The Prime Mover

I benefited greatly from a message I heard last night on the value of a healthy mind.  The speaker defined the mind as the "prime mover" in our lives, like the engine of a train.  Pastor Steve Jones said, "The mind will always take us somewhere."  Our train of thought does not stop in the mind but greatly impacts our desires and actions.  Just like a moving engine pulls or pushes additional carriages in whatever direction it drives them, our bodies follow the leading of our minds.  If our minds are in the gutter, we will act out on our sinful impulses.  On the other hand when our minds esteem God and His Word we will walk in godliness.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-8:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."  Just like God gives us the ability to decide what we will eat and drink and how much, we are given the ability to choose to focus our thoughts on what is right.  When our train of thought is sinful it always leads to a destination of sinful conduct, by the power of Jesus Christ we can derail that train, taking those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.  But much of the time once the engine starts moving in a sinful direction we habitually stoke the engines red hot with worry, selfishness, and lust.

Pastor Steve provided a negative and positive example of how the mind impacted the behaviour of people in scripture.  David has a man after God's own heart but he was not immune to sinful thoughts in his mind that moved him to choose sinful conduct.  When David saw Bathsheba from his rooftop, his prime mover started pulling his train of thought in an adulterous direction:  he decided to inquire concerning her, decided to send messengers to bring her to the palace, and ultimately slept with her.  Sinful thoughts led to sinful actions.  The life of Daniel provides an example of how good thoughts kept him from sin.  He was offered the luxurious foods of the king, but Daniel had already purposed to not defile himself with the king's food.  In his mind he had already established what was right, that the king's food was not kosher, and because his mind was made up the power of temptation was disarmed.

Before our train of thought heads nowhere good, let us purpose to heed the exhortation of God's Word to cease from anxious thoughts and pray with thanksgiving, making our requests to God.  Our flesh is at the mercy of our feelings and circumstances, but when we are obedient to trust God and direct our focus on Him He will guard our minds and hearts through Jesus.  Praise the LORD He has provided no shortage of true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy things to consider because He is all these things and more.  More than "bad thought avoidance" we are to head in the opposite direction by derailing anxious or sinful thoughts and by fixing our minds on God with thanksgiving and praise.

Hope In Jesus

It is ironic how men who have been created can presume to know better than God.  Having been given the ability to think and reason we can utilise this capacity to stand in judgment of the righteous Judge of all the earth.  When Jesus told Peter (who believed Jesus was the promised Messiah) He would be arrested, crucified, and rise on the third day Peter rebuked Him.  Had Jesus listened to Peter God's plan for eternal salvation of Jew and Gentile would have been undermined.  Praise God He is not a man that He should lie or change, and we benefit beyond measure when we humble ourselves before God as Sovereign.

After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, two disciples sadly departed from Jerusalem.  Though Jesus was alive and well they were disillusioned and shattered.  Jesus joined the despondent travellers and began a conversation with them about the reason behind their sadness.  They explained the things which occurred in Jerusalem in Luke 24:19-21:  "...The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened."  These travellers were despondent because their expectations had been dashed, yet their ambitions were hopelessly short-sighted compared to what Jesus actually accomplished.

The questioning travellers on the road to Emmaus hoped or expected Jesus to redeem Israel, and perhaps they imagined it would be through military conquest.  But the Kingdom of God is infinitely greater than a geographic location or a particular group of people for a season:  Jesus had already paid the price to atone for the sins of the world and accomplish a miraculous victory and deliverance for all people who trust in Him.  These disciples were grieved by the very means God intended to save them.  How foolish their hopes were!  How arbitrary and short sighted!  They were robbed of the joy of the LORD and the expectation of salvation because their plans were not God's way.  Jesus proclaimed in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Jesus would redeem Israel and whosoever would trust in Him in His way and in His gracious time.

The next time your hopes are dashed and you are left wondering, expect God is working on something good beyond your wildest expectations.  The hope of these travellers was in the wrong thing:  they hoped for deliverance through Jesus rather than trusting in Jesus Himself come what may.  Their hopes were pinned on their circumstances changing but Jesus did more than they could have dreamed in redeeming condemned souls from hell and providing eternal life.  Three days had passed from the unspeakable tragedy of Christ's death, and Jesus graciously walked with them in spite of their confusion and doubts.  Isn't God good to do exceedingly beyond what we can ask or think?  Jesus Christ is more than we could ever hope for.

Contend Earnestly

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

Jude 1:3

Followers of Jesus Christ require the leading of the Holy Spirit to contend for the faith without being contentious.  We are, as much as depends upon us, to live peaceably with all in a world at war with God.  The Gospel is always going to be offensive to worldly wisdom, but the meekness, gentleness, and humility of Christ leads us walk in love towards those within and without the Body of Christ the church.

