Marching Forth!

Knowledge of the future has wide appeal.  This was evident when a work mate of mine who showed virtually no interest in living a godly life shared his fascination with the "red heifer" spoken of in Numbers 19 .  I found this most strange.  "You may think I don't know about things like that," he said with a twinkle in his eye.  "I've been reading about it.  You gotta have a red heifer to have worship in the temple in Jerusalem.  They be looking for that heifer!"  I didn't know what to think.  He clearly felt as if he had obtained privileged information and was even smug about it. He was correct a red heifer is required under the Law, though he didn't say anything about what practical function it served - that the ashes were used for making the water of separation to cleanse people who had come in contact with a dead body.  To him, the discovery of a red heifer was a sign of the culmination of end time events, that when a young cow which m...

In the Law God made provision if people or the nation sinned unintentionally.  When it came to the attention of the guilty party they were directed to offer sacrifices for the atonement of sin.  I was surprised to read in the passage immediately following there was a situation, however, when no sacrifice was acceptable for sin.  In contrast  Numbers 15:30-31 reads, " But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD , and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the LORD , and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him ."  The word "presumptuously" conveys the motive of the person who committed the offence before God and could be described as self-exalted, haughty, and wilfully promoting sin. If it was determined someone knew the Law and flaunted it intentionally, proudly and defiantl...

When I am faced with difficult situations, I find many times a resulting conflict within me.  It is often trying times in life which bring the conflict of the flesh and Spirit of a Christian to the surface.  If I could reduce the inner conflict to the lowest denominator, it would be the decision to walk in God's love or not:  will I choose to love the person according to the love I have received through faith in Jesus, or will I do what I think is best?  The love of God provides wisdom and understanding in how to navigate all the decisions of this life ( Phil. 1:9-11 ) In a delightful discussion this morning a mate of mine commented how the shield of faith goes before us to block fiery darts so they don't find their mark.  This is a rich insight.  When we walk in the Spirit, remaining vigilant to be led by God in our thoughts, words, and deeds, attacks and insults can be easily extinguished by the shield of faith.  But there will always be situati...

An intriguing balance exists as we embrace our role in God's work.  It is very easy to find ourselves tending to think God's plan and the fulfilment of His promises depends on us.  When we tilt this balance to our efforts, it exposes our limitations.  It makes obeying God an imposing task because we recognise we are being asked to do something we cannot. An example of this is seen after God miraculously brought His people out of Egypt.  He promised to give them an exceedingly good land, one "flowing with milk and honey."  God had given the land to His people, but there was one big problem (at least to people who did not trust God):  the land was inhabited by strong people in fortified cities.  God had given the land to His people, and their role was to enter in and possess the land.  Naturally the people thought it fell to them to "take" the land, and did not believe they had the ability to defeat their giant foes.  They compared their str...

For the discipleship course I am leading, we typically read through a chapter or two in a Gospel.  With the current course we are reading through the book of Matthew, and I enjoy how themes flow and build through each chapter.  For instance, one chapter may emphasise the power of Jesus over everything - over sin, every sickness, disease, demon, and even a raging sea!  I had a bit of an epiphany as I read through Matthew 22 recently, and it is wonderful God has ordained these moments for those who trust in Him.  The revelation of God is not only for prophets or pastors, but for every Christian who seeks the LORD and trembles at His Word. Matthew 22 begins with Jesus speaking a parable to multitudes which included priests and Pharisees.  He spoke of a king who invited people to the wedding of his son.  Those who were initially invited made light of the invitation and others persecuted and killed his messengers.  Enraged, the king destroyed the mu...

I was struck last night with the greatness of God's love.  No matter how "loving" we imagine ourselves to be, our love is nothing compared to God's infinite love.  Love is the greatest fruit of the Spirit.  Unless the Holy Spirit lives within and empowers us to love, loving and forgiving others is impossible.  It is good for us to recognise our lack and ability to love so we might earnestly walk in the love of God, not just the best efforts of our flesh. Jesus said to His disciples in  John 15:12-13 , " This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends ."  Laying down your life for your friends is the greatest demonstration humanly possible, and Jesus did this and more too.  He laid down His life on Calvary for friends, enemies, sinners.  What I find phenomenal about Jesus is He loved people He knew hated Him and would continue to do so - ...

