Drink Clear Waters

With Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd, we will always be looked after continuously with love and care.  Unlike a hireling who would flee at the hint of danger or who avoided the hard, dirty work of providing for the needs of a flock,  Jesus laid down His life for all who would become the sheep of His pasture by faith in Him.  God had strong criticisms for pastors or shepherds of his flock in Israel who sought personal profit rather than the good of God's people entrusted to them--strong words Christians ought to lay to heart today.

In Ezekiel 34, God chastised priests and rulers in Israel who were feeding off the flock rather than feeding the flock.  Those who were meant to serve God's people felt entitled to be served by others and failed to do all the things good shepherds do for sheep.  Shepherding does not mean leaders ought to be controlling, intrusive or demanding of others, for we ought to follow the example of Jesus who loves, gives, serves, forgives and helps others without taking thought for His own life.  Rather than seeking those who were lost, strengthening the diseased, tending the sick or binding the broken, the shepherds in Israel ruled with force and cruelty (Eze. 34:4).  Their heavy-handed treatment caused God's people to scatter, and the LORD would hold His shepherds to account.

Seeing the priests and leaders in Israel were not fulfilling their calling before Him, God promised to step in and do all that had been neglected.  This ought to be a great encouragement to God's people who have experienced hurts and cruelty from people especially in churches.  God would seek out and deliver His people from everywhere they had been scattered and return them to Himself.  He asked a searching question to those in the flock that is appropriate and relevant for all God's people in the church to consider today in Ezekiel 34:18-19:  "Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture--and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? ¹⁹ And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet."  Again, in context this rebuke concerns the whole flock of God--not just the shepherds or leaders.

While the word of God preached from the pulpit is important and powerful, this passage shows us all the people in God's congregation have the capacity to trample and "muddy the waters" so to speak.  God used an analogy of sheep that eagerly tromped into the water and polluted it by stirring up mud, sediment and refuse with filthy hooves.  When other sheep followed them to quench their thirst, they were left with muddy, impure water because of sheep that preceded them.  How can Christians muddy the waters?  By stirring up doubts or contradictions, confusion and bias, by putting yourself and your opinions before others.  People can be contentious for all to agree with them over secondary issues or regarding personal convictions, and they foster divisions rather than edifying one another in love because they do not focus on what God has clearly said.  God forbid pastors or Sunday School teachers would muddy the waters with their own agenda and cause people to depart church spiritually hungry and thirsty because we neglected to provide the pure water of the word.  Ezekiel 34 teaches us those who hear also have a responsibility before God not to pollute the clear waters by their meddlesome agitations, to ensure others have access to the pure, life-giving spring that comes from Jesus Christ.

Those who have been subjected to muddy waters can look to the LORD with joyful expectancy.  In contrast to those who foul clear water with their feet, see what God has promised to do in Ezekiel 34:23-26:  "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them--My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. ²⁴ And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. ²⁵ "I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. ²⁶ I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing."  God has fulfilled His promise through Jesus Christ who is the Good Shepherd and has established the new covenant in His own blood.  No longer do we need to fear beasts or demons in the darkness, for Jesus will protect us wherever we are.  By faith in Him we are safe, secure and all our needs abundantly provided for.  We are not subject to drinking the muddy waters because God has showed His grace upon us and made us a fountain of the Living Water of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  How awesome and wonderful is our Good Shepherd Jesus who loves, protects and provides for our needs always!

Power of the Holy Spirit

 I was blessed to read a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon which exhorted believers to rely upon the Holy Spirit to do the impossible, to perfectly accomplish what we could never do by our own efforts.  May you be encouraged in knowing God and experiencing the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus.  Here is an excerpt in the conclusion of the sermon preached long ago but remains as relevant as ever:

"The power of the Holy Spirit is your bulwark, and all his omnipotence defends you.  Can your enemies overcome omnipotence? then they can conquer you.  Can they wrestle with Deity, and hurl him to the ground? then they might conquer you.  For the power of the Spirit is our power; the power of the Spirit is our might.

Once again, Christians, if this is the power of the Spirit, why should you doubt anything?  There is your son.  There is that wife of yours, for whom you have supplicated so frequently; do not doubt the Spirit's power.  "Though he tarry, wait for him."  There is thy husband, O holy woman! and thou hast wrestled for his soul.  And though he is ever so hardened and desperate a wretch, and treats thee ill, there is power in the Spirit.  And, O ye who have come from barren churches, with scarcely a leaf upon the tree, do not doubt the power of the Spirit to raise you up.  For it shall be a "pasture for flocks, a den of wild asses," open but deserted, until the Spirit is poured out from on high.  And then the parched ground shall be made a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; and in the habitations of dragons, where each lay shall be grass with reeds and rushes.  And, O ye members of Park Street! ye who remember what your God has done for you especially, never distrust the power of the Spirit.  Ye have seen the wilderness blossom like Carmel, ye have seen the desert blossom like the rose, trust him for the future.  Then go out and labour with this conviction, that the power of the Holy Ghost is able to do anything.  Go to your Sunday School; go to your tract distribution; go to your missionary enterprise; go your preaching in your rooms, with the conviction that the power of the Spirit is our great help.

And now, lastly, to you sinners.  What is there to be said to you about this power of the Spirit?  Why, to me, there is some hope for some of you.  I cannot save you; I cannot get at you.  I make you cry sometimes--you wipe your eyes, and it is all over.  But I know my Master can.  That is my consolation.  Chief of sinners, there is hope for thee!  This power can save you as well as anybody else.  It is able to break your heart, though it is an iron one; to make your eyes run with tears, though they have been like rocks before.  His power is able this morning, if he will, to change your heart, to turn the current of all your ideas; to make you at once a child of God, to justify you in Christ.  There is power enough in the Holy Spirit.  ye are not straightened in him, but in your own bowels.  He is able to bring sinners to Jesus; he is able to make you willing in the day of his power.  Are you willing this morning? has he gone so far as to make you desire his name; to make you wish for Jesus?  Then, O sinner! whilst he draws you, say, "Draw me, I am wretched without thee."  Follow him, follow him; and, while he leads, tread you in his footsteps, and rejoice that he has begun a good work in you, for there is an evidence that he will continue it even unto the end.  And, O desponding one! put thy trust in the power of the Spirit.  Rest on the blood of Jesus, and thy soul is safe, not only now, but throughout eternity.  God bless you, my hearers.  Amen." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 131-133)

From Wretched to Glorious

"If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now--if I have found favor in Your sight--and do not let me see my wretchedness!"

Numbers 11:15

Based on the words of Moses, his wretchedness was a truly awful thing.  He begged for God to kill him rather than to be confronted with his own inadequacies, failures, folly--not to mention his own unbelief.  It does not appear Moses was at all inclined toward self-harm or truly desired death, but he was totally disgusted by his own wickedness and depravity.  This is why many respect Moses, for by faith in God he was a righteous man, a friend of God, meek and humble.  Statements like this make him relatable to those who also realise the ugliness of their own wretchedness, our eyes having been opened by God to see the sobering truth about our own sin.