What Jude wrote to believers is very instructive, exhorting believers to contend earnestly for the faith.  It is telling he did not direct believers to contend with heretics or those who seek to turn people away from the truth--though at times it may be required.  In following verses Jude provided examples of ungodly conduct and apostasy we are equipped through scripture to discern.  But "destroying" people is not the target of any action we take because our aim is to positive, not negative:  we are to contend for the faith.  Our primary purpose in our response is to promote Jesus Christ by example and deed above denouncing false doctrine and those who teach them.  Arguments which rise up contrary to Christ should be cast down and unrepentant heretics and apostates cast out, but these conflicts are secondary in our intent to uphold the Gospel and the Word of God.

Paul informed believers their battle was not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness.  This spiritual battle is played out in the real world and involves other people, and this battle that is the LORD's has been declared a victory by Jesus Christ.  The exhortation of Jude is all believers are to "contend earnestly for the faith" which was delivered to us once for all.  The phrase "earnestly contend" comes from a Greek word that means to struggle for, the word from which the English word "agonise" is derived.  In a world darkened with sin to live for God will be a struggle yet can be accomplished by the grace of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Earnestly contending for the faith is more than debating doctrine but in living in the way which pleases God.

It is one thing to be able to recognise what is right and wrong but another thing altogether to walk accordingly.  Paul continued on the subject of why they ought to contend earnestly in Jude 1:4:  "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."  Paul then provided examples of the ungodly sort of men who had infiltrated the church who turned the grace of God into license to sin and denied Christ by their lives marked with unbelief, abuse of authority, sexual immorality, hate, greed, hypocrisy, complaining, and pride.  Our agonising is not primarily to ferret out these things from the lives of others but to take an honest look at ourselves, repent of our sins, and contend earnestly for the faith.

Those who have been born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ have the Holy Spirit the infiltrators do not have.  A fig tree will produce figs, and a child of God will bear a growing resemblance to Jesus Christ in faith, love, and obedience to God.  If our lives resemble those negative examples Jude provided, we work to undermine the truth of the Gospel rather than adorning it.  Paul laboured with singular focus to this end as he wrote in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Jesus and the Word of God has delivered to us doctrine that is pure and true, and Jesus set the bar infinitely high in living up to it.  As His faithful followers, we ought to contend earnestly for the faith.

Our Sabbath Rest

I was asked recently if I observe a "Sabbath."  My reply was in the affirmative, but a little explanation was required.  I do not observe a day according to the demands or confines of the Mosaic Law, but look to Jesus Christ who IS my Sabbath.  Colossians 2:16-17 says, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."  As a follower of Jesus, my call is to look to Him and follow His lead, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth according to God's promise.

Knowing the Sabbath observed by the Hebrews is a shadow of what Christ is the reality changes the way Christians view every day:  every day is fitting to be about our LORD's business, and our rest is found in Him.  Jesus did not call Gentiles to live as Jews or Jews to cast aside adherance to the Law because they could, but created a new creation of the two groups, the Church of which He is the Head.  The Pharisees watched Jesus like hawks, seeking any occasion by which to accuse Him.  On the Sabbath they were particularly vigilant because He spurned their extra-biblical traditions.  Though there was no prohibition to heal the sick on the Sabbath, they considered such a thing unlawful work.

Mark 3:1-5 reads, "And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. ² So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. ³ And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." ⁴ Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. ⁵ And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other."  It is always lawful to do good and save life, and Jesus proved it with this restoration of the man with the withered hand.  Instead of defining our observation of the Sabbath by what we do not do, it is to be through looking to Jesus and walking by faith according to His leading.

Man was not created for the Sabbath, but this intermission and rest from labour was provided by God for the benefit of man.  God rested after the creation of the world not because He was tired but because He knew working man and beast would be.  He knew we needed reminders of who He is, His great power, and the gift of rest found only by His grace.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The Voice of Worry

In light of God's goodness, knowledge provision, and care Jesus told His disciples not to worry.  They weren't to worry about clothes, food, or the future.  The God who provides food for each sparrow and clothes flowers with beauty greater than Solomon values and cares for those created in His image.  Worrying is sin because it comes from unbelief in God's goodness and His promises and is often rooted in self.

It occurred to me today that if I were to personify Worry, Complaining and Murmuring are her children.  We all know what it feels like to worry, to experience anxiety from circumstances we find stressful.  Much of our fretting is internal and this inner friction inevitably reveals itself in overt ways:  we speak harshly, sigh frequently, and complain.  Complaining gives worry a voice when we gripe about a situation we are displeased with instead of casting our cares upon God and resting in Him.  We can complain about someone else complaining rather than addressing the issue with the complainer directly.  Fundamentally the issues of worry and complaining are one in the heart against God.

Not convinced?  Think about the conduct of the children of Israel in the wilderness after God brought them out of Egypt.  He provided for all their needs but complained and murmured against Him.  Jesus taught if we have an offense against a person we ought to go to them alone and discuss, but complaining is airing a personal grievance in public.  Many times the Hebrews complained about their situation they are described as "murmuring against" God.  And when people murmured about Moses, he informed them their murmuring was not actually against him but God (Ex. 16:8).  Murmuring suggests holding a grudge, bitterness against God!  Their complaints with God were spoken around their children, to their wives and neighbours--and God heard them all and saw the deception and hypocrisy in their hearts.

