God's Glory in the Woods

"We - or at least I - shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest.  At best, our faith and reason will tell us that He is adorable, but we shall not have found Him so, nor have "tasted and seen."  Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy.  These pure and spontaneous pleasures are "patches of Godlight" in the woods of our experience."

C.S. Lewis (excerpt from The Quotable Lewis page 35)

From the sunlight mountaintop and the low valley, the LORD remains praiseworthy.  His glory is displayed for all to see through His wondrous creation.  Whilst some deify creation as notable in itself, those who know the most high God find reasons to praise Him in all He has made:  from the vastness of space to the intricate designs and behaviour in human, animal, and plant life, God is glorified.

It is not often people in Sydney have the opportunity to sit under the vast black canopy of stars without the sound and light pollution of the city, but I highly encourage it.  This week I had a chance to visit a rustic property (Andy's Flat) near Cooma in New South Wales, a five-hour drive south.  One thing I love about Australia is the abundance of wildlife in the city, suburbs, or country.  We have a resident eastern blue-tongue lizard who lives under our deck, and many varieties of birds.  At the property near Cooma there were wild goats and hogs, kangaroo, wallabies, echidnas, foxes, platypus, and more.  People scan the heavens looking for a sign of life, and this earth is crammed with it.

Check out some picture from the trip below, enjoy the sights of Andy's flat, and praise God who created such beauty!

Forget "What If"

Every day brings with it countless possibilities.  When facing decisions, it is easy to be confounded by many "what ifs" and be paralysed with uncertainty.  What we do not know or cannot predict can hinder us from doing what we know is right.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon addressed this issue.  There are many things which are completely out of our control.  Some things will happen without our permission, like trees which fall in a storm.  What's done is done, but God graciously grants us the power to make good and profitable decisions moving forward.  Though we cannot determine everything which could happen, we should not be hindered in doing what is right.  The king of Israel wrote in Ecclesiastes 11:4-6:  "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. ⁵ As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything. ⁶ In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good."

Solomon makes the point the farmer sows even if a blowing wind makes an even spread of seed more difficult, and he will not allow the threat of rain to leave good crops unharvested.  There are a lot of things we don't understand or comprehend, like how wind is generated or how a baby develops in the womb of the mother.  We don't understand how God accomplishes many such wonders:  should our lack of understanding hinder us from trusting God in areas of our lives we mistakenly believe we have control?  When we make our ability to understand the barometer for making decisions, we lean on our own understanding and fall short of God's grace.

I like the exhortation Solomon gives here:  the farmer may not be able to explain how a baby is formed in the womb of its mother, but there is a time and season for doing things he knows is right.  In the morning he should sow his seed, and in the evening he should do work, eat food, and take rest as is appropriate for the season.  No farmer can predict if a crop will be lean or bountiful, but if he does not sow he will not have a crop at all!  A farmer may not be able to explain how oats germinate or what causes deciduous trees to drop their leaves, but he is to make the most of every season.  Never allow the "what ifs" to paralyse us from doing the good works God has called us to do.

Unto You Is Born

This morning at the Calvary Chapel Sydney Christmas service we read through portions of the Gospel of Luke.  A part of the talk which spoke to me is when the angel delivered the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ to shepherds in the fields as they watched their flocks by night.

Surrounded with the glory of God, the angel proclaimed in Luke 2:10-11, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  If I put myself in those shepherd's sandals, it was a very curious thing which the angel said.  I don't know about you, but when someone else has a baby (even a couple I know very well), the child is their baby.  I have great joy a child has been born, but the child is born to his parents - not to me.  The child is their responsibility, not mine.

Maybe the shepherds mistakenly thought to themselves, "Wait a second.  I'm not expecting a baby to be born in Bethlehem.  I have no love interest there."  But those shepherds, Mary and Joseph, all in the region, and all the people of the world were the love interest of that Child who was Jesus Christ the LORD.  God demonstrated His love by coming to earth as a baby who grew to be a man who laid down His life on Calvary as a sacrifice for sinners.  Every person alive when Jesus was born until today is responsible in the sense of our belief, for He has been born unto us.  Jesus was not only born as Saviour of the Jews but has been given to all as Jesus Himself proclaimed in John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Let us rejoice, all redeemed of the LORD, for today is a day to celebrate and remember with joy the Saviour Jesus who has been born unto us.  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!

Keep Your Heart Clean

This morning's Bible reading began with this beauty in Ecclesiastes 10:1:  "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odour; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honour."  A man with a good reputation can have it sullied by foolish words and choices, even as expensive and aromatic fragrances can be tainted by dead, rotting flies.  I don't care how luxurious or costly a perfume might be, but no one who seeks to impress splashes foul bug juice on their face.  Ointment made to promote healing would be rejected when contaminated by flies or maggots.  In the same way, sinful choices negatively affect the usefulness of a person who once enjoyed a good reputation.

When Solomon wrote this, it was common for perfume and costly ointments to be kept in clay jars or pots.  The precious ointment used to anoint Jesus a thousand years later was likely a one-use box, the contents stored in alabaster which was sealed to prevent loss or contamination.  The pots and jars most people stored things in, however, had lids which were not airtight.  It is entirely possible the clay lid was accidentally left off a pot of ointment, and flies attracted by the scent drowned in it.  I imagine a person who carelessly forgot to replace the lid upon discovery quickly swatted the flies away, scooped out any flies trapped within, and (after a quick smell-check) covered the container again.

Today creams, perfumes, and ointments have caps and lids which provide a tight seal.  No flies in the ointment!  Why?  Because flies are incapable of unscrewing a cap or lid.  They are only able to enter and foul the ointment when there is easy access.  For a person who puts their trust in Christ, this is most encouraging.  According to some books or people, it would seem Christians are very much at the mercy of demonic oppression, sin, and the evils of society.  This over-emphasis of the power of Satan and details on how to defend ourselves against unseen satanic forces puts people in a fearful and defensive posture, assuming the devil has his hand in everything from our bad complexion, a crazy neighbour, and the knock in our washing machine.

Because Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are sheep of His fold, I believe we are safe with Him.  Satan is indeed like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but it will not be us when we abide in Christ.  We do not need to repeat prayers from books concerning spiritual warfare, as if there is any power in words alone to have "victory" or "deliverance."  Jesus is victor, and He has delivered us from the power of sin, death, hell, and the devil - forever!  Our role is to believe Jesus, and loving Him we will obey Him.  He is the One who has given us a new heart and filled us with the Holy Spirit.  We are to do our part to walk in faith, hope, and love.  When we make foolish choices, it is like a person who removes the lid from their expensive cream and gives an opportunity for Satan (in this example Beelzebub, lord of the flies) to pester and corrupt us.  Praise the LORD for the indwelling Spirit of the Living God who not only convicts us of sin, but forgives and restores us by His grace.

