Signs and Wonders

As a Christian when you hear the term "signs and wonders," what comes to mind?  I think of things like Jesus healing the paralytic, cleansing lepers, casting out demons and raising the dead.  My mind goes to miraculous manifestations of God's power at work in the lives of people.  Let us not imagine, however, signs and wonders are a New Testament phenomenon.  The Bible makes it clear God has been doing signs and wonders through His people since the beginning, and in ways that might surprise you.

The context of Isaiah 8 is God directing the prophet Isaiah to name his son "Mahershalalhashbaz," quite a mouthful.  I am sure many people were quite surprised anyone would name their son a compound word that is basically a sentence meaning, "speedy spoil and hasty plunder."  It was meant to be a divine encouragement that the Assyrian/Israel alliance formed against Judah would soon fail, even before the boy Mahershalalhashbaz would be able to say "my father and my mother."  When people of Judah heard of the enemies gathering against them they were shocked by the confederacy and put in fear.  Through the prophet God told His people that He should be their fear and dread, not the schemes or powers of man.

Instead of seeking news from informants of the political and military intrigue, Isaiah was determined to seek the LORD.  Hear what he said in Isaiah 8:18-20:  "Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion. ¹⁹ And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰ To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."  This puts "signs and wonders" in a new light, doesn't it?  People took note of the odd name Isaiah gave his son in obedience to God and wondered.  There was a push to go to wizards and mediums, to seek counsel from familiar spirits when God had already spoken.  Whilst others were in fear of being plundered by invaders, Isaiah feared God and made God's law and testimony his plumb line of truth.

Isn't it a miracle when people seek the LORD in a world of news reports and conspiracies?  It is a sign to God's people and all the world when a person believes God and walks according to His word.  Perhaps some viewed Isaiah as "old school" and the scriptures as boring and outdated, but God made this man and his family signs and wonders so they might consider and change their minds and ways.  This is the power of signs of wonders:  not so much the restoring of a withered hand, feeding hungry people a meal or raising the dead, but to cause a man to believe God is LORD, that Jesus is the Christ.  Some who saw the sign and wondered changed their mind about Jesus, having heard He was a deceiver by the envious, and were born again by faith in Him.  The ultimate miracle took place when people were born again and as a result entered into fellowship with God and eternal salvation.

Instead of being swept up in conspiracies and news reports that provoke fear, blessed is the one God makes a sign and wonder because of his dogged trust in God with determination to seek and obey Him, who believes God's word having been born again by faith in Jesus.  Unless God commands us we don't need to name our child Mahershalalhashbaz as a sign, for God's word given to us is a greater sign and wonder than we are in ourselves.  We do not need to try to be a sign to anyone, for the one who sincerely trusts in Jesus and follows Him in faith will cause others to wonder if they too can find abundant life in Him.

You might not be called as a prophet, you might not speak with tongues and interpret, and you might not have a spouse or children, but you can be for signs and wonders in your family, church, workplace and city from the LORD of hosts.  Seeking God and heeding His word in this world causes us to shine forth exceedingly bright for His glory.

The Reality of Faith

It is wonderful when investigation into the claims of scripture confirm the truth of God's word.  Because the Bible is the word of God, we can place our faith in the infallible accuracy of the revelation.  I believe a problem can arise when well-intentioned people take it upon themselves to "prove" the Bible is true by the discovery of ancient artifacts or sites.  The Bible is not true because we have found the actual 10 Commandments or Noah's ark:  it is true because it is the word of God, and we therefore expect the evidence over time will stack up.

There will always be naysayers and doubters even if every single ancient artifact mentioned in the Bible was produced, authenticated, cataloged and kept safe in a museum.  The discovery of the Ark of the Covenant would not necessarily stir belief in the historical authenticity any more than an empty tomb near Jerusalem prompts people to believe Jesus is risen from the dead.  The facts are Jesus did rise from the dead, and it is possible the tomb carved out of the rock was used for others after Jesus rose.  The Garden Tomb in Israel is a wonderful spot where a tomb carved out of the rock sits empty as a memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Whether this was the actual tomb or not is not important:  the important point is Jesus is risen, just as He said.

Those who make appeals to science to "prove" the Bible is true can undermine their position when alternative scientific evidence is provided to the contrary.  Because God created the world and upholds the natural laws therein, science can be a asset to better understand and appreciate the greatness of God.  We also know God routinely is able to overrule the natural order with miraculous power like with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  To try to "prove" a human body can rise from the dead after being dead for days would be an impossible undertaking.  This is not difficult to believe, however, if you believe God miraculously created the heavens and the earth from nothing.  God spoke and it was done.

The word of God reveals the living God to those He created in His image, each with their own mind and will.  Those who take God at His word and choose to believe in Him do so according to knowledge.  The maps in the back of our Bibles remind us the setting for the scripture is in the world we live in, the world ruled by the almighty God who spoke light into the darkness, the God who brings life out of death, the One who offers eternal life by His grace.  The skeptic who demands proof Jesus existed would be hard pressed to prove Jesus did not exist.  Our faith does not rest in stones, wood or gilded boxes but in God who has given us His word, sent His Son Jesus Christ and saves all who trust in Him.

The LORD Our Shield

"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

When I read this passage it occurred to me David's knowledge of God lead him to rest and confidence believers can sometimes lack.  The circumstances around the penning of this psalm was Absalom had declared himself king in Hebron, David's most trusted advisor and many others defected and conspired with him, and thus David fled from Jerusalem to prevent bloodshed.  One might expect David to pray for protection for his household and himself, yet instead David acknowledged God was a shield for him.

Do you see the difference between praying to God for protection and knowing God is your shield?  Since God was David's shield in Whom he sought refuge in by faith there was no need for him to pray for protection.  Of course there is nothing wrong with praying for God to protect us, but reading David's words gave me pause to consider how many things I have prayed for God to do for me or others that He always is for us.  There were many people who said there was no help for David in God, but God was a shield for David, his glory and the One who lifts up his head.

