Comfort For Today

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Matthew 6:34

We would like to justify our preoccupation with upcoming events as a modern necessity, yet Jesus spoke to correct this tendency in His day.  Planning ahead is required for holidays, to book flights or accommodation, but that does not mean we are capable of the mental and physical load worry over the future brings.  Jesus commanded His followers not to worry about tomorrow, and it is helpful for me to consider this in terms of not "stressing" over it.

Today I woke on this New Year's day in Australia singing in my heart, "This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  This is the start of a new year in our diaries but we need not carry a burden of a whole year, month or even tomorrow.  God has given us today, and we can rejoice in our LORD who makes all things new--including us.  It is easy to be caught up in things beyond eating, drinking and clothing and fix our minds on events, trips and all manner of things that trouble us with the uncertainty of them.  We can stress and worry over what we are confident will happen long before it eventuates.

Praise the LORD in Him all of our needs are abundantly met and He provides strength and wisdom to endure the day--even a day full of trouble infinitely beyond our capacity to cope with.  Our heavenly Father knows what we need even before we ask Him and thus Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  When joy, peace and rest are elusive, it is usually because we (on some level) are trying to play God ourselves,  Instead of seeking the LORD and resting in His sufficiency and timing, we are easily stressed by what is not but what we imagine might be.  How good it is for us to break this habit of feeling stressed and justifying it--a tendency we fall into a naturally as breathing--and focus on the LORD who is eternal and infinite in power, love and wisdom.

By God's grace we are able to rejoice in the LORD always, even today.  Needing to learn new things or going new places still may be stressful, but the rest God provides is greater than any stress we might feel.  We will discover this reality by exercising faith through obedience to Jesus.  Each day has its own trouble, but we need not be troubled.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  Our God is the God of all comfort who comforts in all our tribulation each day brings.  His comfort is so great and abundant people who naturally would be stressed beyond measure are "able to comfort those who are in any trouble."

This is what I needed to hear today instead of stressing over it, and I pray the LORD ministers the reality of His mercy and comfort to your heart today too.

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

This observation of John gives us insight into the hearts of the rulers of the Jews who believed in Jesus, that they "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  Men ought to always praise God, yet we see God also gives praise to men who believe in Jesus Christ and confess Him.  Because a distinction is made between the praise of men and the praise of God, our actions demonstrate whether we value the praise of men or God more.

When God says "Well done!" to His good and faithful servants, this is praise.  While God is worthy of all praise, by His grace and strength His people can do what is praiseworthy because we are in Him.  Webster defines "praise" as, "Commendation bestowed on a person for his personal virtues or worthy actions, on meritorious actions themselves, or on any thing valuable; approbation expressed in words or song."  Because God is worthy to be praised, when we do according to His will in any thing praise is appropriate and fitting.  Unlike vengeance, which is God's sovereign territory, we have the freedom by the love of God to praise others who do what is right.

There is a notion that we ought not to praise others for their merit, as if this has the power to bestow humility.  The main problem with what we may call praise is it is often insincere and dishonest.  We praise children who have not done well to manipulate them into doing better.  Flattery has often been disguised as praise with self-serving motives.  "It is the voice of a god, not a man!" the men of Tyre and Sidon shouted in Acts 12, not that they really thought Herod was a god, but because he was angry with them and they desired peace.  Then there is the concern that praising one for doing well might foster pride in them or make others feel somewhat less.  While it is true a person can take pride in praise, a proud person can also refuse to accept it and respond with self-depreciation.  We cannot help how people will receive praise for a job well done, yet we can freely offer it by God's grace and example.

It is important to point out God has many things to say unto men, and much of it is not praise.  God's word is filled with correction, instruction, rebuke and commands.  Jesus spoke of servants who did their duty and were not commended for doing it.  We ought not need to be fueled by the praises of men to do our God-given duty when He has also supplied the wisdom, strength and guidance to do so.  We need not try to soften the blow of correction with insincere praise because this prevents both from landing properly.  If we praise, let it be done honestly to please the LORD.  Those who love the praise of God more than the praise of men will live to please Him in all they say and do, longing for the day they will hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant!" and give Him all the glory and praise for it.

Benefit of Family and Your Neighbour

When I read G.K. Chesterton, I am thankful God created people and philosophers who believe and proclaim His truth with intelligence that dwarfs my own.  I feel I am doing well to merely keep pace with Chesterton's train of thought that in an instant speeds off and leaves me disoriented in dust.  Though times and scenery has changed, I find his observations are often timeless and easily re-skinned to relate for modern society and the church as well.  The wisdom that comes from God is timeless, for the eternal God does not change.  Mankind that forms societies and cultures around the globe, in the naturally lost and unregenerate condition, has not changed either.  Those who are born again by faith in Jesus are being transformed to be more like Him, and thus those who know God and observe men (not to mention having experience as one!) find solid footing in reality.

Chesterton wrote an essay in 1905 titled On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of the Family, and he makes some brilliant points.  His ideas that caught my attention are relevant for the church, schools, government and media in our internet age.  Electronics and the internet were not on the radar of a man who probably wrote by candlelight in a house without electricity, yet Chesterton has much wisdom for us today.  Here are a few selected paragraphs from that essay on the topic of community, cliques and family:

"It is not fashionable to say much nowadays of the advantages of the small community.  We are told that we must go in for large empires and large ideas.  There is one advantage, however, in the small state, the city, or the village, which only the willfully blind can overlook.  The man who lives in a small community lives in a much larger world.  He knows much more of the fierce varieties and uncompromising divergences of men.  The reason is obvious.  In a large community we can choose our companions.  In a small community our companions are chosen for us.  Thus in all extensive and highly civilised societies groups come into existence founded upon what is called sympathy, and shut out the real world more sharply than the gates of a monastery.  There is nothing really narrow about the clan; the thing which is really narrow is the clique.  The men of the clan live together because they all wear the same tartan or all descended from the same sacred cow; but in their souls, by the divine luck of things, there will always be more colours than in any tartan.  But the men of the clique live together because they have the same kind of soul, and their narrowness is a narrowness of spiritual coherence and contentment, like that which exists in hell.  A big society exists in order to form cliques.  A big society is a society for the promotion of narrowness.  It is a machinery for the purpose of guarding the solitary and sensitive individual from all experience of the bitter and bracing human compromises.  It is, in the most literal sense of the words, a society for the prevention of Christian knowledge...

We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next-door neighbour.  Hence he comes to us clad in all the careless terrors of nature; he is a strange as the stars, as reckless and indifferent as the rain.  He is Man, the most terrible of the beasts.  That is why the old religious and the old scriptural language showed so sharp a wisdom when they spoke, not of one's duty towards humanity, but one's duty towards one's neighbour.  The duty towards humanity may often take the form of some choice which is personal or even pleasurable.  That duty may be a hobby; it may even be a dissipation.  We may work in the East End because we are peculiarly fitted to work in the East End, or because we think we are; we may fight for the cause of international peace because we are very fond of fighting.  The most monstrous martyrdom, the most repulsive experience, may be the result of choice or a kind of taste.  We may be so made as to be particularly fond of lunatics or specially interested in leprosy.  We may love negroes because they are black or German Socialists because they are pedantic.  But we have to love our neighbour because he is there--a much more alarming reasons for a much more serious operation.  He is the sample of humanity which is actually given us.  Precisely because he may be anybody he is everybody.  He is a symbol because he is an accident...