Having put off the old man with his sinful ways, having been born again by faith in Jesus we are to live in the way which fully pleases God:  a life of godliness, righteousness, and purity.  We aren't just to avoid sin, but to choose to do what is right.  Ephesians 4:25-28 says, "Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour," for we are members of one another. 
²⁶ "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need."  We keep a lid on the ointment (so to speak) when we walk led by the Holy Spirit.  Little sins can corrupt our witness, and the wise take this warning to heart and quickly repent.  Small foxes can do great damage to tender vines, and holes in the fence need to be quickly patched up.  Seemingly minor moral stumbles cannot be safely ignored.  Good ointment has been so bad it needed to be disposed of, and many solid followers of Jesus have been disqualified for their folly.

It seems fitting to conclude with an exhortation from Solomon in Proverbs 4:20-27:  "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."  When the life of Jesus is lived out through us, by God's grace we shall do greater than what Solomon commanded his son.

Epic Salvation

With the celebration of Christmas days away, it prompted me to consider the glorious thing God has done in coming to earth as our Messiah.  We were in bondage to sin, in darkness, and deserving of God's wrath, yet He showed compassion on us.  God's deliverance of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt is a foreshadowing of the salvation wrought through Jesus Christ.

The Hebrews spent hundreds of years in Egypt after the death of Joseph, and were later enslaved by Pharaoh as his workers.  They cried out for deliverance from their bondage as they struggled under heavy burdens.  God heard the cries of His people and sent Moses to deliver them.  God did His wonders among the Egyptians, 10 epic plagues which ravaged the land and proved His supremacy over the idols of Egypt.  Before the final plague, God instituted the Passover feast where each household killed a lamb, placed the blood on the doorposts and lintel, and ate the lamb in readiness to depart.  That night the Spirit of God passed over all the homes where the blood had been applied and the lamb eaten according to the Word of God, and every household that disregarded God's command the firstborn of man and beast died.

The observance of Passover is much more than sprinkling the blood of a lamb on the doorposts, but it was required to eat the lamb too.  In a similar way, it is not enough that Jesus has come but we each must voluntarily receive Him through faith to benefit from the salvation He supplies.  John 1:12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..."  All who repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God who was crucified on Calvary and rose from the dead - are provided salvation by God's grace.  The Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

God has done a far more amazing thing through Jesus than the miraculous deliverance of the Hebrews through Moses.  God brought the Hebrews out of Egypt and birthed the nation of Israel, His presence going before them in a pillar of fire by night and cloud during the day.  The people, though no longer slaves to Pharaoh, remained slaves to sin.  God provided them His Law so they might be restrained from sin and given directives to govern them, but their hearts remained unchanged and stiff-necked.  When we trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour we are born again and the Holy Spirit transforms us from inside.  People who might be literally enslaved as property to a master are made free and experience joy and peace by the grace of God.  Nearly every person who was an adult who departed from Egypt died in the wilderness, but all who place their faith in Jesus are granted eternal life in heaven.

The deliverance from Egypt is an epic event, but Jesus coming to earth to seek and save the lost is even more incredible because it is a promise of salvation not just for the Hebrews but for all people which will endure for eternity.  The angelic proclamation to the shepherds outside Bethlehem remains relevant and true in Luke 2:10-11:  "Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Praise be to God for His unspeakable gift.  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men!

Remove the Root

"Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."

James 3:11-12

A tree has many distinguishing characteristics, and fruit is a primary one.  I am sure there are scientific ways to tell whether water is fresh or salty, but a little taste is usually all we need to know the difference.  There are places where salty sea water and fresh water combine, but the point of the observation of James is to illustrate how springs do not produce fresh water one day and salt water the next.  A fig tree brings forth figs, and it would be silly to argue a tree with sweet figs hanging from its branches is actually an olive tree.

Silly as it is, we can do this very thing and live in denial of the reality.  If our mouths are filled with cursing and bitterness, this is an excellent indicator of the current state of our hearts.  We cannot assume we are walking in the joy of the LORD and at peace when we are agitated, frustrated, and afraid.  It is not what enters a man but what comes out of him that defiles, and the troubling thing is our ability to negatively affect others.  Have you found when others are in a "bad" mood it begins to affect your attitude and outlook?  Adding salt affects the flavour of the whole dish, and our bitterness has a way of permeating our minds and poisoning others.

Hebrews 12:14-15 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..."  The writer of Hebrews says we ought to be watchful there is no root of bitterness which springs up in us.  Receiving and walking in the grace of God enables us to experience godliness with contentment, but bitterness often starts when we refuse to forgive or when our expectations remain unmet.  Some roots travel long distances underground to draw water unnoticed, but the thing about bitterness is it will spring up; it will show itself in our attitudes, words, and coldness towards others.

Sometimes we don't realise we are bitter because it is a flavour we are accustomed to.  Praise the LORD the Living Water - the Holy Spirit - is always pure and free from salty contamination.  He brings conviction of sin and knowledge of our need to repent.  Bitterness can spring up about any old thing, even about a sports team.  I have a friend (and this person was not alone!) who was upset about the ownership of the NFL San Diego Chargers deciding to move to Los Angeles.  When the move was made I saw videos of former Charger fans burning their jerseys and swearing never to support the team for this betrayal.  My friend said something to the effect of, "Is it wrong that now I want the Chargers to lose?"  That, my friend, sounds a lot like bitterness.  Betrayal or being offended isn't the only path to bitterness.  For us bitterness is potentially seconds away.

If we find ourselves secretly enjoying the fall our failure of our enemy, without saying a word the evidence of bitterness is within us.  It is only a matter of time before it springs up and defiles others.  Let us heed the exhortation of Ephesians 4:31-32 on sins to repent of and what to do instead:  "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  Again, there is a connection between bitterness and refusal to forgive others.  Unless the root of bitterness is pulled out completely, it will spring up again.  Hasn't God been gracious to forgive us?  Rejoice in His forgiveness by releasing others, celebrating the freedom from guilt and bitterness.

Reaping Where We Did Not Sow

Reaping what you sow is a natural and spiritual principle.  Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."  We can't expect to harvest vegetables when we planted grass seed, and we should not expect good benefits from sinful choices.  Whilst the context of this passage is a warning against sin, it is entirely possible to reap good benefits from godly actions.  It is written in Hosea 10:12, "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  People who don't prefer vegetables are glad of God's mercy.

A deeper look shows the reality isn't always so black and white.  Another principle not often mentioned is seen in scripture:  reaping where you have not sown.  This magnifies the gracious and miraculous nature of our great God.  When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey, giving them houses to inhabit they did not build and vineyards they did not plant.  By the grace of God His people received the fruit of fields they did not plant or cultivate.  God promised to provide for His people when they obeyed Him by allowing the fields to lay fallow every seven years.  Leviticus 25:20-21 says, "And if you say, "What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?" ²¹ Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years."  There are also cases where God's people would sow but receive little because of their sins.  Micah 6:15 reads, "You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; and make sweet wine, but not drink wine."

