The Offering God Accepts

Yesterday our family read the passage which spoke of Cain and Abel and their offerings to God.  Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Abel was a keeper of sheep.  These are both useful and worthy occupations, providing great benefits for man and beast.  Out of the bounty God provided them these men chose to present an offering before the LORD.  Until this point in the Bible there had been no mention of offerings and no clear command from God what would be acceptable.

Genesis 4:3-5 reads, "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."  When I heard this passage discussed in my youth there was great emphasis placed on the different offerings themselves.  I have come to believe the offering itself was not as significant as the heart in the man who brought the offering.  God was not hating on Cain's fruit, nor was he partial to an offering from the flock.  God had respect unto Abel's offering because He had received faithful Abel.  The word "respect" is also translated "look."  The rejection of Cain's offering simply confirmed His rejection of Cain.

Cain was furious his sacrifice had not been looked upon favourably or received, and God graciously spoke to him.  He warned Cain that sin crouched at the door, for God knew well the bitterness and murder which percolated in him.  Cain shrugged off the words of the Almighty God, and the next thing we read is Cain killed his brother Abel in the field.  I am certain that if Cain chose to repent and humble himself after God spoke with Him, I believe his offering of firstfruits would have been received.  But because his heart was stubborn, proud, and selfish, God would receive nothing from Cain's hand.  Trees are known by their fruit, and the murder of Abel was clear outward evidence of a sinful heart only God could see before sin was fully grown.

This connection between our hearts and the offering God accepts in seen in Isaiah 66:1-2:  "Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? ² For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."  God looks for people who have broken, contrite hearts.  He searches hearts and minds to see who regards and looks to His Word.  If we will not regard Him, why should He look upon our offering or sacrifice with thanks?  Our faith is accounted to us as righteousness, and it is he who has clean hands and a pure heart who shall ascend to the LORD and stand in His holy place (Ps. 24:3-5).

This passage shows God does not receive all sacrifices, praises, or prayers offered Him.  He looks upon the heart, and it is the heart which humbly opens to Him where He will dwell.  Jesus said to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:20:  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  Jesus has offered Himself for us so we can have fellowship with one another.  Those who look to Him in faith demonstrated by obedience Jesus knows and will receive, and according to His grace their offerings are acceptable in His sight.  Until our hearts are His and purified what will He receive from our hand?

The Book of Praise

I have been reading through books by A.W. Tozer recently and one thing he strongly recommended was the benefit of old hymnals.  He asserted hymns of old were packed with solid theology and were indispensable in private worship.  I thought about what he said and realised among my books I didn't have a hymnal.  So I checked out a website based in Australia which sells rare or out of print books and came across The Book of Praise, selections of English hymn writers by Roundell Palmer in 1867.  When I opened it I discovered the very first hymn is notable among my all-time favourites:  "How Great Thou Art" by Bishop Reginald Heber penned in 1827.

One of the first things I do when I buy a used book is as I flip through to fix all dog-eared pages.  The book is not in the best condition, but it undoubtedly will be a great tool and blessing in drawing near to God.  In the heart of every child of God there is a longing to draw near to the LORD in prayer and praise, and though no substitute for scripture good books can be useful to facilitate this.  May the books we read mark our lives with praise of God!  As I smoothed out the largest dog-ear, I read through a song I will share with you by Charlotte Elliott, written in 1834.  On pages 346-347 it is simply titled, "CCCXXVIII" or "328":

With tearful eyes I look around;

Life seems a dark and stormy sea;

Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound, 

A heavenly whisper, Come to Me!

It tells me of a place of rest;

It tells me where my soul may flee:

Oh! to the weary, faint, opprest,

How sweet the bidding, Come to Me!

When the poor heart with anguish learns

That earthly props resign'd must be,

And from each broken cistern turns,

It hears the accents, Come to Me!

When against sin I strive in vain, 

And cannot from its yoke get free,

Sinking beneath the heavy chain,

The words arrest me, Come to Me!

When nature shudders, loth to part

From all I love, enjoy, and see;

When a faint chill steals o'er my heart,

A sweet voice utters, Come to Me!

Come, for all else must fail and die;

Earth is no resting place for thee;

Heavenward direct thy weeping eye;

I am thy Portion; Come to Me!

O voice of mercy, voice of love!

In conflict, grief and agony,

Support me, cheer me from above, 

And gently whisper, Come to me!

Love Is Patient

While I was doing yardwork today I saw an older man wearing an Akubra approaching.  I had seen this man walking around on the streets near our home other times before.  I would see him lingering around plants, and once he was crawling around looking for something on the ground.  As I swept, he walked up and introduced himself.

He was a soft-spoken man with a friendly, toothy smile.  He wanted to see if I would grant him permission to pluck five small flowers from the bush near the street on my property as had been his custom for many years (unknown to me!).  Apparently the neighbour had told him to move on.  "But she does not own the plant because it is on your property," he said.  "I've no problem with you taking flowers from the bush."  I wasn't planning on using them, and if he had already been doing it what harm would it do?  "I use them for prayers."  Now I wasn't expecting this, a foreign idea to my western mind.

After a pause I asked, "Who do you pray to?"  "I pray to Rama...I'm a Hindu."  Continuing to smile he introduced himself formally, and we shook hands.  "Good to meet you Ben.  I live right around the corner," he said as we parted ways.  The encounter had solved the mystery of what the gentleman had been doing whilst loitering around.  He wasn't loitering:  he was carefully, meticulously gathering flowers to offer to a deity in prayer.  I look forward to meeting up with him again with the aim of speaking of my God and Saviour.

Now I don't know much about Hinduism, but I know devotion when I see it.  From a biblical and Christian perspective I know there is one God, the Creator of this world filled with trees, stones, seas, flowers, animals, and people.  This nice old man from down the street was gathering flowers created by my God to offer to his god, one of many deities served by Hindus.  Strange that Rama would receive a re-purposed gift!  My God does not require an offering of flowers to hear and respond to prayers, and my allegiance ought to be greater than this man - for I know whom I worship, and He knows me.  I grieve that a man would expend such effort to seek the blessings of images and demons who can only destroy and cannot save, but I also rejoice in the opportunity God has provided to share the reality of the Almighty seen in Jesus Christ.