 But in order that life should be a story or romance to us, it is necessary that a great part of it, at any rate, should be settled for us without our permission.  If we wish life to be a system, this may be a nuisance; but if we wish it to be a drama, it is an essential.  It may often happen, no doubt, that a drama may be written by somebody else which we like very little.  But we should like it still less if the author came before the curtain every hour or so, and forced on us the whole trouble of inventing the next act.  A man has control over many things in his life; he has control over enough things to be the hero of a novel.  But if he had control over everything, there would be so much hero that there would be no novel.  And the reason why the lives of the rich are at bottom so tame and uneventful is simply that they can choose the events.  They are dull because they are omnipotent.  They fail to feel adventures because they can make the adventures.  The things which keeps life romantic and fully of fiery possibilities is the existence of these great plain limitations which force all of us to meet the things we do not like or do not expect.  It is vain for the supercilious moderns to talk of being in uncongenial surroundings.  To be in a romance is to be in uncongenial surroundings.  To be born into this earth is to be born into uncongenial surroundings, hence to be born into a romance.  Of all these great limitations and frameworks which fashion and create the poetry and variety of life, the family is the most definite and important.  Hence it is misunderstood by the moderns, who imagine that romance would exist most perfectly in a complete state of what they call liberty.  They think that if a man makes a gesture it would be a startling and romantic matter that the sun should fall from the sky.  But the startling and romantic thing about the sun is that is does not fall from the sky.  They are seeking under every shape and form a world where there are no limitations--that is, a world where there are no outlines; that is, a world where there are no shapes.  There is nothing baser that than infinity.  They say they wish to be as strong as the universe, but they really wish the whole universe as weak as themselves."  (Chesterton, G. K., et al. In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays of G.K. Chesterton. Ignatius Press, 2011. pages 10-20)

Small Book, Giant Truths

"Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly. ² And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice."

Jonah 2:1-2

Jonah was directed by God to preach against Nineveh, but he chose to disobey the word of the LORD and fled to Tarshish by ship.  God sent a mighty tempest which tossed the ship and the sailors cried out to their gods, being in jeopardy.  Eventually Jonah was revealed by lot to be the reason the storm had come upon them, and according to his directive Jonah was cast overboard and the sea was calm.  God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and from the prison of stinking flesh Jonah cried out to God and was heard.

This biblical passage has much more going on than what is featured in a book for children:  the prophet needed correction and discipline, the sailors would benefit from a demonstration of God's power and instruction concerning His supremacy and sovereignty, and God desired to provide the people of Nineveh preaching and salvation.  To people who required a sign to believe Jesus was the Christ He pointed to Jonah, that as Jonah was 3 days in the belly of the fish and survived, so Jesus would be 3 days in the grave before rising in eternal glory.  In the book of Jonah everyone seemed to change except for him:  the pagan men on the ship sacrificed to God and made vows, and the people of Nineveh repented of their wickedness with fasting.  The book ends with Jonah justifying his anger and indignation before God who remained gracious, patient and wise.

God's preparation of the storm, the great fish, vine, worm and vehement east wind were more than just lessons for Jonah but for all who read this small book of the Bible.  It is written for the sake of disobedient prophets and people alike to hear, fear and obey God.  It is to correct those who hate other nations or people because of past atrocities to show compassion as God did and does.  It teaches everyone who is experiencing personal hell and feels like God is far from them that God hears the prayer of faith in Him and answers.  This book shows God's wisdom in spreading the knowledge of His power through a prophet and sailors alike in His wisdom.  It demonstrates how God's heart is to hear, save and forgive Jew and Gentile alike by His grace.  When it comes to God's wisdom in His word, our cup overflows.

While we try to avoid affliction, God can use it to draw wayward souls to Himself.  The God who created the heavens, earth and seas, the LORD who called Jonah and saved the sailors and Ninevites who called out to Him, is the Saviour who speaks and works His wonders to this day.  Praise God that He who created the ear can hear, and He is able to deliver us from bondage to stubbornness, idolatry, waves of pride that rise and the belly of affliction.  The book of Jonah isn't kid stuff but a revelation of the glorious God for all ages, all people and for all time.

What Agnostics Can Know

Recently I read an opinion piece that prompted consideration.  From the premise to the conclusion I disagreed with every point made.  A strong agnostic tone was maintained throughout concerning Jesus and the testimony of scripture, and thus there was nothing satisfactory for the soul.  In arrogance the pendulum swung between ignorance and irrelevance, and I don't know that a Christian or atheist who would be satisfied with the straw man arguments presented.  For me the article was of value because it showed the complete bankruptcy of an agnostic position concerning the person of Jesus Christ.

Reading the article, it seemed the fellow was pleased to through out the Baby Jesus but treasured His bathwater:  the value in Jesus being a Saviour for oppressed souls was not in His divinity but His humanity.  In the writer's mind some compelling things have been attributed to Jesus, but whether Jesus existed or not is of little consequence.  What really matters, I read, was the concept of Jesus doing miracles and providing for the needy kindles faith in humanity.  From a biblical worldview, this misses the point entirely.

Jesus only said and did compelling things because of Who He is, the Son of God born of a virgin in Bethlehem, the Christ--exactly as God promised beforehand.  The whole of Christ's life is placed under a microscope because of His claim to be the Messiah, that He came from heaven.  Jesus cannot be a good man and lie to deceive people:  either He is the Christ, or He is not.  Either the whole body of work of His life is consistent with this claim, or Jesus is a deceiver and disqualified as divinity--including being a decent bloke.  His sayings, actions and miracles were not to inspire people with faith in humanity, but for the lost sinner to receive salvation through faith in Jesus.

1 John 5:11-13 says with complete authority from God Himself concerning Jesus:  "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."  For the one who is not sure Jesus was born or is the Son of God, you can know with certainty you are not saved.  Being agnostic towards Jesus Christ and His claims of divinity means you are guaranteed to fall short of the forgiveness and justification He provides by grace through faith in Him.  Saying "maybe" concerning the existence of Jesus Christ or His resurrection means you have no part in Him, remain in sin and are truly lost.

No matter what arguments doubters and deceivers have concerning Jesus, Christians can rest confidently in Jesus Christ our LORD who ascended to the Father in the presence of many witnesses.  We do not need to know everything to know for certain we are forgiven and have eternal life through faith in Jesus.  We who believe in Jesus are called to keep believing, for our faith is according to knowledge revealed in God's word that is true.  Praise the LORD for opening our eyes to see and giving us hearts to understand and know Jesus.  How blessed we are to be known by Him Who has sought us out!

No Christmas Without Christ

Yesterday I enjoyed the nostalgia of watching a classic Christmas movie I had not seen for a very long time:  Miracle on 34th Street.  It was a delightful and humorous film that explores rationality, imagination and faith--though not faith according to a biblical definition.  In the movie faith was described as belief when common sense ends, yet the Christian faith is one according to knowledge of God that is logical and sensible even as He is.  The Bible reveals genuine faith is according to knowledge of what is, and it is wise to place our trust in all God reveals to be true.

