Celebrating Christ's Victory as One

Yesterday I watched a series of video clips that showcased spectacular plays to win football (gridiron) games.  One thing I noticed is when a player celebrated scoring a touchdown, everyone on the field who was part of his team celebrated too.  Linemen who had never caught a pass or scored a touchdown themselves looked as happy as the one who did because they were all part of the same team.  They all shared in the glory of victory.  This is one thing I appreciate about team sports:  it brings together people with different skills and levels of ability and joins them together to compete, to win or lose as a team.

It occurred to me that after a player scores the winning touchdown or breaks a record, they do not celebrate alone.  Teammates rally to congratulate the stellar play that resulted in victory the entire team and coaching staff, fans and a whole city celebrates.  It reminds me of the dynamic at work in the Body of Christ, which is the church, referenced in 1 Corinthians 12:26-27:  "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."  If my finger is throbbing with pain, the rest of the body notices and seeks to render aid.  When believers suffer, others in the church feel their pain.  Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

A team plays as one when individuals put the team above themselves and also celebrates the accomplishments of each one.  A football game is full of one-on-one matchups, and individual victories pave the way for the success of the team.  The church is different in that Jesus our Head has already been victorious and always leads those who are in Him in victory.  As I saw football players celebrating together, I wondered if many times believers go it alone in the battles they face.  Strongholds were overcome by faith in Jesus when they refused to sin and chose to honour God in obedience.  Yet it is possible no fellow disciples of Jesus rally to them to encourage and exhort them to keep up the great effort because no one even knew a battle was taking place.  Of course Jesus knows about all the trials and struggles He allows, but He has seen fit to make us part of a Body and members of one another.  When we walk in victory it is only due to Jesus Christ, yet it is commendable and edifying to suffer with those who suffer, and rejoice with those who rejoice.

The encouragement and edification of the Body of Christ only functions as designed when we are in fellowship with other believers.  There are some who seek honour for themselves by perpetually lamenting their struggles or boasting in pride, yet our aim ought to be to honour Jesus Christ by loving one another.  Because we are members of one another, Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29-32:  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  We can only follow the "one another" commands by being in fellowship with Jesus and one another, and when we do so we glorify Him.

Vessels of Honour

One of the interesting aspects of shows like Antique Roadshow or American Pickers is when experts provide insight into the history of a painter, item, car or brand.  They explain how to tell the real deal from fakes and supply a valuation based upon what they believe the item is worth or what it could sell for at auction.  I am often impressed at their historical knowledge, the meaning behind makers marks on ceramics, art pieces and jewelry, and attention to details I never would have known to look for.

While the experts know a lot about the history or current market value of an item, one thing they never talk about is to predict what will happen to that watch, vase or painting 70 years from now.  They can suggest an amount to ensure an antique for, but they are not in the business of providing prophecies about where a set of silver flatware or a gold trinket will be stored.  No expert can claim to have this knowledge, but God does.  God used the vessels and dishes of the temple as an object lesson to demonstrate His all-knowing wisdom, and at the same time expose false prophets for their folly.

Jeremiah 27:19-22 says, "For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, concerning the Sea, concerning the carts, and concerning the remainder of the vessels that remain in this city, ²⁰ which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem--²¹ yes, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem: ²² 'They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them,' says the LORD. 'Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.'"  In the following chapter Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet claimed the vessels already taken by Nebuchadnezzar would be returned within two years.  Hananiah's word was proved false when they were not returned, and they remained in Babylon until the empire was overthrown by the Medes and Persians.  Then the remnant of Israel was sent back with the vessels of the sanctuary according to the word of the LORD.

How wonderful it is to have a God who is omniscient, who cannot be tricked or deceived by lies!  I am reminded of the teaching of Jesus how sparrows were of small monetary value but not one falls without God taking note of it.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:31, "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."  The implication is if God knows where dishes will be taken and stored, if He knows when a sparrow falls, He knows precisely what is happening in our lives and where He will lead us.  He cares about us much more than vessels of brass, silver and gold; He loves us more than birds He created beautiful that fly and sing.  In 70 years who knows where my dishes will end up, but praise the LORD disciples of Jesus have assurance where we are going because He is preparing a place for us to be with Him forever.  By God's grace we are His treasures beyond price, purchased with the blood of Jesus.

Beauty for Ashes

When Jesus was bid to teach in the synagogue, He turned to where it was written in Isaiah 61:1-2a because this word was fulfilled in their hearing.  Jesus read what He previously dictated to the prophet:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ² to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."  Jesus stopped right there, for He was the anointed Messiah the Father promised to send to save His people from their sins.  Jesus came to preach the good tidings of the Gospel, to heal broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives of sin and death.  The special time God's people had waited for had finally arrived.

Jesus stopped mid-sentence for emphasis on what God had fulfilled in their hearing.  Isaiah 61:2b-3 continues:  "...and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, ³ to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  The Jewish nation longed for vengeance to be taken upon their enemies, but the time was not yet.  The following verses, however, have been fulfilled by the sending of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit Who regenerates and fills disciples of Christ.  By the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, the divine exchanges spoken of here are promises to receive, a miraculous reality of the Gospel.

For all those who mourn, there is abundant consolation in Jesus--consolation we are not always willing or able to receive due to unbelief.  The pain is so raw, the feelings of being overwhelmed or depressed so real, that the peace and joy supplied by faith in Christ are foreign to our experience.  As I prepared for the sermon this week and considered God's offer of beauty for ashes, I was struck by an awful scene involving Tamar who was violated by her own half-brother Amnon.  2 Samuel 13:19-21 says, "Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly."  Tamar put ashes on her head out of profound grief, mourning and loss.  A person near to her robbed her of her virginity and likely ruined her chances in that culture of marriage and motherhood.  The violent and grave sin committed against her brought great shame, and the following verse said she remained desolate in Absalom's house.

