God Our Shield

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. ¹² For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield."

Psalm 5:11-12

All who put their trust in the LORD have great cause to rejoice forever.  I like how David's focus is not on the elimination of enemies and potential threats, but he urged believers to shout for joy because God was like a shield that surrounded and protected His people from all harm.

It makes sense in a battle for a warrior to hold fast to sword and shield, but once the battle is over the sword could safely be placed in a scabbard and the shield set down.  David's delight in God as a shield is important because he viewed Him as necessary for life and every blessing.  God is greater than all our enemies in the physical and spiritual realms put together!  All attacks of enemies were as nothing as long as God protected him, and it is good to realise God also protects us.  No fiery dart can shatter the shield of faith we wield by the power of the Holy Spirit when we rely on Jesus Christ.

There were many shouts on the field of battle:  shrieks of terror, communication between officers and troops, and shouts of triumph.  We can shout for joy forever without fear, dread or worry because God's grace surrounds us like a shield.  There is not one aspect of our hearts, minds or lives that is beyond His grace to protect.  What confidence we can have in God regardless of enemies which come against us, whether it be a giant of great stature like Goliath, Rabshakeh who hurled threats and sought to erode confidence in God, Midianites who gathered like locusts too numerous to count, or Satan with subtle temptations.  Joy is a result of being born again by faith in Jesus, as it is a fruit of the Spirit.  To those God has imputed righteousness through the Gospel, we love Him because He first loved us.

Surrounded by God and His love and grace, what appears to be our doom from a worldly vantage point is only the means of drawing us closer to God.  Our rejoicing ought to be in the LORD--more than the vanquishing of our enemies or the protection afforded us by God.  We ought to acknowledge how the living God has richly blessed and protected us all our lives, and let us rejoice in Him.  He is worthy of all trust and praise forever, for He is the LORD of all who has surrounded us with grace as with a shield.

The One Who Lifts Up

"Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah ³ But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head."

Psalm 3:2-3

How good it is to know we as followers of Jesus have help and enduring hope in God, the LORD who is a shield for us, our glory and the One who lifts up our heads.  David was not assured this hope because he was made king over Israel, for the same God was with him as a young shepherd and when he faced Goliath.  It was not his skill with sling and stone but God who granted him and all Israel the victory.  It is amazing people can think we are beyond help or hope (and sadly even we can be deceived to think such of others at times), yet when God lifts our head to behold Jesus, the One who was lifted up for our redemption now seated in glory, we are strengthened in the LORD to joyfully endure.

The phrase "lifted up the head" and variations of it are found many times throughout scripture.  At a glance the most common uses are to be exalted and promoted or to be lifted up in opposition.  Pharaoh lifted up the head of the cupbearer and restored him to his previous position of honour, whilst the head of the butler was lifted up when he was executed by hanging.  After God wrought a great victory over the Midianites at the hand of Gideon, Judges 8:28 says for 40 years the people of Midian were subdued and "lifted up their heads no more."  Evil-merodach king of Babylon "lifted up the head" of king Jehoiachin of Judah when he brought him out of prison, spoke kindly to him, changed his clothes, bestowed upon him honour and gave him food to eat continually all the days of his life (2 Kings 25:27-30).

David said it was the LORD God who was his shield, glory and lifter of his head.  God did the helping, exalting and strengthening.  Many have lifted their heads against God whom He will judge in due time, for all who walk in pride He is able to abase.  How blessed we are to have God's love and grace revealed to us to an infinitely greater degree than Pharaoh did for his cupbearer, David did for Mephibosheth or Evil-merodach did for Jehoiachin.  Lifting up our heads is more than coaxing us out of a depressed state, but He has spoken words of love and grace, promises we ought to take to heart and believe.  Jesus has released us from the bondage of sin and the curse of death which imprisoned us and led us into His marvelous light.  He has clothed us in righteousness by grace through faith in Him, and caused us to lie down in green pastures beside still waters with restored souls.  He has given us the Living Bread of Jesus Christ to sustain us day by day forever.  By the power of the everlasting Gospel we have been granted abundant life with God who will be our guide, shield, comfort and help for eternity.

Since God has lifted up our heads, should we justify being downcast over the trials God allows?  Should we give ear to enemies who surround us and say, "There is no help for him in God?"  Consider what Paul wrote in light of our glorious God in Romans 8:31-34:  "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."  Faith in God lifts our heads to behold Him, to fix our eyes upon Christ in praise and worship.  How we feel could be compared to a silky flag that indicates the direction of the wind, not a rudder to guide us or an anchor to hold us fast.  Having Christ as an anchor for our souls, guided by the truth of God's word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, let us respond with joyful gratitude to the LORD who lifts up our heads.

With All Readiness

"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

Acts 17:11

Luke wrote concerning the Jews in the synagogues of Berea who responded to the teaching of Paul and Silas by investigating the validity of their doctrine by searching the Scriptures.  Their response was much more noble, open-minded and receptive to the truth than those in Thessalonica.  When Christians exhort one another to "be a Berean," it is typically the daily reading and study of God's word that is emphasised.  I would like to draw attention to what prompted their search of the scriptures, that "they received the word with all readiness."

The first thing this suggests to me is they were open and hungry to hear the truth about God.  They were willing to consider things they had never heard or considered before without being suspicious or judgmental.  When men unknown to the synagogue visited and shared the Gospel, they did not immediately react and throw them out without first carefully listening, considering and investigating the claims in God's word.  They received the word like those hungry thousands who at Christ's command sat on the hillside and received bread and fish distributed by the disciples and ate to the full.