It occurred to me throughout the film that Kris Kringle or Santa Claus took middle stage along with a pushback against commercialism.  The one figure that was ignored entirely was Christ, and this does not surprise me in a secular society.  But the fact remains there is no Christmas without Christ.  It may be "Eatmas" or "Drinkmas" or "Partymas" for many people ("mas" being "more" in Spanish), yet for Christians Jesus Christ really is the reason of the season.  The trappings, gatherings and obligatory celebrations or gifts do not make Christmas special:  it is Jesus Christ who is special being divine, and He is the greatest gift ever given or received.

For those who claim those who recognise Christmas unwittingly give honour to pagan traditions, Paul urged believers not to judge one another in their observance of a particular day in Romans 14:5-8:  "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."  We are able to observe Christmas and Boxing Day as unto the LORD, and God can receive the same degree of glory from our lives even when, in a desire to honour our Saviour, intentionally allow them to pass without fanfare.

What freedom God has grated His children by grace through faith in Christ who has abolished death and brought immortality and life to light through the Gospel.  If we think it reasonable to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, it is perfectly sensible to acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ to earth as a baby--even if it isn't on the exact date.  I don't believe Jesus is more pleased with those who "celebrate Christmas" than those who choose not to celebrate it with a tree, stockings, gifts or going to church.  We please Him by grace through faith in Him, and Christmas is a unique opportunity to proclaim there is no Christmas without Christ.  Unless the Light of the World came we would be in perpetual darkness, and we thus thank God for His indescribable gift of His only begotten Son.

Growing in Grace

Luke wrote concerning Jesus as a lad in Luke 2:40, "And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."  At the conclusion of the chapter he also remarked in Luke 2:52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men."  This is a amazing statement.  It is one thing for a person to grow in wisdom and physically from being a child to an adult, but it is incredible Jesus increased in favour with God and men.

Because God's grace is infinite, one might wonder how Jesus--the perfect Son of God--could possibly grow in it.  Luke made a connection in both of these verses between wisdom and grace.  Wisdom comes from God alone, and those who walk in wisdom look to God in faith, obedience and submission.  The observations of Luke emphasise the Son of God Jesus becoming flesh and was one of us in a human body.  There were limits of His mental and physical capabilities as a little child.  He lacked strength and dexterity to lift his head as a newborn or coordination to stand up as an infant.  His body needed to learn to speak and  His mind developed to comprehend figurative language.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:11 that when he was a child he spoke as a child, understood as a child, and thought as a child, and this was true concerning Jesus.

As Jesus grew in wisdom and understanding, He also increased in favour or grace with God.  Though God's grace is infinite, by faith according to knowledge man can receive God's favour and increasingly walk in it.  Peter exhorted followers of Jesus to this end in 2 Peter 3:17-18:  "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."  Jesus grew in wisdom, and perfectly understood God and His calling as the Son of God to seek and save the lost.  Unfettered from sin and selfishness, always walking in obedience and submission to His Father in heaven, Jesus provides us an example to follow that we also may grow in grace.

Lest we think God's grace upon Jesus was unique, it is imperative to remember that grace is unmerited, freely given out of God's goodness, love and mercy.  There has never been nor will ever be another Son of David and Messiah Jesus Christ, yet the grace given Him is extended and received by those who trust in Him.  Acts 4:33 says of the early church, "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all."  God's grace has appeared to all men as it is written in Titus 2:11-14:  "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

Jesus became wisdom for us, having been taught by the grace of God.  Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and lust and to live soberly, righteously and godly today, knowing we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus from sin and purified as His special people to do good.  Knowing Jesus and walking in obedience to Him is the practical way we can grow in grace every day.  Praise the LORD the grace of God that bring salvation has appeared to all men, and great grace is upon all who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ.  May we grow in favour with God and men because Jesus has become wisdom for us and remain steadfast by faith in Him.

God Loves Because He Loves

John 3:16 is a famous verse because it showcases the love of God for all people by sending His only begotten Son Jesus as Saviour.  "For God so loved the world..." it begins, showing the far-reaching range of the atonement provided:  all sinners included without exception.  It was not because God loved His Son, the Jews or those who kept His commandments, but because He loved every person in the world He gave His only Son.  Those who receive the gift of salvation by grace through faith are the beneficiaries of this incredible love.

From the beginning God's love has been on display, and this is especially seen in His dealings with the children of Israel.  Recently I read a passage I love very much, for it is a wondrous reminder of God's love is all of grace and not due to our worthiness.  Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 7:7-8, "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; ⁸ but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."  Simply put, the LORD set His love on the children of Israel because the LORD loves them.  It was not because they were many or mighty.  God would keep the promise He made to bring the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt.

Verses like John 3:16 show us God's love was not reserved only for the children of Israel, but for the ungodly--including Romans and all Gentiles too.  Paul explained this revelation of God's divine love for all in Romans 5:6-8:  "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  How wonderful it is to know God loves us because He loves us!  God has kept His promise to send the Messiah to save people from their sins and give eternal life to all who trust in Him.  Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of sin and provided the sure hope of heaven and eternal life through the Gospel because He loves us.

Because we could not deserve or earn such divine love, it does not depend on how we feel or what happens in the world.  Everything could seem against us, yet because God is He loves us.  Like other gifts God gives, we receive God's gift of love by faith in Him.  While God has offered His love freely, for many people it is like a gift that remains wrapped and not received.  We can be like little children quite taken with playing with bows and ribbons that we neglect to open and receive His gift of love adorned by grace.  Christmas is a great opportunity to remember and proclaim the goodness of Jesus Christ who loves us, the greatest gift ever given or that we could possibly receive.  God loves the world and loves us because He loves, simple as that.

The Source of Sin Within

"So the LORD plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made."

Exodus 32:35

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the commandments of God written on tablets of stone, the people left behind in the camp quickly corrupted themselves.  They came to Aaron and demanded he make gods to go before them because they did not know what had happened to Moses.  Likely feeling pressure to placate the people, Aaron set about collecting gold from the people and molded a graven image.  Like doting parents who are led about by the whims of their children or a carer who shoves a dummy in the mouth of a fussy baby, Aaron gave them what they wanted and committed a great sin.  He facilitated the worship of idol and gave a golden image the credit for delivering them from slavery in Egypt.

It should be noted the children of Israel had been steeped in religious idolatry in Egypt.  As a infant grows accustomed to having a dummy in their mouth for comfort, the people had long worshipped gods of Egypt--even idols of their own making.  After their exodus from Egypt God revealed through the prophet Amos in Amos 5:25-26, "Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? ²⁶ You also carried Sikkuth your king and Chiun, your idols, the star of your gods, which you made for yourselves."  Instead of Aaron saying, "God forbid!  Having been saved by the living God who revealed Himself to us, we will serve Him alone!" he caved to the demands of the people and gave them what they were accustomed to:  idols made by the hands of men to worship and sacrifice to.

It is insightful God did not plague the people because Aaron made a golden calf:  He plagued them because of how they sinned with the calf Aaron made.  What Aaron did was wrong, but they were not punished for his sin.  They faced God's judgment because they bowed down and offered sacrifices to an idol in worship, having forsaken the almighty God who revealed Himself to them in power and glory on the mount.  Scarcely had the Law been given before it was completely broken by high priest and people alike.  God judging people for their own sin is in keeping with the principle seen in Deuteronomy 24:16:  "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin."  Rather than blaming Aaron or the calf as the source of the sin problem, God justly dealt with each sinner individually.

