God's Chosen Fast

"Hunger strikes" can be employed as non-violent protests to raise awareness of perceived injustice or as a means to achieve a desired purpose.  Youth at our church have participated in World Vision's "40-hour Famine" to raise funds for the hungry or displaced refugees.  Those who deny themselves food or the convenience of furniture or technology for 40 hours receive funds from willing supporters to pass on to people in need.  It is good to bring awareness to the needs of others, but we too can have pressing needs which seem unmet - despite or best efforts or sacrifices.

Based upon Isaiah 58, it seems the children of Israel made fasting and wearing sackcloth a practice as they sought God.  They thrived on seeking after God by observing His ordinances.  But after afflicting themselves - kind of like people on a hunger strike - it didn't seem like God was listening to their prayers.  They weren't receiving the response or reward they felt their sacrifices warranted.  So they ramped up the duration and intensity of their fasts, almost like the prophets of Ba'al who cried out louder the longer their god remained silent.  Then suddenly, above the din of man's misguided expectations and zeal, the God of heaven spoke to His people:

"Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? ⁶ "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. ¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:5-11)

God questioned the people concerning their self-imposed fasts.  They fasted from eating food He had provided them when they would have been better served fasting from their sin.  What were they doing with the food they weren't eating?  What about the clothes they had laid aside to wear scratchy sackcloth?  Were they giving their extra food and clothes to people in need or just hoarding it for themselves?  They put themselves under bondage to fast and afflict themselves to gain God's favour when they should have released the oppressed and broken the heavy yoke of slavery.  God saw everything His people did and said and He saw the motives of their heart.  If they would put as much effort into speaking truth and extending grace to others rather than accusing fingers as they did in their observance of traditions and law, they would be better served - because then they would actually be serving God, not themselves.

See the promises and gracious rewards God gladly offered to those who trust and obey Him, not looking to their own works to justify them before God!  Light would shine in their darkness and healing would come speedily.  Righteousness would go before them and God's glory would be their rear guard.  God would answer their cry - not because of their self-imposed affliction - but because they honoured Him by doing good.  They would be guided, guarded, and satisfied with good things even in difficult and dry times.  God has Living Water for all who repent and trust in Jesus.  He has promises for us by grace which are far greater than the Law could ever supply.  Let us remember the fast God has chosen:  to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to release the oppressed, and break every yoke.

Lose the Labels!

Though God has created people to be unique individuals, He also created us for community.  The way human reproduction works it takes a man and a woman to start a family.  As we grow we begin to identify ourselves arbitrarily according to personal views shaped by a number of factors:  our parents, church, society, interests, etc.  We can view ourselves as being a "morning person" or a "night owl," and "introvert" or an "extrovert."  These labels often provide insight more on our personal preferences than our physical needs.  It may be one person can operate well on less sleep than another person, and that is an obvious fact.  But I believe it is possible to bind ourselves to a particular label to justify our decisions, lack of discipline, or even disobedience to God.

Allow me to illustrate:  I am sure Moses was one of those people (along with Elijah and Jesus) who enjoyed regular meals.  But a key lesson God taught the children of Israel was spelled out 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."  God knows people need to eat for health and physical strength, but He allowed His people to feel the pinch of hunger.  He fed them with manna they had never seen before, and based upon the biblical account before very long some wished they had never seen it!  God supplied His people with bread daily so they might learn that man doesn't live by food only but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.  Moses on two occasions went over a month without food as he went before the LORD to receive the Testimony.  Moses was a man who ate like the rest of us, but through faith in God and obedience to His will found himself miraculously sustained.

As a parent, it bothered me when my children said they "couldn't" or "I can't!" when they could but simply didn't want to.  It was a matter of preference, not ability.  I wonder if it bothers God when His children say "I can't!" when we can actually do all things through Christ who strengthens us!  I don't care if you identify as a "people person" or an "introvert":  I believe God has ministry He intends to accomplish which will bless and impact others through your willing obedience.  Through Jesus frightened disciples were able to cross a troubled sea made calm; through Jesus a great number of people were fed with scant resources.  The Israelites plundered slain enemies for days they did not lift sword or spear against because God fought for them.  If Jesus can still the wind and waves with a word, can't He tame the preferences or demands of our flesh?  This morning I read in Psalm 107:17-21:  "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. ¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. ¹⁹ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. ²⁰ He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. ²¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

We ought to praise God for His goodness and wonderful works, for we have tasted and seen the LORD is good.  The children of Israel ate manna and were sustained for years in the wilderness, but we have received the Bread of Life Jesus Christ who has provided us eternal life!  As much as God has called us to do, however, let us be sure we cannot accomplish His work through the strength of our flesh.  We need to humbly rely upon His sustaining grace.  I read a quote in a Sports Illustrated article about Orioles slugger Chris Davis concerning the Gospel:  "One of the biggest misconceptions of the gospel, in my mind, is that you have to be perfect,” he says now. “That is the complete opposite of the truth. Christ paid for our sins on the cross knowing that we would never be able to measure up."  Christianity is a game of failure, too, he says. The idea is to fall short, then wake up the next day and try again."  I believe I understand what is meant by Christianity being a "game of failure," pointing out the obvious fact all have sinned before God.  Faith in Christ is no claim to perfection but our ongoing need of sanctification.  But I would contend with the conclusion suggested by the author, that having fallen short the next day we are to try again - and the implications are to fail again.