Complaining and murmuring is a surefire way to provoke God to anger because it is abiding sin not repented of.  Numbers 11:1 puts this in vivid detail:  "Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp."  Just because God is gracious to us and is longsuffering and patient does not mean complaining is no less sinful.  Man, this hits close to home for me.  How often I have complained when I ought to have prayed!  Complaining it itself is not wrong, for Asaph wrote in Psalm 77:3:  "I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah"  Asaph called out to God in a complaint which led to praise because his response to difficulty was directed by faith in God.

Friend, is your life marked with complaining and murmuring?  Let us bring our cares to God's throne of grace so we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Worrying, complaining, and murmuring cannot enable us to grow an inch taller or change our situation for the better, but these sins of unbelief ultimately result in judgment.  Instead of giving worry a voice through complaining, may our repentant hearts be moved to praise our awesome God!

God's Inner Circle

I am continually blown away by the breadth and depth of God's Word.  The 66 books written over a span of 1,500 years do more than dovetail with one another but are in perfect harmony concerning God in the most minute detail.  It is a book one can read for decades and daily discover new connections never before understood, personal revelations from the living God who breathed it into existence.  It does far more than provide intrigue or facts but refreshes us with all we need by God's grace.  God sees our needs met by His grace.

The other night I read something I had forgotten about, how God organised the camp of the Hebrews after the exodus from Egypt.  God's visible presence hovered over the tabernacle in the centre of the camp with three tribes to the north, south, east, and west.  See what Numbers 1:52-53 explains concerning those of the tribe of Levi, those chosen to serve the LORD in facilitating worship of God and teaching of His laws:  "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; ⁵³ but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony."  Instead of receiving an inheritance of land, God was to be their inheritance (Deut. 10:9, Joshua 13:33).

The Levites were responsible before God to be sanctified according to the Law of Moses so they could offer and partake of the sacrifices offered at the tabernacle.  Only purified Levites were permitted to handle the holy things of the tabernacle of meeting.  They were to camp encircling the tabernacle so there would "be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel," providing a sanctified buffer which preserved their fellows.  It was not because Levi or his children were the most pious or deserving of Israel's sons but were chosen by God's grace to be servants about His business.

This caused me to consider how followers of Jesus Christ provide a blessing and benefit to others who do not know or believe in God:  interceding in prayer for individuals and nations, serving with the love of Jesus, filled with generosity, extending grace, showing kindness and compassion for one another.  Jesus called His disciples the "salt of the earth," and salt liberally applied to meat enables it to be preserved for a long time in the right conditions.  Whilst we serve our LORD Jesus Christ, chosen and sanctified by grace similar to the Levites, God's presence in us makes a difference to everyone else in the world.  Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it; we are prone to take much for granted.  I believe the unbelieving world benefits more from Christians than they could possibly realise--even as God operates in a realm beyond our knowledge or observance.  God doesn't need us but makes a good difference to the world through us.

All throughout the scriptures there is the reoccurring theme of God's grace:  grace to bring life where there was once nothing, grace to reveal Himself to wretched sinners, grace to preserve us from wrath we wholly deserve, and grace to use us to bless and save others.  Ephesians 2:13 reminds us, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."  We who were once aliens of the commonwealth of the kingdom of God have been brought into God's inner circle, by grace having been made one with Jesus Christ, even called God's beloved children.  Praise the LORD!

Walking Circumspectly

In his book Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis talked about putting off telling his mother about a toothache.  He waited until he couldn't stand it anymore even though he knew she could relieve his pain because it also meant he would be required to see a dentist!  Like most of us he didn't so much care for the cause to be addressed but the relief of negative symptoms.  Lewis used this analogy to point out we might realise we have a problem with anger and cursing and want to have God deal with it because it is a source of embarrassment but how God also wants to deal with our lust, bitterness, and unforgiveness.  God's intention is to give us the "full treatment" when we would rather half-measures according to our preferences.

God is gracious, merciful, and patient in convicting us of sins.  Our eyes are opened to our sins one by one and we begin to realise how interconnected they are with our unbelieving and selfish hearts.  Through repentance and faith in Christ we are given victory over sins which continue to pester us for seasons throughout our lives.  Sinful thoughts and deeds are so natural to the flesh they can stealthily cohabitate inside us for some time until God's Word or bad feelings tip these squatters off.  This is part of the battle we are responsible to fight, to bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ and see they are bound and arrested.  No one should be more joyful or at rest than a Christian for who God is and all He has done and promised to do--but sin seeks to rob us blind.

Just today I found myself battling anger which welled up quickly and threatened to overthrow self-control.  The LORD helped me to take stock of why I felt angry and stressed:  I felt frustrated by people, feeling stress because I have a lot to do but not much time, and how unexpected expenses keep piling up.  Then I considered, hasn't God promised to provide for all my needs?  Are not my times in God's hands?  Is it hard for God to change the hearts of people--even my own?  It is written in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."  God used feelings of anger to cause me to stop and consider Him, to turn my heart back to Him again rather than focusing on all that seems to go wrong.

