubt, the Bible plainly states this.  The writer of Hebrews quoted from Habakkuk 2:3-4 in Hebrews 10:38:  "Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."   It is not just the apostate or unregenerate who do not please God, but those who live according the flesh.  Romans 8:8 says, "So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."  Though Christians have the Holy Spirit, we live in a body of flesh and can walk according to the flesh.  That is one reason why we sin.  Should we walk in the flesh or unbelief as Christians, it is not pleasing to God.  God still loves us and we are His children even when we make mistakes, but He is certainly not pleased with us when we choose sin.

When the prodigal son demanded his inheritance from his father in the parable, he took his money and spent it on himself.  All that time whilst he was living "high on the hog" he remained his father's son and was loved by him.  Yet he separated himself from his father and thus his love.  He ended up destitute and his only companions were pigs he fed.  Do you think it pleased his father when his son took his money and ran away to satisfy his lusts?  No!  But do you think the father was pleased when his son returned home?  Absolutely!  He rushed to embrace his son, lavished him with gifts, and gladly received him back into his home with celebration.  It was not the "tender whisper of love in the night" which caused the son to return home, but the realisation he had been a great fool in going his own way.  He was humbled, brought to repentance, and was able to receive his father's love, even as people must repent and come to God in faith to receive His love.  How sad it would be for a person living in sin to be comforted in his disobedience that God unconditionally takes pleasure in him and justify his departure from God!  Take heed how you hear!

Let us do the things which are well-pleasing in God's sight.  Love and pleasure are not the same thing.  Psalm 147:11 says, "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."  This word "pleasure" in the Strong's Concordance means, "to be pleased with, satisfy, and accept."  God is a good, good Father to His children, and we ought to ensure we are good children in whom He is well-pleased.

12 March 2016

What Did God Say?

We are so blessed to have the written words of God.  The scriptures can introduce man into a growing relationship with God and illuminate the path of righteousness.  In our world of memes, cliches, and catch-phrases, God's Word can be tweaked to suit our views and distort His meaning.  Satan sought to undermine the words of God from the very beginning with Eve, questioning what He had said.  Had Eve held to exactly what God said without suspiciously and selfishly wondering why He gave the command, she would have been on firm ground.

People have a way of influencing others.  It is not just the people "in authority" who have this power:  even friends and acquaintances can possess profound influence.  Take David for instance, a man who had been anointed as king.  When on the run from murderous king Saul, David had an opportunity to avenge himself.  King Saul entered a cave alone where David and his men were hiding.  It was a vulnerable moment for Saul, but equally dangerous for David because of the temptation set before him by his loyal men.  1 Samuel 24:4 says, "Then the men of David said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.' " And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe."  I have searched the scriptures, but in no place has God ever said such a thing.  God had promised to deliver David from his enemies, yet never for the purpose of doing to others "as it seems good to you."  David wisely refused to obey the urging of his friends.

The followers of Jesus also did their best to influence Him - not that they were successful!  After Jesus told his disciples that He must suffer many things, be rejected, arrested, and crucified, Peter rebuked Him.  Mark 8:33 reads, "But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."  Jesus had decided to follow the will of the Father, not to live life according to the wisdom of men.  We too must exercise this same discernment afforded all Christians by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  God has provided His Word so we can test the spirits to see if they are of God.  Like our mouths taste food, so our ears weigh the words to see if they match what God has said.  False balances are an abomination to the LORD, and our words must be carefully weighed as well.  All claims of those who say they speak for God should agree with God's Word, for He will not contradict Himself.

11 March 2016

The Great Timekeeper

I hold to a belief which is becoming increasingly rare in the world and the church:  the literal interpretation of the Genesis account that God created the heavens and the earth.  Beliefs concerning the origin of the world and the age of the earth are considered by many "not essential for salvation," and therefore many people figure it an issue of small importance.  Whether we take God at His word or not is always a massive issue, regardless if salvation is at stake.  Great errors have entered the church when people have strayed from the literal interpretation of scripture and inserted man's ideas.  The idea of Darwinian evolution and billions of years never came from the scripture.  I tell you truly:  if you cannot take literally the Genesis account of creation, you will also diverge from literal interpretations down the line when it suits you.  It is a slippery slope many have fallen down and found themselves unable to stand again.