In a parable found in Luke 19, Jesus spoke of a nobleman who gave money (a mina) to each of his servants to invest wisely while he was away.  He said, "Keep occupied until I return."  When it was time to settle accounts, one man had gained 10 times the original amount through trading, and another man gained 5.  But there was one servant who decided to hide the money instead of investing it.  Hear what he said in Luke 19:20-22:  "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. ²¹ For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' ²² And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow."  If the servant truly feared and honoured his master, he would have obeyed him and invested the money.  It is true principle we reap what we sow, but it is possible to reap where we have not sown, and this is by the grace of God.

Think how many blessing we have received from God we did not deserve!  It is true the receiving of these blessings is connected with our obedience, yet we cannot earn a single blessing God provides of His grace.  Galatians 6:8-9 continues saying, "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."  God supplies the strength and wisdom we need to accomplish His will, and our salvation is not of our doing:  it is all Christ and His life in us.  We grow weary, but those who wait upon the LORD will find their strength renewed.  These are the edges of God's gracious ways, and blessed is the man who rejoices in Him.

Upstaged by God

The powerful men and women on this planet are often upstaged by God.  One of my favourite examples is when King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian empire built a massive image of himself out of gold.  It was way bigger than life-sized, for Daniel 3 says it towered over 27 metres high!  The king summoned all the kings, governors, princes, and rulers of the provinces to attend a grand unveiling ceremony.  Everyone was informed when the music was heard to play, all needed to bow down and worship the imagine.  And just in case people were disinclined to obey, a lit furnace was present where any who refused would be thrown.  To Nebuchadnezzar it seemed a foolproof plan to show his wealth, power as king, and and opportunity to demand loyalty from all.

When the musicians played, all present complied with the command and bowed before the image - all but three men, Jews who had been specially trained in Babylon and held positions of honour.  Nebuchadnezzar was not pleased almost all bowed in compliance before his image, but was incensed any would disobey his command.  In spite of his fury, he surprisingly offered the three Hebrews a reprieve.  Though enraged by their rebellion, he provided them one more opportunity to obey and bow in worship when the musicians played.  He said in Daniel 3:15:  "Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"  The challenge Nebuchadnezzar threw down would be divinely answered in the sight of all.

For the second time and to his face Nebuchadnezzar was shown up by three men who would not bow before his image, even at the cost of their lives because they trusted in the God of Israel, the God they acknowledged could protect them even from a fiery furnace.  There was no guarantee God would save them from the fiery inferno Nebuchadnezzar heated seven times hotter than before, but they chose to bow only before God alone.  It is in this place of humility and absolute, resolute trust in God where the believer in God is victorious.  Many followers of Jesus have been slain and silenced, yet their virtue, meekness, and steadfastness continues.  It is not the martyr who ought to be praised, but Jesus Christ who lives in them and will see them received into eternal glory.

Nebuchadnezzar made good on his boast, commanding the Jewish men be thrown into the furnace.  The king's command had been resisted, and now he would have vengeance upon those who dared oppose him.  After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the flames Daniel 3:24-25 reads, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." ²⁵ "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."   Before all the nations the king of Babylon had been upstaged by the almighty God and His faithful servants.  There, before the eyes of the king, the Son of God walked with His humble men who were made mighty through Him.  What the king intended for evil God meant for good and revealed Himself to the nations on a grand stage.  God didn't need Nebuchadnezzar to challenge Him to show His awesome power and authority, but He made use of the situation anyhow by preserving the lives of His people.

Daniel 3:28-29 says, "Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! ²⁹ Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this."  Nebuchadnezzar was wowed, but he didn't really "get" the message:  since God is mighty and great, has he any need of kings' decrees to uphold His glorious name?  Regardless of legislation of men, God reigns supreme and delivers like no other.  Praise God for the many times He has graciously responded to the proud boasts of men and revealed Himself in power.

Having Come In

I love how the Bible routinely describes the miraculous intersecting the mundane.  Mary, a young woman, was in a house when God sent an angel with a message specially for her.  Luke 1:26-29 says, "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" ²⁹ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was."

God knew who Mary was and where to find her.  Verse 28 is amazing to me:  "And having come in, the angel said to her..."  He just came in, and no invitation was required because it was an errand of the Almighty.  It does not seem the angel Gabriel bothered to knock!  Can you imagine being occupied with some routine household chore when suddenly an angel stood there exhorting you to rejoice?  He had glad tidings to proclaim to a highly favoured young virgin, chosen by God for a special task.  He said, "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women."

Perhaps when Mary was occupied in the house she was not thinking about God at all.  Maybe she felt like she was being imposed upon by all the menial tasks others expected her to do.  But she could be glad because God was gracious to her, He was with her, and she was most blessed - more than she could have possibly imagined.  No one but Mary will have the privilege and responsibility to carry the Son of God in her womb, yet even those who do not have a womb can rejoice in the truth of Gabriel's words to Mary.  Because Jesus has come, the reasons for Mary to rejoice have been extended to all people who trust in Christ as LORD and Saviour.  God's grace is sufficient for all our needs, the LORD is with us, and we are most blessed.

The angel's greeting left Mary troubled and questioning, but may those who have experienced new birth through the Gospel rejoice with thanksgiving.  When we trusted in Jesus as Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come into our hearts.  God has come to us and I pray this exhortation to rejoice comes as a flashing bolt of lightning that illuminates God's goodness in the darkness.  Let not your soul be troubled for God has come and abides with us, and He will never leave or forsake us.

The Old Paths

Last night the family and I enjoyed a BBQ dinner and watched the movie "Hidden Figures" together, a film about three African-American women who worked at NASA who assisted with the launch of astronaut John Glenn in 1962.  One of the main conflicts in the film (in addition to racial segregation and bigotry) was the inability to determine the correct coordinates for re-entry of the capsule.  The math consultant for the film, the late Morehouse professor Rudy Horne, suggested the problem be solved with "Euler's method."  Here is the clip from the film.

Mathematics is not an area of skill for me, and I have no knowledge of Euler or his methods.  What I can affirm is just because something might be deemed "ancient" or "old" does not mean it is of little value.  The scientists and engineers in the film "Hidden Figures" were looking for new maths to solve what they viewed as a new problem:  how to mathematically prove possible what they were attempting in the space race.  The reality was they didn't need new maths but to apply an older, well-established approach to this new problem.  The way to answer to their unsolved equations already existed, and it was in looking back and dusting off an old textbook which aided NASA to progress to do what was once only dreamed of.