Today as I drove on my way to do errands suddenly a series of bad experiences from my past flooded through my mind one after another.  One was a cringeworthy thing I said; another exposed sinful motives of my heart.  As I shook my head in disgust with myself, I was reminded of this statement from Moses.  I did not ask for the LORD to kill me here and now, but the displeasure of confronting my own wretchedness was acutely felt.  Moses desired to have favour in the sight of God, and it is truly God's grace that He opens our eyes to see our sinfulness, need for pardon and transformation.  As much as I would love to never remember those terrible experiences with my wretchedness on display, I can see value in God using them to remind me how unlike Him I am in my flesh.

Eliphaz spoke truly in Job 5:17-18, "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. ¹⁸ For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole."  God forbid His people should be smoke in His nostrils, arrogant hypocrites who are "holier than thou" and see no need for repentance from sin in them.  When self-righteousness creeps into our hearts it makes us very sensitive to the flaws of others and simultaneously blinds us to our own wretchedness.  It does us no good to boast in our sins or to wallow in past failures when we are called to repent and do what is good.  We can look back with longing over regrettable sins of the past we cannot change, or we can turn our eyes to Jesus who is glorious for healing and wholeness.

When God reminds us of our wretched natural state, we are given the choice to dwell on our faults or to to humble ourselves in repentance and look to God who is holy, righteous and a saviour for all who cry out to Him.  I love how Jesus makes all things new, and as Christians we no longer yoked to the past as what defines us.  Our new identity is found in Jesus Christ, and our future is bright and glorious even if our past (which includes what happened earlier today!) is sordid and repulsive.  God saw our wretchedness and sent His only begotten Son Jesus so we sinners could be redeemed and forgiven.  In light of such love, let us fix our eyes and desires upon our glorious Saviour with joyful admiration.

Keeping Receipts

After making a purchase, I always request a copy of an invoice for budgeting purposes.  The paper or digital receipt is a useful record as a proof of purchase, details whether I used card or cash, and itemises the GST included in the transaction.  My wife has trained me very well at this stage to obtain a record of money spent so she can input the data into a spreadsheet.

I read an article today about a person who was described as being known to "keep receipts."  The context was not in the sense of purchasing, but it was a reference to her habit of filing away past slights or offences with intent to produce them years later--keeping a record of wrongs.  When we experience hurt or perceived injustice, we can have a very long memory of what we suffered and hold onto it so we can throw it in the offender's face when an opportunity presents itself, when others are vulnerable.  I am reminded of many films and books where one person spoke out of pride or arrogance, and after the tide turns the same words were vengefully repeated verbatim as a taunt.  This is one who keeps receipts as social currency to insult, demean, and avenge themselves upon their enemies.

While keeping receipts for budgeting purposes can be an important facet of good financial stewardship, keeping receipts as a record of wrongs is biblically an unloving thing to do.  11 Corinthians 13:4-5 says in the NIV, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."  The wisdom of the world says it is good to keep receipts to throw in the face of those who have wronged us, and to give up the valuable record of all the offences we have endured seems weak and wasteful.  As Christians, we are called to be casting our cares upon the LORD who cares for us.  We are also called to humble ourselves to admit we have been offended when others have slighted or wounded us with their words--not to file those caustic comments with intent to avenge ourselves in the future by taking shots at them.

Some people are faithful to keep a record of their expenses year after year, and others are as diligent to keep a long, detailed record of the offences they have suffered.  This practice of keeping records of wrongs (suffered by yourself or others) with the aim to get even or triumph over them absolutely poisons people who keep them.  It is the antithesis of love to keep a record of wrongs, to simmer with anger and seek to avenge oneself.  God's wisdom leads us in the way contrary this world as Hebrews 8:12 says:  "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."  In light of God's love and mercy to us, all our receipts and records of wrongs ought to be put through a spiritual shredder by giving them to God who will render judgment.  By God's grace He helps and heals us, and those receipts need not burden us any longer.  Having been forgiven by God, we can forgive others without resentment or feeling slighted.

If we are compelled to "get back" at others, it may be we have lost sight of all God has given and we have freely received.  God gives more grace (without measure), and let us walk in His ways without keeping records of wrongs.

Blind Pride

Asking questions can be a good thing, but it is good to consider motivation why questions are asked.  "There's no such thing as a dumb question," I have heard people say, but questions can be asked with wicked intent.  We see an example of this when Eve talked with Satan in the Garden of Eden.  The crafty serpent asked in Genesis 3:1, "...Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"  Satan knew very well what God said; he was not ignorant of what had God clearly spoken to Adam.  His question paved the way for an opportunity for him to criticise and contradict God and lure Eve into sin.  Satan's tactics and aims reveal a proud heart can ask questions with intent to find fault with or to criticise God rather than submit to His wisdom.

Satan answered God with questions in Job 1:8-12:  "Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" ⁹ So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" ¹² And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD."  God drew Satan's attention to something He knew the devil recognised, that Job was a blameless man who feared God.  Rather than admitting God's worthiness to be feared or that Job was upright, Satan claimed Job only behaved thus because God protected and provided for him.  Satan claimed God was wrong about Job, and asserted he would curse God to his face if he lost his wealth.  God then gave permission for Satan to do his worst--but forbid him from hurting Job.

After the devil stripped Job of his wealth and killed his children in one day, in the midst of Job's grief he worshipped and blessed God.  Satan was wrong about Job, not that he would ever admit it.  The next time Satan appeared before God, the LORD asked Satan the same question:  if he had considered Job, an upright man who avoided doing any evil.  Job 2:4-6 reads, "So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" ⁶ And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life."  See how Satan moved the goalposts!  He ignored his previous claims and how he missed the mark, and he persisted in his view God was wrong about Job.  He implied God had unfairly stacked the deck and manipulated Job's response.  The devil said Job would curse God to His face if he was struck with a severe illness.  Again, God allowed Satan to do his worst.  Job's upright conduct showed God was right about Job all along, and it was the devil who was all wrong.  His arrogance and pride prevented him from taking away anything positive from the interaction.

Satan is the sort of being who will accuse God as evil for condemning anyone and assumes everyone deserves salvation--that God is somehow at fault for people's sin.  He would water down the Gospel so it is no longer the Gospel and powerless to save.  The fact all will not be saved is reason enough for the proud to refuse the offer of salvation God freely gives through the Gospel.  God desires all would come to repentance, but like the devil many refuse to humble themselves before God and submit to Him by faith.  They refuse to be saved by Christ because other people may not be saved.  C.H. Spurgeon's comment on infidels fits Satan and the children of pride very well:  "Infidels, poor creatures, do not know their own arguments till we tell them, and then they glean their blunted shafts to shoot them at the shield of truth again."  The evidence of Job's upright conduct was there for Satan to see and has been immortalised in God's word forever, yet it did not change the devil because he will not change.  The human will can be stronger than reason and hard evidence, and stubborn pride has led more to eternal ruin than ignorance of the truth.  The devil is proof of that.

Yoked With Christ

When Jesus invited people who were weary and heavy laden to take His yoke upon them and learn humility from Him in Matthew 11:28-30, it is ironic because it was a call to labour.  The realisation people are weary and burdened does not lead us to suggest placing a yoke on their shoulders as a solution.  We tell them to take a break, to cease from labour!  The point is, Jesus is easily able to carry all loads that burden and crush us, and by submissive labour by the side of Jesus we will find rest for our souls.  His yoke is easy and His burden light because Jesus is mighty, strong and our Saviour.  In drawing near to Jesus by faith and labouring alongside with Him, Christians find joyful rest.

