Praying Child of God

According to the Bible, we are assured of many things concerning praying to God, the eternal Creator of all things.  The true, living God knows all and is able to do everything:  nothing is hard or impossible for Him.  We can know God hears and answers prayers of those who need Him.  This morning I was reminded of this when I read Psalm 102:17:  "He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer."  God invites and welcomes His people who pray to Him.  His words to the prophet Jeremiah shows God's ready willingness to answer prayer as it is written in Jeremiah 33:2-3:  "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): ³ 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'"  God freely chose to reveal Himself to people He created in His image so we might have a relationship with Him, and what is a relationship without regular, personal communication?

Perhaps you have heard people pray with flowery language or in Old English, with copious sprinklings of "thee" and "thy."  While some have prayer books, the only prayer book needed is the Bible that holds forth the divine revelation of God and His will.  Perhaps one of the most tricky things is people feel for prayer to be effective they must follow some sort of formula they are ignorant of, not realising God looks favourably upon a humble heart regardless of the words spoken.  Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee who "prayed with himself" and touted all his service and sacrifices for the LORD, and he expressed gratitude God had elevated him far above base sinners--despite his proud, hypocritical display.  Jesus said in Luke 18:13-14, "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Some expect they will be answered because of their many words, others put a measure of confidence in who or how many people pray for them, and others insist particular words they use are akin to invoking magic utterances that cut through spiritual red tape to expedite the granting of their requests.  The simple prayer of the tax collector in the parable shatters these notions, for he went home justified and received God's mercy just for asking.  Simply put, God hears prayer, delights to answer prayer, and invites people to pray to Him because He desires a relationship with us.  In addition to looking favourably upon the humble in heart, God responds to the prayer of faith.  James taught the prayer of faith would save the sick or weary, and confession of sin and repentance leads to spiritual healing and wholeness that is in Christ, freely offered to all who are born again (James 5:13-16).

Philippians 4:4-7 holds forth God's will for every believer by faith and obedience to Him:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  See the joyful, grateful attitude we ought to have in praying to God who loves us and answers prayer!  Praying is not only for special occasions or before meals and going to bed, for Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

When we pray, let us never forget we are not God.  Our role is not to tell God what He ought to do or how He could use something for His glory (hoping for our will to be done), for God is infinitely wiser than us.  Books on prayer have a place, but better than reading a sample prayer it is better to pray from the heart to God ourselves knowing He loves us, with confidence He delights to hear and answer us, and that nothing is difficult for Him.  In praying we seek the LORD who guides, helps us and needs no help Himself.  We pray not to earn God's favour but because we have received His favour in Christ and are responding with joyful obedience, glad to cast our cares upon Him, make our requests known, and rest in the knowledge He will answer in His time.  There is no one more carefree and glad than the praying, trusting child of God.

Avoiding Cultish Tactics

It struck me today during a morning walk that cults remain as popular as ever, and this reveals their tactics can be powerful and effective.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary explains the history of the word "cult" like this:  "Cult, which shares an origin with culture and cultivate, comes from the Latin cultus, a noun with meanings ranging from "tilling, cultivation" to "training or education" to "adoration."...The earliest known uses of the word, recorded in the 17th century, broadly denoted "worship." From here cult came to refer to a specific branch of a religion or the rites and practices of that branch, as in "the cult of Dionysus."... Finally, by the 19th century, the word came to be used of "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious."  Though cults can be diverse, they employ many of the same tactics because they are effective to help manipulate people and retain control.

One thing I have generally observed among various cults is to place godlike status upon a person or an organisation that is not God.  This person or group is not to be questioned, for their authority puts them above reproach, to be reverenced and honoured.  It is the leader who is revered--not Jesus Christ--and assumes His role as leader, teacher and master.  When a group rallies around this leader who is divinely inspired, claims to be a prophet, and reveals truths that resonate in people, they choose to follow.  Usually some holy text like the Bible is used to reinforce the messages, lifestyle, actions, terminology and discipline that is meted out.  Taken out of context, these unorthodox and heretical doctrines work to cultivate fear in people pressure to give, serve, to conform or face expulsion from a group that has become a lifeline, purpose and their hope for unrealised dreams.