Ashes are the waste product of combustion, the fine dusty remnants of wood that was once a tree, alive and beautiful.  Jesus has come with the offer of comfort and consolation for those who mourn over what has happened to them or sin they are guilty of:  there is hope of peace with God for a Tamar or an Amnon.  Due to sin all our hope of relationship with God is lost, but through the Gospel Jesus makes us trees of righteousness for the glory of God, growing and fruitful by His grace.  We do not need to remain desolate and alone because Jesus offers comfort for those who mourn, gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  The God who cleanses us of sin did not hide His face from shame but atoned for all so we could be forgiven and redeemed.

Notice it says God will "give them beauty for ashes."  Our preference is for God to undo what has happened or to take our ashes away.  By faith in Jesus was can receive the consolation when we are willing to exchange our ruined life for His perfect, abundant life.  Instead of holding our ashes of shame, bitterness and grief close to our hearts, lamenting all we have lost, faith in Jesus allows us to release it to receive His comfort, beauty with praise for God's goodness.  There is great beauty in the cross for those who have eyes to see it, for out of the painful death Jesus suffered new life for lost sinners was assured by the Gospel.  How God will redeem our mourning, ashes and heaviness I cannot say, but I know He is faithful to do so by His grace.  We have this on the good authority of God's word and find comfort for our souls.

God is Merciful

While there are people who undeservedly have a bad rap, God is the worst maligned of anyone.  He is infinitely good, righteous and glorious in all His ways, yet people find fault with Him.  Even God's own people don't always listen to Him or trust Him.  There is a persistent view that persists in churched people that the "God of the Old Testament" has a split personality with God revealed in the New Testament.  Nothing could be further from the truth, for the eternal God does not change.  Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."  Hebrews 13:8 affirms the deity of our Messiah with this fitting description:  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

The mercy, grace and love of God is seen throughout all scripture because He does not change.  Recently during a study in Genesis I was struck by God's mercy towards Lot and his family in Genesis 19:15-16:  "When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." ¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city."  God was under no obligation to save Lot, but He was inclined to do so due to His great mercy.  While Lot lingered, the angelic visitors reached out and took Lot by the hand and led he and his family to safety before Sodom and the cities of the plain were destroyed.

God's mercy is seen even in the destructive judgment God brought upon hardened, unrepentant sinners.  The global flood in Noah's day, the ruin of Sodom and the plagues of Egypt are cautionary events the wise will consider:  God will surely judge those who do wickedly and there is no escape from God who knows all.  At the same time God has provided a means of escape for those who will believe and trust Him.  He provided the Law of Moses as a tutor to take His people by the hand, objectively reveal their sin and need for forgiveness, and thus lead them to Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead shows He is able to give eternal life as promised, for the wages of sin that bring death were atoned for by His shed blood.

The depressed psalmist mused in Psalm 77:7-9:  "Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favourable no more? ⁸ Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? ⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah."  The answer Asaph to all these questions was simply, "No!"  When Asaph focused on his forlorn feelings, his troubles and all that was wrong, it skewed his view of God.  Troubles stirred up the dregs of envy, greed and unbelief in his own heart and exposed his folly.  His infirmity did not mean God had problems.  It was when he began to consider the wonderful works of God and to speak of them his perspective totally changed.  He remembered how good and awesome God always is, regardless of his changing emotions and feelings.

Psalm 77:13-15 extols the immutable God:  "Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? ¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. ¹⁵ You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah."  Both sections end with "selah" which means to reflect and consider:  what reflections do you tend to have concerning God?  Are you focused on the judgment of the wicked or the mercy shown to His redeemed?  The words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts say more about us than God who is good and does not change.  Let us declare His praise now and forever as His people redeemed by the Gospel.

Kept In God's Love

In the short but weighty book of Jude, believers are provided a strong exhortation to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.  More than watching others like a hawk, Jude desired believers would continue to faithfully walk in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ themselves without straying.  Unless we are holding fast to Christ in truth any effort to keep others in line will be a fruitless exercise in hypocrisy and will end in our ruin.

Jude reminded Christians of the judgment God brought upon erring angels and unbelieving people in times past as a warning of the danger of sin and apostasy.  He provided examples of those who corrupted themselves in Jude 1:11:  "Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah."  All these men acknowledged God's existence:  Cain conversed with God, Balaam was a genuine prophet of God, and Korah was a Levite called by God to the service of the tabernacle.  Despite this, the envious, murderous way of Cain led to him being cursed by God.  Balaam was greedy for money and honour, willing to curse God's people for a price.  He ended up being hewed down by the sword of Israel (Joshua 13:22).  Korah led a rebellion of 250 men against the LORD that directly led to his death when God caused the earth to open and swallow him.

These examples show having a relationship with God, being gifted as a prophet of God and being given authority and a calling by God does not ensure our hearts will remain steadfast in the faith.  Jude pointed out people like these could be found in their own love feasts, and the implication is it could be anyone--even readers who were shocked by this allegation.  In contrast to those who murmured, complained, walking according to their lusts, boasting, mockers and men-pleasers, Jude 1:20-21 exhorted:  "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."  As we walk in faith and obedience to Christ in love, we are to speak to God in prayer and look to Jesus for mercy.

If the book of Jude fills you with fear or trepidation of coming judgment, that is not the desired effect for a contrite child of God.  If it fell to our efforts to keep ourselves in the love of God, we would never achieve such a position nor would we be able to maintain in.  The book finishes with a flourish in Jude 1:24-25:  "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."  We are not worthy, and we are not able:  but God is.  Not only does God bid us stand by His grace and keep us from stumbling, but the LORD is able to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.  How glorious is our awesome Redeemer who keeps us in His love, builds our faith, intercedes for us in prayer and meets our gaze with mercy.

