Blessing God Today

God has blessed and blesses people in countless ways, and those who are in Christ have had our eyes opened to see and appreciate many of them.  Our lives and all we enjoy are gifts from God, and even trials and pain He allows serve His redemptive purposes for our good.  As I read the Bible last week, it occurred to me how prevalent it is to appeal to peace, joy, contentment and rest as reasons to seek and trust God while these are actually some results from faith in Him.  Could it be people are introduced to Jesus Christ as a source of blessing before they even comprehend they are sinners who need a Saviour?

Imagine an orphaned little boy living in a group home without a father or mother.  Without parents, this child intensely feels a lack in their life and dreams of one day filling it with a dad and mum.  This child may desire a parent like a girl wishes for a cute puppy.  She wants the companionship of a pet and the fun of playing together.  Never having had a dog she doesn't realise a pet requires a lot of expense, hard work and personal sacrifice:  the dog will need to be groomed, fed, cleaned up after and trained.  The orphaned little fellow imagines being tucked into bed by parents will make him feel secure, safe and loved.  Having parents is much more than feeling comfortable at night:  it is being adopted into a new family, growing into a new identity, learning obedience and what it means to honour father and mother.  Being tucked into bed with prayer and a kiss is a tiny part of what being a child of parents mean, and by no means the most important.

I believe God's desire is to be known and loved by people for who He is as revealed in the Bible, and He is a Saviour and LORD of all.  Isaiah 45:22 reads, "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."  There is no greater blessing than being born again by faith in Jesus and being adopted into His family.  We may come to Him as little children who only want to be tucked in at night and be loved, yet over time we begin to appreciate so much more about Him.  We come to realise we could never be worthy to be so loved and we actually deserved eternal punishment for our sins.  All along, regardless of the depth of our understanding, God continues to love and nurture us.  He feeds us faithfully and guides us into all truth.  He spends quality time with us and seeks us out.  When there is a task to accomplish God helps us and works through us to accomplish His will.  What peace, rest and joy is ours as we experience His presence all by God's grace.

The little boy who simply dreamed of being tucked in at night into his own bed never considered his dad and mum would then leave his room to go to their own room.  But God doesn't do that:  the Holy Spirit dwells within us continually as we abide in Christ.  We never need be apart from the LORD who will never leave or forsake us.  The result of faith in Jesus Christ in my life is greater than the reasons I sought Him, and only later I learned He sought me first.  Any longing for Him was preceded by His dying for me so we could live together forever.  Having been so blessed by God, His people ought to bless Him today.

Jesus our Refuge

Jesus died for the sins of the world, there is an important condition every individual must meet to receive the benefit of His atoning work.  We understand well the necessity of our own actions to obtain a college scholarship, apply for a home loan or collect unemployment payments.  Just because a benefit is offered freely we are still responsible to act.  God does not require us to fill out forms or make a deposit.  God has put it in writing He will save all who place their faith in Jesus Christ, and gives us the down payment of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  With the heart we believe, and with our mouths we confess our sinfulness and Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.

After the children of Israel settled in Canaan, God established several "cities of refuge" where a manslayer could flee and seek refuge from the avenger of blood.  Before he was granted entrance to the city, the man guilty of manslaughter needed to publicly confess how he had killed someone without any malice or hatred, how the death was accidental.  Once his case was heard by the elders and judged by the people as innocent of murder, he would be given a safe place to reside.  Those who were unwilling to trek to the city of refuge or openly confess the circumstances of the death they were responsible for, the protection of the city of refuge was of no effect.  Proverbs 28:13 reads, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."  The arrangement of the city of refuge well illustrates this principle.  There was protection under the law available to those who freely admitted they had accidentally killed another person and placed themselves under the scrutiny and judgment of others for their deliverance from the avenger of blood.

If we will receive the forgiveness and salvation made available to the world by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we must freely admit our sin and ask to be forgiven.  God is loving to provide a way of deliverance for us through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and we must meet His conditions to enter into it ourselves.  These conditions are not according to the Law of Moses etched into stone, but a new way through the Gospel and the shed blood of Jesus.  The resurrection of Jesus reveals His power over sin and the consequences of death and eternal separation from God.  The one who ran to the city of refuge to save his life had much still to lose, and the one who runs to Jesus Christ in faith has all gain:  forgiveness, acceptance into the family of God, an eternal home in heaven and an abundant life today.

We can only see our need for mercy after the realisation we are guilty, condemned and no way to justify ourselves.  The only way we can receive mercy is by going to the God who is ever merciful and gives to those who ask.  Faith takes God at His word and comes to Him boldly to find help and grace in time of need.  Jesus came to seek and save all sinners, not just to prolong the lives of manslayers.  The mercy shown to manslayers and the cities of refuge shows God seeks to save lives, not destroy them.  Praise the LORD for His goodness and the Gospel, for Jesus is our refuge.

Enter In and Receive

God has provided the scriptures so we might learn of Him, to walk in His ways and grow.  The Bible is much more than an accurate account of history but provides examples for us to observe wisely and heed ourselves.  Paul explained how the past experiences of others are useful for us to take to heart today in Romans 15:4:  "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."  God recorded the failings of His people so we might begin to comprehend His faithfulness and place our hope in God whose love is revealed by longsuffering patience.  The Bible details how God was true to His word and fulfilled promises He made to undeserving people by His grace.  People were fickle and forgetful, yet God remained good and faithful.

I was recently struck by what happened after God established the children of Israel in Canaan.  After the kings of nations were overthrown in Canaan, Joshua 18:1-3 reads, "Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. ² But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. ³ Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?"  God had delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and sustained them in the wilderness for 40 years.  He brought them into the promised land and miraculously subdued their enemies before them.  One might assume each tribe and family would be keen to take possession of the inheritance God promised to give them, yet 7 of the 12 tribes were content to camp at Shiloh around the tabernacle as they had during their lengthy pilgrimage.

The crazy thing is they had not even seen nor mapped out the area God would give them by lot.  Joshua continued in Joshua 18:4:  "Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me."  The tribes did as Joshua commanded in Joshua 18:9:  "So the men went, passed through the land, and wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh."  People love free stuff, and this especially applies to free real estate.  Taking possession of the land would involve time-consuming effort and ongoing maintenance.  I expect the reluctance of the people to take possession of the land had much to do with their preference for comfort, familiarity, the close proximity to the tabernacle and the presence of God, and uncertainty and unknowns of what the future held.  A new level of personal responsibility would be required when they moved away from the national campsite and to their own plot on their own.  And there were still enemies and wild beasts in the land, potential threats to safety and family.  Perhaps it was just easier and simpler to keep things as they were:  at least they were no longer enslaved or trudging through wilderness.