"Land is patient," a mate of mine told me yesterday.  This is true.  God's love is also patient.  There may have been a time in my life I would have blurted out something about my superior God in reply, but I am learning the importance of valuing other people first rather instigating a conversation only to give a message.  The message I have of the Gospel is greater than any man, but it is a message to be delivered according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I trust God will provide me the opportunity to sow the good seed of God's Word, learn something from my neighbour, and perhaps make a friend or even better - a brother in Christ along the way.

God Puts Up

God is patient and longsuffering.  As God who is omnipotent and almighty He does not need to endure pains or the folly of men, but He chooses to do so because of His loving character.  Kings of earth can easily pass unpleasant tasks to their many servants.  It seems the more power or authority one possesses the less patient he or she needs to be, but God expresses the exact opposite.

Consider the gracious love which prompted God not only to bring the nation of Israel out of Egypt but to endure them in the wilderness after they rebelled against Him.  Paul said in Acts 13:17-18, "The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. ¹⁸ Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness."  And what were the ways of the sons of Israel?  Let's see:  murmuring, complaining, disobedience, idolatry, rebellion, falsely accusing God of wanting to kill them when He sought to save them, and much more.

Before we judge the Israelites harshly, we must recognise we are in no way superior.  These folks were no worse sinners than we are!  The takeaway from Paul's words should not be to nod approvingly in judgment of sinners but to rejoice in the gracious salvation of our God.  We are no prize, yet God has reached out to us whilst mired in sin.  He has long endured our ways and continues to entreat us kindly and provide for all our needs - even when we have been thankless and ungrateful.  How great is the LORD and worthy to be praised!

Having received such grace and love from God, may we be moved to love one another.  We are exhorted in Romans 13:8, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."  Having been adopted, forgiven, reconciled, redeemed, and accepted by God's grace, we owe others a continual dose of the infinite love God has lavished upon us.  No one is worthy of such love and grace, yet we have freely received it through faith in Jesus.  God loves us when we were yet sinners, so clearly this love should not be restricted only to the redeemed or who we deem worthy.  If people must be worthy, where then is grace?  Let us be patient as our LORD is patient towards us.

There is an old saying:  "Put your money where your mouth is."  Basically, this infers if we believe something to be true, we should take action to back it up.  "Put up or shut up," another line goes.  The way God "put up" with His people conveyed the love He had for them.  He did not merely tolerate them but He provided for their needs and guided them in the right way.  He spoke with them, protected them, and ultimately sent Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of all who believe.  If we are indeed children of God, it's time to love people we have been avoiding.  It's time to pray for people who have ill-treated us.  It's time to bless those who have cursed us.  Let's show grace to others according to the grace we have received from God.

The Implications of God's Word

Reverse engineering is the process of deconstructing a man-made object to observe how it has been designed and operates.  When sophisticated military equipment is stranded in a hostile region it is a standard practice to destroy it so enemies cannot analyse, copy, or obtain good data from it.  Technological secrets are highly guarded, and there are safeguards in the industry to prevent copyright infringement.  Studying a complete and functional product can offer tips and clues to how it was made and possibly improve upon the design whilst reducing cost.

When people respond in faith to the Gospel, it is likely they already have established views concerning how the earth or people came to be.  Their worldview has already been established and primarily what has influenced it is secular.  The Bible presents a totally different view concerning our origins and the significance of life.  As children we tended to agree with our parent's views, and as we grew older we were exposed to various teachings and philosophies in school, university, and online.  Those who come to Christ as adults are faced with deconstructing their existing and impotent worldview through the revelation of the Word of God.  The vain wisdom and philosophies of man could not save or deliver from sin, but Jesus Christ is able to do everything.

Sometimes I wonder if people who claim to love and know Jesus Christ observe what He says.  He spoke explicitly of creation in Mark 10:6:  "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' "  Jesus said in the beginning everything was created in six days, fully-formed as male and female.  This explicitly speaks against any kind of Darwinian evolution to account for the living creatures which are seen in the earth.  The question is not if the chicken or egg came first, but exposes how evolution cannot answer the question where the rooster came from needed to reproduce.  God created people, provided them a gender, and commanded them to multiply.  The genealogy in Luke 3:38 takes us back to the first man Adam, the one God created from the dust of the ground and breathed into him a living soul.  Adam and Eve gave birth to their own kind, and their second son Abel was mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51.  To believe these are literal people likely will deconstruct a lot of beliefs held previously.  To claim man evolved from another kind or that Adam is figurative stands in opposition to the teachings of Jesus.

That's just the beginning.  There are a lot of implications in believing God created the heavens and the earth as it is written in Genesis 1 and the genealogies of scripture.  It is strong evidence the earth is not as old as evolutionists claim (and this number has more than doubled in my lifetime).  Jesus also spoke plainly of Noah and the judgment of a wicked world in the form of a great flood which destroyed the earth (Matt. 24:37-38; Luke 17:26-27).  Having been raised reading and looking to the Bible for truth, I was always surprised how in my public high school classes there was never mention whatsoever of a great flood but an "ice age."  Creation by the word of God, a relatively young earth, and the judgment of the great flood are all confirmed by scripture, and despite widespread scorn (from the same who scorn the suggestion of God's existence) there is good science which supports it.  If we really believe and trust in Jesus, we will take to heart the things He explicitly said, for nothing God has said is untrue or without purpose.

The New Testament is full of references to men and women spoken of in Genesis and speaks of God's creation and judgment of the world as a matter of fact.  Judgment is never a popular subject, but praise the LORD God has told us of what was, is, and is to come.  He has made a way of salvation for all who believe, and our belief is founded on the sure Word of God.  If we will believe God's promise to forgive us sins and grant us entrance into heaven, believing in the existence of Adam, Abel, and Noah - and all the following implications - should not be a stretch.

Focusing On Jesus

During a prayer meeting at church last night I was reminded of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda.  John 5 relates how a great number of sickly, blind, lame, and withered who waited for the moving of the water.  These were desperate people who hoped for a miracle, and patience alone was not enough to bring healing.  The great irony of the situation is healing came not only to the alert but the fittest among them.  The first one to enter the pool after being stirred by an angel would be the only one healed of any infirmity.  The blind couldn't see the water move and the lame couldn't move to respond fast enough.  For nearly all who languished hope had been swallowed by despair.

