Speak of God's Deeds

It's easy in life to be overwhelmed with circumstances beyond our control.  The trials and seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be legion, and the most enthusiastic people can waver and faint from the onslaught.  There are temptations within and pressure from without; physical weakness and illness can sap our resolve.  There are always suggestions to doubt and temptations to quit.  And when you aren't sleeping well and perpetually exhausted it just adds another level to the difficulty.

You might not be able to relate to this, but based on Psalm 77 I believe Asaph knew this very well.  He was a man who cried out to God in his trouble and was heard.  There were times when sleep eluded him, and in the darkness fears and doubts crept in.  He had intimate and historical knowledge of God's goodness and mercy towards His people, but these aspects of God's character were difficult to reconcile with the present troubles Asaph experienced.  He knew God was powerful and mighty to save, yet situations in his life unsettled him and brought him low.  As he lay awake in his bed he wondered:  has God forgotten all about me?  Is He finished showing me grace?  Are God's promises obsolete?  Is God's anger keeping me from His mercy?  It was only after Asaph stopped focusing on himself and his feelings and began to remember the goodness of God that doubts were swallowed up with overcoming faith and joy.

He wrote in Psalm 77:10-12, "And I said, "This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." ¹¹ I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. ¹² I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds."  Asaph reached back beyond his own personal experience and considered the great and glorious things God had done long ago.  He hearkened to the days of his forefathers in Egypt and how God delivered them miraculously with a mighty hand from their oppressors.  He remembered the grievous plagues God poured out upon the nation who enslaved his people, the mighty signs God worked among them.  He thought about "the works of the LORD" and His "wonders of old" he was familiar with in scripture.

Yet Asaph did more than simply think about what God had done. Verse 12 says, "I will...talk of Your deeds."  Asaph made a decision and commitment to speak with God concerning what He had done in prayer - and likely to others as well.  It is good for us also to make this our practice, being brought to a place of rejoicing over our God's greatness, might, and power.  Asaph went on to write in Psalm 77:14-15, "You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. ¹⁵ You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah"  Remembering and speaking about what all God did in the past gave Asaph great confidence to approach God in his current difficulties, truly a great God beyond compare.

It is telling how Asaph mentioned Jacob and Joseph by name, for Joseph's deliverance from slavery and prison and promotion to ruler over all the land of Egypt is amazing.  After Jacob and Joseph were reunited in Egypt, Joseph having saved all from famine by wisdom provided by God, Jacob adopted Joseph's two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) and gave them an equal portion among his own sons.  Eventually (hundreds of years later) the children of Israel all departed Egypt as a single nation.  God was faithful to His Word, merciful through the people for a long season were afflicted, gloriously brought them through the Red Sea, destroyed their enemies, provided for their needs, revealed Himself in power to them on Mt. Sinai, guided them with His presence day and night, led them through the wilderness, and brought them safe into Canaan.  This is the God Asaph remembered and spoke of, and this is the God we also serve and worship.  Is there any God who can deliver like this, who is gracious, merciful, keeps His Word, hears the cries of His people and delivers?

Revive Us Again

"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"

Psalm 85:6

The psalmist penned this rhetorical question he believed God would answer in the affirmative.  During a time of prayer last night the Holy Spirit brought this verse to remembrance and shed light on the subject of revival.  God is the source of all life, and He has promised to provide eternal life to all who repent and trust in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.  Having been born again by the Gospel, we are spiritually made alive by the Holy Spirit within us.  One fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, and therefore rejoicing ought to mark our lives and personalities as children of God.

During my Christian pilgrimage I have enjoyed fellowship with people of various backgrounds and different doctrinal points of emphasis.  Some are especially enamoured with the subject of "revival" and a fervent desire to see or experience a revival of religion.  Some read solid books like Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill (yes, it is in my library!) and read of notable revivals which have occurred over the years all over the globe.  They pray often for revival as a cure for all ills, something that happens "out there" when revival is needed in our own hearts first.  See what the psalmist said:  "Revive us again!"  Like the new life God gives us, revival is not enduring and perpetual.  We will always need revival again even as our physical bodies daily need to drink water.  Would to God He revive us, but revival must never be our desired end:  God must be our end, for in Him is life, fruitfulness, and salvation.  Jesus Christ must be our chief and only pursuit, and we will find ourselves revived when we follow Him.

Do you desire revival?  Why might that be?  Would you ask revival for yourself, for others, or for God's sake?  Is it so people will be more committed or serious in their Christian walks or so masses will descend upon church gatherings begging, "What must I do to be saved?"  Revival is not something to helplessly long for but is ours when we respond to Jesus Christ in faith.  There have been times even the world took notice of the move of the Holy Spirit in the church with wonderment, but genuine revival is not measured by numbers of converts, increased church attendance, interviews, or news articles.  Revivals among God's people occur when they, in brokenness for sin repent, cleanse themselves of idols, seek the LORD, and walk humbly before God in obedience.  Prayer paves the way for revival but it is not a formulaic means to some experience.  It is not increased church attendance or faithful servants which are the results of revival, but as Psalm 85:6 says it is rejoicing in God!  What else should our redeemed lives be but joyful praise and thanksgiving unto our God?

Consider Psalm 85:7-9 as the song continues:  "Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation. ⁸ I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. ⁹ Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land."  Has God forgotten to be merciful?  Is He incapable of saving or delivering those who fear God and cry out to Him?  Of course not!  Verse 8 contains a warning we ought all to take to heart, that after we have been born again we would turn back to folly.  When we turn back to folly it is little wonder we are cold, listless, paralysed, and hopeless.  Imagine that, a hopeless Christian!  Friends, we have all been there; I have been there.  God will revive all those who fear and seek Him.  His salvation is near to us "...that glory may dwell in our land."  Who is more glorious than our God?