David's help was not in his army, the defenses of Jerusalem or in the wisdom of his advisors but in God who was his shield.  Because God is the LORD and sovereign over all, it did not matter if David prayed from the Mount Moriah or as he ascended the Mount of Olives:  David was heard and God was his shield, glory and lifter of His head.  Blessed is the man whose head is lifted by the LORD, whose eyes are fixed upon our Saviour Jesus Christ who is KING OF KINGS!

The LORD is near to all who cry out to Him and protects us, and Philippians 4:4-7 says:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  By faith let us draw near to the gracious God who has revealed Himself to us Who guards, keeps and shields us from harm with His perfect peace.

Get Praying!

 “A moving buddy -- if you don't have one, get one!”

Woody – Toy Story

As moving day approached in the movie Toy Story, Woody strongly urged all toys to find a “moving buddy” for their safety and support.  I have heard believers exhort other Christians in a similar manner to “get prayer” or encourage them to find someone if they “need prayer.”  This way of speaking of prayer might suggest prayer is something we need others can do for us, that prayer is primarily about what we receive or there are greater benefits on offer when we coordinate with others.  The Bible does not speak about prayer in terms of getting but doing ourselves, and to pray with other Christians with likeminded faith is a privilege, responsibility and birthright of believers we ought to embrace.  

The spiritual reality is we are exhorted to pray without ceasing because this is the will of God for us.  We need to pray for the health of our souls even as we breathe for the health and support of our bodies.  In this sense we “need prayer” but not that we need someone to pray for us to be heard:  we are commanded by God to pray and as we look to Jesus He provides an example of a prayer-filled life.  Jesus prayed, and His disciples exhorted others to pray for them.  But we do not hear Peter or Paul in conversation saying, “I need prayer” because prayer is a means to draw near to the God we need Who hears us.  In a strange way prayer itself or people we trust know the LORD and will pray for us can almost be idols we look to for help, support or benefits when God is the source of all these good things.  

Prayer fundamentally is more about giving than getting, though we do receive many benefits from obedience to God in prayer.  It takes the form of giving thanks, offering praise, seeking the LORD, humbly laying down our will to align ourselves with God’s will.  We are also called to intercede for others, to make our requests known to God.  Prayer is a means God uses to meet many of our needs and this is something all born again believers can do by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  God graciously does respond to prayers for ourselves and others, but to rely on the prayers of others for us when we will not pray ourselves is hypocrisy.  We must be cautious our faith never shifts to the one who prays for us rather than God Who is addressed in prayer.  

Jesus said in Matthew 6:5-6, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”  Notice Jesus said, “When you pray…” because it is something His disciples ought to regularly do.  We do not pray to be seen, nor did Jesus in His example suggest a need to include a person to boost the effectiveness of our prayers.  Because God is with us and knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts, our prayer power is not like a weak wi-fi signal with limited range because God draws near to commune with us. 

We ought to pray individually, and we are also encouraged to pray corporately.  James 5:13-18 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”  The overarching point here is the prayer of faith in God is effective.  Don’t allow the details about elders, oil, confession of sin, and healing distract from the primary point James made, that the prayer of faith is of primary importance.  That is why James cited the example of Elijah, a regular guy who prayed earnestly by faith in God and God answered him.  If God answered the prayer of Elijah who was deemed righteous by faith in Him, God will answer us too.

 The exhortation then?  Let us pray in faith and obedience to God!  Invite others to join with you in praying, not because you need to “get prayer” but because you trust God and desire to seek Him.  The power is not in prayer but in the God who answers prayer and in the Holy Spirit-filled person who demonstrates faith and joyful obedience to pray to God. :)

Walking With Jesus

It is remarkable that in the time between the creation of the world and the great flood, there were only a handful of people mentioned by name who feared the LORD and walked with Him.  Abel, Enoch and Noah are men spoken of in the book of Hebrews who were marked by faith in God.  By faith Abel and his offering were accepted, Enoch walked with God and was not because God took him, and by faith Noah was moved to obey God and build an ark according to divine specifications.  Everyone created in the image of God has the capacity to know and walk with Him by faith, but the scripture makes it clear those who do are numbered in the minority.

It dawned on me clearly as I observed what we are told of the antediluvian world, that very few people walk with God.  It is one thing to call on the name of the LORD but another to walk with Him, day by day in communion and fellowship.  People who have heard of God and even believe He exists do not always call out to Him, seek Him or walk with Him.  I believe this is true concerning believers as well, for we can view God as a means to our end.  We substitute seeking something from God for walking with Him by faith.  Like the prodigal in the parable, we can approach God as the man did his father to provide what he wanted so he could go on his merry way.  The older brother also showed this tendency, for he departed from the festivities and his father to show his disapproval for the father's mercy, grace and joy towards that wayward son of his.

Praise the LORD, for in the parable the father ran to meet the wayward son and also pursued the proud and angry one.  The father went to his returning son to welcome him, and he went and pleaded with the self-righteous son who departed from him.  In this we see the loving character of God towards His own children, wretched in every respect by comparison.  The generosity of our heavenly Father has been wasted on us as is the privilege of serving Him.  We have imagined ourselves good and faithful when really Jesus Christ is the only One who deserves such honour.  Our Saviour Jesus bids us to walk with Him in Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

It is a great privilege and humbling honour to be personally invited by Jesus to walk with Him, but let us not be content with an invitation alone:  our rest and satisfaction is found in Christ.  It is primarily in who we are as born again believers than what we do.  What we do flows from who Jesus is like a branch is connected to the vine.  Jesus is the Head of the church and we are members of His body.  Because each member of the body has a brain it is possible we would have a "mind of our own" and not submit ourselves to the mind of Christ.  When we have the mind of Christ and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit in unison, then we will be coordinated in service unto Him.  In a three-legged race there must be yielding and agreement between both people to reach the goal and remain upright, and when we come alongside Christ to walk with Him we learn of Him.

Let us seek Jesus Christ to walk with Him, not just to be healed or given a directive.  Isaiah 2:3 says concerning the last days, "Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."  In the Millennium people will flock to Jesus Christ the KING OF KINGS to learn His ways and to walk in His paths.  We have been invited to walk with Him today by faith, and blessed are all those who do.