No, the glory of the Gospel is not our ability to do, nor in the opportunity to try again:  it is who Jesus is and all He has done.  When Jesus died on Calvary, He said "It is finished!"  It is no longer about me trying to measure up to God's impossible standard, but having been made free from sin to walk righteously in the power of the Holy Spirit through faith.  There is no room for boasting, even if we are able to walk uprightly without sin because Jesus has washed us clean.  He has made us new creations for His glory.  It is not about our continual failure but Christ's victory; it is not about measuring up but responding joyfully and righteously to the great love God has demonstrated for us.  Before God there are no "introverts" or "extroverts," just treasured souls graciously redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  God is not limited by our failures, nor impressed with our devotion.  But He is pleased when we live uprightly led by the Spirit, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God whatever the circumstances.  We are not perfect, but whatever God tells us to do through Him we can do it - regardless of arbitrary labels - because it is through Him our strength comes.

The Stench of Flattery

Motive of the speaker is the primary difference between a genuine compliment and flattery.  A compliment is a polite way to acknowledge quality efforts and accomplishments of others, but flattery is false praise with the aim of gaining advantage for self.  Those who flatter can say the exact same words as the one giving a compliment, but for them those words are sin.  Words of flattery are an indication of a perverse and wicked heart.  Because we do not even know the depths of depravity natural in human hearts, we may not even realise how commonly we employ nuances of flattery.  God knows, and praise the LORD He is gracious to shine His truth to expose our need to repent and guides us in the way of truth.

People in positions of power are often targets of flattery, and King David was no exception.  He wrote in Psalm 5:8-9, "Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face. ⁹ For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue."  Not all of David's enemies hurled spears of insults at him, but frequented his courts with smiles, gifts, and kind words.  They were sprinkled amongst his countrymen and those who offered counsel.  Spoken words are indicators of the condition of the heart, and David was not ignorant or immune to flattery.  Because these verbal bribes posed a danger to upholding righteous judgment, David was on his guard against receiving flattery.

As a man after God's own heart, David was one who valued integrity.  He sought advisers who were faithful to God and honest with men.  In Psalm 5 David described his enemies as without faithfulness and full of destruction or calamity.  They spoke smooth, sweet words but David was savvy to their flattery, for he compared their breath to an open tomb full of rotting corpses.  If they only suffered from halitosis it would be a small issue compared to their perverse motives and lies.  Those who spoke flattery only pretended to be loyal and faithful friends, and by the grace and wisdom of God David was wise to it.

It is good for us to recognise flattery so that we will resist the subtle temptations to use it ourselves.  Felix hoped for a monetary bribe from Paul, and as money greases the palm so flattery strokes our pride.  God is good to free us from the sins of pride and flattery (along with all manner of wickedness), makes us increasingly sensitive to recognise it in ourselves, and provides power to refuse to use it.  Our call is to edify and encourage others in truth, not to gain advantage for self through insincerity.  I am glad God does not flatter men, for if He did we would still be bound in sins and heading for hell.  Even the compliments we receive work humility in us, for all that is praiseworthy in us exists only by God's grace.

Blessed Contrasts

Every life is full of contrasts which add to the richness of life.  Many things we deem negative are in light of the positive we once enjoyed.  For instance, we start life young.  It is only as we grow older and experience the effects of age we look back to aspects of youth with longing.  Sickness reminds us of how it once felt to be healthy and well.  Painful joints and injuries are reminders of a time when we never thought about joints, anti-inflammatory medication, or scar tissue.  The negative feelings we have can be useful triggers to remind us of many things we have taken for granted:  we had been richly blessed by God with youthful vigour and health and didn't even notice.

My grandpa recently told me because of his physical ailments and compounding limitations a few classic words of wisdom:  "Don't get old!"  The beauty of growing older and even creaking joints is not discovered in supplements, therapy, or miracle cures, but in realising the future for followers of Jesus is eternal glory free from the need of any such things.  For us the future is not a return to youth with its folly but glorification and immortality in the presence of God.  We have so much to look forward to, for the things we enjoy so much on earth will fade away because they cannot be compared in light of eternal life with our Saviour.  It is not so much what God removes from our experiences but what we gain.  Since our knowledge is limited by our experience, however, God is gracious to paint a picture we can understand dimly through blessed contrasts.

Revelation 21:1-5 says, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

If we had never wept in sadness or personally experienced pain, sorrow, and the finality of death, we would not appreciate the future God has prepared for those who trust and love Him.  It seems the more we experience sorrow and pain in this life, the more we have to look forward to.  We know what it is to have new things, and also to know what it feels like to grow old.  Old creaky joints and brittle bones cry out for deliverance, and in His time God will answer gloriously.  God will make all things new and perpetually so in a place where only righteousness dwells.  We who have only known wickedness and corruption will one day have a King dwelling in our midst who is infinitely more than benevolent or kind:  He is loving, just, compassionate, merciful, and altogether good.  The concept of "heavenly upgrade" just doesn't do God's glorious plan justice.

The Ordinary Christian

In Australia we recently had a change in Prime Minister.  Being relatively new to Australian politics, occasionally I will make inquiries with Autralians because they have a wealth of knowledge - especially from a historical perspective I do not possess.  On the ABC website the other day I read an article which seemed to match what I have observed:  leaders in parliament go to great lengths to show they are everyday, ordinary people.  Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke makes an annual appearance at the SCG to scull a beer, and whilst in office Tony Abbott was seen jogging with lifesavers or volunteering with the Fire Brigade.  Malcolm Turnbull would wear an Akubra hat when visiting rural areas.  The new Prime Minister Scott Morrison was pictured in the article tending a BBQ covered with fried eggs.  The title of the article was, "Just a regular Joe (or Bill or ScoMo): How our leaders work hard at being 'ordinary.'"

The article took a bizarre turn as it took aim at the Prime Minister and his open Christianity.  Frank Bongiorno in his opinion piece at the ABC remarked:

Like Mr Keating, the very Sydney-ish Mr Morrison is looking south for an AFL club, and he has cultivated what journalist Phillip Coorey calls a "daggy ordinariness". But his everyman act is already running up against his evangelical Christianity. The classic Australian plain man is not an evangelical.

