The Big Picture and Jesus

Recently I was reminded of a friend who enjoyed playing rough with his dog from the time the pup was quite young.  Over time because of their constant roughhousing antics the dog was conditioned or trained to play rough with everyone, jumping on them incessantly, gnawing and aggressively scrambling around--to the point he was the only one who could interact with the dog.  When guests were over the dog was sequestered in his own area because of his uncouth and feral behaviour.  What seemed good natured fun with a puppy at the beginning became a liability when the pet was full grown.

Whether we are training a puppy or raising children, it is good to have a big picture view of how the actions we take today--or the lack of definite action and clear consequences--can impact their and our futures.  Solomon wrote concerning the responsibility of a ruler in Ecclesiastes 8:11:  "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  He realised the necessity of taking action against evildoers, not only for punitive reasons in light of past wrongs, but to guide them towards making righteous choices in the future.  The negligence of parents and kings to take corrective action conditioned people to continue in a destructive and harmful spirals that impacted individuals and the whole kingdom.  When it comes to discipline, it is wise to have the big picture in mind.

Jesus urged His hearers to expand their perspective beyond "here and now" to eternity.  He bid them to count the cost of following Him as a disciple.  Jesus said in Luke 14:28-33:  "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

Jesus explained the undeniable practical wisdom of making sure you can afford a building project before undertaking it.  The mere chance of being mocked by others for not finishing what you start could deter someone from starting to build.  He also employed the example how a king who knows he is outmanned and outgunned takes the initiative to offer a peace treaty to avoid destruction, retain the crown and preserve his people.  People who count the cost and realise they will fall short are wise to take appropriate action.  Jesus taught those who held onto their own lives were sure to lose them, and those who lost their lives for Jesus' sake and the Gospel would find them.  Those who count the cost with an eternal perspective realise we fall short of the glory of God due to our sin.  Our good works cannot save us, and thus we must be willing to pay the full cost of discipleship in humility before God if we will be saved.

Common sense teaches us we ought to look ahead and keep the big picture in perspective.  Our eyes consider what has been, what is and what lies before us--not only in this life on earth but for eternity.  God is gracious to open our eyes to see our need and the opportunity God has offered us by grace to be born again and to experience an abundant, satisfying life as we follow Jesus today.  More important than money in the bank, completing building projects or avoiding a losing battle, is to be at peace with God through faith in our Saviour which is profitable for all things in this life and in that life to come.

Satisfaction and Life in Jesus

This morning I heard an excellent sermon at Calvary Chapel Jericho Road by pastor Dale Dickinson who expounded upon Jeremiah 2.  In love God called His people to remember Him, for they had committed two evils in departing from Him, their fountain of living water and instead hewed for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water.  The comparison between clean, water from a spring and a dry cistern could not be more stark.  No sensible person living in the desert would trade a pure spring for a cracked and empty well, but God's people had done the unthinkable by drifting from Him.

God described the folly of His people in Jeremiah 2:8:  "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit."  Ignorance of God and His wisdom led to transgression by the priest and prophets.  I find God's observation fascinating, that the priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?"  The implication is they were content to continue their ministry of the temple without God's presence.  Perhaps it had become more of a job than a holy calling, the rites and routine of the daily ministrations digging a rut Tozer called a "circular grave" without the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.

If priests, rulers and prophets could drift from knowledge of God and His presence, it is possible for Christians to slowly depart from love and loyalty to Jesus.  Over time our hearts can grow dull and cold, and we can forget all Jesus has done, is doing and has promised to do with us.  Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:11-12:  "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."  It would be presumptuous to assume only unbelievers could be deceived, for believers can be led astray as well.  Due to sin those who have freely received God's agapao love can grow cold.  The main problem for Christians isn't the existence of false prophets but willing departure from God and placing our faith in what is not God.

Praise the LORD for His love toward us, that He who warns us also warms us by His grace.  The chill of sin may blanket a nation, but we can walk uprightly in the fear of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Broken, dry cisterns may be all around, but there is a source of Living Water by faith in Jesus Christ our LORD.  We find all our needs satisfied in Jesus, and He makes us to be a refreshing source of life through the Gospel to others.