While the church, the Body of Jesus Christ, is not a cult, I have seen churches that employ similar tactics that have been quite popular and successful.  For instance, I skimmed through a discipleship manual recently which bore a resemblance to cultic tactics through major points of emphasis that had nothing to do with Jesus, being born again by faith in Him, being transformed within by a relationship with God, or loving one another.  The message conveyed was disciples are revealed by what they do in the church and for the church--rather than disciples are born again by grace through faith in Jesus, and their good works are evidence of who they are in Christ.  The manual drew heavily from the "shepherding movement" which seems to have maintained popularity among people who prefer to be told what to do and how to live.  Some long for a spiritual mentor because they want to look to a person (other than Christ) who will assist them in some way, hoping to leech wisdom, belonging and security through rules and authoritarian accountability.  Weary people end up being loaded with heavy burdens and growing disillusioned because they do not comprehend they can have a relationship with the living God themselves through faith in Jesus Christ--whose yoke is easy and burden is light.

People want to be part of a group or church they believe does things right, and some present themselves as the only real church.  This claim of being exclusively right can cross the line into cultish tactics.  It is possible for genuine believers to have misplaced loyalty (cultivated in cults), like when Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp and young Joshua asked for Moses to forbid them.  Moses meekly put a swift end to such nonsense in Numbers 11:29:  "Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD'S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"  Luke 9:49 shows this tendency to control others was in Christ's apostles as well:  "Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."  While I do not know John's heart, he viewed this man as out of line because he was not in their group--he was a competitor!  Perhaps in John's mind if the man submitted to following Jesus with John and the other apostles, then perhaps permission could be granted.  Jesus corrected John in Luke 9:50:  "But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."  We ought to be careful we are zealous for Jesus Christ more than a particular group or preacher.  Oh, that all God's people put their spiritual gifts to good use to glorify Him, and that we would not view ourselves as in competition with other people or churches!

Discipleship is not another word for a "church member in good standing."  Jesus Himself provided hallmarks of being a disciple we ought to take to heart as those born again by faith in Him.  John 8:31-32 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  Jesus said in John 15:7-9, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ⁹ "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."  Jesus told the multitudes there was a personal cost to follow Him in Luke 14:26-27 & 33:  "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple... ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

True disciples of Christ are not revealed by their role in a church or serving in some capacity but those who hear Christ's words and heed, abide in His word, pray according to His will, and abide in His love.  Having been filled with the Holy Spirit, washed from sin and empowered to do God's will, we are enabled and equipped by God to do what we could never do in our own strength:  put our love of Christ above the love of family or ourselves, take up our cross to follow Jesus, willing to give up everything for His sake.  Being a disciple is a matter of the heart, and we shouldn't employ cultish tactics to force conformity when spiritual transformation is necessary by the Gospel.

Speaking Divine Truth

I am blessed and encouraged by Christians who are intelligent, gracious apologists who take an unapologetic stand on the truth of God's word.  Exploring perspectives and beliefs personally can be beneficial, and God can use these interactions to draw people to Himself.  As we are led by the Holy Spirit, we are Christ's ambassadors to bring the message of reconciliation of sinners to God through the Gospel.  It is important we emphasise the Gospel is not our opinion or view in a sea of options, but Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to eternal life, the Truth in a world of error.  Spurgeon made this point very well in a sermon titled "Gospel Missions," that the divine revelation aspect of our Christian faith can be neglected:

"...I conceive that a great mistake has been made in not affirming the divinity of our mission, and standing fast by the truth, as being a revelation, not to be proved by men, but to be believed; always holding out this:  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned."  I am often grieved when I read of our missionaries holding disputes with the Brahmins; and it is somethings said that the missionary has beaten the Brahmin because he kept his temper, and so the gospel had gained great honour by the dispute.  I take it, that the gospel was lowered by the controversy.  I think the missionary should say:  "I am come to tell you something which the one God of heaven and earth hath said, and I tell you, before I announce it, that if you believe it you shall be saved, and if not you shall be damned.  I am come to tell you that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became flesh to die for poor unworthy man, that through his mediation, and death, and suffering the people of God might be delivered.  Now, if you will listen to me, you shall hear the word of God: if you do not, I shake the dust off my feet against you, and go somewhere else.