Whether we are moving towards a new frontier or in the midst of routine, for a follower of Jesus it's important we continue to keep doing just that.  It is easy with the wealth of material, books, points of emphasis, and new interpretations we continue to remain grounded in the basics.  Jeremiah 6:16 says the old, good paths are where we will find rest for our souls, and our enduring rest is in Christ (Matt. 11:29).  Quite often when we find ourselves in a quandary and have no idea what we should do, dust off the Bible and seek guidance from the LORD.  Perhaps the neglect of reading, meditating on, and obeying the Word is part of our problem!  We should seek the LORD in prayer, praising Him in all situations.  We should be intentional in trusting God and desiring His will, believing He is good and in control.  It is easy in the pursuit of our dreams to forget about God and His desires for us are good and glorious.  It isn't new facts we need, but renewed faith in our everlasting God who loves us.

Incorruptible Beauty

This morning I read in Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."  Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.  Whilst hairstyles and clothing options are different for men and women, the chaste conduct Peter exhorted women to exhibit is practical for both sexes in 1 Peter 3:3-4:  "Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."  Luxury watches are called "timeless" and Gucci and other designer apparels command a high price, but God deems humble hearts beautiful and precious.

A person need not be a model or beauty queen to be vain, even as we need not be wealthy to be miserly.  Vanity can be a very subtle sin similar to that of greed, and it is never content.  Money is not bad in itself, and it is in no way sinful to wear clothes purchased in high-end boutiques.  A man is not more spiritual because he buys used unbranded clothes, nor is a person conceited and self-absorbed because she wears make-up and has a number of designer handbags.  At every stage of our lives - whether we have money to afford luxuries or are clothed by charitable donations - we are responsible to consider the condition of our hearts.  The young man should ask himself why he is working towards six-pack abs:  is it because he seeks to be fit, to draw attention to self, to impress others, or?  Sometimes we don't bother to think things through this far concerning our primary motivation in making decisions.

This subject of cultivating a heart after God (which does not preclude being well-groomed, well-presented, and keeping fit) is spoken of in 1 Timothy 2:8-9:  "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; ⁹ in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,"  When our eyes are fixed on the LORD and our hearts leaning into Him in worship, we won't be obsessed over our appearance or trying to impress others with wealth.  A heart rejoicing and content in the LORD does not find its identity in the fragrance or brands of clothing we wear.  Is there anything inherently wrong with braiding hair or wearing gold jewellery?  Should we avoid pearls and stock up on diamonds and platinum instead?  That is obviously not the point:  we ought to cultivate praying, humble, and meek hearts which seek the approval of God - not to live to impress men.

The principle held forth in scripture goes beyond the examples provided.  Outward adornment of our bodies today has gone beyond hairstyles or clothing worn but now includes injections, piercings, implants, and modifications.  Is there anything inherently wrong with surgeries considered "cosmetic?"  Hardly.  Only God can know hearts, and I cannot count the many sensible reasons people undergo various procedures to lift this, tuck that, and shape parts of their bodies to be bigger or smaller.  The vast amount of people who utilise these services suggests there might be many people inside and outside of the church who are not, for whatever reason, comfortable or content in their own skin.  The pressure to look a certain way does not end in our youth when peer pressure is supposedly at a peak but continues.  It's a good thing to ask ourselves:  why do I want implants?  What's the reason behind me wanting cosmetic surgery, seeking whiter skin, reducing wrinkles, dying my hair, or making my lips fuller?  Is there a degree of vanity at play?  Am I more focused on my outward appearance or the condition of my heart before God?

How good it is that the God who knows our hearts can also transform them.  We who were mired in greed, selfishness, and vanity have been redeemed from the curse of sin and reconciled to God by His grace.  As Christians we no longer need be ruled by commands and prohibitions as Israelites under Law, for the Holy Spirit indwells us and leads us righteously.  May we all as followers of Jesus place our primary focus on our great God, seeking His approval rather than seeking to catch the attention of others.  The fear of God is more praiseworthy than a flawless physique or designer clothes.

Have Mercy!

"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."

Proverbs 28:13

When I think of prosperity, success in business and good health come to mind.  Because there are many people who have become wealthy, famous, and prosperous through immoral and illegal means, what the scripture says reaches beyond the temporal.  That is the trap of concealing sins, for it does indeed seem to promote prosperity in the short term.  It is natural for us to hide our faults as children to avoid being "in trouble," and this tendency does not cease in adulthood.

David covered up his sin with Bathsheba and Urijah the Hittite, and though a powerful and influential king he did not prosper from his efforts.  As Moses warned the people about being sure your sin will find you out (Num. 32:23), David's sin was exposed in infamous fashion by Nathan the prophet.  True prosperity comes from a healthy, growing relationship with God because in Him are the true riches.  Our health will someday fail, and all our wealth and goods we acquire will be passed on to others.  Those who confess and forsake sin will have lasting mercy rather than wrath and torment for eternity.

It is counter-intuitive to confess our sins instead of merely covering them.  The response of Adam and Eve was to cover their nakedness with leaves and blame others when confronted by the God who knows all, and ours is naturally the same.  Freely confessing our sins is better than vain attempts to cover up.  Having admitted our guilt, the next necessary step in repentance is to make intentional effort not to repeat the wrong.  In addition to ceasing to do evil, we ought to do what is right.  God is gracious to be merciful to us and help us to walk in the way which pleases Him.

There are always consequences for sin:  Adam and Even were forced to leave the Garden of Eden and were under a curse; David's infant son would die and the sword would not depart from His house.  At the same time God promised blessing and a future Saviour who would save people from their sins, destroying the power of the curse of sin and death.  How merciful God is out of His goodness!  He does not forsake His people, and when we confess our sins and repent we are enabled to receive the eternal benefits of God's mercy.

Deserving Forgiveness?

News shook the National Football League last week when the star running back Kareem Hunt was unexpectedly suspended by the league and released by his team for alleged instances of assault.  Shortly after his release Kareem sat down for an interview with ESPN and was quoted in a CNN article: "I'm asking for forgiveness and I definitely believe I deserve forgiveness," Hunt told ESPN. "Everything is really happening fast right now, and I just want everybody to forgive me."  His perspective has me thinking about the nature of forgiveness.

It is common for people to feel sorry when they have done wrong, and especially when the are "in trouble" because of it.  In Kareem Hunt's case being in trouble means losing employment, money, sponsorship, and endangers his future career.  I am sure there are many NFL teams after the investigation concludes that would entertain the opportunity to offer Hunt a second chance because he is a young superstar.  But the question comes to mind:  does he deserve forgiveness?  Is forgiveness something which can be earned or deserved?

It is evident the world has a different view of forgiveness than perspective provided by the Bible.  God is righteous and all people are sinners unworthy of forgiveness, regardless how sorry we feel.  Forgiveness from God - the full pardon of our offence and release of all guilt - cannot be earned by apologising, trying to do good, or pledging to do better.  We are all guilty of sin and it is only by the grace of God we can be forgiven of all sin through repentance and faith in Jesus.  Forgiveness is a gift we receive from God, not something we deserve.

