Living By Faith

We enjoyed a blessed Bible study last night in the book of Matthew at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  In the midst of the study we came upon words of Jesus that are among His more obscure statements, yet they are instructive and reveal how God's ways are higher than the ways of man.  After responding to disciples of John the Baptist who had been imprisoned, Jesus revealed him to be the greatest prophet ever--yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Jesus would usher in a new covenant in His own blood to redeem people from the curse of sin and impute righteousness by faith in Him never revealed to prophets of old.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:12-13, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John."  The point was well-made in the study that violence is not always bad in itself, for strength, eagerness and vehemence can be directed in doing good.  Yet there is no question violence can be destructive, as violent waves have power to break ships apart and sink them.  The prophets, including John the Baptist, were subjected to violence by evil men who falsely accused them, threw them into prison and killed them.  The kingdom of heaven endured the violence of satanic opposition, yet he was unable to prevent God establishing His kingdom in the hearts of redeemed people by the Gospel.

I read the phrase "The violent take it by force" as a general statement in regards to how the violent take kingdoms (or whatever they want) by force.  Kings are overthrown by armies or murdered by assassins so a new regime can rise.  God's kingdom, unlike kingdoms of this world, cannot be overthrown or taken.  God does not stoop to the violent tactics of wicked men who live by the motto, "Might makes right."  Instead, God chose to draw people to His everlasting kingdom with goodness and gentleness.  All the prophets and the law prophesied until John concerning God's truth, and John the Baptist was called by God to herald the coming of the long-awaited Messiah.  Rather than employing violent force, Jesus revealed God's kingdom is established on the basis of God's love for lost sinners.  Imprisoning John and murdering Jesus did nothing to overthrow God's kingdom or bolster the powers of darkness, for there is no force able to overcome the almighty God.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, "The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."  God will not force anyone to come to Him or become citizens of His kingdom, yet God has demonstrated His love powerfully by Jesus laying down His life for sinners.  How forceful our love should be in light of God's love for us!  Our passion for the truth of the Gospel ought to be declared by our deeds as well as words.  The NLT renders verse 12, "And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it."  The advance of God's kingdom is unstoppable because God drives it forward, and God's people are His chosen instruments to speak the truth in love, to pray for our enemies and preach the Gospel.  Throughout history God's people have faced violent opposition, yet by faith in Jesus He makes us to stand and endure unscathed--refined as gold.  As citizens of God's kingdom, rather than taking by force we live by faith in Jesus.

Sovereign God's Will

I started reading through a book recently titled Christ and Human Suffering by E. Stanley Jones, and there was an interesting chapter that compared various worldviews along with Christianity on the view of suffering.  I was particularly intrigued when the views described concerning other religions converged with the outlook of some Christians I have observed.  It is possible, despite our understanding or best efforts, for genuine believers to lean towards secular, humanistic or religious approaches to suffering rather than a biblical one that walks in step with Jesus by faith in Him.

For instance, Stanley wrote concerning the "Moslem" approach:

"The Moslem attitude toward suffering is perhaps simpler than any other attitude.  The Moslem is impressed with the sovereignty of God.  All that happens is his will.  He has predetermined and predestined all that happens.  The good and the evil that come upon us are alike his will.  The attitude of the faithful is to submit to that will.  Islam literally means submission to the will of God.  The Moslem view of suffering, therefore, is to the accept it as the will of God and submit to it...Islam, great and noble in many ways, has nevertheless sterilized the life of vast portions of the East, because its acceptance of inequalities and sufferings as the will of God lays a paralyzing hand on any civilization that adopts it.  It is an opiate." (Jones, E. Stanley. Christ and Human Suffering. 1933. New York, The Abingdon Press, pp. 60–61. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.‌)

I have observed Christians who, when awed by the omniscience and sovereignty of God, can adopt a fatalistic view of God's will that credits (or blames!) Him without consideration of human agency or God's redemptive power.  One can mistakenly assume everything that happens must be God's will when God allows human beings to act contrary to His will continually by sin (2 Peter 3:9).  The Bible says clearly it is not God's will any should perish, yet He sent His own Son Jesus to enter humanity and taste death for every sinner.  By paying the price atonement requires with a righteous sacrifice, by death God could swallow death forever and offer eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Christians ought to be impressed with the sovereignty of God, but we should never use His sovereignty as a cloak for our sin of doing what we please and assuming God approves of it, or to shirk our responsibilities when God has chosen us to do His will revealed to us in His word.  Because God is a Saviour and sovereign He is able to redeem what was intended by man or Satan for evil and use it to do great good.  God's sovereignty ought to move us to submission under His loving and gentle hand even when circumstances feel harsh and painful, for faith in our good God enables us to stand according to His will.  God is sovereign, and has also given people the freedom to choose how we will respond to the circumstances of life.  God has provided something infinitely greater than an opiate for our pains by His presence and promises, and He empowers us to be fruitful and spiritually prosperous by His grace with all He allows.