As someone who worked in a building trade for more than a decade, one of the things drummed into workers was the need to learn to work and talk at the same time.  Some people never learn this lesson:  when they begin talking, their hands stop working.  Workers who were slow to learn this lesson worked alone until they did.  While working with Jesus does not always take the form of manual labour, Paul called out Christians in the Corinthian church who had become distracted from Christ and factional over their preferred preachers or loyalties due to whom God personally used in their lives.  People like Paul and Apollos were elevated by great people who esteemed them for the fruitfulness of their ministry.  Paul exhorted the people to return to the unity they had by faith in Jesus and to glorify Him, knowing it was Christ who will reward His faithful followers.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9:  "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? ⁶ 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. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."  Men of God like Paul and Apollos were only fruitful because they were "of God" and ministers who could only offer others what God freely provided for them.  One planted, another watered, and God gave the increase.  Again and again Paul downplayed the glorification of people who do God's work--people who were the epitome of faithful labourers--because God is responsible for all spiritual fruitfulness.

All Christians are called to work together with Jesus, and each one of us will receive our own reward according to our labour and all by His grace.  The last verse is an amazing truth:  in Christ we are God's fellow workers; we are God's field and His building.  God chooses to plant the good seed of His word in us that bears spiritual fruit.  Our lives have been built on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ who is the chief Cornerstone.  We are God's servants, His purchased possession and chosen dwelling place.  Knowing this is our identity in Christ, it ought to unify us as believers to labour together to promote Him.  We are privileged to have been given duties by our LORD and Saviour, yet at the same time who are we?  We are souls who were heavy laden who found rest in Christ.  Let us unite with those who are yoked with Christ, knowing God will give the increase.

God's Love Casts Out Fear

It was widely reported a bishop addressed President Trump directly during a prayer service and made a request for mercy for groups of people she implied would be threatened or suffer due to his policies.  She was reported as saying, "In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and [transgender] children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives."  It was ironic to invoke the name of God while speaking to Trump as if he was a god, insinuating he has the power in himself or through enacting political policy the means of removing fear in the hearts of people.  I am convinced this is not a presidential problem but a personal one for all who experience such fears.

It is a sad fact of our fallen world that people fear for their lives, and in some situations these concerns are absolutely warranted.  At the same time, no politician is able to provide assurances, protections or policies that can prevent harm or the fear of harm.  Fear is not limited to immigrants, gay or lesbian people; fears that have nothing to do with death can plague people continually.  Think of all the fears we have experienced at times in our lives:  fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of public speaking, fear of foreclosure, fear of being abused.  It may be the bishop who gave the address feared for the welfare and protection of the people who she said fear for their lives.  Yet is the solution for this plague of fear found in a politician, political party, or policies?  Do elected officials have the power to cast fear out of the hearts and minds of those who harbour it?  If that was possible, it would have happened by now.

Fear is like the mythical Hydra, for whenever one poison-spewing head was lopped off two more regenerated in its place.  Those who take cues from society to foster hope or look for comfort through political privileges or protections, none find comfort that lasts.  But the Bible teaches when anyone fears God and looks to Him in faith, God's perfect love casts out all fear.  1 John 4:15-19 says, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. ¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us."  God is not afraid of what anyone can do, and as His people we can be like Him without fear of man in this world.  Those who are afraid, whatever their political affiliation or sexual persuasion, are not made perfect or complete in love.  Christians need not be afraid of others judging or persecuting them, for we love Jesus who first loved us and we are complete in Him.

In this current age of identity politics and the popular approach to people laying claim to their own truth before which all others must bow, it seems only the perspective of the unprivileged, marginalised or oppressed are allowed to weigh in on what is right for them.  The Scripture does not take this approach, for it establishes all human beings on level footing as people created in God's image, regardless of our preferences and convictions.  We are not gay or straight, immigrants or indigenous in God's eyes, but all people He loves and to whom Jesus came to seek and save.  The Christian view is inclusive and exclusive at the same time:  all are invited to come to Jesus, repent of our sin, receive Him by faith and be born again, and He is the only Way.  Jesus is the only one able to cast out all fear of those who abide in Him, for He first loved us.

Insidiousness of Idolatry

As a kid in church, I struggled at times to comprehend what idolatry was because I did not bow down to idols in a shrine or burn incense to images.  Whenever idol worship was mentioned by our pastor at church, it was often connected to things I didn't have, like houses or cars.  I faintly recall the prime description of an idolator being a man who on a weekly basis was constantly washing, polishing and buffing his shiny car on the driveway.  This did not make sense to me because waxing cars was foreign to my life.  I did not own a car, and washing a car of dirt and grime seemed to be good stewardship of a gift from God.  I never connected the dots that the brand of car or its pristine condition could be an outlet of pride that delighted in promoting an image of self which is idolatry.

Reflecting on my youth, even the definition provided for idolatry was not a definite thing, for it was deemed anything we put in God's rightful place.  If God had yet to be given His "rightful place" in my life, how was I to determine what idolatry was?  Idolatry is very insidious because it goes right to the core of our beings, affections and desires, always rooted in self but does not always concern the same outward things.  An image can be worshipped as an idol, yet the idolatry goes beyond bowing before the gilded figure--dig deeper and idolatry is connected to why we worship an idol, because we have chosen to seek benefits for ourselves and by our efforts from anything other than God.  It is easy not to make a graven image, but idolatry is a sin all people naturally have a serious problem with because we love self and shrink from walking by faith in God.

Paul explained how subtle idolatry is to believers in Colossians 3:5-7 says, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them."  Commands against idolatry are not just at the beginning of the 10 commandments but also at the end.  "Coveting is idolatry," Paul asserted.  The heart of idolatry is covetousness and self-seeking, living as if we are God or serving someone, an agenda, ideology, or our own image rather than trusting and obeying God.  Idolatry, like pride, lust and envy, are matters of the heart the Holy Spirit is able to identify and expose within us so we might repent and submit to God moving forward.

Colossians 3 as well as 1 Corinthians 10 connect sexual sin with idolatry, and seeking to look at sexually provocative images provide a better concrete example of idolatry than polishing a car.  Images in the Bible at times are described as obscene, not only because they were images worshipped rather than God but because of anatomic features people lusted over.  We can look at crude wooden or ceramic images and not lust over them, but people did as Ezekiel 20:30 says in the NIV, "Therefore say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images?"  Idolatry is directly connected to satisfying the desires of self, whether it be through money, power or sex.  Those crudely carved images people lusted over was a foreshadowing of pornography.  Society has largely moved on from glossy centerfolds of models posing nude by themselves, for now pornography is mass produced that depicts sex, people being degraded and pretending they are enjoying themselves.  Idolatry is at the heart of this abomination that results in lust, covetousness, adultery, fornication and all manner of vice.

