Receiving All Jesus Paid For

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

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

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

Tragedy and Truth

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celebrate God's Grace

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

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

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

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

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

Christ In Me

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

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

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

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

Thanksgiving Forever

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

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

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

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

God's Work is Good

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

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

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

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

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

The LORD Your God

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

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. ³ 'Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. ⁴ 'Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves moulded gods: I am the LORD your God. ⁵ 'And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it of your own free will. ⁶ It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire. ⁷ And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It shall not be accepted. ⁸ Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from his people. ⁹ 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰ And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God. ¹¹ 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. ¹² And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. ¹³ 'You shall not cheat your neighbour, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. ¹⁴ You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD. ¹⁵ 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbour. ¹⁶ You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbour: I am the LORD. ¹⁷ 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD."

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

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

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

Empowerment by Submission

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

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

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

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

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

James Montgomery Hymn

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

Spirit of the living God!

In all Thy plenitude of grace,

Where'er the foot of man hath trod,

Descend on our apostate race!

Give tongues of fire and hearts of love

To preach the reconciling word;

Give power and unction from above,

Whene'er the joyful sound is heard.

Be darkness, at Thy coming, Light;

Confusion, order in Thy path;

Souls without strength inspire with might;

Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

O Spirit of the Lord! Prepare

All the round earth her God to meet;

Breathe Thou abroad like morning air,

Till hearts of stone begin to beat.

Baptise the nations far and nigh;

The triumphs of Thy Cross record;

The name of Jesus glorify,

Till every kindred call Him Lord.

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

Without Controversy

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

Romans 14:1

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

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

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

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

Receive Correction and Instruction

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

Proverbs 9:8-9

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

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

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

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

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

More Than a Meal

I was blessed to recall the occasion when Queen Esther appeared before King Ahasuerus unannounced at the risk of her own life.  According to the Law of the Medes and Persians, to appear before the king without being first summoned meant the death penalty - unless he extended the royal sceptre.  After three days of prayer and fasting, Esther came before the king and she found favour in his sight.  I wonder if he was surprised what her request was:  that he and Haman (a chief adviser) would come to a banquet of wine.  Really?  Would a sensible person really risk her life over a private banquet?

If you have read the book of Esther, you know there was much more at stake than the king attending a dinner party.  Esther was desperate to save her people, and God raised her up for such a time to use her position of influence and access with the king to plead for deliverance.  Ultimately the scheme and the wicked adversary Haman were exposed and overthrown.  The brave and courageous deeds of Esther will not be forgotten, and I imagine her husband loved and appreciated her more than ever.

It is remarkable how Esther humbled herself, putting her life in her own hands for the sake of her people so they could be saved.  It is far more remarkable what Jesus Christ has done in becoming flesh and dwelling among us, walking throughout Judea and calling disciples to Himself.  He did not only risk His life, but He laid down His life willingly on Calvary's cross so Jews and Gentiles could be saved for eternity and receive everlasting life.  He is the one who is patient and loving to stand at the door of the hearts of lukewarm Christians and bid them open unto to Him so He can come in a dine.  Wouldn't it be something to host Jesus Christ at your dinner table?  How much more intimate to have the presence of God within us, speaking words of wisdom, grace and truth!

Jesus cried out that if any is thirsty, they should come to Him and drink of the Living Water He supplies.  He does not do so to quench our temporary thirst, but so we will be satisfied and sustained by faith in Him alone.  Esther had a bigger scope in appearing before Ahasuerus than sharing a drink together, and Jesus has a far greater purpose in supplying His broken body and shed blood than fleeting feelings of happiness:  He desires to be our life everyday and forever!  Let us put to death wickedness and throw aside the weights which easily weigh us down, and then we can walk unhindered in our pursuit of our Saviour.  How great it is to have Jesus as Saviour and King, the lover of our souls!

Holding God's Hand

I saw a disheartening sight the other day.  A grown man was holding hands with a little girl, walking her to school.  Now what's wrong with that, you might ask?  What should have been an endearing and sweet scene was reversed by the man's other hand holding a phone.  As they walked in the bright sunshine under shady gum trees, he was transfixed on his screen while the little girl in a school uniform stared blankly and silently ahead.  The sad image has remained with me.

All manner of thoughts went through my head.  I wondered if the little girl saw the phone as an intruder on a friendly chat she could have with her dad.  Though quite young, I also wondered if the child was resigned to the phone's presence in the hand of her guardian and escort.  Maybe she saw it as a grown-up thing and was looking forward to having a phone too.  "Talk to your little one!" I thought to myself.  They were holding hands but distant, and that fleeting vision has weighed heavy ever since.