We are not made noble by suffering alone, but it is noble to suffer and continue to praise God with gratitude and thanksgiving of which He alone is worthy.  Pain can cloud our outlook and negatively colour our attitude, yet the love, grace and goodness of God provides comfort and peace beyond words for those who choose to entrust their lives into His hands.  By faith in Christ we know God, and knowing we are known and loved by Him shifts our perspective to seek Him and to do His will He helps us to do as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

The 4:15 Club

Exclusive clubs have conditions of membership and entry, and the cost can be so prohibited only the affluent can apply.  Only those deemed worthy are able to join such clubs.  Clubs for dancing and drinks are exclusive for people aged 21 and older.  There are clubs people would rather not be included in like the "27 Club," which is a list of musicians and celebrities who died at 27 years of age.

As I was mowing today, I thought of a "club" I was part of for about 7 years.  I don't remember how it came about, but me and a group of guys from church wanted to meet up regularly but evenings were too busy with work and family.  So my dad, myself, and 3 or 4 others from church remedied this by meeting at a Denny's Restaurant every Tuesday morning at 4:15am.  Christmas and New Year's Day were the only days we did not meet.  Men would come and go, usually because of moving away, and when one left another would show up.  The "4:15 club" continued to meet for years after I moved to Australia, and I saw many of those early risers at my dad's memorial service.

We didn't meet early in the morning to draw attention to ourselves or because it was a big sacrifice to prove our devotion to the LORD; it was simply the time that worked for a lot of us who worked in trades.  Meeting together in person allowed each us of to positively impact one another as disciples of Jesus.  Sometimes my dad would provide a book for us to read and/or discuss and we talked about verses from the Bible as well as our present lives.  Everyone had the opportunity to share and contribute to the conversation.  We were able to be a godly witness to the waitresses, praying for them and one another as we enjoyed fellowship over Grand Slams and oatmeal.  Our humble gatherings, led by the Holy Spirit, were fruitful and an encouragement to all willing to attend.

The "4:15 club" illustrates the lasting, positive impact our lives as Christians can make on others for the glory of Jesus Christ by spending time with them in person.  The cost of sacrificing an hour of sleep was a bargain in exchange for the deeper friendship and fond memories of brothers in Christ who faithfully sharpened each other week after week.  Friends, what might you do to meet up with fellow Christians on a regular basis outside of church to encourage one another?  What keeps you from meeting up with Christians--not to create an exclusive group or impress people--but to join your life with others in Christian fellowship to bring God glory?  How enriched are the souls who give of their time and effort to love others by a simple act of buying and eating breakfast together!  As Psalm 133:1 exclaims, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Gathered to Our People

At the memorial service for my dad yesterday, I was greeted by family and friends I had not seen for a long time, over two decades in some cases.  I also met people I had only seen in pictures.  It was like a family reunion of sorts, members of the Body of Christ regathered to honour the memory of Dad who was beloved and respected by many.  While the occasion was tinged with sadness, it was made overwhelmingly sweet by love and kindness of dear friends who attended.

The pastor mentioned Genesis 25:8 as evidence death of the body is not the end for people who fear God:  "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people."  The assembly of people at the church was an illustration of how passing away for a believer provides an entrance to God's presence in heaven and joins us to believers gone before us.  Dad's departure from his frail and failed body meant a joyous union with Jesus and all of God's people in glorified in the eternal state.

Abraham was gathered to his people, not by virtue of blood relation, but that of shared spiritual heritage by faith in God.  Psalm 144:15 says, "Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!"  By the Gospel Jesus has opened wide the gates of heaven for all who will trust in Him as written in Revelation 5:9-10:  "And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, ¹⁰ and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."  God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

It is a marvelous thing God has promised the former things will be forgotten and not come into mind (Isaiah 65:17-18), yet we will know God as we are known (1 Corinthians 13:12).  We will not lament who we do not see in the eternal state but rejoice in the LORD Jesus and all His redeemed forever. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 reads, "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  What a victorious and joyful entrance to heaven and existence it will be, to be with God and His people--our people--always!