Giving vent to anger doesn't change our circumstances or other people:  sowing to the flesh through outbursts of wrath further corrupts us.  God's love, on the other hand, edifies us and others.  Horses wear blinders to force them to look straight ahead, and sin is like blinders fitted on us which focuses on ourselves and the faults of others.  We are to walk circumspectly as children of light giving thanks to God for all things as it is written in Ephesians 5:15-17, "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."  God has taken off our blinders and revealed His will, given us the Holy Spirit without measure, and may we make the most of the time He has given us as we walk circumspectly.

Calamity Redeemed

When things seem to be going well in our lives it is easy to acknowledge the goodness of God.  But in the face of tragedy or calamity doubts about God's goodness suddenly crowd our thoughts.  Reflecting on my own experiences however, when I have praised God in the midst of suffering, the comfort and peace I enjoy triumphs over "good" times when I took God for granted.  Would to God His people would demonstrate the faith of Job when confronted with grave personal tragedies in Job 1:21-22:  "And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." ²² In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."  Trust in the goodness of God in the land of living brought Job to praise God when circumstances knocked him to his knees.

In a series of rhetorical questions Amos posed before Israelites of the northern kingdom, he concluded with a flourish in Amos 3:6, "If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?"  For whatever reason it is easier for us to believe if life is smooth it is the blessing of God and when things are tough Satan is to blame.  We imagine people who suffer are deserving of punishment for some hidden sin, or those who are "blessed" have "done something right."  But what of the grace of God who causes rain to fall on the just and unjust, Who daily loads us all with blessings and benefits?  Even judgment for sin is a providential gift from the hands of our heavenly Father who loves us.

God is never a passive player in the universe or caught unawares by satanic plots.  Not one calamity occurs without His knowledge and intent to redeem it fully for those who trust in Him.  Joseph provides a good example of man intending things for evil but God using it to save many people alive.  Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in a foreign land but God redeemed it.  It was a painful season for Joseph to be betrayed by his own flesh and blood for a pocket of silver, but later Joseph was given the insight to realise it.  He said to his brothers in Genesis 45:5, "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life."  It was like Joseph needed to remind his brothers over and over to convince them of God's guiding hand in his past, for he said in Genesis 50:19-20:  "Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

Now take care believer:  it is one thing for Job to praise God despite his own suffering and Joseph to credit God for sending him to Egypt, but we must not presumptuously speak for God concerning the suffering of others.  Explaining why they might be suffering or how it can be redeemed can be false hope which distracts from the goodness, grace, and mercy of God:  He has done it but remains good.  Are not God's ways higher than ours?  Aren't His means and ways of redemption beyond our vision?  It was not good Job lost all his children to tragedy in a day but God was able to redeem it for good.  It was no way "good" the righteous Son of God was pierced on Calvary's cross, but God redeemed it to save many alive.  Death was never the will of God, but it was God's will Jesus go to the cross to save many alive.  Sometimes God opens our eyes to the why of a calamity, but better to realise Who God is to us, gracious and good, and despite our pain to draw near to Him in faith.  He is the only One who can save.

Andrew Murray Quote

A quote from Andrew Murray was recently shared with me from a friend battling cancer, and it is a great reminder how God is sovereign and good regardless of our health, circumstances, or feelings.  Because of the depth of suffering, pain, and sorrow we face in this life unless a person knows God they cannot accept this statement as remotely true.  But for those who know God, knowing they are known by Him, they can affirm the words of Andrew Murray when he wrote:

In time of trouble, say, first, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow. And last, say, in his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows. Therefore, say, I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.

It is faith in God which allows us to walk in the love, joy, peace, and patience required to endure and press on.  Because God is faithful to His Word and His promises we can rest in Him even if the earth shakes and mountains are thrown into the sea.  This globe we inhabit will one day be dissolved in flame with everything on it, but those who hope in the LORD lack no good thing.  It may be that death is the passage we must travel to enter into eternal glory, but God's glory will not be tainted by the strain of the journey.  Though I have not experienced cancer, I have received great encouragement from passages like Isaiah 65:17-18:  "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. ¹⁸ But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy."

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to new heavens and a new earth--plus a glorified body free from sickness, pain, and sorrow.  I almost shed a tear thinking about how good it will be to have God wipe away all tears from our eyes.  There is part of us that holds onto memories of this life, good and bad.  In the eternal state we will be perfected and know what we need to know.  Since we will not be God and know everything we will rejoice to be ever learning of our awesome God and resting in His truth without fiery trials and the burden of this perishing flesh.

Praise the LORD He is creating a joyful reunion for all those who fear His name, and we do not need to wait for eternity to experience His love and peace.  We have His comfort and rest today, if we will trust and seek Him, and we will also enjoy His presence forevermore.  It is only the Christian who can say regardless of the season, "All the time God is good!" and experience rest in our loving Saviour who is our life.