Understanding this principle helps us to shift away from a tendency to legalism that imagines sinfulness comes from outside of us rather than originating within our own sinful hearts.  Many good things God gives can lead to sin by excess, addiction and obsession.  Paul exhorted believers, rather than being swayed by the doctrines of men that focus on not touching, tasting or handling, that we are to seek Jesus Christ and set our hearts on things above.  We are to mortify or put to death in our minds and bodies what God declares as sinful, putting off the old man, and then putting on the new man which is renewed in the image of Christ who made us new creations:  loving one another, giving mercy, being patient, forgiving one another, allowing the peace of God to rule in our hearts, to be thankful and let God's word to dwell in us richly by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If the children of Israel lamented under the weight of conviction and God's judgment, "I wish Aaron had never made that calf!" or "I shouldn't have given away those earrings!" they would have missed the point.  Their sin was not due to the calf being fashioned but because they worshipped it as god.  The molten calf was simply a means that exposed the idolatrous condition of their hearts.  If the judgment from God was rightly understood and received, they would have tossed Sikkuth and Chiun away as rubbish and worshipped God alone.  We, like the children of Israel, do not see how deep our sinfulness and idolatry goes unless God reveals it to us.  And even when He does, we can be like babies crying for our dummy because it is the only comfort we have known until now.  How good, gracious and kind God is to grind our idols into powder!  Instead of making us drink the metallic water like Moses did, God's grace fills our hearts and mouths with praise that honours and glorifies Him.

Living the Good Life

The first miracle recorded by Jesus was when he attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  It could be an entire year of preparation went into planning a wedding, an occasion that could last a week or more.  At this wedding the unthinkable happened:  they ran out of wine.  Mary told Jesus about the predicament, as He asked her what her concern had to do with Him.  But as always, Jesus knew exactly what He would do.

There were six large waterpots used to hold water for Jewish purification rites before and after meals.  John 2:7-10 reads, "Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. ¹⁰ And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"  The obedience of the servants to the command of Jesus resulted in abundance of good wine.  It was so good, in fact, that the master of the feast called the bridegroom to commend him for it.

I believe the bridegroom was no different from other hosts who put out the best wine first.  The problem was, there simply wasn't enough of it for the duration of the wedding.  He was probably appraised of the lack of wine, and he must have been amazed and relieved to have his need so abundantly supplied with good wine.  John 2:11 says, "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."  Though Jesus was not publicly credited by the bridegroom in the passage, Jesus did this sign to affirm He was the Christ, the promised Messiah God would send as Saviour.  Mary's directive to the servants was, "Whatever He says to you, do it!" and the result of obedience to Jesus brought good out of it:  from a lack of wine came the abundance of good wine.

This passage and others like it show Jesus is worthy of trust and obedience.  We can have complete confidence He will guide us step by step and will supply all our needs.  Like the bridegroom, our best efforts fall short to prepare us for future needs that will arise.  Even if we can store up food and money to sustain our lives on earth, we cannot secure eternal lives for ourselves in heaven.  By God's grace through faith in Jesus, He makes a way for us to experience an abundant life now and a glorious future in heaven.  People might think they are "living the good life" now, but nothing compares to the life Jesus provides where the best is yet to come.

The LORD Roared From Zion

"The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. ¹⁶ The LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel."

Joel 3:15-16

The prophet wrote of the day of the LORD, a future judgment of the nations by the almighty God of Israel.  When I read this description there are striking similarities to when Jesus died on the cross.  For three hours darkness shrouded the globe and the sun and moon did not shine.  Before He lay down His life Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished!" and there was an earthquake.  The Lion of the tribe of Judah roared from Calvary to signal His ultimate, everlasting victory.  For followers of Jesus Christ at the time it was a troubling, tragic turn, for the One they believed was the promised Messiah was slain.

What they did not realise in that moment was Jesus had taken upon Himself the sins of the world and thus faced judgment deserved by sinners.  His great purpose for coming was fulfilled in revealing the Gospel, the New Covenant, the love of God, gained victory over sin and death, crushed Satan underfoot, and put to death the Law of Moses that could only condemn.  One of the soldiers who looked on mused out loud:  "This surely was a righteous Man!"  By faith in Jesus sinners are deemed righteous by the righteous Judge of all the earth who provided atonement with His own blood.  The hope of forgiveness and eternal life was assured by all Jesus accomplished in His life, death and resurrection.  His future return to earth was affirmed when He was conveyed alive into heaven before many witnesses.  

Coinciding with Christ's return, judgment will certainly come upon the world for sin.  The prophet declared, "...The LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel."  God will shake the heavens and earth, yet in light of future troubling events God's people need not be shaken in mind or resolve.  God IS our refuge, shelter and strength.  The stability of a building begins with a solid foundation, and those who hear Jesus' words and do them He likens to a man who built his house upon the rock.  Though exposed to powerful and raging elements that would make houses built on sand an utter ruin, all who trust and obey Jesus are girded with strength and enabled to endure.

When a flood, fire or tornado passes through a community there can be one or two houses standing and we wonder how that is possible--that destruction could be so widespread yet one house stands resolute.  There is no need to wonder when the Christian endures trials and troubles:  it is Jesus who enables us to stand in the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is not our willpower, effort or commitment but Jesus Christ.  We are works in progress, but concerning salvation, righteousness and strength we have heard from the mouth of Jesus Himself:  "It is finished!"  Let us praise the LORD for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

God's Wisdom and Word Outlasts

When my sons were younger they enjoyed watching Sponge Bob, and I have seen my fair share of episodes over the years as well.  Recurring characters Mr. Krabs, the owner of a successful diner, has a rival named Plankton who manged a floundering establishment called "The Chum Bucket."  Mr. Krabs knows the success of the Krusty Krab is due to their hugely popular menu item, the Krabby Patty.  Plankton's evil, always-foiled plan is to infiltrate the Krusty Krab to steal the Krabby Patty formula so he can be a successful restaurateur himself.  This sort of scheme is not limited to silly cartoons but occurs in business, sport, the military and wherever hidden information exists that could be potentially used to damage rivals or benefit self.  This happened in the early church, and it still occurs to this day.

After Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and revealed the Gospel to him, Paul boldly preached this message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus to the Gentiles.  Initially some Jews were skeptical of and even opposed this, supposing the reception of the Gospel was only for Jews--or those willing to convert to Judaism.  Paul wrote in Galatians 2:3-5, "Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), ⁵ to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."  Paul demonstrated the Gospel does not require a Gentile to keep the Law, for Titus (who was Greek) was not compelled to be circumcised.  This incident came about because false brethren infiltrated the church gatherings, not with the intent to worship the LORD Jesus and break bread in fellowship, but to sway people to keep the Law of Moses.  They had a hidden agenda and before long it became evident, and Paul was wise to their treachery.  He held fast to the truth of the Gospel and was bold to withstand them on the solid ground of the Gospel.

There is no shortage of people who claim to have a new revelation from God that detracts or deters from the Gospel, people who seek to infiltrate churches, Bible studies and home groups to poach believers for their own agenda, to make followers of their sects or themselves rather than Christ.  How blessed we are to have the unchanging, perfect word of God that prevents us from being led astray by false doctrines and undue emphasis.  By God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit genuine believers are able to expose and outlast the schemes of false brethren and those who come into churches with false humility, who are wolves in sheep's clothing.  The Good Shepherd Jesus Christ is able to mark these deceivers who are deceived, and the gentle child of God need not fret over them.  Bible-teaching churches will have these sorts of visitors come and go, and may the word of God they hear preached move them to repentance rather than condemn.