Jesus Changes People

Using the right tool for a job helps accomplish the task set before you.  I learned the hard way that using the wrong tool is not only ineffective and inefficient, but it can damage the tool so it doesn't work properly to do what it was designed to do.  I made the mistake of using a Crescent wrench (spanner) as a hammer to tap on a bolt, and the result of this was misshaped steel prevented the jaw from opening fully.  Knowing the purpose of a spanner helps to use it properly, but knowing what a tool is made to do doesn't prevent laziness inside of me that decided to use a spanner rather than fetch a hammer.

Therein lies the limitation of having knowledge and being educated:  it doesn't fundamentally change you.  Educating minds has value, but all the knowledge in the world cannot change your heart.  This is where education as an end falls woefully short of the way people desire it to work.  They prescribe education of the mind believing it will change people for the better.  People who can read warnings with an understanding language will not always make a conscious choice in light of the facts they know.  A driver in NSW does not need an advertisement on TV or a warning written on a bottle containing alcohol that it is illegal and dangerous to drink and drive.  People still do it, despite their education and training, because they choose to.

When the boys were little, we had a hollow red and blue plastic ball filled with golden shapes.  It was a fun activity for the little fellas when I dumped out the shapes and showed them how to fit them through the matching hole.  It was frustrating when a similarly shaped piece would not fit into the hole (I'm looking at you, pentagon and hexagon):  try as they might, they could not force it inside the ball.  Many people in the world, and I include Christians in the number, are frustrated when we prescribe education for what only spiritual transformation can accomplish.  It makes no sense to aim for rehabilitation when a person was never righteous to begin with.  Education and training cannot change a heart or soul for good:  only Jesus does this.

Saul of Tarsus is a great example of this.  He was a highly educated man in the Law of Moses, a theologian and Pharisee who was filled with pride and self-righteousness.  His violent hatred of Jesus Christ prompted him to do unspeakable evils to disciples of Jesus, went to great lengths to ferret them out and arrest them, and even approved of Stephen's murder--knowing full well the Law said, "Thou shalt not murder."  But after Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus, he was born again and was transformed from the inside out.  He went from being Saul of Tarsus to Paul the apostle, sent by God to the Gentiles to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ without price.  He worked with his hands to support the ministry and patiently endured great suffering as he encouraged fellow Christians to persevere with joy.  Saul did not need a course in anger management:  who he needed was Jesus, and to put his faith in Him as LORD.

It is no surprise the world places great hope in education changing the minds of people, but to imagine it can change hearts or save souls is a fantasy.  For those who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, the power that raised Jesus from the dead resides in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Hitting people over the head with the Bible or facts about the dangers of drink-driving never changed a mind or heart, but Jesus is able to change people for the better continually.  From the inside God transformed Saul to Paul and kept changing him, even as God continues to conform us into the image of His Son, Jesus.  How I love Jesus, and how I need Him to be changed.

Choose the Way of Life

"Now you shall say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death."

Jeremiah 21:8

When God's people in Jerusalem considered the prospects of fending off king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his army, they hoped for God's miraculous intervention.  Though they had strayed from Him, they wondered if He might do for them as He did in times past, to turn back their enemies and deliver them.  In the passage of Jeremiah 21 God responded there was no chance He would do this, for He had already determined it would fall for the grave sins committed there by His people.  Though the city would be destroyed, He still offered them the way of life and the way of death and allowed them to freely choose between them.

The prophet continued to speak the word of the LORD in Jeremiah 21:9:  "He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him."  If people wanted to live, they needed to trust God to leave the stronghold of Jerusalem and defect to the Chaldeans who would lay siege to the city.  But if they tried to defend themselves by remaining in the city, they would certainly die by way of sword, famine and pestilence.  Faith in God marked by obedience to God, not in the pity of their enemies, was the way of life.  This was the narrow way of life few people who lived in Jerusalem chose.  Unbelief led to their demise they could not escape.

This was not the first time God put the way of life and the way of death before His people.  Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:15-16, "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, ¹⁶ in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess."  The way of life was to love God and walk in His ways, and God promised to bless them.  The way of life is both practical and spiritual.  The ironic thing is God's people, when on the cusp of entering Canaan, refused to enter due to unbelief and died in the wilderness.  Only Caleb and Joshua from that generation entered the promised land to receive their inheritance, an abundant life provided by God for those who trust Him.

How fitting it is that Jesus, being God made flesh, claimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life.  

Luke 9:23-24 records the words of Jesus Christ to all:  "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."  This fits perfectly with the principle of life and death held forth in Jeremiah and Deuteronomy:  to try to save our lives will result in our eventual deaths, but losing our life for Christ's sake by being born again by faith in Him brings eternal salvation.  By Christ's death and resurrection He has consecrated a new and living way to draw near to God through faith in Jesus.  Faith in Jesus is the narrow way that leads to abundant, eternal life few find.  What grace God has shown us, that the way of life has been revealed to all.  The wise can choose this path because Jesus has become wisdom for us.

God Hears and Answers

Those who pray can attest to God's answers.  Just today I prayed God would help me deliver a message at church and He strengthened me to do so, and even directed the worship team to play songs that perfectly complemented the message.  It is wonderful to know God has even these small details in hand that magnify His generosity and greatness to those who believe.

This week I was reminded of a prayer God answered a long time ago in year 8 when I attended Emerald Junior High.  For the previous three years I had been homeschooled, and I felt a bit out of place joining people who had already experienced a year of junior high.  I was the only one I saw wearing pants and a shirt with buttons and collar, quite the contrast of other who wore shorts with much cooler t-shirts emblazoned with popular surf brands.