Another point is it shows the people were discerning.  Having a solid foundation laid by the Torah, the Law, Psalms and Prophets, the Jews "received the word" with all readiness.  No doubt they had been exposed to many strange doctrines, controversies and opinions of men.  Among Judiasm there are many various beliefs, persuasions and practices.  The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Herodians and Zealots are examples of the many diverse Jewish groups which existed at that time, not to mention the vast differences between rabbis and priests!  As Paul and Silas spoke the truth of God's word, the mystery of the Gospel now revealed through Jesus Christ, the people received the word, confirmed it to be true and believed.

The Jews in Berea are described as receiving the word "with all readiness."  The KJV renders this, "with all readiness of mind."  To be ready is to be prepared with eagerness to engage, to progress, explore, experience.  The picture that comes to mind of readiness is of children joyfully anticipating a trip for the park:  they are already wearing their hats, have their drink bottles, have gone to the toilet and are in the car with seatbelts on shouting together with smiles, "Let's go!"  The Bereans did not harden their minds against the visitors with suspicion, procrastinate because their priorities were elsewhere, would rather argue or counter the claims of the Gospel, or cross their arms and dig in their heels because they proudly refused to admit ignorance.  Like well-tilled soil, their minds and hearts received the good seed which proved most fruitful with miraculous speed.

Brothers and sisters, are you fair minded to receive the word of God with all readiness?  Are you prepared, not only to see if the Gospel is true but to walk in faith according to it?  The lasting fruit of their study is shown in Acts 17:12: "Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men."  Praise the LORD He prepares us to receive His truth, even as He prepares the earth to yield produce with refreshing showers of rain from heaven.  He gives us discernment to sort the chaff of opinions from the wheat of God's truth.  How sweet is the Living Water to our taste, for we have seen through the Scriptures and experience the LORD is good.  May there be revealed in us such humility, spiritual hunger, discernment to receive the word and eagerness to discover with all readiness as we search the scriptures daily as God affirms His truth to our hearts by faith.  Now is the time for us to show all readiness to heed, receive, search and believe God's word. 

Learning to Rejoice in the LORD

The word of God is living and powerful to instruct people concerning God and His ways.  The Bible is able to pierce us to reveal our motives, exposes our thoughts, rebukes sinful attitudes and teaches us what is acceptable to God.  In reading and studying the Bible a single word can speaks volumes to our hearts, and a verse understood in context and rightly applied is of more value than gold.  It is by faith in God we are given understanding, not the other way around.  If we try to understand the divine truths of the Bible without first submitting to God by trust in Him, we will remain ignorant of many things.

This remains true of Christians who have followed Jesus as disciples for some time and have knowledge of doctrine and familiarity with scripture.  Knowledge does not mean we are walking by faith in God and in the light of His love, grace and goodness.  A good fruit tree can be beset by beetles, have branches broken by a storm, be stricken with fungus and have dead wood that must be cut off.  A lot of emphasis in Christian circles is to determine if a person is "saved" or not when the reality of salvation is evidenced by the transformation of being born again and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  In time over many growing seasons an unknown tree will be known by its fruit, and the words we say and things believers do provide a testimony God is in us and we are His by grace through faith.  Even Judas was able to put on a good show that convinced the apostles, but God looks upon the heart.

One of the awesome things about following Jesus as LORD and King is everything He asks us to do He enables and empowers us to do.  In our flesh where there is no good thing that arises able to do God's will, He proves Himself sufficient by grace.  There are some things I have never been able to learn, like advanced maths and physics.  It is one thing to know facts but it is another to become a new creation in Christ who learns to love, forgive, submit and be content--to become the person God wants you to be.  After Paul rejoiced in the LORD in prison, having learned to be content in all situations of life, he wrote in Philippians 4:12-13:  "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Paul learned to rejoice in the LORD whether he was abased or suffered need, regardless if he was full or hungry.  He didn't look at a scrumptious meal and say,  "God is good today!" as if God was not as good when his stomach groaned in pain when he was starving.  Paul rejoiced in the LORD when people messaged him and sent gifts and rejoiced in the LORD when he felt lonely and disgraced.  Friends, have you learned this?  You might think, "How can anyone learn that?"  This is the context of Paul's oft-quoted statement:  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  God can teach us what we cannot learn ourselves.  Followers of Jesus can learn to rejoice in the LORD always and to be content everywhere an in all things.  Such a God-honouring perspective is not one natural to our flesh but is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within those brought forth to new life by the Gospel.

"Everywhere" and "in all things" provides us an opportunity to exercise faith in Jesus that works for the glory of God as we learn to rejoice in the LORD.

Araunah the Jebusite

David erred in numbering the people of Israel and they were visited with three days of severe pestilence that left thousands dead.  2 Samuel 24:16 reads, "And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."  God was gracious to spare His people when the angel stood by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  This is interesting because this means he was a non-Jew, an inhabitant of the city of Jerusalem previously called "Jebus" before David conquered it.  It seems mercy was extended to inhabitants to a city who taunted David it could be defended by the blind and lame, for Araunah the Jebusite lived within Jerusalem who even had a threshing floor of his own.

When God directed king David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (whom God called by name), he went to purchase the plot of land.  Araunah saw the king coming to him and he bowed before him in respect.  2 Samuel 24:21-23 reads, "Then Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people." ²² Now Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. ²³ All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you."  I like the KJV rendering of verse 23:  "All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king..."  A person need not be a king to give like a king.  Araunah's life and all he had was a testimony of the kindness, mercy and generosity of the God and king he served.

How does a king give?  An earthly king gives generously out of abundance, for the entire kingdom is at his disposal and the people are his subjects.  God is the KING OF KINGS and gives out of the infinite stores of His love, grace and mercy.  Kings were apt to offer "up to half" of the kingdom, but see what God's desire is for those who seek Him in Luke 12:32:  "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  Imagine, a sheep of the flock being given the kingdom to enjoy the presence and goodness of God forever in glory!  The picture of Araunah the Jebusite being generous to give as a king to his king, having found favour in the sight of God and David, is a picture of how those adopted in the family of God ought to honour Him in giving of ourselves.  Our lives and all we have are gifts from God made suitable for His use by God's grace, and as we have freely received may we freely give.