Russel Ward sketched the "the typical Australian" most influentially in The Australian Legend 60 years ago. He is, Ward writes, "sceptical about the value of religion and of intellectual and cultural pursuits generally". The latter certainly fits Mr Morrison, but not the former.

I found it difficult to follow the logic of the article which went something like this:  Australian politicians work hard to appear normal and be everyday people, but Scott Morrison cannot be considered an "everyday" man because he is an evangelical.  In the article there was virtually no description provided of ScoMo's faith, and the sledge about the Prime Minister's scepticism of "intellectual and cultural pursuits" did not go unnoticed.  I was left to wonder exactly what Mr. Bongiorno meant when he wrote "evangelical," as it was not fleshed out in the article.  Frying eggs and wearing footy jumpers is deemed an "act," but it seems being an "evangelical" is not something an Australian leader should wear on their sleeve.

There is no shortage of religion in the world, and many religions could be aligned with intellectual and cultural pursuits.  Be that as it may, I find it strange any person (except for ignorance) could deny the positive implications of the description provided in James 1:27 for religion:  "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."  Christianity is unlike all other "religions" because we serve a living Saviour borne out of His love for us.  In loving God and others as He loves us, followers of Jesus ought to be numbered among the most useful, kind, generous, and gracious citizens, neighbours, and friends.  An atheist Matthew Parris years ago shared how he observed faith in Jesus made a positive difference in the world.  I don't believe the world is anti-religion, as religion is prolific in all nations:  I believe people are vehemently opposed to evangelicals in particular because they openly share their faith in Jesus Christ.

Maybe what is needed in the halls of Parliament and in State Government is more people who are willing to make a stand for righteousness and the truth of scripture, who wield their God-given authority in a way which honours and glorifies Him regardless of the contrary cultural tide.  Would to God being an "evangelical" would become an ordinary lifestyle in this great land, that our plain purpose in life would be out of God's love for us to love Him and others, humbly serving as our LORD Jesus did during his brief pilgrimage on His way to Calvary to die for lost sinners so they could be saved.  We cannot outdo Him, nor should Christianity be an act to appeal to constituents.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and those who follow Jesus are fit for service in politics or any arena because God gives us a Spirit of love, of power, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Way Speaks

On the blank pages in the back of my Bible I keep a running list of key verses which emphasise the deity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and verses which confirm the Trinity.  Though the Bible does not employ the word "trinity," throughout scripture the doctrine of the Triune Godhead shines forth.  I recently came across a couple of great verses which I added to the list from the book of Isaiah.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the God who spoke from the beginning addressed the children of Israel.  Isaiah 48:16-17 reads, "Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit have sent Me." ¹⁷ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."  It is evident the prophet Isaiah is not speaking for himself, for he could not claim to be "from the beginning," nor was he the promised "Redeemer."

Speaking of the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ, the apostle wrote in John 1:1-2, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God."  In Isaiah 48:16, the Speaker identifies Himself as being separate from the "Lord GOD" and His "Spirit."  Based upon this and other places in scripture, it is clear the One speaking is none other than the self-existent and preincarnate Christ, the Son of man and Son of God.  Jesus was sent by the Father to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14).  Jesus is the Holy One of Israel and also the Redeemer (1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Ephesians 1:7).

What the LORD says here is telling as well:  "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."  Jesus prayed the Father to send the Holy Spirit who would guide all Christ's followers into truth (John 16:13).  All Jesus tells the Holy Spirit He is faithful to proclaim.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  He also calls Himself the "Good Shepherd" who lays down His life for His sheep and even for sheep not of His fold which He has called - both Jew and Gentile.  Jesus leads us in the way we should go, setting an example of love, humility, obedience, service, and meekness all His disciples ought to follow.

Jesus said, "Come near to Me" in Isaiah, and He said in John 6:35-38, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."  Jesus cried out similar words in John 7:37-38:  "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  Do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  The Way still speaks and saves all who believe!

The Implications of Definitions

The English language is filled with nuances which impact our perspective.  So many words we commonly use have a range of meaning, and learning the definitions of words enriches our understanding.  It is very possible we limit the meaning of a word to one facet and miss the implications.  Take as an example the word "commit."  The vast majority of times the word is used is in a negative sense, for instance to "commit" murder or adultery.  There are positive uses of the word as well, like in Psalm 37:5:  "Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."  The implication of the word is to roll away, give, or entrust.

To illustrate the wide range of meanings of this word "commit," here is the definition from the Webster's Dictionary 1828 edition (punctuation and spacing edited by me to save space):

COMMIT, verb transitive literally, to send to or upon; to throw, put or lay upon. Hence,

1. To give in trust; to put into the hands or power of another; to entrust; with to; "COMMIT thy way to the Lord." Psalms 37:5; "The things thou hast heard of me, commit to faithful men." 2 Timothy 2:2.

2. To put into any place for preservation; to deposit; as, to commit a passage in a book to memory; to commit the body to the grave.

3. To put or sent to, for confinement; as, to commit an offender to prison. Hence for the sake of brevity, commit is used for imprison. The sheriff has committed the offender; "These two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty."

4. To do; to effect or perpetrate; as, to commit murder, treason, felony, or trespass; "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14. 

5. To join or put together, for a contest; to match; followed by with; a latinism; "How does Philopolis commit the opponent with the respondent?"

6. To place in a state of hostility or incongruity. Committing short and long words. But this seems to be the same signification as the foregoing.

7. To expose or endanger by a preliminary step or decision which cannot be recalled; as, to commit the peace of a country by espousing the cause of a belligerent; "You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship without committing the honour of your sovereign."