My prayer was a simple one:  that God would give me a friend.  I had not sat down in my home room seat long before God answered my prayer.  The fellow in front of me turned around with a smile and introduced himself, and extended his hand in a friendly greeting.  It turned out Derek was also new at school, having recently moved from Minnesota.  He was quite the sports enthusiast (as was I) and we hit it off immediately.  While I did make other friends over the course of the year in my various classes, Derek was undoubtedly my best friend at school that year--an answer to my prayer I doubt he was aware of.  I am most thankful to God for His provision and help, and I'm thankful to Derek for his kindness to me.

Derek and I parted the following year because we lived in different school districts, but God has continued with me to this day by His grace.  It is wonderful Jesus, the God who created all things, called His disciples friends.  This is a personal connection alluded to in Deuteronomy 32:8-9:  "When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. ⁹ For the LORD'S portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance."  The LORD's portion is His people, and those who have received the Gospel by believing in Jesus Christ are adopted into the kingdom of God, not merely as friends but as sons.  John 1:11-12 reads, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..."  This is more than we could have ever thought or asked for, all made possible by our Saviour Jesus who loves us.

Of all the things God chose to make His inheritance, He chose sinners who are born again by the power of the Gospel.  How great is the love of God for His children!  He hears our prayers and answers, graciously meeting our needs for salvation, providing a great friend for a year, or a beautiful song after a sermon.  Isn't the LORD good to us, beyond what we could have ever asked or thought?

Mortified for Love

Year ago I remember a conversation I had with teens as a youth pastor.  One of them told of an outspoken girl at school who had embraced a vegan lifestyle who, when she thought she might have eaten meat or dairy products accidentally, became physically ill.  One after another the fellows piled on with a chuckle and light-hearted mockery of someone who had different values or practices they did not understand or agree with.  To me this presented an opportunity to go beyond the surface of how or why people have strong differences when it comes to diet and aim for the heart.  There was a lot those boys could learn from the genuine conviction of that girl that put us all to shame.

I pointed out how their story revealed a person who lived according to their beliefs so strongly she became sick thinking she had ingested an animal product:  which one among them had become sick due to conviction of their own transgression and sin before God?  Did they have any remorse or brokenness due to their penchant for pornography, cursing and lack of love?  The self-control and discipline of this girl I never met was a shining example of how seriously the flesh can take religious activity:  how much more devoted and empowered can Christians be by the power of the Holy Spirit who resides in us?  What determination we can have to walk in godliness, for we who were dead in sins have been made alive by faith in Christ!  As far as I was concerned, the girl who actually lived according to what she believed was right was far more deserving of commendation than condemnation.

There was something real, raw and refreshing as I considered the girl, weeping over accidentally eating an ingredient that evaded her watchful eye.  Many Christians are aware we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and our forgiveness and salvation is received as a free gift.  This knowledge can lift us up in spiritual pride, judging others and self-righteousness can blind us to the sinfulness of our flesh, wicked thoughts entertained in our minds and lusts in our hearts.  Instead of being a daily practice, repentance is the thing we did at the first as a prerequisite for salvation, as if we have paid our dues and can now live as we please rather than seeking God and doing what fully pleases Him.  It is sad when people are loaded with guilt or shame for eating what God has provided for their nourishment, but it is far more tragic when Christians lack any determination to avoid sin and lack conviction to repent of it.

God has not saved us to keep the Law of Moses but to go beyond it, to walk in love and obedience to Him.  The Law reveals our sin and need of atonement, and like a tutor it is has taken us by the hand and led us to Jesus Christ for forgiveness, redemption and salvation.  The tutor still has great wisdom from God for us but in Christ is the substance.  Colossians 2:16-17 says, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."  Paul drove home the point of putting off the old man with his lusts, putting on the new man which is created in righteousness and setting our mind on things above.  After we mortify (put to death) the sins of the flesh Colossians 3:14 says, "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."  Better than the letter of Law, the love of Christ is our guide to do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with Him and one another.

The Gracious Accident

As I tried to manoeuvre all the tools I was carrying into my car, I groaned inwardly as I watched my stud finder clatter to the ground.  Almost in slow motion the plastic cover for the batteries popped off and the batteries released from the housing and rolled away.  I wondered if the device would be broken and hated the thought of needing to purchase another one due to my clumsiness.  It was the most expensive stud finder I ever bought, and the quality of the instrument justified the price.

When I reached down to retrieve the batteries and the finder, I noticed one of the batteries had been heavily corroded.  A stud finder is something I don't use all the time, and leaving batteries inside devices can lead to leakage.  Because the finder worked fine I never thought to open up the case an examine the batteries.  There I was, concerned I had potentially damaged the finder because I dropped it, while all the time it was insidiously being destroyed from within as it sat there in my garage in a safe place.  I am glad to report after removing the corrosion with a wire brush all is working as it should with new batteries.

It is interesting how positive end results can change our perspective of accidents or unexpected problems that trouble us.  A fall and superficial scratch on a stud finder led to the discovery of leaking batteries that ultimately saved the device from being ruined permanently.  In the end I was glad it happened because it provided insight into damage caused by unseen neglect.  Had I discovered the corrosion when it was too late because the stud-finder no longer worked, I would never have thought:  "I wish I had only dropped this stud-finder accidentally at some point so I would have seen the corrosion before it was too late!"  The stud-finder incident is at its core a lesson that reveals the grace of God to redeem something that was troubling at first for good in the end.