Having been forgiven by God, all followers of Jesus have the duty of forgiving others as we have been forgiven.  We do not forgive those who have wronged us because they have changed their ways, proved their loyalty, or apologised sincerely, but because God has freely and graciously forgiven us.  We can all fall into the trap of thinking those who have offended us need to earn forgiveness, but it is to be freely given even as we have freely received it from God - without bitterness, resentment, or thinking the worst.  Forgiveness is an act of faith in obedience to God because we trust Him, not because we believe others will never repeat their mistakes.  If we make forgiveness something others must earn (or we are entitled to by our efforts) we make the grace and goodness of God of no effect.

The Good Teacher

The concept of being able to do something to obtain our desire is attractive to us.  People are willing to make sacrifices, beg, borrow, or steal to achieve their goals.  This is true regarding the attempts of people to gain favour in the eyes of men or God.  A lot of what passes for piety or devotion is not motivated by love for God or faith in Him but what we hope to gain for ourselves.  It is sobering how much selfishness can move us to sacrifice much.

Jesus was approached by a rich young ruler who wanted to inherit eternal life.  Mark 10:17-19 says, "Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" ¹⁸ So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "  Jesus answered the man's question of how to inherit eternal life by asking a question of His own.  Psalm 14 and 53 said there is none who does good, not one.  Jesus pointed out He could only be truly good if He was God, and the man he addressed was a self-righteous one.  Because it seems the man did not consider Jesus God, so He pointed to the Law of Moses.

Mark 10:20-22 reads, "And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." ²¹ Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." ²² But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."  The man was willing to drop the "good" from his address to Jesus - indicating lack of faith in Him as God.  He said, "I have done all those things."  Jesus didn't argue with the man, and the fact he was asking Jesus this question showed he lacked assurance of salvation, for righteousness cannot come through the Law.

God spoke to Abraham and told Him to leave his homeland and family and go where God told him.  Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.  Abraham believed God and his faith was demonstrated by obedience.  Jesus commanded the man to do something beyond the rigorous demands of Mosaic Law.  This rich young ruler was unwilling to do the one thing Jesus told him because he did not believe in Him.  Because he was rich, it seemed he had much to lose.  He did not believe, and therefore did not obey.  Perhaps he was unwilling because he could not see how giving his stuff could generate eternal wealth.  The invitation Jesus gave to follow was too great a sacrifice because he did not believe Jesus could deliver.

What a hindrance unbelief is to the abundant and eternal life God invites us to enter into by faith!  Praise the LORD He is faithful, for Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  IF Jesus is a good teacher, than He is God and worthy of our faith.  And if we believe Him we should obey Him, even if His answer means it will cost us.

Receiving All Jesus Paid For

For years I have had my eye on a Weber smoker, and this week I finally bought one.  One of the big selling points for me is Weber quality and customer service.  The first grill I bought after arriving in Australia was cheaply made (though not cheap in price), and rusted quickly as it was clearly unsuited for the humidity.  The quality components and strong warranty Weber actually honours is a big selling point.  It's true in this case:  a buyer gets what he pays for.

When you pay full price, it makes sense to expect to receive all the products and benefits promised.  As I have been studying the book of Galatians I am struck with the high price Jesus paid for salvation by giving Himself, and how far short we can fall from realising the indescribable benefits He has provided.  Through the Gospel Jesus has redeemed sinners from the curse of the Law and provided the blessing of Abraham, the "promise of the Holy Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:10-14)  For the Galatians and many believers through the years it is like Jesus paid full price for the smoker, fuel, meat, thermometer, and cookbook, but all they took from this divine transaction was the owner's manual - a framework of belief, some "dos and don'ts."  They have mailed in the form to register their product of salvation, so to speak, but the grace of God hasn't been experienced.

How liberating is the grace of God, that salvation and justification are received by faith in Jesus alone.  I don't know it is possible for humans who cannot know the depth of their own wretchedness to understand and appreciate fully the kindness God has shown us by His grace.  We receive the Holy Spirit by the hearing of faith, and then we are called to abide in Christ as we walk in faith led by the Spirit.  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus.  Since God has delivered us from the ultimate results of the curse of the Law which is eternal death and separation from God in hell, Jesus has also redeemed us from every curse of the Law.  The next time you read a curse under the Law, you can know with all confidence the blood of the Son of God Jesus Christ has redeemed you from it.  Praise God for His salvation by grace through faith, and let us walk in the righteous freedom Christ gave Himself to provide!

Tragedy and Truth

God can use tragedy to bring realisation of truth because He is a Redeemer.  Circumstances we immediately judge as negative, pointless, and unnecessary God employs in His sovereign plans for good.  A situation in the life of Elijah presents an example.

The background is Elijah was a prophet of the God of Israel, yet king Ahab and many Israelites worshipped Baal:  the god of fertility, weather, rain, wind, lightning, war, and seasons.  Elijah prayed it would not rain, and through the ensuing drought and famine which lasted over three years it was evident Baal was powerless to bring the necessary rain.  God directed the prophet Elijah to live with a poor widow woman and her young son, and God miraculously provided for their needs.

Over the course of time the little boy became ill and died.  The heartbroken woman was distraught and 1 Kings 17:18 reads, "So she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?"  In her grief the woman felt judged by God because of the unthinkable tragedy of losing a child to illness.  Perhaps she felt extending hospitality to a man of God ought to bring blessings, and the death of her only son seemed a curse.  Elijah took the body of the deceased child and placed him on his own bed.

1 Kings 17:20-22 says, "Then he cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" ²¹ And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." ²² Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived."  James says the fervent prayers of the righteous avail much, and Elijah cried out to God.  The woman who kindly received Elijah lost her son to sickness, and for some reason God allowed it as the giver of life.  In his praying Elijah did not tell God reasons why He ought to answer, but cried out to the LORD for the boy to live again.  God heard the prayers of Elijah and the child miraculously revived.

The ways of God are higher than we can comprehend, yet one purpose behind God's revival of the child is found in the mother's response in 1 Kings 17:23-24:  "And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!" ²⁴ Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."  The widow called Elijah a "man of God" likely sarcastically in derision before, but after the revival of her child she acknowledged the power of God, Elijah was God's prophet, and the word of the LORD spoken through him was truth.  As in the life of Jesus and His followers, the miraculous confirmed the truth of what they spoke.

When Elijah first met this woman, she was resigned to starvation because she only had a little flour and oil left.  Though she daily witnessed the provision of God by causing the meal and oil to last days, weeks, months, even years, she did not believe the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.  It seems it was only after her son died, her heart was crushed, and he was graciously revived that her perspective changed.  It took tragedy to make way for truth.  This passage had a happy ending:  not that the boy was raised from the dead (as awesome that it is), but the woman came to realise God is the LORD and His Word was true.  May tragedy cause us to seek and trust God more, not run from Him in denial.