In a chapter where Paul confronted the heretical view Jesus had not bodily risen from the dead within the church, there was no hand-wringing.  Instead he concluded the passage with thanksgiving to God and an exhortation to endure in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 :  "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."  God gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ, and therefore we can be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of God knowing our labour is not in vain.  The real brethren through Jesus will outlast the false ones.  Through our LORD Jesus our labour is not in vain in the LORD.  To Him be all glory, honour and praise, the God who girds us with strength, encourages us and give us victory now and forever.

Calories and the Conscience

At a cafe years ago I observed something that was akin to reverse culture shock.  I am originally from California, and while living in Australia shared coffee with a ministry team also from the Golden State.  One fellow's interest was drawn to a particular item he wondered might be too rich--especially since he had not been going to the gym as usual.  After hearing him audibly vacillate between two opinions I encouraged him to order the item as a special treat, for he would possibly never have the opportunity to order it again.  He did so only to pawn it off on everyone else--not because it did not suit his sweet tooth--but because he could not stop talking about how many calories he was putting into his body.

After every reluctant bite he would say something like, "Now I need to go on a jog!" or "That will be another 15 minutes in the gym" and "Don't tell my wife."  As one who enjoys baking and eating desserts of all kinds, this behaviour was most baffling.  If I knew he was going to complain through the whole dish I might have suggested the kale salad as that seemed more suited to his conscience.  I remember another occasion when I watched a father beg his child not to say anything to her mum about the fries he allowed her to have with her meal rather than carrot sticks or apple slices.  I have seen many such interactions over the years and it has taken me awhile to process them.  While the circumstances faced by the early church has changed, the principles about eating, drinking and choosing to walk in love towards others without putting a stumbling block in their way are relevant to this day.

Much has been said that the Bible does not condemn drinking alcohol in itself but drunkenness is forbidden.  We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit rather than being drunk with wine.  The same is true concerning calories:  eating calories is not a sin in itself, whether it is a dessert or a burger from McDonald's.  It is not a sin to eat thousands of calories in one sitting, and it is not a sin to count them and choose not to eat them.  It is a sin, however, when we stand in judgment of others because they eat "junk" or mock people who refuse all meat or fried foods.  Years ago the cliche went, "Cleanliness is next to godliness" and perhaps now "Fitness is next to godliness."  Both of these statements are incorrect.  While there are obvious health benefits to good personal hygiene, having a nourishing diet with moderation and physical fitness, eating dessert with bacon is not in itself a sin.  Lying about it to your wife, that's another story.

The freedom God gives us to eat and drink is not a justification for gluttony.  Instead of giving place to drunkenness, strife and envy Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."  Instead of disputing over the amount of calories we consume or what kind of milk we drink, the following passage can be applied in Romans 14:2-4:  "For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. ⁴ Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."  It is good for those who want to "eat all things" to show restraint, considering the health of their bodies and at a potluck thinking about others who are hungry too.  If we cannot have self-control, perhaps it is wise not to buy the large tub of ice cream.  Calories are not the enemy, and no one is condemned by them.  Instead of putting pressure on others to conform to our convictions concerning diet, let us walk in love of God and one another with integrity--aware of our own propensity to gluttony and vanity.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Something stuck with me I heard a long time ago:  happiness depends on what happens.  Those who make happiness their aim will often be disappointed, for people and circumstances are always changing.  Happiness can be like a good dream perpetually dangled before us, and the pursuit might be more fun than actually achieving our goals--because they often cannot measure up to our expectations.

While preparing for a sermon my mind was drawn to the smiling, eager face of little children awaiting dad or mum blowing bubbles.  They watch intently as the wand is dipped in the solution, and in moments the air is filled with bubbles that dance away on the breeze.  Some prefer lots of tiny bubbles while others, like me, are always trying to make the largest bubble we can and admire it as it sags under its own weight.  Giggling with delight, happy children run with outstretched arms to the bubble.  Only the smallest touch of the bubble causes it to pop and be lost forever.  But no fear:  there's plenty of magic bubble solution left to make more.

These smiling children enjoy the repetitive game, yet at some point all fun things must come to an end.  Perhaps the fun ended prematurely because a clumsy lad poured out his bubbles or the solution was used up.  Then it is time to wash sticky hands or maybe even take a bath, something that is more a chore than chasing bubbles.  It dawned on me when we make happiness our pursuit, the idea of what will bring us ultimate happiness often drifts out of reach.  Yet should we reach our goal, we will surprisingly find ourselves empty.  The only temporary fix for our disappointment is to set our eyes on the next prize and set after it, imagining this will satisfy us.  The pursuit of happiness leads to emptiness.

The joy of the LORD is fundamentally different than happiness, for it does not depend on what happens.  Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to rejoice in the LORD always, and this is possible because God does not change.  No matter what happens to us we can rest in the goodness of God today and always because He is merciful, faithful, compassionate and loving.  For those who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ He makes us a fountain of the Living Water of the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts to overflowing, and those who are in Christ lack no good thing because He provides all that pertains to life and godliness (1 Peter 1:3).  Knowing the joy of the LORD is ours by grace through faith in Jesus, we can be supremely happy in our awesome Saviour.

Faithful in Much

United States Representative Jim Jordan was recently quoted in a news article saying, "One thing I've learned: people who mislead folks on small things mislead them on big things."  This is an astute observation of what Jesus taught long ago in Luke 16:10:  "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."  Jesus taught what some see as a "little thing" is actually a big deal.  A person who will lie over a small matter among friends will also lie before a judge in court.  One who will not respond with humble contrition after being pulled aside by friends for doing wrong demonstrates a heart that can be hardened towards God Himself.

Jesus gave this teaching about being faithful in what is least and much following the Parable of the Unjust Steward.  In the parable, a steward who worked for a rich man was discovered to be wasting his master's goods.  He was called before his boss and told to settle all accounts with creditors because he was going to be fired.  The steward was wasteful and selfish, but he was also shrewd to advance his own interests.  He called one who owed a debt to his boss and asked how much he owed (apparently attention to detail was not his strong suit).  When told the man owed 100 measures of oil, as a favour he told him to quickly reduce the sum by half.  That's a huge reduction of debt, a favour the steward hoped his new "friend" would not forget when he was out of work.

Luke 16:7-8 says, "Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' ⁸ So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light."  The steward who knew he soon would be out of a job used his current position to do favours for others who could hire him in the future.  The master commended or praised the servant for his shrewd dealing to benefit his job prospects (though at his master's expense!) because in settling accounts he leveraged opportunity to secure his future.  The master would not have recommended his wasteful steward because he was wasteful; being fired would not change him or his way of thinking.  The man who was unfaithful in little would be unfaithful in much, and thus the master was pleased to see the back of that steward as he went off to pursue new employment.

The principle Jesus taught that applied to the steward applies to our lives as well.  It is profitable for us to be circumspect and determine if we have integrity in the little things:  do we keep our word?  Are we hypocritical, demanding from others what we do not hold ourselves accountable to do?  The wonderful thing is the unjust steward was not doomed to continue in his crooked, self-serving ways:  by repentance of sin and faith in Christ this man and all other unjust people have the opportunity to be made righteous by God's grace, no longer enslaved to and defined by our faults and failings.  In Christ we have more than the offer of a "change of scenery" but a change of heart and the Holy Spirit dwells within us Who helps, comforts and teaches us.  A wake-up call does not mean a person will rise to the occasion, but we can hope in Jesus Christ who is risen.  With God's help we can be faithful in what is least and thus faithful in much.