John 5:5-7 says, "Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" ⁷ The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  Verse 5 introduces the reader to a lame man who had suffered from an infirmity for almost four decades and long remained at the pool's edge.  Jesus walked up to the man and asked, "Do you want to be made well?"  The man did not answer the question at all.  His response shows a preoccupation with his hopeless situation:  I am alone, I have no help, I am too slow, and others too fast.  In his mind healing could only come one way, and this could not happen in his current circumstances.

Into this pitiable and hopeless situation entered the Son of God, Jesus Christ!  John 5:8-9 says, "Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath."  Jesus is the Healer and Saviour who found the man in his time of need, and He comes to you and me today in our time of trouble ready to save.  What I love about this passage is the man had a very limited view of how he might be healed, yet without meeting any of his criteria Jesus spoke and simply overruled!  It is true healing does not always occur immediately and none of us will be without troubles in this life, yet Jesus is able to heal abundantly, exceedingly beyond what we can ask or think when we look to Him.

How the world needs Jesus, and this lame man needs Him more than ever.  What a great and awesome God we have who seeks us out in our time of need.  Who are we to criticise the timing of God who allowed 38 years of infirmity or allowed it in the first place?  The ways of God are past finding out, for without sorrow and despair we could not recognise joy if it looked us in the eye and shook our hand.  There the Prince of Peace stood, and the man poured out his lame complaints.  Jesus knew the man's weakness, his infirmity, and how long it had been since he had been well.  Jesus loved him, came to him, spoke with him, and healed him.  Let us look to Jesus and praise Him rather than focusing on our lameness or circumstances.  This is the true path to life and joy forevermore!

It's Not Too Late!

Sin by nature is insidious, and it always leads to death.  The way which feels so right leads to destruction.  The soul that sins will surely die, and like the presence of fatal disease often produces severe symptoms in the living, sin brings suffering and misery.  God is gracious and merciful to warn of the dangers of sins and instructs us to walk uprightly.

Solomon taught his son to fear the LORD and keep the commands near to his heart because seducers and flatterers who induce us to sin are everywhere.  Read for yourself the consequences one faces when they yield to sin in Proverbs 7:21-23:  "With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him. ²² Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, ²³ till an arrow struck his liver. as a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life."  All these examples share a common theme:  the victim never realised the danger until it was too late.

When baiting a hook to fish, presentation is important.  Care should be taken to conceal the sharp and shiny hook within the appetising bait.  A skilled angler knows good presentation is not enough.  Many of varieties of fish will take the bait and spit it out again.  Tap, tap goes the fish, but don't set the hook too soon:  wait until the fish ingests the bait or begins to carry it away.  That is when the angler pulls strongly on the hook to "set" it, and it isn't long before the fish is exhausted and successfully landed.  Satan presents sin in the manner most pleasing and appetising to the flesh.  There is always a hidden cost to sin which is conveniently left out, like an unscrupulous salesman who is secretly aware but silent concerning a severe mechanical flaw in a car.

The ox did not discern the intent of the one intending his slaughter, and the fool who followed his heart never imagined he would be confined in the stocks.  No fighter could prepare himself to deflect an arrow he never saw coming, and a bird that flies speedily upon a familiar route cannot avoid the hunter's snare.  How much pain, bondage, and suffering we save ourselves when we recognise and repent of our sin!  Here the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  The Holy Spirit provides conviction of sin and guides us into all truth.  Praise the LORD He does not only warn us of evil but leads and empowers us to do good.  And glory to God, Jesus Christ is able to forgive all our sins when we repent through His blood shed on Calvary.  We've all been pierced by sorrow from our own sin, and Jesus has been pierced for us.

Compliance or Agreement?

Amos the prophet asked a series of rhetorical questions to illustrate inseparable links in ordinary life with an aim to show judgment was coming from God for their sin.  He asked in Amos 3:3-6, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? ⁴ Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? ⁵ Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? ⁶ If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?"  If two people were seen walking along the road together, onlookers would assume they were content to do so.  They may not agree on musical taste, political views, or theology but since they walked at the same pace and direction they were in agreement to walk together.  When a lion roared people would say, "Ah, sounds like the lion has caught his dinner."  A trumpet blown in the city would have an effect on the townsfolk.  These were obvious statement to prove the sins of the people would certainly bring the judgment of a righteous God.

How important it is for us to be in agreement with God!  This is what the phrase "getting right with God" suggests:  our conscience tells us we are in the wrong, we confess our sin and repent, and then we make a conscious choice to walk again in agreement with God and His Word.  If we are in agreement with God it follows our associations and relationships will be affected.  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."  Again, rhetorical questions were employed to emphasise there is no agreement with light and darkness, no association between the Temple of God and idols.  If we are living in agreement with God there must be a separation in our lives and what stands in opposition to God.

The LORD has opened my eyes to a truth which has always been there but I never saw until now:  agreement is more than compliance.  The law demands compliance, but God seeks agreement.  Outward compliance to the law is acceptable, yet God looks upon the heart, thoughts, and motives.  Agreement is suggested by the words Paul used:  being yoked together, fellowship, and communion.  As parents or leaders we can wrongly be content with people being compliant with our demands.  If God was satisfied with attempted compliance to Law, why did He send His Son?  He sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, to redeem us, to enable us to be born again by grace through faith so we could once again be in agreement with God physically, spiritually, and eternally.  It requires love and grace to seek agreement when we have the power and authority to demand compliance - or else.  If it is important to God for us to be in agreement with Him, then we ought to walk in agreement with other Christians.  When we see other believers walking in darkness, after we examine our hearts and repent of our sin we are to seek to restore our wandering brother in meekness.  Restoration is only possible when there is agreement of all parties with God, not by compliance to a rule.  This agreement and fellowship can only happen by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Is it possible you have been compliant with God, your spouse, or fellow brother rather than being in agreement?  A compliant person may even hold the hand of the person they walk with, but if their heart isn't in agreement they have no fellowship.  If we are satisfied with the compliance of others, this suggests we may be content to only be compliant with God instead of in full agreement (inside and out) with Him.  May our hearts, minds, and lives be found to be in agreement with God as we walk with Jesus.  Then we will move beyond compliance to law and discover more fully His refreshing grace and love.