Bound By Mercy and Grace

When reading and interpreting verses of the Bible, it is important to consider the immediate context.  Many erroneous doctrines and practices have resulted when verses are made to stand alone that are supported by preceding and following verses.  This would be like demolishing the walls on a two-storey building without consideration of how it would eventually reduce a habitable dwelling to rubble--with unsuspecting people inside!

On the subject of offences in the church, in Matthew 18 Jesus taught how believers were to go to the party who trespassed against them (for instance, by deceit and theft) and seek reconciliation.  If the offender was unwilling to humble himself to admit fault, another believer was to go along to confirm the truth as a witness.  Should the offender still stubbornly justify himself, their sinful case was to be told to the believers in the church.  If the person refused to submit to the judgment of the church, then the guilty party was to be viewed as a heathen with whom they did not share faith in Christ or the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Believers are bound to follow Jesus Christ and abide in humility, love, grace and unity with the brethren.  Should they refuse to do so, they are loosed from the bonds of fellowship.

It is in this context Jesus said in Matthew 18:18-20:  "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."  Jesus taught that where His people were He was in their midst, and as they walked in submission to Him and one another there would be common ground and agreement.  They could hold people accountable or release them from their responsibilities as part as the Body of Christ, the church.  What follows is very important, for Matthew related an answer Jesus gave on the subject of forgiveness.  The point is not so much how much a transgressor owed, but the obligation of believers to forgive one another.  Very important!

The picture of loosing and binding is employed in this parable where a master loosed his servant of the burden of a massive debt he was unable to pay.  The servant's response was to grab a fellow servant by the neck and demand payment of a small sum, and when the man did not pay he had him bound in prison.  Needless to say when the master received word of the ungrateful conduct of the servant he loosed from the debt, he was very angry.  Jesus explained what followed in Matthew 18:32-35:  "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. ³⁵ So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."  The graceless conduct of the sinning servant was reported to the master by fellow servants, and he was held to account.  After being loosed for his debt he remained bound with greed and selfishness, and thus he was bound by the master and delivered to the torturers.  Knowing Jesus Christ has forgiven us quickens us to forgive others in light of His grace.

Now "binding" and "loosing" has taken on a whole different meaning to some Christians who teach due to their authority as those anointed by God they have power to bind or loose whatever they want, whether it be loosing from physical infirmities or binding demons.  We must realise it is Jesus Christ alone who has the power to bind and loose because all power and authority is His.  When Simon the sorcerer offered money to receive power that all he laid hand on would receive the Holy Spirit, Peter offered a strong rebuke in Acts 8:20-23:  "...Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! ²¹ You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. ²² Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."  Peter sensed Simon was bound by iniquity, and Peter did not loose him from it, nor could he:  Simon was required to humble himself in repentance before God and it was Jesus who would forgive and loose him.  Simon asked Peter to pray for him, and it does not seem he did.  Why should he if the man would not repent of sin and pray himself, unwilling to confess his bitterness and iniquity before God?

In Luke 13 Jesus loosed a woman who had a spirit of infirmity 18 years who could not stand up straight.  Without fanfare Luke 13:12-13 says, "But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." ¹³ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."  After being loosed from her infirmity by Jesus, the woman glorified God.  The ruler of the synagogue complained that Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath day.  Luke 13:15-17 reads, "The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" ¹⁷ And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him."  Jesus, the LORD of all and of the Sabbath, put all His adversaries to shame (Satan included!) by His wisdom, power and glorious things He did.

Jesus is the One who blinds and loosens, and as we have been freely forgiven we ought to forgive.  According to God's grace and wisdom He has placed the Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth, to help and teach us to know Jesus Christ.  Those in the church have not been given authority to bind and loose as we please but to humbly approach Him in prayer together, united in His love.  We are the ones who needed to repent and be set straight (and still do!); we are the ones who ought to rejoice and glorify God.  In Christ we are no longer at the mercy of the devil or those who have wronged us, for in the presence of Jesus today we always find mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

His Wonderful Life

In the American classic movie It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey was one who gave up on his dreams of travel to help others in his small town of Bedford Falls.  He and his newlywed wife sacrificed money saved for a honeymoon trip to keep the family-run business afloat.  When dealt a cruel financial blow through the incompetence of a relative who worked for the business, George was overwhelmed with the debt, a house full of energetic kids, had too much to drink and crashed his car.  After being harshly told he was worth more dead than alive, George began to believe the lie.  He despaired of his life as he looked down into the icy water running under the bridge.  All thoughts of ending his life were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a splash and a cry for help which caused George to spring into action to help a drowning man--who turned out to be his guardian angel in a human disguise.

Clarence (the angel) gave George Bailey his wish of never being born.  By doing so the eyes of George were opened to the massive difference the life of one person can make on people and a whole town.  George thought he was going mad when he saw his hometown was no longer Bedford Falls but Pottersville, a grim town filled with calloused debauchery.  Upon visiting his mother, who didn't recognise him at all, George was shocked to discover his younger brother had drowned under the ice during an accident without his help and thus never became a war hero.  The house he and his family previously enjoyed was cold and dark, and his wife led a solitary existence without the joyful smile which he had taken for granted.  Oh, how George prayed to live again, and his prayer was answered.  George raced back to his wrecked car in Bedford Falls with family who loved him and friends who rallied to help him.  Even petals in his pocket were a welcome relief for a man who for a short while saw an unhappy, ugly world where he had never been born.