Life, Death and Love

In 1985 Australia demonstrated bipartisan opposition for capital punishment for crime and banned it.  One reason why this policy and more strict sentences have been widely panned is they have not been proved to deter crime.  Whether or not a sentence or punishment deters future crime is of little consequence when a legal system exists to uphold existing laws, protect the innocent and hold criminals to account.

Under the Law of Moses there were many infractions that required the life of an offender.  This served the purpose of revealing how terrible and awful the offence was before the living God with Whom the children of Israel entered into a covenant with.  While the administering of the sentence may have served as a deterrent to some people, the Law was to be kept in the fear of the LORD.  It is one thing to fall into the hands of men who can kill the body, but it is another altogether to fall into the hands of the living God Who is able to cast a soul into hell forever.

It would be wonderful to be "hard on crime" while being "soft on criminals," but this does not do justice to the rigours of the law, victims, the accused or convicted.  In a country where there is no crime possible that warrants a death sentence, it may prove difficult to convey the severity of crimes committed.  The Law of Moses did a very good job of showing sin is incredibly sinful and held forth the righteous character of God.  In a secular society we can learn much from God's word about the righteous treatment of our fellow man, the requirement of restitution to the victim--double what was stolen--and submission by servitude rather than stealing.

It is amazing how Jesus the Son of God put on human flesh, not to destroy the law, but to fulfill.  He who loves God and his neighbour as himself fulfills the Law of Moses that was nailed to the cross with Jesus.  Jesus kept the Law but was murdered contrary to the Law, and through His sacrifice followers of Jesus are called to a higher standard:  to love one another as Jesus loves us.  By His grace we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey God and honour the laws of the land, not out of fear of condemnation, but out of love for God who loves us.  Love is a greater deterrent to evil law could ever be, and Jesus gives us the grace and power to walk in love towards all.

Who Do You Serve?

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Matthew 6:24

Jesus spoke with all authority as the Son of God.  This is one of many absolute, simple statements we nod our heads in agreement with but in practice resist or reject as untrue.  We think we are able to do what Jesus said no one can do:  that we effectively can serve two masters.  The truth is we can pretend to serve many masters at once, but we cannot serve any of them fully.  I had an experience yesterday that illustrates this well.

Yesterday I did something a bit different and threw a small brisket on the BBQ.  It was a low and slow cook and historically I have always used the BBQ hood thermometer as the gauge I refer to.  This time I used a temperature probe to monitor the heat level because this prevented me from needing to go outside and check it.  It is convenient because I can work at my desk and have a real-time readout of the temperature of the BBQ as well as the internal temperature of the meat.  Generally the thermometer on the BBQ is not nearly as accurate as the probe and there can be a large discrepancy between them.  This was the case yesterday of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

George Thorogood sung, "Who do you love?" and I needed to ask myself, "Which thermometer do I trust?"  Would I go with the BBQ thermometer or the Thermopro?  Previously I had decent results by relying upon the BBQ hood, but digital probes tend to be more accurate.  I was tempted to adjust the heat to land in the middle, yet doing so was a clear indication I really didn't trust either of them.  So I went with the Thermopro reading and disregarded the BBQ thermometer.  This is a point Jesus was making:  it is impossible to serve two masters at the same time.  A master demanded total obedience, loyalty and love of his servants, and no master will be pleased with a servant with divided allegiance.  If they have divided loyalty, are they really serving him whilst moonlighting for another master or themselves?

Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon."  "Mammon" is a word we never use today but what it represents is prevalent:  wealth, money, riches and property.  Jesus said it is impossible for a person to serve God and serve wealth and money.  Either we serve God with our money and stuff or we will serve our money and stuff as god.  A true servant of God will love and obey Him.  Attempts to divide our loyalty between God and the pursuit of worldly wealth will be in vain, for Jesus rightly says it is an impossible exercise.  When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all we need He adds unto us.  There is no one more wealthy or prosperous than the child of God in this life and the next, for God who gives wealth supplies wisdom for living.

It is good when we yield to God's word, submitting to the truth He has spoken.  Instead of our lives being a declaration of our love and loyalty to God they can be likened to an argument against Him, foolishly saying we can serve two masters.  Jesus tells it like it is:  we cannot serve two masters.  The question is:  who do I love?  Who do I trust?  Who am I serving?  May our lives answer and affirm we serve God with our money, property and stuff rather than the other way round, for all we have is a gift by His gracious hand.

Love Changes Everything

Knowing you are loved changes everything.  If we believe someone is acting against our best interest, we are naturally suspicious.  Our defenses go up and we are not likely to receive anything that is said.  When someone comes up to my door and offers me free services or appliances, I am most wary.  Giving away things is not a successful business model, so I wonder what the catch is.  It is easy to wine and dine someone in the hope of receiving profit, but this is not love.  True love has no catch as it acts unselfishly for the benefit of others.

The love of God is different than all earthly loves which come to an end.  Love offered that is refused remains unfulfilled, and receiving God's love by faith in Him is most fulfilling.  Anyone can mouth the words "I love you" but Jesus demonstrated His love for us while we were yet sinners.  In contrast to the greatest love a human can muster Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  God's love toward us was not because we were worthy or He hoped for satisfaction from us:  God's love springs from His goodness, compassion and grace.  The love of God is sacrificial in all aspects, for He gives, provides, protects, forgives and saves at His own expense.

Knowing God loves us helps us receive His instruction and correction.  Interestingly, Jesus did not walk around telling people how much He loved them.  He spoke of God's love as transcending humanity in magnitude, duration and power.  As Jesus demonstrated His love in death for lost sinners, so He did during His life:  He walked in love towards all by walking with people, talking with them, wept with those who grieved, healed the sick, delivered those possessed by demons and raised the dead.  When He raged against the hypocritical Pharisees He did so moved by love for them and the people they deceived.  He was patient with His disciples who did not understand Him and argued among themselves who would be the greatest--when Jesus infinitely surpassed them all in love, righteousness and grace.  He was rejected and hated, and yet He loved.  How great and persistent is Christ's love!

1 John 3:1 says, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."  God's love transforms us through relationship with Him.  Before I knew her name, I remember the look the woman who would be my future wife gave me.  It was startling; she grabbed my attention because no one looked my way that way.  This beautiful woman in time became my beloved wife because out of love in her eyes toward me.  The love of Jesus for us transcends all romantic ideals, and knowing He first loved us ought to grab our attention and command a response from us:  will we be drawn to Jesus Christ because of His love for us or will we pursue a foolish ideal that does not exist?  You will never find an undying, active, unconditional love like God's toward us undeserving souls.  Because Jesus first loved us, we love Him.

Open the Door to Jesus

When we hear an unexpected knock at our front door, it is natural for our minds to quickly determine the proper course of action.  The first consideration when it comes to opening the door concerns our current personal state and appearance.  The second may be the state of our house.  If we are in the middle of cleaning or things are in disarray, we may choose not to answer or open the door.  There may be a situation, depending on who is at the door, that we would exit the door or close it behind us.  This way we can politely engage with our visitor without the welcome offer of hospitality.  There are those who invite people in and apologise profusely the place is not immaculate, and others that seem to pay the condition no mind whatsoever.  Our homes and our hearts are personal things we all handle differently.