Joshua, however, would not stand idly by and watch the children of God continue to congregate around the tabernacle in Shiloh when they had an inheritance from God to take possession of--an inheritance they had never even seen!  The children of Israel in this passage provide an example that applies well to the Christian life.  The Hebrews were content to be free of bondage in Egypt and to have the land conveniently subdued before them.  Many believers are well pleased to be born again, forgiven of sin, to receive the promise of eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ--and are content to stop right there.  God had an inheritance for the Hebrews to enter into, plots of God's land provided by lot they were to work and cultivate, provide for their families and the service of the tabernacle.  Their daily lives and routines were to radically change because of new boundaries and horizons.  For Christians, God also has a place for us in the body of Christ were we are called to serve Him and one another in love.  God has given us the Holy Spirit who fills, comforts, teaches, and empowers us to do God's will.  I believe there are many things God has promised His born again children we also have yet to possess.  Like the Hebrews who had not even walked through or mapped the land God promised to give them, I suggest a great number of Christians have never perused or carefully examined the scriptures concerning the promises God has already given them to enter into today.

God has divine wisdom and spiritual gifts for believers in Christ to operate in now for the glory of His name and to edify the Body of Jesus Christ, the church.  Do you know what these gifts are?  In the epistle to the Galatians Paul contrasted the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.  You might be savvy to know varieties of fruit, plants and even their Latin names:  but would you recognise the fruit of the Spirit when you see it?  Are works of the flesh being culled and the fruit of the Spirit cultivated in your life today?  In His teaching Jesus gave His followers many commandments to follow and the New Testament is packed with "one another" commands which guide believers in how to love our brothers and sisters in Christ:  are you aware of these?  Have you mapped them out through experience?  Unlike the children of Israel who huddled by the tabernacle where the presence of God dwelt, under the new covenant in Christ's blood the Holy Spirit fills and accompanies us wherever He sends us as the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Some of the believers in the early church did not understand the implications of this, and it is entirely possible we do not either.

Brothers and sisters, let us not neglect to enter into the inheritance God has supplied us today by His grace.  It is true God has promised to provide us a home in the heavens with Him where righteousness dwells, yet today is the day to enter into the Gate of Righteousness by faith and obedience.  For all followers of Jesus Christ He has an abundant life to experience today.  There are enemies, obstacles, opposition, and hard work required, yet nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Let not comfort or convenience hinder us from pressing on into the inheritance God has given us in Him, taking steps of faith in obedience to His word.  Let us refuse to shirk our responsibility to enter in, though we must climb a mountain, cut down a forest or displace fortified giants.  Caleb did so because the LORD helped Him, and God will help us--even we of little faith whose doubts are great.

Upheld and Carried by God

It is a great tragedy children and even older folks can be viewed as "burdens to society," a concept never put forth in the word of God who values and loves all people created in His image.  Those who appear strong and supportive in their prime of life can be gone in an instant, and this reminds us that health and strength of people with the most robust constitutions are limited and temporary.  Believers are called to carry one another's burdens, but we are also called to carry our own load.  It is when we are unable to carry our own load, small though it may be in comparison to others, that we realise we need God to carry us.

Do you know God promised to do this for His people?  Even whilst they were in the throes of idolatry, labouring needlessly to find favour with foreign gods when they were established and blessed by the living God, He reached out to them through the prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah 46:1-4 reads, "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, a burden to the weary beast. ² They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but have themselves gone into captivity. ³ "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: ⁴ even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."

God used a remarkable illustration to promise He would hold, carry and deliver them all their days.  The prophet described strong beasts of burden struggling under the weight of heavy carriages loaded down with idols that could not hear, see or do anything.  Where they were placed there they would remain and collect dust.  They would lose their shine as the precious metals corroded and the wood began to rot.  The weight of the idols was so great these bulls collapsed under the weight from exhaustion, and all their precious idols were taken.  God pictured himself in contrast to these weary beasts and dumb idols:  they perished in the worship of their idols, but God would carry and save them.

Consider the contrast between carrying a heavy idol of stone or wood and being carried by God to His intended destination!  A man took great pains to prepare a plot of ground or temple to adequately house the idol, ensure it was not exposed to the elements and did not tip over--and was not always successful.  God, on the other hand, lifted the burden off His people as He listened to them and acted for their good.  He was the One carrying them to safety, kept them upright and delivered them from destruction.  People guarded their idols which could be stolen, but no one could snatch God's people out of His hand.  We are called to be casting our burdens upon the LORD because He is able to bear them without being burdened by them, so great is His power to save and love for us.

Isn't it wonderful to know God stoops to carry us from the womb to our old age?  As recipients of such love and grace, let us joyfully walk in it no matter our season of life.  While we are upheld in His hands by faith we can fulfill our purpose to bear one another's burdens, for He is faithful.

Treasuring God

On the first day of the week, two disciples walked along the road heading away from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  They discussed and could make no sense of what had happened:  during the Passover feast, Jesus had been arrested, crucified and buried in a tomb.  Luke 24:15-17 reads, "So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. ¹⁷ And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"  It is fitting their discussion and reasoning resulted in sadness because they did not realise or believe Jesus was risen, alive and walking with them.

There are things in life that do not make sense to us, no matter how much we obsess or think it over.  The disciples talked, reasoned and perhaps vented but it did not change the reality the one they believed would redeem Israel was dead, nor could they understand why it happened.  Jesus knew beforehand what His crucifixion and resurrection would accomplish, and He graciously drew near to open the scriptures so these sorrowing disciples would have a change of heart and mind.  This was not an isolated incident, for God still speaks through His word and the power of the Holy Spirit.  We should not "hope" for an experience with God as if we could be disappointed, but we ought to expect to hear from God every time we read the Bible because God has spoken and the Holy Spirit lives within us.