Look at the history of every imposture; it shows that the claim of authority insures a great degree of progress.  How did Mahommed come to have so strong a religion in his time?  He was all alone, and he went into the market-place and said, "I have received a revelation from heaven."  It was a lie, but he persuaded men to believe it.  He said, "I have a revelation from heaven."  People looked at his face; they saw that he looked upon them earnestly as believing what he said, and some five or six of them joined him.  Did he prove what he said?  Not he.  "You must," he said, "believe what I say, or there is no Paradise for you."  There is a power in that kind of thing; and wherever he went his statement was believed, not on the ground of his reasoning, but on his authority, which he declared to be from Allah; and, in a century after he first proclaimed his imposture, a thousand sabres had flashed from a thousand sheathes, and his word had been proclaimed through Africa, Turkey, Asia, and even in Spain.  The man proclaimed authority,--he claimed divinity; therefore he had power.  Take, again, the increase of Mormonism.  What has been its strength?  Simply this,--the assertion of power from heaven.  That claim is made, and the people believe it, and now they have missionaries in almost every country of the habitable globe, and the book of Mormon is translated into many languages.  Though there never could be a delusion more transparent, or a counterfeit less skilful and more lying upon the very surface, yet this simple pretension to power has been the means of carrying power with it.

Now, my brethren, we have power; we are God's ministers; we preach God's truth; the great judge of heaven and earth has told us the truth, and what have we to do to dispute with worms of the dust?  Why should we tremble and fear them?  Let us stand out and say:  "We are the servants of the living God; we tell unto you what God has told us, and we warn you, if you reject our testimony, it shall be better for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you."  If the people cast that away, we have done our work.  We have nothing to do with making them believe; ours is to testify of Christ everywhere, to preach and proclaim the gospel to all men." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 333-335)

Praying for Peace

It is biblical to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Psalm 122:6-9 says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. ⁷ Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces." ⁸ For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you." ⁹ Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good."  There may be some who pray for the peace of Jerusalem because they want prosperity, but Christians are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because Jesus is our peace.  While no temple to God stands in Israel today, Christians stand by God's grace as His chosen habitation, the temple of the Holy Spirit by the Gospel.

The prayers of God's people ought not to be limited by the boundaries of the Old City of Jerusalem, but we can expand our range to include the cities of people who could be viewed as enemies of Israel.  Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."  Jesus came to the world with peace and goodwill for all men, and this includes the people of Gaza as well as Iran.  By faith in God who is righteous, just and gracious, God's people ought to pray for the leaders of Israel and well as Iran in the midst of conflict.  Both countries are filled with people God loves and Jesus died to save, and Jesus taught His disciples to love their enemies and to pray for them.  Having been commanded by our Saviour to turn the other cheek, even when a missile inflicts casualties on our land we can pray for the peace of those responsible for launching it.

When Jesus was crucified between two condemned criminals, He extended grace to those who scorned and killed Him in Luke 23:34:  "Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots."  In one sense, the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus knew very well what they were doing.  They had been given orders, and they carried them out efficiently and effectively.  They had learned the clothing of their victims was their spoil, and they had a system organised to ensure fair distribution amongst themselves.  On the other hand, these men did not realise who it was they stripped and nailed to the cross--even though they affixed the sign over His head that read, "King of the Jews" in three languages.  They did not comprehend Jesus was the Son of God and the atrocity they committed in complying with orders they were given.  It was just another day at the office for them, yet Jesus was no common criminal.

Jesus did not limit God's forgiveness to the ignorant but extended it to men like Saul of Tarsus who sought to incarcerate and execute Christians:  He offers grace, forgiveness and salvation to all people through the Gospel.  Since God is not willing any should perish but that all should come to repentance and be saved, we ought to pray for both the victim and the aggressor, the ones shooting and those who are shot.  We should look with compassion upon the Israelis and Persians caught up in awful violence, to seek God for their good that each one would experience peace within them by faith in Jesus Christ.  Because Jesus is our peace, we can pray for peace with genuine compassion and love without discrimination.  This kind of love is what sets Jesus apart from every other person, ruler and government.  Jesus is the almighty God, and He employs His strength and power to love.

Blessing of Affliction

Last night at Bible study the passage was Psalm 73, a song of Asaph that describes his struggle with how the wicked seemed to prosper and the envy this stirred within him.  He wrestled with God's grace of blessing the wicked who ought to be punished (in Asaph's mind), and that compared to him they did not seem to suffer.  His legalistic mindset bucked against the grace of God that seemed to reward bad behaviour and repay God's faithful followers with affliction.

It was when Asaph sought the LORD in His temple that he received insight from God in Psalm 73:16-19:  "When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me--¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. ¹⁸ Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. ¹⁹ Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors."  As Asaph turned his eyes from the prosperity of the wicked and his own suffering and looked to God, he realised the happiness and security of the wicked was a mirage, an illusion that disappeared in an instant.  The wealth and riches of God's enemies was incapable of helping or delivering them from ruin.  Having wealth, money, power and fame did nothing to help avoid coming judgment by the holy God of Israel.

