Marching Forth!

The life of Jehoram in scripture is a most cautionary tale.  He was made king following the passing of Jehoshaphat, a king who was godly and loved by the people.  Jehoram was given the throne by birthright and his base character was quickly exposed when he killed his brothers and followed the ways of the idolatrous king of Israel.  We imagine a person will "rise to the occasion" when given a position of power but the opposite is true:  they can use their power to do more evil than ever. With resources and a position which could have been employed to do great good for God's glory, Jehoram led the nation astray.  After years of idolatry, cruelty, and wickedness, God struck Jehoram with an incurable illness.   2 Chronicles 21:20 tragically relates, " He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings ."...

A conversation I shared with a brother from church started me thinking about the impact of tradition in our expressions of faith and obedience.  Traditions in themselves are not necessarily good or bad but because of our bent towards formula, routine, and self-righteousness they can divorced from the original purpose or reasoning behind them.  We can adopt a legalistic view of what should be done when and  how things must be to be done right--typically with our own experience setting the gold standard. Take water baptism for example:  depending on your culture and Christian denomination beyond the theology there is great variety in the view of baptism, who is qualified to perform a baptism, how it is practically done, and the reasons behind it.  It may be we rely upon our own experience (which was likely impacted by tradition to some extent) rather than the scripture to form our ideas of why baptism in water is important.  Some imagine a person cannot b...

Many people traverse through life like grazing animals seeking greener pastures.  The undertones of the phrase "seeking greener pastures" are dissatisfaction and restlessness, something we humans can all identify with to some degree.  It seems we only need to be at the supposed greener pasture for a little while--that new job, relationship, suburb, or church--until we realise it isn't quite as green as we would like.  Our experiences seem to line up with the Erma Bombeck book title from the 70's:  The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank .  The grass is greener, but do you want to know why the grass is greener?  Are you sure you want to eat that grass? We don't need to be like King Solomon who had everything a person could want and piled on exponentially more to know our expectations are rarely met.  It doesn't take much for a dream holiday to turn into an unforgettable nightmare.  The most exceptional circumstances often leave somethin...

My family and I have been reading through the book of 2 Chronicles and the life of king Asa presents a strong case of our need to keep seeking and trusting God all our days.  Our good God does not change, but we do and not always for the better.  The finest wines can turn to vinegar in poor conditions, and when our hearts drift from reliance in the LORD the wisest can become fools.  King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, yet in his latter days he was a hollow shell of his former self who more resembled king Saul than king David his father.  This teaches us men, regardless of their divinely inspired wisdom, all have their flaws:  none is good like God, not one. Because king Asa trusted in the LORD God gave him astonishing victories in battle.  He took courage at the exhortation of godly prophets to put away idols from the land and even removed his mother from being queen because of idolatry.  People throughout Israel flocked to him because h...

" These are their numbers, according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor; 15  and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; 16  and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD , and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor ." 2 Chronicles 17:14-16 The Bible is filled with choice wisdom which can be discovered in listings of genealogies and notable people.  Our initial response when we see longs names and numbers might be to skip or skim, but there are insights for hungry seekers even there.  One such person is mentioned is Amasiah in verse 16 , a man " who willingly offered himself to the LORD. " God loves a cheerful giver of themselves into His service, and Amasiah is one of many who offered themselves as a living sacrifice for His glory.  Hannah dedic...

We live in a highly polarised world where people are divided and divisive.  According to political, ethical, religious, and personal convictions we fashion a unique identity which welcomes people who agree with us and often excludes those who do not.  This "us and them" mentality is something which can colour and corrupt the perspectives of genuine Christians.  Our views of other churches or denominations primarily emphasises points of disagreement rather than Who unites us.  Based on hearsay we can write-off thousands of genuine believers as heretics because of a book or alleged quote from a pastor of a particular church.  Instead of following Jesus we can follow the divisive patterns of men or the virtual gossip of many modern-day watchmen. The danger of division in the church is nothing new.  From early days the devil has sought to overthrow the church by persecution, undermine it by false doctrine, or subvert it through legalism.  This morning I...

It amazes me how God works countless wonders and yet this does not always translate into faith.  God miraculously brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land after sustaining them for 40 years.  He caused water to flow from a rock and provided bread from heaven, yet they continued to lean on their own understanding, walking by sight instead of faith in Him.  This same tendency goes for me too, for none of us are immune to this short-sighted folly. Yesterday I read 1 Kings 17  which provides an illustration of how slow people are to recognise God's miraculous provision.  During a severe drought and famine God directed the prophet Elijah to go to a widow woman.  When he found her she was gathering sticks to light a fire to bake her last meal for herself and her son.  All they had was a scant amount of flour and oil and once that was gone they were without hope of survival.  Elijah asked her to bake a cake for him first ...

" So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him ." Luke 5:11 No matter how much study or effort goes into the process of preaching, there are countless ways to improve.  There are things I wish I had said which I neglected, topics or passages I wish I had handled differently, or words after saying them in retrospect I would have left unsaid.  After preaching it is a mixture of feeling blessed to learn from God and share from His Word coupled with the knowledge I didn't quite nail it.  Yesterday I taught on the first part of Luke 5 and afterwards was a bit disappointed I didn't expound this verse just a bit more.  Praise the LORD He is a Redeemer and the One who gives understanding of His Word so even man's poor attempts can be fruitful and practical. After Jesus caused Simon and his partners to haul in a miraculous catch of fish, upon reaching the shore they " forsook all and followed Him ."  This meant the...