Acceptable Words

"The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse."

Proverbs 10:32

The meaning of words can shift over time, but thankfully God's Word will endure forever.  In today's vernacular the word "acceptable" can by synonymous with passable, even just sliding by.  The Hebrew word translated into English is defined by the Strong's concordance as: "delight, (be) acceptable, delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure."  By this definition, "acceptable" words are in agreement with the righteous, Almighty God.  A heart made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ will be revealed with righteous speech.

The same word is used by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:10-11:  "The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth. ¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd."  Acceptable words of the wise are described as "upright" and "words of truth."  God is the sole source of righteousness and truth.  These acceptable words are compared to goads and nails, purposefully designed items to perform work.  The Word of God prompts us to move forward in directions unfamiliar to our flesh, and it is also constructive like nails which hold together building materials.

These upright words of truth are given by one Shepherd, none other than Jesus Christ.  David identified God as his shepherd in Psalm 23, and Jesus said in John 10:11-15:  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He laid down His life so we could be saved and redeemed.  Jesus always spoke acceptable words, and as His followers we can and ought to do the same!

Why Not Today?

I've been on hiatus from regularly playing golf this year, and a couple weeks ago I began getting "back in the swing."  It's always a bit of a slog to work through the lack of rhythm, physical fatigue, and bad habits which accompany a extended layoff.  I started golfing in my youth because it was fun, and I have reached an age where it is also an effective exercise.  Walking the course is a great way to stay active and challenge yourself at the same time - which is even more challenging when constantly duffing, hooking, and slicing everywhere!

Just recently I was talking to friends about how Gammy (my Grandma - but don't ever call her that!) over the age of 65 had a hole-in-one.  Over the years I have had a couple of pitches roll in and a few approaches bounce off the stick, but I never really came close to an ace.  Someone in the conversation added how a woman had three holes-in-one in a single round!  When standing in the tee box addressing the ball I started thinking, "Why not today?  Sure, I've never had a hole-in-one, but why not today?"  And then I promptly shanked a tee-shot to the left or sent an approach shot over the green.

Well, today turned out to be the day.  All those awful shots were quickly forgotten on the 17th hole at the Windsor Country golf club (120 yard par 3) as I watched my ball sail high off my Vokey wedge, drop with a smack on the green, and disappear into the cup.  It's something I always knew was theoretically possible but I never imagined what it would be like to happen.  My exuberant shouts attracted a pair about to tee off on the 12th hole, and I still had my hands raised over my head as it was confirmed the ball had gone in.  I shouted, "I guess there's a first time for everything!" and then began the satisfying walk to retrieve the ball.

As I walked toward the green with a ridiculous grin I couldn't seem to shake off, my thoughts went to what I was telling myself before I made the shot:  why not today?  It occurred to me there are all sorts of accomplishments we have never experienced in the past but by God's grace could experience today.  Making a hole-in-one was exciting, but what if today is the day when you share the Gospel and as a result a person is born again?  Now that would be really exciting!  How many things God has planned for us that we are completely unaware of, circumstances and opportunities which can forever change our perspective.  Asking "Why not today?" is irrelevant in relation to a golf hole-in-one if I do not play golf, and I cannot expect people to respond to the Gospel (from me) unless I make a practice of declaring and living in light of it.

Take heart friends:  there were many shots I executed poorly in today's round of golf, but I wasn't without hope because I kept on.  I've seen videos of people mid-round throwing their gear in the lake because they were so over it.  As long as we keep following Jesus there is always unfailing hope for us, because our hope is in Him.  Let's keep sharing the Good News.  Let's keep taking our best shot in obeying Him.  Sometimes we will miss the mark.  We will falter and fail at times along the way, but Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Don't be discouraged or give up because times are difficult:  keep on going, keep on trusting, keep on obeying our LORD and Saviour Jesus.  It is He who will help us accomplish things we never dared to imagine was possible.

Clean Inside and Out

Growing up it was common for us to do chores on a Saturday.  In addition to household duties like laundry, washing up after dinner, sweeping the floor, mowing the lawn, vacuuming carpet, or cleaning bathrooms, sometimes we would have different tasks like washing the cars, trimming ivy off the fence, or removing fly screens from the windows, scrubbing, and spraying them down.  I was always impressed by my mum's ability to clean a window.  I would use the same Windex, paper towels, and press until it squeaked like she did, but it seemed I had to do it over and over until it looked half as good as her first go.

As the sun streamed through the sliding glass doors into the dining room yesterday, it was obvious the glass needed a good clean.  I pulled out the trusty Windex and proceeded to clean each door two times each side - because I knew full well that even with rotating the towel I couldn't remove the dust and film with a single pass.  After wiping the windows thoroughly, I was left scratching my head how a concentrated beam of sunlight showed small swirls and dust on the glass.  I cleaned one side and then the opposite side appeared streaked.  I walked outside again to clean the other side, and the side I just cleaned would be revealed as smudged too!  Though not perfect, in the end I finally called it good enough and walked away.  The doors look way better than they used to.