As a kid I enjoyed reading Calvin and Hobbes, a comic strip by Bill Watterson.  One strip illustrates well six-year old Calvin's perpetual joy for life.  Calvin, wearing a pith helmet, was digging for buried treasure.  In Calvin's words he found “a few dirty rocks, a weird root, and some disgusting grubs.”  His stuffed tiger Hobbes asked, “On your first try?”  Calvin enthusiastically replied, “There’s treasure everywhere!”  While rocks and grubs can be interesting for a little boy, nothing compares to the treasure of God and His word.  When we open the Bible we hold in our hands God's divinely inspired words of life that sets hearts on fire with awe and joy.  God has comfort for broken hearts, revelations for the believing seeker and hope for the future regardless of circumstances.

When we open God's word in a humble posture in faith, by God's grace we can receive truth and wisdom beyond the reasoning of men that is profound and intellectually satisfying.  We find, not so much an answer to life's questions, but a God who loves us and is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  God is the treasure we ought to value over all.  Unlike treasures on earth which are hoarded and kept for ourselves, God is the treasure we joyfully share with all.

Fruit Unto God

I remember a singular experience years ago at the start of youth group on a Sunday night.  One of the youth workers was visibly frustrated as he told us of his decision to stop serving as a leader after several months.  "Guys, I'm just not seeing any fruit," he said.  "I'm going to Horizon" (a different church in southern California).  After he voiced his displeasure at our lack of maturity and growth, the meeting had just begun when he walked out the door and I never saw him again.

I was thinking today of how common it is to look for results from our efforts and how we can be disillusioned when we do not see them.  Like that youth worker we have made sacrifices, laboured faithfully and been patient and yet we cannot see any positive impact.  I am convinced fundamentally the youth worker's issue was not with us kids, ratbags though we were:  his frustration was actually with God.  Genuine believers must recognise the temptation we face when we see immediate, tangible results from our efforts or none whatsoever.  Believing we are the ones making a difference provokes pride in us, and the absence of arbitrary "fruit" from our efforts leads to disillusionment and despair.  It is possible at the root of the youth worker's outburst was unbelief in God and the power to accomplish His good purposes in providing His word.

Could it be God prevented the youth worker's eyes from seeing the profound impact God was making on the lives of young people so he himself would be changed and grow in maturity?  He was a man who had spent much time in a gym and was used to seeing gains in his physique:  perhaps he imagined working with youth should be no different.  People embrace workout routines to achieve goals, yet no amount of effort can change a heart or save a soul.  Jesus compared the word of God to seed that is sown in the soil, and depending on the variety of seeds we observe in nature the germination process is different.  Some seeds spring up quickly in prepared soil and others can be dormant for years because they require the heat of fire to germinate.  Who but God knows what it will take for His good seed to grow and be produce fruit?  There is always a gap of time between sowing and reaping, and let us not lose heart in the meantime.

Jesus said in John 15:1-2, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  On occasion I have trimmed fruitful citrus trees, and I have found this guarantees the tree will not fruit for at least a year.  Having trimmed the tree myself I expect there to be a season of fruitlessness in a good tree as it redirects nutrients to build stronger limbs to support a greater capacity for fruit.  Jesus says as a Vinedresser the Father takes away branches that do not bear fruit, and the fruitful branches He prunes.  He cuts off a bit of fruitful branches so they will be more fruitful still.  It is Jesus who supplies our spiritual life, vitality and fruitfulness, and God expertly manages the fruitfulness of His people.  This is why "looking for fruit" in the lives of others can be a snare:  it has more to do with what we want to see or feel our efforts deserve rather than what God intends to accomplish according to His divine purposes.

The situation with the disgruntled youth worker who left our church group in a huff provokes the question:  are we looking for fruit in other branches or to the LORD who makes us fruitful?  May the fruit of our lips be seasoned with salt, grace and wisdom as our hearts are yielded in faith to the power of God and His word.  Any fruit we see is not for our encouragement or satisfaction but for God (Romans 7:4).  Galatians 6:9-10 has an exhortation and promise to God's faithful labourers:  "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Eyewitnesses of His Glory

Recently it occurred to me:  unless Jesus was physically seen by eyewitnesses alive after His death and burial, claims to His resurrection would be along the lines of tabloids or sites that claim Elvis is alive.  John wrote concerning Jesus that He is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.  John continued in the introduction in 1 John 1:1-3:  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- ² the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- ³ that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."  It is reasonable to give credence to the natural senses God has given us, otherwise the term "eyewitness" becomes meaningless.

Paul wrote that over 500 people saw Jesus alive at one time after His resurrection before ascending into the heavens as one evidence of the resurrection.  The resurrection of Jesus fulfilled prophecy and people watched it unfold in real time, and the observable reality confirmed what God had said.  We live in a day, however, where our God-given powers of observation are challenged and undermined.  It used to be said, "I'll believe it when I see it."  Now we have reached a point where people will not believe even when they see it because they are afraid to fall for falsehoods.  People cite the editing of videos or pictures as reasons not to believe what they see (and fair enough), yet at the same time refer to videos or pictures to as evidence of credible research.  The irony!  When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus the words of Abraham spoke to the rich man about his unbelieving brothers in Luke 16:31 rings true:  "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

I was reading Thru the Bible and McGee commented on how widespread the knowledge of Christ's crucifixion was in Jerusalem.  When Jesus incognito approached the travellers to Emmaus and asked them what had happened that made them sad, Cleopas was shocked this stranger had not heard about Christ's crucifixion.  McGee said, "It would be difficult for someone to live in this day and age and not know that someone has been to the moon and back to earth." (McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible, Volume 4. Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1981. page 358) McGee was writing as an eyewitness along with the rest of his generation who had seen the situation unfold in 1969:  television and radio reported on the "space race," interviews were conducted with astronauts, Apollo 11 was seen launching by millions, people were keen to hear and see the successful landing on the moon, and the returning astronauts were picked up by the US Navy after their splashdown as heroes.  Because McGee was an eyewitness of what occurred, he found it difficult to imagine someone in his "day and age" would not know about the moon landing.  Friends, we are in a day and age where people know what they have been told but do not believe despite evidence they can see for themselves.

