Marching Forth!

When the children of Israel reached the border of the land God promised to give them, they sent 12 men into the land for 40 days as spies.  They brought back fruit from the land a report that the region truly flowed with milk and honey as God had said.  But 10 of the spies brought back a damning report and asserted they were unable to enter the land because of the inhabitants.  They said in  Numbers 13:28-29 , " N evertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.  29  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan ."  Though God brought the children out of Egypt and through the Red Sea with signs, wonders, and a mighty hand, they faltered at the sight of those who dwelt in the land God promised. It seems the spies...

" In that day sing to her, "A vineyard of red wine! 3 I, the LORD , keep it, I water it every moment;  l est any hurt it, I keep it night and day. " Isaiah 27:2-3 Many times in the Old Testament the nation Israel is compared to a vineyard.  The day spoken of here is after Jesus defeats Satan and establishes His throne over all.  God chose Israel as His inheritance, and His eyes are always upon His people for good.  He caused the nation of Israel to flourish, and even now offers Living Water to all who come to Him and drink. When a vineyard was planted, the wine dresser took many steps to ensure it was fenced, guarded, irrigated, and carefully pruned to be more fruitful.  There are many varieties of grapes which produce wine, and in this passage Israel is compared to a vineyard which would produce red wine.  Night and day God remains vigilant to protect and provide for the needs of His people.  Under the New Covenant ushered in through the s...

" Come to the foot of Calvary, 'cause there is redemption for every affliction here at the foot of Calvary ." Rescuer , by Rend Collective Songs written to worship God are a great benefit to believers.  Whilst songs should never be our source of biblical doctrine, they often contain truth upon which to meditate and proclaim.  How good it is for our minds to be drawn to consider the greatness of our God and the power of the Gospel. Some people imagine they must labour to be accepted by God and saved.  Some make pilgrimages to distant lands to visit holy sites, and others seek the counsel of gurus and shamans desiring to be healed.  The Gospel transcends this world because all freely offered by God's grace is eternal.  There is no holy mount to ascend, no temple to visit, or a sacrifice to give to receive salvation, healing, and redemption:  these are received by faith in Jesus Christ, the "Good LORD" the song speaks of. Since God has redeemed...

At the Refresh Conference in Secret Harbour WA, pastor John Spencer made a good observation from the Sermon on the Mount.  He read the words of Jesus spoken to His disciples in  Matthew 5:13-15 :   " You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14   You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15   Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house ." During a talk pastor John mentioned he previously heard this passage preached to urge people to make an effort to be salt and light.  He pointed out Jesus did not teach this as an ideal to strive for, but the reality of our identity because of our faith in Jesus Christ:  we are the salt of the earth; we are the light of the world.  No one can earn status as sal...

God's ways are higher than ours, and His ways are far better too.  God has plans and purposes He is faithful to fulfil, redeeming things meant for evil for good.  What we perceive as setbacks and obstacles God makes most fruitful as He brings us to His desired end. The life of Joseph provides a great example of this.  In his youth God gave him two dreams recorded in scripture whose interpretations were understood:  God would elevate Joseph to a position above that of his father, mother, and brothers though the eleventh of twelve sons.  His brothers hated him and cast him into a pit, he was sold as a slave in Egypt, falsely accused of sexual assault, and then thrown into prison where he remained for years.  All his life seemed caught in a downward trajectory.  Yet in his trials Joseph continued to look beyond his circumstances in fear of the God who ordained them.  Far removed from family and the familiar, Joseph trusted God. Psalm 105:16-19 g...

A couple years ago I was sitting on a lounge reading a book by Isobel Kuhn, a missionary whose story has always touched my heart.  It was in the midst of a tough season, and it was refreshing to read of God's faithfulness to His people and the power of the Gospel.  As I sat reading, a little girl walked up smiling and offered me a yellow piece of paper.  "What's this?" I asked.  "It's a love-heart," she replied.  I thanked her and tucked it into my Bible where it has remained to this day. It was a touching gesture, a wonderful reminder of the love of God through His little ones.  It illustrates to me how simple yet profound love is and the great impact it has upon our hearts and minds.  God's love is pure and enduring, gracious and full of compassion.  I had not said or done anything worthy of the attention of the little girl, but she freely gave me a symbol of love which to me ministered God's love I will not forget. Perhaps you wonder...