This window cleaning experience started me thinking about a particular glass surface which is my least favourite to clean:  the inside of a car windscreen (windshield, for my American readers if you hadn't guessed).  The outside of the windscreen is easy to clean because it is fully exposed and has a gentle slope.  Once the windscreen wiper blades are raised it is no problem to access the whole surface.  But the inside is a completely different story.  Bird droppings and dust is no problem compared to the greasy film which quickly smears the inside of the glass.  The glass angles away from the seat, the rear-view mirror is easily knocked, and over spray drifts onto the dash.  Many times I figured I had done a thorough job, only to discover through the light of the sun the film remained!  No matter how good your cleaning products, the amount of effort spent, or the time invested in cleaning windows, they will soon be dirty again.  I still remember what my mum would be quick to say after a job was done, "See how good that looks?  Doesn't it feel great to look through a clean window?"  Yeah, yeah, I would say to myself.  But she was right.

The LORD provided me a good lesson through my cleaning experience yesterday:  the light of God's word easily exposes the sin in our hearts.  Looking at the windscreen as my life, I can say it is easier in many cases to clean up outer appearances rather than deal with the wickedness inside my heart.  The inside is a lot harder to clean than the outside, but both need careful consideration and attention.  A primary difference between windscreens and hearts is when it comes to hearts the outer is often an indication of the inner, even as our words express thoughts hidden to everyone else but God.  Another huge difference is we are not able by our efforts alone to wash our minds, bodies, or hearts clean from sin.  The only way we can be washed is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, for His blood cleanses us from all sin and imputes to us His righteousness.  Having been born again we are to embrace our own personal sanctification and we do this by examining our hearts, words, and actions in the light of God's Word.  When there are the equivalent of bird droppings on the outside or a greasy film within, God provides the cleansing when we confess our sins and we are to walk in light of it.

How important it is for us to walk in the light as He is in the light!  Jesus is the Light of the World, and He has a unique skill at revealing the faults no one else is privy to.  Like the Law of Moses beams of sunlight have no ability to cleanse us, but Jesus is able to forgive sins.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  How good it is to be clean, to be free from the curse of sin!  Praise the LORD He has washed us and how His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  In light of our holy God and having eyes to see, we are to be clean inside and out for His glory.  Then His light will shine from us with glory undimmed, vessels of honour in whom He delights.

Knowing and Wanting God

It is remarkable how quickly knowledge of God can evaporate over a generation.  For instance,  during the days of Joshua the children of Israel served the LORD.  Judges 2:10 explains the general condition of the people despite what great things God had done after the death of Joshua and that generation:  "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. "  Stones of remembrance had been set up, the Law had been recorded and passed down, sacrifices offered, feasts kept, and tithes and offerings brought to the tabernacle, yet the new generation did not know the LORD.  This shows knowing about God is not the same as knowing Him.

Obedience to God because of love and appreciation of Him can quickly degenerate to empty tradition.  In Australia we are seeing a great rise in people who, instead of identifying as Christian, claim they have "no religion."  These days I often heard media classifying generations according to titles like "Baby Boomers," "Generation X or Y" and most recently "Millennials."  To me these generalisations are akin to racial profiling, but there are some measurable trends which demographers use to make observations and draw conclusions.  It could be said there was a clear generational gap in Israel between those who knew the LORD and were eye-witnesses of His presence and power, and for some reason this knowledge of God did not pass to those who followed.  This is always a potential reality because faith in God, experiences, and desire to seek after God are intensely personal.  God can be known personally and intimately, and every individual has a role in cultivating this knowledge and experience.

I have seen a change in the church during the decades I have followed Jesus.  My parents and a lot of people I knew in the 80's came to Jesus out of a legalistic generation, one that frowned upon long hair, smoking cigarettes, drinking, dancing alcohol, and cards.  Going to church meant wearing your best clothes, going to confession, and embracing traditions just because.  People who desired to know God laboured under a heavy load of guilt.  When these people came to Jesus Christ through the Gospel of grace, how they rejoiced!  They had been previously caught in a cycle of dead works and labour of the flesh to try to appease and please God as best they could, trying to earn favour, blessings, salvation, and forgiveness.  With this new found freedom empowered by the Holy Spirit, these people largely loved to gather to worship, serve others, study the Bible, and spread the Good News.

Fast forward to the next generation, to the children raised in Christian homes were there was an understanding of God's love and grace.  Those who are familiar with the Gospel from their youth and the love of Jesus for them do not seem as acutely aware of their sins and faults before a holy God.  Service becomes the end rather than obedience to the God they know and love.  Since they know their sins are forgiven there is little thought of their need to pursue holiness and their own sanctification.  Because there is small emphasis on the Law of God and His righteous requirements guilt and brokenness for sin does not lead to greater appreciation of God's grace.  It is said Millennials have "entitlement" issues, and Christians who have primarily been fed a spiritual diet of grace and love (which appeals to self) expect God to forgive them.  God's grace is taken for granted and so people fall short of it without repentance.  It is one thing for people outside the church to be willfully ignorant of God, but there are many in the church who are like the second generation of Israelites in Canaan who did not know God.

I am merely generalising here, but hopefully the point is communicated that we need the whole counsel of the Word of God!  Our own background and personality will colour the way we approach God, and without the ministry of the Word our view will be skewed.  I am grateful for God's faithfulness to us, how He reveals Himself to us regardless of our generation, ethnicity, or age.  Without His aid we would be hopeless blind and lost, entrenched in empty traditions of men and measuring the health of our spiritual lives by other lost men.  This is the condition of many today, and of some even attend church regularly.  Praise the LORD for the fellowship of the saints and how we can exhort each other to good works today, for night is coming when we can no longer work.  May we be able to say of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ:  "I saw Him and I sought Him, I had Him and I wanted Him." (Taylor, Howard. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret. Moody Press, 1993. page 21)  How excellent is the knowledge of our God, and let us make Him known!