I then began to think about my own life and how persistent the impulse can be to immerse yourself in a digital wonderland of information, amusement, and areas of personal interest instead of interacting with real, present people.  Am I present when I walk with my wife, sons, and friends?  Do my devices have a grip on my life which rob me of opportunities to love others?  And even more important, are screens and devices a wedge between me and God?  It would be easy to reverse the picture as an illustration of us and God:  people are like the little girl focused on a screen whilst our Father holds our hand and accompanies us wherever we go.  He does not force Himself on us, and He waits most patiently.  Are we pleased to hold His hand for security and say "Bye!" with a quick smile as we head off on our day, or are we willing to leave the phone alone and see what He wants to talk about?

The wonderful thing is even when we rush off into life, when we are ready to seek the LORD He will be right near because He has been seeking us.  This shouldn't affect us by taking advantage of His love, grace, and patience, but we should value Him above all others.  I love the old hymn which paints the picture of God who walks and talks with me and tells me I am His own.  This is the intimacy God desires to cultivate with us, and in response we ought to rejoice in such a privilege.  May our eyes be fixed on Him and our hearts filled with awe and reverence for Him.  That God would hold our hand and draw us near to Himself!  What joy and rest we have in Him!

Our Sovereign God

Recognising God's sovereignty is a source of peace in the midst of trouble.  When things are difficult we can feel under attack, and we can wonder what the source of our struggles are.  Is it a spiritual attack?  Does Satan or demons have me in their sights?  Am I experiencing the consequences of sin, or am I simply wrestling with my own negative feelings and thoughts?

When Israel was laid waste by armies from Assyria and Babylon, Jeremiah did not credit physical or spiritual foes with their destruction:  he laid the responsibility for their defeat squarely upon God.  He did not blame God as an evildoer as some do, but Jeremiah recognised their plight as a result of the chastening of a holy, righteous God.  Nebuchadnezzar was a mighty king, but God called him His servant.  It was shocking to the Jews God would utilise a Gentile king to do His will, but God remains sovereign over all.  His ways are higher and good, infinitely better than ours.

Crediting God with the destruction of Israel did not move Jeremiah to hate or forsake God, but drove him to seek God with tears.  See what Jeremiah said in Lamentations 2:1-5, and this is a small portion of his lament:  "How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger! He cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel, and did not remember His footstool in the day of His anger. ² The Lord has swallowed up and has not pitied all the dwelling places of Jacob. He has thrown down in His wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; He has brought them down to the ground; He has profaned the kingdom and its princes. ³ He has cut off in fierce anger every horn of Israel; He has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy. He has blazed against Jacob like a flaming fire devouring all around. ⁴ Standing like an enemy, He has bent His bow; with His right hand, like an adversary, He has slain all who were pleasing to His eye; on the tent of the daughter of Zion, He has poured out His fury like fire. ⁵ The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel, He has swallowed up all her palaces; He has destroyed her strongholds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah."

God did exactly as He warned His people through His Word and prophets, but they would not hear.  What is remarkable is why God did this to His own people whom He loved:  He did not chasten them to destroy them, but so they might be restored.  How far they had drifted from God through their idolatry and brought upon themselves this great fall and demise!  In forsaking the LORD they abandoned all hope, but in humble repentance they would without doubt flourish again.  God would bring back His inheritance into the land with rejoicing, and He would plant them where He had established His name.  Jeremiah wisely did not credit the devil or the armies of enemies as the cause of their pains but the God who reigns over heaven and earth, the Judge before every knee will bow.  It is in surrender to God where peace, hope, and salvation begin.

People who have problems with God need to realise they have problems only He can fix; they have wounds only God can heal; they have folly only God can redeem.  Proverbs 3:11-12 says, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; ¹² for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."  God's means of chastening often involve pain, and our response shows if we truly trust Him and value His active love as we ought.

With All Your Heart

Before I head off to buy groceries at the shops, I typically jot down a list of things to purchase.  Just because I write an item on the list, however, does not mean I always remember to buy it!  There are few things more frustrating than taking time to prepare and not following through by carefully checking off the list - and forgetting the ingredient which was a main reason why I headed to the shops in the first place!

The Bible is infinitely more important and useful than a checklist I write, yet in the Bible there is great divine wisdom we should be reminded of often.  One of my favourites is Proverbs 3:5-6:  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  I find this verse useful because it is very practical.  It is a command to trust God and not lean on my limited understanding.  It establishes the conditions upon which God will direct and guide me into all truth, when I trust and acknowledge Him in all my ways.  If I trust God halfheartedly I give place to the sin of unbelief, and should I acknowledge God in only some of my ways I will wander from His will.