Celebrate God's Grace

Every day is a fitting time to celebrate the grace of God.  Appreciation of God's grace springs from the acknowledgement we are undeserving of any good thing.  If there is a moment circumstances fill us with the feeling "Life is good," it is only good because God is good and gracious.  When we feel like is a drag and a bummer, it is evident we have ceased looking to God and are either focused on ourselves or problems - something other than God.  In Jesus alone is abundant, eternal life, and He offers it freely to all who trust in Him.

The grace of God stands in contrast to all who clamour for rights, equality, and social justice.  Our very existence on this planet is by the grace of God alone.  These humanistic approaches claim all people are entitled to an arbitrary standard of living based upon what others have, not because of who they are:  people created and loved by God for Him.  The reach of human rights and justice is limited, but grace goes beyond what is required out of love.  Man's problem is seeking to make ourselves equal or superior to God, and when we do so we selfishly rob ourselves of countless blessings, peace with God, contentment, and divine provision to help others.  The reality of God far surpasses human idealism or legislation.

How gracious and good God is to provide eternal life when we deserve death because of sin.  We have all rebelled against God in our wickedness, but He has drawn near to us by grace.  1 John 5:11-13 says, "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."  What peace and joy we are given by God's grace, to have absolute security and certainty of an eternal, glorious future with Jesus.  He has provided everlasting life as a free gift paid for by an immense cost, for Jesus laid down His life on the cross for sinners.

The God who preserves our souls eternally will not forsake us during our lives on earth, knowing what we need to live.  David wrote in Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread."  If God provides food for the birds of heaven, won't He supply the food we need by His grace?  He will not forsake us, and the infinite grace He extends towards us provides cause to trust and praise Him.  Psalm 37:1-5 tells us, "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

God is faithful and gracious, and as we delight ourselves in Him all our needs will be supplied.  He's sustained you many years to be able to read this, right?  Won't He continue to guide us and supply all our needs in a world where our only future certainty is our demise?

Christ In Me

We are studying through the book of Galatians at Calvary Chapel Sydney on Sunday mornings and it has been a privilege and blessing to put the talks together.  The letter was written by Paul to stand against legalism and emphasised how righteousness and salvation come by faith in Jesus Christ alone.  The Law never promised righteousness, but exposed the need of sinners to be forgiven.  The Law was like a schoolmaster who led us by the hand to our Saviour who could forgive and redeem us, Jesus Christ.

A portion of the book which has impacted me immensely is found in chapter 2.  Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20:  "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Paul, through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on Calvary, was through the Law dead to the Law.  The risen and glorified Messiah Jesus now lived in Paul's life by faith in Him.  God is not just for us or with us:  He lives in us.  How awesome is this?

In preparing for the message I remembered The Saving Life of Christ written by Major W. Ian Thomas.  He wrote, "If you will but trust Christ, not only for the death He died in order to redeem you, but also in the life that He lives and waits to live through you, the very next step you take will be a step taken in the very energy and power of God Himself...You will have become totally dependent upon the life of Christ within you, and never before will you have been so independent, so emancipated from the pressure of your circumstances, so released at last from that self-distrust which has made you at one moment an arrogant, loud-mouthed braggart, and the next moment the victim of your own self-pity - and, either way, always in bondage to the fear of other men's opinions." (Thomas, W. Ian. The Saving Life of Christ. Zondervan, 1994. pages 15-16)

What a worthy reminder!  It is one thing to acknowledge God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and died on the cross and rose again, but a necessary step to believe He lives in us and waits to live through us.  No more can we pride ourselves on our maturity or growth, for it is Christ in us.  All mercy, self-control, love, and boldness for the sake of God's glory is evidence of Christ in us.  We refer to fellow Christians as being faithful or solid, but that is actually Christ in them.  As it is written in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  Praise the LORD Jesus lives in us, and may we choose to surrender ourselves before God believing Him so His excellency might shine forth.

Thanksgiving Forever

It is eternally appropriate to give thanks to our great God.  In every season and at all times He is merciful, gracious, and compassionate.  Even circumstances intended by our enemies for evil He can redeem for good.  Every day is a fitting day of thanksgiving unto our God from whom all good things come from.  Whether we are among family or even feel isolated from friends, we can rest in the presence of Jesus who calls us friend.

Psalm 103:8-12 says, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  We are all guilty of sin, but God has not dealt with us as condemned criminals awaiting eternal justice.  He has made a way for our crimes against Him to be expunged, to be released from our bonds, and deemed righteous by the Gospel of grace.

How wonderful it is to know as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is God's mercy to those who fear Him.  Though man possesses powerful telescopes and orbiting satellites scan into the far reaches of space, no end can be seen.  It goes on forever, and so is the mercy of God for us.  As far as the east is from the west, God has removed our sins from us.  I believe David the psalmist did not say "as far as the north is from the south" because there would be a definite and measurable end at the earth's poles.  Walk, drive, boat, or fly far enough, and you could find evidence of your damning guilt and transgression.  But David said God removes our transgressions from us "as far as the east is from the west."  Travel east or west as long as you like on earth, but you will never reach the end.

Thanks be to God who only does glorious things, is merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in mercy.  Praise the LORD for removing our sins from us, never to be reckoned or remembered again!  Let us always remember the goodness of our Saviour and thank Him, for He is worthy of all praise and honour forever.

God's Work is Good

It is encouraging to be part of the living, dynamic Body of Christ.  Jesus Christ is the Head of this Body composed of many members with different roles, gifts, and callings.  Jesus went to the lost sheep of Israel, and Paul was chosen as an apostle to the Gentiles.  Jesus worked to advance the kingdom of God, and He continues to do this through His people today.  It is amazing how God uses our own backgrounds and experiences to burden us for particular groups of people.

Harold Morris was falsely accused of a double-murder and spent over a decade in prison.  Upon his miraculous release one might think Harold would never step foot inside a prison again, but ministering to prisoners became a focal point of his life's work.  All Christians are born again and filled with the Spirit, but there is no question Harold's experiences opened his eyes to needs others are ignorant of.  Being imprisoned gave him insights into how convicts think and feel, and provided common ground and credibility as an equal which enabled him to be an effective witness for Christ.

Pastor Bill Wilson is a man who knew from personal experience how it felt to be homeless, abandoned, and alone as a child.  His experiences paved the way to a outreach ministry among children and youth who were in the grip of unthinkable poverty, violence, and the lure of gangs.  At the same time, God is not limited by our experiences or history.  The late pastor Chuck Smith was used by God to make inroads with the Gospel during the counter-culture hippie movement in the '60's.  He wore a suit and a tie and perhaps never smoked a cigarette or went to a dance in his life, but aptly ministered to barefoot hippies who reeked of alcohol and marijuana at church.  God calls and equips us to do His will, and His ways are higher than ours.  In our weakness and inability His sufficiency is evident.