Pet Regrets

Travelling to my hometown brings back memories, and most of them are good.  It is enjoyable to visit with family and friends, reminiscing over what has happened in the past and catching up to the present.  As I was driving yesterday I was reminded of a conversation I had with someone years ago I have repented of many times.  I regretted something I said almost immediately, and it was a good lesson of how words hastily spoken cannot be taken back.

As I considered the situation that transpired decades ago, I was struck by how this could be termed a "pet regret."  It was something I have regretted and repented of who knows how many times, yet dwelling upon it leads me back to the familiar feelings of sorrow and wishing it could be undone.  I know based upon the word of God He forgives sin as it is written in 1 John 1:9:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  My transgression years ago need not hinder me from a close relationship with God today moving forward.  Regret over my sin can move me to pray for those victimised by it.  I need not beat myself up over how my transgression likely offended the person with whom I spoke, for God's grace is sufficient to turn even my folly into a blessing.

It occurred to me when it comes to pet regrets we can be more willing to wallow in regret over something that happened ages ago when there are plenty of sinful things we do and say today we ignore or may not even be aware of.  Pet regrets have a familiarity we may even like because there is nothing we can do about them.  If we feel bad over something that happened long ago and give place to condemning thoughts, it can become a well-rehearsed exercise in self-pity fueled by pride.  We are disappointed with ourselves; we cannot believe we ever did such a thing.  And thus we are blind to our own need to continue changing, to embrace our sanctification over our attitudes and outlook that remain foolish and proud as ever.

I have owned many pets over the course of my lifetime, and there came a point with all of them when I needed to say goodbye.  This is what we ought to do with our old pet regrets we have repented of and learned from.  We can lay them to rest and discover rest by the power of the Gospel.  Let us move on from perpetual guilt to thanksgiving and praise of God who has forgiven our sins and is able to make us a blessing in this world even at our worst.  For every pet regret we lament there are  doubtless other sinful habits and tendencies God would have us repent of right now and experience the rest and rejoicing made possible by God's grace.

Doing All as Unto Christ

Zechariah 7 details an interaction of men who came to the house of God to pray and to inquire of the priests if they ought to continue fasting and mourning in the fifth and seventh months as had been their annual tradition during exile.  God answered with questions of His own in Zechariah 7:5-6:  "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me--for Me? ⁶ When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?"  The people embraced months of fasting and mourning but neglected to honour and obey God when they ate and drank every day.  They lamented being driven from their homeland but did not praise the God who had never left or forsaken them.

These men came to the priests because they found the periods of fasting and mourning burdensome--even unnecessary after their return to Jerusalem.  They wondered if there was any point to afflict themselves with hunger and God revealed they hadn't been doing it for His sake at all.  It had been an exercise of the flesh that lacked spiritual merit because they had not been eating and drinking for the LORD.  The principle held forth to King Saul is fitting here:  "To obey is better than sacrifice."  All the sacrifices a person can make are useless to find favour with God coupled with refusal to obey what He has clearly commanded.  If they had hearkened to the prophets God sent to warn His people before the 70 years of captivity, they could have been spared judgment and destruction they brought upon themselves.

Hear God's response in Zechariah 7:8-10:  "Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, ⁹ "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.'"  While debated over whether they should fast and afflict themselves for the fifth and seventh month, God desired they would cease from sin and walk in justice, mercy and compassion to one another every day.  God called for a continual fast from oppressing the widow, fatherless, stranger or poor.  He commanded them to stop scheming against their brethren.  What they did out of the fear of God and faith in Him was more important than any of the self-imposed restrictions they put on themselves.

God has made His commands clear and without a doubt like in Colossians 3:20-24:  "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  If we say we love God, we ought to use our strength to honour and obey Him, loving others as He loves us.  We could fast for months without spiritual benefit should we refuse to heed Him.  Whether we eat, drink or fast, may it all be done unto the LORD in sincerity of heart before the LORD--not with an aim to please men or honour tradition.  May the fear of God and obedience to the LORD be our traditional practice, not because we are pious or religious, but because Jesus Christ is our glorious Master we serve with our whole hearts.