As Asaph was in the temple, he likely saw people leading animals to be slain as sacrifices and burn offerings to the LORD in obedience to the Law of Moses.  These animals resembled his view of the wicked, that they were well-fed, without blemish or fear of death.  They were used to being catered to and enjoyed the best life had to offer.  Their prosperity only fattened them up to be killed.  The owner of an ox, ram or lamb was not cruel to feed and protect their animals without blemish, and God is not cruel to give a man more than he can wish.  God graciously supplies good things to all people, even His enemies, and He will hold all accountable to acknowledge Him as the Creator and giver of all things.  Being well-fed, having a life free of hard labour, conditioned to expect prosperity to always increase, set people up for a shock when God required their souls.  Those who reject Jesus Christ will be brought to certain destruction, and it is only a matter of time.

The news recently has reported missile bombardments raining death and destruction in Israel and Iran, and also there has been a shocking tragedy of a plane crash in India that resulted in deaths of passengers and civilians.  On a daily basis, countless people wake up never realising it would be their last day alive.  Being envious of those who are prosperous leaves us without satisfaction and gratitude we have when we look to God who comforts, provides, protects and saves.  In Christ, we are able to look Death in the face without fear and worry because we died with Christ, and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:1-4).  Christians, having been raised to new life by Jesus, are called to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, setting our affections on Him and on what will endure.  Life on earth is short, time is precious, but Jesus is infinitely more important and valuable.  May our eyes be opened as Asaph's were, to recognise the blessing of current suffering for sin that prompts us to seek a Saviour than to live in the lap of luxury and be lost forever.

Christ the KING

Perhaps out of envy and pride, there are some who characterise God as a cruel authoritarian, labelling Him a tyrant because He has all power.  But if God truly was cruel and intolerant, why would He create people He gives the freedom to oppose, rebel and hate Him?  Why would He choose to freely put on human flesh, suffer and die so sinners could be saved and reconciled to Himself?  Because God is loving, His will is that none would perish but all come to repentance.  All who perish will do so justly, and all who are saved is due to receiving His grace by faith in Christ.

There is an opposite error to the "cruel ogre" caricature of God by those who despise Him, and it is often perpetuated by professing Christians who view God as a grandfatherly pacifist who ignores the folly in his grandchildren he dotes upon.  Their view of God ignores what they feel are uncomfortable subjects like holiness, justice and eternal condemnation.  The picture of Jesus returning to earth in the future riding a white war horse wearing a robe dipped in blood clashes with their preferred subject matter of Jesus healing the sick and holding infants in His arms to bless them:  meek, mild, never raising His voice, with a touch so gentle and comfort so serene judgment and condemnation seem foreign to His nature.

Let us not forget Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, the almighty sovereign who rules over all He has created.  The power and authority of earthly kings are merely a shadow of God's power He wields forever as LORD over all.  His first coming revealed Jesus as the servant of all, the Good Shepherd of the sheep who sought to save the lost, and His second coming will reveal another side of Him as He rules with a rod of iron.  Anyone who thinks Jesus is soft and squeamish concerning punishing His enemies who hate Him--think again.  Jesus has always been more than a "nice guy" with polite manners as we would frame Him in our own image:  He alone is God, and we have been created by Him and for Him.  Every person God has created and given the gift of life with the myriad of blessings that only come from Him, He will hold to account for their accepting Him or having adversarial judgments of Him.

Jesus spoke a parable about a man who received for himself a kingdom, and then the king went to a distant land with a promise to return.  He gave each of his 10 servants an equal amount of money to invest while he was away.  Luke 19:14 says, "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'"  The king's citizens did not acknowledge their king or that he had any authority over them.  Upon the return of the king, he settled accounts with his servants and gave those who were faithful to do the task he committed to them greater responsibilities based upon their ability.  The conclusion of the parable must have been sobering to those who hated and rejected Jesus the Son of God in Luke 19:27:  "But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'"  Upon Christ's return, He will settle accounts both with His servants by rewarding them--as well as destroying His enemies who refused His rule.  In the end, all people will bow before Jesus:  some in worship, and others in death.

God's will is for all people to be reconciled to Him as Paul wrote to believers in 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2:  "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ¹ We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."  God calls believers to declare His glory among the heathen, and of all people Christians ought to have understanding concerning God's nature, character and power.  Today is the day to be saved; today is the day to be reconciled to God by faith in Christ.

Let us be faithful to do as it is written in Psalm 96:9-10:  "Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. ¹⁰ Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously."