It may seem cliche, but my heart yearns to aid and support churched people to faithfully persevere in following Jesus.  I have been a regular churchgoer since I was a child, and over those years I have seen countless youth and adults forsake fellowship as they plunged into all manner of sin.  How tragic to have heard Gospel truth, to experience the love of God, but for hearts to fall short of steadfast faith in Jesus!  I have seen professing Christians battle addictions, fall prey to lust, turn their backs on God, tear apart their marriages, and be estranged from their grown children.  I have known pastors who were caught up in drugs, depression, and even commited suicide.  Kids I went to Sunday school with as adults were incarcerated, one was shot dead by police, and others lived in sin:  their decisions funnelled into the downward cycle Jesus saved their parents from.  About 85% of the kids in my youth group where I served for many years left the church upon graduation.  My heart is for the 85% who left and the 15% who stayed:  for pastors, ministry leaders, parishioners, their little ones and families.

I believe the people who attend church and profess Christ are as much at risk of spiritual pride or apostasy than a homeless kid on the streets to be hooked on drugs and alcohol.  Praise the LORD He is able to save our souls for eternity but also protects and delivers us from all evil now.  Satan would sneer at the disillusioned wounded, fallen, and apostate saying, "See?  What kind of Messiah is Jesus to have followers such as these?"  There is no denying genuine Christians fall far short of God's glory, but there is no accusation Satan can rightly bring against God nor His elect.  There is no rebuttal against the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who regenerates people dead in sins and transforms them by His grace.  Just one transformed life by faith in Jesus is a miracle which stops men's mouths and brings them to marvel:  the changed heart we observe is the work of God.  God is working, and ours is a faith that works.  Wherever He has you and whatever you put your hand to do, do it with all your might as unto Him.

The LORD Your God

As a family we have been reading through the book of Leviticus, and I was struck by the repetition of God saying, "I am the LORD" to punctuate His righteous commands.  God did not repeat this phrase because He was forgetful or enjoyed pumping Himself up.  The Law is righteous, a reflection of God's holiness which undergirds His statutes.  Because God is the LORD, the almighty, self-existent One, it was fear of God and faith in Him which urged people to walk in obedience before Him.  Here is a passage as an example in Leviticus 19:1-18:

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. ³ 'Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. ⁴ 'Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves moulded gods: I am the LORD your God. ⁵ 'And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it of your own free will. ⁶ It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire. ⁷ And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted. ⁸ Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from his people. ⁹ '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. ¹¹ 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. ¹² And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. ¹³ 'You shall not cheat your neighbour, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. ¹⁴ You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD. ¹⁵ 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbour. ¹⁶ You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbour: I am the LORD. ¹⁷ 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD."

Typically when phrases are repeated they lose impact, however in this case the opposite is true.  The repetition of "I am the LORD your God" or "I am the LORD" points back to God's character, wisdom, knowledge, and sovereignty as the reason to obey.  For instance, in verse 3 God directed children to honour their mother, father, and keep His Sabbaths and concluded with, "I am the LORD your God."  God had provided each child with a mother and father.  Men were not created for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath rest for man.  God met the needs of children to be nurtured, trained, and provided for, and even set apart a day for them to rest from their labour.  Knowing God supplied our every need should compel us to be thankful, obedient, and trust Him.

In verse 14 God told His people to not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block in front of the blind "...but shall fear your God:  I am the LORD."  The deaf could not hear the curses hurled at them, nor could the blind see the obstacle placed before them - but the God who hears all and sees all perceived the wickedness of His people.  The God who formed the ear can hear Himself, and He who designed the eye can see all things with immaculate clarity.  It was a gracious reminder given to people who can hear but do not always heed, and can see with their eyes yet can be senseless to the feelings of others.  The fear of God keeps us from evil, and knowledge of the LORD our God's ability to hear, see, speak, and do mightily aids us to walk uprightly.

As an exercise, I encourage you to read through the portion from Leviticus once more, taking special note of every time God said, "I am the LORD."  Consider in light of His commands why He would remind them of His divine sovereignty and character each time.  Meditating on this will open your understanding of how great and awesome our God is, and how He is worthy to be praised and feared above all.  Often our reasons for seeking to do good or avoid evil is limited to the benefit of others or keep ourselves from trouble, but how good it is when we do the right thing for the right reason:  because God is our LORD!

Empowerment by Submission

In this fallen world things which seem to be freeing actually place us in greater bondage.  A common lie perpetuated today is how throwing off the shackles of biblical morality and propriety results in "empowerment."  The feelings of self-empowerment may be euphoric at the beginning, but they ultimately sour after the brief honeymoon stage.  The bankruptcy of soul is often covered up by what we can acquire or achieve, numbed with alcohol, or drowned out by new pursuits. There is no enduring empowerment to be found in adulterous affairs, one-night stands, stripping, prostitutes, or pornography.  The sickly sweet sense of empowerment ends up being bitter poison in the end, putting a wounded soul at the mercy of an increasingly cruel taskmaster.

There is a temporary sense of godlike-euphoria in doing whatever you want, and the devil knows this well.  But there is no sustainable, enduring hope in self.  The body flaunted today can be dead tomorrow, and all illicit loves create wounds time cannot heal.  The so-called "sexual revolution" of the 60's was really nothing new, and the fallout of broken marriages, families, and lives continues in the Tinder-hookup era on a global scale.  The world says it is empowering to assert your dominance, to fulfil sexual conquests, to take off your top to make a statement, to make demands and take no prisoners, but like all things of this world it cannot deliver on a single promise.  The stuff we work for will pass to others and decay into ruin.  We still have to live with our own consciences, consequences, and the niggling thought there is a God we will be required to stand before naked and sober on the Day of Judgment.

The Bible makes the unique claim the world pushes against at every turn:  real empowerment comes through total submission to God.  It is only when I believe in Jesus, repent of my sin, and submit to God He graciously endows me with His power and strength.  Man's power is limited in scope and duration, but God's power is infinite and eternal.  The power God grants is not to improve my self-esteem, to feel more confident or better about myself, but so I can joyfully live in the way that pleases God.  Self-esteem and self-confidence are snares which enslave, but slavery to God is liberating from sin, self, the values of the world, and the opinions of other people.  Having power is not the reason why we submit to God, but is the blessed result of believing in Him, loving, and obeying Him.