God's Unsearchable Ways

An aspect of God I admire is His power over all things at the same time.  There is nothing that happens without His knowledge; no scheme of man or Satan is allowed to be enacted that skirts His redemptive plans and purposes.  Knowing we will see God's goodness in the land of the living turns our eyes towards Him in faith, to see what He will do.  As the scripture demonstrates countless times, His ways are higher than ours.  We could be likened to dogs sniffing the ground when God is over and above all with all wisdom, knowledge and power.  When we are on the trail of truth it is only because He first blazed it before us.

I love how God uses means we imagine are below Him.  He chooses to use human beings as His servants when He created angels for the purpose of being His ministers.  He can use the worst trials and tribulations to bring forth beauty, healing and comfort.  God even at times used enemies of His people to discipline His chosen people, like when He chose king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to be His servant.  The children of Israel were incredulous the holy God could use such an unclean vessel.  I wonder how this verse struck them in Isaiah 19:14 if they took it to heart:  "The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; and they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit."

God did not send a perverse spirit to Egypt to destroy them but as a means to redeem the nation to Himself.  Their efforts resembled a drunk man trying in vain to walk, slipping in a mess he was responsible for.  God did this knowing exactly what the end result will be Isaiah 19:22-25:  "And the LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. ²³ In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. ²⁴ In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria--a blessing in the midst of the land, ²⁵ whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."  Isn't God AWESOME?  God did not strike to destroy Egypt but to heal, that they would be a blessing in the midst of the land and blessed by God:  "Egypt My people."

Blessed is the one who trusts the LORD always, one who makes God his strong confidence.  In considering our ways let us behold the works of the LORD whose ways are past finding out.  Even so we can testify of His goodness and redemptive plans throughout the history of mankind, nations and even in our own lives:  God makes desolate to draw near.  Psalm 46:8-11 exhorts us:  "Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. ⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"  I love how the voice of God breaks in to bolster our faith in waiting on Him, to be still and know He is God who will be exalted.  Knowing God is with us and is our refuge, let us exalt Him!

Rebuking the Devil

There is a place for rebuke in the body of Christ, as this is a way love can be shown by correction.  When I hear people who feel inclined to rebuke the devil, however, I wonder why not seek the LORD in prayer?  Why not make our supplications to God who will rebuke and destroy the enemy of our souls in due time?  Imagine, praying to the devil when you ought to be praying to God!  Even if Satan happens to be in earshot, our rebukes are nothing compared to God's.

It is a good practice to see if the practices of professing believers have biblical merit.  A quick survey of the scriptures does not demonstrate believers are ever taught or led by Jesus to rebuke the devil.  The passage which some have run with is Jude 1:8-9 that reads, "Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. ⁹ Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"  The context of this passage is not put forth as a command or pattern for believers to follow but was an example of how Michael the archangel did not assert himself in contending with the devil and instead appealed to God's authority and power--something dreamers and evil speakers refused to do.

In the scripture it seems the vast majority of rebuking is done by God Himself.  When we do rebuke people can get this wrong, like when Peter rebuked Jesus for saying He was going to the cross in Matthew 16:22.  The multitudes rebuked two blind men and told them to be quiet when they cried out for mercy from Jesus Christ the Son of David in Matthew 20:31.  We are wise to heed the rebuke of God as it is written in Hebrews 12:5-6:  "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶ for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."  Rather than being told to rebuke the devil, we ought to heed God's rebukes without discouragement knowing we are loved by Him.

I am convinced if we follow the tradition of some in rebuking the devil we risk treading on God's sovereign territory because He has promised to do this when His people walk in obedience to Him.  God rebuked the children of Israel through the prophet Malachi who said it was vain to keep His command under Law to bring tithes.  God promised if they would keep His commands He would bless them beyond measure and then said in Malachi 3:11-12:  "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the LORD of hosts; ¹² "and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts."  Better God rebuke the devourer than us, for He is able to do everything.  God's arm is not shortened that He cannot save, and His word is what matters.

All Fair by Grace

We can be our harshest critic at times.  Though it is unwise to compare ourselves with others, we can do this without even thinking.  I have heard people talk about the impossible standards set by the airbrushed pictures in glossy magazines and filters on social media that present a fanciful portrayal of beauty that leads to people feeling self-conscious and even hating their appearance.  The thirst for attention and praise is strong and feelings of inadequacy even stronger.  Every year people die from complications of cosmetic surgery, chasing the dream of improved appearance.

How would you react if the words spoken by the Shulamite's beloved from Song of Songs 4:7 were spoken directed at you:  “You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you.”  One could say the Shulamite suffered from a negative body image, for she was self-conscious about her dark tan from working as a shepherdess.  In the song she was introduced to her beloved, a prince who was absolutely and surprisingly smitten by her.  She was the only woman he wanted, and after they wed the Shulamite was in a class all by herself:  all fair, his love and without spot.  He said this to her and I wonder if she received this as the truth--or mere words to discount or shrug off.  Did she justify her feelings?  "I know he thinks I'm all fair, but I still feel ugly as ever."

What is lovely about the Song of Songs are the layers of meaning when considering the relationship God has with the children of Israel.  Jacob was a shepherd and was not afraid to say so even though shepherds were abominable to the Egyptians.  God compared Israel to His bride, His special people through an everlasting covenant of Law.  Though Israel was unfaithful to God, God remained faithful to love and cherish them as perfect in Numbers 23:21:  "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them."  Another layer of significance is how under the new covenant of the Gospel the church is viewed as a bride, as the Body of Christ with whom God has joined Himself as one.  Because the church is comprised of individual members, the words of the beloved take on a personal meaning due to Christ's atonement and adoption as children of God:  "You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you."

This is not flattery, Christian, but the reality of how God sees us according to the riches of His grace.  We have been cleansed of our sin and born again into the family of God, members of His own body.  Since this is His assessment of us, this is also His view of all those who are born again by faith in Jesus.  Instead of comparing ourselves with one another and feeling proud or inadequate, rather than comparing your local church fellowship with others or the airbrushed, filtered concepts of the perfect church, let us rejoice in the love of Christ demonstrated for us and be content in His embrace.  There is no spot in our Saviour, our love, and He is all fair.  His fairness is not shown in His complexion or the colour of His skin but through His grace and goodness.