The Pursuit of Peace and Holiness

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord..."

Hebrews 12:14

I have been meditating on this verse lately, and the wisdom and simplicity of it is marvellous.  The writer of Hebrews exhorts the pursuit of peace with all people, yet never at the expense of holiness.  There is a peace the world holds as an ideal not hardly realised, a coexistence which requires accommodation and compromise.  Genuine peace can never be obtained without resolved conflict, but the world's way of peace is to avoid conflict at all costs.  This pseudo-peace is far removed from the peace Jesus Christ offers those who trust in Him.  Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  The peace Jesus gives is not contingent on external circumstances but is secured in the hearts of all who look to Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.

The temptation for Christians in our pursuit of peace is to compromise in God's righteous standard of holiness, to find middle ground where there can be none.  Jesus spoke to His disciples in Luke 16:13:  "No servant 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."  I believe Jesus said these words to His disciples because there is a tendency in all people towards divided loyalty.  We imagine as servants of all we can effectively serve two masters, but this cannot be.  There is no peace within us when we are caught between two opinions, not convinced in our minds about what is right.  This current age of subjectivity, political correctness, and sensitivity exacerbates this because it is seen as wrong to offend - even if for good reason.

We are commanded to pursue peace with all and holiness because without it no one will see the LORD.  God is holy, and nothing that is sinful or defiles can enter into His presence.  By the grace of God we can be deemed holy through the Gospel when we repent and trust in Jesus.  Our sins are atoned for by the precious shed blood of Jesus on Calvary, we are washed clean and forgiven, and the righteousness of Jesus is imputed to us by grace through faith.  Born-again Christians are thus made holy.  At the same time, however, we must take to heart passages like 1 Peter 1:13-16:  "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."  God has declared us holy, but we are also told to be holy - to live in agreement with God's holiness.  We are called to obedience to God and not to be conformed or shaped by this sin-steeped world.

We were once cut off from God due to our sinful rebellion, but by God's grace we can raise cleansed, holy hands to our Saviour in praise.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary made an interesting observation concerning the Hebrews passage:  "Since no sin can stand in God's presence, Christians must—and will be—sinless when they see the Lord (cf. 1 John 3:2). That realisation offers motivation for pursuing holiness here and now. But the author may also have had in mind the thought that one's perception of God even now is conditioned by his real measure of holiness (cf. Matt. 5:8)."  Many have, in their personal pursuit of holiness, arrogantly and without compassion disposed of relationships with others.  They have seen the pursuit of peace - with even brothers and sisters in Christ - as an unnecessary effort to stand up for self or teach other people a lesson.  If behaving in an unloving manner is the lesson, it is a lesson what not to do.  The log in our own eye has a way of blinding us from our own pride (Matt. 7:1-5).  How important is it for us to maintain a godly balance in our pursuit of peace and holiness:  there is no holiness without peace with God, and their is no peace with others when we deviate from God's holiness.

The Faithful Messenger

Last night in Tribe we discussed Proverbs 10:26 which reads, "As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him."  King Solomon employed a couple of interesting similes to describe a lazy messenger from the perspective of the one who sent the message.  If you have ever taken a swig of vinegar, you know it is difficult to do so without wincing.  The high acidity in time also weakens tooth enamel and can lead to decay.  Most have had the unpleasant experience of sitting around a warm fire only to have the smoke follow you around.  Smoke irritates eyes and makes them water and burn, and this makes it difficult to see clearly.  A lazy messenger is unsuited for the task, a tooth-grinding irritant to those who sent him.

Whilst reading the Bible before bed I came across a striking contrast in Proverbs 25:13:  "Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters."  Harvesting crops is taxing work, and a cool breeze or icy drink provided welcome relief in the heat of the day.  To have the cold of snow in a time of harvest might have been wishful thinking for perspiring labourers bearing burdens, but a faithful messenger is compared with the great refreshment a frosty drink would provide.  Those who send a faithful messenger find their souls refreshed with a well-communicated, timely report.

Perhaps we know the annoyance of laziness or the refreshment of faithfulness well.  For personal application this is a fair question:  what sort of messenger would we be classified by our Master Jesus Christ who has sent us out into all the world as His ministers and ambassadors?  Are we the equivalent of smoke in the eyes of our King or are we faithful messengers who refresh His soul?  It is reasonable the faithful messenger will be provided additional responsibility and more important messages to deliver.  How precious the Gospel ought to be in our eyes!  Proverbs 25:25 says, "As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country."  Our LORD never grows tired or faint as we do, but how it must please Him to have the Good News proclaimed faithfully by the lives and lips of His faithful servants.

Power Belongs to God

"Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. ¹¹ God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God."

Psalm 62:10-11

It is easy for Christians who trust God to begin to place their faith in other things.  Though our hearts are to be fixed on the LORD and our confidence in His Word, a subtle shift can occur.  That is a reason David exhorts the reader to not place our hope in uncertain riches.  Money brings with it the power to obtain but dollars can also exert power over any who discover comfort in them.

David wrote, "Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery..." and the English definitions of the original Hebrew words provide clarity.  I imagine very few of us would admit we "trust in oppression, " and oppression is translated from a word which is defined in the Strong's concordance as, "injury, fraud, distress, unjust gain."  There are people who rort government systems designed to help people by claiming injuries they do not have.  Some profit financially by deceptively tweaking the numbers on their income tax returns.  Through treachery such assert themselves for monetary gain, and they place their trust in cheating schemes rather than God.