Sanctification Cooperation

"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. ⁸ And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you."

Leviticus 20:7-8

God gave Moses His laws to deliver to the nation Israel so they might keep His covenant.  The context of these verses follow God saying He would set His face against those who did wickedly, defiled His sanctuary, or profaned His holy name.  The peoples of the ancient world worshiped demons and not God, even burning their children alive on altars before images made by hands of men.  God's people were not to imitate these abominable practices of the heathen, and were forbidden in the Law of Moses to make images or representations of man or beast lest their hearts turn from God in idolatry.  God sanctified His people, and thus they were to sanctify themselves.

To "sanctify" is to "cleanse, purify, make holy, to set apart, or appoint for sacred use."  The mistake people can make is to believe sanctification can or must be earned, yet scriptures reveal God sanctifies people by His grace--not based on performance.  God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants not because he, Isaac, or Jacob were more worthy or pious than others.  God called Abraham out of His goodness and Abraham responded with faith in God.  The sanctification available to whosoever will repent and trust in God must be received first, and only then can we sanctify ourselves.  Like a marriage relationship requires cooperation, communication, and contribution of both parties so does our relationship with God.  The Jews in the Old Testament were under the covenant of Mosaic Law, and Christians today relate to God through the new covenant made with the shed blood of Jesus.

We are justified by grace through faith and our sanctification is also a gift freely given we receive.  No effort of our flesh, no volume of sacrifices could earn such favour from the holy, almighty God.  God has made us holy and sanctified by the sacrifice of Christ, and therefore we ought to aim to live a life that is sanctified--set apart and appointed for God's use.  Paul wrote in Galatians 3:1-3:  "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? ² This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"  After we are born again and converted there must be a continual reliance and trust in God marked by humility, not imagining we become worthy or acceptable by ourselves.  Gentiles in the early church, misguided in their zeal to please men, began to teach keeping the Law of Moses was critical to sanctification and salvation.

Now the Law remains good but God did not call Gentiles to live as Jews or for Jews to put aside their observance of Law as legalism.  Jesus kept the Law of Moses, but Christians are not sanctified by keeping the Law:  it is Jesus who sanctifies us by the indwelling Holy Spirit in real time.  It is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth in keeping with the Bible and the law written on our hearts, no longer governed by words written on tablets of stone.  Remember the message Jesus preached on the mount when He called His followers to a standard far higher than that of Law, and we can only sanctify ourselves to achieve such humility and surrender to His will only after He first sanctifies us.  Having been sanctified by God, we by His grace and strength sanctify ourselves.  We do not receive the Holy Spirit by grace and then are perfected by our efforts.  It is God who works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, and thus we crucify the flesh and mortify the deeds of the flesh in surrender to Him.

Human sacrifice to idols is an abomination before God, but having been raised to new life with Christ we are called to be living sacrifices.  Romans 12:1-3 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ³ For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."  Let us not think there is any power in our flesh to sanctify ourselves, but having been sanctified through the Gospel we are transformed and helped to do God's will.  The sanctification partnership works when we die to self and the life of Jesus is lived through us.

The Positive Negative

I enjoyed catching up on a sermon preached by Bob Roche when I was away last week which focused on Zephaniah 3.  One thing mentioned that struck me was how a negative can teach a positive.  God summed up sins of His own people Israel in Zephaniah 3:2:  "She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God."  Because Israel departed from the LORD sin was added upon sin.

Although God's people were perverse and polluted, stubbornly refusing to obey God's voice, this implies He continued to speak to them.  God continued to offer correction to His people despite their refusals.  God remained trustworthy and could be found by them if they would repent and seek Him with their whole hearts.  Isn't the loving pursuit of God amazing?  What grace, that He would continue to express desire for the restoration of people who shunned Him?

The failures of God's people could not be blamed on God remaining silent, His refusal to guide or teach, His reneging on the covenant, or Him abandoning them.  He continued to be faithful though His people were unfaithful.  Let us praise the LORD who seeks the redemption and salvation over all people, for He desires we would repent and turn to God for salvation.

Open Wide

"Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! ⁹ There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. ¹⁰ I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."

Psalm 81:8-10

The God who was faithful to bring His people out of Egypt provided for their needs, giving them manna from heaven and water from a rock.  Their survival was completely dependent upon God in the wilderness, and God met all their needs.  God bid His people open their mouths wide and He promised to feed them.  And this, my friends, requires faith.

Have you ever heard the loud chirping of hungry baby birds?  Whenever their mum or dad draws near, these helpless and blind birds spring to life.  Though they have no feathers to fly, they certainly are unhindered to make noise!  They instinctively open their mouths wide to eat whatever their parents drop in.  Baby birds are not picky eaters:  they do not push food around on plates, complain about temperature, or comment on how the flavour or texture is disagreeable.  They open their mouths wide trusting their parents to drop in healthy, nutritious food.