When I consider the difference one man made in the city of Bedford falls in a Hollywood film, I realise it is nothing compared to the real transformation Jesus Christ makes in the life of a believer.  By extension the life of Jesus in us has made a transformational difference in our households, workplaces, families and society.  It would be a most unhappy thought to consider for any amount of time how different our lives would be without Jesus.  It is a cop-out to simply say we'd be dead (which is accurate) as it does not account for all the alterations God has made and continues to make in our hearts, minds and perspectives.  To be loved!  To have hope!  To belong and have a eternal home prepared for us!  Having experienced the forgiveness, joy and peace that transcends understanding we are forever changed from the inside out.  Apart from the Gospel and the indwelling presence of God we would have settled down into an oppressive hell of our own making, a slow death beset with hopelessness, futility and grasping for the wind.  To see ourselves without Christ is to look upon a stranger we shudder to even associate with.

The difference Jesus makes in the life of a person is so profound it cannot be stated by anything less than being born again.  One of my favourite descriptions by my friend whose wife trusted Jesus as her  Saviour said, "She's a totally different person, better."  Friends, can political or religious beliefs do this?  Can activism, athletics, music or poetry fundamentally make you a better person and change you from within?  It would be a mistake to see following Jesus as something a person does like going to church, reading the Bible or praying:  Jesus brings about divine transformation within all who trust in Him that results in a new perspective, new desires and new satisfaction.  Jesus totally changes us for better and for good.  It is like a blind person seeing clearly for the first time, the lame man leaping to walk, a person deformed by leprosy being cleansed and accepted in society, and the dead being raised up to a new life.  It's a Wonderful Life is a delightful story that hardly scratches the surface of the personal transformation Jesus brings Who is wonderful beyond compare and calls us friends.  Wonder at the new, eternal life Jesus Christ has provided, believer, and rejoice to share His life with others.

The Praise of God

"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

John 12:42-43

It is remarkable those who heard and saw all the things Jesus did would be hesitant to proclaim their belief in Jesus because of what they stood to lose over what they could gain.  The favour of man is fickle, temperamental and temporary, but the favour of God is glorious and eternal.  What I find more amazing than there were people who loved the praise of men is that the praise of God is on offer for all who declare Jesus their King.

Think of it:  the eternal God in heavenly glory, the Creator of all things Who alone is worthy of praise, delights to praise those who fear Him!  The grace of God simply overwhelms the soul who believes in Him with love, mercy and truth.  As children we beamed with pride when commended for doing well, and as born again children of God through faith in Jesus this pride melts away in the humble knowledge of who God is and our unworthiness of consideration by Him.  Jesus taught in Luke 17:9-10, "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"  Observe the perspective of the child of God and faithful servant who has been obedient to his duty before the almighty.  Instead of clamouring for recognition, the follower of Jesus is joyfully resigned to serve His Saviour.

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus spoke of a master who rewarded his dutiful servant in Matthew 25:21:  "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"  Jesus struck a contast between the servants who were faithful and the unprofitable, and explained how one day He would divide them as a shepherd does the sheep from the goats.  Matthew 25:34-40 says, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"

Those blessed of the Father and redeemed with the blood of Jesus did not trot out their good deeds or sacrifices before their King.  Since all authority, knowledge and dominion is Christ's in all heaven and earth, He is acutely aware of every time His people do what pleases Him in obedience.  He is not looking to destroy them for their faults already cleansed by His shed blood, but to reward them with praise and a glorious kingdom in His presence which shall never end.  Kindness shown others He owns as done to Himself to provide blessing, even as He has taken all our sins upon Himself to provide atonement and turn aside God's wrath.  To hear "Well done!" from the mouth of our Saviour will be among the sweetest words we could ever hear.  Blessed is the one knows Jesus and follows Him, and our righteousness is in Him.  Grace upon grace, now and forever!

Lamp On the Lampstand

Today I listened to a sermon which addressed a parable spoke in Mark 4:21-23:  "Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? ²² For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  The sole purpose of lighting an olive oil lamp is to provide light, and it would be foolish to light a lamp and place it under a basket or bed.  Not only was placing a lamp under a basket or bed be contrary to the point of lighting a lamp but it would be hazardous!  Jesus is the Light of the World, and the truth He has spoken is to be made plain for all to see, even as the parable of the soils exposed the different conditions of the hearts of men.

Pastor Terry of Calvary Chapel Newcastle focused on the bushel basket and bed in contrast to a lampstand to apply this parable personally in examining our own priorities.  In business people measured grain by the bushel, and they also slept upon beds so their energy could be restored to work the following days.  While rest and profitable business are gifts from God, it would be foolish for Christians to allow labour or laziness to crowd out and undermine our godly witness.  The truth of the Gospel and the transforming, saving relationship we have with God can be displayed by when and why we rise and how we approach our business.  Instead of hindering our walk with Jesus, the priority we give Jesus Christ in these basics of life provide great opportunities to let His light shine.

One observation made is even as God has given us physical bodies and minds as He has seen fit, God has also made us stewards of our personality.  This is a point I have not often heard spoken about.  If we will receive the truth God has created us according to His design, our personalities are also custom made to suit His purposes in this world and the Body of Christ, the church.  Now it is true we will spend our lifetime working to discern exactly what about our personality is of the flesh and what is of the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us into all truth.  There are aspects of our outlook and manner with others that are intrinsically selfish, lazy, greedy and judgmental that will come to light as we walk with Jesus and heed His word.  We are called to confess these as sin and repent when they are exposed, for God will continue to refine us as we humble ourselves to obey Him and love one another.

Even as God has seen fit to make differences between men and women with unique aspects about each one like fingerprints, eyes, right down to our DNA.  In addition to physical differences, God has given us distinct personalities and perspectives as well.  God did not call Peter to be Andrew or John but for them all to follow and obey Him.  God is gracious and mighty to use people to do His will and to share His word, and He is able to use the quiet personality as well as the demonstrative or vocal ones.  We are called to embrace the LORD and to be stewards of the personality He has given us to proclaim His goodness, grace and glory as He leads us.  A cactus blooms at night in the corner of a garden, kelp can grow 60 cm a day in the ocean, and a pine trees drop cones on needle-strewn hillsides.  These are all living things that God has created to thrive, grow and reproduce, and having been born again we can also be fruitful and productive to bring the light of Christ to a dark world by the beauty He has graciously given us.