"Robbery" is straightforward, and the Hebrew word is defined in the Strong's as "plunder, to take by force."  In David's day victorious armies had the rights to plunder their foes of homes, possessions, people, and livestock.  There were bandits and mercenaries always on the lookout for the next soft target and easy score, to profit at the expense of others because "might meant right."  The mentality of these raiders may be similar to those who hope in winning the lotto or by gambling -  even by through legitimate means.  These set their hearts on a massive windfall and fantasise how their lives would be better with stacks of cash.  Instead of placing their affections and hope in God, trusting Him to provide for all their needs, they set their hearts on uncertain riches.  Such rob God of His rightful place and make money a powerless idol which cannot love or save them.

The power to live, obtain, and provide all comes from God because all power is His.  It is a good place when we do not lust after riches in our poverty, nor do we set our heart on them should God provide money bountifully.  In all seasons may we place our hope and trust in God, being grateful and thankful for His goodness towards us and the power of the Holy Spirit who works in us.  Money does not make a man powerful:  who is powerful compared to God?  Riches may open doors for men, but Jesus Christ opens doors none can shut and doors He shuts none can open - and when He walked the earth He did not even have a house or bed to call His own.

Power belongs to God, and may our hearts remain fixed on Him!  Those who place their hope in the LORD are wealthier than the richest men and women on earth.

Walk in the Spirit

It occurred to me recently that the health of the church is not best measured by church attendance or financial giving but in personal holiness.  The sanctification for Christ of each individual member does a great deal to provide strength and fruitfulness in the church.  The whole church is comprised of many individual members, and our connection to Christ as our head (individually and corporately) places us in a humble posture to be led by the Spirit.  At some point we must take personal responsibility to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God according to His Word (Micah 6:8).  When our hearts are hardened in sin, however, solid biblical teaching or Spirit-led worship will not force godly transformation upon us.

It is a remarkable thing that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of God's people who repent of their sin and trust Him.  The thing which I find beyond comprehension is God gives us choices all along, never forcing us to do His will.  This is seen in the life of Joseph and Samson, two men in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt.  Joseph was given great wisdom by God to interpret dreams, and Samson was given superhuman physical strength.  Both men said and did things which their parents weren't happy with - like when Joseph shared his dream about people bowing before him or when Samson sought a wife among the Philistines.  God used both of these men mightily, but how they dealt with persistent temptation was an indication of their current spiritual health and walk with God.

After Joseph was sold by his brothers to slave traders, he was bought by a man named Potiphar and made steward over all his house.  He was a handsome young man who soon caught the longing eyes of Potiphar's wife.  She shamelessly began to make sexual advances upon him.  Genesis 39:8-10 records his response:  "But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. ⁹ There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" ¹⁰ So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her."  Joseph addressed Potiphar's wife directly that to sleep with her would be a sin against God and his master.  He made an effort to avoid being alone with her because she made her evil intentions clear.

Samson, in sharp contrast to Joseph, sought the company of a harlot.  He loved her and slept with her (though unmarried) despite she plainly stated her desire to know how to bind and afflict him.  What he didn't know is five Philistine lords had bribed her to find the secret of his great strength.  Though he had the Spirit of God within him, Samson's response to Delilah's pestering was opposite of Joseph.  Judges 16:16-17 reads, "And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, ¹⁷ that he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man."  Joseph had been cut off from his family and culture but retained his integrity, while the life of sin Samson chose left him incapable of resisting Delilah's pestering.  After he was shorn the Spirit of God left Him, and Samson was taken, blinded, bound, and enslaved by his enemies - a picture of his tragic spiritual state.

Joseph and Samson were both imprisoned and used by God later in life.  Joseph was promoted to second in Egypt after interpreting Pharaoh's dream, and Samson was strengthened anew by God to push the supporting pillars of a temple to deal a savage blow to the Philistines.  In both of their lives God was their sole source of hope and help in dark, lonely times.  It is a fitting question for us who have been born again:  are we facing temptation to sin with head-on refusals like Joseph, doing all in our power to honour God with our decisions?  Or are we as Samson, pressed and pestered to death until we finally give in?  The state of our current relationship with God has a bearing on how we handle temptation.  Instead of simply trying to avoid sin, it is best to obey the scripture in Galatians 5:16:  "I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."  Having the Spirit of God within us doesn't necessarily mean we are walking in the Spirit.  Samson had the Spirit but fulfilled the lust of the flesh.  His life was cut short by sin, but may the Spirit quicken us to obey Him.  Let us consider our ways in light of the examples of Joseph and Samson and walk in the Spirit.

Crime and Punishment

I am amazed by the way God opens doors unexpectedly.  Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting with three senior chaplains in the NSW police force.  For some time (off and on) I had been praying about how churches or myself could support and encourage our local police, and perhaps this meeting was a first step in God's answer to that question.  As we concluded the meeting with prayer, exchanging details and shaking hands, I was given a Bible printed by the Bible Society Australia tailored for police.  Within the pages (in addition to scripture) are topical articles and prayers.

When I looked closely at the cover, I noticed in the NSW Police Seal a motto written in Latin:  "CULPAM POENA PREMIT COMES."  Since I do not understand Latin I turned to Google for the translation which basically means, "Punishment swiftly follows crime."  I had never considered what a good motto would be for a police force, but I suppose it is a good one because the ideal is biblical.  The wheels of the justice system typically turn slower than victims or cops would like, but the importance of swiftly carrying out punishment on the wicked was not lost on King Solomon.  He wrote of the dangers of ignoring or slowly dealing with wrongdoers in Ecclesiastes 8:11, "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  Should wickedness go unpunished there is nothing to deter the wicked.  The cliche goes, "If you do the crime you do the time" - but it seems the passage of time does little to change hearts.  We need the transformation and cleansing only God can provide.

