More than Satisfying Curiosity

Human beings have an insatiable appetite for knowledge, to learn facts about what has happened.  Hearing "facts" sounds dull and boring, yet learning about something of personal interest is fun and exciting.  Many times we have watched a movie, show or skipped to the end of a book that wasn't very interesting or well made because we were still interested to know how it ended.  Our curiosity satisfied, we could then move on to making judgments about what would have made the movie better or the book more engaging.

We can take a similar approach when it comes to God and His word.  Our interest in reading God's word may be to glean the truth so we can discern between right and wrong.  We may open the Bible to remind ourselves of what happened in a historical narrative, to remind ourselves of the name of a person or city, or for verses of encouragement.  Some write down and memorise meaningful passages of Scripture as a spiritual discipline.  It may surprise you, but God has spoken and provided His word for more than giving us the facts or educating us about happened or what will happen--to the end we would know Him and walk according to His righteous ways.  While we are content to have our curiosity satisfied, God desires our transformed lives would proclaim His goodness to all.

Asaph wrote of God and His mighty works in Psalm 78:4-8, "We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. ⁵ For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; ⁶ that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, ⁷ that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; ⁸ and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God."  Everyone likes to hear a good story, and Asaph declared the history of God's people and testified of God's faithfulness.  The stories told in the Old Testament, entertaining as they may be, were intended to instruct and guide people presently  and for generations to come in honouring, praising and obeying God.

The purpose of instructing the next generation was so they could learn from the mistakes of their fathers who were stubborn, rebellious, did not prepare their hearts and were unfaithful to God.  The continuous cycle of failure of successive generations and inability to rise above their fathers shows more than education, instruction and tradition is needed:  we must be born again by faith in Jesus.  We are no better than our fathers, nor will we ever be by the efforts of our flesh.  Knowing what God's word says ought to to guide our thinking, words, attitudes, motives and how we live.  God holds His people responsible to walk in His ways and boldly testify of God's goodness and how (even at our best!) we are naturally nothing like Him.  May it be through the declaration of God's word people would come to know God, and our testimony "...in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7)

Departing From Evil

King Solomon asked in Proverbs 20:9, "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?"  The answer is no one!  We are all unclean due to sin, and we cannot address our spiritual malady.  A person tasked to wash windows with oil-soaked rags could not eliminate streaks or smears, and no amount of elbow grease could remove the greasy film.  When the light shines through, the filth is clearly seen!  One would have a better chance of cleaning a oily window that purifying our hearts from sin, for we are spiritually dead and powerless to revive or redeem ourselves.  In our natural condition, we are not inclined to humble ourselves before God or man at all.

The Bible teaches us there is one who can forgive sins, and that is the righteous God revealed in Jesus Christ who remained without sin.  Jesus demonstrated His power to forgive sins and that He was God made flesh when He healed a paralytic who suddenly, at Christ's command before many witnesses, stood and walked.  Jesus Christ is good and God; He is righteous, holy and pure.  By His shed blood He provided the means of atonement for sin, satisfying the justice of God by His death so all who trust in Him can be spiritually raised to life forever by faith in Him.  The rising of Jesus from the dead showed His authority and power over sin that brings death.  Having been justified by faith in Christ and set apart as God's own children and inheritance, we are called to live lives free of sin.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:6 long before the Gospel was revealed by Jesus:  "In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil."  Jesus has provided atonement for our sins, and our lives ought to follow His pattern of mercy and truth which guides us to walk uprightly.  For a long time we lived to please and satisfy ourselves, and as born again children of God living in the fear of God prompts us to depart from evil.  Before coming to Christ we were like orphaned children who lied, shoplifted, scammed and picked pockets to survive.  With winter well on the way and death inevitable due to the harsh elements, God was like a kind-hearted man who saw us starving and freezing in rags and offered to adopt us as children so we could be provided for, loved and comforted.  We liked the idea of having new clothes, a roof over our heads in winter and a place at a table for three meals a day, and we agreed to the arrangement.

Imagine the father going to tuck his adopted child into bed, and to his surprise found the bed empty and the window wide open.  It seems bringing a child in off the streets didn't purge his new son or daughter of their old habits!  After scouring the streets the father found his child in an alley behind a bakery, digging through rubbish for out-of-date baked goods to eat rats had already spoiled.  Being a son or daughter at the table meant eating unfamiliar vegetables and needing to wait until after dinner for dessert, and as children of God we have many lessons to learn as we willingly submit to His pattern of life.  By the fear of the LORD one departs from evil, and recognising God as our Father and loving to please Him leads us to abandon our old ways and choose Him instead.  We cannot cleanse our hearts from sin, but we can wash our hands with soap and water.  God has provided atonement with His shed blood, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can depart from evil.  We need God's help to have righteous standing before Him and to embrace our sanctification in submitting to Him.