8. To engage; to pledge; or to pledge by implication; "The general--addressed letters to Gen. Gates and to Gen. Heath, cautioning them against any sudden assent to the proposal, which might possibly be considered as committing the faith of the United States." And with the reciprocal pronoun, to commit ones self, is to do some act, or make some declaration, which may bind the person in honour, good faith, or consistency, to pursue a certain course of conduct, or to adhere to the tenor of that declaration.

9. To refer or entrust to a committee, or select number of persons, for their consideration and report; a term of legislation; as, the petition or the bill is committed. "Is it the pleasure of the house to commit the bill?"

People are commonly encouraged to "commit" their lives to Jesus as LORD and Saviour.  Making the decision to follow Jesus is undoubtedly a commitment, but this word does not necessarily convey faith or trust.  I remember a friend who used the term "commitment" in relation to a pledge he made to his local church to give so much money over the next four years.  In his mind he made this pledge and therefore he was covered - for lack of a better word.  It is scriptural we would commit our lives to Jesus as He did into the hands of the Father, to entrust ourselves entirely to His covenant and will.  But I do find it interesting Jesus never asked the disciples to commit before following Him.  He was not interested in them pledging their loyalty before they were permitted to be His disciples.  In most cases recorded in scripture He simply said, "Follow Me."  Their faith was not conveyed by words alone but through obedience.  Our pledges mean nothing if they are only words or promising to give money or assent:  faith in Jesus and spiritual rebirth through the Gospel is needed for salvation.

So friends, crack open those dictionaries!  Language is a complex challenge to navigate, and our much improved access to information does not necessarily mean we understand the nuances of our mother tongue!  Words are powerful because of the meaning behind them when properly understood.  This is why I steer away from recent translations tailored for modern speakers, for stripping away language reduces meaning and significance.  Reducing language to today's common vernacular tends to dilute rather than distill.  God saw fit to give us His words written down which have been faithfully translated - not only so we could analyse and repeat them in our language - but so we could know Him and walk in light of His revelation and truth.

Well Pleasing to God

No one likes the feeling of being judged, especially when perceive judgments are unfair.  Negative opinions others have about us can be hurtful and impact us deeply.  How can we balance caring for people without trying to please them?  Paul was a follower of Jesus who set a great example of how to do this because he primarily lived to please God.  He was not careless about the feelings of others, for he loved deeply and served others sincerely.  But even when he was judged negatively by people inside or outside the church, he pressed on in faith in pursuit of Christ without regrets.

Paul wrote to people in the Corinthian church, and many in that fellowship had a low view of him.  They questioned his motives; they downplayed his leadership.  They admitted he wrote powerful letters, but his bodily presence was weak and his speaking contemptible - which means they despised it!  Paul knew well he would one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ and would receive according to all he had done or said, good or bad.  He wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

The apostle Paul aimed to be well pleasing to God, and he realised God knew him perfectly.  On the Day of Judgment God was not going to take into account the opinions or judgments of men concerning Paul's actions or motives:  God already knew them.  Paul, in a sense, examined his heart and made his decisions in light of the impending judgment he would face before the righteous, holy God.  Therefore the opinions or judgments of men (negative or positive) had minimal impact whatsoever on him.  He was not buoyed by a sense of success from adulation, nor was he waylaid from obedience to God by harsh censure.  Paul was not in the habit of walking according to his shortsightedness but had a singleness of mind in following and obeying Jesus.

Because Paul feared God he sought to persuade men to be well pleasing to Him.  Paul didn't want people discipling one another and walking uprightly only when he was around but also when he was not able to oversee the ministry in Corinth.  He did the best he could in person or through letters to convey instruction and rebuke seasoned with grace, to exhort and encourage all to continue steadfastly in the faith.  He warned them with many tears, not caring if they judged him weak and contemptible.  He did not speak with wisdom of words but with fear and trembling, seeking to impact the church for God's glory.  Not all received or appreciated what Paul had to say, and the same could be said about His LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Jesus lived to do the will of the Father, and as His servants we should do the same.

The supreme courts of men do not have authority which extends above the throne of God which is above all.  If we in a clear conscience can stand boldly before God's throne of grace, then we do not need to worry about the opinions of men.  Paul stood because God enabled him to stand, and praise God that is His will for us too.  Take to heart the words of Galatians 6:9-10: "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Receiving a "Well done, good and faithful servant" from the lips of my King will be sufficient.  God is well pleased to say this to His redeemed.

Receiving the Reward

God rewards those who trust and diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6), and the life of Enoch is cited as an example.  Enoch pleased God, and without faith it is impossible to please God.  He was translated to heaven and never saw death, and what a great reward eternal life is for all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.  Heaven is not the only place where God rewards His people, for we are abundantly blessed with God's presence, love, forgiveness, peace, and fullness of joy even now.

The rewards supplied by God by His grace come to us in unexpected ways.  God has set aside for us a "full reward" John alludes to in 2 John 1:8.  There are ways we can miss out on the rewards God intends to give us.  Paul revealed when followers of Jesus are judged for our stewardship before the judgment seat of Christ we could potentially suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:15).  Perhaps a little story might help this make sense.

There was once a man who worked for his wealthy father as long as he could remember.  He toiled away day after day because it was expected of him as the oldest son to set a good example.  Before the sun he rose to his duties, but often his heart wasn't in it.  He felt he was hard done by, for what did he have to show for his labours?  All it did was increase his father's wealth.  Let's say he didn't feel there was much upward mobility.

When the season to plow and sow arrived, the father supplied his son with an abundance of seed, farm equipment, and provided access to a well-watered plain.  "Feel free to sow all you want," the father said with a gleam in his eye.  "No doubt it will be a bountiful harvest."  Well, needless to say the son was not impressed.  Fine for him to say, the man thought to himself.  The rich get richer and the workers just keep slaving away, and for what?  What do I have to show for decades of work?  The son was glad for his pay and benefits, but could not be bothered to apply himself.  His father already was rich and lacked nothing.  To rub it in, he was going away on a long holiday as well!