Full of Goodness

There was concern among the staff at a camp when it was realised one of the girls had not been eating much.  Whenever she was encouraged to eat there were always excuses given:  she wasn't feeling well (possibly from not eating), had a headache, she didn't like the food on offer or claimed to have eaten already.  Eating disorders can pose a dangerous and even a deadly risk to the health and well-being of those who suffer from them, and thus the duty of care of leaders at camp was to ensure all had access to wholesome food.  At the same time we could not force anyone to eat anything or everything.  But we could call parents of campers, and praise the LORD loving parents have the well-being of their children in mind.

A similar thing is true concerning pastoral teaching ministry.  Pastors and teachers are called and equipped by God to hold forth the word of God as the spiritual and practical nutrition it is for our souls.  People are also enabled by God to feed on the word they hear in sermons or read themselves.  While all God's word is wholesome and vital to promote our spiritual health, we can be finicky and aloof eaters.  We can eat so much fruit or bread that we have no room for the mains.  There can be subjects or passages we find unpalatable and refuse to receive, choosing to hide it in a serviette to throw away or to feed it to the dog under the table--as if God doesn't realise.  Like a person I heard about who basically survives on chicken nuggets, we can develop a taste for one doctrine or flavour that we willfully deny our bodies and minds the benefit of a wide range of nutritious options.

It is good for us to realise that all God serves up in His word is good and for our maturation.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  It would be a shame to only read the New Testament when all scripture is given by inspiration of God.  There is profitable doctrine and instruction throughout the entire Bible when God opens our eyes to see it.  When we open our mouths wide He will fill them, and this means we must trust Him.  It is good when God has such a reputation in our minds of being perfect and good that we will joyfully receive whatever He supplies in His word for us.

This is why reading through the Bible in its entirety is a good spiritual discipline to embrace.  Learning to read and study the Bible in context is very useful to help us receive the most benefit from God's word as we observe, interpret and personally apply the ageless wisdom and divine truths.  As God reveals Himself through His words coupled with our experience our tastes begin to be refined.  Instead of pitting two rigid views against each other as right or wrong, we begin to realise aspects of Christianity complement each other beautifully like sweet and sour.  In the world there are an abundance of flavours we have yet to experience that are good, and we grow in the grace and knowledge of God through His word may He bring delight to our souls.

Little Details and God

The old cliche goes, "The devil's in the detail."  This statement is not typically to espouse a belief in Satan or God, but I am convinced humans give the devil too much credit and God not enough.  I've also heard the large print gives and the small print takes away.  Again, God is intimately acquainted with all the most minute detail that escapes our notice, and all we have is a gift from Him.  Just because business owners and world leaders do not have much time for fellow citizens, it doesn't follow God is anything like that.  He is God, and thus has knowledge and interest in every person and details beyond our notice.

I was struck by the details God considers when I read through a promise of coming judgment God would bring upon his people through Isaiah.  Isaiah 5:27-28 says, "No one will be weary or stumble among them, no one will slumber or sleep; nor will the belt on their loins be loosed, nor the strap of their sandals be broken; ²⁸ whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses' hooves will seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind."  God was determined to bring judgment upon the nation of Israel and would see their vigorous enemies would have success--right down to providing good footing for each soldier and their belts well-fastened.  Even as God ensured the shoes of the children of Israel were sustained in the wilderness after the Exodus, God would make their the sandal straps of the invaders strong.  Their knots, leather and weapons would be miraculously improved.  God would see to it their arrows stayed sharp, not blunted even if they fell to the ground.  Any hope their bows would snap when drawn or misfire were misguided, for God would see it done.

Isn't this amazing?  While generals and officers were busy counting men and considering strategies of defense, God was considering belts and sandal straps.  While the watchman in Israel was drowsy, every one of the invaders was wide awake and vigilant.  God did not do this because He is cruel or jilted but in accordance with all He has revealed in the Law of Moses which held forth blessing to those who obeyed and curses upon all those who forsook the LORD.  Deuteronomy 28 and other places in the Pentateuch explains in expansive detail the consequences of departing from God and His ways.  All aspects of life would be negatively affected by their sin, yet their returning to the LORD brought with it countless blessing.

Immense heavenly bodies far beyond our sight even high-powered telescopes cannot perceive God sees clearly, and He comprehends the tiniest particles we cannot identify clearly with a microscope.  He is able to discern what the wisest counselors cannot, and His wisdom and knowledge is infinite.  God has made Himself known to us through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit by the Gospel and thus a broken sandal strap does not mean God is against us.  These little details provide us the opportunity to trust, thank and praise the God who rules on high and among men, who knows every little thing and how we feel.  That good night's sleep?  Thank the LORD and put your trust in Him--not your chamomile tea.  Did you have a poor night's sleep?  It may have been the best opportunity for prayer and fellowship with God than you have had in a month.  Praise Him who gives us strength, keeps us upright and is the lifter of our heads.

Strength in Weakness

God gave us feelings, and this is a good thing.  A problem arises, however, when we allow our feelings to dictate what we do or how we respond to a situation.  Knowledge of the truth helps keep our feelings in check, and faith in God enables feelings to serve us well rather than being mastered by them.

Generally, parents have healthy and positive desires for their babies.  They want to nurture them to grow, learn to roll over, crawl, walk and talk.  A little child comfortable with crawling is not always keen to learn to walk because their legs are wobbly and uncoordinated.  Imagine a child who is barely able to stand with the aid of an object is made to stand in the middle of a room at a distance from a smiling parent who coaxes them to take a step.  The little one fusses or drops to the ground, not feeling happy about this torturous situation.  What is wrong with crawling?  Why is mum or dad just out of reach?  And why do we have to keep playing this awful game over and over?