Hell and the Gospel

I have encountered what seems to me a strange phenomenon over the years:  a readiness to speak of the sublime glory of heaven but a reluctance among believers to frankly discuss the horrible reality of hell.  We do not hesitate to warn our children of the dangers of running into traffic or grabbing a hot frypan because we care for them, and thus to avoid discussions of hell which the Bible describes as real and forever as heaven is to embrace hypocrisy.  It is the love of God and others which compels us to answer honest questions about hell directly without sidestepping to ignore the subject.

I can understand how many Christians want to avoid being associated with a style of "hell and brimstone" preaching that gleefully and smugly condemns lost sinners to a tortured existence.  They would rather extol the pleasures of eternity in the presence of God than emphasising the horrors of hell.  There is nothing wrong with this.  But to avoid the topic of hell as if it is a source of embarrassment or unnecessary is to deviate from the example of Jesus Christ who spoke freely on the subject.  Jesus described hell in Matthew 25:41 as a place of everlasting fire "prepared for the devil and his angels."  In Mark 9 Jesus described the outer darkness of hell as a place where the worms of the tormented die not and the fire is not quenched.  This hideous backdrop makes the sure hope of eternal life through Jesus the exceedingly glorious option.

The Good News of the Gospel must include the very bad news that we are lost, condemned and doomed sinners deserving of hell before our holy, righteous Creator.  The Bible teaches out of love for us God intervened by dying in our place in Romans 5:8:  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  By faith in Jesus Christ we are given the right to become the children of God, to be redeemed from the curse of sin and death, and the righteousness of Jesus is graciously imputed to us.  In love God warns us about hell so we need never go there!  People scour search engines about hell and are easily deceived and led astray, but the Bible tells us the truth Christians ought to take to heart and boldly proclaim.  There is no reason to shy away from questions about hell when God has revealed the truth about it and the Way of escape.

The late great artist Crosby recently tweeted of heaven, "The place is overrated."  I wouldn't view any tweet as an authority on heaven, nor Google searches or cartoon depictions.  The Bible is the absolute authority on life and the only Way to abundant life Christ's offers is by grace through faith--God's own testimony of the risen Saviour Who ascended to heaven in the presence of eyewitnesses.  Heaven is a place in the presence of our merciful, compassionate and glorious God with light, life and fullness of joy.  How wondrous it is, not only to be saved from the destruction of hell but to be provided a life now and forever with God in His glorious presence.  All praise to our faithful Saviour as Jude 1:24-25 says:  "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."

The God of Mercy

"Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?" ¹³ And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words."

Zechariah 1:12-13

The LORD is merciful, gracious and compassionate regardless of the circumstances of life we face.  Faith in God according to His word sustains us to endure the most troubling situations.  The children of Israel struggled during 70 years of captivity in Babylon, and even angels wondered how long judgment would be poured out on the people and Jerusalem and Judah for their sins.  The good and comforting answer of God spoke volumes, for He remained merciful even in judgment.

The prophet mused from the belly of the great fish in Jonah 2:8, "Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy."  And they had.  The children of Israel filled their cities with the blood of the innocent whose cries reached to heaven.  Century after century the required Sabbath rest was denied from the land and servants were not released at the allotted time.  God was merciful in His judgment of Israel and continued to regard them as His beloved people, those with whom He had made an everlasting covenant.  Before, during and after the long season in Babylon God remained faithful, and His mercies did not fail.

Jeremiah proclaimed in Lamentations 3:22-24:  "Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!"  God is faithful to keep His word because He is ever faithful--even to the faithless.  We aren't told exactly the words God used to answer the angel, but they were good and comforting just like He always is.  The people consumed with idolatry were spared destruction because God is compassionate and faithful.  He is worthy to be praised and hoped in.  Blessed is the one whose hope is in the LORD, whose portion is the infinite God Who does everything with mercy.