Where the Carrot Leads

Most are familiar with the concept of dangling a carrot from a string in front of a person or animal to motivate them to walk forward.  Their hunger, coupled with the hope of satisfaction that hangs tantalisingly out of reach, will move them to action.  The problem for the one pursuing the carrot is he may never obtain it, and who knows where the efforts to gain that carrot will take them.  Their focus is so much on the carrot people can stray far from where they want to be or end up.  People do not want to end up in the gutter, but many have found themselves there.

The wise will not focus on the carrot but where the pursuit of the carrot will lead them.  The businessman may be pursuing elusive riches and early retirement, but it may lead to the breakdown of his physical health, marriage and family.  A young woman might desire to be a famous actress, but the pursuit may require her to cast aside her values and chastity.  To feel accepted or part of the "in" group ,dabbling in drugs may lead to crippling addiction and poverty.  In the movie Maleficent, an ambitious man who wanted the throne for himself stole the wings and broke the heart of the fairy who loved him.  Knowing the price in the end (which cost him his sanity and life), he may have chosen a different course entirely if he could start over.

The wisdom of thinking where temptation is leading us is true concerning addictions and sin.  People chase the carrot of fun by drinking to excess, but it can potentially lead to violence, sexual assault and a bad hangover.  Some pursue the carrot of lust and fornication that produces shame, emptiness and regret.  No one wants to feel ashamed, and if people would consider where their lusts would lead them they might have have had the resolve to reject temptation.  No one wants to explain to their spouse how they have been unfaithful or be told their partner is leaving them, but that is where straying leads.

Like a clever fisherman, the devil is very good at hiding the hook in attractive bait.  Having been snared by his lies and our own folly at times, one would think we would learn.  But forgetfulness of the sorrow, emptiness, guilt and shame for sin is part of the human condition when a fresh temptation is placed before us.  Having fallen for the ruse before and knowing where it will certainly lead us, by faith in God and by His wisdom we look beyond the temptation--where it is leading us--rather than thinking satisfaction could be found presently in sin or in worldly pursuits.  Our flesh longs for the carrot, but the wise ought to look beyond it to Jesus for guidance and inspiration.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Rather than looking to what the flesh desires and cries out for, we are to look to Jesus so we can lay aside weights and sins and run the race God has set before us.  In the middle of a race is not time to veer off course or to head to local shops for a snack.  Jesus does not dangle eternal rewards and blessings before us to tempt us to follow Him, but He gives us Himself and countless blessings for seeking Him today.  Why chase the carrot when He has us and we have him?  In Christ we are satisfied and find rest for our souls.

Rebels Against the Light

"There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways nor abide in its paths."

Job 24:13

During Job's discussion with his friends, he spoke of murderers, adulterers and thieves who operated under the cover of darkness.  Their sin was premeditated and meticulously planned, for they made disguises to avoid detection and scoped out properties during the day to return to plunder after dark.  These are those who "rebel against the light," who know what they are doing (and are planning to do) is wrong, but they choose to do it anyway.

God who created the sun to shine by day and the moon to shine by night has given every man the light of his own conscience, the ability to reason and make judgments and provided the light of God's word.  Even young children have a sense of morality built into them and express their displeasure over what seems unfair.  This concept of fairness is not cast off in our adulthood but further refined according to our worldview.  No other beast or creature God made on earth possesses this capacity for convictions we can declare, promote and live by.  Human beings by God's design can override the mindless reactions of instinct, follow our convictions and walk guided the light of our conscience when others walk in darkness.

It is a grave thing indeed to rebel against the light, for it is willful departure from what we know is right.  People wrongly paint God as a cruel ogre who punishes people for what they are ignorant of, but the truth is He will hold all accountable for the light they have been given, what they know and have chosen to intentionally violate.  Sin against the light is a sin is blatant hypocrisy and rebellion God will certainly hold to account.  God did not only cause the light of the sun to shine or the light of His Scripture the Bible, but He sent Jesus Christ as the Light of the World to plainly speak and demonstrate what righteousness looks like:  love from a pure heart.  It is by knowing Christ by faith and abiding in Him we can walk in the light.