Only the power of God can break through the unbelief in the heart of men that refuses reason.  We kid ourselves to imagine all the facts, articles, pictures or even eye-witness accounts will have any impact on a heart blinded by unbelief.  Christians are not to be gullible and believe everything we hear or see.  At the same time we should not throw aside the powers of observation and reasoning God has provided so we can confirm the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as true.  What the Bible says and historical, eye witness accounts work together to confirm the truth of what we know and have personally experienced: through faith in our risen Saviour Jesus Christ we have eternal life and fellowship with God and one another.  Our walk with Jesus Christ is by faith and not by sight.  At the same time God has graciously opened our eyes and we ought to wisely use them as eyewitnesses of His glory.

Increasing in Favour with God

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men."

Luke 2:52

The Bible never ceases to amaze.  It can illuminate the darkest heart and reveals hidden motives.  God's word can confront and shock as it exposes our ignorance, misconceptions and our need to personally change in ways impossible to accomplish without the Holy Spirit.  God and His unerring truth thunders forth with a still, small voice.  With one sentence He can send our heads spinning, and that is what He did to me with this familiar verse that literally kept me up at night.

Though Jesus existed before He put on human flesh, His body grew and developed like ours.  As a child our thoughts were simple and concrete before we grew to understand abstract reasoning.  It makes sense Jesus increased in wisdom as He physically grew, a healthy body and mind worked together.  What floored me was how Jesus could possibly increase "in favour with God."  To increase in favour or grace ("charis" in Greek) with men is no surprise, but to increase in favour with God?  How is this possible when God's grace is infinite and already extended in full to His only begotten Son?  Therein lies part of the problem, for it is impossible for us finite beings to comprehend the infinite--though we imagine we understand God's grace because we can concisely define it.  To the contrary:  God's grace is amazing not because we fully comprehend it but because we have received it according to our limited knowledge of God and His word.

Growing in grace is connected with our knowledge of God and grateful submission to Him in faith.  Faith is not a belief system but a life lived according to God's will that requires trust and obedience in Him.  Jesus increased in favour with God as He intentionally took steps to follow Him.  As an infant incapable of making decisions or choices there was not yet opportunity provided to walk in faith.  A child learning to walk provides a good illustration of the walk of faith in following Christ.  It takes time to learn to walk and skillfully balance on two legs, to gain the coordination and strength day by day to stand, walk and run without falling.  A paralysed man can read about walking, understand the physics and the anatomical requirements, yet this knowledge does not empower Him to overcome the disconnect between the brain, nerves and muscles to do it himself.  After a person is born again through faith in God we are able to receive and tap into God's limitless supply of grace He freely gives to all.  It is faith in Jesus that makes us upright and is accounted for righteousness.

See the connection that is made by Peter when he bid believers to consider what kind of people they ought to be and to avoid the errors of people who distort scripture to their own ends.  2 Peter 3:17-18 says, "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."  Though God's grace is beyond reckoning, it is something we can grow in according to our knowledge of God and recognision of our total need for Him.  As the body of Jesus grew physically, He grew in grace with God and men.  This was not because He was more deserving because this undermines what grace is:  loving favour freely given and received out of God's goodness which cannot be earned.  If anyone could have earned God's favour, it was Jesus.  He grew in favour with God as He joyfully obeyed His Father in heaven, not thinking His deeds or sacrifices made Him worthy of grace.  Jesus grew in God's favour because He received it by faith and walked according to it.

It is ironic how easily we can be tempted into a performance or works-based arrangement with God when all we are and have received is of God's grace.  John 1:16-17 wrote concerning our Saviour, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."  God gives grace again and again and our lives are a testimony of His faithfulness that transcends our circumstances.  Paul was unlawfully imprisoned and it actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel.  God allowed a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul and this evil spirit became an unwitting importer of God's grace to him.  God refused to deliver Paul from the troubles he prayed to escape from, and God brought him to a glorious conclusion in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  Paul wanted God to drive away his tormentor, yet God was gracious to use this infirmity to draw Paul to Himself with love.

God's grace is sufficient, of His fulness we have received, and grace for grace.  May we grow in grace and knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.  God's grace is without limit, and since human beings are finite it is clear God has grace we have yet to personally experience.  Brothers and sisters, do you see your need to grow in grace?  Let us receive grace, walk in grace and extend it freely to others.  We cannot earn this privilege:  it is a responsibility and calling for all children of God He enables us to walk and rejoice in.

God's Word Is True

"Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." ¹³ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day."

Joshua 10:12-13

Joshua recorded a miraculous and unique incident as God fought for Israel at his request.  Verse 13 says this event was also recorded in a source outside of scripture that exists to this day, the Book of Jasher.  As those who value the word of God, it is important to realise this mention in scripture does not validate a book which has been omitted from biblical canon.  Some have made the mistake for looking for truth outside the Bible in ancient texts that have been permanently disqualified due to errors.  Since the Bible provides a historical record of factual events it is fitting historians such as Josephus and others would confirm and these at best support the authenticity of the Bible--not the other way round.

The Book of Jasher, Josephus and others cannot legitimately add anything to the Bible.  We cannot give any text, historian or pastor the authority of God who divinely inspired the scriptures.  It is also important we do not define apostolic authority as being without error, for not all the writings of Peter, John and Paul have been preserved as the inerrant word of God.  Being an apostle does not make a man infallible, for men are mere men.  There is no man but Jesus Christ who is without fault or error.  Being an ordained minister or pastor is not a call or claim to infallibility but a responsibility shared by all followers of Jesus to humbly serve our infallible, immutable Saviour Jesus Christ.  God on this occasion in Joshua hearkened to the voice of a man, and we should never once listen to the voice of man as God.

There are many who claim to have divine inspiration and revelation, and those who genuinely do at best are only messengers who must remain faithful to what God has already said.  God does not change and His word will not pass away:  there is nothing to be added nor should anything be taken away from it.  The biblical qualification for prophets (forecasters, prognosticators, or whatever title a person claims for themselves to shrug off censure for making false predictions) is that should they be found to speak presumptuously in the name of the LORD God's people are to no longer fear or heed them (Deut. 18:22).  It is not required for you to throw out your copy of the Book of Jasher or prophetic materials which have been found to have flaws, but we should never imagine they speak for God or could add to His word.  They should be handled very cautiously lest we be led astray and consequently lead others astray as well.