My hope is to shed some light on the insidious nature of idolatry that fuels the fires of lust, greed and covetousness.  If we only deal with the symptoms--selling a car or deleting pornography from our devices--we have not dealt with our idolatrous hearts that refuse to trust God, are embittered because our selfish desires and expectations are unmet, the fact we are dissatisfied with God and the life He has given us.  From the very beginning mankind looked upon the chance of being like God as so attractive that Adam and Eve chose to disobey God.  That seed of idolatry was planted in the spiritual DNA of mankind and has plagued us ever since.  Thanks be to God, for He frees us from the curse of sin when we are born again by faith in Jesus Christ.  It is then we must rally to war against the sin in our members, against idolatry that beckons us with wanton glances and sexual advances.  Praise the LORD 1 Corinthians 10:13 is true for Christians:  "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Salvation and Sanctification

People have a propensity to be observant of others, to note similarities and differences.  Another tendency we have is to want to change others, to have them conform to our perspective and convictions.  At one level we realise we are incapable of changing other people, but it doesn't stop us from trying.  We suggest, hint, manipulate and beg in our attempts to mould others into the form that suits us better.  And when this doesn't work, we can withdraw or even be more stern and direct in our methods.  These are generalisations of course, but I'm sure if you can read these words with understanding you've been on one side or the other of this experience--perhaps even both!

Yesterday at church we had an encouraging discussion how God was at work in our hearts and lives, and the subject of wanting to see others saved came up.  Since a sinner's response to the Gospel has eternal implications, it follows we who have received Christ would absolutely want and love for others to receive Him too.  As we know our own journey of faith in Jesus, we realise we were not immediately willing to open our hearts to receive Christ by faith or even to repent of sin after being born again when convicted by the Holy Spirit.  As much as we want other people to be saved from hell and to enter the presence of the LORD Jesus in heaven, know God desires this infinitely more than we can--Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to atone for sins Himself.

One statement that resonated with me from the conversation is God cares as much about a believer's sanctification as seeing sinners saved.  As those who are born again and headed for heaven by God's grace, we can lose sight of this.  We can put all our effort into seeing others saved when God is using their resistance, annoyance and persecution of us to refine our faith and sanctify us.  I am convinced when you decide another person ought to change in some way, God can use that person to change you in ways you don't think need changing.  In fact, that person yet to be saved could be His divinely chosen instrument to bring about spiritual growth in you that rivals the change when you passed from death to life by receiving the Gospel.  It is remarkable how our desire and efforts to bring people to Christ exposes our own worries, fears, cares and anxieties Jesus died to save us from.  Should we justify these sins in us because we do not see saving faith in others?

In the first Lord of the Rings movie, Frodo was taken aback when Gandalf threw an envelope containing a ring he had been keeping secret and safe straight into the fire.  Gandalf knew fire would destroy the envelope and the wax seal but would not damage the ring:  the purpose of throwing the ring into the fire was to reveal if it was a certain ring of power.  God does a similar thing with us, for He ordains His people to face fiery trials because He knows we will endure them by His grace.  As a result we receive the benefit of having better insight into how much we need God, how often we ignore His existence and promises, and that our faith is small and even nonexistent at times.  God does not show us these things to poke fun at us but to chasten us to repent of our unbelief and strengthen our faith when we take steps to exercise it--in addition to an innumerable amount of things God is always doing perfectly in our lives.  Our embracing the changes God wants to bring into our lives by submitting to the Holy Spirit will have a positive impact on others, far more than any effort of our flesh.

Murder, Hatred and Love

When Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment to love one another as He loved them, it would have been a mistake to love others on the condition of others being a fellow Jew or genuine Christian.  This is the sort of thing we tend to do as human beings, to use a verse that speaks of our obligation to love one another as justification not to do so--because they do not belong with us!  Jesus demonstrated His love for us while we were yet sinners and enemies of God by dying in our place, and it is His example we as His disciples are obligated to follow.

This morning I read a passage in Esther when Haman was glad at the thought of executing Mordecai for slighting him, and how Esau comforted himself with thoughts of killing his brother Jacob for stealing his blessing.  These wicked men harboured hatred in their hearts, and the Bible teaches murder is evidence of hatred.  1 John 3:15 puts it in strong terms:  "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."  Again, we shouldn't restrict those guilty of hatred and murder to those who nurse a grudge towards their brother.  To refuse to love your brother is to abide in death, and to claim we are not obligated to love them because they are not a "brother" is irrelevant given other commands of Christ and the counsel of God's word.

We should not limit the implications of hating (or loving less) whether it be a brother, neighbour or stranger.  Jesus taught our neighbour was not only the one who lived next door or known to us, for He spoke a parable concerning a Samaritan who lay by the roadside after being beaten by thieves and left for dead.  The Jews in Jesus' day had no dealings with Samaritans, and it would have been a shock to suggest to Jews they had any relationship with Samaritans that was remotely neighbourly.  When the man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus responded with a story that provided the example of what it was to be neighbourly, caring and loving towards all--even Samaritans.  Isn't that how Jesus treated those who hated Him?

Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 5:43-47:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?"  Since it is clear Jesus said Christians are to love their enemies, we plainly ought to love everyone--our brothers, acquaintances, neighbours, strangers, Samaritans and those who hate and persecute us.  We cannot muster up such love ourselves, but love is a fruit of the Spirit God's people can give freely and graciously as we have received it from Jesus.

The Net Illustration

Today our family spent a good portion of the day moving in the rain, and preparation for this involved buying a tarp and a net to spread over it.  Made of elastic material with plastic clips, this net of bungee cords (octopus or occy straps here in OZ) was quite handy to ensure the tarp was kept from flapping in the breeze as we transported furniture and household goods.  God was gracious to us and helped us move everything we needed, and water damage was kept to a minimum.

Whenever I use a net I am reminded of when I was an apprentice and one journeyman always had a net to cover insulation material that resembled a fishing net.  I was not a fan of the net because it seemed totally unnecessary and it was my job to untangle it.  This fellow used wire to secure ladders on the rack on his truck, and when he cut the wires he habitually allowed the twisted bits of metal to fall into the net which turned it into an unusable, gnarled mess.  I spent more time than I care to remember trying to pick tangled wires free and make the scrap of net usable again.  He once told me, "I used to wonder how anyone in those old TV shows could get tangled up in a net, but now I know."

All that net-untangling flooded back to mind as I tried to untangle the bungee cord net today.  Whenever I successfully untangled a clip, as I moved onto the next one it would fall onto another bit of the net.  As several of us worked together to stretch out the net to prevent it from tangling again a brother mused, "I bet there's a sermon illustration in this."  I admit I am always on the lookout for a good illustration, though they do not always make it into sermons or studies.  A lot of time they are for my own benefit or probably find their way into a blog--like this one.

As I reflected on how I needed help from others to untangle the net so it was useable, it occurred to me if we happen to be the one in the net, we need help from God and even other people to free ourselves.  David sang in Psalm 25:15:  "My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net."  David realised he needed God's help to lead and deliver him out of the net, and this is true whether the net was laid secretly by other people or the enemy of his soul.  David pleaded similarly to God in Psalm 31:4-5:  "Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. ⁵ Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."  It is awesome this would be quoted by Jesus as among His final words before breathing His last on the cross.  Christ's enemies had set a trap for Him, and He willingly went to the cross knowing His heavenly Father would deliver Him from sin, death and Hell.

There have been times I have come across a dog that has been secured to a post that had become all tangled in the lead to the point it might as well have been caught in a net.  As I spoke reassuringly to the dog, asking how it came to be in such a predicament, the dog's answer was often a hesitant tail wag and looking as sheepish as a dog possibly can.  Dogs seem to know when they need help, and they are mostly willing to be turned around as people lift a leg here or there to extricate the pup from his own entanglement.  We like to think of ourselves as the ones who help others out of tough spots when the reality is we need God's help along with fellow believers to walk freely again as a sheep of God's pasture.  We can be easily ensnared by sin and weights that hinder us, and we can also be hemmed in by unbelief and forgetfulness of God's faithfulness.