Crowd Pleasers

When I was a kid in San Diego, it was a special treat to go to a professional baseball game and watch the Padres in action.  There were many years our local team was the "cellar dweller" (last place!) and did not field a competitive team.  It was rare for the Padres to keep young talent because good players were expensive, and the ownership was not nearly as financially invested in building a championship team as today.  Sometimes the most exciting thing that happened during a baseball game was when a fan jumped the barrier and ran around on the field until they were corralled by security.  It happened with such frequency that we developed a term for such trespassers:  crowd pleasers.  There were likely many times the roar of the few thousands in attendance was the loudest as unfit men ran onto the field and deftly dodged equally unfit and uncoordinated security guards.

Over the years, strict penalties were enforced to deter fans from running onto the field for the protection of the players.  All in attendance were warned anyone who ran on the field could expect to be arrested, be fined and perhaps be banned from entering the stadium.  Another step taken by the MLB television networks was to pan away and not broadcast anyone who went onto the field.  As a result only the people present in the stadium could witness the silliness and served to remove any hope of worldwide notoriety on television (even if infamy!) by breaking the rules.  These deterrents have proved effective and have greatly reduced the number of people who decided to storm the field of MLB games.

There is wisdom in the MLB network's refusal to provide air time for hooligans and trespassers whose disruptive and dangerous antics cause stoppages in play.  Fans may still enjoy watching people embarrass themselves as they scramble away from security guards like pet dogs trying to avoid capture by their owners in the street.  We Christians may not make millions of dollars through our networking, but we can choose to walk in wisdom concerning what we choose to broadcast to the world in our social media feeds, blogs, messages and comments.  God has given us His wisdom and discernment by the indwelling Holy Spirit to choose what stories are worthy of repeating and drawing attention to and those we should avoid mentioning.  There are funny jokes that should not be retold and stories left unsaid that paint others in a bad light.

Focus on "crowd pleasers" who run around on the field can tarnish the MLB brand, and as Christians we ought to consider if our broadcasts bring honour to Christ or distract from Him.  Messages that sow fear, doubts and controversial subjects should not be given the spotlight when we have God's word that speaks truth, provides wisdom and brings salvation.  Many times my family and I left the stadium after a forgettable game and it was an obscene heckler or crowd pleaser who took the field, gave security guards the slip and managed to slide into second base which provided the most memorable occurrences during the game.  Every day we have opportunities to focus on the infamous and please the crowd or to extol the glorious greatness of our God and please our Saviour Jesus Christ.  May the LORD teach us when to be silent and how we ought to speak.

Praying Together

"Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour."

Acts 3:1

When I consider Peter and John going together to the temple at the hour of prayer, I recall seeing many people praying at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.  Men and women may go up together to pray, but everyone prays by themselves to God.  Currently there are separate areas before the Temple Mount for men and women to pray.  On a layover after a trip to Israel, several orthodox men donned prayer shawls and bound tefillin to pray, each with a prayer book in hand.  The manner of their prayer was different to Christian prayer meetings I have attended, for they each prayed alone to God.

After being born again by faith in Jesus, Peter and John (and countless Jewish disciples) continued in Jewish traditions, like going up together to the temple at the hour of prayer.  With Jesus as their mediator and filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John believed God would hear them wherever they were.  But they chose to go up to the temple to pray at the hour of prayer, and it was a good hour to observe.  They went to pray, not out of obligation to observe tradition, but to seek an audience with the living God they knew personally.  They knew God would hear every word muttered in their assembly spoken at once, and also the heart of the person who spoke.

During times of corporate prayer, Christians often speak in turn rather than all speaking at the same time.  Whether Christians pray all at the same time or in turn, the Jewish approach teaches us we all ought to be active participants in humbly seeking God individually in prayer privately and in public.  There is guidance in the Bible we ought to observe, yet there is also great freedom to pray in every place, time and in countless ways.  One thing I observed was in the Old Testament the priest and people laid their hands on the sacrifice to be offered for sin, and Jesus who would lay His life down as sacrifice for sin laid His hands on people to heal and bless them.  This is one of the remarkable changes Jesus ushered in by God's grace.

The book of Acts shows us His disciples continued what Jesus did together, praying individually and corporately.  At times during prayer they laid hands to heal, for people receive the Holy Spirit, or as they sent out disciples as led by the Holy Spirit.  Christians prayed in one accord in the upper room and received the Holy Spirit; believers prayed together and Peter was miraculously released from prison in Acts 12.  Following Christ's example of praying a blessing and breaking bread, the disciples did this regularly as we read in Acts 2:46-47:  "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."  Jesus and the disciples show prayer is more than just for mealtimes or at church, and we can all participate in the daily privilege of praising and thanking God as we make our requests known to Him.

Troubles Lead to Jesus

In Judges 20, all the other tribes of Israel gathered to go to war against the tribe of Benjamin because of the murder of a Levite's concubine--and they refused to surrender the men responsible for capital punishment.  Though Israel sought the LORD before going up to Gibeah to attack the Benjamites, day after day they suffered huge losses.  The fighters of Israel outnumbered the Benjamites 15 to 1, and they still lost 40,000 men over two days.  Copping huge defeats in battle prompted the Israelites to desperately seek God for help and victory.