Unbelief our Adversary

On a drive to the shops this morning, I saw a bus was emblazoned with a large "R U OK?" banner to remind people to care for their mental health as well as asking others how they are going.  It is a helpful question to ask because many people are not "OK," and they may struggle to let on how they are feeling and the difficulties they face.  The reality of struggle and suffering are all around, and domestic violence and bullying has led people to think their situations are hopeless.  The sobering reality is the situations may be hopeless--but only when we exclude God from the picture, focus on hurtful things people have said or done, or our inability to do anything to help ourselves.  God who saves souls is able to bring hope to the hopeless, is a safe refuge, can heal our hearts and renew our minds.

The writers of the psalms were not strangers to trials and troubles, for many times in Scripture they express feelings of depression, hopelessness and despair.  It is natural for us to lose heart when no amount of education or awareness can rid ourselves of unkind bullies and memory of their cruel words and deeds.  It does not take much for old wounds to be opened up again and to feel hurt, powerless and alone.  In this case, bad feelings are beneficial to remind and prompt us to seek the LORD who knows what it is to suffer painful injustice, to be hurt by the very people who should have helped.  The psalmist sang in Psalm 94:17-19:  "Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul would soon have settled in silence. ¹⁸ If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. ¹⁹ In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."

When others seem to be the obvious culprits for our anxiety, we wish they would cease and desist.  We want to avoid any interactions with them when this may not be possible--like at school, work or in the family.  With God who is our help in the land of the living, He provides a refuge, peace and rest self-harm or suicide cannot offer.  The sorrows of this world produce death, but through sorrow God is able to bring new life and wholeness where there was only brokenness before.  The psalmist felt it impossible to stand without slipping, but God's mercy steadied him.  Though he was buffeted by anxieties and worries, by faith in God he was not cast down because God's comforts delighted his soul.  We would love everyone to praise, approve of us, and accept us like God does, yet consider the bad treatment Jesus endured joyfully who is only good and blameless.  Jesus was judged and condemned without mercy, yet He had fullness of peace and joy in the presence of His heavenly Father who loved Him and was well-pleased with Him.

As people who cannot escape hurtful words, toxic environments or hateful bullies, we must decide if we will take the words of bullies to heart or if we receive the comfort and mercy God offers us in His word.  Will we choose to despair because our feelings are crushed by criticism or will we turn to the LORD who is merciful and helps us?  As believers, we are called to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), identifying and arresting in our minds thoughts the teaching of Jesus exposes as lies and untrue, like:  "I am worthless," "Life is hopeless," or "I would be better dead than alive."  Do we sin and experience pain from sins of others?  Yes, and this is why God sent us a Saviour who heals, restores and redeems.  Bullies are a problem, but they are not our enemies:  our adversary is unbelief that approves and accepts the caustic and condemning words of bullies rather than trusting Jesus, taking His words to heart, and holding fast to what He has said to us.  In Christ, Song of Songs 4:7 speaks the truth about Christians from God's perspective:  "You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you."  Will we dwell on the hatred of men or glory and rejoice in the love of God?

Wonderful Jesus Christ

In the Law of Moses, God forbade His people from fashioning likenesses of people or animals lest they be worshipped in Deuteronomy 4:15-19:  "Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, ¹⁶ lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, ¹⁷ the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, ¹⁸  the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. ¹⁹ And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage."  Man has a tendency to worship the works of his hands as well as creatures and hosts of heaven God has made.  This prohibition of making carved images was a boundary intended to prevent God's people from stumbling into idolatry.

Interestingly, the prohibitions of the Law were inadequate to keep people from worshipping the creature rather than Creator.  When the people were judged by the LORD for their murmuring against God and Moses with deadly, venomous serpents that bit them, God directed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole so that anyone who looked upon it would be healed (Numbers 21).  This bronze serpent was kept for centuries as a relic of God's deliverance, and 2 Kings 18:4 tells us it among other things became an object of worship in Israel:  "He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan."  King Hezekiah broke the bronze serpent in pieces so it would no longer be reverenced, and his action was a call to return to the worship of the almighty God only.