Because the LORD is our strength and our Redeemer, let us commit ourselves to Him and walk in His ways.  Being caught in a net may be embarrassing, frustrating or a blow to our pride, but the wise submit to God and one another knowing we are not sufficient in ourselves to find freedom.

Observing Haman

Haman was an Agagite who was promoted by King Ahasuerus, and the king commanded people bow the knee when Haman passed by.  There was a man named Mordecai who, day after day, refused to bow and pay homage.  The king's servants enquired to see why Mordecai did not bow, and in conversation he divulged he was a Jew.  Haman was enraged and offended that he was not given honour by Mordecai and Esther 3:6 says, "But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai."  Haman took advantage of his elevated position before the king with the sinister aim of exterminating all Jews because of a personal offence with one man.  He would not stoop to speak directly to Mordecai, but his pride led him to go to the king to murder every Jew in the realm.

Haman was a crafty and deceitful man who, like the devil, offered half-truths to make the way for blatant lies to achieve his self-serving agenda.  Satan is the most clever and crafty of all God's creation, and Haman followed his lead out of hatred of the Jews and love of self.  Observe Haman's proposition to the king in Esther 3:8-9:  "Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."  Haman failed to identify the Jews but called them a scattered people--which implies there were a small number of them.  They were a people who had "different" laws, and falsely claimed they (as a people) did not keep the king's laws.  Because one Jewish man refused to bow before him (while likely all others did), Haman slandered all God's people as disloyal subjects unworthy of life and existence.

Haman judged all the Jews negatively based upon his limited experience with Mordecai, a man he scorned to speak to personally, arrest, or bring before the king.  In seeking the destruction of the Jews by deception, Haman's scheme would lead to His own destruction.  The previous chapter explains this same Mordecai prevented an assassination attempt against King Ahasuerus by sending a message of warning.  The king had recently married the cousin of Mordecai--Hadassah who was called Esther--because he loved her more than all the virgins in his kingdom.  And Haman judged it was unfitting of the king to allow any of the Jews to remain!  Despite his cleverness, Haman's trickery rolled a stone intended to destroy all the Jews that would roll back upon himself and cost him his princely position and life.  Pride comes before a fall, and Haman's fall from the gallows he would construct to kill Mordecai would snap his neck.

As children of the light, Christians ought to avoid the self-serving, subversive tactics of Haman.  He refused to admit his true motivation behind his desire to destroy the Jews, and he walked in the steps of Satan who is a liar, thief and destroyer from the beginning.  Our motive ought to be for the good of others and not their destruction.  Instead of condemning other people or groups due to our negative experiences with one person, we ought to extend grace and mercy to the one who has offended us.  We ought to do what Jesus commanded, that if we have been offended or know someone has something against us we ought to seek to be reconciled with them.  Romans 12:17-19 says to Christians, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ 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."

It is true God's people observe commands of Jesus Christ that are different from the laws of nations and the wisdom embraced by this world.  Haman sought to take vengeance and destroy Mordecai along with all the Jews, and in a stark contrast we ought to follow the golden rule of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, love another as Jesus loves us, freely forgive as we have been forgiven, and give move grace.  Our comments and communication ought not be to start quarrels or "destroy" others or their convictions, but to express gentleness, longsuffering and meekness from a heart filled with God's love.  Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."  Believers are not required to give full-disclosure to those who mean our harm, but we ought to be honest and sincere with an aim to honour God always.

Keeping Words and Worship

As the book draws to a close Revelation 22:6-7 says, "Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ⁷ "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."  Many people are drawn to read Revelation to catch a glimpse into what the future holds, yet Jesus is not content to satisfy our curiosity.  This revelation of Jesus Christ provided for John on the island of Patmos is for us to hear and keep, to remember what God has said and to put His word into practice.  The study of the Scripture, whether narrative, poetry or prophecy, is a call to heed God.

While we can be content to know the truth, God's desire is that we would by faith abide in the Truth.  The apostle John wrote in an epistle in 3 John 1:4:  "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  In a parable Jesus told of a father who told his two sons to work in his vineyard, the one who said he would go was not as commendable as the one who actually went.  Based on the words of Jesus, blessed is the one who reads Revelation as a book that is a call to the personal action of obedience to God in light of what is revealed concerning Jesus.  It is good for us to read all God's word with this intentionality, not just to learn what is true and right, but to order our lives accordingly to please God.

Following on from the promised blessing of Jesus to all who keep the word of His prophecy, Revelation 22:8-9 states:  "Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. ⁹ Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."  This is the second time recorded in Revelation John fell at the feet of an angelic messenger to worship him and was rebuked, for God alone is worthy of worship.  Since John fell at the feet of an angel to worship due to revelation from God, it is entirely possible we can do the same figuratively before human messengers used by God.  We may not physically prostrate ourselves before them or kiss their feet, but we can subtly give people honour and praise God alone is worthy to receive.

There are two directives in the immediate context of keeping the words of the prophecy of Revelation:  do not worship God's servants, and worship God alone.  There are many people who are admirable and good examples as God's servants who excel, yet not one of God's servants is worthy of worship.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd we are to seek and trust, the KING OF KINGS before whom we bow, the one who has our affections and attention, the LORD of LORDS we serve joyfully.  When Jesus visited their home, Martha was distracted by much serving while Mary did the needful thing of sitting at His feet to listen to Jesus.  It is good to "get things done" with labour sanctified as done unto the LORD, yet it is also good for our hearts and bodies to be still and rest, knowing He will accomplish all things.

Psalm 95:6-7 exhorts God's people:  "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker."  I have heard people speak of taking a stand for God, and there are times to do this publicly.  There is also a time to take a stand for Christ on our knees privately, devoting time to worship Him because He is God, is worthy of all honour, and we are commanded to worship Him.  Blessed are those who keep the words of the prophecy of God and worship Him alone.

Jesus Speaks for Himself

As I browsed the wares of a bookstore recently, I was appalled by the blurb on the back of a (supposed) Christian book that has sold in the neighbourhood of 45 million copies.  The back of the book says it was "...written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you--words of encouragement, comfort, and reassurance of His unending love."  While obviously popular, I find it a disgrace anyone who "reveres" God's word would write and print a book that purports to speak the words of Jesus in first person--who has cherry-picked themes and passages as a Jesus Christ impersonator.  I've never quite understood the draw to be an Elvis impersonator for fun, but I cannot begin to comprehend writing a book to be like Jesus speaking to spiritually starving souls when they could be actually reading His words in the Bible.

Perhaps people are drawn to read a book like this is because they are not experiencing God speak to them as they read His word.  Like students in school who didn't read the assigned books and relied on Cliffsnotes pamphlets to summarise the content, maybe people don't bother with reading the Bible.  The pages of the Bible might as well be Greek or Hebrew to them, and there are many things they don't understand clearly.  They want to hear from God as others seem to have, and there are brands of Christianity that put priests, pastors or prophets on a pedestal as the primary means to hear from God--as if God doesn't speak to just anyone.  People can come to a pastor for prayer because they believe they have a better chance of having their prayer heard or answered than if they prayed privately.  I imagine some people scoop up a daily devotional to help get them in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer.