One might have assumed because Israel sought the LORD and obeyed Him they would have been assured of success, but victory did not immediately come.  They came to realise despite their manpower and righteous cause they had no chance of success without God's guidance and strength.  They would have been content to be only told what to do, yet God was working toward another aim entirely:  to draw all the children of Israel to Himself and increase their faith in Him.  Sometimes we can have the same approach when we see people who are deceived or without understanding concerning the Christian faith.  We imagine if we only responded to their skepticism or unbelief with the perfect verse (when all God's word is true) a hard heart would soften, a mind would change, and a life would be transformed.  If the outcome of our best efforts falls short of our expectations, we put the onus back on ourselves to know more and do better--when the LORD would have us seek and trust Him to do all the work we cannot.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  We have a responsibility and privilege as God's children to read the Bible (God's word) and to walk in light of it.  We ought to labour to dig into the word to gain knowledge and learn how to rightly divide and interpret it as led by the Holy Spirit.  At the same time we are should realise much more than knowledge is needed to change people's minds and hearts.  The strongest arguments and evidence will fall on deaf ears unless the LORD does a miraculous work in others and they willingly yield to Him.  I love how God is able to reveal Himself to people through ways we never imagined possible, to communicate truth that deeply affects people for life.  One sentence, phrase or word spoken by God, a feeling people cannot shake, even a sleepless night can be used by God to orchestrate eternal transformation by His grace.

God is able to use anything and anyone--including us imperfect Christians who make mistakes, flub our words, forget scripture references and can be easily mixed up.  We are incapable of doing good ourselves and are deeply flawed, yet our God is more than sufficient and perfect in every way.  That is a reason why we came to Jesus Christ at the beginning, because we were hopeless and unable to save ourselves!  As much as we desire to see more sinners saved by the Gospel, God has already shown a full commitment to this by sending Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost.  When we face conflict we cannot overcome ourselves, should we feel disillusioned, discouraged and feel like failures, allow the full force of our failure and negative feelings lead us by the hand to Jesus who encourages, strengthens us and increases our faith.  It is not by our might, nor our power but by the Holy Spirit obstacles are overcome--even when it is our own unbelief.

Lacking Without Jesus

"And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

Luke 12:15

There was a man who came to Jesus who had great wealth.  Despite all the goods he possessed, a sense of lack drew him to Jesus.  He inquired what good thing he needed to do to inherit eternal life.  This is a common assumption people make today, that entrance to eternal life in heaven is a divine reward for good deeds done in life.  When eternal salvation is tied to our works or worthiness, immediately we are stripped of all assurance of going to heaven.  We may have done some admirable things in the eyes of ourselves or others, but we have also done many shameful and sinful things in God's sight.  No matter how much "good" we do, only the most conceited could imagine they have done enough.  Even by man's standards, how can anyone be sure?

Matthew 19:16-20 says, "Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" ¹⁷ So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." ¹⁸ He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' ¹⁹ 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " ²⁰ The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"  The young man called Jesus good and thought by doing good he could receive eternal life.  Jesus questioned the man's use of good to describe Him and probed the man's heart He knew well:  was he calling Jesus good because he believed Jesus was God?  If Jesus was indeed good, would the man heed Him?

Jesus said the man could enter into life by keeping the commandments and rattled off a series of commands that pertained to man's conduct towards other people.  The man asserted he had kept all those commandments from his youth, yet he still felt a great lack.  Matthew 19:21-22 reads, "Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."  The man was right:  he lacked treasure in heaven!  It was not by doing good but by faith in Christ marked by obedience to Him which was the path to eternal life, for Jesus Christ is the Way.  In all his religious efforts the man lacked Jesus Christ who is good and God, the Door through whom sinners enter by faith into eternal life.  The young man who was convinced he had done everything was unwilling to do the first thing the good teacher asked him to do.

It turned out the man who lacked Jesus and eternal life loved his own life and valued his possessions more than a relationship with Jesus and assurance of heaven.  When the man walked away sorrowful, I wonder what sort of sorrow he experienced:  sorrow that leads to repentance not to be sorrowed of, or sorrow that leads to death (2 Corinthians 7:10)!  Praise the LORD what is impossible with man is possible with God, that stubborn, lost sinners can be brought to repentance and salvation by faith in Jesus.  God's word and wisdom wipes away our delusions of possibly being good ourselves and explains in verses like Titus 3:5-7 it is "...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  There is no life to be found in abundant possessions:  eternal life consists in Christ alone.

The Simple

"The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps."

Proverbs 14:15

Solomon spoke of "the simple" many times in his proverbs, and the use of antithetical parallelism reveals the simple to be the opposite of prudent and wise.  It is a person who lacks discernment, is gullible and easily influenced.  Being simple is more indicative of a lack of godly character than intelligence.  Very learned and intelligent people can be simple from a biblical point of view, lacking firm grounding found only in the fear of God and in heeding His word.