When God exposes the folly of a false prophet, it is foolish to trust these blind leaders of the blind which end up in a ditch.  Because there remains a hot market for new revelations these people are enabled to dust themselves off and put together a new book or video series.  Affiliation with a church or association with a ministry in themselves are no qualification for prophetic ministry, for this comes from God alone.  Anyone can claim to speak from God, and those who do will be aligned with what He has said, agree with reality and stand the test of time.  There is room in the kingdom of God for sinners and those who have spoken falsely, yet one who claims to speak for God and is proven wrong is not the one we should continue to heed.

Our Good Father in Heaven

No matter how long we have been believing in Jesus as LORD, we will always remain God's children.  We are called to grow to maturity, of course, but knowledge or experience should never lead to increasing distance from God:  growing in the LORD means we rely on Him more than ever.  We train our children to become independent of our care, and God trains us through countless means to be more dependent on Him.

Jesus acknowledged parents are able to give good gifts to their children in Luke 11:13 to teach that God is able to give infinitely better gifts:  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  There is a biblical connection often made between our asking in faith and God responding.  James explained we often do not have because we do not ask, and also we have not because we ask with selfish motivation.  God is wise to refuse requests which work for our detriment and puffs us up with pride.

Responding to the request of a child for food is one of the many things a parent does for a beloved child.  In fact, parents watch out for the good of their children when they are clueless and place themselves in danger.  I have seen many parents swoop down to catch a child who was happily running into the street or lift them up after a fall.  This week I thought about a little child playing at the beach who never saw the wave that knocked him off his feet.  He went from laughing and playing to suddenly being flipped over with salt water in his mouth and sand in his eyes, his whole world turned upside down in an instant.  His mother or father does not wait for an earnest request for assistance:  before he can cry out his observant parents are already on their feet to quickly pick up their little one and offer words of comfort and consolation.

If we, being careless and forgetful, will lift up our little one who has fallen and is in trouble, won't our omniscient and loving Father in heaven do the same for us when we are cast down?  It is amazing how God uses our fellow believers to do this for us.  It is true that God draws near to those who draw near to Him; it is true God responds to the prayer of faith for comfort in His presence.  Yet let us not imagine God's care is based primarily on our desperate efforts to reach out to Him.  It is God who loves us first and has delivered us from sin and death.  It is God who keeps our feet from stumbling and lifts up those who are cast down.  Praise the LORD for responding to our prayers, and praise God for coming to our aid when we give Him no thought.  The best, caring parents in the world are a fleeting shadow in comparison to our compassionate, patient Father in heaven.

Growing In Grace

How gracious God is to teach us and give us time to grow!  A farmer does not pull or throw out seedlings because they have not yet produced fruit, and God does not expect us to have a biblical perspective from spiritual infancy.  Like a child grows to walk and talk outside the womb, once we are born again God enables us to develop into mature children of God.  It may be a surprisingly quick process to the casual observer, but it still requires time and the wisdom of God to accomplish.

Children have many misconceptions of the world around them due to their naivete, ignorance or from being misinformed.  In a similar way, many Christians can bring misunderstandings into their relationship with God after trusting in Jesus and being born again.  The transformation of a heart justified by faith may be immediate, yet even the most mature believers require a renewing of their minds.  All believers have the potential to lack faith, to forget what God has said and done, and to be slack in seeking God.  Let us also not forget the impact of growth.  As it grows a sapling sends roots down deeper, the trunk grows thicker and the branches grow longer.  Before too long there are new branches and leaves where nothing before grew, and as we grow in grace and knowledge of God a framework of theology is established.

No matter how extensive or "correct" our theology may be, there is also a need for our lives to align with what we say we believe.  Without obedience to God we will not grow or be fruitful as we ought.  Heresy is as deadly to souls as sin, and fallacies potentially sap our fruitfulness.  There are many genuine believers who hold onto misunderstandings which have stunted their growth.  One of these which I encountered recently is the assumption that if Jesus did not say something on a subject, we have "open slather" to do as we please, to fill in the blanks with what seems equitable or fitting for us.  The problem with this perspective is it ignores the fact Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, the God who existed before He was manifested in human flesh, the same God who has given us 66 books that comprise the scriptures.  Those who hold to this perspective run the risk of invalidating all other scriptures which do speak on the subject because they are not printed with red ink.

We live in a "pick and choose" world where it is natural to choose the news coverage you prefer, to alter recipes, to order from a menu where you are free to choose what you want and refuse what you do not like, to build bespoke homes or vehicles where man's demands are king.  This is not how it works for a child of God, for God is not a doting Father who is at the mercy of the whims and dictates of His children.  God is; God has spoken, and He speaks according to what is written.  He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ but also as God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  The words of Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life are to be heard and heeded, yet let us not forget the rest of the scriptures are also God-breathed.  It takes time to marinate or brine meat, and it takes time for the washing of the water of the word to cleanse us of the many misconceptions and errors we continue to make.  Praise the LORD Jesus is wisdom for us, for the Holy Spirit who fills us, and our heavenly Father who loves us.

Stones That Speak

There are many tasks we "leave to the professionals" because we lack the training, skills, tools or time to do a quality job.  When hiring a contractor we spare no pains to read through pages of reviews to ensure the price is reasonably and professionalism is adequately high.  One thing I find remarkable about God is His gracious choice to rely upon volunteers to gladly proclaim His praises and goodness.  God never shies away from using the weak and foolish to do His perfect will, broken vessels through whom His immeasurable glory shines.  Should a vessel God uses be proved flawed, He remains righteous, holy and good.

When the children of Israel passed through the Jordan river, God caused the waters to stand in a heap.  The priests who bore the ark of the testimony stood on dry ground in the midst until all passed over.  Joshua instructed a man from each tribe in Israel to carry a stone from the riverbed of the Jordan which were later set up in Gilgal.  Joshua 4:21-24 says, "Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' ²² then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; ²³ for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, ²⁴ that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."  Silent stones were used by God as a memorial of the mighty deliverance He worked among them:  He brought them out of Egypt through the Red Sea, and He also caused them to pass over the Jordan to enter into the land He promised them.