As we read through Genesis 1 with Tribe (year 11 through young adults) at Calvary Chapel Sydney, it struck me that time began before the heavenly bodies were created.  Genesis 1:3-5 says, "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day."  It is fitting God would cause light to shine in the beginning, for in Him is no darkness.  God made a division between the Day and Night without the movement of heavenly bodies.  The last part of verse five is critical:  "So evening and morning were the first day."  I find it intriguing the Jews mark the beginning of a new day with the setting of the sun, in the evening.  This mention of evening and morning of the first day reveals time had begun.  Without the need of the Sun, Moon, or rotation of the earth, the 24-hour day was governed by God from the beginning.

This is an amazing truth.  For people who believe our ordered universe, galaxy, and planet just happened to come into being without design or the power of God, the common assumption would be time on earth is determined by the alignment of the heavenly bodies and the rotation of the earth.  I believe the scripture refutes this.  I submit to you that time is not dictated by heavenly bodies at all, but the God who created time gave them to us so we could mark time.  This is a monumental difference.  Into a void where there was no earth God caused the light to shine and immediately the clock began running, so to speak.  God separated the light from the darkness, divided the waters above and below in the earth's atmosphere, and divided the water from the dry land.  He caused the earth to bring forth seed bearing herbs and fruit trees, all after their own kind.  And yes, He did this in a matter of days because He is God.   It wasn't until the fourth day that God created the Sun, Moon, and stars.

Genesis 1:14-19 says, "Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day."  God is responsible for time, not the heavenly bodies.  God gave us the Sun and Moon to indicate signs, seasons, days, and years.  He also created the stars - more stars than can be numbered.  Leading astronomers in the Middle Ages reckoned there were over a thousand stars, but with the advent of the telescope that number was exponentially increased!  Psalm 147:4-5 says of my great God who made the stars, "He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. 5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."

This world will keep on spinning as long as the God who made it intends.  God made earth the central point of Creation, and made man created in His own image as the primary focus.  There were 21 generations from Adam to Abraham, 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David to the Jewish captivity in Babylon, and 14 generations from the captivity in Babylon to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:17, Luke 3:34-38).  These human markers are signposts of time indicating thousands, not millions of years have elapsed since God's voice boomed:  "Let there be light!"  Many generations have passed since Christ walked on this earth, yet there remains some to this day who have not bowed the knee to the tyranny of modern scientific interpretation which claims it knows better than God's Word.  What we see today is not so much a clash of science and religion, but contrasting views of worldly and biblical worldviews which impact how we interpret the same data.  Everyone agrees this world has a beginning and it must have an end.  The more Christians who stand on the firm foundation of God's Word without shame the better.  Let's decide to shine the light of God's Word on this world - even if they don't comprehend it.

09 March 2016

Freedom for Slaves

Psalm 119 is known for being by far the longest chapter in the Bible, but it also ought to be recognised for its praise of God's Law and righteous precepts.  In nearly every single verse the psalmist magnifies God's laws, statutes, precepts, commandments, and testimonies.  It is ironic a common complaint about Christianity is all the restrictive rules and requirements, yet the psalmist saw things completely differently.  In God's Law the psalmist saw freedom, not a prison.  A man who follows his own heart is enslaved to his own lust, yet the man who seeks God's counsel to walk in His judgment finds himself free from the power of sin.

Psalm 119:45 says, "And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts."  Even under the covenant of Law it was a time of freedom for God's people.  In the United States Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers wrote all men were endowed by their Creator with "unalienable rights."  Some of those listed were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  It is God who has created man and is the source of all life, He is a Deliverer and Saviour, and how happy are those who trust in Him!  This pursuit of happiness is only satisfied as we seek God and walk in His ways.  Happiness cannot be permanently obtained for any earthly price, yet happy are the people whose God is the LORD (Ps. 144:15).  The man who receives Christ and gives himself to God has assurance of happiness the world cannot know.

Jesus came to earth to set the captives free from all bondage and deliver souls from death.  He said in John 8:36, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  The world has hijacked "freedom" to mean "the right to do whatever you want."  Freedom of speech means you can say whatever you see fit without fear of correction or retribution.  We have seen the results of this sort of freedom:  it creates people who are tyrannized by their own flesh.  People can only be free when they willingly place themselves under the sovereign rule of God.  For the first time when we are born again through faith in Jesus we breathe the free air of the Holy Spirit, knowing we are no longer a slave to self, sin, Satan, or the opinions of others.  God's righteous judgments provide clarity of thought and light for every step.  Those enslaved to sin claim to be free but aren't going anywhere:  for all their freedoms, their chains remain.  Jesus is the only King who breaks all chains and sets captives free.