As he continued day after day, the son became increasingly bitter.  It struck him how poorly he was being treated, even taken advantage of!  He felt under pressure by this expectation of a good crop!  So what did he do?  He decided to teach his old man a lesson for taking him for granted.  His days still began before dawn, but he sowed rusty nails instead of seed.  He took long breaks when he should have been clearing new fields, and napped when he could have repaired the irrigation system.  Month after month this continued.  A meagre crop sprang up from old seed, but it was a pitiful amount, a fraction of previous years.  Man, when dad finds out he'll learn his lesson.  The look on his face will be unforgettable.  He smiled thinking about it.

Having returned from a holiday, the man's father gathered the family for an announcement.  He said, "It's no secret I am a wealthy man.  Because I value and rejoice over my eldest son who has served me these many years, instead of harvesting and selling this year's crops for my benefit, in addition to his wages as his reward all that grows in all my land is to be sold for his profit.  At my own expense I have provided soil, seed, equipment, and will even employ harvesters to ensure none of it is lost.  Congratulations, my boy:  you will receive all you deserve."

If you could look at the son's face, I imagine he wore an expression so full of regret and disappointment we do well to consider always.  The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof.  We are unworthy to be numbered among God's children, but He is gracious and good.  He has provided everything pertaining to life and godliness.  He has a full reward set aside for us that is better than money that perishes.  The question is, are we working in a way worthy of receiving it?  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."  May we be faithful sons and daughters that persevere in obedience, faithful to serve our Saviour as He did the Father.  Jesus said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."  Let our lives be marked with integrity for God's glory, for such will receive a full reward.

Faith and Victory

The Bible is full of truth, layer upon layer.  The more I consider and study it, the basic and fundamental themes grow more profound.  I find myself increasingly amazed by the power and simplicity of the Gospel.  God's love and grace is a revelation of not only His goodness towards us, but to guide how we live.  The world has hijacked terms like "love" and "peace" for worldly pursuits, and these feeble caricatures bear no resemblance to the abundant provision God supplies for those who trust in Him.

After Jesus miraculously fed a crowd of thousands, they returned the following day hoping for more food.  Jesus told them not to work for food which perishes but for what would provide them eternal life.  The Jews asked Jesus, "How can we do the works of God?"  John 6:29 says, "Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  The good work Jesus spoke of was to believe Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, the Bread of Life come down from heaven:  all who partake of Him through faith will be born again and have eternal life.  Men are not saved by good works, but those who trust in Jesus are to enter into the good works He has prepared for us, that we would love God with all our hearts and love others as He loves us.

Walking in God's love is a good work all believers are called to, and it should be no surprise the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 begins with love.  It is not a coincidence we need to breathe oxygen to live on earth, and God created an atmosphere on earth with the perfect balance of oxygen to support humans and all living things.  One percent less oxygen and the air would be deficient of oxygen, and one percent more and the atmosphere would be oxygen enriched and volatile!  God is wise to supply all our needs through the Holy Spirit who indwells and enables us to do what we are called to.  It requires faith in God to obey Him and forgive others, to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control.  Faith in Jesus is not just the starting point but what enables us to continue and persevere.  Paul wrote in Roman 14:22, "...whatsoever is not of faith is sin."  Simple faith in God works and overcomes all.

See the prevalence of love and faith in the Christian experience in 1 John 5:1-5:  "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  The victory provided by faith in Jesus is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of grace.  Jesus has given us the command to love others as He loves us, and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  With the Holy Spirit within us we overcome the world - not because of our might, power, love or wisdom - but by faith in Jesus.  Selah!

Angry At God?

"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil."

Ephesians 4:26-27

Anger is a natural response for people, and it is not always a sinful one.  It is possible to be angry without sin, but the occasions are very rare.  Paul makes clear the connection between remaining angry and giving place to the devil - which makes us exponentially susceptible to sin.  When Jonah became angry after God relented from destroying Nineveh, God asked Him a question we do well to consider when we are angry:  "Is it right for you to be angry?"  If we would answer honestly, much of our anger has nothing to do with God or righteousness at all.  The driver behind much anger we experience is pride and self.  It is fuelled by perceived infringement on our rights or desires, and it is nothing about God being robbed of His just due or being sinned against.

Is it possible to be justified in anger towards God?  No, for there can be no righteous indignation directed towards a righteous, holy God.  In his book Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges wrote this:

"Let me make a statement loud and clear.  It is never okay to be angry at God.  Anger is a moral judgment, and in the case of God, it accuses Him of wrongdoing.  It accuses God of sinning against us by neglecting us or in some way treating us unfairly.  It also is often a response to our thinking that God owes us a better deal in life than we are getting.  As a result, we put God in the dock of our own courtroom...I acknowledge that believers can and do have momentary flashes of anger at God.  I have experienced this myself.  But we should quickly recognise those occurrences as the sins that they are and repent of them." (Bridges, Jerry. Respectable Sins. NavPress, Published in Alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016. pg. 123)

I don't know I have ever heard it put the way Jerry Bridges did when he asserted, "Anger is a moral judgment."  This is very perceptive and helpful to deal with the source and reason behind anger we experience.  It is good to recognise there are moral judgments I accept as right and wrong and these do not necessarily always line up with God's righteous judgment.  I have been angry before at people I believed were in the wrong, but my anger revealed it was really I who was sinning.  When we are offended it can often be another way of saying we are angry.  Being "offended" pins the blame of our anger on someone else, but we still must own it.  Feelings of frustration or annoyance can also be anger in disguise.  Praise the LORD He knows our hearts better than we do, and better yet God is able to cleanse them!