We can be sure God will bring all secret things into the light.  The good seed of His word planted in a prepared heart will be fruitful now and receive eternal rewards.  Those who set the lamp on the lampstand will enable others to see the truth of Christ and walk in His light.  God also knows those among us who have scorched bushel baskets and beds because we allowed business and laziness--or excuses about our personality--to overshadow the clear display of His Gospel of grace.  Whether you are an early or late riser, self-employed, single or corporate executive, Jesus is the One we serve and obey as we embrace each new day He has made with rejoicing in Him.

Give to the LORD

While in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read the place where it was written in Isaiah 61:1-3:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ² to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, ³ to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  In coming to earth as a man, God chose to add humanity to His deity to save sinners.  If God was coming only as a Judge and to take vengeance upon sinners, He did not have to become man at all.

Wouldn't it be a strange thing for prisoners to prefer the comfort of their cells than wanting to be free?  To remain a captive to a cruel tyrant when there is opportunity to be free to serve the King Jesus?  It would be sad to continue mourning when God has real comfort for us, and how ridiculous it would be to cling to ashes in memory of what was when God has beauty to give in exchange.  The LORD provides them who trust Him the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness--all for the glory of God and our good.  Even as we must put off old shoes before we can be fitted with new ones, we must be willing to hand all we mourn over to the LORD to receive the joy and praise suited for trees of righteousness established by God's grace.

We who are willing to confess and repent of our sin to receive the atonement, forgiveness and righteousness of God ought to part with the regrets of our past as we enter the new life by faith in Jesus.  To think we can have beauty for ashes is a glorious truth of the reality of God's grace and mercy at work within us.  Ashes are a reminder of what was and will never again be, but far better is the beauty of holiness found in God alone.  having received hope and salvation from God, it is fitting for us to respond by giving to God as it is written in 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, "Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. ²⁹ Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!"  Even our ashes are a gift from the LORD's hand that we might bring an acceptable offering of praise for His goodness and the joyful new life He has provided.

Let us by faith make our requests to God, and at the same time not forget to give Him all the praise, worship (and even our mourning and ashes!) so we might grow into the fruitful trees of righteousness for His glory.

What Defiles a Man

The Pharisees made great efforts to avoid what would defile them under the Law of Moses.  They avoided eating unclean foods, touching unclean items or a dead body, sitting on an unclean seat or eating without first washing their hands according to the tradition of the elders.  Potential defilement was everywhere, and thus God-fearing people among the Jews spared no pains to carefully abstain from touching, eating or doing what would defile them.

What Jesus said offended the Pharisees in Matthew 15:10-11:  "When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: ¹¹ not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  While the Pharisees continually laboured to keep traditions of men to avoid physical defilement, Jesus taught it is sin within a man that defiles him before God.  They kept commands not to touch, taste or handle with their perishing bodies and neglected the inner man, their eternal souls which would endure beyond the lifespan of human flesh.  You see, we are more than flesh, blood and bone having been created in the image of the eternal God with living souls.  A person can have dirty hands from working in the yard and at the same time can be clean and upright in God's sight by grace through faith in Jesus.

This teaching that offended the Pharisees also proved difficult for the disciples to receive.  In response to their question Matthew 15:16-20 reads, "So Jesus said, "Are you also still without  understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."  Eating without washing hands may contaminate our physical bodies, but even tainted food cannot corrupt our souls.  It is the sin within the heart and mind of a person which moves our hands to do evil, our mouths to speak lies and our bodies to burn with lust.  We might blame the influences around us for the sin it simply stirs up in our hearts.  The stick that stirs up silt in the pool did not create or introduce the dirt that clouds the water:  the stick was merely the means of bringing to light how dirty the pool already was.

It is what proceeds from the heart that defiles a man, and praise the LORD He is able to wash us clean by the forgiveness offered by Jesus to those who are in Him.  Our sinful condition is terminal without hope, and Jesus has become our living hope by the atonement provided on Calvary.  It is wisdom to avoid what causes us or others to be weak in faith or to stumble in sin, but it is our hearts which require cleansing and transforming by God's grace through the Gospel.  We cannot eliminate our sin that defiles us when it percolates within us and eventually proceeds out of us.  Only Jesus can do this for us when we confess our sins and repent, and He helps us to walk by faith in obedience to Him moving forward.  Jesus has done for us as promised in Isaiah 1:18:  "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Contend for the Faith

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

Jude 1:3

In writing to believers, Jude exhorted them to contend for their common salvation and faith in Jesus Christ.  He found it necessary to urge them to continue the struggle to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ themselves because many among them who lived lives that denied the LORD Jesus Christ.  Instead of following His example and heeding God's word, they justified licentiousness by grace, were given over to fornication, spoke arrogantly in pride, and were greedy for rewards and power.  The love feasts of the church had been corrupted by ungodliness in the lives of nominal believers who lacked the fear of God.

What fascinates me about Jude's exhortation to contend for the faith does not involve what we might think.  They were not called to point fingers at others, ferret out evildoers, seek to expose the ungodly or threaten them.  Why?  Consistent with all the examples provided was God's ability and power to judge the wicked Himself:  He destroyed those who believed not after the exodus from Egypt, bound the angels in prison to await judgment, burned Sodom and the surrounding cities with fire from heaven, rebuked Satan, marked Cain for his sin, slew Balaam with the sword and caused the earth to swallow up Korah with those allied with him.  Without being contentious, the genuine children of God are marked by their humility in contending earnestly to trust and obey Jesus themselves.