In Israel today, objects as well as "holy sites" are reverenced by pilgrims who kiss and weep over stones because the feet of Jesus may have graced them.  I have travelled to Israel many times, and every time has been a spiritually enriching experience.  Yet we do not have to go to the Holy Land to draw near to the Holy God, for He is with us wherever we go.  We ought to make a distinction between remembrance and reverence.  Seeing a cross ought to remind us of Christ's sacrifice and His love for lost sinners, but the wood or shape is not worthy of worship.  There are worship songs Christians sing that in my mind toe the line of moving from remembrance to reverence, to glorify the "wonderful cross" or to "love that old cross" when we ought to look with wonder upon our Saviour Jesus who first loved us with love and devotion.  There is no intrinsic spiritual power in the wood fibres of the cross itself, for it is merely the implement God employed where the life of Christ was poured out to atone for sinners.  The physical blood of Jesus that stained the cross and dripped on the ground had no cleansing or life-giving power in itself, for Christ accomplished miraculous spiritual labour through His sacrifice.

I have heard Christians say there is power in prayer, but it is more accurate to say all power is in the living God who hears and answers prayer.  People pray to saints or deceased relatives without effect, yet Jesus Christ is our mediator who intercedes on our behalf with the Father by His Spirit.  To worship saints, Christ's blood or the cross is to fall short of veneration and adoration of our Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom belongs all glory and honour.  It is no sin to sing of the cross in hymns or to wear a cross that identifies us with Jesus Christ our LORD (who is wonderful), but let it be a symbolic reminder and reflection of our spiritual and personal reality than an object we reverence and worship.  It may be a good thing we do not possess the cross or nails used to crucify Christ, for people would travel the world to see those relics and not realise that is the sort of devotion we ought to give Jesus Christ right where we are today with grateful worship and humble obedience.

Heeding God Daily

The benefits of studying through the word of God are immeasurable.  While we may tend to gravitate to what is familiar and comfortable, it is useful to read the Bible in its entirety.  There will be much we do not understand, for God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways.  At the same time, reading through the whole Bible ought not to be viewed as a race or an accomplishment we can take pride in.  The point isn't how many times we have read through our Bible in a year but that God's word daily goes through us.  If we see the benefit of fueling our bodies with food every day, we ought to feed spiritually on God's word daily as well.

Our stomachs have limited capacity, and our minds also can be full.  For this reason, I prefer quality over quantity when it comes to reading and studying God's word.  Ironically, the more we read at a time the less opportunity we have to absorb and apply personally what we are reading.  Reading five chapters at once is like grazing on light snacks while systematically breaking down a passage or even one verse in study is like a spiritual feast that sticks to the ribs with many leftovers.  It is possible to read chapters of the Bible at once and not perceive anything impactful God has said to us--though it is all His voice.  We may have observed many divine truths on the page, but it is important for us to reflect on the manner of our lives in light of them.

Thorough Bible study includes observation, interpretation and application.  It is not a complex practice, but it can be a time-consuming exercise that ought to involve our hearts as well as our heads.  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, we must rely upon the Holy Spirit to help us understand what we are reading, grow in our understanding of God's character, and further refine our lives according to God's wisdom.  God's word can have a purifying, beneficial effect when we submit ourselves to believe and practice what God has said.  As Jesus submitted to His heavenly Father, so we ought to submit ourselves to God's word He has provided that instructs, guides, corrects, rebukes and inspires.

If you are someone who enjoys a daily reading to go through the whole Bible in one year, wonderful.  In your reading I encourage you not to treat Bible reading as a tradition or a chore to be accomplished so it can be laid aside, but to take intentional action to ensure the Bible is actually going through your heart, mind and impacting your daily life--besides the time it takes to read.  Reflect on what you have read and take it to heart; have a key takeaway of personal impact you did not bring to the text but God said to you through the Scripture.  In a world full of voices, when we open the Bible and read it is important to give God the floor and our full attention with intent to heed His voice.

God Most Loveable

What do you view as loveable?  A newborn baby or a fluffy puppy?  What if I told you the most loveable being in the universe is not something small, cute and cuddly but the almighty God who is love?  Truly, there is no one more worthy of being loved than God who loves us with an everlasting love.  The amazing thing is how God presently and eternally rewards those who love Him when it is the very thing we ought to do.  Loving God is right for everyone to do, and God's desire is we would go beyond liking what we receive from God to loving Him with our whole heart.

See some things God promises to do for those who love Him in Psalm 91:14-16 which are all beyond price:  "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."  For the one who simply loves God, God will personally deliver him and set him on high.  The one who loves God will be heard and answered by Him; God will be with him in trouble, deliver and honour him.  God also gives long life (everlasting!) that satisfies, and will reveal His salvation to all who love Him.  Those who love God place their faith in Him which is evidenced by obedience.