Now here's the rub:  the Bible says no man can know perfectly his own heart because it is naturally wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).  It is true those who receive the Gospel through faith are given a new heart, but we remain in a body of flesh prone to corruption and deception.  Even Paul, a man greatly led and empowered by the Spirit, did not have the flesh totally whipped into complete submission (Romans 7:24).  I am therefore incapable in the strength of my flesh to fulfil this most basic command.  To trust in the LORD with all my heart I need God's wisdom, strength, chastening, and grace.  I need the presence of the Holy Spirit within me who guides me into all truth.  I must acknowledge my inability to do what God commands to assume a humble posture and be willing to be led to address my unbelief, repent, and trust God instead.

I am very glad for the practical steps we can take to put off the works of the flesh, avoid temptation, and to put on the new man equipped with the armour of God.  But I cannot tick these things off a list and feel better about myself:  constant reliance upon God and acknowledgement of our need for Him is paramount to walk in obedience and faithfulness.  Introspection has merit but pitfalls as well, potentially making ourselves or our efforts the focus rather than God and His grace towards us.  Let us trust in the LORD with all our heart and in every way possible.  God does not just make up the difference we lack or only aid in areas of our hearts hidden from our sight, but by His grace will enable us to obey in this matter.

The Snare of Greed

"Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; ¹⁸ but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."

Proverbs 1:17-19

Trapping birds requires subtlety, but those who devise wicked schemes prepare a trap for themselves.  Snares are most effective when hidden, like a hook completely concealed with bait fish find attractive.  Those ensnared by sin, however, display less sense than threat-savvy birds or fish.  They make plans to destroy others, and even if they achieve their ends they destroy themselves in the process.  The foolish do not realise this, but the wise see the danger from afar.

Solomon warned his son of the dangerous sin of greed.  Greed is like the grave:  it is never full or satisfied.  At its root is a love of self, a lack of thankfulness and satisfaction with what God has provided, and pride.  Those who are greedy for wealth pierce themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).  Greed longs for more, newer, and better.  It compels a man and woman to overwork and prevents them from enjoying the fruit of their labour.  People toil and slave to gain at great cost, and yet life places demands on us to spend.  The lure of a better life always dangles just in front of the greedy, and it robs them of their lives which could be enjoyed presently.

The miser Scrooge from Dicken's popular book A Christmas Carol presents an illustration with whom many can relate.  Scrooge was a businessman whose primary aim was the pursuit of wealth.  It was this exact pursuit which threw his life into miserable poverty.  Oh, he had money, and he had many people who owed him money.  But greed took a painful toll.  The greed of Scrooge led to his fiancee breaking off their engagement and robbed him of the chance of companionship, being a husband, father, and grandfather.  He could afford to keep his home and place of business comfortably heated in the winter, but he suffered the cold to save money on coal.  All his life he aimed to gain, and though he gained money his life was corrupted by greed, bitterness, and cynicism.  His net worth was never enough, and life was empty like his cavernous, cold house.  The happy ending supplied by Dickens is welcome, but such a dramatic turnaround is often unfortunately fiction in people poisoned and trapped by greed.

Take the wisdom of God to heart!  The life of your dreams is not as precious as the life God has given you to live today - regardless of your money, status, or perceived lack thereof.  Should you give place to greed you endanger the life you have, for greed "takes away the life of its owners."  We must own up to our greed, or otherwise it will own us.  Greed, like all other sins, will enslave and rob us of the life God intends we live with Him.  Only Jesus can break the yoke of greed and lead us in an abundant life beyond our favourite fantasy.

Our Consuming Fire

The Bible has been a part of my life for as long as I remember.  Yesterday I recalled an occasion as a child when I was inspired by a passage in 1 Kings 18 to build a small altar of rocks in the back yard.  My actions were inspired by God's response to the prayer of Elijah atop Mount Carmel by causing fire to fall from heaven and consume the sacrifice.  I hoped to be amazed by divine fire igniting the dried pine needles I carefully perched on a pile of rocks.  Around the altar I had carved a trench I dutifully filled with water as Elijah had.  I prayed to the God of heaven, but alas, no fire fell.  And it was a good thing too.  God would not indulge a child with the equivalent of playing with matches.

Looking back on that day long ago under the big pine tree, it is instructive of common mistakes even adults can make when it comes to miraculous signs:  I was focused on the wrong things.  I wanted to see fire fall from heaven, but I didn't consider why God caused fire to fall and consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel.  God caused fire to fall and consume the sacrifice for the purpose of revealing His reality, power, and superiority over the idols the people worshipped - not just to show Elijah was a genuine prophet or to amaze the people.  People enjoy seeing incredible, even miraculous things.  And there is something in us which enjoys the thought of harnessing such power to achieve our ends - even just to impress others.