God is faithful to be gracious and merciful to all whether we recognise it or not.  His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and we can be confident in His redemptive power is at work in all situations--whether we recognise it or not.  Instead of beating ourselves up over our failures, accidents we were involved with, or mistakes that have been made, let us believe we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.  Looking to God and walking in His grace also applies when we see others as responsible for the problem, like if the stud-finder was dropped by someone else and broken on impact beyond repair.  Isn't God able to redeem that too for His good purposes?  This is confirmed beyond doubt (though we often doubt) in Jeremiah 32:27:  "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"  Since it is not hard for God to redeem, we ought to always trust in our Redeemer of our souls.

God Who Delivers

I am convinced when we open God's word He is always faithful to deliver:  we are the weak links that do not always receive.  When we come to a difficult passage of scripture that is not immediately clear, it is good for us to think it over, perhaps jot down observations and seek the LORD.  I tend to think by speaking, and the practice works well with writing.  This helps me develop my thoughts more clearly as I ruminate on God's word.

This morning I read a prayer of Jeremiah who questioned the LORD why his suffering was protracted and made subtle jabs God had not been altogether faithful to him.  The prophet asked God in Jeremiah 15:18: "Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream, as waters that fail?"  Jeremiah likened himself to a person who had wounds that did not respond to any treatment, like a thirsty person who sought the refreshment of a flowing stream and in his time of need found it dry and dusty.  I am sure many can relate to feeling this way when we feel persecuted and surrounded by those who cause trouble--even if we have not suffered like Jeremiah did.

God did not remain silent.  Jeremiah 15:19-21 records God's response:  "Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them. ²⁰ And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you," says the LORD. ²¹ "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible."  God did not directly answer the question Jeremiah asked, nor did God rebuke him for speaking from the heart.  Jeremiah asked God about how badly he felt, and God's answer was to promise Jeremiah whom God would make him to be.  It was in the LORD Jeremiah received deliverance, healing and sustaining power--not the absence of pain or suffering.

We, like Jeremiah, can aim far beneath the high plane God would have us live.  We want our suffering to end when God employs suffering to draw us to Himself in faith and constant reliance.  I wonder if some of Jeremiah's suffering was due to his own fleshly expectations the remained unmet, a self-imposed wound caused by worrying about those who sought to destroy him and fear that they would succeed.  His thought-life led to increased frustration and pain over questions only answered by the presence of God Himself who is mighty to deliver and save.  God shrugged off the insinuation (or even accusation!) He had deceived Jeremiah and promised to bring him back, make Jeremiah His mouth, and cause Jeremiah to stand like a fortified bronze wall no one could prevail against.  It reminds me of God's promise to His redeemed compared to one barren and alone in Isaiah 54:11:  "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires."

There is always comfort for those who place their faith in God, who trust He will fulfill His word in the end concerning us and who He has created us to be.  Oh the grace and goodness of God who delivers, saves and protects us from harm!  What great things God has in store for those who cry out to Him, who look to God in time of need.  It is He who causes us to stand, for Jesus Christ is our inheritance and our righteousness is in Him.

Joy Unspeakable

I was encouraged to consider the Genesis 18 passage where God spoke with Abraham concerning His plans to investigate the cry that came up before Him from Sodom and Gomorrah.  After Abraham stood still at this revelation from God Genesis 18:23 says, "And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?"  Though he considered himself dust and ashes, Abraham humbly but boldly approached God to plead for the lives of the righteous in the city.  He was convinced the Judge of all the earth would do right, and He certainly made a distinction between the righteous and wicked.

Abraham wondered if God would destroy the city if there were 50 righteous people among them, and God agreed He would spare the whole city for the sake of the righteous.  Abraham continued to petition the LORD concerning if there was 45, 40, 30, 20 and even 10 righteous within the city, and every time God was willing to spare the whole city should 10 righteous be found there.  It turned out there was not even 10 in the city, and God sent angels to lead Lot and his household from the city fit for destruction, for the LORD is merciful.  It was a beautiful reminder of God's desire to save lives rather than destroy them, and He delights to deliver.

Even as God is willing to prevent destruction, there are times when He allows it.  God has answered many prayers to save lives, restore broken marriages, heal from life-threatening illness, and cure incurable conditions because people sought Him in prayer.  There are also people who have suffered the loss of a child in an accident or sickness, people who have been divorced, people whose lives were destroyed by affairs, by rape, abuse and even murdered.  God who delivered righteous Lot from Sodom is also able to heal broken hearts and comfort people after horrible, hurtful things happen.  It is faith in the goodness of God as revealed in scripture that causes us to walk with God and draw near to Him when the unthinkable has come to pass and we are reeling like Job over painful loss.  I have no doubt God could prevent every disaster, but I also must realise He can redeem the worst, unjust wickedness of man to accomplish infinite good.

How do I know this?  Consider the cross:  Jesus Christ the Son of God was crucified on Calvary, not for any crime or sin He committed, but because it was God's way to provide atonement to save sinners.  It is not for us to suggest or suppose how God could redeem a tragic situation to justify the loss, suffering or pain others or we have experienced for His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.  What we can know in our confusion and pain is Jesus is risen and able to comfort, heal, help, redeem and save us.  Only God knows how many times He has averted disaster from our lives, and in the midst of trouble we are wise to draw near to Him because He is our only hope.  In the depths of heartbreak let us not abandon our only consolation and salvation, for the resurrection of Jesus shows how God alone can turn our sorrows into joy unspeakable that will endure forever.

Overcome Evil With Good

The revenge plot is a common theme in film and literature.  Perhaps one reason they have such appeal to people is the opportunity to vicariously see people pay for their crimes, to get what they deserve.  We all have a natural impulse when we are wronged to return in kind and then some.  Someone pushes us so we justify pushing and punching them.  If we are made to suffer by the cruelty of others, we feel it unjust they would face no observable consequences.  When others cause us pain, we want someone to pay.  While the flesh imagines revenge will bring relief, faith in God leads us to forgive.