" And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.    32   But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren ." Luke 22:31-32 Last night at the Refresh Conference at Calvary Chapel Secret Harbour a message was preached on this passage by pastor John Spencer.  I enjoyed and appreciated the insights he provided, and since hearing it have continued to meditate on implications of the passage in relation to what is commonly called "spiritual warfare." The context of the passage is the disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest among them.  Peter was an assertive and vocal guy, and it would not surprise me at all if he had just trotted out his opinions about why it could (or should be) him.  The ironic thing is it does not seem Jesus Christ was in the running!  Anyway, Jesus singled Simon Peter out and revealed Satan ha...

Since I was young, it was a practice in my household to pray together as a family before bed.  Many of our prayers, though extempore, tended to be very similar day to day.  After a while I could almost predict what others would pray!  So I made it a point to try to switch up the words I would say, even if the subject matter remained the same. I have been impacted during my recent study of Ephesians by the things Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers.  Most of my prayers in my youth and in adulthood tended to deal with temporary subjects:  giving thanks, asking for help for a problem, or interceding on behalf of others.  The focus of Paul's prayer revealed a priority on spiritual blessings which are enduring and essential.  When Paul prayed for the Ephesians he did not pray the way I would if I knew people were being persecuted, under threat of violence, and in need of support. This is a portion of what Paul prayed in  Ephesians 1:15-19: ...

What we believe and what we say we believe can be two different things.  We say we trust God, but the worry and fear we struggle with says we don't - at least not as much as we say we do.  We say we believe God's divine Word, yet we do not always obey it or seek guidance from it.  We ask for God to intervene and "do" something, ignoring the fact He is working through that situation to accomplish plans we know nothing about.  We are a funny bunch who desperately need Jesus to open our eyes and provide understanding of God's Word so we might know Him. The disciples of Jesus mourned His death on Calvary.  They had believed He was the promised Messiah, but His death was an unexpected and shocking end to the dream Jesus would someday sit on a throne.  From our vantage point with the benefit of the historical account we might smirk at the women finding the tomb empty, the apostles not believing their testimony, or the morose disciples trudging 7 miles to Emmau...

It struck me yesterday how on several occasions Jesus remained silent when addressed.  Ignoring people seems impolite, but as the supreme God Jesus was never under any obligation to speak - especially to those who did not believe He was the Son of God and refused to trust Him.  If they would not listen or believe the words He spoke, why bother?  Many times Jesus spoke truth to people who did not heed Him because He is gracious, but His unexpected silences have me thinking. I do not assume I know exactly why Jesus remained silent, but the Bible relates many times when He was.  When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him by the scribes and Pharisees, He stooped and wrote on the ground as if He did not hear.  When questioned by Pilate, Jesus was rebuked for not answering the one who had "power" to release him.  He was also brought before King Herod who was keen to see Jesus, and hoped to see a miracle done by Him.   Luke 23:9 says, " The...

" 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 ." Galatians 6:9-10 The farmer sows seed knowing the process of planting, growing, tending, and harvesting crops will take time.  Walking in obedience to God doesn't always bring the tangible results or changes we hope for, and we can wonder if our efforts could be better spent.  Paul exhorted the believers in Galatia to persevere through seasons when there doesn't seem to be much growth or fruitfulness, trusting God will make us fruitful according to His plans and purposes.  He said, "As you have opportunity, let us do go to all." The Greek word translated "opportunity" is most often translated "time" (64 times) and "season" (13 times), and when I think of opportunities I think of chances - often ...

" Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; b ut the posterity of the righteous will be delivered ." Proverbs 11:21 The world is filled with uncertainties and realities which can fill us with debilitating fear.  Countless conspiracies (imagined or genuine) increase concerns and cynical views of everything.  People live in fear of governments, of schemes to disseminate "alternate facts" by media outlets, hidden agendas, secret plans to cull populations, and the collusion of individuals to gain money, power, and control.  Just like music, news reporting, and sport, conspiracy is big business which preys on the alleged ignorance of people to deliver the real truth and secret agendas behind the scenes.  For unbelievers who have no authority in their lives greater than themselves, government, armies, and are at the mercy of this world and the systems imposed upon them, there is cause for alarm given the state of things today.  But one who ...

From a young age in varying degrees we all have a sense of what is right, wrong, and fair.  It is this third parameter which we can hold in greatest esteem.  We may break the rules or even the law because we believe it is unfair.  People who have uttered the words, "Life isn't fair!" in response to someone saying "That isn't fair" still have a sense of fairness they appeal to when it suits them. I love how God's grace trumps "fair" every time.  There is a parable Jesus told where the people in it protested against the king's wisdom and generosity.  In Luke 19 , Jesus spoke of a man who gave an equal amount of money (a mina) to 10 of his servants (sounds fair).  After being crowned king, he returned and interviewed each of his servants concerning how successful they had been in conducting business.  One man had gained 10 minas with only one to start, and another man gained five.  There was one servant, however, who had buried the mina in ...

This week I have started a little building project at church, framing a wall to create space for storage.  More than additional storage, this wall will allow us to centre the video display and better utilise the area up front.  Already the project has resulted in long days and countless trips to the local shops for materials and tools.  One of my purchases was a new spirit level. For years - probably about 15 years or so - for building I have been using a 4' level given to me by my dad.  Some of the bubbles were obviously inaccurate, but a couple of them were still functional.  As I was framing, I struggled mightily to determine what bubble was the accurate one!  When held vertically, there are bubbles at the top and bottom which indicate if studs are plumb.  It was obviously time for a new level, and after checking my work I re-positioned several studs which were out of plumb because of my faulty level. It was a guessing game with a single bubble...

The Bible is filled with divine revelations which instruct us concerning God and people as well.  God and sinful men have something in common, that we are totally consistent.  God and His immutable righteousness is established and unchanging, and so is the folly of man and his ways.  Even as plant varieties grow well in particular conditions and species of animals have instincts and behaviours which are predictable, so it is with the natural man to trust himself. The introduction to a parable Jesus told reveals an consistent connection amongst people we should take note of.   Luke 18:9 says, " Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others... "  He went on to talk about a Pharisee who prayed with himself and a tax collector who did not feel worthy to even look to heaven because of his sin.  I expect the people were shocked when Jesus confirmed it was the humble sinner and not the Pharisee...

No matter how many times I have read or analysed passages in the Bible, God uses it to powerfully speak and provide fresh insights.  Just last night as a family after dinner we read through Luke chapter 16 and I noticed something I never had before.  I love how our God speaks and reveals Himself to us by His grace. Luke 16 concludes with Jesus speaking of a rich man and Lazarus, a poor beggar who hoped for crumbs from the rich man's table.  The rich man ate well every day, but Lazarus suffered greatly from ill health and was malnourished.  Eventually both the rich and poor man died.  Their lives had been a notable contrast whilst they lived on earth, and it was true after death:  the rich man found himself suffering in eternal torment, and Lazarus found himself greatly comforted. Earlier in the chapter Jesus spoke a parable of a man stripped of his stewardship because he was caught wasting his master's goods.  Since he was unwilling to stoop to...

As we enter a new year, it is a good reminder how God makes all things new and provides new opportunities every day to learn, grow, serve, and live life to the full.  The life God has prepared for us is greater in scope and impact than we can imagine.  His plans that will be fulfilled are better than our dreams. I glanced over an article this morning which touched on a subject to which I have given much thought.  The basic premise of the article was Christians tend toward being politically conservative and give little or no effort to activism because they see it as an activity employed by liberals.  Whilst this may or may not be true, it was a straw-man argument to explain why there are not more Christian political activists.  My take is I am not at all called by God to activism but to be active in loving God and others.  If love for God and people means I am to take practical actions, it is a good thing.  At the same time I realise I cannot of my...