Today people mistakenly believe they are the master of their own destiny, they can do anything, and be anyone.  Yet no body modification, surgical augmentation, workout regimen, or preferred pronoun can touch our eternal souls:  like it or not, God has made us as He intended.  We can do many things with the bodies and minds He has provided us, but there is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves of sin.  There is nothing we can do to wash ourselves clean of the lies, rebellion, selfishness, and deceit.  But God has given us all the ability to decide if we will receive Jesus Christ as our LORD and Saviour, to believe in Him as a child trusts his parents.  We can be born again and made new creations by the power of God!  Speaking of Jesus it is written in John 1:11-13, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  On our own we are absolutely powerless, and how incredible it is God grants those who believe power to be adopted as His children, forgiven of sin, and receive eternal life.  It's not a better you but a new creation Jesus lives His life though.

It is not in asserting self we are empowered, but in submission before our holy God.  Our bodies will all go the way of the earth and moulder away, yet as many as humble themselves before Jesus as King and receive Him are given power to live forever in heaven.  Praise God for the exceedingly great power God has exhibited in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we are His beneficiaries (Eph. 1:15-23).

James Montgomery Hymn

Occasionally I read through an old hymnal and was blessed to read words written by James Montgomery written in 1825 which touched my heart.  One of the joys of being part of the Body of Christ of which He is Head is how love, grace, unity, and purpose of God's redeemed have not changed from the beginning.  The aim and desire of saints now in glory we can share and perpetuate with great praise to our eternal and almighty God.  Perhaps this hymn will minister to you as it did me, and let us make it a prayer to our Saviour.

Spirit of the living God!

In all Thy plenitude of grace,

Where'er the foot of man hath trod,

Descend on our apostate race!

Give tongues of fire and hearts of love

To preach the reconciling word;

Give power and unction from above,

Whene'er the joyful sound is heard.

Be darkness, at Thy coming, Light;

Confusion, order in Thy path;

Souls without strength inspire with might;

Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

O Spirit of the Lord! Prepare

All the round earth her God to meet;

Breathe Thou abroad like morning air,

Till hearts of stone begin to beat.

Baptise the nations far and nigh;

The triumphs of Thy Cross record;

The name of Jesus glorify,

Till every kindred call Him Lord.

(Palmer, Roundell. The Book of Praise. Macmillan and Co., 1867. pages 194-195.)

Without Controversy

"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things."

Romans 14:1

This morning in my devotional reading I saw Proverbs 10:12 which says, "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins."  Love esteems others higher than self even when people have convictions or beliefs which differ from your own.  In context the people to whom Paul refers are not outsiders but fellow followers of Jesus Christ in the church.  People were divided over what was appropriate to eat or drink, and Paul urged believers not to dispute over such things.  In the second part of 1 Corinthians 8:1 he also said on the subject, "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."  Knowledge has a way of puffing us up with pride, but love seeks to build others up.

There are many beliefs and practices genuine Christians disagree over, but we ought not to be divisive concerning them.  This especially applies to what Paul refers to as "doubtful things."  Even when Christians disagree about a doctrine or practice, there is likely much common ground they share regardless of their level of maturity.  The NIV rendering of the Romans passage puts it in a different light:  "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."  This provides an easy illustration of the different translations of the Bible Christians prefer.  Because I prefer one translation does not mean I should rail against others who do not share my view.

We might imagine ourselves to be strong in faith and on the side of truth, but if we are the offended party, disputing, stirring up strife, and passing judgment on the intelligence or faith of others, perhaps we are the one weak in faith!  We are called to give more grace, trusting in God's power and ability to open eyes of the blind and change hearts too.  Haven't our eyes been blind at times?  Haven't our hearts been hard?  Haven't we been the one who internalised bitterness or exploded with anger over a doubtful dispute we refused to let go?  May the LORD increase our faith in Him and His Word, to not only know the truth but practice it as we walk in love.

There is no shortage of potential controversy in the church, but God's Word has been given to teach us how to conduct ourselves - not "how to change others."  Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:14-16:  "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁶ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."  There is much revealed in scripture that is not controversial, and may these divine revelations have a powerful impact upon each of us.  God has come to us!  Our crucified and risen Saviour Jesus Christ has been preached among Gentiles and has ascended in glory!  Let us fix our faith upon these rock-solid truths rather than dividing over doubtful things.  

Receive Correction and Instruction

"Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

Proverbs 9:8-9

God's Word is packed with relevant instruction and also reveals the truth about us.  It does not only tells us what to do but exposes who we are.  In this passage Solomon shows how our response to instruction and correction shows what kind of person we are.  Knowledge is not evidence of being a wise man but a humble and loving response when rebuked - even after we did the wrong thing.  A just and wise man will receive correction gladly and not hold grudges against those who bring faults to light.  Having been rebuked a wise man will love the one who cared enough to speak hard truth more still.

How do you respond to correction, instruction, and rebuke?  I would suspect there is not a person among us who enjoys being proved incorrect or exposed as ignorant.  It is natural and fleshly to despise correction, but the wise man who fears God heeds rebuke even if unwarranted.  When it comes to correction and instruction, during our lives we will often have experiences to both offer and and receive correction.  There is always wisdom to glean as a child of God, and we can learn important truths even from an impure source.  There person who rebukes us may be unloving or incorrect in their assessment, but still provides opportunity for our growth.

Sometimes we learn by observing what to do and at other times what not to do.  Solomon walked by an overgrown field and learned a valuable lesson in Proverbs 24:30-34:  "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; ³¹ and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; ³⁴ so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."  What a blessing the presence of God in our lives, for He instructs and corrects us in ways no other person can.  Others can applaud, and the voice of our conscience rightly condemns because God knows our hearts.

As believers we are instructed by God, yet we should not despise the correction He sovereignly directs from other people.  God might stir a wicked man to chasten us severely - not so we will heed wicked advice - but to expose the pride and folly which lurks unnoticed in our own hearts.  Being treated harshly instructs us how not to correct others if and when we are led to do so.  The Proverbs passage says we ought not correct a scoffer, and there is a time to withhold continual instruction from those who refuse it.  After Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for valuing tradition over the Word of God, thus making it of no effect, the Pharisees were offended.  When their offence was conveyed to Jesus He said in Matthew 15:14:  "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

Some people will gratefully heed a warning, but others require instruction only gained by the consequences of a fall.  They scoffed at instruction, so they would be taught by plunging into a boggy ditch.  This interaction shows Jesus at a point allowed people and those they blindly led to fall when they scorned His correction in ignorance.  Their hatred and offence was proof of their folly, and Jesus left them alone in the misguided path of their choosing.  As hard as it can be to utter words of correction and rebuke in love, it may be even harder to leave someone alone knowing they will fall.  Praise the LORD Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the sheep, and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He is good to seek and save the lost and downcast where they fall.  He will pull the most wicked among us from the ditch and wash us clean by His grace.  Better to humbly heed and obey our LORD than to be left alone and hopelessly blind.