Notice how the practical ways Jude describes to contend earnestly for the faith are to be taken and applied personally in Jude 1:17-21:  "But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸ how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."  The first way to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints is to remember what God has said. We ought not to be surprised or shocked there are pretenders who worm their way into Christian fellowships.  We ought to ensure we are not numbered among them who walk according to ungodly lusts or are divisive.  As children of God we are not at the mercy of others, rather we are enabled and empowered to do what God has said by His grace.

Christians are to contend with our own flesh, selfish arguments, ambitions and folly to be built up on our most holy faith, heeding and obeying what Jesus has said.  We ought to pray in the Holy Spirit as we keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ.  Many people assume the battles we are engaged in are primarily against the world and ungodly influences and heresies in the church, taking the fight to what or who they believe is "wrong" without faithfully putting in personal practice these means of contending personally.  If we will not contend in the secret place of our hearts and lives--putting off the lusts of the flesh, confessing our pride, being built up in faith by obedience, prayer, walking in love and looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus--our contending with others will be contentious, pointless and powerless.  If we will not abide in God's love by faith and obedience to Christ ourselves, we are part of the problem and under vain delusion we contend well.

"What about giving an answer to the hope that is within us?" some will say.  "What about studying to show ourselves approved, workmen that need not be ashamed as we rightly divide the word of truth?"  Amen and amen, but anyone who keeps watch well must first take heed to themselves.  The log must be addressed in our own eye before we can go about looking for specks in our brother's eye.  The exhortation of Jude to contend is not to subvert or tangle with those we judge to be ungodly, but primarily to face the ungodliness that manifests itself within us every single day by faith in Christ marked by obedience, dying to self, loving God and others, seeking and serving Him rather than pleasing ourselves.  Jacob did not become Israel without a personal wrestle with the LORD, and contending earnestly for the faith ourselves is how we embrace our sanctification and yield to Him.

Pastures of Green

The cliche "The devil is in the details" highlights how a small detail can lead to a big problem.  A simple body posture or eye movement can lead a discerning observer to suspect someone is being dishonest and not telling the whole truth.  Innocuous behaviour or statements which could have been easily overlooked have led to convictions of murder that stuck.  On the flip side, as we travel through life and read the Bible to hear from God it is evident the smallest details point to His wisdom, goodness and grace.  Every word of God is pure, and as we read the Bible a single word has meaning and insight beyond definition alone to teach us of our glorious God and Saviour.

David wrote in Psalm 23:1-2, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."  The picture of the LORD being a good shepherd Who protects and leads his sheep provides enduring comfort.  Sheep do not lie down unless they are at rest and feel secure, and blessed is the man who finds the rest only Jesus Christ can provide.  I have driven by many green pastures with sheep grazing and meandering around, and seldom do I see them laying down.  The pasture being described as "green" speak of lush growth and good nutrition.  What I recently considered is how the description using a colour also means the pasture is bathed in light.  This may seem like a very minor detail, but it is an important one.

Whilst sheep depend largely upon their hearing to detect danger, they can see colours.  Their eyes do not see as clearly or far as humans, and we require light to see colour.  When the shepherds kept watch over their sheep by night outside Bethlehem, it could not be said they were in pastures of green because of darkness.  Because Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) who is also the light of the world who gives the light of life (John. 8:12), He indeed leads us to pastures of green.  In Him is light and no darkness at all!  What the pastures supply for a healthy sheep Jesus does much more for us body and soul, for in Him physically and spiritually we find rest.

Take heart, Christian, for Jesus makes us to lie down in green pastures and children of the day.  The exhortation of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 is most relevant for us:  "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."

Miracles and Repentance

Many times I have heard people suggest how ideal a miraculous intervention by God would be due to the potential prompting of unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ as LORD and receive the Gospel.  One issue I have with this suggestion is the implication God has not already provided ample evidence in the Bible, the testimony of history and the lives of Christians transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Besides, how many people saw the miracles of Jesus and still chose to reject Him?  God has done and continues to do miracles without number, and the miracle man needs most is not in healing a sick body but the redemption of lost souls.

As Jesus went through Judea and preached repentance and the kingdom of God, He confirmed the truth of His words with miraculous signs and wonders.  Many times He did miraculous healings so people would believe He was the Christ.  This, however, was not the only reason He did miracles.  His purposes reached far beyond the being motivated by human pity, power or sympathy:  Jesus did miraculous signs so people would repent of their sin.  I do not often hear this provided as a reason for God to do a miracle, that He would miraculously heal people so they and their families would exercise faith in repentance.  Though repentance may not be a popular reason, it is a biblical one.

Matthew 11:20-24 says of Jesus, "Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹ "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴  But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."  The sound rebukes of Jesus came for the witnesses lack of repentance, and with divine insight said should those miracles had been done in other cities--ones infamous for their iniquity--people would have repented in dust and ashes.  Because they did not believe Jesus was the Christ they did not see their need to heed His command to repent, as they harboured unbelief they ought to have repented of.

Had I been numbered among the unbelieving in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, what cause would there be for repentance?  I suspect I would need to repent of unbelief Jesus could have done anything to heal sickness, cast out demons, open the eyes of the blind, cleanse lepers and raise the dead.  As Jesus preached the law to the proud there would have been much evidence of sin of which I was guilty and had no excuse to deny.  I would repent of pride that caused me to justify myself according to the Law when I was only condemned by it, and that I had trusted in my own works to save me rather than faith in Christ alone.  I could repent of my stubbornness to repent!  How patient is God and marvelous His works to provide opportunity to repent by faith in Jesus Christ.  Faith in ourselves or tradition cannot save, but Jesus is a Saviour we ought to forsake all to follow.