Loving God is more than feelings of attraction or affection, but it is connected with doing what God says as is written in Deuteronomy 5:10:  "...showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."  Later in Scripture Jesus, who revealed Himself to be God made flesh by many signs including His resurrection from the dead, said to His disciples in John 14:15-17:  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."  To those who love God, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to regenerate, empower, comfort, guide and enable followers of Christ to be spiritually fruitful, to love as He loves.

A newborn baby is not loveable because of what he or she provides you but because of who it is in relation to you:  someone small, needy and new.  God is awesome, eternal, needs nothing, and is greater than we can imagine, yet we should love Him because His is our Creator and due to our relationship with Him as His beloved children.  Our love for God ought to be from a heart that delights in who God is and His love for us--rather than God's promises of blessing for those who love Him we hope to receive.  As it is written in Psalm 31:23-24:  "Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. ²⁴ Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."  May our love of God be courageous in obedience and strong by faith in Him, for God preserves the faithful who hope in Him.

Consider the Birds

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

When Jesus taught His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, He directed their attention to the birds that soared in the skies.  Without sowing, reaping or storing food, they were fed every day by the grace and goodness of God who created them.  No man could know the number of them, the location of their nests or young, where they came from or where they were heading.  The point Jesus made was His people did not need to worry or be anxious about their lives or what they were going to eat because God is faithful to feed the birds--and His people are of far greater worth to Him.  Rather than seeking to have their physical needs met, God's people were to prioritise things of far greater importance as Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Because we are people with needs and limited resources in an uncertain world, worry and anxiety are natural responses for human beings.  We can worry about landing the job, and once we are employed we might worry about advancing in our career or keeping our job!  The scope of our worries is not limited to ourselves, for we can worry about the health of loved ones, conflicts between nations, even potential problems that have yet to arise.  Worry is endemic among humanity whether rich or poor, those who experience good health or illness, whether we are single or married.  Cares of this life weigh on our minds and do nothing to provide rest or peaceful resolutions.  Like heads of the mythical Hydra that sprouted again once lopped off, the satisfaction of one worry does not kill our anxiety dead.  A new worry is sure to arise that is more intimidating and beastly than the previous one.

I was greatly encouraged yesterday as I drove to church.  A light rain was falling, and I noticed two birds perched on a street light, leaning towards and resting their heads on one another.  These were the only birds I recall seeing on the drive, likely because of the rain.  Seeing that lone, mated pair of birds was a wonderful sight as I recalled the words of Jesus, and considered that God not only feeds the birds but often provides a partner for them to enjoy companionship, warmth and to breed young.  There is in many people a desire for love and companionship that seems far beyond reach.  It is glorious our God supplies an invitation and opportunity for a meaningful relationship with Himself as our Father, and He supplies all our other physical, spiritual and emotional needs as well.  Since God provides a mate for birds of the air, shouldn't we trust Him to provide a spouse for people too?  Looking for love in this world does not guarantee we will find it, but knowing God loves us, cares for us and provides for our needs, we can be content in Him whether single or married.

Seeing those birds leaning on one another in the rain was a testimony of God's faithfulness in the animal kingdom we do well to apply to our lives.  It was a reminder I do not need to be anxious or worried whether my sons will one day marry and have children, for God is able to provide the right spouse for each of them in His time.  It is an incredible that with all the birds that flock, sing and squawk in Sydney, God brought a male and female that was content to settle down together in the rain, happy to perch and snuggle together without a care in the world.  Like God provides for the needs of birds for food or a mate, He will also provide for our need of companionship with a relationship with Himself by faith.  By His grace God is also able to provide a husband or wife in His time, like He joined the widow Ruth with older Boaz.  The birds teach us our love life (or lack thereof!) is nothing to be anxious or worried about, for God is faithful to supply all our needs.

 

Doing Is Better than Promising

In a parable Jesus told, a man asked one of his sons to work the following day in his vineyard.  His son replied, "I go sir!" yet he did not go.  His words proved to be empty because he did not follow through with all he said.  The son saying what he would do did not profit him or his father at all, and his good intentions were shown to be fleeting by his empty words--which have been remembered to this day.

The point James made about claims of faith being pointless without works that provide evidence of it is a valid consideration in regards to words we say.  James 2:15-17 reads, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."  James gave a practical example to illustrate how faith without corresponding works is dead by describing someone who was cold and hungry.  Will saying, "Be warmed and filled!" do anything to cover their nakedness or fill their belly?  Of course not.  Someone who loves the needy person and truly desires their wholeness would do what they could to help them without a word.  People who love others demonstrate their love in action rather than simply declaring it.  Faith is more than words we speak, for it is always shown by our decisions and way of life.