Another reason we might not open the door is because we do not recognise the person and do not want to converse with strangers or sales people.  Even when we know the person who knocks at the door it does not guarantee we are inclined to open the door.  Like the bride in the Song of Solomon, we might not immediately open the door because it does not fit in with our plans.  When her beloved husband came to the door and knocked, the bride lamented she had just bathed and climbed into bed.  It was an inconvenience to shed the covers, put on a robe, and get up go to open the door.  In the song after awhile she decided she would open the door only to find her beloved had departed and no one was there.

In Revelation 3, Jesus describes Himself standing at the door of the church of Laodicea and knocking, calling out to those inside.  Jesus said in Revelation 3:19-20, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  It is possible for people who know and believe in Jesus, genuine believers, to ignore Jesus at the door.  We can be more focused on how presentable we are rather than His worthiness to be joyfully welcomed as our Saviour.  It is good for us to be zealous in our repentance for sin even as Zacchaeus was when Jesus came into His life and volunteered to dine with him.  The chief tax collector responded joyfully and immediately offered to give half of his goods to the poor and if he had swindled anyone to return four-fold.

When we open the door of our hearts to Jesus, He comes in and contributes all that is needed for our forgiveness and cleansing from sin.  He does not condemn us but works to change us from within.  I remember when my mum visited my house and as we were talking she was putting away cutlery and casually pulled out the plastic tray and gave it a good clean.  This was done cheerfully and without censure, a beautiful picture of the cleansing work Jesus does in our hearts and minds when we simply let Him in and fellowship with Him.  As long as we hide behind closed doors and block His entry, we deny Him and ourselves the opportunity for growth in our relationship.  Praise the LORD Jesus loves us, stands at the door and knocks, calling out our name as His beloved brethren.  Let's open the door and welcome Jesus into our lives for His glory.

God's Purposes and Prayer

A brother in Christ was fond of reminding me concerning God's work, "God does not need us."  This is true.  It is a foolish thought to imagine God's work will not or cannot be accomplished without our efforts.  At the same time, God does choose to use us regular people to do His will.  Scripture shows He is quite particular and persistent to bring people to the place of submission and obedience to Him in faith.  Moses comes to mind, who after 40 years of tending his father-in-law's sheep was reluctant to even entertain the notion of returning to Egypt during a conversation with the living God after doing miraculous signs by divine power.  Praying to God became a life Moses lived continually out of sheer need.

A.W. Tozer provides some useful and edifying observations on this point in his book Going Higher With God in Prayer:

"It is a transforming experience when we realize that God wants to work through us to accomplish His work and goals, particularly through our prayers.  God does not do anything apart from His people.  Certainly, we have the storms and hurricanes and fire and all of that.  But when God wants to accomplish His purpose and goal, He always does it through His people...Moses did not have what he thought he needed to do what God was calling him to do....

That is the problem with Christians today.  They think God is interested in their education and skills in that the more they have of these, the more God can use them.  However, God cannot accomplish His goals through our abilities alone.  He can only accomplish His purposes through us when we yield ourselves completely to Him.  It is only when I as a Christian surrender everything to God, and hold on to nothing bad, that He can accomplish His work through me...God send David against Goliath to show that He uses people regardless of the equipment they have.  David's victory over Goliath wasn't David's victory; it was God's victory, without question.  God's strength is not in our weapons....

Another mistake many Christians make is to believe God wants to use their past to get a present victory.  God does not give us a reservoir of wisdom and power.  If He did, it would soon be stagnant.  God does not come to a man and pipe him full of wisdom and then say, "If you get in any trouble, come see me or call me up and pray, but in the meantime, you have the whole cistern full of power.  You draw on that wisdom because it's yours."  God never did it that way.  Instead, God gives a man a word of wisdom and give to him power, but God is the power in that man.  He is the word of wisdom in that man.  It is God working in the man, not the man working.  God becomes wisdom to us and becomes power to us.... 

The Church of God is going to bless, and the Christians whom God is going to bless will be those who have come to the end of their hoarded resources.  Then they will experience the grace of God in their lives and ministries.  God can only begin to work when we have come to the end of our resources and have nothing to fall back on.  People cannot build the Church.  It takes the Holy Spirit to work in a man who has surrendered everything and allowed God to do the work through the ministry of prayer.  God is not building His Church simply to have a religious organization." (Tozer, A. W., and James L. Snyder. Going Higher with God in Prayer: Cultivating a Lifelong Dialogue. Bethany House Publishers, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2022. selections from pages 133-137)

The LORD Among Us

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."

Exodus 17:6

As I read this passage I was struck by the reality of God's presence, that He would stand before Moses on the rock in Horeb.  His presence had led them out of Egypt in a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, yet the thirsty people wondered if God had brought them out of Egypt to slay them.  They were so incensed against Moses he imagined they wanted to stone him to death.  Moses came before the LORD and prayed about what to do.

When Moses obeyed God's command and struck the rock upon which God stood, water flowed abundantly from the rock.  All the people, their flocks and herds were supplied with water from God who was their Rock.  Like many of the miracles God did that are recorded in the Old and New Testament, it served multiple purposes:  to meet the physical needs of people, and to display the grace and power of God.  Exodus 17:7 shows how the situation was a demonstration of God's presence among His unbelieving people:  "So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

Jesus walked through Israel and did many signs and wonders that confirmed His identity as God-made-flesh and the Gospel He preached.  In His grace God did not just provide water for those who believed but all were granted water so they all might believe.  Jesus healed many people who did not believe He was the Son of God, yet their healing was a testimony their conscience did well to consider long after Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven.  When the Living Water of the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 disciples on Pentecost, it was evidence God was with His people in-person.

Paul wrote of the children of Israel in 1 Corinthians 10:4-5:  "...and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness."  Paul urged followers of Jesus to go beyond the marvel of God's miraculous provision of water that temporarily satisfied the thirst of the people.  God's provision did not quench their thirst for idolatry, lust, fornication, murmuring and unbelief.  This warns those who Christ has made to stand take heed lest they fall.  God is faithful, for with every temptation makes the way of escape and strengthens us to endure.

Let us not be lifted up in pride nor lose heart as we look to Jesus who is faithful.  Jesus our Good Shepherd goes before us , and we have all assurance "goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."  By faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit spiritually regenerates and fills us.  Knowing God is among and in each one of His redeemed people brings satisfaction and rest for our souls as we live to please Him.

Faith and Freedom From Fear

Today I read a troubling article of vulnerable people being deceived by a scam artist posing as a fortune teller in Sydney.  Two of the people interviewed were told they had an evil spirit on them and their children and would die unless they paid money for extensive prayer.  They ended up being conned out of tens of thousands of dollars out of fear for the well-being of their children and family.  Fear is a pervasive, consuming force in the lives of countless people today overcome only by faith in Christ.