Jesus revealed Himself to be the true Light that shines in the darkness, and He said in John 3:19:  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."  John 8:12 says plainly, "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  Seeing light shine is one thing, but walking in the light by following Jesus in submission and obedience and having the light is another.  Those who rebel against the light rush to ruin though they reign on earth, for God will bring such down to the dust in death and to hell forever for their folly.  Let us choose to walk and abide in the Light rather than rebelling against light we have received and know.

God Declares Truth

There are many sayings and cliches we hear that promote a message we wish could be true.  My uncle was quoted as saying something like, "If your heart can conceive it and your mind can believe it, you can achieve it."  There is evidence to support this could be true--though our desires and belief have no guarantee of fulfillment.  I wanted to bowl a perfect game and believed I could do so, but despite training and practice I never managed to achieve the milestone.  Of all the games I bowled in my adult life I only started a game with 9 strikes in a row once, and I finished with a 279.  Inspirational sayings may be nothing more than wishful thinking when results depend upon our efforts.

What prompted these thoughts to percolate in my mind was due to a slip of paper in a fortune cookie I read yesterday:  "Affirm it, visualize it, believe it, and it will actualize itself."  This statement goes far beyond wishful thinking because it is plainly ridiculous.  Our observations and life experiences show us nothing in this world can actualize itself, that something imagined could by itself become a concrete reality we benefit from.  It is a very good thing declaring something to be true, visualizing and believing it does not make it actualize itself, for this is the thing nightmares are made of.

I love that God's plans and purposes for our lives exceed our wildest dreams and most fervent desires.  Christians know this is true because God's love is not of this world, a thing we never could have imagined until Jesus revealed His love for all by dying on the cross for us sinners.  Our greatest imaginations and conceptions of heaven are far too small even when the eternal state is described in the pages of the Bible.  We often see as in a mirror dimly, a hazy faint image of a future we cannot grasp or clearly make out.  But the glories of heaven are entirely believable because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven in view of His disciples--some of whom joyfully embraced martyrdom rather than deny Christ, so great was their confidence in Christ's promise of eternal life to all who trust in Him.

Better than affirming, visualizing and believing in what we can imagine or conceive in our minds is the reality God has declared of His existence, sovereignty and power broadcast through the heavens that declare His glory for all to see.  God alone has the power to speak things into existence, for He is the creator of the heavens, earth and all living things.  Man longs for this power and seeks it for himself, yet this is God's sovereign territory as it is written in Lamentations 3:37:  "Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?"  Man naturally values his imaginations and what could be more than the reality of God and what He has commanded and declared to be true.  Faith in God opens our hearts and minds to comprehend Him and what is even when it is beyond our understanding, and this reality is better than man's fantasies.

Taught to Know War

While listening to a sermon the other day, it occurred to me when people face opposition, trials and difficulties they can lean towards identifying these as "attacks of the enemy," evidence the devil is actively seeking to thwart or distract them from good they are doing.  Others tend to see negative situations as God exposing their own sin or teaching them a lesson--and the sooner they "learn the lesson" the problems will resolve quickly.  Because God and His ways are higher than ours, I believe the LORD is at work to redeem our situations for good in countless ways whether we realise it or not.  It may not be possible to reduce the reason we are experiencing a particular trial to one primary reason, and I do not think it necessary to do so.

Case in point:  after the children of Israel did not drive the inhabitants from the land, God allowed their enemies to remain for many reasons which God plainly stated in His word.  Judges 3:1-4 says, "Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan ² (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), ³ namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. ⁴ And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

God could have driven out the inhabitants of Canaan without a fight, yet there were several practical reasons for allowing them to remain:  to test Israel, to teach them war because their generation had never known it, to prove His people, and to see if they would keep God's commands or not.  There is a kind of test we can pass or fail, and there are also tests we can practice to knock off rust, that measure our speed or show improvement, that enable us to exercise at our present level with an aim to grow.  "Passing" one test is preparation for facing another test we must practice to pass, so God's testing can take a new form that challenges us in unexpected ways.

Of all these reasons given, it may be a surprise God would have His people who are ignorant of war to learn war.  There is a time for peace, and there is a time for war.  When we choose to be God's people by faith in Him, there is no shortage of conflict even within ourselves because we continue to live in a human body.  God desires His people would be battle-hardened in trusting and obeying Him, even as warriors looked to their superiors for guidance and provision.  Rather than being careless and taking peace for granted, God wanted His people to learn how enemies looked for lapses of defenses and vulnerabilities, and how their own carelessness and lack of obedience to God undermined their own safety and prosperity.  It would take time for the Hebrews to realise it was God who fought their battles, and how their part was to honour Him with obedience and submission to His commands.