Clinging to Jesus by Faith

I was blessed to consider the Man who wrestled with Jacob until the breaking of the day.  This Man who met Jacob was the aggressor, seeking to make Jacob submit and tap out.  On and on they wrestled as Jacob tried in vain to escape the Man's grasp.  The prophet spoke of the irony of Jacob who grabbed the heel of his brother in the womb was suddenly grabbed by the Angel of the LORD in Hosea 12:3-5:  "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. ⁴ Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favour from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us--⁵ that is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name."

Jacob had been met by God in a vision at the house of God, and then Elohim wrestled with Jacob in God's camp.  When day began to break the Man touched Jacob's thigh and dislocated his hip.  Jacob's tactics changed at that moment, for instead of trying to escape he refused to let go until he was blessed.  He realised when he looked into the face of the Man when dawn began to break, he was looking into the eyes of the God of his fathers, eyes that are able to perceive all things.  It was apparent the Man Jacob clung to could not be held unless He wanted to be, and God blessed Jacob there and gave him the new name of Israel.  God desires to be grasped so He can bless and make His strength perfect in our weakness.

After Jesus rose from the dead John 20:17 reads, "Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"  In great physical pain Jacob clung to the LORD for a blessing, and since Jesus has gone to the Father those who trust Him are thus enabled to cling to Him in faith.  Jesus told His disciples it was for their advantage He would leave them because the Holy Spirit would be sent to comfort, teach and help them.  The Holy Spirit Who regenerates us empowers us to serve God faithfully as witnesses of Jesus.  It is through surrender to Jesus we are made more than conquerors through Him who loves us and purchased us with His own blood.

Abide in Christ, believer, and cling to Him in faith even in your greatest pain.  Without doubt you will discover blessing in Jesus not found or obtained elsewhere, not by our efforts, but according to the riches of His grace.

Never a Dull Moment With Jesus

I was recently blessed to be the speaker at a fruitful and enjoyable youth camp where the Gospel was proclaimed through many passages of the Bible.  Whilst there was positive feedback from leaders and campers, at least one camper found the talks dull.  I was greatly amused when a leader asked this boy what was his impression of the talks (with intent to encourage me) his response went something like, "I liked that you were enthusiastic but they were boring, so boring."  He smirked at me as he slow-clapped.  "Yeah, they were really boring."  The cabin leader wasn't quite sure what to say, so I thanked him for his honesty.

After our brief conversation, I was reminded of the passage that God has chosen the foolishness of the message preached to convey eternal truth.  Like God chooses to put His glory inside the earthen vessels of our flesh so the glory is all his, so He uses the teaching and exposition of His word to reveal divine truths that transform hungry and needy listeners from within.  Rather than making admission to the kingdom of God dependent on worthiness earned by good works and human achievement, God did all the work to provide the way of salvation through faith in the Gospel.  1 Corinthians 1:20-21 says, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explained the good seed is the word of God sown into hearts of various conditions.  Some hearts are like the hardened footpath where birds come and eat up the seed so it cannot grow.  The LORD said through the prophet in Isaiah 55:11:  "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."  Even if the good seed is stolen away by hungry birds, they can be the means of spreading viable seed when their waste is eliminated.  Who knows how many times the scripture has fallen on a hard heart and deaf ear and He miraculously has caused His marvelous Gospel of grace to spread further than we could ever scatter.  People who do not believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour have been instrumental in leading others to Him, and all glory goes to God.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."  It is wonderful God chooses to use us to accomplish His will to bring people to salvation by faith in Jesus, and He also works in spite of us.  We may fumble over our words, mix up names and muddle doctrine in our ignorance yet God's word remains pure and spiritually viable.  He is able to break through hearts harder than flint with a word when all our effort is proved futile.  How great is God to open the eyes of the blind, bring those in darkness into His marvelous light and remain faithful to people whose faith fails.  Even when we are boring, He is working to seek and save. :)

The LORD God in Our Midst

"The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17

After chapters describing fierce judgment, God brought light to people in darkness with His presence and promise.  Though they had forsaken God, He had not forsaken them or forgotten the covenant.  They had heaped many gods unto themselves, yet the Most High God in their midst would save them.  Saving is not just what God does but Who He is because He is a Saviour.