The stones themselves were not sufficient to present the message of God's might and power.  God instructed the people to give their children an answer for why the stones were set up in Gilgal and to acknowledge the mighty hand of God Who worked in their midst.  The parents and their children were chosen by God to be a witness to the "all the peoples of the earth" of God's might that He might be feared now and forever.  Isn't it amazing God would use mortal men to proclaim His goodness?  Our lives on earth are compared to grass that dries up, a vapour that quickly dissipates and yet He has called us to fear the LORD our God forever.  Even as God made a way for the Hebrews to escape the advancing Egyptian army by parting the Red Sea and caused them to pass into Canaan through the Jordan on dry ground, God is able to overcome every obstacle so we can perform His perfect will.  Our lives on earth are short but God has miraculously overcome the curse of sin by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ so we can live forever with Him.

God did not reserve His public relations to priests and prophets but to everyone called by His name, having been born again through faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul spelled this out in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21:  "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  We are to make known the might of God to the ignorant as well to those who know God.  Paul and his fellow apostles urged believers to be reconciled to God and to walk righteously before Him and the world.  We are living stones whose mouths open with praise to God and minister His truth to all in the fear of the LORD.  Once we were drowning in sins that brought death, and now we have been set free and made His holy habitation.  Believer, God has chosen you and me to be His ambassadors, and though we be unworthy let us walk worthily before Him.

Navigating Unfamiliar Territory

"So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; ³ and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. ⁴ Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."

Joshua 3:2-4

On the cusp of finally crossing the Jordan river and entering into the Promised Land, God's people were told to keep their distance from the ark of the covenant carried by the Levites as they followed.  During their pilgrimage in the wilderness the presence of God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to the next location to make camp.  The children of Israel were told to keep almost a kilometre distance between them and the ark of God so they could see the way God was leading them.

God was leading Israel to a new place with which they were unfamiliar.  They did not know the way, nor were they to assume they knew where their final destination would be.  Everyone has a different idea of what is ideal, and the people were to wholly submit to God's leading in real time as they went together.  As we embark in a new year and every day this is wise for us to hold to this principle.  We have lived many days and years on earth, yet who but God can say where He will lead us or the way He will take us?  We have never lived today before.  We can apply this to Christian ministry as well because we run the risk of relying on our experience, our own ideas or the opinions of others to guide and direct our steps.  We can assume we know the way to go, that God, having reconciled us to Himself by His grace, will "rubber stamp" our movements with His approval.  Our call is to walk by faith in God, not by sight.

The children of Israel were to see and follow the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, but every step they took was to be by faith in God's sovereignty, provision, protection and presence.  Walking in God's ways meant God was with them and would not leave or forsake them.  Israel knew pushing the flocks to hard would cause many to perish, and God knew throwing His people into warfare quickly after being delivered from slavery would be too much to bear.  So like a good shepherd, God led His people gently toward His intended destination that they did not know and could not by experience predict.  We have been given the inspired word of God and we need to be taught by the Holy Spirit to comprehend what God is saying to us.  God was leading to a place they had never before, and today is unfamiliar territory for us though the scenery might remain the same.

Isn't this a lovely reminder of God's love and care for His people?  If we imagine we know the way to go we might make a decision like Lot who moved his family to the well-watered plains which ended up being utterly destroyed in God's judgment.  The tribes of Ruben, Gad and Manasseh were content to dwell on the east of Jordan because the land was suitable for cattle and they had cattle:  they were the first tribes to be absorbed by heathen nations.  Friends, when God moves in your life do not assume you know where He is leading you or even what the day will hold:  you have never been here before.  Unlike the Israelites who followed the ark at a great distance, we are called to follow Jesus Christ our Saviour closely as we heed His voice as sheep that heed their Shepherd.  Jesus is the Way and we enjoy safety, peace and hope in His presence.  Let us go after Him that we might go where Jesus is as the Holy Spirit leads us.

Jesus Gives Peace

A phrase I keep hearing lately in light of current events in the world is, "Buckle up!  It's going to be a bumpy ride!"  I ask in response, "Who's sitting at the wheel of your life?"  If we look to politics, policies or people for peace and security, we are looking in the wrong place.  A metaphorical seat belt does nothing to help us endure turbulent times with hope.  If we allow things of this world to drive us, we are helpless and hopeless passengers at the mercy of fools.  This is not a wise posture for children of God to adopt.

On one occasion Jesus told His disciples to cross over the Sea of Galilee.  Suddenly their small fleet of boats was overwhelmed by a serious storm and started filling with water.  The disciples panicked.  Mark 4:38-40 reveals Jesus did not share their grave concerns:  "But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"  The inactivity of Jesus brought fear to the surface in His disciples.  They were willing to obey but lacked faith to trust Him when their situation seemed dire.  They feared death and questioned the love and power of the One who was their Life.

Jesus did something they did not expect.  Instead of helping them bail water out of the boat, Jesus addressed the stormy sea that heeded His command:  "Peace, be still!"  Circumstances which caused men to scream in fear Jesus overruled with a word.  He did not ask the sea why it raged:  Jesus asked His disciples why they were so fearful.  They were afraid because they had no faith.  Though they knew Jesus by sight and spent countless days side by side, they didn't understand who He was.  For Christians today this is most relevant.  People who have known and followed Jesus for years still freak in fear because of unexpected trials with a hopeless outlook.  They fumble for security and in their desperation will strap themselves into a sinking vessel to escape what they fear.  Yet Jesus stands by us quick to listen, ready to save while we steel ourselves for a bumpy ride.

Gritting our teeth in worry or anger will not provide peace, hope or salvation we desperately need.  Blessed is the man whose eyes are open to who Jesus is and the folly of fear when we abide in our Good Shepherd.  A shepherd does not drag his sheep by a lead but leads them with His voice.  Our troubled hearts at the sound of His voice can be like a storming sea where there was a great calm when we heed Him.  Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Faith holds to Jesus and refuses to let circumstances of life rob us blind of the peace God has given us through our LORD and Saviour.  It is not the troubled sea where the problems lay but in the troubled hearts devoid of faith of God's people.  The world offers peace but cannot deliver; Jesus gives peace and leaves it with us.

God's Love Edifies

The apostle Paul observed in 1 Corinthians 8:1, "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."  We live in a day when vast amounts of information is available to us online, and this fits with what the angel predicted in the latter part of Daniel 12:4:  "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."  As knowledge increases potentially pride does as well.  Though in many situations we only know what we have heard, pride asserts it knows what has happened, will happen or what should be done.