Those who have personally observed the horrors of war wish more than anything their children would be spared such suffering and pain, yet like the Hebrews there is no one who fears God who can avoid the war that breaks out after being born again by faith in Jesus and continuing to live in our bodies of flesh in a corrupt world.  As the Lord of the Rings character Aragon said, "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not."  It is not a question if we can avoid conflict and spiritual warfare, but whether we take steps by reliance on God coupled with obedience to undergo testing and refinement through many failures.  We cannot say or know why a particular trial overtakes us, but we can know God remains good and allows it as a tool to accomplish His redemptive purposes.  As much as the devil can trouble us, God's ability to help us and redeem every trial for good is infinitely greater.  What will you do:  curse the devil or glorify God with gratitude for His love, grace and mercies?

Practice Love

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

John 13:34

As Christians, we love God because He first loved us.  Having freely received His love, we are also called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love others like He loves us.  God's love is not of this world and is not natural to our flesh, so it requires spiritual regeneration by the Gospel, faith in God and obedience to embrace God's will to love one another as Jesus does.

When going through notes penned during a funeral service years ago, I came across an acronym for "love" I had not seen before that I found useful.  While it is not a formula to be followed or a perfect summation of God's love for us in convenient form, it provides practical advice for what form God's love can take in our interactions with others--a sacrificial love that cares deeply for the good of others without thought of self.

The scrap of paper had this written in the middle of it:

• L isten
• O verlook other's faults and offences
• V alue each person
• E njoy everyone

The love of God is deeply personal because it always involves people.  For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, and God's desire is that every single person would receive and respond to His love by freely choosing to love Him back.  God has listened to our cry for love and purpose  in this world, and He has treated us infinitely better than we deserve by His grace.  He values each one of us and enjoys us as we are--though He would have us free from the curse and bondage to sin that brings death.

All who love Jesus Christ are called to love others as He loves us.  God loved us while we were miserable wretches, self-righteous hypocrites and arrogant atheists; He has loved us when we felt entitled to be loved and thought we naturally loved like Him.  Knowing we cannot love as God's loves, how wonderful it is by God's design the fruit of the Spirit is love.  You cannot love as God loves, but are you willing to take a step of faith in God (because you love Him) to give Him the opportunity to love others through you?  Let us be those who choose to put love into practice.

The Supremacy of Christ

God's grace, mercy and love has no equivalent in this world.  All this world can offer are lesser, cheaper substitutes that may have a similar appearance but lack the good motivation God always has.  It struck me today that world aims low (compared to God) and preaches "tolerance" as ethical when Jesus preached and lived according to God's love.  The world is fine when we tolerate people who are different from us while Jesus demonstrated loving His enemies.  God does not merely "put up with" those who malign and falsely accuse Him of wickedness, but He truly loves them and proved it by Jesus dying on the cross for sinners.

People are quite skilled to learn what things to say or do to have their way, to get what they want.  Children learn from a young age the doors good manners can open for them, how by saying "please" and "thank you" they find favour from parents, teachers and even strangers.  Good manners are a far cry from humility, and cultured behaviour is no indicator of the heart.  God's desire is for us to live righteously and godly in this present age, and this is only possible by being transformed from within, born again by faith in Jesus Christ.  There are no shortage of self-righteous people in this world, yet doing good is no substitute for calling on the LORD out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).

The wisdom of the world has great fleshly appeal because it makes sense to us, yet God's ways and wisdom are infinitely beyond ours.  God's wisdom appears foolish to people who do not know Him, and despite man's wisdom he remained completely ignorant of God who created him.  So God revealed Himself to the world through Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:22-25 says, "For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."  Paul does not infer God is foolish but showed how man's wisdom is pathetic when compared with the weak and foolish things God uses in His wisdom to confound the wise.

Some pursue what they call the "good life" when all this world can offer will fade away into obscurity forever.  Jesus is both good (because He is God) and the Life who alone offers eternal life by the Gospel.  Jesus asked in Mark 8:36, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"  Jesus was asked many questions, and often Jesus answered questions of those who sought to entrap Him with questions of His own His enemies could not answer without self-incrimination.  God has the incredible ability to say things a child can easily understand while at the same time the most learned dare not answer.  Isn't His love, righteousness and wisdom awesome?

