Marching Forth!

A word I hear concerning the benefits of Christian fellowship is "accountability."  It seems to be part of being a disciple of Jesus to be held or "hold others accountable."  This can be little more than keeping tabs on someone else, to watch over their shoulder to confirm they are doing the right things or avoiding sin.  The more I think about this concept of what passes as a need for serious discipleship from a biblical vantage point, I wonder if we can actually stand in the way of spiritual growth and maturity.  With a desire to be accepted by others we can seek the favour of an accountability partner rather than seeking God and relying upon His strength to overcome sinful desires of the flesh.  Accountability without the governance of God's love has the potential to become prescriptive, controlling and suggests to find favour with God people must labour to please man. The Bible does speak about giving an account of ourselves, and the context typically conce...

" When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. " Deuteronomy 24:19 God is able to use forgetfulness or being absentminded as an opportunity for blessing.  God knows that we who remember also have the capacity (and even tendency!) to forget.  If a farmer forgot a sheaf of grain in the field, he was not to go retrieve it:  that would provide food for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow.  I wonder if this happened to farmers as often as I forget a pot on the stove that needs cleaning when washing dishes!  The sink being empty of dishes, I often remove the drain plug only to see another pot or dish to wash I had forgotten about. A forgetful farmer was to be always mindful of the God who commanded him to leave the forgotten sheaf in the field.  He was to remember...

Zerubbabel was a Jewish governor of Judea who came out of the Babylonian captivity and was used by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  Haggai and Zechariah were prophets and contemporaries of Zerubbabel who encouraged him in the work.  Great difficulties and obstacles were prevalent:  the busyness of the people in their own affairs, opposition of enemies, and even satanic attacks.  Zerubbabel had a massive task before him that loomed like an impassable mountain.  The foundation had been laid, but how would the work be completed? In the face of great discouragement and his own inability to do the work, an angelic messenger said in  Zechariah 4:6-9 :  " So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'  s ays the LORD of hosts. 7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grac...

" When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11  And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you ." Deuteronomy 20:10-11 God commanded His people to proclaim peace to distant cities, thus providing an opportunity for lives to be spared.  Those who responded to the offer of peace from Israel and chose to open their doors to them would be spared.  Cities who refused to accept the offer of peace would be beseiged and every male would be slain.  The choice of life and death was placed before the enemies of Israel according to God's grace, and this reminds me how God is not willing any should perish.  In light of God's warning that judgment will someday come to this world,  2 Peter 3:9 says, " The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not wi...

During my pilgrimage of following Jesus, I have received bad news at times which shocked me deeply.  Most specifically, I have been dismayed over allegations and scandals concerning Christians.  I don't know what is more hard to process looking back:  how a Christian or pastor could be in sin or that I felt the sins of which they were guilty were beyond the realm of possibility.  Many times Christians and I have been left with the broken pieces of a shattered testimony of God's faithfulness by stumbling saints.  How easy it is to assume the ones who have the words of life will always follow them without fail! One of the blessings that come from these tragic moments is the chance to pause for self-examination:  if a pillar of the faith could topple, who can say that could not have been me?  Peter was quick to say he would not be scattered, stumble or deny Jesus but that very same night he did all three.  No man is without faults, and unless these a...

Suspicion may not be listed among the works of the flesh, but it is certainly a product of the flesh seasoned with the fear of man.  A close relative of Worry and Anxiety, Suspicion causes a person to perceive grave danger which exists only in his own mind.  Those given over to suspicion have lost focus on the sovereignty, protection and power of God, convinced it falls to them to outsmart their enemies.  Praise the LORD He has provided deliverance from this vice that torments all who justify it.  In Lectures To My Students by C.H. Spurgeon, a chapter titled "The Blind Eye and the Deaf Ear" contains a wealth of insight on the matter which all circumspect people ought to take to heart for themselves: " It would be better to be deceived a hundred times than to live a life of suspicion.  It is intolerable.  The miser who traverses his chamber at midnight and hears a burglar in every falling leaf is not more wretched than the minister who believes that plots a...

How blessed are the children of Israel, the people God covenanted with on Sinai!  God brought the Hebrews out of Egypt with a mighty hand, revealed Himself in power, destroyed their enemies and spoke to them.  God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt as they followed the visible presence of God through the wilderness to the promised land.  After Moses God raised up many judges and priests who upheld God's laws and sent prophets to speak to His people.  Idols and graven images have mouths yet cannot speak, and the God of Israel stands alone as the Supreme Being who speaks. God has spoken through the Bible, and He still speaks to this day.  Words spoken through prophets who spoke for God are still being fulfilled and provide innumerable insights for how to live today.  I wonder what people thought when the prophet spoke the words recorded concerning what God would do in  Zechariah 12:10 :  " And I will pour on the house of David and on the in...