The way knowledge can be rightly tempered is by walking in the love of God.  Having received the love of God by grace through faith in Jesus, those who are born again are filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit to wield knowledge to glorify God and edify the church--not to attack others or for self-promotion.  People are running to and fro to gain more knowledge, to hear something new.  When the news came out of Washington this week there was a riot taking place, I found myself checking various news feeds throughout the day.  Many times I was disappointed to check and find new articles and reports told me nothing I had not already heard.  Before I went to bed I was convicted that after all the times I had checked news reports to "hear something new" I did not pray instead to see what God had to say about it.  The most accurate news reports cannot ever tell the whole story, but God always tells us what we need to know.

With the amount of knowledge and information available, how much more important it is we seek the LORD to know how to properly respond to it!  Speaking for myself, I can be more keen to hear a breaking story than to be personally broken before the LORD and intercede for the needs of others in love.  I can be more outraged over political spin than mourning the sin of pride in me that delights to point out hypocrisy in others.  So much knowledge we are fed does not empower us to enact positive change but moves to polarise us towards or against others.  It is God's love that short-circuits this certain result:  instead of demanding others who disagree with our views unfriend us, it enables us to open our arms with grace to those who have expressed hate for us, to treat enemies with the selfless kindness we have received from Jesus.

The knowledge of God's love for us leads those who receive it to seek Him and walk in love towards others.  Those who are alienated from the love of God by their self-righteousness, pride and indignation cannot see the point of loving their enemies, yet children of God are commanded to do so.  We do not need to agree with people's views on politics or social issues to love them with our whole being, for we have a Saviour who loved and laid down His life for us whilst we were sinners.  Love is not pleased to see people suffer even when they "deserve it," even when they are proud or hypocrites:  Jesus is not willing any should perish but all come to repentance and be saved.  Believer, allow experience of God's love to compel us to draw near to God and seek to grow in His knowledge, for all His ways are truth.

Foolishness Without God

Yesterday I read a meme which contained a quote I have seen attributed to the stoic Seneca:  "The wise man is neither raised up by prosperity nor cast down by adversity; for always he has striven to rely predominantly on himself, and to derive all joy from himself."  What was intended to be a "mic-drop" quote fell flat with a whimper, for this reeks of the wisdom of man which is foolishness with God.  Words are not true or insightful because they were recorded from ancient times but because they agree with God who is our Wisdom and words God has spoken.  This empty philosophy is completely without footing, a humanist ideal which fails entirely because it depends upon the strength of mortal, flawed men.

A careful read of this statement reveals it to be self-defeating and contradictory.  Because men are continually raised up by prosperity and cast down by adversity it could be truly said there is not a wise man among us.  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," said wise King Solomon in Proverbs 9:10.  According to Seneca, the wise always strives to rely predominately on himself.  Though a man may strive he cannot always be successful to achieve his aims.  It is amusing a man relies "predominantly" on himself which shows reliance upon others is a necessary admission.  Men are not born but are raised, and there is not a male infant from birth who did not completely rely upon others for his survival to grow to be a man.  In total contrast to the claim of Seneca, the Bible teaches the wise wholly rely on the LORD in faith, hearing the words of Jesus and doing them.  A man who strives to rely upon himself is a pitiful substitute for the living God who created him.

Seneca says the wise always strives to "derive all joy from himself."  The massive problem with this approach is man is not capable of producing genuine joy which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  Feelings of happiness often depend on what happens, not because our hearts are themselves a natural spring of joy for us to tap into.  Positive may our personalities be, but this is a thin veneer over immeasurable emptiness within our souls.  Physically man is a finite creature of limitations:  our lifespan is measured by years, height by millimetres, and weight by kilograms.  What can be measured has an end.  We can have every need met yet remain devoid of the joy we seek.  Even if joy was to be derived from us, it would have a sure end.  Nehemiah told people sorrowing for sin to celebrate their understanding of God's law because "...The joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh. 8:10)  People who felt sharp pangs of guilt were able to rejoice because in faith they trusted and obeyed God who strengthened them to do so.  Joy has everything to do with the goodness of God who does not change when we know He knows and loves us.  Joy is not derived from self but a gift from God.

There is no doubt Seneca was a very intelligent man, yet the most learned are not necessarily wise.  God is the only One qualified to define and determine this.  Paul was a contemporary of Seneca who conversed with philosophers often.  In contrast to the claim of Seneca, Paul wrote inspired by the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; ²⁰ and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours. ²³ And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."  A philosophy which accounts for man's efforts but not for the one true God is most empty and futile indeed.

Driving Truth Home

As king Solomon wrapped up his discourse, he wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12:  "The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. ¹² And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh."  The words we speak make a difference in the lives of others for good when we are led by the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ who is wisdom for us.  Many people who will not consider listening to a sermon or reading a book by a Christian author (much less the Bible itself!) can be impacted by godly, wise speech.  At times it seems pastors or professors are not seen to be worth their salt unless they have written at least one acclaimed book, but Solomon pointed out how there is no end to making books.  The implication is books, however insightful and useful, have a limit of effect and impact which demands another.  There will never be a timeless, foundational, definitive book like the Bible ever written by men because it has been authored by God.

One way we can be effective in communicating Gospel truth is through the use of illustrations.  A well-directed story can breathe fresh attentiveness to a sleepy congregation.  Anecdotes can quicken thinking and help bring a key point to later remembrance.  Solomon's comparison of truth being well-driven nails fits well with a discourse C.H. Spurgeon gave during a lecture:

Mr. Betram aptly illustrates the way in which men are engrossed in worldly cares by telling the story of the captain of a whaling ship, whom he tried to interest in the things of God, and who said, "It is not use, sir; your conversation will not have any effect upon me.  I cannot hear what you are saying, or understand the subject you are talking about.  I left my home to try to catch whales.  I have been a year and nine months looking for whales, sir, and I have not caught a whale yet.  I have been ploughing the deep in search of whales; when I go to bed, I dream of whales; and when I get up in the morning, I wonder if there will be any whales caught that day; there is a whale in my heart, sir, a whale in my brain, and it is of no use for you to talk to me about anything else but whales."  So your people have their business in their heads, and in their hearts, they want to make a fortune, and retire; or else they have a family of children to bring up, and Susan must be married, and John must be got into a situation, and it is no use for you to talk to them about the things of God unless you can drive away the whales that keep floundering and splashing about.