A passage I read this morning in the KJV provoked thought concerning the simple in Proverbs 9:13-18:  "A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. ¹⁴ For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, ¹⁵ to call passengers who go right on their ways: ¹⁶ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ¹⁷ Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ¹⁸ But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell."  After personifying Wisdom as a woman who cries aloud, Solomon contrasted Wisdom with a foolish, simple and ignorant woman who sat at the door of her house and also called out to people passing by.  She stationed herself on a seat "in the high places of the city."  Generally, references to "high places" speaks of shrines and altars built for the worship of false deities, which is ironic seeing Solomon built many of them in Israel in his latter years.

What intrigued me is how those who passed by were called "passengers" in the KJV, those who went right on in their way.  The simple woman appealed to the simple to turn aside and sample her wares, and it seems many yielded at her voice.  To connect the simple with "passengers" is interesting, as the common use of the term today is the description of one who rides along in a aeroplane, ship, train, or taxi with others driving and navigating.  People these days pay money to be transported as a passenger to an agreed upon destination.  It occurred to me there are people whose lives on earth who resemble passengers, content to be carried along by their own desires, ambitions and feelings wherever they may lead.  In the case of the foolish woman seated at the high place, she called out to the simple to lead them to transgress God's righteous commands.  The simple passenger had no clue those who turned aside to her were spiritually dead and figuratively in hell.

One difference between the simple passenger in life and the wise is the realisation of where we are and where our lives are heading.  The wise make decisions with our ultimate destination in mind.  The prodigal son in the parable showed wisdom when, after being reduced to poverty and feeding pigs to survive, he realised how low he had sunk.  He considered how his father's servants had plenty to eat while he was starving.  Rather than being a passenger in a life driven by lust and the pursuit of pleasure, as God's people we are to be guided by God's word and the Holy Spirit.  We are not to be simple passengers in life easily turned aside to sin but to be faithful to walk with Jesus today.  The worldly aspire to be the captains of their own ship when without Christ the simple can only be passengers on a voyage to ruin.  Jesus does not call us to be passengers but participants, contributing to the health and vitality of the body of Christ by His love and wisdom.  Walking with Jesus and His people is eternally more sweet and pleasant than going right on in our ways.

Validation or Transformation?

Today I watched part of a video which discussed a new trend of people using A.I. chatbots like a personal therapist.  Some had positive feedback that the bot "gets" or understands them and served to validate their thoughts and feelings.  This reminded me of some "Jesus" ads I have seen that simply say, "He gets us."  This is an attractive message to a world of people who are seeking validation and people to agree with their opinions and outlook--a far cry from the way Jesus taught Jewish people under the law:  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Much more than validation, we sinners need forgiveness, salvation and transformation!

While Jesus invites everyone to come to Him in faith as they are, He does not keep Christians in our natural fleshly, sinful state.  When we are born again by faith in Jesus, we are adopted into the family of God and filled with the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment.  God does far more than "keep us accountable" because He instructs, chastens, corrects, rebukes and tests us due to His love for us.  Unless we humble ourselves before the LORD and admit we want and need to change, accountability to fellow believers will not profit us at all.  Because God has given us new hearts and renewed minds, we are called to learn to live in the way that pleases God, doing what is right in His sight.

Matthew 21:42-44 speaks of an interaction of Jesus with the chief priests and elders of Israel who believed they were the teachers in Israel yet refused to submit to being taught or change their ways:  "Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? ⁴³ "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. ⁴⁴ And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Jesus identified Himself as the chief cornerstone referred to in Psalm 118:22-24 and also the rock (who is the LORD) God's people would stumble over in Isaiah 8:13-15.  The God of Israel is a sanctuary while also being a stone of stumbling and rock of offence.  Some would fall on Him and be broken, while others would be ground to powder and destroyed by His mighty vengeance.

David Guzik wrote in the Enduring Word Commentary:  "The choice before the religious leaders is the choice before every person. We can be broken in humble surrender before God or be completely broken in judgment."  God knows our every need, and our need for salvation is met when we humble ourselves and are broken for our sin as we look to the Saviour Jesus Christ for pardon and redemption.  It is true Jesus understands us, yet His intimate knowledge of us reveals our fundamental need to be transformed:  to pass from spiritual death to eternal life, to repent of sin and do what God says is good.  He does more than sympathise with us but chastens us to further break us so greater healing, godliness and spiritual fruitfulness will be produced by our lives according to His grace.

When I look for a kiosk to validate my parking ticket, I simply want the stamp that will cause the automatic gate to open, allow me to exit, and go where I want.  Some who like the idea of heaven and fear hell come to Jesus for validation rather than personal transformation.  Jesus loves us too much to put His stamp of approval on our sinful thoughts, motives and ways that work to destroy us.   We come to Jesus knowing we are sinners and only He is able to forgive us, spiritually regenerate us and provide eternal life.  Those coming to Christ for validation will be disappointed, but those who are broken for their sin and look to Jesus for pardon will be blessed beyond measure.