There's nothing wrong with daily devotionals:  writing in first person as if you are Jesus is problematic because this is an effort to assume the voice and tone of God when the writer is not God.  A prophet says, "Thus says the LORD" and God's people can quote the scripture with complete confidence in the LORD to fulfill His word.  In the New Testament you will find no examples of people speaking as if they were Jesus because Jesus is alive and speaks.  Each book of the Bible inspired by the Holy Spirit has variations of style and format.  The books of the Bible were not written by authors who attempted to sound like God was speaking but guided by the Holy Spirit penned God's word in truth which is complete.  To try to speak in the voice of Jesus is to run the incredibly high risk of adding to or taking away from what Jesus has said because Christians are not Christ.  God can speak to us in a multitude of ways that include other people and books they have written, and His word remains the touchstone of all truth.

So you have this book in your library; you've read it and recommended it to others because it was useful to you.  Let me exhort you, dear friend, to read the Bible believing Jesus Himself will speak directly to you.  That is one purpose of God giving us the Scripture, so we might hear God speak, know Him and walk in His ways.  His word guides us into all truth with the help of the Holy Spirit, instructs us in His wisdom, warns, rebukes, corrects and exhorts us.  God tells us things we would never have dreamed up and things we do not like because we are not naturally like Him:  His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  Any daily devotional will become dusty and dry, but God's word is living, fresh and daily supplies our spiritual needs.  Call out to the LORD, and He will hear you and answer.

Christ's Judgment Seat

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

2 Corinthians 5:10

Today at Calvary Chapel Sydney I mentioned how the dead will be raised to appear at the Great White Throne judgment to be judged according to their works.  Those who names are written in the Book of Life will appear before the judgment seat of Christ.  Knowledge Christians will be judged by Christ provokes us to consider what this will involve.  The fact Paul wrote this to believers leads me to believe this is a subject people do not know much about, and frankly there isn't a great amount of detail provided.  At times people have been keen to offer their opinions on what this judgment entails, yet the little God has plainly said is infinitely superior to man's ideas.

When we speak of final judgment and the eternal state, there is much we do not and cannot know.  Based on what the Bible teaches us and has revealed to us, there are some suggestions we can soundly reject.  The most common is at the judgment seat of Christ we will be confronted with all our sins, that God will pick our lives apart (publicly, of course!) by rehearsing our transgressions.  Nothing could be further from the truth, for Jesus has already atoned for all our sins, cleansed us entirely and imputed Christ's righteousness to us.  The judgment seat of Christ is not for the dead (spiritually) but those who have been born again and granted eternal life by faith in Jesus.  It is a judgment where we receive rewards or possibly suffer loss.  2 John 1:8 says to believers, "Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."  No rewards God gives could ever be earned by our merits:  they are only received by God's grace.

Having received Jesus Christ as Saviour, each believer is called to wisely build on this foundation--hearing and obeying the words of Jesus.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15:  "Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."  People who build a house in an area prone to fire will select materials suitable to resist and endure fire.  In a similar manner, all who realise our lives will be judged by Christ's fiery gaze ought to live in the way we know pleases Him.  Jesus freely supplies enduring building materials the Holy Spirit produces in our lives.  Proverbs 14:1 says, "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."  The wise build on a solid foundation, and the foolish rely on themselves or things of this world that cannot endure.

In a parable Jesus told, a master gave talents to his servants according to their ability, left on a long journey, and then settled accounts with each of them upon his return.  Consideration of this raises a question in the light of the judgment Christians will face:  have we wisely invested the life, resources and gifts God has given us for His sake?  Have we laboured to be fruitful with God's things or have we sought to serve ourselves?  Jesus said in Matthew 25:20-21:  "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' ²¹ His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"  The master in the parable commended his faithful servant upon his return, and Jesus will commend all His servants who serve Him faithfully.  The servant viewed all the talents as being his master's, and we serve Christ faithfully when we acknowledge our lives are God's and we are not our own because we have been bought with a price--the precious blood of Jesus.

We can have all confidence in view of standing before the judgment seat of Christ because of all Jesus has accomplished for us through the Gospel.  Having been born again and forgiven by Jesus, we know we are accepted in the beloved and are citizens in the kingdom of God.  If our confidence is ever in our ability to be faithful or to impress God with our efforts, this is confidence horribly misplaced.  All confidence must always be completely in God, knowing when we are found faithful it is His doing for He has given us His Holy Spirit to help, guide and comfort us.  To God's people who will stand before Him and be judged, Jesus commanded humble, faithful obedience in Luke 17:10:  "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"  Any good that arises from our efforts is all God's doing, and we ought to do good because our Saviour has commanded us and provided an example.  Those who fear and trust God ought not to fear future judgment, for God's perfect love casts out all fear.

Praise the LORD Jesus

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"

Psalm 150:6

If we had the capability of observing people approach God through prayer in turn, I wonder what patterns or themes would emerge.  I suspect the main thing would be people asking God for help, blessings or to do something.  This is fitting, for who has more power, authority, influence and ability to help than God?  People who do not believe in God will make requests out of sheer desperation:  what do they have to lose?  When people acquire sums of money, others can feel entitled to a portion of it because of their relationship.  As there are ungrateful brats who expect and demand money from their parents, it is likely God has children that resemble them.  James said Christians sometimes have not because we ask God amiss, seeking His resources to gratify our lusts.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with seeking God and making our requests known to Him, for He invites us to approach Him in faith and ask, knowing He is aware of our needs even before we submit a formal request.  But when all we do is ask Him for things without acknowledgement of what He has already done for us or given to us, are forgetful of all the times He has blessed us without even asking, I  am convinced He notices this.  There is an example of this after Jesus healed the 10 lepers and only one thought to return to Jesus, glorified God and thanked Him (and it happened to be a Samaritan, a foreigner!).  Jesus said in Luke 17:17-18, "So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? ¹⁸ Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"  Jesus asking, "But where are the nine?" rings in my ears because I know I have been numbered among those who happily went their way after God answered and never took time to thank Him.  And then before long I was back again, asking God for other things without glorifying or thanking Him for the miracles He already wrought in my life.

This is one reason praise to God is absolute sweetness to the LORD as well as our souls.  When we give praise to God, it is a free gift of gratitude, thanksgiving and glory to God because of who He is and what He has done without asking for anything in return--a gift untainted by selfishness or angling for additional benefits.  It warms our souls to give a valuable gift, and there is no greater gift we can give our LORD as sincere praise from a heart who loves and delights in Him, who meditates on His word, credits Him with awesomeness and praises Him simply because He is worthy.  Genuine praise of God is not to flatter Him so we might find favour with Him but due to the favour He has already freely given us.  Praising God by faith in Him when we are content in Him alone is a treasured (and likely rare) gift God's people are equipped by the Holy Spirit to offer Him in abundance.

Times of corporate worship are a joyful occasion at a church service, for it is wonderful to join together with recipients of God's grace, singing and praising God with our whole hearts.  Our contentment is not to hinge on the song selection, the quality of the musicians or singers, but in the LORD whose word commands:  "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!"  It is no wonder we are blessed beyond measure in simply praising and thanking God, for Jesus said to the cleansed Samaritan leper in Luke 17:19:  "...Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."  Having his request granted to be cleansed of leprosy did not bring wholeness to the man:  it was faith in Jesus and glorifying Him as God that brought spiritual cleansing the nine did not necessarily experience.  Rather than using our breath to complain or only make requests of God, let us praise Him.  Praise the LORD!