Life Without Regrets

The more I consider it, the more I am convinced regret has no practical benefit for those who wallow in it.  While feelings of regret can prompt us to consider our ways and draw valuable life lessons from the past we can practice, regret itself never invites us to look to the future.  Regrets chain us to a past we cannot change and all the "If only..." and "I wish..." thoughts and desires we could entertain are fantasy  the current reality rejects.  Regret is intrinsically self-focused, for it demands we be our own saviour by figuring out what we should have done.  It weaves an unrealistic image of how things could be, even ought to be, and we are to blame things did not turn out differently.  Regret can be a willful denial and rejection of God's power to redeem evil for good like we read about countless times in scripture and have also experienced ourselves.

Regret presents a mirage and lie that we alone have the power to determine our future, essentially removing God's sovereignty from the picture.  It is the true our decisions have consequences that impact the future, but we would be foolish to assume a righteous decision always has an outcome we agree is positive.  To allow what we perceive as a negative outcome to dictate what we should or could have done in the past is to trade a biblical perspective for likely a selfish one where only our decisions matter and have all the power the change our lives.  If our regret is a matter of sin, regret ought to lead us to repentance.  Once having repented of sin and put it far from us, the power regret once wielded over us is broken by Christ and we are enabled by God's grace to look to Him in the future.  Most of the time it is not sin we regret but the uncomfortable situation we find ourselves in presently we wish we had power to change.  Holding onto regret suggests we prefer to change our past behaviour and masks our need to be changed by God now.

In one sense, regret can be a personal hell we make for ourselves.  Regret is akin to perpetual mourning over the past without hope moving forward.  Having the ability to remember is a blessing from God, yet memories for those tormented in hell will cause them to be plagued with perpetual regret.  In the story Jesus told of the rich man who suffered in Sheol, he was told by Abraham in Luke 16:25, "...Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented."  The rich man could remember all the good things that brought him comfort in life when he could not even access a drop of water to cool his tongue.  He also was able to remember his brothers and begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to them.  He wanted Lazarus to do for him and his brothers what he had not bothered to do during his entire life.  Apart from the physical pain the previously rich man was subjected to, memories and regrets would have been part of his continual torment apart from God forever.

Paul was a man who could have saddled himself with many regrets, seeing as he persecuted Jesus and his followers before coming to Christ in faith.  Instead of doing some sort of self-imposed penance, he embraced repentance for sin and received forgiveness from Jesus.  Paul did not hide his past because it had no longer held him guilty; he did not waste energy lamenting what he could not change and Jesus would redeem.  He wrote in Philippians 3:13-14:  "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Paul did not see himself as perfect in the past or present, and at the same time did not beat himself up over past mistakes or bask in self-congratulatory affirmation over his current state.  Failures and success were put behind him as he reached forward to a glorious future with eyes on Jesus, focused on fulfilling the call upon his life by God.  This is a posture Christians do well to maintain, for following Jesus is a life not to be regretted.

Our Father's Business

As a lad Jesus told Mary He "must" be about His Father's business in Luke 2.  This obviously was not the family carpentry business run by Joseph, for Jesus was not handing out business cards and discussing the benefits of quarried stone over hardwood with the scribes and Pharisees in the temple in Jerusalem.  While everyone headed home from observing the Passover, Jesus remained behind for days listening to the doctors of the Mosaic Law and asking questions.  In that ancient culture asking questions was not a sign of ignorance but the way one showed mastery of a subject.  The Jewish leaders were stunned by the understanding Jesus displayed concerning the word of God.

It was a common practice in Jesus' day the son would follow in the footsteps of his father and be trained in the same trade.  This is observed with Zebedee and sons James and John who were fishermen.  The Bible tells us Jesus did follow the custom of adopting the trade of his "dad" Joseph, and people who believed they knew Jesus dismissed His teaching because they did not believe He had authority to weigh in on matters of God and Law.  Mark 6:2-3 says, "And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ³ Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him."  The townsfolk viewed Jesus as a carpenter the son of Joseph and not the Christ, the Son of God.  They were offended by His wisdom and miraculous works because Jesus was an unexpected source.

As Jesus traveled through Judea preaching repentance and the kingdom of God, He graciously chose many disciples to follow and serve Him.  Many of these were very unlikely choices which included fishermen, a zealot, a Roman-employed tax collector and even Judas who would betray Him!  Apart from Judas, these men by the power and grace of God would be enabled to expand beyond their natural sphere of influence and make an impact for the kingdom of God wherever God sent them.  A time came when Andrew and Peter no longer washed and mended nets but brought men into the kingdom of God by the power of the Gospel.  John went from suggesting they call fire down from heaven upon those who rejected Jesus to writing many times, "Little children, love one another."  The transformation Jesus made in His followers inside and out is remarkable to behold in the scriptures and regularly in people to this day.

The Saviour Jesus Christ who called His disciples to follow Him is the One we must follow and continue so doing.  It would be a great shame for us to drift from obeying the commands of Christ, living in the reality of the Gospel and exhorting Christians to walk in holiness and love to stoop to weighing in on politics, medical advice and controversial topics as experts.  It would be entirely possible for Peter to continue fishing professionally whilst proclaiming the Gospel without contradiction, yet it would be an odd thing indeed to claim he was an authority on Roman taxation because he knew a former tax collector.  In the body of Christ there is great diversity between each individual member and the distinct function of each part.  It is also evident the purpose of all the parts are the same, to unite under the guidance and service of Jesus Christ Whom we glorify as the Head of the Body, the church.  I sometimes use one hand to crack the knuckles on the other hand to provide relief from aching joints, and this illustrates the point:  brothers and sisters, as we follow Jesus together allow the LORD to use others to adjust us to better coordinate our efforts to walk obediently in love towards all with grace upon grace.  In this way we too can wisely be about our Father's business.

No Provision for the Flesh

"Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

Romans 13:13-14

Our plans for the day have a big impact on what we take off and put on.  If I am going outside to mow the law, I will put shoes on my feet.  If I am going to a meeting or preaching, I take off the comfortable clothes I wear around the house so I can don appropriate attire for going to work.  We take off a wedding ring before changing the oil in the car, and we put on insulated gloves before we pick up a hot glass baking dish.  There is often an intentional reason to make provision for the future, like carrying a water bottle during a long hike so we can remain hydrated.