A Spiritual Emergency

Our local council is currently rolling out a new bin system to collect rubbish than includes a small pail with biodegradable liners to dispose of food scraps in a green bin.  I was amused when I saw the flashing lights on the minivan that delivered the new bins, similar to what you would see on emergency vehicles.  According to many climate activists, we are in the midst of a global emergency--one that has seemed to grow worse and more dire with every passing year regardless of intentional actions we take.  I have lived long enough to go from paper to plastic bags because it was killing the trees to using paper again because it is sustainable.  We ought to do what we can to protect the environment as good stewards of the planet God has provided for us, but ultimately it is His planet we could not save or destroy even if we tried.

As I mused upon the flashing emergency lights on the climate action van that seemed a bit excessive and unnecessary, it occurred to me people can have a similar view concerning our sin.  All this talk about the dangers of sin do not hit home because it does not seem like an emergency or dangerous at all, like when Adam ate the forbidden fruit.  Life went on.  Because our sinfulness is as natural to our flesh as breathing, eating and sleeping, even Christians may not see how deadly and destructive it truly is.  People who are not comfortable in their own skin can be very comfortable in sin due to familiarity with it; it is naturally part of us and intrinsic to our character, attitude and outlook.  In a sermon I preached on Judges 19, God's word lays the grotesque ugliness of sin bare for all to see to the end we might identify with the sinners rather than painting ourselves as innocent victims.  All have sinned, and God's desire is for all to repent, receive forgiveness and new life.

In year 9, a classmate and I were tasked to contact Greenpeace, an organisation that at the time was highly publicised for their efforts to "save the whales."  In the naivete of my youth, I was a bit taken aback by the rather militant and aggressive fellow who cursed us on the phone when he sensed disrespect by a comment made by my classmate.  I assumed people who care for the planet and whales must have a gentle and kind disposition to callers, when he was a regular person like everyone else--someone who feels frustration  and anger when his time is being wasted by young punks or when his cause is not taken nearly as seriously as it should.  I imagine the man felt quite justified to give us a piece of his mind since we called him, and it is shockingly easy for all people--Christians included--to justify what God identifies as sin due to offence or how we feel.  I once thought I was free of guilt because I avoided overt sins like cursing, but when I began to understand that being unloving is a sin, I realised I was in deep trouble.

Often we must experience negative symptoms before we will go to a doctor, and then we must receive a dire diagnosis before we will take our heath, treatments, diet and exercise as seriously as we should.  In a similar way, we need the word of God and the Holy Spirit to shine a light upon our sin with conviction and be brought to a place of broken desperation for forgiveness and restoration.  We need to realise the spiritual and personal emergency sin truly is--worse than a cancer or heart attack--because it has eternal implications.  Years ago I recall an ambulance with flashing lights and siren that was transporting a patient suffering a life-threatening emergency.  The light was red, and the driver of the car blocking the ambulance wasn't sure if it was ok to run the red light to make way to allow the ambulance to pass through the intersection.  As the fellow remained still, the ambulance driver shouted through a megaphone:  "Get out of the way before my patient dies!"  This is the sort of intensity we ought to have concerning our sin, for it is a spiritual emergency that requires divine forgiveness, healing and restoration.  Praise be to God 1 John 1:9 is the truth for Christians:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Why Do You Weep?

When unexpected or unwanted things happen, it is common for people to wonder or ask God why.  This is never a bad thing to do, to bring our requests to God because we trust and fear Him.  At the same time, we may never agree with God's reasoning, for His ways and thoughts are above ours--nor is He ever under obligation to justify or explain Himself to us.  He alone is the living God who does all things well, and He is powerful to redeem even what man intends for evil for everlasting good.

What may be more advantageous for us in our pains and struggles than asking God for His reasoning is to answer why we feel compelled to ask God why.  When Hannah struggled because of cutting provocations of a rival wife, 1 Samuel 1:8 says:  "Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"  Hannah did not reply, but it would have been a good question to consider and answer.  Because of Hannah's disappointment and inability to fall pregnant, coupled with snide and mean-spirited remarks intended to wound her, she wept despite her husband's love for her.  Rather than lashing out at Peninnah or dumping her emotions on her husband, Hannah wisely poured out her soul to God in prayer.

As children of God, it is good for us to consider why we feel cast down when our God is so awesome and faithful.  God does not fault us for being weak and easily overwhelmed, for we are His children who desperately need Him.  I have observed children can cry for all manner of reasons, and as adults our emotions can be similarly stirred.  A child may cry because they feel picked on or excluded, while another cries because his heart is set to touch a pot on the stove and was sternly rebuked.  I recall a boy who cried when his mum dug poisonous berries out of his mouth, and another child who wept in the aftermath of traumatic accident because her shoe was lost.  One person may be brought to tears in brokenness for their sin while another can be upset because they are unwilling to confess or forsake it.  Consideration of why we weep can provide insight into the condition of our heart which God alone can purify, exposing our motives and intent.