I wonder how many of us are willing to open our mouths wide, trusting God will fill it?  The Hebrews looked to idols they brought out of Egypt to provide sun, rain, and bountiful harvests.  They prayed to idols and not to God, opening their mouths to make requests of images who could not speak, hear, or save.  God lamented His people did not hearken to His voice.  Instead of receiving His Word in faith, they closed their mouths and hardened their hearts.  God has put in all people the triggers of hunger and thirst to ensure the needs of our physical bodies are met, and He also supplies the Bread of Life Jesus Christ who gives life for our souls.

As we follow Jesus the Good Shepherd, He leads us in green pastures and beside still waters.  All our needs are met in Him.  He satisfies our hunger with His Word, and provides us the Holy Spirit who is Living Water for our souls.  Let us open our mouths wide and trust He will fill them with good according to His promise.

The Feast of Grace

I was recently reminded of the movie Babette's Feast based on the book by Isak Dinesen and the wonderful illustration it provides of grace.  I like Philip Yancey's description of grace, that it costs everything for the giver and nothing for the recipient.  We are mistaken to think the grace of God is free because it came at a tremendous cost to Him, even as the feast Babette prepared.  As adopted children of God our freedom came at the cost of God's only begotten Son.

It's a funny thing how things we receive for free are not valued like things we worked to earn.  The guests at Babette's feast (save the amazed and verbose General) had no appreciation for the quality of the food and drink placed before them course after course.  Had they been accustomed to such foods it is likely they could have even been critical, not complimentary as the General was.  Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:17, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy."  It is God who has richly given us all things to enjoy in life, and having received such bountiful love and grace we should be perpetually thankful.

Babette chose to spend her lottery winnings on others rather than herself, and it was the sheer delight to bless others which motivated her.  It was not to show the spinsters she lived with how her culinary skills were superior, or to show the superiority of French cuisine over cod and gruel.  That is what makes her humble gift of an exquisite meal so remarkable, that all the townsfolk needed to do was attend to receive a free meal.  Their presence was a gift Babette was pleased to receive so she could serve.  Hasn't our God done even a more remarkable thing that He would invite sinners to receive of the Holy Spirit, a new nature, forgiveness, and salvation?  May our hearts be filled with gratitude for the Living Bread come down from heaven who offered Himself freely so we might live.

Come to the Light

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."

John 3:18-20

At Teen Camp this week I used an illustration of what it means to "come to the light."  I told the kids to imagine we had a party at an abandoned home with music pumping, people were drinking, dancing, and increasingly rowdy.  People at the party started vandalising the house by smashing bottles, breaking furniture, and punching holes in walls.

Suddenly a guy runs into the party, shuts down the music, and informs us of approaching police cars.  The lights are quickly turned off and a hush falls over the crowd.  The tyres of the cars crunch gravel, brakes squeak, and the baying of dogs ring out.  The faint sound of a chopper can be heard in the distance.  A beam of light pierces the darkness and is fixed upon the front entrance, and the voice of a constable is heard over a speaker.  "OK kids, we know you're in there.  If you come out the front now, no harm will come to you.  You have 10 seconds until we send in the dogs."

In this situation, what would you do?  If you've ever watched an episode of COPS, you know one tactic is to trust your own legs, to climb out the back door and attempt to futilely run from the "eye in the sky" with heat-sensing cameras.  After inevitably being caught the arrested would face additional charges.  Some might choose to barricade the door and arm themselves with whatever they could find.  Others might try to climb into a dark spot like an attic, a closet, or under the floorboards to escape.  But what of the dogs?  And the additional squad cars and firepower?  In this situation, the best possible outcome is to demonstrate faith in the safety promised by the constable, walk towards the snarling dogs and drawn firearms, and come into the light with empty, raised hands.

This scene is an illustration of what God requires of sinners.  We are condemned already, our lives forfeit because of sin.  God has made a way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ:  if we confess our sins, repent, and ask God for forgiveness and salvation, He will justify us.  All our sins will be forgiven and our guilt washed away.  But if we try to hide our sin, blame others, claim ignorance, or try to escape by running we will be bound and cast into outer darkness and eternal torment.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one can be forgiven or see the kingdom of God without Him.

The question remains:  will you hate the light and choose darkness or come into the Light of Life in full surrender?

Good Will on a Plate

I have the privilege of being the speaker at Camp Kedron this week, a Christian camp which has shared the Gospel with young people for over 50 years.  Holiday camps attract youth from diverse backgrounds and beliefs and it is a joy to share the truth of God’s Word with them, to answer questions, and tackle issues which confront people today.  Centred on Jesus Christ and the Gospel, leaders from various Christian denominations and groups unite as one to demonstrate the love and grace of God.

I was admiring the artistic skills of campers who chose the ceramic elective today, and I came across a plate with a message and scripture reference.

As a student of scripture (hopefully not one who could be described as ever learning but never coming to the truth) I was instantly curious what passage in scripture could possibly support the idea presented.  Love and judgment are never placed in opposition to one another in the Bible, as if righteous judgment cannot spring from love.  I was glad to see this plate because it instructed me in some people’s minds love and judgment are opposites.  I mean no offence when I say this is a classic example of cliché Christianity which ignorantly hijacks scripture disjointed from the biblical revelation of God.  It is a perspective which elevates a worldly concept of love to the status of God.