" If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15   For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you ." John 13:14-15 Jesus set an example of how His disciples were to serve one another by washing their feet.  He did not say, "I washed your feet, so you ought to wash my feet . "  He told them to follow His example in their interactions with each other, and doing so to the least of these Jesus receives as being done unto Him.  We often can be swept up by "fairness" of doing good to others who have done to us by reciprocating, but God would have us give and serve in response to what He has done.  It is not looking to others that sets our pace but the good deeds of our Saviour Jesus and all we have freely received from Him.  This is one of the many "one another" commands Jesus gave His disciples, that they should do to one another according to Christ's blessi...

For about 11 years of my working life I was part of a labour union which provided training, top wages and opportunity for advancement.  The emphasis when I joined was to work "8 for 8" (work all 8 hours for 8 hours of pay), buy American if possible, show up on time, have a good attitude and do quality work.  The training and efficient, quality work our union was known for enabled us to charge top-dollar for our services and actually saved customers money because of the superior product.  Over the years, however, the position of the union shifted in regards to how we could be successful in our industry:  making friends in politics through financial contributions. I found the shift from doing quality work to seeking political sway as our primary way of profitability, sustainability and survival most concerning.  Instead of the union existing to support the membership, it had become cannibalistic, increasing dues from members to neutralise threats to "our work" by ...

When the children of Israel returned from captivity in Babylon, they rebuilt the temple.  They did not possess the wealth of King Solomon who lavishly adorned the first structure built roughly 450 years before.  The new temple was modest by comparison and was hardly an impressive edifice even to those who laboured to construct it.  Rebuilding the temple in the city God placed His name was a most worthy effort, yet the new building failed to capture the former glory of that which Nebuchadnezzar destroyed. Haggai 2:1-3  reads, " In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing ?"  Ther...

Even in western society that places small value on images as object of worship, idolatry is a real danger in the lives of Christians.  During our pilgrimage on earth, similar to the children of Israel whether in the wilderness or in Canaan, we will face temptations to look to people or things rather than God.  Our idolatry is not as obvious as a shrine with candles and incense because it is fundamentally a matter of the heart. A pastor recently told me an interesting observation during marriage counselling over the years.  He noted the tendency of people to make demands of marriage to be something God never intended, to provide for their needs how only God can.  A single person who seeks fulfillment, satisfaction and belonging from life through a romantic relationship alone will ultimately be disappointed.  There is a persistent myth that we are incomplete without a spouse or sex.  It is ironic the very thing we seek and obtain can be the source of great co...

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith like this:  " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ."  Everyone, to some degree, daily demonstrates a measure of faith.  After buying a new car we trust the sensor on the fuel tank is reasonably accurate.  We trust motivated workers to finish the task they were assigned without feeling the need to check on them.  When we place our faith in God as revealed in scripture we are also are convinced and sure of unseen realities.  The Bible gives us insight to the character and power of God to save, forgive, help and save.  Without ever seeing Jesus Christ many people trust and love Him, not because they are weak-minded or mentally unstable, but because of the historical account of His life, death and resurrection. One of my favourite passages that explores the victorious, sustaining faith in a child of God is seen in  Habakkuk 3:17-19 :  " Though the fig tree may not blossom, ...

Children are impressionable and parents have a great privilege and responsibility to raise them to know and honour God.  Christian parents can sabotage their efforts to teach their children about God when they reduce the relationship to rules.  There is a smug satisfaction that feeds our pride that we know and do what is right compared to a sinning, heathen world outside.  Believing sound doctrine is good, yet if pride in ourselves for a righteous stand (however costly) and still despise others without repentance we are no different than the self-righteous Pharisees who did not recognise the Saviour Jesus Christ who walked among them.  It is not doing one thing rather than another that makes us acceptable in the eyes of God but faith in Christ who regenerates us and empowers us by the Holy Spirit to walk in love. After the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt, God commanded His people to continually teach their children about Him, His word and all He had done for them....

When appliances, electronics and toys grow old and break, often they are not worth repairing.  Long gone are the days of VCR and TV repair because of factors like the rapid advancement of technology that renders older obsolete, the difficulty of sourcing parts and the high expense of repair is greater than buying new.  Though parts can sometimes be recycled or repurposed, typically broken items that no longer perform their designed function are useless and only fit for the rubbish bin.  When my coffee machine stopped working, I removed it from the kitchen bench.  In a broken state it was a waste of space. I am most grateful God does not treat us like we treat our damaged or broken goods.  Instead of throwing us away, God delights to draw near to us in our brokenness.  Our pains attract Him to hear, help and save us when our broken hearts cry out to Him.  See what  Psalm 34:18 says:  "T he LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and ...