After Jesus was risen from the dead angels asked Mary, "Why do you weep?"  She readily answered, explaining her LORD was missing and she did not know where He was.  Mary didn't notice at the time Jesus was standing right there because she didn't recognise Him.  John 20:15-16 reads, "Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher)."  It was no coincidence the living Christ revealed Himself at the moment when Mary expressed her broken heart, for Jesus has come to heal the broken hearted.  Because of our awesome Saviour, it was for Mary and for us today as Psalm 126:5 says:  "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy."  It isn't tears in themselves that warrant God's favour, but the sacrifices of a broken and contrite heart God will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

Honour God with Increase

There were a few classes in high school that went a bit over my head, namely Chemistry and Physics.  While I understood the content and performed well in life sciences, these courses laid my weak grasp of maths bare.  Because I found the mathematic concepts difficult to grasp, looking back I can see that I reached the point of wanting to be told what the correct answer was rather than wrestle to learn how to arrive at the correct answer.  Passing the class was a higher priority to me than learning information I would likely never need.  I suspect we can do the same when it comes to our relationship with Christ--preferring to be told what the correct answer is, placing ourselves under a yoke administered by those in "the know" instead of wrestling with God concerning how to please Him in our relationship.

Recently the topic of tithing came up in conversation, and I have observed the subject of giving often produces strong responses:  some want to be told how much they should give whilst others are opposed to any input concerning the management of their finances.  Since Christians are no longer under the Mosaic Law, commands to tithe (which means "tenth") in the Old Testament are not in themselves compulsory--though they do reveal giving with intent to honour God who gives us all things to enjoy is proper and good.  Some breathe a sigh of relief, content to give when they feel like doing so or are able to afford it.  Such prefer to exercise their liberty to withhold from giving.  Instead of asking how much we are obligated to give, it is better to examine our hearts to see if we are giving in a godly way.  Why we give is more important than what we give, for God looks upon the heart.

I read a timeless principle in the Bible Christians ought to take to heart in Proverbs 3:9-10:  "Honour the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰ so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."  As God's people, it is our responsibility and privilege to honour God with our possessions and with the firstfruits of all our increase.  This proverb was written in a season when the Law of Moses required the Jews to bring the best of their firstfruits and tithes to the house of the LORD where the priests and Levites served, and a portion of the offerings brought was used given to support the people who ministered unto the LORD.  The principle remains whenever there is increase, a portion of what comes in was to be set aside and given to honour God.  God's people are to give, not with the aim of gain, but as a response to what God has already given!  There can be people who give religiously tinged with greed, hoping their gifts curry favour for increased gain from Him.  This passage affirms God's people will not be impoverished by obedience to God, for He looks favourably upon those who are good stewards of His gracious gifts.

Whether our giving is on a annual, weekly, daily or case by case basis as led by the Holy Spirit, God loves a cheerful giver.  Paul shows the attitude we all ought to have in giving in 2 Corinthians 9:7:  "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  In all the gain God provides, we ought to prayerfully consider how we can honour God directly with a portion of it, whether it be to distribute money to a church, Christian ministry or organisation, to needy people in the name of Jesus.  If we view giving as burdensome, it is interesting we do not feel the same concerning receiving a raise or when extra money comes our way.  If we rejoice to receive more from God, where is our delight in having capacity to honour God more by giving?  I confess giving has not always felt like a privilege to me; at times it felt painful!  Over time the LORD gently showed me my affections were misplaced, as I was more focused on what I could do with money given to God rather than rejoicing in His generous gifts already received.  Giving is a spiritual discipline Christians are called to learn and grow in.  Blessed is the one who trusts God and gives freely with no strings attached, for this causes thanksgiving to abound to God.

Consider this:  subjects in old times would not consider appearing before their king empty handed, similar to Australia where it is customary to bring a gift when visiting friends for a meal.  For the sake of good manners people bring a little something to contribute and bless their host--with a little chocolate, drinks, dessert, or side dish that can be enjoyed by all.  If we feel awkward to go to the house of a friend without bringing a gift to show our appreciation for them, where is our sense of obligation to bring something to give to the LORD when we go to a church building dedicated for the honour and worship of God?  Our friendly and generous host may urge us not to bring a thing, but we delight to do so anyway!  God does not demand any gift from our hand, no percentage of our income or firstfruits:  but He does love a cheerful giver.  All we have to live on and enjoy is a gift from God's hand, and we are richly blessed to be able to honour Him with all our increase.

Complacency Kills

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon personifies Wisdom as a woman calling aloud to all who will listen.  In the opening chapter of the book, Wisdom rebukes and warns the simple and foolish people who ignore her words.  God calls out to people who are heading to destruction and stretches out His hand to draw people to safety and the path of life, but many are intent in going their own way which leads to ruin.  Those who despise knowledge and the fear of God, those who refuse the counsel of God and His rebuke, will find themselves needing help and never finding it.  In our natural, sinful state, this is an apt description of all people.