" The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him ." Acts 10:36-38 One marker of Christ's life was He " went about doing good ."  Doing good is much more profitable than avoiding evil because it is an intentional act.  Of course forsaking sin is a good thing, but the Christian walk is far more than sin-avoidance but faith displayed by obedience to God.  More than a list of Laws to obey, following Jesus is a grateful response to the love extended to us through Jesus. Today as I taught through Nehemiah 5 , it struck me there is a definite and important difference between saying, "You'r...

I have had the privilege of witnessing the last days of many loved ones depart this world.  From those experiences memories are tucked away, carefully chronicled without effort.  It is strange the things I remember vividly, the small details which likely go unnoticed.  I remember how my granddad looked as he lay in his bed in a coma.  I remember an uncle in his living room in hospital bed, being given a sip of beer.  I can still see the tears in the eyes of my grandma when my dad and I visited her and I told her I loved and appreciated her.  People approach the end of their lives differently.  I have realised everyone must face death all by themselves, even when surrounded by those who love them. In times of grief and sadness, superficial things fade away.  In an instant we are given clarity about what really matters.  I remember going into my aunt's home to visit her before she passed.  Her health had been poor for some time and it w...

Whether a person is buying or renting a house, the old adage rings true:  "Location, location, location!"  In Sydney the closer a house is to the city the more valuable it is.  Small studios command millions of dollars because of their proximity to the Sydney CBD (Central Business District).  The location dictates the value of a property more than the quality of construction, the square footage, or how new the development is.  Location is the primary commodity.  A postage-stamp lot in the city translates to more dollars than acres in the bush. There is a similar principle concerning "location" in the Bible.  People quote scripture to verify their claims, but the immediate context will show how valuable and trustworthy an interpretation is.  Respecting the context of a passage helps us to know more than what was said but to whom and  why it was said.  This has enormous implications in understanding and applying the text to our lives...

On my way home yesterday from church I dropped by the shops to pick up ingredients needed for dinner.  After making purchases I briskly walked by the flower shop on the corner where the florists were already at work.  A phrase written in chalk on a sandwich board caught my eye which read, " Bloom where you are planted ."  This was wise advice from an unexpected source.  The LORD used this phrase to encourage me to keep serving and living for God right where I am. Countless people endure each day with dissatisfaction and even bitterness because of disillusionment.  The seasons of waiting can drag on.  Unfulfilled longings and desires of their hearts hold them back from complete surrender and joy in Jesus today.  For some it is the longing to be married, to be recognised or respected by family, to have children, or to be a pastor or missionary.  In my Christian walk there have been times I felt it hard to commit fully to the present because of a ...

" Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon ." Nehemiah 4:17 The workers who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem were armed and prepared to fend off the attacks of their enemies.  It is from this passage C.H. Spurgeon titled his magazine, "The Sword and the Trowel."  He used this verse as an allegorical picture of the role of a Christian in the first issue:  " We would ply the Trowel with untiring hand for the building up of Jerusalem's dilapidated walls, and wield the Sword with vigour and valour against the enemies of the truth ." (Spurgeon, C. H. The Sword and the Trowel . Vol. 1. Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. Print. pg. 2)  The Bible is called the "Sword of the Spirit," and we ought to always have it at hand in our labours and during conflicts. The clear priorities of the workmen in this passage are usef...

I'm always interested in ways to share the truth of God and the scripture in new ways.  It is one thing to discuss doctrine with believers, but another thing to engage unbelieving minds and encourage people to logically consider facts which supports faith in God.  In his book Tortured for Christ , Richard Wurmbrand shared an interesting perspective from a Christian who reasoned with an atheist to consider the reality of life after death: " Suppose that we could speak with an embryo in his mother's womb and that you would tell him that the embryonic life is only a short one after which follows a real, long life.  What would the embryo answer?  He would say just what you atheists answer to us, when we speak to you about paradise and hell.  He would say that the life in the mother's womb is the only one and that everything else is religious foolishness.  But if the embryo could think, he would say to himself, 'Here arms grow on me.  I do not need ...