One might think the opposite of fear is courage or bravery, but Jesus revealed it is faith in God.  People might be viewed as courageous because of what they have done or do, yet fear could be mixed with what prompted them to do what they did.  After the disciples panicked in fear during a storm on the Sea of Galilee Mark 4:40 reads, "But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"  Faith in Jesus was the antidote to fear that caused them to cry out and wonder if Jesus even cared about them.  When we have faith in God who loves us, our fear is cast out as it says in 1 John 4:18:  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Knowing God loves us makes us bold even in the face of judgment.  Believers in Christ do not need to have trepidation about our future on earth or even final judgment, for Jesus has already taken our deserved punishment upon Himself and promised abundant, eternal life.  He has forgiven and expunged us of our sins, He has destroyed every curse and has overcome all spiritual foes to make our hearts His own dwelling place.  For those who do not know and trust Jesus, however, fear is a rational response in light of our inability to save, redeem or deliver ourselves from evil--or even protect ourselves from the lies of deceitful people.  To those who are afraid Jesus speaks words of life and love as the living, almighty God before whom all angels and demons tremble.  In Him alone we find rest for our souls.

For those who worship demons there are millions of other demons as well--millions more reasons to be in fear should you not gain the attention and protection of your limited deity.  The eternal God who created all living things, all spirits, people and animals, has humbled Himself to be revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.  All who  came to Jesus who were possessed or oppressed by evil spirits were delivered free of charge, and Jesus also went to the man who had a legion of spirits no man could tame and freed him without a fight or a fee.  To all people who have been put in fear to pay a fee for your deliverance or protection know Jesus paid the price of your redemption with His own blood.  There is hope for you today, right this minute.  All people by God's grace can receive salvation and freedom from the curse of sin and death by faith in Jesus who loves us.  Have faith in Jesus Christ, and you will have freedom from fear.

Bless the LORD Who Heals

The Sunday sermon at Calvary Chapel Sydney concluded with Psalm 103:1-5:  "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  God was faithful to His promise to be with His people, keep them and provide for all their needs.  To this glorious expression of praise believers can say amen, for He is worthy of our praise and adoration.

Through what Jesus has accomplished for those who trust in Him, we are most blessed and ought to bless His holy name.  In the Gospels we read of Jesus forgiving sins, healing the diseased, and paying the price of eternal redemption through His blood.  Jesus proved He was able to forgive sins by healing a paralysed man.  Anyone can claim to forgive sins because there is no physical corresponding evidence, so Jesus proved His power to forgive by healing and incurable, untreatable condition.  It is interesting people who do not balk at the idea of all their sins being forgiven struggle with verses about healing when it doesn't happen.  This subject of healing raises a few eyebrows even among believers:  surely God does not heal all our diseases, for many Christians have died of illnesses.  So what does this mean?

God created our bodies with systems that work together to promote health and healing for the body.  As science has advanced in knowledge and practice, modern medicine is able to leverage these natural systems to quicken and aid the healing process.  The psalmist David understood that if and when we are healed from a disease, it is God's doing.  But the stubborn fact remains that not everyone is always healed.  There are incurable conditions, cancers and COVID.  It is obvious faith in God does not guarantee physical healing, for 2 Kings 13:14 says concerning the faithful prophet:  "Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die..."  Because of passages like this people wonder if healing is always God's will.  I am convinced physical healing is God's will, though God allows things to occur on earth as a result of sin that are not His will.  All who came to Jesus were healed by Him, so this is strong evidence healing is always God's will.  Sickness and death came as a result of sin, and sin is never God's will.

While it is possible God can miraculously heal someone in an instant, God does not always do so.  As we are called to trust Him to heal, we must also trust His means and timing.  God might choose to heal a person through a prayer of faith in Him or after a poultice of figs is administered.  Jesus made mud with His saliva and smeared it over a blind man's eyes and after he washed was able to see.  The power to heal is God's alone, and He will do it His way.  We also must leave the timing to Him.  It may be we will never be fully healed until our bodies die and we enter eternal glory.  The criminal crucified alongside Jesus went that day into paradise and he was made whole of the wounds that resulted in his physical death:  faith in Jesus in an instant brought forgiveness, healing, redemption, a crown of glory and eternal satisfaction enjoyed in the presence of God forever.  He was healed and more still, glorified and immortal.  How good is our God!

Offer a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

"And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will."

Leviticus 22:29

Under the Law of Moses when people wanted to give thanks to God, it meant more than mere words.  People sacrificed a clean animal of thanksgiving to the LORD, a peace offering they and others were partakers of.  It was a sacrifice freely offered, not with an expectation to receive, but out of thanksgiving for all God had already said, had given and performed.  A sacrifice of thanksgiving could be costly monetarily but it was a joy to give to God in light of God's generosity and goodness to supply the gift and all else in the first place.

Freedom in giving thanks to God springs from faith in God and His worthiness.  It is fitting a day such as Thanksgiving in the United States has been established in a nation under God.  It is even more appropriate every day be filled with thanksgiving to God for every person redeemed by grace through faith, given eternal life and everything that pertains to life and godliness.  David sang in Psalm 69:30-31, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. ³¹ This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves."  God does not appreciate a gift based upon the resale value but by the willing soul who thanks, loves and trusts Him.

Songs like Psalm 100:1-5 even in dreary times have the power to turn our faces to the LORD with thanksgiving like a flower leans toward the light of the sun:  "Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! ² Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. ³ Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. ⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. ⁵ For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."  The LORD has been good to us, He is good and will ever be.  God does not demand our thanks, but He deserves our undying thanksgiving now and forever.

Faith to Go or Remain

After the LORD led David and his men to recover their families and goods from an Amalekite raiding party, David established a statue in Israel that the spoil would be split evenly between those who fought on the field of battle and those who remained behind with the stuff.  Those who went were not to be rewarded more than those who served by staying.  Both played vital roles to the same victorious end, whether they pursued the enemy or protected their position.

God told Abraham to leave his family and country and go to the land God would show him.  He demonstrated faith in God through his obedience to God's command.  It can also be a demonstration of faith to stay and settle when you would rather be elsewhere.  The Jews were taken into captivity in Babylon and God told them it would be for 70 years.  The temptation was to hope the time would be shortened so they could return to the land of their inheritance in Israel, to resist putting down roots in Babylon because they wanted to move on.  What was the point of the drudgery of moving rocks, digging wells, laying foundations, tilling the ground and building fences on property that wasn't your own?  Well, by faith in God is a simple answer.

God spoke through Elasah and Gemariah to His people in Jeremiah 29:4-7:  "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.⁶ Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters--that you may be increased there, and not diminished. ⁷ And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace."  It is important to point out these weren't the only voices God's people heard, for there were many false prophets and diviners who were spouting forth the opposite.  They claimed to have revelations from God in dreams and prophesied in God's name, but He did not send them.  The message preached by Elasah and Gemariah required faith in God to receive and submit to, to stay and send down roots in a foreign land when their preference was to go home.

Knowing the LORD God had sovereignly caused the captivity of His people helped them to walk in obedience to Him.  By faith in God they were enabled to accept the fact they may not live to see the day they would return to Israel, but in seeking the peace of the city where God brought them practically and in prayer they would find peace in the LORD's presence.  Those who trusted and obeyed God, who spent their money and made the effort to put down permanent roots in Babylon, would be fruitful and blessed by God's grace.  Paul's exhortation to servants is fitting for us in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  I expect many who were slaves could think of little else but obtaining freedom, yet they could stay in that role and be made fruitful by faith in God Who grants the "reward of the inheritance."  There is no one more free than those set free by faith in Jesus Christ.