08 March 2016

Jesus Can and Does

Things which are impossible with men are possible for God.  This is a theme repeated throughout the scriptures, and this message is served in a concentrated dose as the life of Christ is followed in the Gospels.  As I read Mark 5 this morning, I was struck with the three major interactions in the chapter:  the man possessed with demons, the woman with the flow of blood for 12 years, and the girl who died of illness.  All three of these people faced impossible situations.

Verse 3 said no man could bind the demon possessed man, even with chains.  The man was already bound with fierce demonic beings, and all hope of the man being cured was gone.  Even the attempts of the men of the city to subdue the man were futile.  Yet after a brief encounter with Jesus, the demons were cast out, the man was clothed, and sat down before Jesus in right mind.  Jesus bid him to go back to his family and tell others of the wonderful things He had done for him.  The free man boldly obeyed, and all who heard him were amazed.

Verses 25-26 speak of a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years.  Despite spending all her money on treatments, her illness only grew worse.  When she heard Jesus was passing by she said to herself, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment, I will be made well."  She managed to reach Him in the crowd, and it was as she believed:  she felt the bleeding stop.  Jesus knew the healing had taken place and asked, "Who touched me?"  She fell down at His feet, confessed her illness, and she had been healed by touching the clothing of Christ before all the people.  He told her to go in peace, affirmed her faith had saved her, and she had been made whole.

Verse 35 tells us a man came to Jairus and reported the death of his daughter, the one he was leading Jesus to heal.  Why trouble the teacher any more? the man asked.  Her death made any hope for healing disappear.  But Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  Even in the face of death, Jesus was filled with hope and the ability to save.  He put out the mourners who scorned Him, took the girl's hand in His own and said, "Little girl, I say to you arise."  Much to the astonishment of her parents, the girl sat up, spoke, and began to walk around.  Powerful demons, incurable illness, and even death are defeated by Jesus Christ.

A word from Jesus Christ is enough to create the world, drive out demons, and raise the dead.  The woman with the flow of blood touched Jesus and was healed, and Jesus held the hand of the dead girl and brought her back to life.  Jesus has the power to make what is impossible possible.  He brings hope to the hopeless.  He is not like a celebrity, who signs an autograph one day and shrugs off fans the next.  Jesus is the only King who had time for everyone, went with people who invited Him to their homes, cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead.  He touched and was willing to be touched.  He gave of Himself wholly and His life of sacrifice was culminated on Calvary.  Will you bring your impossible situations to Jesus today?  Will you seek after Him with all your heart so you might touch only the hem of His garment in humble faith?  He invites us to come to Him with our unquenchable thirst, our hunger which cannot be satisfied, so that we might partake of Him and discover His abundant life.  Let us obey Jesus and testify of the great things He has done for us! 

06 March 2016

The Reasonable Appetite

It is interesting how different people's standards of right and wrong can be.  While there is great diversity among personal beliefs, there are sins which are exceedingly sinful on a universal scale:  murder, sexual molestation of children, forced slavery, and theft.  My point is not about these sins in particular, but how there are certain actions the conscience of men deems wrong.  The value of having God's Law held forth in the Bible is to instruct us concerning God's standard of righteousness according to which all men will be someday judged.  Believe it or not, but this is the Bible's claim.  It is for our benefit to know our errors before the Day of Judgment so we can submit a plea bargain and receive the Gospel, having repented and trusted in Christ.

It struck me this morning like never before how God chose a most simple thing - the denial of eating from a particular tree - as the only possible sin after Adam was created,  We cannot know sin apart from the Law, and Adam was given one command:  do not eat from the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden.  It was that simple.  There was no limitation of how much fruit he could eat from the other trees in the garden, but he was strictly forbidden from eating from a tree which would kill him!  Undeterred, Adam sought to satisfy his fleshly appetites and ate from the tree with Eve his wife.  This teaches us man from the very beginning was unable to curb his carnal desires.  Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, man had to sin.  Adam was unable to stop himself from feeding his flesh and ignored something as simple as keeping to a divine diet given by God for his good.  Adam sinned by eating what would kill him, and every sin since has only brought sorrow and death with it.

I do not believe it is a coincidence Jesus instituted the new covenant in His blood by eating bread and drinking of wine during the Passover meal.  Jesus commanded all His disciples to eat and drink together - not to fill their bellies or quench their dry mouths - but to show they found their satisfaction in Christ alone.  They were commanded not only to eat the Lord's Supper that night only but to remember Jesus, His sacrifice, and to proclaim His death until He returned through receiving Communion.  The food and drink of Jesus was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work (John 4:34).  Those who are followers of Christ are no longer to be slaves to our fleshly appetites, but to heed and obey God's Word.  Jesus taught man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.  Adam made the mistake of following the dictates of self, and as Christians we can make the same mistake too.  There is no possible way we can deny ourselves and follow Jesus in relationship unless we are born again.  Adam's nature has led to separation from God and death every time, but being born again through faith in Christ makes us new creations called to be living sacrifices unto God.