A parent has a purpose and plan in mind for the child the child does not realise.  A parent knows the act of trying to stand will build strength and muscle coordination the baby does not yet possess.  Adults realise crawling on all fours provides limited mobility for developing infants, but we have feet and legs God created for us to be able to stand, walk, run, leap and dance!  Like babies, we are troubled when God does the equivalent of putting us at arms reach where we feel vulnerable so we will grow in strength and use it to walk towards Him in faith.  Sometimes we want to feel strong to run a marathon before we are willing to learn to take a stand by faith in God.

Though at times we may feel like God is not supporting or helping us, let us not lose heart.  It is faith in the goodness of God in the land of the living that prompts us to seek the LORD and trust He will supply the strength and ability to please Him.  He is good to remove things we used to balance ourselves and to lift us onto our feet where we feel alone and unsteady so we might learn to exercise ourselves in godliness.  Feelings of loneliness or being overwhelmed is a good signal for us to cry out to God as Psalm 61:1-2 says, "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. ² From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."  We would rather feel strong and able to take on the world, but God wants us to look to Him and rejoice in our weakness so He can be our strength.

Labour and Prosperity

The Bible is packed with wisdom and encouragement all who trust God ought take to heart.  We need to look to the LORD continually to align our perspective according to His miraculous strength and good purposes.  It is easy for us to allow other people, circumstances and feelings to dictate what we do rather than the almighty God.  We check a weather report to see if we should bring along a jacket or umbrella or we decide not to mow our lawn that needs a trim due to a drizzle.  Jesus spoke about how sailors observed the sky to predict the conditions on the water.  Our call is to look beyond the natural world with eyes of faith on God, to do the work He has called us to do regardless of the weather or how profitable our efforts seem to be.

Solomon spoke about how external factors can impact us without considering God's role in this world in Ecclesiastes 11:4-6:  "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. ⁵ As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything. ⁶ In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good."  We naturally do not give God enough credit.  We can allow the wind or clouds to prevent us from doing necessary work when we have no idea how God does His wonders.  We make excuses not to put in effort because of perceived obstacles when we would be best served to serve God by obedience in all seasons of life.

A farmer who will not sow on a windy day will not have a crop for food or seed, and the one who is intimidated by dark clouds and the prospects of working in the wet will see his crop rot in the field.  God knows and does what we cannot, for He makes the wind to blow and causes the bones of a child to form in the womb.  We cannot know how God will use our efforts to accomplish His purposes in fruitfulness and new life.  Paul explained how he planted, Apollos watered and God brought the increase.  God used the efforts of those who trusted and served Him to be spiritually profitable.

Solomon's conclusion is we ought to do what work we can and not be put off by potential hindrances because God knows and does what we cannot do by effort alone.  Should we cease preaching God's word or praying because people seem dull, unresponsive or agitated?  Since we do not know how God will make our labours to prosper, let us labour unto the LORD with all our might.  We can put our backs into sowing seed despite wind and to bind and gather sheaves even in gloomy weather.  These steps of faith are pleasing to our LORD and Saviour Whom we follow and emulate, for Jesus worked while it was day in His Father's business.  As long He was in the world He was the Light of the World, so may He make our light shine bright despite wind and clouds for His glory.

The LORD Our Sanctuary

Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, faults and particular sins they are bent towards.  This morning I experienced a culmination of circumstances which led to me losing my temper.  I allowed feelings of frustration over my own mistakes while baking that resulted in a seething rage.  There are at least two things I despise:  my own foolish mistakes, and wasting good ingredients.  Throwing away what could have been delicious baked goods provoked a grit your teeth, sputtering, white-hot anger that begged to be released on the world easily justified in the moment under the guise of the unexpected problems I faced.

Looking back, my angry reaction was completely unjustified.  It meant I needed to use twice the amount of ingredients and needed to make an unplanned trip to the shops where there were ingredients in abundance I could afford to purchase.  It occurred to me that anger will not be reasoned with, and it prefers cursing over blessing.  We can try to ignore the fact anger prompted cursing in our minds, but better to recognise our need to repent even if we exercised self-control not to utter them.  The need to take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ suggests they did not arise from a pure heart but one corrupted by fleshly impulses.  Better to repent of sin than pretend we are pure in ourselves.  Just yesterday I read an amazing encouragement by William Gurnall in The Christian in Complete Armour:

"A heathen could say, when a bird scared by a hawk flew into his bosom, I will not betray thee unto thy enemy, seeing thou comest for sanctuary unto me.  How much less will God yield up a soul unto its enemy when it takes sanctuary in his name, saying, 'Lord, I am hunted with such a temptation, dogged with such a lust, either thou must pardon or I am damned; mortify it, or I shall be a slave to it; take me into the bosom of thy love, for Christ's sake; castle me in the arms of thy everlasting strength, it is in thy power to save me from, or give me up into, the hands of my enemy.  I have no confidence in myself or any other; into thy hands I commit my cause, my life, and rely on thee.'  This dependence of a soul undoubtedly will awaken the almighty power of God for such an one's defense."  (Gurnall, William. The Christian in Complete Armour. Banner of Truth Trust, 1987. page 30)

How great is the need of Christians for Christ!  I have made the mistake of ignoring my own sinful thoughts or selfish attitudes like I would a passerby on the street rather than owning the anger, cursing and frustration as sin to be repented of myself.  God is gracious to reveal His righteousness and our sinfulness so we might repent and be restored to fellowship with Him and one another.  See, my problem was not that an important ingredient was omitted or wasted:  this was God's solution to reveal the problem of my sin already inside me so I might humble myself before Him so he might "take me into the bosom of His love" and "castle me in the arms of His everlasting strength."  Are not His ways and thoughts higher than ours?  Is not His almighty power greater than our sin?  We are wise to humbly seek sanctuary in our LORD Jesus Who saves.

Calling and Taking Initiative

I grew up playing Little League baseball as a kid, and my coaches stressed the importance of fundamentals at the plate, on the mound, on the base paths and in the field.  One aspect of fielding we worked on was knowing what to do should the ball be hit your way.  If a fly ball came in your direction and a catch was likely possible, we were taught to "call" the ball by shouting audibly to communicate with other fielders.  There was also a pecking order to avoid dangerous collisions or dropped balls if a ball was hit between teammates.  An outfielder had the right to "call off" an infielder as their momentum was heading in the right direction, and the center fielder had the right of way over a converging right or left fielder.