There is a merchant, perhaps, who has just thought of some bad bill; or another has looked across the building, and noticed a piece of ribbon of a particular colour, and he thinks, "Yes, I ought to have had a larger stock of that kind of thing.  I see that it is getting fashionable!" or it may be that one of the hearers has caught sight of his neighbor, and he thinks he must pay him a visit on the morrow; and so people's thoughts are occupied with all sorts of subjects beside that of which the preacher is speaking.  You ask me how I know that this is the case.  Well, I know because I have been guilty of the same offence myself; I find this occurs when I am listening to another brother preaching.  I do not think, when I am preaching, that I get on very well; but sometimes, when I go into the country, and take the morning and evening services, and then hear some one else in the afternoon, I think, "Well, really, when I was up there, I thought I was a stick:  but now!  I only wish I had my turn again!"  Now this is very wrong, to let such thoughts come into our minds; but as we are all very apt to wander, the preacher should carry anecdotes and illustrations into the pulpit, and use them as nails to fasten the people's attention to the subject of his sermon. 

Mr. Paxton Hood once said, in a lecture that I heard him deliver, "Some preachers expect too much of their hearers; they take a number of truths into the pulpit as a man might carry up a box of nails; and then, supposing the congregation to be posts, they take out a nail, and expect it to get into the post by itself.  Now that is not the way to do it.  You must take your nail, hold it up against the post, hammer it in, and then clinch it on the other side; and then it is that you may expect the great Master of assemblies to fasted the nails so that they will not fall out."  We must try thus to get the truth into the people, for it will never get in of itself; and we must remember that the hearts of our hearers are not open, like a church door, so that the truth may go in, and take its place, and sit upon its throne to be worshipped there.  No, we have often to break open the doors with great effort, and to thrust the truth into places where it will not be at first a welcome guest, but where, afterwards, the better it is known, the more it will be loved. (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to My Students: Complete & Unabridged. Ministry Resources Library, Zondervan Publishing House, 1989.pages 395-396)

I am most grateful for the Bible and many useful books I have read by those who hold to and proclaim the wisdom and truth of God.  I am greatly indebted to authors who toiled with quill by candlelight to produce great volumes teaching and expounding upon the grace and goodness of God.  The insight and impetus to settle on a particular subject to write a book may never come to me, but I can labour to be a better communicator of God's wisdom in speaking in whatever occasions I converse.  I am aware I can hammer away with the best illustrations and achieve nothing without complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit who makes our efforts fruitful.  Praise the LORD He is the Good Shepherd who has the nails and is able, despite my poor aim and weakness, to drive them home.

Blessing Revealed

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Deuteronomy 29:29

This verse ministered to my heart this morning as I considered it.  The first thing to be observed is there are secret things only God knows.  I can often be troubled by what I do not know, and it is possible the thing I desire to know will remain secret and unknown to me because it is only God's to know.  Since the LORD knows all things, nothing is hidden or a secret to Him.  Because He is the almighty, supreme God and is good, I can rest comfortably though secrets are kept from me.

The second point which struck me is my LORD and Creator has chosen to reveal Himself and His wisdom to me.  God delights to reveal Himself to the soul who seeks and trusts Him, and the revelations of God are to be passed on to our children.  God directed His people to teach their children of Him and His statutes throughout the day so they might fear God and keep His commandments.  Because of the new covenant provided by the blood of Jesus, Jew and Gentile are given the right to become sons of God who believe on His name.  It is a spiritual birth by faith in Jesus which enables us to be adopted as God's children to whom He reveals Himself by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The things He has taught us we and our children are to observe and obey.

The final point is a glorious one as it points to the eternal, immutable nature of God and the everlasting life He gives us through the Gospel:  the things God has revealed "belong to us and to our children forever."  We are the eternal inheritance and precious possession of God who has purchased us with His own blood, and we will live with Him forever in glory.  Seeking God and heeding His word is not a burdensome obligation but a joyful duty borne out of His great love for us.  Our love is limited and has an end, but God's love is active and eternal.  Now and forever our relationship to God is not "I guess I have to" but "He loves me."  The Bible makes no secret how blessed are all those who walk in the revealed will of God!

In Everything Give Thanks

The start of a new year is an exciting time of looking gladly towards the future.  Perhaps of all the years of my life I have never seen a "year" cop more hate than 2020.  I have seen countless memes and references of 2020 that paint those 365 days in a negative light.  I am reminded of a song I sang often growing up taken from Psalm 118:24:  "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  If we acknowledge each day we are given on earth is a gift received from our good God, how can we say 365 of them in a row are bad?  2020 was an awesome year because we have an awesome God, and should we live to see one day in 2021 we have been granted a blessing beyond what we deserve.

What I love about the song taken from Psalm 118 is the context of the Messiah God would send who would suffer and die for sinners.  Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.  Jesus rejoiced, not in the brutality of His tormentors, but in the salvation God would provide through it.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  It is God's will we would rejoice always, even when we are having a tough day or difficult year.  Verse 18 says, "in everything give thanks."  In every situation, in every season of life, in everything it is most appropriate to give thanks because God remains glorious and good.  Faith in God makes this possible.

It may be a person could be moved to give thanks for COVID or being out of a job, yet giving thanks in everything is a way to walk by faith in God today.  When it hurts, when we cannot make sense of the world, when we feel oppressed, confused and crushed, in everything we give thanks because God remains for us and nothing can separate us from His love.  Because God is infinite in goodness and glory there are innumerable things to give thanks for continuously.  A day ticking over on the calendar is not going to fix our problems or change the world for good:  this is a false hope, fleeting romanticism, and misguided folly.  Each day and each year can be better and better as we grow in faith of our sovereign God who is good, despite our bodies breaking down with tribulations all around.  May God open our eyes to see Him and our mouths to praise Him for His goodness to us regardless of the trials we face.

When Jesus went knowing He would be crucified, He rejoiced and was glad in the day the LORD had made:  a day of salvation, redemption, a day to set captives free from sin and save souls forever.  In everything He gave thanks because this was the will of God for Him and us.  This is not the "power of positive thinking" but the walk of faith by God's grace as we embrace His peace that passes understanding.  We can choose to turn to Jesus today and in everything give thanks.  If we will do this, what a year 2021 will be!