The Divine Habitat

During her talks Corrie ten Boom used to employ a handful of simple object lessons.  One of my favourites is when she illustrated our need to be filled with the Holy Spirit with a flashlight or torch which required two batteries.  The torch didn't work because it only had one battery and the spot where the other battery should have been was filled with rags.  On the rags were written particular sins which kept the second battery from being properly inserted.  Remove the rags - confess sin and repent - and then the Holy Spirit would have the room to fill and shine through our lives.

Another example she used was an empty glove.  On its own the glove had no power to do anything, but when a hand was placed within it became useful.  We are like gloves which alone are useless, but when God fills us we can labour for the LORD.  A glove can also be filled with objects or items which prevent a hand from putting on a glove.  It is in putting on the LORD Jesus Christ through faith which enables us to walk uprightly as Romans 13:13-14:  "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts."  The reality is many Christians fail to walk in the victory provided through Christ because they have made provisions for the flesh rather than sowing to the Spirit.  They beg in vain to be filled with the Holy Spirit when they refuse to relinquish their sin.

A.W. Tozer provided great insight concerning the souls of man which are created in the image of God.  Like a glove is designed to fit human hands, the bodies of men are perfectly suited for Him to inhabit.  The Holy Spirit who once dwelt in a tent and Temple behind the veil now dwells in the hearts of believers within a veil of flesh.  Tozer wrote that human beings made in God's image are the natural habitat of God, yet the pollution and defilement of sin has driven him off - just like native birds are driven from their natural habitats due to deforesting or building.  There are specific places breeds of birds are likely to nest and roost.  If we will have the Holy Spirit dwell within us, our hearts and minds need to be an environment free from the noisy machinery and heavy industry of sin.

These examples all have their limitations, but they agree in this body of flesh the problem of sin remains.  It has a way of worming its way into our minds, hearts, and words.  The neglect of repentance is a primary hindrance to the Holy Spirit filling and empowering us.  The Holy Spirit is the clean, pure Spirit who regenerates our souls when we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  He is glad to fill us; that is where He desires to dwell.  When we belong to God, He belongs in us.  Let us see there are no hindrances of unbelief within us, no sins which have been permitted entry.  Cultivate worship, prayer, repentance, and adoration like trees and running streams.  Ephesians 5:15-18 shows our conduct matters:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit..."  It is God's will we would be filled with the Holy Spirit, so let us submit our will to His!

The Gold Coin Lesson

During a brisk morning walk today I picked up a $2 coin from the footpath and placed it in my pocket.  It was no chore to pocket the coin because it has value.  Money is intensely practical, and since most people value gold coins it is not often one finds one laying on the ground.  We are discerning about the things we will pick up from the ground and drop into our pockets.  A soggy Kleenex, a cigarette butt, or an empty can of tuna would most likely be avoided, not gladly gathered.

It is a good thing to consider:  how much do we value the Gospel?  Do our lives indicate we view the Gospel as offering a precious, valuable gift or more like worthless junk mail people despise?  In Australia some people are employed as "walkers" to drop advertising leaflets in letter boxes.  Our letter box, like many others, is adorned with a "No Junk Mail" sign on it.  Maybe it works...somehow junk always finds its way into the box.  In a world filled with junk and rubbish, one of our roles as Christians is to raise awareness of how amazing and wonderful the Gospel truly is.  There is nothing more valuable or precious in this life than having a relationship with God, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life.  This is no sales pitch:  salvation is a gift from God only received through faith in Jesus.

The offer of a "free gift" in mailers typically means something I don't want or need.  I realise the item is basically worthless but a calculated and manipulative ploy to set the hook and reel me in.  These tactics lead to distrust and cynical views of others.  When I picked up that $2 coin from the ground, I didn't feel manipulated or pressured.  My eyes were open to recognise an object of value and I was glad to expend the small effort required to lean over and take it for myself.

Do you know there is more to the Gospel than receiving it for yourself?  If we truly value the Gospel as we ought, I believe we will share it with others too.  God was willing to come to earth as the man Jesus Christ and demonstrate His love for us when we were sinners - like rubbish which litters and corrupts the beautiful world He has made.  By His grace He picks us up and treasures us when we repent and trust in Him.  He values us because of His great love for us, not because of our worthiness.  When we see a person loitering on the corner or walking past, do we value them as much as a gold coin to reach out?  Are we happy to interact with them so their eyes might be opened to the glorious Gospel as a valuable gift worthy of receiving?

God has given us an awesome gift in the Gospel worth sharing.  It shouldn't be an embarrassment to brag on our God and Saviour who has done everything for us, but we can be sheepish sometimes.  God knows I fail!  We can be more reluctant to share the Good News than to pick up rubbish by the road.  In context the verses of 2 Corinthians 9 speak of generosity through giving money and resources, but it does no violence to the text to apply 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 to sharing the Gospel:  "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  Let us be cheerful and generous givers of the Gospel - not grudgingly to acquire treasure in heaven - but because God has already opened heaven to us.  In light of the love we have received from God, let us freely and gladly offer the Gospel to others.

The Moral Imperative

I began reading through an old A.W. Tozer classic The Purpose of Man and found it refreshingly packed with thought-provoking and enlightening content.  There are useful books beyond number, and it is a shame any which adorn our shelves should collect dust.  In lieu of buying new books it is a good practice to reacquaint yourself with quality books which already line your shelves.  And when you have read them, have you taken to heart and put into practice the good points personally?  My, there is much work to be done!

Allow me to treat you with a few paragraphs from a man who met with God, A.W. Tozer concerning worship:

I believe in justification by faith as strongly as Martin Luther ever did.  I believe that we are only saved by faith in the Son of God as Lord and Savior.  But what concerns me is an automatic quality about being saved nowadays.  It works something like this: simply put a nickel of faith in the slot, pull down a lever and take out the little coin of salvation, tuck it in your pocket and off you go.  It is that simple.  After that, you say you are saved.  When questioned, you simply say, "I put the nickel in; I accepted Jesus and I signed the card."  Very good, there is nothing wrong with signing a card so that we can know who they are.  It is the only way we know that some people are Christians.  How tragic.