It is good that our words agree with our actions, but it is better to prioritise doing good rather than speaking of good we have yet to do.  Recently I read Luke 9:57 that described Jesus walking:  "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."  It was good this person recognised Jesus as worthy of following everywhere, yet this would be better done than promised because talk is cheap.  It is very easy to say we will do something, but to actually follow through is exponentially more difficult and complicated.  When visitors attend church it is common for them to gladly volunteer without being asked anything, "We'll be back!" and to never see them again.  My preference is for them to appear indifferent, say nothing, and return for the next service.  People being in Christian fellowship somewhere is better than saying that is what we want and need:  attending church can say this without a word.

Jesus knew the heart of the person who called Him LORD and promised to follow Him wherever He went.  He was not cynical, sarcastic or dismissive.  Luke 9:58 gives us Christ's reply:  "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  Jesus made it clear to follow Him would be difficult and not to expect to settle down anywhere.  Jesus did not call any place on earth His home, and the only refuge Christ's disciples would have was in Him by faith.  The Gospels demonstrate how Jesus and His disciples were provided for day by day:  they ate grain as they walked through fields, were guests at houses, received gifts, and ate leftovers.  It would be better for Jesus to observe us after a space of time, "Friends, you have followed Me wherever I have gone!" then for us to promise beforehand, "We will follow you!"  There is no harm in voicing our intentions, but what we do and how we live is of greater importance.

Orthodox Spiritual Warfare

One thing I often observe among genuine believers is confusion and uncertainty concerning what is commonly called "spiritual warfare."  Generally speaking, there is a kind of Christian who, when facing conflicts, perceived setbacks, losses or trials, assumes this must be the result of a spiritual attack.  To give an example, I remember a fellow who was suspicious he had been cursed by a spiritist because of the placement of a large zit on the tip of his nose.  When we go down this murky path of anything or everything negative in our lives being the result of demonic forces coming against us, rest and peace is replaced with fear and obsessive vigilance.  The problem is, on our own we are like blind people swatting in the dark at perceived threats that are active only in our own imagination.

Through a combination of teaching that emphasises a believer's authority in Christ, a personal leaning towards a desire for control, and ready access to formulaic and prescriptive approaches to deliverance (not to mention the presence of deep-seated fears), this can lead Christians to sense a constant barrage by the forces of darkness that requires continual and ongoing attention to peel back layers to discover why  these troubles persist.  For some, this is a spiritual morass that holds them in a perpetual state of defensiveness while they seek to take the fight to the devil who is oppressing, attacking and wreaking havoc on every aspect of their lives--even their complexion.  Those who adopt this spiritual perspective often tend to place their focus on the enemy and not on their Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Their energies are spent in trying to deliver themselves from what only Jesus can deliver from.

The book of Job supplies a simple and wonderful example of a man who was personally under spiritual attack from Satan, having been granted permission by God to afflict him.  The ironic thing about his situation is Job never wasted his breath rebuking the devil or reciting a prayer that would unmask and force the enemy of his soul to flee.  Job credited God for his grievous trial and the suffering that he faced.  Chapter after chapter records him pouring out his heart to his friends, asking questions, and seeking God so he might be heard and helped.  Ultimately God did reveal himself to Job, and when God questioned Job his presumptuous folly was laid bare.  There is no mention of God doing or saying anything to Satan, for when the divine light of God shines all darkness must flee.  When Job simply humbled himself before God in chapter 42 and acknowledged God does everything, God accepted him.  Then Job 42:10 says, "And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."  No rebukes of Satan were required, no breaking of generational curses, no shouting to inform demons about his spiritual authority:  Job humbled himself before God, and God did it all.

A similar thing happens when we come in faith to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.  I imagine Satan is delighted when in the midst of trials we foray into the darkness, seeking to discern a demonic source of our problems, when we are infinitely better suited seeking Jesus--and in Him is no darkness at all.  Remember how God allowed a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul?  He did not waste his efforts rebuking the devil, but three times prayed to God to deliver him from the thorn in his flesh.  It was revealed to be all God's doing and His wise design to move Paul to humility so God's strength would be manifested in his life.  Paul rejoiced in God who did this for his benefit.  The testimonies of Job and Paul shows us that even when a spiritual battle comes to us, we are to seek our Saviour and humble ourselves before Him.  When we walk in the light, guided by the word of God that is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path, darkness flees away without a fight.  Perhaps the biggest fight on our hands as Christians is humbling ourselves before our glorious God, trusting He will deliver and save us, and that we are incapable to save ourselves or others.