Before we examine the passage cited, a little more on the catch-phrase.  The Bible reveals God is love (1 John 4:16), and His active love is far more than unconditional acceptance.  It is a sacrificial love expressed for the good of others according to His grace and goodness.  It is the love demonstrated by Jesus when He healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, and laid down His own life on Calvary for undeserving sinners.  At the same time, God is a righteous judge:  Abraham called Him the “Judge of all the earth” in Genesis 18:25.  This establishes how love and judging can coexist, just like a good judge can love people and uphold law at the same time.  The Bible teaches a father who loves his son will discipline him, and there can be no discipline without judgment:  a weighing of God’s standard of righteousness against words, deeds, and motives by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Judgment was required for King Solomon to decide who was the real mother of the child brought before him, and the desire to unite a mother with son is a loving judgment.

Some might say, “It is all very well for God and kings to make judgments, but surely this is above the pay grade of the common Christian” (or anyone really).  Perhaps there is no word more despised than when a person feels “judged.”  Doesn’t the word provoke a universally negative sense?  Judging by itself is a neutral word but to many appears a cardinal sin in itself, that to judge—to decide or examine—should be struck from the responsibilities of a Christian.  People are fond of quoting snippets of scripture but do not consider the context.  They’ll say something like, “Doesn’t the Bible say we aren’t supposed to judge?”  Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-2:  “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  Far from a prohibition of judging, we are called to examine—to judge—how we judge others knowing the stricter we are with them the more severe our loving Judge and Father will be with us.  Jesus said in John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."  We are commanded by Jesus to examine and judge ourselves according to God’s righteousness.  God gave Moses the Law and equipped him to judge his people righteously, and Jesus has given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

The verse quoted on the plate is the passage where a woman was brought before Jesus who had been caught in the act of adultery.  The text reveals the Jewish rulers cared nothing about the woman (or the man who was strangely absent from the proceedings) and upholding justice:  their motive in bringing the woman before Jesus was in the hope of finding fault with Him.  Jesus, knowing their plot find fault and hypocrisy, ignored them.  John 8:7-11 reads, “So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

So what does this have to do with, “Love, don’t judge?”  Though the immediate text does not mention love, it is well-established in the Bible Jesus Christ, being God made flesh, is love—even when the words He said and things He did don’t seem loving to us.  But love did not change the fact the woman had sinned; love did not rub out the 7th Commandment written on tablets of stone on Mt. Sinai or the just punishment for sin.  God had already given a judgment on the sin of adultery, but what Jesus did not do is condemn the woman.  Judgment and condemning are two very different things.  To judge is to weigh and examine sides, and to condemn is to damn, a final, binding sentence or judgment.  The woman was by Law condemned for her sin and under a curse which would bring death, yet notice she called Jesus “Lord.”  Faith in Christ freed her from the condemnation her sin deserved.  It is condemnation—not judgment—which is God’s sovereign territory.  Those who were once under condemnation can be set free by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, justice having been satisfied.

We are called to use righteous judgment, yet this does not give us license to what could be called judgmental—to judge others by our self-righteous standards.  This was one sin of the Pharisees Jesus called out, the hypocrisy of claiming to uphold God’s righteousness when they gave greater weight to enforcing traditions of men.  This plate reminds me of something Paul wrote in Philippians 1:15-18.  I am very glad the plate was made as it is, for it moved me to go to the Word and these considerations have sharpened me on the subject.  Paul wrote, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:  16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”  If you could write a message on a plate about anything, would it be about love and a scripture like this skilled artist?  I can say it wouldn’t have been my first idea.  It is good will on a plate, an exhortation to love, and a platform to dive into God’s Word so we can be washed clean of misunderstandings.

Rats in the Cellar

I have been reading through Mere Christianity, a classic penned by C.S. Lewis.  It is really a terrific resource which deals with a lot of complex aspects of Christianity which he explains exceptionally well.  As an intellectual who once was an atheist, his insights are the product of wisdom from being born again and part of his own personal journey in knowing God.

One consequence of  coming to faith in Christ is a more sharpened sense of our own sinfulness.  Maturity in faith brings a greater sense of our need for Christ to transform us from within.  C.S. Lewis wrote:

When I come to evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed.  And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected; I was caught off my guard, I had not time to collect myself.  Now that may be an extenuating circumstance as regards to those particular acts:  they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated.  On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is?  Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth?  If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly.  But the suddenness does not create the rats:  It only prevents them from hiding.  In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am.  The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.  Apparently the rats of resentment and vindictiveness are always there in the cellar of my soul.  Now that cellar is out of reach of my conscious will.  I can to some extent control my acts:  I have no direct control over my temperament.  And if (as I said before) what we are matters even more than what we do--if, indeed, what we do matters chiefly as evidence of what we are--then it follows that the change which I most need to undergo is a change that my own direct, voluntary efforts cannot bring about.  And this applies to my good actions too.  How many of them were done for the right motive?  How many for fear of public opinion, or a desire to show off?  How many form a sort of obstinacy or sense of superiority which, in different circumstances, might equally have led to some very bad act?  But I cannot, by direct moral effort, give myself new motives.  After the first few steps in the Christian life we realise that everything which really needs to be done in our souls can be done only by God.  (Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity & the Screwtape Letters: Complete in One Volume. HarperSanFrancisco, 2003.)