Understanding the need to take initiative to call the ball before catching it was as important as knowing when to peel off and allow a teammate to make the catch.  This was not decided in the pressure filled moments of the game but during practice under the watchful eyes of coaches.  There was no time to debate or discuss while the ball sailed through the air, and knowing these unwritten rules helped players work together to win.  When it was time to move up to a new division those old rules stayed consistent and relevant, adopted without question because that is how baseball is meant to be played.  Baseball is a team sport, and making sure the 9 players on the field and those riding the pine (on the bench) understood their roles was an important key to success.

The concept of taking initiative to call a ball and knowing when to give way because you are "called off" by another fielder who is held responsible to do so reminds me a bit of how God has established complimentary roles in the marriage relationship:  a wife is called to submit to her husband as unto the LORD, and a husband is called to love his wife as Christ sacrificially loved the church.  A center fielder can choose not to call off an outfielder or infielder, but it is a judgment call he learns to make.  Many times the ball has fallen to the turf because the one who was meant to take initiative assumed the other fielder who called the ball had it covered.  When there is any doubt and the center fielder can make the catch, it is in the best interests of the whole team for the player to take charge and make the play.

The way a follower of Jesus "takes charge" is NOT like a center fielder who shouts to communicate but by denying and humbling self before God in faith, obedience and love.  Looking to the example of Jesus is critical for all Christians as we submit to one another in love, indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did not tout His authority as the Son of God but made Himself of no reputation, chose to embrace the role of a servant, was made in the likeness of men and was obedient to God unto death.  Each child of God is to respond in obedience to the call of Jesus Christ to love one another, and yielding to Him is a key to walking uprightly.  Before we experience conflict, disagreements or pressure situations it is good to know our responsibilities before Him:  to love God and serve one another according to His command.

Considering God's Work

"Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?"

Ecclesiastes 7:13

It is good for a man to consider God and His works.  God worked in creating the world and established natural laws of matter, motion, gravitation and chemical interactions.  All the sciences, the calculations of mathematicians and physicists, to be proved and functional must align with what is.  Like God does not change, the fact level foundations and plumb walls exist are a testimony to the order of the universe God has created.  When God makes something straight, no man has the power to alter it any more than we can shift the earth off its 23.5 degree axis.

The statement of the preacher is citing the opposite truth:  who can make straight what God has made crooked?  It is possible for us to stretch a coil of wire or string into a straight line by force, but no one can make straight what God has made crooked.  He has made judgments according to righteousness that lying, theft and murder are sins.  Adultery is a perversion of the marriage covenant before the LORD, a crooked thing that cannot be made straight.  Man's way is to debate what is crooked or straight, to say a thing is crooked because of oppressive tradition or a construct of a society rooted in ignorance.  People who do not fear God can protest and complain all they want, but what God has made crooked no one can make straight.

A line can be crooked in countless ways, yet there is only one straight way.  John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Messiah, to make His paths straight.  Some have said "all paths lead to God," yet God revealed Jesus to be the Way, the Truth and the Life--that faith in Jesus Christ is the narrow, straight way to the living God because there is no other way to heaven and eternal life.  The prophecy fulfilled in Christ was cited from Isaiah in Luke 3:5-6:  "Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; ⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"  Wonderful, isn't it, that God is able to do what man cannot, to make crooked places straight and rough ways smooth so all can see God's salvation?

Man can use heavy machinery to grade soil in preparation for a level foundation but cannot do what only God can do, for when God makes something crooked no one can make it straight.  All men are revealed to be crooked when compared to God's righteous law and ways.  On our own we cannot straighten ourselves up to merit salvation, amend our ways to earn forgiveness, or make ourselves acceptable to God by efforts of the flesh.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."  By defining what is straight God has deemed all other ways crooked, and no one can make them straight. 

Man's justifications, protests or disagreements cannot do anything to make what is crooked straight.  That's how it is based upon the unchanging God who was, is and is to come.  Instead of being smug or arrogant about this knowledge, we ought to be humbled and grateful God has made Himself known to us so we could see our crooked ways.  We could not make ourselves straight or upright by working, and by grace He worked to make the way straight for us to enter to abundant, eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ.

Not in Vain

"Since there are many things that increase vanity, how is man the better? ¹² For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?"

Ecclesiastes 6:11-12

Reading through Ecclesiastes is a wondrous reminder of the new covenant we have entered into by faith in Jesus Christ today!  All the questions and wonderings of Solomon the preacher find an answer in our LORD Jesus who is altogether good, provides purpose, guidance and also reveals what is to come.  This world is passing away, but in Christ there is the hope of enduring fruitfulness forever.

While we cannot know what will happen after us under the sun, Jesus taught we ought not worry about tomorrow because sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  The Son of God Jesus came to comfort troubled hearts by faith in Him.  The more we learn and grow, the more we realise we need Jesus today more than ever.  All flesh is as grass and our days pass like a shadow, but the Light of the World Jesus can shine bright through our lives by His grace.

Because Jesus is the Author of life and gives eternal life to all who trust in Him, He knows what is good in this life on earth and in the next.  The command of Jesus for His disciples to follow Him dovetails nicely into what God said previously in Micah 6:8:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Praise the LORD our Good Shepherd will guide us now and forever to walk in His ways.

God does more than make a man better because He transforms us, and nothing He does is in vain.  He IS the good in life, the God who endures now and forever.

Reminded to Restore

On the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter was guilty of doing something he believed was impossible:  he denied Jesus three times.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He never mentioned Peter's failure.  He did not bring up the incident as a joke, hint about it to embarrass Peter or shame him, but Jesus did initiate an opportunity for Peter to publicly affirm his genuine love for Jesus.

Three times in the hearing of the other disciples Jesus singled Peter out and asked if he loved Him.  After Peter affirmed twice he did love His LORD Jesus, John 21:17 says:  "He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep."  The Bible does not say precisely why Peter was grieved, but the fact the question was repeated three times was a reminder of his three denials of Jesus.