This theme of seeking vengeance is found throughout scripture.  There are times when people sought revenge against enemies, and other times they asked God to take vengeance.  After God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah of a plot against his life, he prayed in Jeremiah 11:19-20:  "But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised schemes against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more." ²⁰ But, O LORD of hosts, You who judge righteously, testing the mind and the heart, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have revealed my cause."  Shocked by the evil schemes against him, Jeremiah asked God to take vengeance upon them and give him the satisfaction of seeing justice meted out.  It is possible people have read passages like this spoken by God-fearing people under the covenant of Law and thus justified praying in this manner.

When Jesus came, His teachings went beyond the letter of the Law that demanded "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  Jesus commanded His disciples love their enemies, bless those who cursed them, do good to those who hated them, and pray for those who spitefully used and persecuted them (Matthew 5:43-45).  Paul echoed these words in Romans 12:18-19:  "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord."  We who have placed our faith in Jesus for salvation also trust God's vengeance, whether we see it or not.  Instead of desiring God to destroy our enemies, we should follow the example of Jesus Who, when He was unjustly condemned and crucified, breathed out forgiveness.  Grace poured from every wound.  Jesus established a New Covenant that provided atonement by His shed blood through faith in Him, desiring none would perish.

God says He will repay, and the Bible says the wages of sin is death.  The Bible teaches God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they would turn from their sin in repentance and live (Eze. 33:11).  For man to take vengeance is to transgress, and we ought to take Romans 12:21 to heart:  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  The God who tests the minds and hearts knows if we order our thoughts and lives by seeking vengeance or gracious forgiveness.  The one who has their heart set on revenge is not following the wise teaching and example of Jesus Christ who was cut off from the land of the living so sinners could be born again and reconciled to God by grace.  God will repay, and we are privileged to give place to wrath and overcome evil with good.

Transform by Renewing

I have heard people extol the value of a godly example by saying, "There is more caught than taught."  The idea is seeing godliness lived out is of greater value to others than the person's understanding of systematic theology.  Since there is no doubt people can influence others for good, we must realise the opposite is also true.  It is likely during our years as an unbeliever we have adopted worldly perspectives and fleshly responses to trouble and conflict we have brought into our relationship with Jesus and the church.  The wonderful thing about a relationship with Jesus Christ is by faith in Him we are born again and made new creations.

In churches that teach through the Bible, an emphasis is placed on reading, studying and applying God's word to our lives in obedience.  This is good.  As we grow in knowledge of God our desire is for everyone to know Him as well and be saved.  So we bone up on scriptures to guide people to their need for Jesus, forgiveness and salvation.  We might be drawn to study common objections to the existence of God or biblical truth so we can be ready to fend these off to pierce an unbelieving soul with the sword of the spirit.  I am amazed I used to believe that I myself, by well-aimed undeniable facts of biblical truth, could change the minds of other people.  I might as well have believed I could save their souls too, for this transformational power belongs to God alone.

Repentance from sin begins with a change of mind, and when we humbly present ourselves in submission to God in faith He continues to change us.  Romans 12:1-2 says to believers, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  The picture of metamorphosis is typically applied to an unbeliever coming to faith in Christ, but the context is this change or metamorphosis taking place in a Christian.  Instead of conforming to the world or allowing man's wisdom to shape us, in this journey of faith in Christ we are to allow Him to change our minds and transform us so we might approve and personally practice the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Many times I went into conversations or situations believing I was on the side of truth and the other person needed to change.  Conflict and tension was created when I also assumed I was called to change other people's minds.  I knew I could not change a person's heart, but it seemed the mind was fair game and accessible through logical persuasion.  The reality is we need God to transform and renew our minds, and He can even redeem our striving and fruitlessness to accomplish this.  Should the light of God's wisdom break out upon the mind of another person due to the word of God we passed along to them, wonderful.  But it was not our light; it is not in us to transform hearts and renew minds.  Praise the LORD for His unchanging, infallible wisdom and His power and will to do what we cannot.

To be offered as a sacrifice on the altar was a one-time affair, yet as living sacrifices we are to continually present ourselves to God which is our reasonable service.  It was in this sense Paul said, "I die daily."  He heeded the words of Jesus to deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Jesus.  Consider the miraculous impact of the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary for sinners, and know God will also work through His servants who present ourselves to the LORD in humble submission He transforms by the renewing of our minds.  The world's way is to conform to the norm, but God's way is to transform by renewing.

God's Word is Fruitful

Last night I enjoyed meeting up with a small group gathered to learn to study the Bible.  The observations of the attendees were encouraging as they expressed how the study helped them glean far more by the end than in the first reading alone.  Initially because they understood the words written in English they thought they understood the meaning of the passage, yet there was still much work to do.  The first reading of scripture can be likened into moving large boxes into a new home but not opening them.  You are "moved in," but that is only the first stage.  An empty house isn't yet suited for comfortable living.  Opening the boxes, discovering what is inside and where is the best place for each item is what turns a house into a home.  In a similar way, verses of the Bible are packed with meaning and require intentional effort in seeking the LORD to understand and apply personally.

When we read the Bible, we are looking at a finished work.  A person who walks through a grand mansion can appreciate the architecture, colours, patterns and craftsmanship they see.  At the same time they are largely ignorant of and do not consider what is behind that lovely mural adorning a wall:  the framing, insulation, piping, wiring, all supported by a foundation.  The study of God's word is really an investigation into the genius of the builder, our Maker the LORD God who has given us His word.  Like archaeologists are careful not to destroy historical sites and priceless relics, we are careful not to destroy the flow of passages by wrenching them from context or slathering the paint of our personal emphasis over the mural of God's revelation.  By God's grace He allows us to rightly divide the word of truth, to retain the structural integrity of each piece as we carefully separate them to better understand what God has said, what God means, and what God's word means to us.