I believe God allows us to be put off guard--not because it is a test we must pass or so God can know the conditions of our hearts--but so we will see the rats scrambling for cover in the cellar of our souls.  If we saw rats or evidence of rats because of damage or defecation in the pantry where we store our food, we would take prompt action to eradicate the pests.  We ought to do the same when our sinful reactions come to light.  Shrugging them off emboldens the pests to remain, to breed, to further corrupt the good God has wrought within us by grace.  On our own we could never eradicate or cleanse ourselves from sin, but through faith in Jesus Christ these victories are accomplished.

No Holidays!

Part of the culture shock for me in immigrating to Australia has been adjusting to the amount of annual leave people receive.  The base amount for full-time employees is 4 weeks paid--with 10 sick days a year and something called "long-service leave" which is two additional months off.  If you happened to be sick in the same year long-service leave was taken, this would be almost 4 months off work paid.

Whilst some people's eyes light up at the possibility of that much time off work, something inside of me shudders at the prospect.  Holidays, in my mind, have the connotation "going to work" has for others.  Now I have been blessed and benefited greatly by holiday experiences I have enjoyed with family, but they aren't something I pine for.  Holidays are not a dangling carrot which help me push through the daily grind.  I am satisfied and pleased with my daily work routine, and I love what I do.  Why would I want to create extra hassle and expense to find folks to cover for me?  What is special for me these days is a night in, not out.

People spend time thinking about what a perfect holiday would involve, where they would go or what they would see or do.  Do you know what my idea of the perfect day is?  It would be a day when no one takes a holiday from going to church.  What is the sense in taking holidays from fellowship with heaven?  I'm not talking about those who do not fear God or those who only go out of guilt when asked:  I'm talking about everyone who claims 1) to be a Christian and 2) has a church they call home actually going there for worship and the teaching of the Word all on the same day.  That is my idea of bliss.

Can you imagine it?  It would be like a family reunion with the worship and praise of God at the centre.  The fellowship would be sweet as we gather in unity in the fear of God and love of Jesus Christ.  I know people would look around at others and say, "How wonderful this is!  We should do this more often!"  We can enjoy fellowship in Christ often, and we should.  But alas, this level of unity seems strangely elusive.  Unity is not going to the same building at a particular hour, but in daily following the Saviour who leads us to contribute to church fellowship and the lives of people week after week.  No church is perfect but we have an awesome God; no pastor is without faults but we follow the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ who leads us into green pastures and beside still waters.

For me one day to join believers who gather to seek the LORD is worth a month of holidays spent elsewhere.  I would rather open the door to a brother or sister at church than hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the outside of my hotel door.  King David wrote in Psalm 84:8-12, "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah ⁹ 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!"  Amen!

Grace Gives Hope

John 3:14-16 says, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Because Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler in Israel, he had intimate knowledge of this allusion.  It is likely Nicodemus never attached any future significance to what transpired in the wilderness over 1,000 years previous--but Jesus did.

After God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, they became discouraged because of the way He brought them.  They complained against God and Moses for their disappointment and accused God of plotting their demise.  Their biting words were returned in kind by the fangs of venomous snakes God sent among them.  Numbers 21:6-9 reads, "So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. ⁷ Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. ⁸ Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." ⁹ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."

The people realised their guilt before God and came to Moses in repentance. Moses prayed for the people and was given a strange command by God:  make a bronze image in the shape of a snake, lift it up on a pole, and all who look upon it will be healed.  The people asked for the snakes to be removed so no additional people would be bitten, but God made a way for those who were bitten to be healed and saved.  On the surface it seems odd God would command to do something forbidden by Law, as Deuteronomy 4:18 expressly forbade crafting an image of a creeping thing or fish lest they worship the image they had made (which later came to pass concerning the bronze serpent in 2 Kings 18:4).  It is no sin for God to make an image, for He created man in His own image.  The fashioning of the bronze serpent was divine foreshadowing of how Jesus Christ would become the express image of God in human form, be lifted up on Calvary, and provide salvation for those under the curse of sin and death.

It is amazing how God created man in His own image, and then humbly put on human flesh to provide atonement for sinners.  The grace of God through the Gospel cost God everything and offered forgiveness and salvation freely to all who will receive it because of His great love.  The children of Israel had given up hope for those already bitten by venomous snakes, but God was not willing for them to perish.  All had the chance of salvation if they would respond in faith to His gracious offer.  Most of those who were healed of their snake bites would fall in the desert, but those who trust in Jesus Christ have eternal life!