People can maintain a high view of their own morality by simply not practicing what they consider to be "major" sins.  We are all like gamblers in that sense; we prefer to remember when we have won or the potential of winning and do not fix our minds on how much we have lost.  Our faults are easily forgotten.  But how about in the little things?  Have we ever eaten too much and strayed into gluttony?  Have we ever enjoyed too much drink and found ourselves under the influence of alcohol?  Have we feasted our eyes on what we know is wrong or uttered words which even we regretted later because they were sharp and vengeful?  The truth is, we cannot help ourselves in the matter of taming our flesh.  It must be crucified with Christ for us to experience the victory He has granted to all who trust in Him.  Let us not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but to humble ourselves before God in repentance over what the world would term "little things" or "non-issues."  It is only in this place of repentance we can be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God.  Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Gospel Inspiration

The Gospel of Jesus Christ should impact the way we live our lives.  When I face circumstances which are potentially frustrating and difficult, considering what Jesus has done for me helps me to meet issues with genuine joy.  Thinking about all Christ has freely given me transforms my perspective and aids me to show His love to others.

In our discipleship course we have been talking about seeing our lives through the lens of the Gospel, and keeping this in mind has been vital in me keeping a biblical perspective.  No matter how tired I am, inconvenienced I feel, or the depth of self-sacrifice is too great, Jesus has done infinitely greater for me.  What did Jesus do after a long day of ministry and people continued to seek Him?  He kept on ministering with grace and love.  Was it convenient for Him to leave the glory of heaven, put on human flesh, and take the form of a servant of all?  Is there any pain I have experienced like Christ endured when He was rejected, betrayed, scorned, and crucified?  Not a chance.  Jesus freely chose to be separated from the Father for my sin and it wasn't fair or fun.  It was loving, good, and merciful, but it was the most unfair thing in a human sense ever experienced on earth.  And Jesus still did it rejoicing, for He always did the will of the Father.

The next time you catch yourself feeling inconvenienced, annoyed, frustrated, or feeling resentment because people have been inconsiderate towards you, consider what Jesus has endured for your sake.  Instead of being preoccupied with what loving and serving other people is costing you, remember and praise God that Jesus freely paid a higher cost for your sake joyfully and without complaint.  When we weigh all we have freely received from God, we are able to freely give.  May our lives be a testimony of the Gospel lived out for all to see that God may be glorified for the power of His love and grace.

03 March 2016

Jesus Christ = Mind Blown

During a lively discussion last night at the discipleship course, I was amazed afresh by the power of Jesus Christ.  Sifting through even a chapter describing the character and teachings of Christ will blow the mind of an earnest seeker of truth.  No matter how well a person combs through a passage of the living Word of God, the same objective truth comes to people in different ways.  I love how God is able to reveal Himself to all people who seek Him.  Instead of our unique personalities or viewpoints hindering us from understanding, the Holy Spirit is able to lend our individual perceptions to shed light on a passage for all to appreciate.

After Jesus arrived in Nain after the long hike from Capernaum, he saw the sad scene of a dead man being carried out of the city, the only son of a grieving widow.  A large crowd had gathered, for much of the city was there to support the woman.  Luke 7:13 says, "When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Jesus knew the woman and her great loss, and He had compassion on her.  On the surface it may seem inconsiderate to command a weeping widow to stop crying, but Jesus knew what He would do.  Luke 7:14 continues:  "Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  Jesus spoke to the dead man as if he was alive and could hear him.  Was this some sort of hideous prank?  And then the unthinkable happened in Luke 7:15:  "So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother."  At the command of Jesus, the dead man miraculously rose to life before many witnesses.  Having compassion on widow and talking to a deceased man is one thing, but through this resurrection Jesus revealed power and authority no living man who witnessed it could deny.  Death separates, but Jesus unites and restores.