God's Service

We can view deliverance as all or nothing, yet God was intentional to grant His people some deliverance.  Because His people humbled themselves before the LORD, He decided not to pour out His wrath on Jerusalem by Shishak, king of Egypt.  But He said in 2 Chronicles 12:8, "Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."  This made me consider:  how is the service of God distinguished from the service of the kingdoms of the nations?  Only after personally experiencing the two options the wise of God's people would come to appreciate and love God more because His yoke is easy and His burden light by comparison.

When God appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and later revealed Himself to the Hebrews on Sinai, God made a covenant with them.  He made promises to make them great and prosperous, to provide for their needs, protect them from enemies and establish them in their own land as an inheritance.  He chose them, not because Abraham or the Jewish people were the mightiest people, but because He is a gracious, merciful and awesome God who chose them.  In the Law of Moses God gave His people statutes to keep and sins to avoid, and He did all this for their good and to enable privileged fellowship with Himself.  God gave His people a covenant and precious promises He would be faithful to keep, and they were beneficiaries of His goodness and generosity.

Shishak, on the other hand, was all about taking anything he wanted from the Jewish people.  He only sought to enrich himself from their labours.  He was not interested in helping or giving them anything.  There was absolutely no love, kindness or relationship to be enjoyed.  The children of Israel found themselves impoverished and lacking with no promise of prosperity or protection.  They were slaves to a cruel master who did not care about them, their children or future.  Compared to God Shishak had no power at all, yet the power he had was never inclined to be used for their good.  There was no satisfaction of a job well done but a fear of reprisal if Shishak was ever displeased--and it is doubtful he was ever pleased with them.

The children of Israel experienced the difference between serving to be blessed and serving because they were blessed.  They could never earn the favour or approval of Shishak, for this was never an option on the table.  They worked to placate an adversarial ruler, avoid punishment and grimly hang onto survival.  The service of God was completely different, for the LORD loved His people as the apple of His eye.  He cared for them like a good shepherd who led his flock, provided for their needs and protected them from harm.  Shishak would suddenly come with demands and leave, but the LORD dwelt among His people as their God who fought their battles, was faithful to bless and gave them peace.  The children of Israel had no idea how good life was under God, so God gave partial deliverance so they could compare serving God or Shishak.

To people weary and burdened by the cares of life under Roman occupation and the demands of lifeless religion, Jesus called in Matthew 11:29-30:  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  How blessed we are to serve alongside Jesus Christ because of His humility, gentleness and generosity.  He truly loves us like no one else would or could.

The Rest of Your Life

When I was thinking of my dad this morning I looked up a jazz/big band album that was among my favourites of his:  Woody Herman Thundering Herd from 1974.  The album cover was memorable because of some pretty amazing 70's hair on nerdy-looking guys posing as football players.  We kids were always allowed to play his records on his turntable, and over the years Dad introduced me to Glen Miller, Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey and classical music as well.  He would point out the instruments as I listened along and helped me learn to distinguish them.  A lot of his music was instrumental, so it was a perfect opportunity to practice whistling and imitating the sound of a trombone--an instrument he played.

Amazingly, when I searched for the album the first song that come up was the song I always thought of as "his song" to me because it features a long trombone solo.  I couldn't have told you what the title was before today, but it hit me a bit different because today happened to be his last day on earth.  The song is titled,  "What are you doing with the rest of your life."  There may not be what is considered a perfect song, album or life, but we can have our favourites--and Dad is that for me.  When I think about the body of work my Dad accumulated during his 70 years of life on earth, by God's grace he quietly and steadily accomplished incredible things.  He loved God, family and country; he ate, worked, read and slept with an emphasis on work.  Yet his work never took him away from us or people, for his labours always drew people closer.

At the end of a timed exam people are told by the teacher to put their pencils or pens down, and so it was for Dad--who was content to remain on the tools his entire carpentry career.  A day came (earlier than Dad expected) when God determined it was time for my dad to put down the tools, and he did.  He ran his race God set before him with joy even when there was bad news, unexpected obstacles, valleys and uphill climbs.  He faithfully expressed his love for God by using his gifts and building skills to help others free of charge.  There is no one I admired more or aspired to be like than Dad, and I'm grateful for a life filled with happy memories of a man with a sense of humour who didn't mess around, a fellow who swung a hammer for a living and also tied balloon animals with those calloused hands to minister God's love to kids at church or outreaches.