God's character is absolutely consistent with what He does.  Men do and say things people say are "out of character," and this is debatable.  What we say and what we do are actually good indicators of our character:  who we really are, not who we aspire to be.  Because God is love He loves completely; since the fruit of the Spirit is joy He rejoices over His people with gladness.  He comforts because He is a Comforter, and He delivers because He is a Deliverer.

How awesome it is that the God who dwelt in the midst of His people has sent the Holy Spirit to fill Christians with the light of His knowledge as it is written in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7:  "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  What a treasure we have in God who treasures us to such a degree, to fill us earthen vessels with His power for His glory.

Knowing the LORD our God is in our hearts and in the midst of His people who gather in His name provides great consolation and comfort, for He saves, rejoices over us with gladness and quiets us with His love.  There is no reason for a follower of Jesus Christ to remain in fear, bitterness or trouble when our God is so present and powerful, but we are not always reasonable creatures.  We can be forgetful, swept up in emotions, our perspective distorted by our own limitations and past failures, walking by sight rather than faith in God.  For all those who are in Christ we have God as our heritage, the one who rejoices over us with singing.

The prophet saw afar off what God would accomplish through the Gospel in Micah 7:18-20:  "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. ¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. ²⁰ You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old."  In light of God pardoning our sins, having compassion on us and His truth, we can have a song in our hearts and lips perpetually, for His mercies fail not.

The God to Seek and Serve

At Camp Kedron this week we are discussing times when God saved His people and showed His supremacy over all other gods.  God judged the gods of Egypt with 10 plagues, revealed He was greater than the gods of the Philistines by the defeat of Goliath and when God thundered against them in Mizpah.  God showed His power over the gods of Babylon with His deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the burning furnace.  Throughout scripture God demonstrates His power over all gods of men, sin, Satan and death.

The powerlessness of idols made by men is shown when Daniel was thrown to the den of lions for praying to his God.  The princes and presidents conspired together to put into law that for 30 days it was illegal to make a petition to God or man except to King Darius.  All who disobeyed the royal decree would be thrown into a den of lions.  Daniel 6:10 reveals Daniel was undeterred in his devotion to the Most High God:  "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days."

The rulers were pleased to report Daniel's disobedience to the new law to condemn him.  King Darius, the king to whom all petitions were to be brought was powerless to release Daniel from the law.  He knew the only hope of salvation was in the God of Israel Daniel served and prayed to.  Daniel 6:18 reads, "Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him."  The king who was deemed the only one worthy to receive petitions for 30 days was powerless even to sleep.  Darius felt the pangs of hunger as he likely broke the law stamped with his own ring to petition the God of Daniel:  was He able to do what Darius could not do?

Daniel 6:19-23 informs the curious reader, "Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" ²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! ²² My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." ²³ Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God."  Like all idols and gods fashioned by men, Darius was impotent and powerless to help whilst the living God is able to save all who believe in Him.

Blessed is the one whose God is the God of Daniel, the living God we are divinely enabled to serve continually.  We can continually seek God and find Him because God is, the God who hears the petitions of His people and preserves them in the face of certain death.  The Most High God does not grow faint, weary, tired or in need of sleep.  He knows all who are his and answers the prayers of His people according to His purpose and plans.  How great is our God, and how gracious He is to save us to serve Him continually.

Entering God's Everlasting Kingdom

In high school I remember being invited to a friend's house and it had features completely different from my home.  The first difference was an automated gate that required using an intercom to gain access to the driveway.  The house was perched on acreage overlooking the valley, and the property had a pool, a couple holes of golf and a tennis court.  As the gate slowly opened, it was like a whole different world opened up to you--by invitation only.  There was no way to drive down the driveway or enter the house unless your were a privileged guest.

It is special to be invited to an event like a wedding or party and find your name written on a card in anticipation of your arrival.  At such events it is not uncommon for some people to be unable to attend and for the seat to remain empty.  Drinks are poured, food is brought out, and it sits untouched unless it is taken by other guests or cleared by hospitality workers.  I find it sad for the host and the prospective guest, for both would have benefitted from the blessing to offer hospitality and the blessing of receiving it.