Solomon continued in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13, "Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. ¹³ But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God."  People do evade the arm of the police and even "get away with murder," but this avoidance of detection, judgment, and punishment does not apply to God.  He sees the countless times we have sinned and even committed crimes and He is longsuffering, not willing any should perish but desires all to come to repentance.  The wicked man will not live out half his days, and many scriptures plainly say the way we live matters.  The one who slinks in the shadows to cover his crimes will become as a shadow, one who will be exposed before God and lost forever.  Hebrews 9:27 reads, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..." and the soul which sins will surely die.  Good and bad cops are bundled in with the rest of humanity before a Holy and Just God before whom we have to do, and not one of us is without sin.

Praise the LORD for His love and patience toward us, and that He has opened a door to forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 9:27-28 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."  Every mortal man will someday die, and as sure as this is observed and true Jesus Christ was offered to bear the sins of men.  All who repent and trust in Jesus Christ will receive the atonement of His blood and the gift of salvation by His grace.  Death can strike men most unexpectedly:  at a party, driving to work, on the beat, while playing a game, or in our beds.  The only way we can stand justified before a holy God is by trusting in Jesus because He is the One who took our punishment upon Himself.  After death there is no escaping the swift and intense punishment of hell which will last forever should we die in our sins.  How great is our God, that He would wash our sins away at His own expense and provide salvation for guilty sinners! 

Receiving Benefits in Full

How good God is to those who fear Him!  God is good to all men beyond measure, but those who trust and seek the LORD can receive the full benefits as His dear children.  All the gifts God graciously provides for men and beast on earth will end, for this world is passing away.  But blessings from God are retained by those who receive the Gospel and inherit eternal life for Christ is our inheritance who abides with us and we with Him.  All men are freely offered the blessings of God's kingdom, but only those who repent and trust in Him can receive and retain them all.

See what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 103:1-5:  "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  When I worked in a union 10 years were required to be "vested," and this amount of time was required to receive a pension.  We do not receive full benefits for "time served" as a child of God, but by virtue of God's grace received through the Gospel.  God forgives those who repent, provides healing, redeems us from destruction, places His love and mercy upon us like a crown, satisfies us, and renews our strength.  God is worthy of all praise and honour, and we ought to bless Him for the great benefits He has provided us.

Though we receive God's blessings because of His grace, there is a connection between our obedience and the fullness of blessing.  Psalm 103:17-18 says this:  "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, ¹⁸ to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them."  Do you see the conditions held forth here?  God is merciful to all, but the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting "on those who fear Him," on those "who remember His commandments to do them." We do not earn God's favour or blessings by our labours or sacrifices, but our obedience demonstrates faith which God richly rewards.  It is those who remain faithful to His covenant of grace through faith in Christ which receive His daily mercies.  If we love God we will heed His Word in obedience.  His mercies are new every morning for great is His faithfulness, and we are covered by them when we walk uprightly.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!  Let us remember how He has blessed us and be grateful and thankful always for the goodness He has bountifully lavished upon us all.  How privileged are we to be receivers of the good things God has reserved for those who fear Him, keep His covenant, and obey Him!

Better than Money Bags

"Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:33-34

Jesus often emphasised the wisdom of investing in the kingdom of God rather than living for self.  Everything a person acquires will be passed to someone else or be lost, stolen, broken, ruined, or forgotten.  There is no life found in the accumulation of money or stuff:  real abundant life can only be discovered through faith and obedience to Jesus who is our life.  Christians store up treasure in heaven when we choose to obey God and walk according to His Word and will.  Even a cup of cold water given in His name is cause for God to set aside an eternal reward for the cheerful giver.  The part of the passage which especially spoke to me this time was the exhortation to "provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail."

In ancient times people carried their money in bags made for this purpose, whether made of leather or fabric.  What is implied from the statement of Jesus is those bags (like wallets or purses commonly used today) eventually wore out.  The money people carried was not light-weight paper or plastic, but was typically in the form of coins or crudely fashioned pieces of gold or silver which had weight to them.  Can you imagine carefully stowing a money bag which represented all your monetary wealth in the world on a beast of burden, only to discover days later the contents of the bag had dropped out along the way because the bag had grown old and tore?  What a dreadful discovery that would be!  It would be a terrible, sinking feeling to know all you had worked for could not be recovered.

Jesus taught money and things of this earth decay and can be lost and stolen, but the eternal inheritance and wealth provided by the grace of God for His faithful servants endures forever.  No mothballs are needed to prevent damage in heaven, no elaborate security system is required:  our future is safe in God's hands.  Verse 34 provides insight so we might know when our hearts are set on temporal things.  If it is dreadfully painful for us to lose money, to see a deep scratch in our new car, or are bitter when we are overlooked for a work promotion, it may very well be we are setting our affections on things of this earth and not in heaven.  When we treasure something, that is where our affections lie.

IF we truly place our affections on things above and not on things of the earth, we will treasure the presence of God and His Word.  We will delight to come into His presence with singing and prayer and rejoice to heed the voice of our Saviour, offering ourselves and all we possess as a living sacrifice.  We will not even count our own lives precious to ourselves, for we have been purchased with the precious blood of our LORD and King.  We have been forgiven so we forgive; we have been graced with an everlasting love so we love God and others.  In this world one often needs to have money to make money, but Jesus gives us something money cannot buy:  eternal life and a glorious future in heaven.  Knowing we are therefore rich, let us love freely, give generously, and obey wholeheartedly.  Money bags on earth grow old and fail, but the love of God never fails.