After revealing God's thoughts and ways are not ours and are infinitely higher than ours Isaiah 55:10-13 says, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. ¹² "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."  The overarching theme of these verses is God's word will be fruitful.  As God causes the rain to fall in season for the purpose of watering the earth, seeds producing growing plants that bring forth fruit, God's word does this spiritually.

The branches of trees and grassy hills waving in the breeze are personified as rejoicing and celebrating the goodness of God and His word.  Man's wisdom could be compared to briers and thorns that spring up on their own and dry out and die by the sun's heat.  The contrast between briers and a myrtle tree and thorns and a cypress tree could not be more extreme.  A tumbleweed is blown away by the wind and gone, while a tree endures season after season, year after year.  A brier can be easily crushed underfoot, and running into a cypress could break bones in a foot!  God's word is fruitful, fulfills God's intended purpose and is cause for great rejoicing.  May we celebrate the great God who has given us His word and enables us to rightly divide it, and grow by His grace like a tree planted by rivers of water fruitful in season.

The Old, Good Way

"Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Jeremiah 6:16

In this world what is new grows old and wears out.  Over time countless items have broken or become useless due to age.  I put on some shorts I hadn't worn in awhile and was surprised to realise the elastic had completely perished inside the waistband.  I bought a car with tyres that still had plenty of tread on them but the sidewalls had started to dry out and crack due to exposure to the elements over time.  With the low cost of mass production and cheapness of plastic items are largely disposed of when they are old and worn out.  Having something "new" is often preferable over the old.

While this is true concerning perished rubber and brittle, discoloured plastic, this is not true concerning God's wisdom and ways.  God urged His people to stand at the ready and "ask for the old paths, where the good way is."  When we describe something as old today, it often correlates with outdated and irrelevant.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old paths:  the problem was God's people had forsaken it.  The old, good way was not inconvenient or ineffective.  Because the old way of faith, obedience and fear of the LORD had been abandoned, God's people were seduced by idolatry, were troubled from within and without, and suffered greatly.

Believe it or not, people were more apt to redouble their efforts to worship idols than to believe rest for their souls was found in going back to the beginning of their walk with God.  In their minds the old ways were not sufficient.  A radical new approach was needed to deliver them from trials and oppression of their enemies.  Again, the problem was not the old paths where the good way was:  they had abandoned those paths long ago and blamed God rather than considering their ways.  They were called to fear God and keep His commandments, for that is the whole duty of man.  They were commanded to love the LORD their God with all their heart, soul and mind, and love their neighbour as themselves.  Their refusal to humble themselves before God was their problem, not that the way was old or unclear.  God had spelled it out for the Hebrews in the Law of Moses, and He has spoken to the church through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is from old, from everlasting.  He identified Himself as the way, the truth and the life.  Jesus provided a new and living way to a relationship with God through the Gospel, but God has imputed righteousness by faith in Him from ancient times.  Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.  Just because a person was raised in the church, it doesn't mean they ever had genuine faith in Jesus Christ.  G.K. Chesterton said it well in What's Wrong With the World:  "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”  The Gospel is relevant for eternity, for Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe He is the Son of God who died on the cross, was buried and rose from the grave.  Let us stand in the faith, abide in Christ and follow our Saviour faithfully who IS the way.

Suffering and the Gospel

The glorious gospel was provided out of the suffering of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Life on earth for everyone includes suffering in various degrees.  The difference between the believer and unbeliever when it comes to suffering is our LORD Jesus has consolation for all suffering He allows.  There is divine purpose and redemption illustrated in Christ's sufferings, and when we suffer for His sake there is great blessing we receive.

Not all suffering we endure is for Jesus' sake, for sometimes we suffer as a result of our sinful choices.  The children of Israel suffered when they disobeyed God and persisted in unbelief.  They imagined the problem was the cruelty of their oppressors and enemies when the real problem was in their own hearts in not trusting and obeying the living God.  Suffering can be physical and also emotional, suffering by the impact of the decisions of others.  Again, this suffering can be protracted and intensified because we have neglected to cast our cares on Jesus and have given place to bitterness.  The book of Job reveals not all suffering is a direct result of personal sin.  Job's friends assumed his suffering must have been due to his sin, whereas God's intent was to reveal His mercy and compassion (James 5:11).  It seems impossible at times to make God's ways and wisdom fit into our painful experiences, yet faith in the God we know is able to bridge the gaps of the unknown.

I read an insightful passage in A Praying Life by Paul Miller:  "In the gospel, Jesus took my sin, and I got his righteousness.  That is how gospel stories work...Whenever you love, you reenact Jesus' death.  Consequently, gospel stories always have suffering in them.  American Christianity has an allergic reaction to this part of the gospel.  We'd love to hear about God's love for us, but suffering doesn't mesh with our right to "the pursuit of happiness."  So we pray to escape a gospel story, when that is the best gift the Father can give us.  When I was sitting on the plane thinking, Everything has gone wrong, that was the point when everything was going right.  That's how love works." (A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. NavPress, 2009. Page 214)  There are many people who suffer without having received the love of God or the gospel.  Not all suffering is a "gospel" story.  But when believers choose to walk in love like Joseph did towards his brothers or like Jesus towards those who rejected Him, praying for their forgiveness without bitterness, the gospel does shine forth.