Wisdom speaks of the consequences of ignoring her in Proverbs 1:30-33:  "They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. ³¹ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. ³² For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; ³³ but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."  Eating the fruit of our own way reminds me of Adam and Eve eating fruit from the one tree God forbade them to eat, and they ultimately died as a consequence for their disobedience.  There are things which seem appetising and alluring to our flesh but work to poison our minds and corrupt our souls.  Those who listen to God and heed His word--Jesus who is Wisdom for us (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)--we will live and dwell in safety and security forever.  Jesus likened those who heard His words and obeyed them to a wise man who built his house on a rock that withstood all forces of nature.

The problem is not primarily the food they eat or even the appetites of the foolish:  it is in turning away from God and their proud complacency where the issue primarily lies.  There is naturally in the proud a fierce and stubborn resistance to yield our will to God's will.  Becoming complacent is a concern for the wise as well as the foolish, for it is a satisfaction in ourselves as we are and will not admit our need to humble ourselves and be changed.  One who is complacent is gratified by themselves and is uncritically satisfied with oneself, pleased with all one has achieved.  It is one who in a sense feels they have arrived at their destination and have no desire or reason to go further.  The complacent are those who are in awe of themselves.  When Wisdom speaks, the wise are willing to examine themselves and acknowledge their folly.  Proverbs 9:8 says, "Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."  Even as the wise can make foolish choices, the wisest among us can become complacent.

People follow programs developed by personal trainers who are fitter than them; those seeking financial advice trust those who have already made their millions by successful investing.  In the world there are people who are commonly viewed as "set for life" because of their notable success in business, sport or politics.  Fame, money and possessions do nothing to refine a person's character, moral compass or faith in God.  If anyone may have been seen as having "arrived" or reached the pinnacle of spiritual success, it was the apostle Paul.  Yet he dismissed this notion in Philippians 3:12:  "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  Paul was not complacent when other Christians may have been.  He freely confessed he had much to learn from the LORD and others, much ground to gain for Christ's sake, and further to go in his spiritual disciplines, practical wisdom and godliness.  The complacent are content where they are and with what they have already done, but the wise will respond positively to rebuke, increasingly walk in obedience to God, and admit they have far to go--coupled with intentional labour and personal sacrifice to head in that direction.

Wisdom said turning from God is deadly, and complacency kills.  Let us be those who receive all of God's counsel and heed His rebukes lest we eat the bitter fruit of our way.  May we believers press on in sanctification increasingly yielded to Christ, for if Paul had not already attained or been perfected neither have we.

Talebearing or Faithful?

Our words can be employed to fashion a cover for ourselves to hide behind and even be a vain attempt to cloak our sin.  I remember years ago I had a friend who did not like to view his daily dependance on cigarettes as an "addiction" (thus justified because he did not buy them) but a habit because it sounded better.  If you had suggested in years past I had a problem with fear, I would have denied it.  I believed verses that say "Fear not!" had little application for me personally.  But when I connected fear with feelings of dread, suddenly I realised my problem with sinful fear due to unbelief in God was a serious problem.  People who readily admit they have told lies in the past can struggle to say the simple truth concerning themselves:  "I am a liar."

The Bible provides a multifaceted view of sin so we can better identify it in our lives, repent of it and choose to do what is right and pleasing to God in the future.  The way we define a word can be the difference between admitting we have sinned or justifying ourselves.  The Proverbs and the rest of the Bible speak regularly concerning the variety of ways we can sin with our tongues, whether it be lying, cursing or swearing.  One word that has been re-defined to avoid offence is gossip, a practice and addiction that is more common than we may think.  In fact, we have all likely been guilty of gossip more than we would like to admit!

Looking back, I would say the common view of gossip is when a person speaks badly of others who are not present.  This is a conflation of gossip and slander--with a primary emphasis on slander.  Gossip is simply repeating a story, to tattle, idle chatter.  To gossip is to speak about people to others, even at times an attempt to speak for them.  Slander is when we maliciously condemn or paint others in a bad light, to work to ruin the reputation of other people by telling of their faults.  The KJV calls gossips "talebearers," and this is a good working description.  The one who believes they "have the goss" only has part of the story, and thus it is an inaccurate one.  Proverbs 11:13 says, "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter."  Talebearing and flattery of hearers often go together as Proverbs 20:19 says.

A person who does not view themselves as a gossip may admit to being a story teller or a busybody.  Paul shared his observations about idle people who were busy in other's business in 1 Timothy 5:13:  "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."  A descriptive word from the Greek for a busybody is to a meddler, one who involves themselves and interferes in the personal lives of others that do not concern them.  Jesus made it clear in Matthew 18 when one person has been offended to go to the offended party alone to seek reconciliation.  The Bible makes it clear gossip is sin, and thus we ought to be careful with our lips and consider why we say what we do.  Our words about others reveal something about us:  do they suggest we are talebearers or those of a faithful spirit?