Fair, Just and Right

"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?"

Ezekiel 18:25

Through the prophet Ezekiel, God addressed the accusations of His people against Him that He was not fair when they were the ones being unfair.  In other translations "fair" is rendered equal, just and right.  As is always the case, man's sense of justice and righteousness who criticised God was skewed by his own sinfulness, bias and self-serving agenda.  God is perfectly fair, and He is also merciful, gracious, loving and compassionate.  His heart is not inclined to destroy people but to save them.  Yet if rebellious people are hellbent on destroying themselves and refuse His offer of forgiveness and salvation, He will let them have their way.  Everyone receives the opportunity to make the decision if they will submit to what God says is right or stubbornly affirm their own way is right.

God laid the function of justice according to His Law in Ezekiel 18:26-30 to draw sinners to Himself as giver of life:  "When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. ²⁷ Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. ²⁸ Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²⁹ Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? ³⁰ "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin."  The Law of Moses judges a man according to his merit in every circumstance and not on his reputation or track record.  A man does not avoid punishment when he has killed a man because he had not killed anyone for 30 years.  Iniquity has been committed and prior good behaviour does not exonerate him from being held accountable for his crime.

On the flip side, one who had been thieving and extorting money for years, should he freely confess his guilt and repay all he stole with interest as the Law demands, such would not face the penalty of theft.  The one who considered and turned away from all his transgressions with repentance would not be incarcerated or executed.  He was deemed free of sin and free to go.  The children of Israel thought this was unjust of God when He is only fair, just and right.  I find it ironic God is righteous and His Law is very effective to reveal our sinfulness, yet man's inclination is to try to find fault with God and justify himself when only God can justify us.  Our natural hearts are so bent and corrupted by sin the existence of God's Laws actually stir us to transgress them.

Apart from God, iniquity would have been our ruin.  But thanks be to our righteous God who has revealed Himself and provided a way of forgiveness and righteousness, for salvation and deliverance is not found by efforts to keep the Law, but by righteousness imputed by faith in Jesus Christ.  Though the Law of Moses holds forth a righteous standard, it gives us no strength or ability to keep it.  Trying to justify ourselves by the Law can only condemn us, yet the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.  Anyone who demands justice will receive it, and those who appeal to their good works cannot justify themselves and remain condemned for every infraction.  But those who admit they are sinners and repent, trusting in Jesus who atoned for the sins of the world, He will justify, sanctify and glorify according to His promise.  How good it is God is just and gracious, merciful and righteous.

God has extended the offer of a relationship with Him as a father to a beloved son or daughter--not a transactional relationship according to our demands to have our way.  It is by faith in Jesus we become children of God and receive the blessings and benefits spoken of in Psalm 103:10-14 and other places in the Bible:  "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. ¹³ As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him."  Praise God He is faithful, trustworthy and cares for us, perfect in all His ways.

Repentance Not Regretted

When people are guilty of having done wrong, those who have been wronged or are tasked with administering justice often look for signs of contrition in the guilty.  Judges pronouncing sentence upon a convicted felon and children alike look with discerning eye to judge the sincerity of others to see if they recognise their guilt.  We can reject apologies given by people who do not sound sorry at all.  What this can lead to is the development of the hypocritical skill of sounding or appearing "sorry" that is not indicative of our hearts.  As children we learn looking and acting sorry can be the required currency to be exchanged to sweep our transgressions away, and it is a small price to pay.  Others feel guilty for doing wrong but are too proud to admit it.  Rather than humble contrition when confronted, they can become agitated and angry, offended anyone would suggest they are worthy of blame.

It is remarkable how different people respond to correction and how our feelings and thoughts impact our reactions to the same event.  Correcting one person humiliates them and they want to hide, and another is glad to be set right and shakes hands gladly.  After their sins are exposed one person is carefree to the point you wonder if they understand plain words, and another is so wracked with guilt they visibly weep.  A passage I read this morning reminded me of Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes, that to everything there is a season and for every purpose under heaven.  There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.  Jesus explained it was the appropriate time to celebrate and feast when the bridegroom was present--not a time for fasting.  There is a time and season for feasting as well as fasting, and nature as well as scripture teach us it is God who determines what season it is.  Whenever we have sinned it is the season for repentance, and like summer brings heat repentance results in rejoicing.

In Nehemiah 8, Ezra the priest and scribe along with Nehemiah and other leaders in Israel, gathered the people together to read and teach from the Law of Moses.  As the people stood and heard the words of God explained to them, their understanding of the Law prompted them to weep because they realised their sin before their holy God.  Nehemiah 8:9-12 says, "And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them."  It was good the people sorrowed over their sin, but the Levites explained the people were not to remain perpetually sorrowful:  they were called to rejoice, feast and bless one another with good things.  Sorrow and feelings of guilt were not God's demand upon His people but that repentance for past sins lead to joyful obedience presently.

Isn't this a good exhortation for God's people today?  What would it have benefitted God's people to lament their previous ignorance of God's Law and wallow in shame as those without hope, to fast when commanded to feast?  Should they mourn perpetually their disobedience to God or how miserly they had been toward one another when God called them to obey God with rejoicing and giving that very day?  Sorrow for sin does not constitute repentance as Paul wrote to believers in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10:  "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."  Being made sorry in a godly manner leads to gain for it produces repentance leading to salvation that is never regretted.  True repentance frees us from the pangs of grief and sorrow that drag a soul down to hell, for Jesus has provided the atonement and salvation with His own blood.  In Christ regardless of our past sins we always have cause for rejoicing--and all by His grace.

Read God's Word

I read a couple of C.H. Spurgeon sermons today, and as usual, they were a rich spiritual feast.  What I found compelling and challenging was how he strongly called out professing believers who attended his church who did not regularly read the Bible.  Spurgeon had no quarrel with supposed freethinkers or those of a different perspective, but as a preacher of the Book he knew to be God's word said, "...There is never any necessity for Christian ministers to make a point of bringing forward infidel arguments in order to answer them.  It is the greatest folly in the world...Let men of the world learn error of themselves; do not let us be propagators of their falsehoods." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. page 27)

Spurgeon reserved his strongest rebukes in his sermon for professing, churchgoing Christians who were not in the regular practice of reading the Bible when it is God's word written to us.  He took aim at those who watered down the Word by trying to make it more palatable when it was intended to be unpalatable to our natural flesh.  Better than laying guilt on people to goad them to do what they ought to do, Spurgeon minced no words and at the same time shared how attractive, inspiring and remarkable God's word really is.  Toward the end of the message I enjoyed an especially delightful paragraph, and I hope it will work up an appetite in you to read God's word like a hungry man who finally sits down to dinner.