Christianity is not a result of coming to God and becoming an automatic cookie-cutter Christian, stamped out with a die: "One size fits all"; "What God has done for others He'll do for you."  These are marvellous mottoes with grain of truth in them, tut they lead us far from the absolute truth.  We come to Christ so that we might be individually redeemed and made in the image of Christ - vibrant, personal Christians who love God with all our heart and worship Him in the beauty of holiness.

Not only is worship the normal employment for moral beings, but worship is also the moral imperative.  The book of Luke tells us that when they came nigh the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen (see Luke 19:37)...Worship is a moral imperative, and yet I believe that it is the missing jewel in evangelical circles.  The crown is here but the jewels are missing.  The church has decked herself with every ornament, but one shining gem is missing - the jewel of worship. (“What Came First: Workers or Worshippers?” The Essential Tozer Collection, by A. W. Tozer and James L. Snyder, Bethany House, 2017, pp. 98–100.)

Is it possible in all our labours we have missed the moral imperative of the worship of God, substituting work for worship?  It is possible our work is worship unto the LORD, but this is not automatic.  Worship and work are far from synonymous.  Many people work, but not all work is worship.  Worship for the child of God is a good work free from fleshly toil because it is the inclination of every redeemed soul.  Let us worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness!  Magnifying His goodness and meditating on His greatness is never out of tune when it flows from a surrendered heart.

Content with God's Provision

"Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. ⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Hebrews 13:4-5

These verses came up in our Friday night Bible study yesterday, and they provide insight how covetousness can mar relationships with God and others.  The writer of Hebrews commends the honour of biblical marriage as defined by God from the beginning.  Fornicators and adulterers are those who scoff at His marital and monogamous design through their sexual misconduct.  One involves sexual activity outside of the marriage bed, and adultery is lust and unlawful conduct involving a married party.  Though the world pushes back against the boundaries God has set concerning sexual sin, God remains their righteous judge.

This passage shows at the core of both fornication and adultery is the sin of covetousness.  To covet is to desire something which is not yours for self.  Fornication and adultery also involve theft.  When it comes to relationships, contentment in God's provision is a guard against covetousness.  The world it seems has defined sex as a basic human need, a need that should not be denied of any who desire it.  This is certainly not the biblical perspective.  In the scriptures there are myriads of examples of people going their own way in violation of God's commands, but this does not lend any leeway to God's absolute standards.  If we are convinced God will provide for all our needs, He also will provide a spouse and the ability to remain joyfully single according to His grace.  It is a lie that we cannot live a meaningful and satisfying existence without sex.  Sexual intercourse can usher in new life because God is at the heart of "be fruitful and multiply," but sex is not life.

Because Jesus has promised never to leave or forsake us, we can be assured He knows our needs and will be faithful to meet them.  He is the Good Shepherd who keeps watch over the sheep of His flock.  He knows how to manage well His lambs, ewes, rams, and even wethers - which are castrated males.  They are less aggressive and able to lead a most profitable existence, not by siring lambs but through wool production and weed management.  The world has always had a preoccupation with sex, and as wonderful as it is in the marriage relationship there is much more to life.  It is in staying close to the Good Shepherd we discover purpose and fruitfulness which extends infinitely beyond the abilities of the flesh.  1 Corinthians 7:27 holds forth a basic principle:  "Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife."  Even in our relationships (or present lack) we have fellowship with God and His people united by His love.  It's a fair question:  do we value fellowship with God more than sex?

God's Glorious Grace

Eugenics is a theme repeated in science fiction utilised with the aim to produce an ideal society.  Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a good example of using scientific means to manufacture people who will conform to their role in society through indoctrination, drugs, and conditioning.  Whatever was deemed "ugly" had no place in utopia, and people were placed in pre-determined castes where they were prepared for particular roles (Alphas, Betas, Gammas, etc.).  The heart of eugenics is not life but death, the culling of any embryos deemed unsuitable.  It is a godless approach, a "self direction of human evolution."  Many atrocities have been carried out upon fellow humans guided by eugenics.  Today selective breeding is typically not mandated by government but largely sanctioned, as unwanted unborn children can be legally aborted.

What if God employed this approach, to kill any creatures which fell short of His absolute standard of goodness?  There would not be another person born!  Psalm 139 is a beautiful passage which describes God knitting a child in the womb of his mother.  Because we live in a world ravaged by sin and war people can be born with chronic illnesses and malformed.  Even more difficult to understand perhaps is when God sovereignty chooses to make someone with what we call "disability" in Exodus 4:11:  "So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?"  God commanded Moses to speak to Pharaoh, but Moses said he didn't speak well.  One point God made was He was responsible for creating the mouth of Moses and knew what he was capable of, and also provided the mouth of Aaron to assist him.  It wasn't the mouth of Moses where the problem was but in his reluctance to trust and obey.

If we were God and at the controls of conception, we would be sorely tempted to stack the deck in our favour, wouldn't we?  God knows beyond what people are capable of but what they will actually do.  God has given every person the freedom to chose and does not condemn before the time.  A perfect example is when Hazael came to speak with Elisha concerning the health of the king of Syria who was ill.  2 Kings 8:10-12 reads, "And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover.' However the LORD has shown me that he will really die." ¹¹ Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. ¹² And Hazael said, "Why is my lord weeping?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child."  Bizarre, isn't it?  God revealed to the prophet Elisha what atrocities Hazael would be guilty of, yet did not smite him in the womb.  God graciously allowed Hazael to grow up to be an ambitious man who would indeed take matters into his own hands.