My dad's favourite verse in the Bible is found Psalm 116:15:  "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."  God loved us sinners so much He sent His Son Jesus to be the Saviour of the world, and He provided atonement with His own blood.  Considering the precious payment God made to redeem mankind, those He has purchased are most precious in His sight having chosen them as His own inheritance.  My dad said many times if he was ever to have a tattoo it would be, "Do not resuscitate" emblazoned across his chest because when God called him home, that is exactly where he wanted to be--glorified in the presence of God without pain and sorrow, loosed from a failing body, finally home and whole for eternity.  It wasn't that Dad wanted to die, but he earnestly looked forward to the day when He would see Jesus in person.

What am I doing with the rest of my life?  It's one of those questions that cannot be answered with words:  looking back may supply a more accurate assessment of our character moving forward than staring into the unknown or having aspirations.  Knowing Jesus is my life as His redeemed through the Gospel, may God help me to run the race set before me with joy, to faithfully follow Jesus all my days no matter what comes--a decision my dad nor countless saints will ever regret.  For those who are in Christ, the rest of our lives lead to rest in God's presence as we serve Him faithfully.

What God Does

There is no one more generous than God, for He has given everyone our lives and all that we have.  He is willing to give people what they want, like when the Hebrews told the prophet Samuel they desired him to anoint a king over them.  God will give justice to those who demand it, and He will also freely give the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit to those who request this of Him.  God gives grace to the humble and demonstrates love even to His enemies, for Jesus laid down His life to save sinners.

Incredibly, all God gives is able to work towards and accomplish His good purposes from beginning to end.  I think about the parable Jesus told of the prodigal son, how at his demand the father gave his ungrateful and entitled son his inheritance early--likely knowing full well the money would not be invested wisely.  All his inheritance was subsequently wasted, and his lack led the son to come to his senses.  He chose to humble himself and return to his father, and this led to a restoration of a relationship the son never realised was so far gone.  Dad saying "yes" to his wayward son led to a change in his son that was as stark as the difference between death and life.

Daniel knew God as the almighty who raised up kings and deposed them, the sovereign God who rules over all.  The LORD who gives is also the LORD who takes away for His good reasons.  Job 12:24-25 says of the living God:  "He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. ²⁵ They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man."  As people with limited strength and resources, we can look to leaders for help and guidance.  It is not good when our leaders and bosses are heartless, without understanding and are like those who wander aimlessly, who are blind as those in darkness and stagger like drunkards.  This can be a very apt description of people we observe in positions of leadership, and God is willing to allow this so we might realise our need for Him!

See how God is infinitely greater than man and worthy of trust as it is written Psalm 146:3-9:  "Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. ⁴ His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. ⁵ Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, ⁶ who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, ⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. ⁸ The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. ⁹ The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down."

To those who are unworthy, weak, hungry and oppressed, we can rejoice in God our help.  We know and serve our Creator who loves us, keeps truth, feeds us, gives freedom, opens our blind eyes and raises us when we are cast down.  Jesus loves us freely without reservation, and as those made righteous by faith in Jesus we rejoice to receive and walk in His love.  When God turns the way of the wicked upside down, He sets things right.  No matter what God allows to befall us in this world, He is our hope who freely helps those who trust Him.  Even when situations are not "good," we can know all things will work for good who know God, for He is faithful and true.

Chipping Away

We recently had a few problem trees felled on our property that were pushing over retaining walls.  Because one stump was very close to a fencepost encased in concrete and the retaining wall, the stump grinder was unable to remove a large portion of the stump.  So over the past week I have chipping away on the stump, removing bits at a time, as the stump under the surface of the ground must be removed before the retaining wall can be prepared.  And it isn't easy.

While pine wood is considered a softwood, a pine stump is a powerful force to be reckoned with.  The grain of the wood is twisted in every direction, and only repeated blows with a heavy digging bar makes any headway to chip and split the wood apart.  The impact of the 10 kilo bar on the stump transfers vibrations into the hands and fingers that cause blisters and tears skin.  As I toiled yesterday in the heat for awhile, I had to be content with slow progress and quit before I had my fill to conserve skin on my hands with the future sessions in mind.  It is amazing that in about 5 years the tree grew out of control and damaged the property, and how resistant even in death the tree roots were to being removed.