"My friend, the philosopher, says it may be very well for me to urge people to read the Bible; but he thinks there are a great many sciences far more interesting and useful than theology.  Extremely obliged to you for your opinion, sir.  What science do you mean?  The science of dissecting beetles and arranging butterflies?  "No," you say, "certainly not."  The science, then, of arranging stones, and telling us of the strata of the earth?"  "No, not exactly that."  Which science, then?  "Oh, all the sciences," say you, "are better than the science of the Bible."  Ah! sir, that is your opinion; and it is because you are far from God, that you say so.  But the science of Jesus Christ is the most excellent of sciences.  Let no one turn away from the Bible because it is not a book of learning and wisdom.  It is.  Would you know astronomy?  It is here:  it tells you of the Sun of Righteousness and the Star of Bethlehem.  Would you know botany?  It is here:  it tells you of the plant of renown--the Lily of the Valley, and the Rose of Sharon.  Would you know geology and mineralogy?  You shall learn it here:  for you may read of the Rock of Ages, and the White Stone with the name engraven thereon, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.  Would ye study history?  Here is the most ancient of all the records of the history of the human race.  Whate'er your science is, come and bend o'er this book; your science is here.  Come and drink out of this fair fount of knowledge and wisdom, and ye shall find yourselves made wise unto salvation.  Wise and foolish, babes and men, gray-headed sires, youths and maidens--I speak to you, I plead with you, I beg of you respect your Bibles, and search them out, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Christ." (Ibid, pages 42-43)

THE Baby

While putting away Christmas decorations, I made a somewhat amusing and ridiculous observation on the box of a Nativity Set.  As far as I am aware, the term "Nativity" is commonly a reference to a very specific historical event:  the birth of Jesus Christ to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem.  The word according to Webster means, "birth, the coming into life or the world. The feast of Christmas is observed in memory of Christs nativity."  See if you can find the glaring omission in the packaging of the Nativity I placed on a shelf in the shed.

The package identified Joseph as 71.1cm tall, Mary as 68.6cm, and baby--not THE Baby or Baby Jesus or Jesus, but "baby" at an adorable 35.6cm long.  How bizarre and ironic it is for the figures to be measured to the millimetre yet for the identity of Jesus (the central Person and purpose of Christmas for Christians who would be the ones placing this Nativity Set in their yard to commemorate Christ's birth) to be omitted entirely.  Jesus was rejected by His own people (the Jews) after He grew to be a man, and it seems the manufacturer of this Nativity Set was ready to cash in on decorations for $49 of a Messiah they have no desire to honour by clear mention of His name.

It is good we believers refuse to stoop to this level, to be satisfied with forgiveness, salvation and the promise of eternal life from Jesus but live in such a manner His name rarely graces our lips in public or at family gatherings.  Our perspective and outlook ought to be shaped by the fact Jesus was not just a baby or a good man but the Redeemer and Saviour of the world:  Immanuel, God with us.  The prophet said truly in Isaiah 7:14:  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."  Jesus coming to the world should not only be celebrated once a year, at church or among Christians, but when life is hard and even the thought of festivities feels depressing.  Into the darkness of the world and our hearts the Light of the World has shone bright, and may the LORD Jesus Christ shepherd us into perfect peace and fullness of joy continually.

Ready Labour

One thing I admire about Nehemiah is his willingness to lead from the front, to lead by example in service to the LORD even though he had no personal experience in building a wall or managing a construction site.  God put it in his heart to visit Jerusalem after hearing of the distressed and dilapidated state, and his connections to the king as cupbearer provided means and authority to oversee the construction of the wall by faith in God.  Nehemiah (as the book goes to show) would prove to be a skilled delegator, yet he did not ask others to do what God called him to do.  He entered into the same labours and suffered the same lack of comforts as labourers, loaders and builders endured though he was accustomed to the comforts of life in a palace.

Due to the real possibility of enemy attack, as people worked they either carried a weapon in one hand or had a sword girded on their thigh.  This readiness was undoubtedly a deterrent to potential enemies, for the workers did not present themselves as a disorganised, easy target:  they were determined, prepared and were willing to put their lives on the line, their resolve steeled to see the walls successfully built.  Nehemiah 4:17-18 reads, "Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. ¹⁸ Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."

Notice Nehemiah did not watch at a distance alone in the shade of a tent with attendants waiting upon him, for he placed himself among the workers with an assistant who was tasked to sound the alarm with a trumpet.  He was in the thick of the action, conversing with workers and was on the pulse of how everything was going.  The construction site covered a large area, and the sound of the trumpet marked the mustering location to Nehemiah who would lead the people in their defence against their enemies.  I have no doubt this was Nehemiah's chosen arrangement, not because he was skilled in battle or military tactics, but due to faith in God who would be their defence and refuge, the living God who fights His people's battles.

There is a brand of Christian who embrace a soldier-mentality to a fault, neglecting other aspects of spiritual life that resemble faithful, obedient labour like gathering and stacking stones.  Loading carts and lifting rocks is not glamorous like defeating Goliath with sling and stone or being credited with slaying thousands of enemies like David.  It was dirty, heavy, taxing work with no triumph at the end; it was mundane labour without notoriety at a personal cost of time, sweat and blood.  The citizens of the kingdom of God are called to profitable labour for Christ's kingdom and to be ready to give a defence for the hope that is in us.  Our call is not to pick fights or lash out with the sword but to keep the Sword of the Spirit girded on our thigh as we labour in doing the LORD's will.  It does not appear the enemies of Nehemiah attacked once during the 52 days they faithfully worked outside during the day, but the workers were ready to defend at all times.  As children of the light and day, this illustration provides a good perspective how Christians are called to live.

Earnestly and Carefully

"After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest."

Nehemiah 3:20

In the section of Nehemiah that explains who repaired the wall and gates of Jerusalem and the specific areas each person or group worked on, the verse concerning Baruch stands out because it shows how he worked.  The rebuilding of the walls, gates and bars of Jerusalem was a huge group effort, and people took up tasks outside their normal field of expertise to collaborate to accomplish the building project in a relatively short time.  Baruch's earnestness to repair a section of the wall is a good illustration of the focus, diligence and dedication God's people ought to exercise in their service unto Him.

Webster defines "earnestly" as "warmly, zealously, importunately, eagerly, with real desire."  Of all the people who laboured on the wall, Baruch was the only one described as working earnestly.  The NKJV rendering of the same word is "carefully," and this provides a helpful clarification.  Earnestness does not mean a person works efficiently, for desire to accomplish a job speedily can result in haste, wasted effort and materials, and inferior results.  I remember a friend of mine was so zealous to use his new power saw in one day he cut through 3 power cords which required valuable time to repair and replace.  Working earnestly with care conveys diligence combined with accuracy.  Baruch sounds like a worker who was pleased and felt privileged to contribute in the work effort.

As there are people who want to do the least amount of work possible for the most pay, there is a person who puts off doing hard work as long as possible to do as little as possible.  This is unbecoming of a child of God who has been granted life, all resources, ability and opportunity to serve the LORD and one another faithfully.  Paul wrote to believing slaves in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  In building Baruch worked towards a completed wall that would provide security, protection and a clear vantage point, and in all we do the child of God is to fulfill our obligations to labour as doing it for God's sake.  In this way all our labours are sanctified with earnestness and sincerity of heart, knowing our reward is not only found in a job completed--but confidence in receiving the reward of the inheritance from Christ.

It is satisfying to see a job coming along well and finally complete, yet the reward of the inheritance Jesus gives is far better.  Jobs finished today will always require maintenance going forward, but what we receive as Christ's inheritance is infinitely greater and enduring.  Christians are promised an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4), and the LORD is our inheritance as it is written in Psalm 16:5:  "O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot."  Rather than working to gain, we are to labour from the place of already having all things, being satisfied in Jesus Christ our Saviour who is our life.  No longer is our mindset to be, "What's in it for me?" or "What do I stand to gain?" but in confidence in our eternal inheritance we put our hands to the plow and our necks to the yoke for Jesus Christ is our portion we have already received and rejoice in.