As special and exclusive as personal invitations can be, there is none that can really compare with the offer of salvation and a place at the table in the presence of God.  Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of heaven where a king invited his subjects to a wedding.  The day came when he sent servants to summon them to the feast already prepared only to find they would not come because they were busy or made light of it.  After executing judgment upon them, he commanded they invite anyone they could find so the wedding would be furnished with all manner of guests.  This the servants did.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:11-14, "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen."  When the king came to see the guests, he saw a man without a wedding garment which would have been graciously provided for all guests.  For whatever reason, this man was fine to attend but refused to observe the dress code.  After being confronted by the king himself the man had no answer, was bound and thrown into outer darkness.

The man possibly bound with pride and self-righteousness on the basis of his invitation was rendered speechless because he had not submitted himself to his king.  One point Jesus made to His listeners is it is not enough to be invited or to accept an invitation, but for all guests to wear the suitable apparel the king provided for his guests.  The correlation is clear:  if any man will enter the kingdom of God, it must be through faith in Jesus Christ.  Those who trust in Jesus are adorned with a robe of righteousness by faith in Him.  Jesus gave His life so we could be invited and receive His offer of eternal life, and the irony is people can see it as a little thing--that our willingness to attend makes us worthy.  We are not worthy in ourselves and never will be, for the gift of God is all of grace.  If we will receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, we can only enter the kingdom of God one way:  by faith in Jesus.

The clothes guests wear to formal events matter to the generous host, and God does care if we are clothed with faith in Christ and humility.  Those who are born again are partakers of the divine nature and thus should be evidenced by virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.  2 Peter 1:10-11 says, "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

God Knows All Who Trust Him

It is not uncommon after a major disaster like a fire, tornado or cyclone that causes widespread, catastrophic damage to find homes spared in the midst of the ruin.  It seems almost arbitrary that all the houses on the block would be swept clean from the foundations while one remains standing and inhabitable.  I do not know if this constitutes a miracle, but I am sure to the people whose home was seemingly spared at random it feels like one.  What it does show without a doubt is God Who created the forces of nature can distinguish between those who fear Him and spare them in a day of judgment.

In the book of Nahum God described the judgment and destruction He would bring upon the city of Nineveh for their sin.  I find the first chapter remarkable, that within the fiery judgments there are lovely descriptions of God's goodness.  In the midst of the predicted overthrow Nahum 1:7-8 says, "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. ⁸ But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies."  We cannot say how or why a tornado destroys one house and leaves another intact, but we can know God is a stronghold in the day of people for those who trust Him.  His judgment will be as an overflowing flood no one can escape by hiding in a refuge of lies, and God will see to it all His enemies will be swept away.

God is a stronghold, a refuge for all who fear Him.  A good shepherd knows his sheep, and God knows every individual in His flock.  He protected Noah and his family from the great flood and delivered Lot and his family safely out of Sodom.  He is the God who parted the Red Sea so His people could safely escape the pursuing army, and He caused the walls of water to fall upon the Egyptians.  One likened to the Son of God stood with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and God sent His angel to shut the lion's mouths so they could do Daniel no harm.  Even when the stones found their mark upon the martyr Stephen, upon falling asleep he was ushered safely into the arms of the LORD Jesus to dwell in glory with Him for eternity.

How encouraging it is that God knows those who trust Him.  He is a stronghold in the day of trouble, and this means we do not need to be afraid whatever should God allow.  By faith in God we can experience personally what is written Psalm 91:1-2:  "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."  God knows all who trust in Him, and blessed is the one who makes our good God his confidence.  By faith in Jesus may we make our glorious God known.

Like People, Like Priest

The old saying goes, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."  The meaning behind this phrase is usually that children exhibit character or qualities also found in their parents.  One could also say, "Like father, like son."  The genetic information in the seeds of apples grow trees that produce the same variety of apples, and genetics are passed down in people as well.  While physical appearance, personality traits or mannerisms can closely resemble parents, every child is uniquely created by God.  It would be presumptuous to credit or blame parents as entirely responsible for their children's choices and behaviour.