Hazael recoiled at the suggestion he would do such things, but the word of the LORD came to pass.  2 Kings 8:13-15 states, "So Hazael said, "But what is your servant--a dog, that he should do this gross thing?" And Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you will become king over Syria." ¹⁴ Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me you would surely recover." ¹⁵ But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place."  Hazael was not judged by what he would someday do, but what he was guilty of doing.  Here is a place where so-called "situational ethics" cannot endure, for these hypothetical wranglings never take into account the love and grace of God extended towards all.  Hazael didn't want to believe he was capable of such wickedness, but in a day he would betray and smother his king.  He could have repented and stopped there, but alas!  Let us not be fooled to think we, by virtue of our knowledge or morality, are incapable of great wickedness.  All have sinned, and before another day dawns we will sin again.

How the grace of God is magnified when we realise we are Hazael; we are Cain, Agag, Nabal, Absalom, and Barabbas!  We are the corrupt, bent, depraved and proud people who (if God was a eugenicist) would never have been permitted to see the light of day.  God is grieved by our sin and is the righteous Judge of all, but His heart is to see us turn from sin, look to Him and be saved.  God is not to be blamed because people sin.  It is true at any moment God with His infinite knowledge could have struck men who would grow to be cruel kings and dictators in the womb, or those who would be drunks, abusive, lying, cheating, stealing, lustful - or spiritually proud and judgmental.  If we charge the righteous God with wrong we only prove our own guilt, but in repenting and receiving the grace of God through the Gospel we are forgiven and made pure.  Oh the grace of God!  What a good, longsuffering Father He is to all!  As we have freely received of His grace, let us offer it freely to others.

There's Room In Heaven

Australia takes border security and immigration seriously.  Our country takes full advantage of our isolated geography and natural oceanic moat to prevent undocumented immigrants from arriving at our shores.  Immigration, refugees, and asylum seekers have been big news since I moved to Australia many years ago, and how to best manage immigration had been a political talking point for decades prior to my arrival.  There have been many difference approaches utilised in managing immigration "problems" with a variety of outcomes.  Whenever flaws are exposed or it is reported people lost their lives attempting to reach Australia by boat, political parties vying for power claim to have a better plan.

Though I am far from an expert on the subject, I can suggest an immigration policy which would not be popular in Australia or probably anywhere.  Let's say it was suggested an "open border" policy be adopted which included everyone from anywhere on the globe, even for convicted criminals guilty of the most heinous crimes awaiting execution on death row.  People who were guilty of fraud, theft, rape and human trafficking would be permitted entry at their request at the expense of the Australian government and taxpayers.  Australian officials would be sent to enter hospitals and homes globally to extend the invitation to immigrate to patients dying of cancer, AIDS, or Ebola, to people suffering the effects of debilitating handicaps, those who are comatose, or facing terminal disease and mental illness.  Not only suspected terrorists, but known leaders and members of terrorist organisations would be welcome.  Every person hooked on street drugs, opiates, alcohol, and methamphetamine would be provided the opportunity to move "down under" as well - not only as permanent residents, but an Australian citizen granted all rights and responsibilities.  Even the suggestion of such a policy as legitimate would be akin to political suicide.  Whilst this would not be a attractive idea for the taxpayers of Australia, think of how attractive it would be for a man freezing in a dark prison or a woman in need of medical care.  Families displaced by typhoons could rebuild their lives again, and criminals could leave their past behind for a fresh start.

I have employed hyperbole to show the utter ridiculousness of such a policy to illuminate the glorious Gospel of the kingdom of God.  God has done an infinitely greater thing to open the doors of heaven for fellowship and eternal life to sinners.  When a country takes in refugees and provides housing and healthcare, the question is often asked:  "Who is going to pay for it?"  Ultimately it is the taxpayers who foot the bill.  God does not demand payment from us for our full pardon and status of citizen of heaven because He amazingly sent His Son Jesus Christ to shed His blood to atone for our sins.  Not only are we forgiven through faith in Jesus, but the Spirit of God comes into our lives and dwells within us.  We become the eternal children of God, accepted and adopted into the family of God as His beloved children - regardless of our previous sins and crimes.  Many people who do legally and successfully immigrate to Australia can feel quite alone and displaced from normal life, but those who are born again into the family of God have the continual presence of God and the fellowship of the church to encourage, exhort, and edify them.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, to set captives free.  It is far easier to become a citizen of heaven than it is to become a citizen of Australia.  There is no paperwork, passports, or medical exams; there are no fees, police and FBI checks, or gathering certified copies of documents.  Jesus has shed His blood on Calvary, and when we acknowledge our guilt, repent of our sin, and place our faith in Him as Saviour we pass from death to life, darkness to light, lost to found, and hopeless to saved.  All who take to heart God's invitation to new life are to renounce sin, self, and worldly pursuits and discover our new identity as citizens of heaven and children of God.  We come as unworthy criminals, dependant on chemicals, filled with hate and guilty of murder:  through faith in Jesus we are born again and transformed by God's grace.  He changes our hearts and puts a new Spirit in us who leads and empowers us to do good and forsake evil.  All our benefits and blessings come from God, and we learn of our great, generous, and gracious God through the Bible.  All who immigrate to Australia are required to learn English, and every child of God finds sustenance and provision for all aspects of life through the Bible, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and obedience to God.

Isn't God good?  Isn't His grace and the Gospel amazing?  The kingdom of heaven is filled with undeserving people, and every one bought by the precious blood of Jesus.  To all citizens of heaven God has provided for us the ministry outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  Since we are children of God, let us live worthy of this calling and walk in agreement with Him as His faithful servants and ambassadors of His glorious kingdom.  No one is worthy or can earn entry into heaven, but God offers eternal citizenship as a gift received by faith in Jesus.  There is room in heaven for every soul who makes their heart Christ's home.

Cessationist Musings

Recently I read an article in which the author stated why he is a cessationist.  Cessationism is the doctrine certain spiritual gifts and the calling of an apostle ceased with the early church.  I suppose if labels must be used (and I try to avoid them personally) I would then be a "continuationist" - news to me.  This isn't a name I would use to classify my beliefs, but one others have made for me.  It is not surprising gifts have ceased if people do not believe they are in operation and do not ask for them according to scripture.