One thing I have grown to appreciate more over the years is the redemptive aspects of suffering God allows.  It would be foolish and unkind to compare the suffering of one person to another for the sake of saying, "You really haven't suffered" when only the LORD knows how they suffer.  When are suffering and fix our eyes upon Jesus who suffered for us, it provides a new perspective on how God redeems suffering for good.  1 Peter 5:8-11 teaches us God allows suffering even from the devil to accomplish His good plans:  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Those who persevere through a distance race voluntarily suffer in a way the casual spectator sitting in the shade with a cold drink does not.  The sun beats down upon the heads of runners as their lungs burn and legs strain to push towards the finish.  See the end of suffering Peter says God has in mind:  to perfect, establish, strength and settle us.  The God of all grace calls us to follow Him and run with endurance the race set before us that will involve suffering.  Distance running can feel like you are dying, and it is in dying to self we begin to live for Christ.  We are not called to focus on the finish line, desiring the end of our suffering:  rather we are to look to Jesus who suffered for us and overcame for all our needs.  As God allows us to suffer, looking to Him in faith makes our lives a gospel story that points to Him.

Backslidings Healed

"A voice was heard on the desolate heights, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God. ²² "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 3:21-22

Growing up the term "backslider" was a common way of saying a person had returned to a life of overt sin.  It was used to refer to a person who was out of the practice of regular church attendance and returned to a life marked by addiction to booze and drugs.  I heard many people also call themselves backsliders because they had gone back to a worldly way of living they knew was sinful and harmful, yet the use of the term suggested their current lifestyle did not correlate with their genuine Christianity.  Though they lived like an unbeliever, it seemed being a "backslider" was a claim to faith and acknowledgement of wrong where true repentance was not required.

These verses in Jeremiah 3 show backsliding can be much more subtle than living in overt sin.  Though many of the children of Israel were involved in idolatry, fornication and disobeyed God's commands, our way is perverted when we forget the LORD.  Like a trip and fall can cause serious and life-threatening injuries, so backsliding by forgetting the LORD is God over all damages us.  Departing from faith in the LORD and forgetting to seek Him leads to physical and spiritual injury only He can heal.  God urged His people to return to Him their God, and He promised to heal their backslidings.  This word is plural because people backslide in many ways.  He would address and heal their broken lives and warped minds, even as a neglected sheep has need to be dewormed, overgrown wool matted with feces must be cut away, and open wounds treated.  Our neglect of seeking and trusting the LORD for a moment can do damage time alone cannot cure.

When people backslide from God, their way is perverted because God is not in their thoughts.  They do not consider the directives God has given or the promises of help He has provided.  By His grace God makes healing possible for His people when they return to Him as LORD in faith.  James 5:14-16 says, "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."  The word translated "sick" here means afflicted and weak, and it would be wrong to limit this to a physical malady.  God brings healing for the mind, body and soul of those who backslide when we humble ourselves before the LORD and others and pray for one another.  It is the prayer of faith God responds to more than a ceremonial anointing.

I love that it is not the wandering soul who begs to return but it is the LORD who calls out to His children, "Return, and I will heal your backslidings."  Like the father in the parable of the son who returned embraced and kissed him, so the LORD joyfully responds to our return to Him.  Whether our departure was protracted or just forgot to seek Him in making a single decision, when we return in repentance there is healing and restoration in the LORD our God.  Better than identifying as backsliders, may we learn to abide in Jesus Christ.

Is Debt a Sin?

I read a quote recently that implied to be in debt is sinful, though the Bible says nothing of the kind.  It is true that unnecessary debt can be accrued by those who live beyond their means from a heart of dissatisfaction with what God has provided and reveal a lack of contentment.  Debt could be a result of sinful greed, but it would be presumptuous to suggest owing money is an indication of a spiritual malady.

Before exploring the idea further, let us consider the 1828 Webster definition of debt:  "1) That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services:  that which one person is bound to pay or perform to another; 2) that which any one is obliged to do or to suffer; 3) in law, an action to recover a debt; 4) in scripture, sin; trespass; guilt; crime; that which renders liable to punishment; "Forgive us our debts."  These definitions point out that all people are inherently in debt to God, for we owe Him our lives.  By virtue of living on the earth under government He has established we owe taxes on necessary purchases.  Jesus was obligated to pay the temple tax, and this was not due to His sinfulness.  He promptly paid the tax when questioned.  Jesus said we are to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.  This suggests all of us are indebted to both government and God without exception.

Romans 13:7-8 reads, "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honour. ⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."  This context of these verses is not the prohibition of debt but not to keep owing anyone anything:  the only continuing debt a believer has is to continue loving one another.  Quoting from the Bible Knowledge Commentary:  "This is not a prohibition against a proper use of credit; it is an underscoring of a Christian’s obligation to express divine love in all interpersonal relationships. A Christian should never fall short, and so be “in debt,” in loving others."  Should a believer have debts, we should make good on paying them.  The New Testament does not establish new laws concerning financial management believers must observe.  Paul's exhortation follows on from the principle contained in Proverbs 3:28:  "Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," when you have it with you."  When we owe we ought not procrastinate or forgo paying whether it be a one-off payment or a monthly installment.  Since God has given us His active love we should never withhold it.

The Bible contains warnings against those who co-sign on loans without having adequate capital like Proverbs 22:26-27:  "Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; ²⁷ if you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?"  Doing so can be presumptuous and foolish.  There are times, like in the parable of the Good Samaritan who took the wounded man to the inn, it is loving and commendable to be indebted for the good of others.  Jesus said in Luke 10:35, "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'"  My flesh is not at all comfortable to give someone a blank check, yet when we are obedient to the LORD in faith He will supply our needs in His time and way.

Every one of us has a debt of sin we could never pay, and praise the LORD He has sent Jesus Christ to wash us clean of every one.  We all have a debt of gratitude and thanksgiving we ought to pay continually, walking in the grace of God and love for Him and others.  When we withhold love, grace and mercy from others because they have financial debt, spiritually we could be in a worse state then they are financially.  How blessed we are to receive the grace and forgiveness of God!  We are bound, not by the duty of law, but by the love of God to walk in His ways in glorify His name.