I have heard many teachings on the necessity for us to put on the whole armour of God, and the illustration of Roman armour by Paul gives us understanding of how the indwelling Holy Spirit guards and protects us.  But it is impossible to put on the armour of God unless we have first put on Jesus Christ by faith in Him!  While we have already been born again and put on Christ by faith in Him (Galatians 3:27), the Roman passage affirms we must choose to walk according to faith and by obedience to Jesus in everyday situations of life.  Paul previously exhorted believers in Ephesians 4:21-24:  "...if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."  We are called to put off the old man to put on the new.

After putting on the LORD Jesus Christ, believers are called to "make no provision for the flesh."  Using the example of battle, ample provisions allow the enemy to remain entrenched indefinitely.  It does little good to lay siege to a castle that has plenty of fresh water, grain, meat and milk.  To allow the city to continue a flourishing trade undermines the entire purpose of a siege:  to cut off all supplies from the enemy to starve them out.  Christians can undermine the power of Jesus Christ in their lives when we make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.  When we make provision for the flesh we give it room to fortify defenses, stockpile ammunition, dig more tunnels, plant more landmines and invite opportunities to engage in guerrilla warfare.  We can put on Jesus Christ, wear the armour supplied by the Holy Spirit and be sleeping at our post--and totally vulnerable to enemy attack--because of drunkenness, lust and all manner of sin.

Since we are risen with Christ to new life, Paul provided clear exhortation in what putting off the old man and putting on the new man looks like in Colossians 3:5-17:  "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. ⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. ¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Having been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, we ought not justify our participation in sin any longer.  God holds us responsible to put off sin and to put on the attitude, perspective and wisdom of Jesus Christ who has claimed us as His own as we submit to Him.  We make provision for our sin more than we know, and I shudder to think of times my sin was premeditated.  Know that when our sin has been revealed unexpectedly in us because we were caught off guard we are not the victims of circumstances:  it shows we likely for years have carefully cultivated, supported and provided opportunity for our sin to strike damaging blows to hurt others and us.  We cannot blame a satanic attack for our failure to walk in righteousness when we willingly made provisions for the flesh.  Walking in the Spirit and obedience to Jesus starves the enemy and depletes his resources in our flesh, and our faithful God will protect us every step.

Time to Go Home

When I was a kid visiting a friend and having fun, I was always sorry to hear my parent say, "It's time to go home."  I did my best to cram in all the fun I could as I played games, swam in the pool, ate delicious food or explored outside.  I always wanted to catch one more fish, beat one more level in a video game or catch one more pass and do my best to put out of my mind the fun experience must come to an end or that I had to go to school the following day.  Part of the novelty of going to a friend's house was a combination of spending time in the company of someone I enjoyed and the ability to do things not possible at my house.  We didn't have a pool or some of the video games my friends had and it was fun to laugh, compete and enjoy fun times together.

What I took for granted in those fun times is I had a home to go with family members who loved me.  I was incredibly blessed as a child, youth and young man to have parents and a brother and sister who truly made a house feel like a home, a place where you were wanted, accepted and belonged.  A distinction is made between a building and a "home," which is more than merely a domicile.  The Bible teaches at the moment we are home in our physical bodies, and even as one day we leave the family home our souls will one day leave the earth and enter the eternal state.  The life span of houses and bodies on earth are temporary and will end, but for all who are born again our citizenship has been confirmed in heaven.  Philippians 3:20-21 says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

Though there are many reasons God has given us to desire to live in the beautiful world He has created, I do not believe I could ever have enough fun, enjoyment or satisfaction to be disappointed when God says to me, "It's time to go home."  Can you imagine the moment when an angel taps you on the shoulder and ushers you into eternal glory in the presence with God?  I will jump for joy at the consummation of Christ's salvation.  Gone forever are the aches and pains, sickness, deadlines, dramas, cares and the chronic corruption of sin.  Having been accepted into the beloved by the grace of God, we will enter into a glorious future no words can fully convey.  Christians will finally be brought into a place where we were designed to fit forever, for it is a place prepared for us individually and corporately by Jesus Christ Himself.  Heaven is heaven because Jesus who loves us is there, and to be home with believing people and angels forever is beyond compare.  How good!

The Aroma of Life

At Bible study last night our group briefly discussed John 12:1-3 which took place after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:  "Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. ² There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."  People flocked to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus who had been dead four days before he walked alive out of the tomb at the call of Christ.

On His way to Jerusalem Jesus enjoyed a meal at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  Mary shocked many when she went far beyond the usual hospitality in ancient Israel when she anointed the feet of Jesus with spikenard--an oil so precious the value was equal to the wages of a labourer for a full year.  It was typical to wash the feet of guests with water and she used fragrant oil; instead of using a towel Mary used her own hair.  What struck me last night is how Mary had chosen not to use the oil (typically used for burial) to anoint her deceased brother.  She reserved the box of oil for herself.  But when her eyes were opened to see Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life who was heading towards crucifixion, she chose to anoint Jesus in anticipation of His burial.

Judas Iscariot, the apostle who would betray Jesus, resented the "waste" of the oil.  He suggested it would have been better to sell the oil and give the money to the poor rather than pouring it out on Jesus.  John tells us in John 12:6:  "This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it."  What a contrast is seen here:  Judas dipped into the money box to benefit himself whilst Mary broke the box of oil to pour it all upon Jesus who was worthy of this act of worship and adoration.  Nothing is wasted that is freely offered to Jesus, for He is King and Christ and LORD of all, our risen Saviour.  May we who call Christ Saviour be those who cause the sweet aroma of His love and life to spread through us to all the world as 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says:  "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?"