Brothers and sisters, let us not give place to the devil in our lives through anger - especially when we are angry towards God.  He is altogether righteous and good, and we are not.  We can always bring our anger to God in repentance, and He is able to help in profound ways sowing to the flesh through exhibiting our anger could never accomplish.  How good it is to be set free from the bondage of anger and bitterness!

LORD God of Hosts

"O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. ⁹ You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them."

Psalm 89:8-9

The LORD God of hosts is supreme over all, and all power and authority is His.  The One who created the sea can rule it, and His might is incomparable.  The psalmist Ethan the Ezrahite asked, "Who among God or man can compare with the LORD?"  Man is at the mercy of the power of a raging sea, but God has the power to still the waves.

This passage reminds me of when Jesus and His disciples sought to go to the other side of Galilee in ships.  Mark 4:37-41 reads, "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" ⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

What a contrast between Jesus and His disciples as they travelled in a boat which rapidly filled with water!  Jesus slept soundly whilst the disciples feared for their lives.  When they roused Him with cries, wondering if He cared their lives were in danger, Jesus rebuked the wind.  He did not shout; He did not need to.  He said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" - and the sea immediately was calm.  The disciples were amazed beyond measure, wondering who Jesus could possibly be.  Psalm 89 penned by Ethan the Ezrahite had already identified who Jesus is:  the LORD God of hosts!

How wonderful is this, that the storms we face are under the rule of our LORD and Saviour Jesus.  The Good Shepherd of our souls is altogether faithful and will not forsake His little ones.  He does not fear as we do, and He does not help like we might expect.  Perhaps the disciples wanted Jesus to bail water out of the sinking ship or grab a rope, but Jesus stilled the storm with a calm voice.  Only God rules the raging of the sea, and Jesus identified Himself as God by the miraculous signs He did.  Let us place our faith in and glorify the LORD of Hosts, for there is no one mighty to save as He.

Give God Thanks

Following Jesus isn't easy, but it is an abundant life worth living.  Faith in God brings a fulfilling sense of purpose and hope nothing else in this perishing world can provide.  Though we have comfort, help, and rest in our God, at times we can be bombarded with bad news, devastated by circumstances, and be drowning in sorrow.  Over the last couple of days I have felt like I cannot cast my cares upon Jesus because they are casting me.  When the burdens are suffocating and we are too weak to move a muscle, praise the LORD He can lift us up for He stands by to save.

After prayer and reading Psalm 88 in the Bible (which was extremely relevant) this morning I flipped open Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.  The passage in the book that I read was exactly what I needed to hear and be reminded of.  Allow me to share it with you:

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  This command is different from the command in Ephesians 5:20, where we are to give thanks to God for everything.  I believe, considering the context, that in Ephesians Paul is exhorting us to develop a habit of continual thanksgiving for all the blessings God so graciously pours out on us; that is, one characteristic of a Spirit-filled life is a thankful heart.

 In the Thessalonians passage, however, Paul is instructing us to give thanks in all circumstances, even those we would not feel thankful about.  Is Paul asking us to give thanks through gritted teeth by sheer willpower when in our heart of hearts we are truly disappointed?  The answer to the questions lies in the promises of God found in Romans 8:28-29 and 38-39:  "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers...For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Verse 28 tells us that for those who love God, all things work together for good.  The meaning is that God causes all things to work together for good; for "things" - that is, circumstances - do not work together for good themselves.  Rather, God directs the outcome of those circumstances for our good.  The "good," however, is defined in verse 29 as our being conformed to the image of God's Son.  In other words, Paul is telling us that God intends all our circumstances, both good and bad (but in the context Paul has in mind, especially the bad ones), to be instruments of sanctification, of growing us more and more into the likeness of Jesus.

So in situations that do not turn out the way we hoped, we are to give God thanks that he will use the situation in some way to develop our Christian character.  We don't need to speculate as to how he might use it, for His ways are often mysterious and beyond our understanding.  So by faith in the promise of God in Romans 8:28-29, we obey the command of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in the circumstances.

Further, as we are in the midst of the difficult circumstance, we have the promise of Romans 8:38-39 that nothing, including the situation we are in, can separate us from the love of God.  Again we must cling to this promise by faith.  So we have a dual assurance to enable us to give thanks in the circumstance.  First, by faith we believe God is using or will use the particular difficulty to conform us more to Jesus.  Second, we have the assurance that even in the midst of the difficulty we are enveloped in God's love. (Bridges, Jerry. Respectable Sins. NavPress, Published in Alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016. pages 81-82)

How blessed we are to have an almighty God who loves us beyond compare!  My love perishes with me, but the love of Jesus endures forever.  We might not always feel loved but we can know we are by the love demonstrated by Jesus when He willingly suffered and died on Calvary for sinners.  Who Jesus is and all He accomplished through His death and resurrection are eternal, and nothing that happens in our lives or even things we do cannot rob Him of victory.  Therefore, let us bless and thank our LORD Jesus Christ, for the God who gives also takes away - and gives good again in double measure.  Instead of being bitter through disappointment or angry with perceived injustice, let us in brokenness cry out to our Saviour who loves us and stands by us ready to save. 

Godly Emphasis Matters

Good teaching of God's Word to a degree depends upon emphasis.  Undue emphasis on a minor point can draw away attention from the primary purpose of a passage, and this potentially leads to bad interpretations.  There is always a danger of reading into a text and arrive at conclusions which appeal to us.  The interpretation of the scripture can become increasingly narrow until we can only see the point we want to make - and limit or discount the full range of God's truth.