Bold and Without Hindrance

"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."

Acts 28:30-31

Before coming to Jesus Christ, Saul was bold to persecute Christians.  It was like a full-time occupation for Saul to obtain authority from the Jewish rulers to travel far and wide to find, arrest and prosecute believers--and even consented to their death.  Rage against Christ and His people fuelled Saul to pursue Christians until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, and from then on his life radically changed.  He went from Saul the Pharisee to Paul the apostle, a man chosen and sent by Jesus to be his witness to the Gentiles for the Gospel.

After coming to Christ in faith, Paul was bold to proclaim Him as it says in Acts 9:29-30:  "And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. ³⁰ When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus."  It didn't matter if Paul spoke with Jews, Gentiles, religious leaders or Roman rulers:  he was bold to speak the truth concerning Christ's death, resurrection and the salvation freely given to all who trust in Jesus.  Even after Paul was arrested, he asked people to pray he would be bold to speak as he should in Ephesians 6:19-20:  "...and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Reading through the book of Acts and epistles Paul wrote, there is a pattern of resistance and opposition to the message of the Gospel by Jews and Gentiles alike.  When He preached Christ in the synagogues or before rulers, there were many who laboured to hinder the message of salvation by Christ.  After healing a crippled man in Jesus' name in Lystra, Paul was stoned by Jews who travelled to persecute him.  Silversmiths sparked a riot in Ephesus because they feared the spread of the Gospel would hinder their profitable business and livelihood.  Jews in Jerusalem falsely accused Paul of defiling the temple and shouted for his execution when he stood before them and explained how Jesus who appeared to him on the road had sent him to the Gentiles.

At the close of the book of Acts, we are told Paul stayed in Rome awaiting trial in his own rented house and he preached the kingdom of God and about the LORD Jesus Christ "boldly and without hindrance."  Isn't that wonderful?  Enemies of Jesus had tried to silence Paul; they beat, flogged and even stoned him.  Paul suffered all manner of conflict and trials inside and outside the church.  Yet after he was unlawfully arrested and transferred to Rome to face trials on false charges, without hindrance he was given opportunity by God to preach boldly of Christ for two years to all who came to him.  Whilst imprisoned Paul wrote much of the New Testament as well, his words a testimony of God's faithfulness, strength in weakness, and power to preserve His people to fulfill His calling upon their lives.

Let this be an encouragement to you, believer, when you feel your witness for Christ is far from bold and without hindrance.  Boldness is not a feeling of self-confidence but reliance upon God to speak the truth in love as led by the Holy Spirit when we would rather hide or remain silent.  Even if you should be muzzled and chained for the sake of the Gospel, recall to mind Paul's words in 2 Timothy 2:8-10:  "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."  Speaking boldly of Christ is not primarily for our sake, but for Christ's sake and all who will come to Jesus in faith through our witness.

Pleasures Forevermore

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm 16:11

Jesus Christ revealed Himself to be the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Before His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples they knew where He was going, and they also knew the way because He is the Way.  Though under the Mosaic covenant, the psalmist David had a sure expectation of eternal life in the presence of God where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever.

John 15:9-11 taught His disciples fullness of joy was not only enjoyed in the eternal state but presently in light of His love:  "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."  Having fullness of joy granted us by God's grace is a wondrous thing, and the pleasures provided by God transcend our physical senses.  The word "pleasure" these days has been reduced to primarily refer to sexual enjoyment, but that is a dumbed-down view of the present and ultimate reality.  The Bible teaches there will be no marriage or giving in marriage in heaven, and thus there will be no sexual activity or procreation.  Our pleasure will not be enjoyed by indulging fleshly appetites but in spiritual union with God who is pleased in us.

Webster defined "pleasure" this way:  "The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish or happiness produced by enjoyment or the expectation of good; opposed to pain."  Notice at God's right hand there are pleasures (plural) forevermore, wholesome delights enjoyed by God's grace.  It is important to point out what gives God pleasure is often different that what pleases mankind.  Psalm 147:10-11 says of God, "He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. ¹¹ The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."  We are pleased and impressed by the speed of horses or the large muscles of athletes who perform amazing feats of strength, yet God takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.  God takes pleasure in the weak, slow and uncoordinated people who trust in Him and rest in His loyal love in the midst of a fiery trial.

God spoke from the heavens to identify Jesus as His only begotten Son in whom He was well pleased.  In Christ we are enabled to do what pleases God as it is written in Hebrews 13:15-16:  "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."  Colossians 3:20 also says, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."  There is nothing more pleasurable to the child of God than to be pleasing in His sight, and it is good for us to maintain this perspective--especially when the passing pleasures of sin seductively beckon us during this earthly pilgrimage.  The fleeting pleasures of this life quickly fade in light of the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore in God's presence.