Another thing I did not consider was God's desire for the people to re-establish the worship of God according to His prescribed order.  The people were divided in their allegiance between God and Ba'al.  Because of wicked King Ahab and his wife Jezebel the prophets of God had been hunted and slaughtered whilst the prophets of Ba'al numbered in the hundreds.  1 Kings 18:30 reads, "Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down."  Even as the altar had broken down, so the relationship with God had been broken through idolatry and neglect.  My thoughts weren't focused at all on the glory and worship of God but what I wanted done.  Calling down fire from heaven was about what God could do for me.  After the altar was restored 1 Kings 18:36 says, "And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word."  Elijah drew near to God in prayer and affirmed all he did that day was for God's sake in obedience to God.

Though I tried to follow the example of Elijah, my model had one crucial omission:  the lack of a sacrifice!  I believe it was Leonard Ravenhill, a man revered for his praying who said, "Everyone wants my mantle, but no one wants my sackcloth and ashes."  The gist of this quote is suggests people desire to have influence with the almighty God, yet are unwilling to present themselves before God as a living sacrifice.  Isaac was willing to be bound and laid upon the altar by Abraham according to God's command, and God graciously supplied a ram as a substitute.  It is Jesus Christ who is the Lamb of God who was slain on Calvary as a sacrifice for sinners once for all and therefore put to death the need of sacrificing animals according to the divine Law.  God caused divine fire to fall in the person of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost who regenerates, fills all believers, and guides us into all truth.

If we desire to see fire to fall from heaven, we must be willing to be the living sacrifice upon whom it falls.  Paul exhorted believers in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."   Fire purges, purifies, and consumes; it heats and provides light in darkness.  May it be our lives would provide opportunity for God to restore people to Himself through our obedience so He might be glorified.

Take the Lead to Love

During our family's recent visit to the States, I was blessed to have a meaningful conversation with my brother and his wife.  I appreciate the enlightenment which comes from the thoughtful observations of others from a different perspective.  In the discussion my brother brought up he did not approve with the common suggestion from pulpits that men are called to be the "spiritual leader in the home."  What bothered him was not the call for men to lead well according to scripture, but the statement can be a subtle suggestion men's leadership in the home, marriage, work, or child-rearing is limited to spiritual matters.  I had not thought of this before, and it is a fair point.

We have observed many not-so subtle changes in society and culture today which have eroded what we could call "traditional" values for better or worse.  One wonderful aspect of God and His Word is that it does not change and we can count on God to guide us into all truth regardless of our culture or upbringing.   God has made a distinction between males and females throughout the scripture and provided guidance for what constitutes marriage, roles, duties, and responsibilities.  Though males and females are different and their roles in a family distinct, the role of the our hearts being surrendered before God as believers is of primary importance.  Dealing with the sin in our own hearts is a common struggle we all must face.

It is a ploy of the devil to undermine and sabotage the good things God has created like marriage and the family structure.  He will point to abusive and domineering husbands why a woman ought not to submit according to the biblical mandate, and use contentious or disobedient wives as an example why men shouldn't love them as Jesus loves the church - or be married at all.  The world seizes the language used in the Bible and hijacks it according to fallacious caricatures embracing excess, marital rape, manipulation, and oppression.  This is not to say there are never cases of abuse or oppression among Christians, nor does it suggest non-believers cannot have satisfying relationships.  The fact is we are all sinners, and just because Christians have not lived up to Christ's righteous standards does not mean the standard is evil or wrong.

The Bible outlines not only the roles of husbands and wives, but also the attitude and way we are to do things:  in the love of God.  There is to be grace, mercy, compassion, and caring of the needs of others more than your own desires.  It is not a sentimental relationship but sacrificial as both are obedient to the LORD.  In a marriage the husband is responsible before God to lead as the head, and the wife is to manage the home and children with his authority.  Both have equal responsibility before God to do their part as He leads together.  The marriage relationship is one formed by God and under God, and whether married or single we are all to submit under Him.  Ephesians 5:15-21 is a great exhortation for all people regardless of gender or marital status:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."

It is in this context and heart wives are to submit to their own husbands and husbands are to love their wives.  Whether or not a man believes his wife is in submission to his will, his duty before God is to keep loving his wife as Jesus loves the church - the church for which He purchased with His own blood.  As a married man I must be occupied with this one thing, not being preoccupied with perceived failures of others.  The words Jesus spoke to Peter ring true concerning the issues of others:  "What is that to you?  You follow me."  Husbands ought to take the lead in communicating, serving, sharing, giving, providing, and encouraging.  We ought to be leaders in showing mercy, giving grace, forgiving, helping, and strengthening.  Think of all Jesus has done for us - and what He keeps doing for us despite our faults.  He intercedes for us with the Father, and we ought to pray for our wives.  We should remain chaste in body and mind for our wives, even as Jesus is pure.  In everything we ought to take the lead, and this includes spiritual nurturing and training.  And brothers, if we do not do the first thing to love our wives as Christ loves the church, awful spiritual leaders we will be.