Jesus did not remind Peter to humiliate him but to lovingly restore him.  Jesus demonstrated His love for Peter and all sinners--even those who denied He was the Son of God and scornfully condemned Him to death on the cross--by dying on the cross.  God's active, sacrificial love is not expressed in one moment but continuously, persistently and graciously.  Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him because Jesus loved Peter.  The recall of Peter's failure was redemptive and intended for his restoration:  instead of looking back with grief Peter could look back with a smile because Jesus loved him, loved him, loved him.

When we are reminded of our sinful failures and am at our worst, having been forgiven by Jesus the painful recollection of the past is an affirmation of God's love at the present through the Gospel.  This morning I considered the words of the song "At the Cross:"  "I know a place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace, where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed there with Him there on the cross."  We are glad to know our sins have been atoned for on Calvary, and it is good for us to know God made a provision for sins committed against us as well.  As we have received the mercy and grace of God, we are thus enabled to extend it to others as Jesus did to Peter--and us.

Love keeps no record of wrongs yet we often do.  Should we be reminded of our past sin, also remember how we have been forgiven by Jesus who continually affirms His love for us.  Sin is always grievous but God's love comes up trumps every time without fail.  Jesus did not desire for Peter to continue to grieve over his past but to rejoice in the love of Christ moving forward.

Carry on His Work

I recently read an insightful quote in Matthew Henry Commentary:  “We are apt to dote too much on men and means, instruments and external helps; whereas God will change his workmen, and yet carry on his work.  There is no need of immortal ministers to be the guides of the church, while it is under the conduct of an eternal Spirit."  While God employs the teaching and testimony of His saints long after He receives them into glory, I agree with the sentiment.  Many times I imagine many have wondered how the church or organisation was to survive after the passing of a much loved leader, but God is able to change His workmen and carry on His work.

One verse Oswald Chambers directed his listeners to take to heart was one that God ministered greatly in his own life were the words of Jesus in Luke 11:13:  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  Knowing the church is God's precious possession purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, His Body of believers will be sustained by the Holy Spirit now and forever.  I enjoyed the journal entry from October 7 by Chambers during the Great War whilst in Egypt:

"A gem of an experience came after the evening service, a soldier came to see me under deep compunction of conscience, and after a talk we knelt in the deep and glorious moonlight at an old sun-bleached form in the compound and he transacted business with God on Luke 11:13, confirmed by 1 John 5:14-15, and his witness was undoubtedly John 14:27, 'My peace I give unto you.'  One never gets used to the unspeakable wonder of a soul entering consciously into the Kingdom of our Lord.  It was a great joy to experience it all again." (McCasland, David. Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God. Discovery House Publishers, 1993. page 255.

How awesome it is Jesus Christ has gone to the Father but has not left us alone, having provided the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth and helps us be fruitful in our endeavours for the Gospel.  God's workmen come and go, but the Holy Spirit abides in us and is ever with us.  It is not "new blood" we need in the church:  the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cleanse all sinners and cause them to be born again into God's kingdom, servants of the Most High!  As much as we might want Oswald Chambers or other believers to carry on labouring forever in their posts on earth, the world does not need another Chambers or Spurgeon to spark revival:  the world needs Jesus Christ and believers who may remain nameless, filled with the Holy Spirit, through whom Jesus will be made known.

Wisdom, Redemption and Sin

God's wisdom and redemptive power are attributes of the living, almighty God Who is worthy of praise.  His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways past finding out, yet He has graciously revealed Himself to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ.  He is able to take something intended for evil and use the same thing for eternal good.  Glorious!

Lately I have been studying through the opening chapters of Genesis and considering the fall of mankind into sin and the resulting curse.  Satan was exposed as being a deceiver, liar and murder from the beginning as he coaxed Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in violation of God's command.  Many times as a youth I wondered how life on earth would have been different if sin had not entered into the world.  I can tell you one difference:  without sin in the world God would not have been provided an opportunity to demonstrate His love, grace, mercy, compassion, kindness and goodness.  If everything was always perfect and pain free, grace would not exist and the Gospel would be unnecessary.

Don't get me wrong:  sin entering the world was an absolute catastrophe.  It was a tragedy that could have been prevented if Adam and Eve continued in the fear of God and obedience to Him.  Sin led to separation from the presence of God, multiplied sorrow, conflict, fruitless toil and ultimately death.  These are all bad things, yet God proved Himself a wise redeemer.  To sinners who loved their sin and did not regard Him at all He came down, put on human flesh, walked among us and we beheld His glory.  The glory of God was made manifest in a world of darkness as the Light of the World Jesus Christ, the One who will by His very presence illuminate the new heavens and earth where only righteousness dwells.

God chose sinners--not angels--to be His saints.  Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, to free slaves to sin from bondage, to exchange beauty for ashes, to give hope to the hopeless and to raise the dead to new life by faith in Him.  The good cannot be seen for how good it is without us first realising how wretched, lost and hopeless we are in ourselves.  There is no need to be washed unless we are filthy; we would not have appreciated an offer of salvation unless we were once irrevocably doomed to destruction.  Without a stark comparison between God and the man created in His image mankind would have assumed we are like Him and can live independently from Him.  But God knew better, knowing all:  thus sin, redemption, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life with God are ours forever by faith in Jesus starting right now.

Renewed to Live

When we change our clothes, an article of clothing is put off before we put another on.  This concept is held forth in the Bible concerning the new man, for after we are born again we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to put off the old man--and the sinful behaviour, pride and self-confidence--and then to put on the new man which resembles Christ in humility, meekness, love and righteousness.

Romans 13:12-14 exhorts believers, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹³ 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."  Because of the spiritual regeneration which has taken place in our hearts by the power of the Gospel, God intends our lives to align with Him in holiness.  A person can claim they have cast off the works of darkness or put on the armour of light, but our lives speak truer than words alone.  We are called to cast off every weight and sin which easily besets us so we can run with endurance the race set before us.  Those who are drunk and feeding the lusts of the flesh clearly have not cast off the works of darkness, nor put on the LORD Jesus Christ.  It is entirely possible there are genuine children of God who are not living up to their responsibilities before God as His children, making provision for the flesh rather than crucifying its lusts.