As a speaker of English it is interesting how the definition and meaning of words can change over time.  It is not uncommon for the meaning of a word understood for hundreds of years to be easily overturned and narrowly re-defined as offensive.  A word which was once neutral can develop an overwhelmingly negative connotation and be viewed as bad in itself.  As a reader primarily of non-fiction by authors spanning hundreds of years, these shifts are not difficult to find. One word that did not always have a negative meaning was "discriminate."  To "discriminate" is akin to a cardinal sin these days, yet see how it is defined in the Webster's 1828 dictionary  (follow link for the full definition):  " To distinguish; to observe the difference between; as, we may usually discriminate true from false modesty.  2. To separate; to select from others; to make a distinction between; as, in the last judgment, the righteous will be discriminated from the wicked....

" My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing ." James 1:2-4 Yesterday the sermon at Calvary Chapel Sydney included this exhortation and encouragement for all followers of Jesus Christ.  God allows trials and adversity of all kinds to accomplish His good purposes.  Instead of being annoyed, frustrated or worried about the outcome we can count it all joy to face trials which test us.  Just like a student sits an exam because he is included in the class, God tests and disciplines us because we are His children He loves. A precious metal is placed in a crucible and intense heat is applied because it is a precious metal which requires further refinement to be even more valuable.  A child of God can know the various trials He allows are not for our destruction but an opportunity for the fruit of...

" This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father's tribe .'" Numbers 36:6 The daughters of Zelophehad came to Moses with a concern.  Because their father only had given birth to daughters and the inheritance of land was passed down through sons, in years to come their land would pass to a different family and tribe.  Moses brought their case before the LORD who provided guidance in how the issue was to be rectified.  They were free to marry whomever they thought best but were to marry within their family.  Marrying a first cousin was a very common practice in the ancient world and remains a norm in middle eastern countries to this day.  Their obedience to God's directive would ensure the inheritance of land given them by lot would remain in the family for generations to come. This concept of complete freedom within the boundaries God ...

God is always working, and He works miraculously in unexpected ways.  Like Namaan who imagined the prophet Elisha would wave his hand over him to heal him of leprosy and was disappointed when directed to dip seven times in the Jordan river, we can assume the best course of action for God to take.  Dipping in water wasn't nearly as flashy as invoking the power of God with a wave, but God sovereignly required faith by humility and obedience to a basic task Namaan needed to do.  Namaan's miraculous cleansing shows God is faithful and worthy of our trust. Yesterday afternoon I was blessed to see the LORD work in an unexpected way through a lost pair of glasses which were swept away in the surf.  Upon hearing the news, I returned to the area where the glasses had been washed away.  I had no idea where the glasses were, and the chances of me finding them washed on the beach were minuscule.  As I walked alone on the beach with eyes scanning the breaking waves, I p...

History is an excellent teacher that reveals how society tends to drift from the intended purposes of forefathers.  The national holiday of Thanksgiving in the Unites States is a testimony of this.  When I went to school, in connection with Thanksgiving we learned about the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock, dressed up as pilgrims and Native Americans, and traced our hands to draw turkeys.  We were taught the pilgrims and Indians gathered for a meal to give thanks to God.  In recent years Thanksgiving has almost wholly given way to "Turkey Day" in the media.  This year was the first year I heard people wanting the holiday struck from the calendar because of the assertion at its root Thanksgiving is a celebration of colonisation and subjugation.  This accusation is far from the truth. I decided to look into the history of Thanksgiving as a national holiday and was pleasantly surprised to see no mention whatsoever of the voyage on the Mayflower, no reference to Nat...

I read a news article yesterday about a "monolith" being found in Utah desert that hearkened back to the ground-breaking science fiction film by Stanley Kubrick, 2001: A Space Odyssey .  As a person who believes the biblical account that God created the heavens, the earth and all living things, the irony of the situation is most amusing. The 9NEWS article begins, " A bizarre four-metre high metal block found in the isolated wilderness of the Utah desert is the work of a dead sculpture artist, his former agent believes.  Officials from the Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau stumbled upon the shiny monolith on November 18 while conducting a survey on big horn sheep.  The object has no signifying marks but appears to have been bolted to the ground with "human-made rivets" .  The metal block in isolated wilderness is called "bizarre" because reason tells us polished stainless steel never presents itself naturally in erect monoliths.  Based upon...

When we moved into our house, we were tasked to point out flaws in craftsmanship with painter's tape to be repaired by the builder.  For months the blue tape had become familiar decor, signposts and reminders of flaws all around.  Since our builder has "done a runner" (as we say in Australia) and will not be back to rectify the blemishes in the walls and paint, this morning I went throughout the house and removed all the tape.  I can't tell you how much better things look without those attention-grabbing bits of tape.  There are actually more blemishes now, seeing as the tape removed some poorly adhered paint, but the eye is not drawn to the defects as before. As I picked the tape off the walls, ceiling and woodwork, it provided insight of our tendency as humans to find faults in ourselves and draw attention to them.  There is no question we all have our faults and one common to man is to look for flaws and focus on them.  Our power to see and perceive is a...