Over lunch yesterday I shared an engaging conversation about the nature and character of God.  It struck me that no matter how abundant the evidence or plain the facts, at some point faith is required.  God is eternal and infinite in love, wisdom, grace, and goodness.  We humans are finite, locked within time, and our perspective is shockingly limited.  In reaching for better understanding of God and how He operates (who does not share our thoughts, nor are His ways like ours) we cobble together examples which are woefully inadequate using words which cannot do justice to God's reality.  At a funeral or memorial service it is impossible to convey the impact of a single life of a brief span of time:  how can we explain eternity or He who inhabits it? Because God has graciously revealed Himself through the Word and the person of Jesus Christ we can know Who we worship.  But let us not make the mistake that God is like us any more than a created thing ...

Psalm 77 by Asaph is a great example that in our distress it is good to remember who God is and all He has done.  We easily forget to relate God's awesome deeds in times past to our current situation.  Because God is faithful the provision, protection, and help in the past enables us to trust Him in the present.  Perhaps we can't predict how or when God will do His wonders, but He will. Asaph wrote in  Psalm 77:11-15 , " I will remember the works of the LORD ; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12  I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. 13  Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? 14  You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. 15  You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah "  Instead of racking his brain to figure out how he could change his circumstances for the better, Asaph meditated ...

A hit song by Bobby McFerrin in the 80's repeated the phrase, " Don't worry, be happy !"  Perhaps the sentiment could be equated with the Aussie standby " No worries " or Disney's " Hakuna Matata " from the Lion King movie.  It suggests a change of mind and focus, that instead of fretting over circumstances out of our control we simply choose happiness instead.  While we can agree worrying can't change our situation, the pursuit of happy feelings is often futile.  The idea worrying and happiness cannot co-exist to some degree is unfounded, for the happiest people endure worrying times. I am reminded of an approach different to the McFerrin's lyrics by Paul's words in the book of Philippians.  This letter was written from prison where he had been wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for years and said in  Philippians 4:4 :  " Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice !" Rejoicing in the LORD is very different ...

We like the promise of a sure thing, don't we?  Unknowns and uncertainties weigh upon our minds and can paralyse us with worry, fear, and frustration.  We like guarantees even when the assurance provided by a seller may not be worth the paper it is written on.  As our experiences stack up over the years there is likely a growing list of occasions we have been cheated, lied to, and taken advantage of.  All this works to make us cynical and skeptical of finding honesty and fairness in the world.  When we walk by sight this jaded perspective can cloud our view of God and undermine faith in Him. It has been quipped the only things you can count on in life is death and taxes, but in reality there could be much added to the list:  in this world are liars, cheaters, hypocrites, thieves, and unscrupulous, greedy people.  But I am glad to say there is one Being we can count on who alone is greater than all the evil the world can conjure up:  God! ...

During my youth there was a rise of overt satanism.  Occult symbols and practices were expressed in children's cartoons and there were reports of cats being used as sacrifices.  Satanic imagery was employed in artwork and lyrics of rock musicians which shocked the conservative public.  A personal example is when my family arrived early to church on a Sunday morning to find large pentagrams etched onto the doors of the building and also discovered "666" carved by vandals on the communion table.  Though the sensational reports of satanic activity these days is rare, Satan continues to lie, steal, and destroy. I was reminded of this reality when I read a passage of scripture toward the end of King David's life in  1 Kings 1:5 :  " Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him ."  Like Absalom his brother before him, Adonijah the son ...

" You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44   But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45   that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust ." Matthew 5:43-45 People across Sydney and much of Australia awakened this morning praising God for the rain that has come to our dry land.  This soaking rain has been predicted to remain for at least a week and will provide much needed relief from bushfires, smoke, and high heat coupled with drought conditions.  For months now I have been praying for rain and it is a blessing to see God answer the requests of many toward this refreshing end. Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies, doing good to those who hate them, and pray for those who spit...

Using scripture to interpret scripture is a most valuable practice and provides great insight into God's truth.  Because the Bible is the infallible Word of God apparent contradictions can aid us understanding it is not always "either or" but sometimes "both." An example is seen in  2 Samuel 24:1-2 :  " Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." 2  So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people ."  As a loving father disciplines a child he loves, God at times disciplined His people for their sin through a variety of means:  being troubled or defeated by enemies, stirring up adversaries from within, famine, pestilence, lack of rain, and on.  We are not told precisely why God's anger was aroused ...

In a world of uncertainty there is security in absolutes.  We like the clear-cut difference between "yes" and "no" or our choices being limited between "A or B."  In Christian circles this desire can filter into doctrine to allow us to make judgments between right or wrong and to determine the "saved" from "unsaved."  Though the truth of God is objective and unchanging our perception of it is in degrees because our limited understanding.  Applying the revelation of God and His Word is more nuanced than a choice between two options.  There are 32 compass points but not one of those readings take vertical elevation into account! Yesterday I read Romans 1 in the morning and was impacted by something I never noticed before.  It is very easy as a believer in Christ to read this passage (and others like it) with a sort of spiritual superiority akin to the way Jews viewed Gentiles before Jesus established the church and made us one in Him....

During the Australian Open finals I saw an advertisement of an upcoming show of quite possibly the most ill-advised reality-type show ever:  "Married at First Sight."  I freely confess I have arrived to this negative view primarily on the basis of ads alone because I have never watched the show.  It seems ridiculous to pair perfect strangers together as a married couple in a culture which celebrates sex without a marriage relationship that honours God.  I don't know how contestants are compensated beyond money or becoming television celebrities (or gaining a lifelong spouse!), but in my opinion it seems too high a price to toy with people's emotions and feelings for a "social experiment" produced for entertainment. The promo was particularly impacting because of the harsh reception a young woman named Connie received by family members when she announced she planned to appear on the show.  Connie shared with emotion how she often felt lonely and hoped goi...