I do not want to lump all cessationists together as if they all agree theologically, for I am convinced there is a variety of beliefs represented by them.  I know there is also a wide breadth of beliefs, convictions, and practices between so-called "continuationists," and it is troubling to be lumped in with others who support and encourage unbiblical practices.  And this is the rub:  the cessationist view is always put forward as the biblical view - typically without much middle ground.  It is quite true there are some who wrongly appeal to personal experience in lieu or in violation of the Word of God, but there is much evidence in both the Old and New Testament of the miraculous.  Paul famously said in 1 Corinthians 13:8 a time for the cessation of gifts as revealed in scripture will occur, but the primary source of major disagreement between the camps is when and why they should end.  If prophecy and tongues have ceased, it follows knowledge must have ceased as well.  Wait, we still need knowledge... ;)

I will be absolutely blunt:  it is impossible for me to be a cessationist because according to scripture I desired spiritual gifts, prayed specifically that I might receive, and God graciously gifted me to speak in tongues (1 Cor. 14:1).  It wasn't weird, wild, crazy - or unbiblical - as the uninitiated may claim.  I do not deny there are people who violate scripture in their expression and beliefs concerning this gift in particular.  Those who have been hottest in opposition about this burning subject with me were interestingly often those who felt scorned by others for their inability to speak in tongues - as if it was the only real evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  The book of Acts tells a very different story.  As different parts of the Body of Christ we have unique talents and spiritual gifts.   Militant cessationists could be likened to the woman brought before Solomon who would not agree to give the child back to his rightful mother, but was fine with Solomon using the sword to divide it.  This divisive impulse is alive today as it was in the Corinthian church, to use the Sword of the Spirit to divide genuine believers into factions.

It does not take long in reading articles or posts which support cessationism before I think, "No, no!"  How many times have opposing views been misrepresented as a caricature, words and terms curiously and narrowly defined, even scriptures wrenched from context to prove some spiritual gifts have arbitrarily passed into antiquity because they are no longer needed!  Says who?  The gift of prophecy is conveniently reduced to "preaching" when it suits (though the same assert preaching can be prophetic), and the Acts of the Apostles are sadly relegated and limited to an archaic age.  Those designated "sign" gifts by theologians are written off as valid only in the early church, though I see no such designation between gifts in scripture.  Can fruit of the Spirit be out of season today?  Praise the LORD the miraculous regeneration and salvation of the soul by the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ is not outdated!  It is the scripture which sets the precedent for the use of spiritual gifts in love, and the Bible governs the proper use of gifts.  I'm speaking from the heart here, but I also want to use my head.

I am convinced even if I did not knowingly operate in a spiritual gift I would continue to believe all spiritual gifts are available from our awesome God today according to His will, as it says in scripture (1 Cor. 12:11).  Our tongues are very needed to speak to share the gracious truths of the Gospel, so it would be remarkable tongues of men and angels would now be invalid to praise and glorify God for His wondrous works as a sign to unbelievers.  It is a grief to my heart when people abuse the use of spiritual gifts or make them a gauge of spirituality.  It is also a great tragedy people use the Bible to castigate those who honour God, the scripture, and edify the church with spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit, as well as shutting the door on even seeking and asking God for spiritual gifts.  How can a person who doesn't believe Christians can operate in a spiritual gift by the power of the Holy Spirit ask believing and in faith receive?  It may be true some of what is passed off as spiritual gifting is a sham, but people ought to take care they do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit by claiming the operation of genuine spiritual gifts is demonic.  We do need the discernment of the Holy Spirit in the church today, don't we?  God knows what we need more than we do.

Anyway, this subject is something lately I've been thinking about.  Praise the LORD the Gospel is not outdated and the Holy Spirit has been sent to indwell and empower believers for the glory of God.  People on all sides of this complex topic are convinced in their own mind by the scripture, and let us all continue to unite in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.  I gladly reach out my hand in brotherhood and friendship to those who identify as cessationist in Jesus Christ not as a "continuationist" but as a Christian, for we are united as one in His body.  Without God's love spiritual gifts and knowledge of scripture cannot be properly wielded, and praise the LORD God's love never fails.

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You Cannot!

"I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

Galatians 5:16-17

During the lives of Christians on earth there will be tension between the the desires of the flesh and walking as led by the Holy Spirit.  The efforts of the flesh are not sufficient to enable us to desire, think, speak or do righteously.  The Spirit of God and the sinful flesh are ever at odds, and it is only after we are born again and walk in the Spirit we are divinely enabled to do what is right.  We are born into the bondage of sin, and we are thus natural slaves of the flesh.  Praise be to God Jesus Christ has been sent to set us free and has provided the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the tyranny of the flesh.

Though we realise to a degree our natural limitations, spiritually we can remain in the dark.  God wisely shines the light of His Word upon our assumptions and reveals how sin and hypocrisy hinders us from walking in the Spirit.  Take for example the words of Joshua to the people of Israel when he challenged them concerning idolatry.  After Joshua uttered the famous words about how the people needed to choose this day whom they would serve, the people answered with one voice in Joshua 24:16-17, "...Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; ¹⁷ for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed."  The people sounded resolute in their commitment to honour and obey God only, and I believe they said these words sincerely.  But see how Joshua responded to them in Joshua 24:19:  "But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins."

No one appreciates being told they "cannot" do something.  It is one thing to withhold permission or say "I would rather you not" or "It will be difficult."  But to say "You cannot!" stirs up our indignant flesh.  I imagine people did not appreciate Joshua's words after they pledged themselves to God, but he spoke the truth.  They could not serve the LORD because they remained in bondage to idols their fathers had carried out of Egypt.  They could not be forgiven because they would not repent.  If they would serve the LORD, repentance before God was needed.  More was needed than simply the destruction of the images they carried.  They needed a change of heart before God (a transformation which comes only by faith in God demonstrated by obedience) or they would easily be ensnared by the next shiny idol which caught their gaze.