It is assumed by some people are the product of their environment, family and society, almost fated by external factors to respond in a particular way.  There are so many exceptions to this I wonder how it could be assumed true.  Many people who have grown up in a worldly environment have been born again by faith in Jesus, and others who made a profession of faith and grew up going to church have abandoned any semblance of a life in pursuit of Christ.  God is glorious in His power to transform lives, while He still gives people the freedom to make a choice to heed Him or not.

Recently I was reminded of a principle God laid forth in Hosea that reverses the apple and tree cliche in regards to governance.  God revealed Himself to the children of Israel, lead them with His presence, provided for them in the wilderness, established them in the Promised Land, and gave them His laws.  Priests were tasked with teaching the people of God and His ways, upholding God's laws with justice.  In the book of Hosea, God noted how His people were destroyed for the lack of knowledge of God and His righteous ways.  Because the people were corrupted with hearts set on sin, God spoke forth His judgment in Hosea 4:9:  "And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds."  God would allow priests to minister who resembled the people who were base; that would be a reward to people for their iniquity before the LORD.

We see this on display before Hosea spoke those words, for Hophni and Phinehas were priests borne out of a day when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.  This was not foreign to the prophet Jeremiah either, for he said in Jeremiah 5:30-31:  "An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: ³¹ the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?"  When legislation is passed that is a grief to God-fearing people, it is wisdom to realise the problem is not primarily a political party or left or right-wing agenda:  sinful legislation that calls evil good and good evil is allowed by God to discipline a city, state and nation that have wandered from the fear of God.  God's people are not helpless or hopeless even when the wicked rule, for God is a hope and refuge for all who seek Him.

Daniel was a righteous man, and the best men are willing to view themselves in the worst light, confessing their own sin before the LORD.  It is a cop-out to decry those who rule as wicked without recognising those who rule are of the people--each of them one of us--and we also are not innocent of great transgression before the LORD.  For all who grieve over the godless state of our people and nation, let us humbly receive correction and pray as Daniel did in Daniel 9:17-19:  "Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

Be As Jesus Is

A way parents can undermine their credibility and respect of their children is to adopt a, "Do as I say and not as I do" approach.  It may be one thing concerning bedtimes or age-restricted activities by the government like drinking alcohol or driving a car, but entirely another when it comes to moral choices like cursing, lying or stealing.  A parent who scolds or punishes their child for swearing but does so all the time plays the hypocrite, and we can be guilty of hypocrisy at any age.

It is imperative we look to God and His word to guide us in our choices and conduct.  God never invokes a "Do as I say or do" approach but rather commands us to "Be as I am."  This goes to the heart of being born again and a new creation by faith in Jesus Christ.  This is what Paul was getting at in Galatians 6:15:  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation."  There is no possible way we can successfully do what God does in the effort of our flesh, for we are not God.  Having been born again by faith in Jesus and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are divinely enabled to do God's will because we have been united with Him.

After the prophet detailed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, following verses spoke of the Person and ministry of Jesus in Micah 5:4:  "And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth..."  These verses apply perfectly to Jesus revealed in scripture:  the Good Shepherd, identified Himself as "I AM," commanded His disciples to abide in Him and how the Father had given all authority in heaven and earth unto Him.  Jesus said in John 15:4-5, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  As Jesus abides in the Father, so we abide in Jesus and His love (verse 10).

God who created the eye can see, and He who fashioned the ear can hear.  Because Jesus is risen from the dead and lives forever, He is able to give eternal life to all who are born again by faith in Him.  It is only because of our new identity in Christ Paul could write truly in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58:  "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  Notice Paul says we are to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the word of the LORD.  This springs from who we are rather than what we strive to accomplish.  We ought to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, doing the good works God has prepared beforehand for us to do (Eph. 2:8-10).  This cannot occur before we are born again after the image of Jesus Christ, for this flows from Who He is.

Let us thank God who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ, the One who makes us to stand steadfastly and to feed the flock by His grace.  By faith and obedience of His people may the name of Jesus be made great to the ends of the earth, and our efforts will not be in vain because Jesus is LORD of all.