In reading Tozer's The Crucified Life, he uses an example to show it is possible to believe the truth but place our primary focus in the wrong place.  He had some very strong things to say about what he saw as misplaced empahsis in regards to our salvation.  Tozer held little back when he wrote:

"What a bunch of unworthy people we evangelicals have become, daring to stand up on our feet and preach to an intelligent audience that the essence, the final purpose and the cause of Christ is to save us from hell.  How stupid can we get and still claim to be followers of Christ?  The purpose of God is not to save us from hell; the purpose of God is to save us to make us like Christ and to make us like God.  God will never be done with us until the day we see His face, when His name will be on our foreheads; and we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is.

What a cheap, across-the-counter commercial kind of Christianity that says, "I was in debt, and Jesus came and paid my debt."  Sure, He did, but why emphasize that?  "I was on my way to hell and Jesus stopped me and saved me."  Sure, He did, but that is not the thing to emphasize.  What we need to emphasize is that God has saved us to make us like his Son.  His purpose is to catch us on our wild race to hell, turn us around because He knows us, bring judgment on the old self and then create a new self within us, which is Jesus Christ.

The most beautiful verse in the Bible is found in Psalm 90:7:  "Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us."  How wonderful is the beauty of the LORD our God?  The sharp contrast to the beauty of the Lord our God is the ugliness of I, myself...In the great divine exchange, God offers to trade our old selves, which have brought us so many problems, for new selves, which are Christ.  The apostle Paul says, "And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Tozer, A. W., and James L. Snyder. The Essential Tozer Collection. Bethany House, 2017. The Crucified Life, pages 164-165)

I am glad God has given us the freedom to have different viewpoints and opinions concerning emphasis.  Tozer obviously believed with great vigour the best point of emphasis concerning salvation was the work God desires to do within a person, to make us like Himself.  It is perfectly valid and true at the same time to draw attention to the fact Jesus has saved us from hell, called us to be His witnesses today, and He has saved us for heaven too.  A point of emphasis not mentioned here is that Jesus came to earth to draw us near to Himself so we could have an intimate relationship now and forever for His glory.  Needless to say, what we emphasise has a great impact on how we live.  for example, if my focus is limited on Jesus saving me from hell, I would be grateful but ongoing personal sanctification would likely not be a intentional consequence.

As I read through the passage in Tozer's book, it dawned on me how God created man in His own image.  God desires for people - not angels, insects, or animals - to be made like Christ.  There is no other living creature apart from humans in all creation the Holy Spirit comes upon and indwells.  It is amazing to know God put on human flesh and became our Saviour so His redeemed can say "we will ever be with the LORD."  We rejoice to affirm the truth of 1 John 3:1-3:  "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."  What a privileged place we have amongst the wondrous things God has made, that the love and beauty of the LORD could be and is upon us.

Our Sun and Shield

It is good to meditate on the Word of God, to take it in beyond the eye and ear and turn it round in your mind.  The food we eat is quickly stripped of nutritional value by our bodies, but not so the scriptures:  they remain just as practically useful and spiritually vital as ever.  God's Word will never pass away, and therefore as we feed on it we are renewed continually.  The Living Bread (who is Christ) which comes down from heaven does not grow stale or old but teaches us to live by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.

I jotted down thoughts yesterday concerning a passage which God is still using to work in me.  Psalm 84:11 says, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."  I truly enjoy spiritual metaphors and similes contained in scripture, and I remain intrigued by what the psalmist said:  "the LORD God is a sun and shield."  He is not "like" a sun or a shield but wrote metaphorically that God is a sun and shield.  Often when I come across a statement like this it is good to pause and consider the implications of what is being said.  Knowledge of the functions of the sun and a shield sheds light on the nature of God and His relationship to us.

The sun brings light to our planet and life for plants and animals alike.  Without the heat of the sun all would be a frozen wasteland.  The sun governs the day and the orientation of it in the heavens changes during each season.  The sun consistently rises in the east and sets in the west, and many travellers have oriented themselves according to its ordered position in the heavens.  A sunrise and sunset can be breathtakingly beautiful, and no camera can adequately capture such brilliance.  As the sun is critical for life on this planet, so is God indispensable as our Creator.  He smiles down upon us in every season, for He has established the days, weeks, months, seasons, and years of our lives.  He gives light to men who live in darkness, and warms us with His presence.  He is ever faithful, revealing Himself in splendour and glory for all who have eyes to see.  No one can look directly at the sun for its brilliance without potential eye injuries, and no one can look upon the face of the Almighty and survive.  He is ever glorious and causes His light to shine upon all.

The psalmist wrote God is also a shield.  Shields were objects designed for the purpose of personal armour.  Small shields were used actively to fend off attacks, whilst large shields provided passive protection from projectiles.  A shield was a distinguishing feature of warriors carried for defence in battle.  The material and design of shields carried by ancient people aid archaeologists to determine rank or class.  Some groups employed the shields together in protective formations.  Unknown to the one who penned the Psalm, the word "shield" has expanded due to technology, like "shielded cable" or a "heat shield" on spacecraft - but the designed function of the shield to protect remains the same.  God is a shield for us, our protector and provider.  He is our defence and refuge, the One who is greater than all.  As chicks huddle beneath their mother for protection, so we seek comfort and grace in our LORD.  He has even provided us the shield of faith through the Holy Spirit which extinguishes all the fiery darts Satan throws at us.

God is a sun and shield, and in light of what follows we can rejoice:  "the LORD will give grace and glory."  The sun can burn our skin and scorch plants, and shields can be heavy and tiring to wield:  yet God will give grace and glory.  He has power to consume as well as power to give life.  We are not deserving of God's presence or protection, but He has chosen us by His grace.  He as invited us to behold His glory in our crucified and risen Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World.  God's glory fills the heavens, and this declaration transcends all human language.  God is gracious and glorious, but He also gives grace and glory.  Which king on earth ever freely gave his glory to any but his own son?  God did make Jesus Christ His only begotten Son glorious, but He will glorify us with Him.  He says to those who trust and fear Him, "Friend, come up higher!  You are not only a guest but a beloved child I have adopted as my own."  Praise the LORD, our Sun and Shield who gives grace and glory.