A few times lately I have heard a term among Christians which seems to be in vogue.  Years ago "relevance" was a big point of emphasis, and the buzzword these days is being a "broken person."  I heard a person stress the importance of broken people ministering to broken people.  Then a few days later I read on a church website, " We are a church full of imperfect, broken people and we are saving a seat for you ."  The impression provided by this sentence is that those who attend will not be judged for their faults.  Whilst it is true the church is filled with "broken" people, I want to gather with people Christ has made whole.  No person or gathering of believers can claim perfection, but we can offer wholeness from Christ for all who are broken because we have experienced this firsthand. It is good to create an environment where all people are accepted and valued regardless of their faults.  It used to be a thing to be "broken" for ...

Discouragement and disappointments have often been experienced by God's faithful people.  In the depths of suffering many wondered why they had ever been born!  Consider this lament of the prophet Jeremiah in  Jeremiah 20:14-18 :  " Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! 15 Let the man be cursed w ho brought news to my father, saying, "A male child has been born to you!"  m aking him very glad. 16 And let that man be like the cities w hich the LORD overthrew, and did not relent;  l et him hear the cry in the morning  a nd the shouting at noon, 17 because he did not kill me from the womb, t hat my mother might have been my grave,  a nd her womb always enlarged with me. 18 Why did I come forth from the womb to see labour and sorrow, t hat my days should be consumed with shame ?" When we are faced with sorrow and grief, these words might be our own as we cry out to a God we know e...

When I was a kid I enjoyed watching "Yan Can Cook."  He was always so happy, positive, and the food he made looked simply delicious.  The ingredients of his dishes were typically easily available because he encouraged people to cook for themselves.  That makes sense, right?  It's fun to see contestants on "Iron Chef" cooking with truffles, foie gras, and shark fin, but who can source or afford these sorts of delicacies?  I have found food tastes better when you are hungry, and even more so when you have laboured over it yourself.  Putting effort into a dish that turns out beautiful is satisfying on many levels! C.H. Spurgeon compared the preparation of a sermon to preparing a delicious meal.  With the saturation of TV cooking shows and the internet which have revolutionised cooking by providing access to techniques and recipes for everyone, I sometimes wonder if the same thing has happened with sermons.  When I was a kid there was one radio s...

I love reading through the Law sprinkled in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  The commands and prohibitions may be tedious to some, but I find them fascinating and illuminating.  There are commands which impact all parts of the lives of God's people, from the clothes they wore to the food they ate.  There were boundaries placed on their sex lives and how they should treat foreigners.  The more I read the more it emphasises how God wanted to impact every aspect of life, for He dwelt among them.  I am convinced God did not load His people with commands because He is a nitpicky, grousing, or sensitive Being who is easily offended.  He gave them commands because without His guidance His people would bear no resemblance to God's holy and righteous character or practice whatsoever. This is the place where the children of Israel lost the plot, thinking they could be made righteous through keeping a Law which could not save.  The Law could only ...

" When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10  And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God ." Leviticus 19:9-10 In the Law, God made provisions for the widow and fatherless, for the poor and the stranger.  It was forbidden for the Israelites to harvest all the crops which grew in their field so those without an inheritance could gather food for their survival.  All the crops produced in their fields was a gift of God, and He gave them enough to spare.  God was a generous Father for  His people, and through them He would bless the fatherless.  Those whose husbands had died would find practical needs met by God through the people He had betrothed to Himself.  The children of Israel had experienced poverty as foreigners in...

Yesterday during the discipleship course I am leading we discussed a message delivered by a precious sister in Christ, Corrie Ten Boom.  Once when she was being interrogated in the concentration camp Ravensbruck about her "misdeeds," her judge showed her "dangerous" papers which contained damning evidence of her efforts to save Jews.  When she realised the papers had particulars of people she loved and wanted to protect, she said she had nothing to say about them.  She was elated when the man opened the grate and threw all the papers into the stove.  All the handwriting which condemned her and others was gone without a trace, and how grateful she was. Later in her life, Corrie spoke with her biographer about a troubling incident which filled her with resentment and bitterness - which did not involved the Gestapo or concentration camps - but a mean thing done by fellow Christians.  When the biographer gently probed concerning how the situation had been resolve...