Remember God's Leading

When you have faced difficult trials have you ever wondered, "Why is this happening to me?"  Life is hard, and like the old Morton salt catchphrase says "When it rains it pours."  The difficulties we face are easily compounded.  The salt slogan originated because moisture in the air has a way of making salt clump together, but Morton salt had magnesium carbonate added so it would still pour freely in damp conditions.  Alas, there is no additive we can bring into our lives to neutralise the pain of a fiery trial.  But we have far more in Jesus Christ who will never leave us or forsake us.  He allows us to go through the fire so He might bring us through further refined for His glory.

An example of this is seen after God delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  Being slaves for hundreds of years was tough to be sure, but the decades spent in the desert before entering Canaan were difficult too.  God had a purpose He was accomplishing in unexpected ways, and I suggest the trials God allows into our lives intending to bring us through have good divine purposes as well.  See what God said in Deuteronomy 8:2-3:  "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³ So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."

At the time of the trial (which may be of long duration) we may not know why God has allowed it or what He intends to accomplish, but in His words to the children of Israel He spelled it out to them.  This is for our benefit, for God nor His good purposes ever change.  He led them for years through the wilderness to:  1) humble them, 2) test them, 3) to reveal what was in their hearts, and 4) to see if they would keep His commands or not.  God already knew what was in the hearts of the stiff-necked people who came from Egypt, but their response to His testing revealed it to all.  He knew they would push back against His commands, but gave them an opportunity to honour Him or go their own way.  God chose to allow His people to:  5) suffer hunger, and 6) fed them with manna from heaven.  The reason God did these things was so they might "...know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."  God uses difficult circumstances to teach us lessons and truth we don't realise we need to learn.  These trying times are blessings in disguise, for through them God works marvellously in us.

Believer, remember how God has led you - even long before you believed in Him or regarded Him as LORD.  Hasn't He been gracious to provide for us, protect us, and lead us gently?  Hasn't He been gracious to us when we have been stiff-necked and would have preferred to go our own way?  Hasn't He remained faithful though our hearts and minds have been often estranged from Him?  Every day He supplies our daily bread through His Word and sustains us with His presence.  We may not be able to explain why God allows painful trials and seasons in our lives, but remember Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!  Our Good Shepherd leads us gently and will ultimately bring us to His desired end.

Our LORD Forever

How blessed are those who fear God, for He will protect us without fail.  He provides everlasting assurance (without any fine print or disclaimers) that He will continue to protect and provide for us without fail.  When I travel I typically purchase travel insurance, but all insurance policies have limited coverage conditions.  Not so with our God!  Before we even make a claim He knows of our needs and is able to help in real time.  He is not limited by distance or regular business hours and remains faithful and true forever.

Lifetime warranties are great, but God does not restrict His goodness towards His people to our lives on earth:  His promises and power endure forever!  He does not only care about our mortal frame but preserves us body and soul.  There is no limit to His goodness and everlasting love.  See what is written in Psalm 121:5-8:  "The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. ⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."  God is near to those who love Him, and protects us day and night regardless of the season.  From this time forth He will guard and protect us forever.

Have you laid these promises close to your heart?  Though evil surrounds us on all sides and help seems far away, those who trust in the LORD share the reality of God's presence and protection.  God will preserve you, follower of Jesus Christ, and He will one day present us faultless before the presence of the Father with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24-25).  In the past God has been faithful, and from this day onward we need not fear evil or the schemes of Satan or deceitful men.  God told His people in Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."  This is a promise we can hold to forever because God is eternal and faithful to perform all He has said without fail.  God has imputed the righteousness of Christ to all Christians through the Gospel, and He will save us forever.

God has saved us, is saving us, and will always save us according to His grace, mercy, and truth.  Salvation is not a moment in time but lasts forever.  Are you anxious and worried, dear Christian?  Believe God's Word over your own present cares and the uncertainties of this life.  The LORD will preserve you, and He is sufficient to handle all troubles.  The LORD - the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator and Master of All - will preserve you from this second moving forward and forever.  Praise the LORD for His power and faithfulness to accomplish His perfect will.

No Longer in the Dark

As believers in the LORD Jesus, we are called to walk by faith and not by sight.  To say this is counter intuitive is really an understatement, for from our earliest days we learn to rely upon our vision.  Seeing with our eyes makes navigating the world something we take for granted.  It is good for us to remember the God who created man's eyes can certainly see, and He can see far beyond what we could perceive or imagine.

Man looks on the outer appearance, but God looks upon the heart.  Jacob was able to fool his father Isaac by a crude disguise fashioned of goat skins on his arms and neck, yet God sees through the most sophisticated schemes and motives of men.  Samuel looks upon the oldest son of Jesse and envisioned him being a stately and worthy king, but God had rejected him because his heart bore no resemblance to His own.  Whether we have 20/20 vision or suffer from cataracts, it is imperative we acknowledge God's vision is infinitely clearer than ours, and without His insight we are running blind in the dark.

A man in fellowship with God is granted spiritual sight the most eagle-eyed creature of all God's creation cannot possess.  An example of this is seen in the prophet Ahijah whose eyes were glazed over due to age.  King Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and go to the prophet with gifts and inquire about his son who was ill.  1 Kings 14:5-6 reads, "Now the LORD had said to Ahijah, "Here is the wife of Jeroboam, coming to ask you something about her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus you shall say to her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman." ⁶ And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another person? For I have been sent to you with bad news."  Isn't this amazing?  If Ahijah was able to see and relied upon his ability to see he could have been fooled by the woman's disguise, but though blind God gave him insight and made him His messenger.