As I dropped the digging bar repeatedly upon the stump, it occurred to me it was a hard but necessary task.  If anything was every going to be planted there instead--grass, groundcover or shrubs--the stump needed to be removed.  The stump that impeded a plumb retaining wall also prevented anything new from growing in that spot.  This provided insight into the impact sin can have in our hearts.  Weeds can be insidious and tough to eradicate, but stumps require much more effort to remove.  It struck me that God has freed Christians from the curse of sin and the power it wielded over us, yet old habits can be engrained in us like a stubborn stump in the ground.  Sure, the tree isn't dropping pine needles in the gutters anymore, but our lives can still be impacted by stumps allowed to remain unmoved under the surface.

By the power of the Gospel Jesus cleanses Christians from the presence and power of sin, and we need God's strength and help to deal with the consequences of being a sinner, to be further sanctified in a corruptible body.  If we desire to have the fruit of the Spirit produced in our lives, we must take intentional action to put off the old ways of living and thinking and be renewed in the spirit of our minds.  Rather than doubling-down by the works of the flesh, we are to submit ourselves to the leading, guidance and help of the Holy Spirit.  We are justified in a moment by faith in Jesus, but sanctification takes time and hard work.  Paul used the example of an athlete who exhibits self-control in all things because winning the race or boxing match is paramount to a champion, and Paul brought his own body under subjection to avoid disqualification in ministry (1 Cor. 9:21-24).

Those who see the folly of sowing among thorns ought to recognise the silliness of sowing among stumps.  We Christians can feel we are fighting a losing battle with all the shoots that spring from the stumps of trees, of old sinful habits and ways God has cut down in our lives.  Rather than the half measure of dutifully pruning the green shoots of sin that seems to resurrect themselves in our words and deeds, let us do all we can to chip away at stumps as well--to deal with the heart of the matter, what lies under the surface where only God can see how deep it goes.  We can only see what is plainly visible, but the LORD looks at the heart and what is inside us.  Praise the LORD He is able to give us new hearts and minds, to do work impossible for us according to the riches of His grace.

My aching hands show me how it hurts us to remove sinful ways from our hearts that have been there a long time (our entire lives), things we actually at a stage valued and viewed as an important part of us.  The flesh resists and hates the sanctification process, and it whines and cries like a pampered child when it does not have its way.  Ground can lay fallow and unploughed due to neglect or because it is littered with stumps that need to go.  Faithfully chipping away at the stump reminds me of the exhortation in Hosea 10:12 all God's people ought to take to heart:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  Breaking up our fallow ground feels like it is breaking us, yet there is always healing, redemption and hope in our awesome Saviour who is righteousness for us.

Should Be Saved

The English language can be a tricky beast.  While language allows us to express our thoughts, feelings and reasoning, it is possible to write or say words that are misunderstood, read into and misinterpreted by others.  This is one reason why it is important to have conversations face to face, where potential confusion or misspoken words can be explained more clearly.  Fellowship with other believers is critical for mutual encouragement, edification and sharpening in the church.

Recently I had a conversation when I said something that resulted in a visible reaction:  "Some people should not be saved."  Perhaps your eyebrows also shot up reading this.  Seeing the startled look provided an opportunity to explain what I meant by such a statement.  God has plainly told us in the Bible that we have all gone out of the way, have become unprofitable sinners, and cannot do good.  The reality is, in light of God's holiness and righteousness, no one should be saved.  I was including myself among those who should not be saved because of sin, who cannot save themselves by any attempts to do good.

Christians know we should not be saved, yet we can know we have been soundly saved by grace through faith in Jesus.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast."  Having received salvation through the Gospel, we Christians believe all people should be saved because they can be saved.  Of course this does not mean all will be saved, for some are unwilling to come to Jesus and receive the free gift of salvation.  Jesus revealed Himself to be the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one can come unto the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

I love that Jesus has provided salvation for all people, and He has urged whosoever will to come to Him, find pardon of sin and rest for their souls forever.  Concerning Jesus Paul wrote in Romans 10:11-13, "For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."  Based on our sinful conduct we should not be saved, but we should be saved because of the love demonstrated to all people by God through the Gospel.  Wondering if we should be saved is a matter easily shot down by the Law of Moses, but God has brought grace and mercy into the equation by giving His only begotten Son to provide atonement so we can.  The question is, are we willing?