A Faithful Doorkeeper

During medical mission trips to Cambodia at times I had the role of "policeman."  What this job entailed was ensuring the patients/guests were ushered to the correct station in a timely manner.  After a presentation of the Gospel, visitors were permitted to choose two different free services at a medical, dental, or eye-glass stations.  Part of the role was to ensure people did not sneak in without being checked in at the triage station or jump the queue.  Keeping a friendly eye on the people and coordinating movement to stations was employed for their comfort, safety, and for the benefit of all who offered the services.  Without guidance the stations would be overwhelmed with inquisitive or demanding people and services would suffer.

The role of "policeman" is an important one for medical outreaches to run smoothly, but it is not nearly as important as those tasked with keeping watch of the doors of the temple in Israel.  At the gates trained men were stationed who ensured only those who were permitted entered.  Women and Gentiles were restricted to the outer court, whilst men who were purified according to the Law of Moses could enter the inner court.  Only Priests and Levites on duty could enter the temple itself, and it was a place of absolute reverence and purity before God.  To be a doorkeeper at the temple doors was a privilege and honour few were afforded and taken most seriously.

The role of a doorkeeper came to mind when I read Psalm 84:9-12:  "O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. ¹⁰ For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. ¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. ¹² O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!"  To be entrusted to keep watch over the holy place where the presence of the Almighty God dwelt was of great importance.  God was for His people a sun and shield, and the doorkeeper was responsible to provide entry for those serving in the temple and deny entrance to all that would defile.  In a way the doorkeeper acted as a shield, to guard the holy place from corruption.

Under the New Covenant of grace, Jesus is our Great High Priest and we have become the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.  He has not withheld any good things from those who walk uprightly, from those who trust in Him.  Our righteousness comes by grace through faith in Him, and as His sanctified children we in a sense have the role of a doorkeeper concerning our bodies.  Often we must bear the responsibility for allowing filth to enter our consciousness through our eyes and ears.  The air drawn through our nostrils is exhaled, and all the food and drink we consume are eventually eliminated, but this is not so for what we see and hear.  These things are meticulously stored in our memories and imprinted upon our hearts.  Most that spiritually defiles us within comes through these senses, and therefore we must be discerning and vigilant to be on guard continuously.

As priests unto our LORD we also ought to recognise anything that defiles which is discovered within the holy place, for from our fleshly hearts arises all matter of corruption from inside.  We could keep the doors of our eyes and ears closed and suddenly lust, greed, selfishness, pride, and deceit can spawn and appear within us.  Jesus Christ Has atoned for these sins with His shed blood on Calvary, and should we see them appear within us - like filthy rats which have squeezed through an open window in the temple - we must swiftly deal with them through repentance.  The Psalmist said to be a doorkeeper of the LORD's house for one day was better than a thousand, and what a sober privilege and responsibility we are given by God's grace to set a guard upon our hearts and minds.  As those chosen and anointed, let us walk in faith in our God who is our sun and shield.  Let us be vigilant to keep ourselves in purity and thus sanctify our God whose glory outshines the sun.

Diffusing the Fragrance

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

2 Corinthians 2:14

Growing up I remember many products which were used to treat household odours.  In bathrooms it was common to see a dusty old bowl of potpourri or a can of aerosol spray to neutralise (or mask) offensive smells.  "Odor Eaters" were marketed to reduce smells from inside shoes, and Glade made a product to plug into a power point which heats oil into a vapour.  There were sprays which made fabric smell fresh, and the women in the TV ads were always smelling curtains and sheets (pretty weird if you ask me!).  Then there were products made to smell bad, and in my junior high years "stink bombs" were not uncommon.  The smell of rotten eggs was horrible, distinctive, and provided an amusing distraction in the daily routine.

My sense of smell is not nearly as sensitive or refined as other people I know, and this has positives and negatives.  Sometimes I cannot smell things my wife finds overpowering.  A strong scented candle might be enough to give me a headache, but the sense of smell makes eating much more pleasant.  The fragrance of a flower, cedar, or pine are welcome smells for me.  The fragrance of Christ, however, is a sweet smell beyond compare.  God has chosen to diffuse "the fragrance of His knowledge in every place" through those who have received Jesus by faith.  For us eternal life has begun, and the truth, love, grace, compassion, and mercy which was revealed to us through Jesus can be generously diffused wherever we go.

It would be very convenient if the aroma of Christ was as easy to share as body odour, which is altogether passive.  When we have been exercising, working outside, or just on a hot day without deodorant or washing, the smell the human body is capable of producing is awful!  We often aren't as sensitive to our own scent as others are because it is foreign to them.  There is no one I know who smells better when they wash less frequently.  If we want to smell good, there are actions to be taken.  Soap, shampoo, clean water, fresh clothes, cologne, and perfume help people smell good.  In the same way if we want to diffuse the fragrance of Christ, there are actions we must take.  It is possible by God's grace we share His love, truth, and grace without realising it, but a majority of the time this involves intentional acts of denying self and obeying Jesus.

What a shame it would be to poorly represent our Saviour by allowing sinful attitudes, words, and deeds to foul His fragrance.  Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 10:1, "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odour; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honour."  In Christ there is healing balm, and let us walk in wisdom instead of folly.  Whilst intentional actions are required for us to diffuse the fragrance of Christ - repentance from sin and obedience to God - 2 Corinthians 2:14 makes it clear this is God's work in and through us.  We cannot by the efforts of our flesh shine for Christ, nor can any gain victory over sin by our efforts alone.  It is God who leads us in triumph in Christ, and God through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  God is able to cause us to be a witness everywhere for His glory.  How amazing is this?