Losing the ability to see clearly with your eyes is a terrible loss, but broken fellowship with the Almighty is a far greater loss spiritually and physically.  If he lived today Ahijah would have qualified as a person with a disability due to his blindness, but he was an able servant of the Most High God chosen and sent with serious tidings though he remained at home.  God brought opportunities to him!  How wonderful is the insight God gives, and that He would choose to employ us in His service despite our frailty.  In our weakness we discover great strength in our God and purpose even failing health cannot rob us of.  Because of the lamp of God's Word and the Light of the World Jesus Christ, we need never languish in the dark.

Remember the Alamo!

During our family's recent trip to Texas, one of the tourist stops we made was at the Alamo in San Antonio.  The restored church is the original building which still stands in the middle of a complex adorned with green trees, plaques, artefacts, and a gift shop.  The Alamo was a historical place of interest as my middle name found its inspiration from William B. Travis, a Lieutenant Colonel and rebel commander who was willing to die to defend it.

After the fall of the Alamo by the courageous who refused to surrender to General Santa Ana and the Mexican army, "Remember the Alamo!" became a rallying cry by rebels who continued the fight.  Remembering the courage and resolve of the departed and their violent deaths for the cause ultimately resulted in Texan independence.  Quoting from a website, "The Alamo defenders remind us "why people fight for an ideal," says Alamo tour guide Rosemary Mitchell. "They cared to fight for what they believe in, no matter the cost."  William Travis who is credited with the statement in a letter, "Victory or death," and this sort of determination and courage should mark faithful followers of Jesus Christ - but manifested in a very different way.  We are not called to take up musket or sabre against our enemies but to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to don the whole armour of God, and to wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Like Sam Houston famously led his troops with "Remember the Alamo!" we ought to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The death of Christ is a demonstration of His undying love for us; His resurrection from the dead proves beyond doubt His power over sin and death.  It shows Jesus Christ can provide the eternal life and enduring rest He offers.  Remembering the Alamo motivated men to fight with all their might because of a heroic defeat, but when Christians remember Christ's death and resurrection it urges us to persevere through all difficulties because of His victory.  To the world it seemed a fatal defeat on Calvary when Jesus breathed His last, yet the empty tomb and eye-witness accounts of Christ glorified reveals the certain future and ability to overcome granted to all who trust in Him.

"Remember the resurrection!" is a worthy battle cry, and this battle is not waged against flesh and blood:  it is a spiritual battle which takes place in our minds and hearts.  There are many temptations we will face to surrender to discouragement or sin instead of our righteous Saviour in faith.  There is no hope for this wicked world, but there is salvation for every person who repents and trust in Jesus.  How encouraging it is for Christians to know we are not alone in our battles but Jesus is with us and has overcome.  People may call us losers for pressing on - and we may feel like losers (and let's face it, we are losers by ourselves) - but we are granted strength for the day and victory by God's grace.  Even when the battle is fierce there is rest for the weary in Jesus.

The Fear of Isaac

"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. ⁸ O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You."

Psalm 89:7-8

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, for all wisdom springs from the mighty God who created all things.  This glorious King is not to be reduced to "a friend next to ya" but ought to be reverenced by His redeemed.  It is one thing to imagine what God is capable of, but better yet to praise Him for all He has done and also promised to do.  He spoke the universe into existence and sustains it faithfully according to His infinite power and grace.  God is the source and spring of all life seen and unseen by men.  Having great fear of God we give Him the credit He is due, avoid what is evil, and delight to do what pleases Him.

Whilst reading through Genesis as a family we came across a couple of verses which provided a fascinating title of God.  In stating his case against Laban, Jacob said in Genesis 31:42, "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked you last night."  He could have said the "God of Abraham and the God of my father Isaac" but Jacob did not.  He referred to God as "the Fear of Isaac."  It is right for man to fear God and greatly reverence his Maker.  Hebrew poetry employs synonymous parallelism to emphasise a point by using words which enlarge the meaning (see Psalm 89:7 above).  Fear and reverence are not synonyms (though we might use them in this manner) and expand our understanding of how man rightly relates to God.

The title of God employed by Jacob made me think:  if it was obvious to him Isaac his dad feared God, is my fear of God evident to my children as well?  How might Jacob realised Isaac feared God?  Most likely because his words and decisions reflected this fear and reverence of God.  Perhaps when he spoke to God in prayer he bowed with his face to the ground and offered costly sacrifices as a man would to a powerful king.  Isaac no doubt related Abraham's faith in God and their many interactions - like Isaac's miraculous conception or when Abraham bound Isaac on the altar intending to slay him in obedience to God.  That would put the "fear of God" in you, to hear the voice of the Angel of the LORD boom from heaven in Genesis 22:12 saying, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."  This event greatly impacted Isaac, and the righteous response of faith was to fear God.  Isaac's fear of God showed how awesome God was to him and all.

Through the testimony of his life the Fear of Isaac impacted his son Jacob as well.  Genesis 31:53 concluded the words of Jacob to Laban:  "The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us." And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac."  The Fear of Isaac became the Fear of Jacob, and Jacob spoke these binding words before the LORD the eternal and almighty Judge of All.  A parent who fears God receives no guarantee from God their children will follow in their steps concerning faith in God, and Esau and Jacob well illustrate this.  But there is no denying the impact the fear of God Jacob observed in his dad for many years was greatly influential in leading him to the Fear of Isaac as his only God and LORD.  May the Fear of Isaac be our Fear as well, for who is mighty like our LORD who is faithful in all His ways?