This same message was repeated to the early church in Corinth by Paul.  After establishing the fact God judged the children of Israel He brought out of Egypt because they sinned against Him by their rebellion, lust and idolatry, Paul lovingly pointed out serious faults in the church.  Their "love feasts" were anything but, for their gatherings were devoid of God's love.  There were divisions among the people, some people went hungry while others were full, and people even drank wine to excess.  The excesses and vulgarity of the flesh were on full display when they should have considered the glory of God and the good of others more important than self.  In the previous chapter Paul said plainly concerning their sinful practices in 1 Corinthians 10:21:  "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons."  You cannot - there it is again.  God's people were deceived to think they could do both, but if they would serve and honour God they needed to repent and walk in the Spirit.  Those who drank of the cup of demons could drink the wine of communion with Christ, but for them it was an empty ritual.  In attempting to drink from both cups communion with God was broken.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."  "Mammon" is not a word often used today, but it basically means "wealth" or "money."  In this human frame we will always be a slave to something or someone.  We are born slaves to all manner of sin, and for many money is their master.  People seek freedom, security, and power for self in money, and the insatiable appetite for the "almighty dollar" has seen many men prematurely go to their grave "pierced through with many sorrows".  Jesus lays out the principle oft repeated in scripture, that we cannot truly serve two masters (though we assume we can).   You cannot serve God and be mastered by anything else:  we can serve God truly when only He is our Master and we are His loyal, joyful slaves.  If we are serving ourselves, how can we say we serve God?  May His words ring in our ears when tempted by sin:  "You cannot!"  It is by walking in the Spirit we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.  By virtue of His grace and love for us we delight to please Him, and only this change in our hearts will cause the beauty and goodness of Jesus to outshine all other potential suitors.

How glorious it is when God brings us to a point of surrender and repentance, when we say to Him with all our hearts, "I cannot!  I cannot keep on living this way; something must give.  I cannot keep being torn apart with divided allegiances.  You are right God, and You always have been.  I have been wrong.  I cannot."  It is in this agreement with God through repentance, brothers and sisters, where we discover a place of blessing, rest, and peace with God.  The flesh dreads these moments, but they work in us growth in grace and fruitfulness not to be repented of.

This Earthly Pilgrimage

We are studying through the book of Acts at Calvary Chapel Sydney and on a couple of occasions I have flipped to the back of my Thompson Chain Reference Bible to follow Paul's missionary journeys.  Though we are currently in the midst of Paul's first missionary journey, my eyes drifted to Paul's fourth and last journey, the one which ended at Rome.  In his travels there was often a circular, leaving and returning flow to them.  The final trip to Rome was a one-way trip:  it was there his earthly pilgrimage and service to the LORD would end.

When Paul set out on a journey or voyage, I don't know he was ever certain where God would take him.  Being arrested and incarcerated and transported has a way of changing plans!  When we plan mission trips today, typically we know beforehand if it will be a "short term" or more permanent move because of the transportation we have available to us.  The first time I came to Australia I had a return ticket so there was no real surprise where I would be weeks later.  Many people who have purchased tickets never had the opportunity to use them because their Rome - the end of the line - was arrived at unexpectedly to them.  It was not surprise, however, to the God who ensures you will make it to Rome safely.  The God who brought Paul without harm to Rome would bring him home, regardless of how ill men treated him.

Praise the LORD for the journey He has each one of us on, for He will bring us safely home.  He will not leave or forsake us along the way, though to us there be unexpected twists and turns in the plot lines of our story.  Some people travel internationally with frequency, and others stay close to home.  Some go on short term mission trips, and others immigrate permanently to be where God has called them.  I find the one-way journey of Paul to Rome most compelling, for on soil distant to his land of birth he breathed his last.  Only God knows when and where our lives will end, but may we be faithful like Paul wherever we are, labouring for the kingdom of God in service to our Saviour.  By God's grace our lives and testimony, like Paul's, will be fruitful and honour our LORD.  Looking back we will be able to say, "See how far God has brought me!  And He has been faithful every step of the way."

Christ Our Refuge

David wrote Psalm 142 when he was at a low point, and many believe it was penned when he hid in the cave Adullam.  He had been anointed by the prophet Samuel as king, had experienced the victory and fame over the giant Goliath, yet danger dogged him at every turn.  King Saul (his father-in-law) sought to murder him, Doeg the chief herdsman was glad to betray him, and there was no help to be found from Philistines who remembered him.  The threat upon David's life drove him to leave his home, the company of his wife (who was given to another), and his best friend Jonathan.  During this season of David's life he undoubtedly felt alone, and in his distress he may not have had even the company of sheep.

Here are the words of Psalm 142: "I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. ² I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. ³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. ⁴ Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. ⁵ I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. ⁷ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."

David feared the LORD and walked uprightly, yet enemies sought his ruin.  David spent seasons hiding in caves, but it was in God he took refuge.  His troubles overwhelmed him, so David poured out his heart before the Almighty God who hears and answers the prayers of His saints.  There was no help or deliverance for David through his strength or power, for he was brought very low.  Do you have a sense how David felt, that no one was able to know the depths of his suffering?  Fear and loneliness were a prison David desperately sought release from, and the psalmist prophetically praised God for the end result he had not yet seen with his eyes:  "...the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."

I do not know how long David was alone, but it seems the answer from God came quickly to supply David's need for help and companionship.  He would have been happy to have one man who stood by him, but God sent many.  1 Samuel 22:1-2 says, "David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him."  These men ended up being David's closest friends and mighty men, valiant fellow warriors, and many righteous men who feared God were numbered among them.  David's family and men who were distressed - perhaps by the king's poor treatment of him - rallied to his side.  People who were in debt and looking for a new life came; men who were bitter with their lot came to him and humbled themselves before God's anointed.

I am reminded of a quote attributed to Dan Crawford a missionary of Central Africa:  "There is no high hill but beside some deep valley.  There is no birth without a pang." (Tilsley, Colin B. C. Through the Furnace. Outreach Book Service, 1979. page 91.)  Seasons with his father's flock and experiencing loneliness in the cave were formative events in the life of a man after God's heart who would be Israel's beloved king.  David learned to draw near to God, to pour out his heart, and to trust God to answer in His time and way.  In the depths David did not drown in his misery, but turned his eyes to the God of heaven who loved, called, protected, and provided for him.  How good it is to know we can rally to the side of Jesus Christ, being the man of his right hand who love and serve Him faithfully.  My name means "son of the right hand" and reminds me of the privilege it is to follow Jesus and to support others in this earthly pilgrimage.  Jesus has brought our souls out of prison, and may we praise His name now and forever!