Having been born again, Christians are to walk in newness of life.  This is far more than mind games or positive thinking but knowing what Christ has accomplished in His death and resurrection and how we have been filled with the Holy Spirit.  We are to live up to the standard of who God created us to be, not comparing ourselves with others or how we used to be.  Romans 6:5-13 says, "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

⁶  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹ knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ¹⁰ For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹ Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."

Reckoning ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus are two sides of the same coin of Gospel truth.  Instead of presenting ourselves as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, we are to present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness to Him.  Saying and doing are two different things, and knowing what Jesus has done means ours is not a lost cause:  our old man was crucified with Him, and thus we shall also live with Him.  After Paul exhorted believers to cease walking in vanity, alienated from God by ignorance and blind in heart, he wrote in Ephesians 4:20-24:  "But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ 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."

A new detail is revealed in this passage, that the old man is put off and the new man put on by being "renewed in the spirit of your mind."  We have been made new creations in Christ, but we need daily renewal by the Spirit of God as we have fellowship with God, by reading His word and meditating on it, by interactions that edify and sharpen with other followers of Jesus.  This renewal is more than "repaired" or "refurbished" or "like new" as it is renewal not possible in this world but with God all things are possible to those who believe.  It is the making new of something He already made new:  new and fresh and changed for the better again and again.  Rather than seeing it as a cycle of putting off the old man and putting on the new man, it is better seen as an increasing resemblance to our Saviour day by day inside and out.  Though we fall short of God's perfection, let us be aware of His will and desire for us:  to be dead to sin and be alive to God in Christ Jesus our LORD, presenting ourselves as instruments of righteousness to God.

The True Beauty

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:30-31

It is amazing the lengths and pains people are willing to endure to pursue their ideals concerning personal beauty.  The treatments, augmentations, lifts, sculpting and injections can almost become a idolatrous pursuit of beauty that quickly passes away.  People post images of themselves to seek favour of friends and strangers, and compliments and criticisms both increase along with followers.  The standard of what is considered beautiful today changes by the day, for we are never satisfied.

God tells us what is better than perfectly manicured brows, youthful skin and a toned body from hours in the gym:  the woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.  This chapter of Proverbs focuses primarily on the great value of a virtuous woman and wife who is industrious, diligent, caring and godly.  Unlike society that places emphasis on appearances, this passage focuses on who she is and how her God-fearing character is revealed in ways that benefit her and others.  Her true beauty is not accentuated by her fine clothing, make-up or flattering filters but from her trusting relationship with God.  Beauty seen as praiseworthy by God comes from within, and it comes from Him.

Proverbs 31:25-26 says, "Strength and honour are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness."  The woman described here is clothed with something better than designer clothes that fade and go out of fashion, for she is clothed with the strength and honour of her Designer.  Her mouth speaks forth wisdom governed by the law of kindness, and this is something that marked Jesus Christ who has become wisdom for us.

Both men and women can be vain and seek attention for themselves:  did you know those who walk wisely are able to attract people closest to them to behold the beauty of God?  See what is written in 1 Peter 3:1-4: "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."  Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit has incorruptible beauty in the sight of God.

The woman described in Proverbs 31 is not fearful or timid but confident in God, comfortable in her skin, delighting in her relationship with God and others.  Like Jesus who was servant of all, she is assertive in demonstrating love and kindness by wisdom and the fear of the LORD.  This gentle and quiet spirit was seen in Jesus, and by His grace all who trust in Him have the opportunity to adorn Him with the humility, grace and kindness He has given us.  There is nothing wrong with styled hair, new clothes that fit well or receiving compliments:  our aim ought to be to compliment the LORD with hearts that rest in Him.  To hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" is infinitely greater than the adoration and praise of millions.  God knows true beauty when He sees it.

The Heart of the Matter

It is good to realise no matter how much we know (or think we know!), God always has much more to reveal of Himself and our need for Him through His word.  A verse read hundreds of times and even memorised remains full of truth yet to be understood and applied by those who trust in God.  A passage that grabbed my attention today is from the words of Agur in the KJV of Proverbs 30:7-9:  "Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: ⁸ remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: ⁹ lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

Whilst the final words of verse 9 are in italics (meaning they are not in the original text but added by the translators to improve the English rendering), it caused me to consider how stealing can be connected with taking the name of the LORD in vain.  The description most commonly heard concerning taking the name of the LORD in vain forbidden in the 3rd Commandment, if not the only one, is the use of God's name as an expletive or an expression of surprise.  Scripture bears out that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and thus the taking the name of the LORD in vain is more a heart problem than one of undisciplined speech.  "Vain" can be described as worthless, empty, futile and inconsequential.  When the preacher said "All is vanity!" he was saying everything was worthless and pointless, grasping for the wind.

Taking the name of the LORD in vain suggests a person has heard of the LORD God, but does not really believe or obey Him.  Instead of seeking the LORD who rules over all, rather than trusting God to bless the works of his hands, a person takes the name of God in vain by theft.  Sin can be put into the categories of sin of commission and omission:  by something a person does that is sin or to sin by not doing something.  We can take the name of the LORD in vain by speaking His name to express disgust or surprise, and we can take the name of the LORD in vain by living like He is worthless, His promises are empty, His power is futile and without consequence.  The opposite of taking the name of the LORD in vain is the fear of God, choosing to walk in His wisdom in faith and obedience.  It isn't so much about what we say but the attitude of our hearts.

Agur prayed to be removed from vanity and lies, that he would not deny the LORD's existence, presence and power to provide for all his needs.  Taking the name of the LORD in vain is a result of self-confidence and self-reliance, the proud posture of a man who denies God's role in creating and sustaining our lives.  The rich and poor can take the name of God in vain by actions that deny Him and His sovereign rule, not just by saying "God" or "Jesus" in an empty fashion.  Defining "taking the name of the LORD in vain" narrowly as only what we say does not touch the heart of matter:  our need to repent and trust the LORD God as LORD of all and our God.