Later in the chapter, Jesus accepted an invitation from a Pharisee to share a meal with him.  While Jesus was eating, a woman well-known by the locals for her life of sin poured an expensive box of perfume on Jesus, washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them clean with her hair.  The Pharisee who invited Jesus was completely disgusted with this display and judged Jesus to be a religious fraud.  Luke 7:39  reads, "Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  The Pharisee thought to himself if Jesus was indeed a holy man of God, He would not allow this woman to touch Him.  But the next verse says something amazing:  Luke 7:40 says, "And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it."  The verse says, "Jesus answered..."  Jesus answered the silent thoughts of the judgmental Pharisee.  Are you kidding me?  It is one thing to know if someone is a sinner, but another thing entirely to answer the thoughts of another person and to respond with wise insight.

These sort of events were commonplace in the life of Jesus during His pilgrimage on earth.  He showed compassion on others, spoke to dead people and raised them to life, and knowingly responded to the thoughts and hearts of men.  Jesus lives today and still raises the dead to life and speaks to the hearts of all who seek Him and listen.  I believe God has something to say to me and you today if we will heed Him.  In Christ there is everlasting hope and life.  Jesus created the mind to reason, and it is nothing for Him to change a mind, heart, or life.  He stands at the door and knocks, desiring to dine with anyone who will receive Him.  That will be a dinner conversation to remember!

01 March 2016

God and Democracy

It should be a sobering truth:  God gives people what they ask for.  Our gracious God loves and gives.  Despite this, the tendency of men is to look to other men for help, guidance, and provision in this life.  If man does not see God performing as he likes, he is glad to swap to new leadership.  At a time where many in the United States are voting for their preferred party or presidential candidates, concerns are mounting.  From what I see from afar in Australia, there seems to be no presidential candidate on offer who can span the chasm which currently separates parties and people, wealthy and poor, businesses and individuals.  A nation which in the past championed itself as "one nation under God" is as fractured, angry, disillusioned, apathetic, and without hope as I have ever seen.  When we look to men, women, a political party, or even the "power of the people" to save us, it is only a matter of time before we realise we have already lost.

After God brought His beloved people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and established them in the Promised Land, it was only a matter of time before He was deemed an unfit ruler by the masses.  The men of Israel demanded, "We want a king to rule over us like the other nations."  For a long time people had looked to Samuel the prophet and judge as God's mouthpiece, and it was clear to them his sons were not cut from the same righteous cloth.  They were wicked, accepted bribes, and perverted judgment.  Samuel was angry with the request of the people for a king, but brought their demand before God in prayer.  Some might assume God would also be angry and destroy all who opposed and criticised His rule, but He did no such thing.  1 Samuel 8:7-9 reads, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day--with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."  God told Samuel not to take personally the rejection of God's rule, for it was not Samuel who had been rejected.  This followed a clear pattern of behaviour consistent with God's people from the beginning. Yet God would not give the people their desire before they had first been carefully warned about what to expect from their future king.

God provided specific details about what to expect from their new king and his governance, a stark contrast to God's divine rule.  God had given, but this king would take and take.  Ironically, Saul spoke more about what he would give - fields, vineyards, and position - than what he would take! (1 Samuel 22:7)  Consider the warning given the people in 1 Samuel 8:11-18:  "And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day."  That last line should send a shiver through the most hearty soul.  It was their choice to have a king to rule, but they had no idea how much it would cost them.  Their foolish choice to reject God would silence their complaints to God and they would remain oppressed by the king they desired.  God is gracious and good to provide government which He has been established to punish evildoers and to reward those who do well (1 Peter 2:13-14).  Because men are to be governed by God and Christians have agreed to God as their King, we are called to submit to governors as an extension of His rule.

As much as people in a democratic process want to believe they hold the key to power, remember it is God who lifts up kings and deposes them (Daniel 2:21).  Though men and women run for public office, God maintains sovereignty over all nations.  God spoke in Jeremiah 18:7-10, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it."  The dearth of candidates in recent elections does not surprise me, for the people have spoken and God has listened.  If people are intent to cast off His rule, His righteous judgments, and deny His authority, we are free to appoint those we choose.  Many times God judged his people by their godless rulers, and God's ways have not changed.  Hearken unto God, the One who tells us what manner of rulers we choose for ourselves.  King Saul began in humility and the fear of the LORD, but finished his course as a madman who consulted witches for guidance.  He died in battle, but not by the hand of the enemy:  in a wounded panic he fell on his own sword.  So it will be for all who refuse to submit to God's rule and look unto men for hope and help.  Such will be pierced through with many sorrows.  Without God no nation is able to stand.  The warning of Samuel is relevant today for those who place their trust in men:  do not expect deliverance from God in heaven until there is first contrition and repentance.  God is our only hope, and in God the wise trust.