Marching Forth!

" Now see that I, even I, am He, a nd there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal;  n or is there any who can deliver from My hand ." Deuteronomy 32:39 Unlike a doctor who uses medicine and other means to harness the natural healing processes of the body, God IS the healer.  He designed all the systems that protect, identify and eliminate harmful infections, and promote the health of the body.   I have found my typical response when I am not feeling my best is to downplay my symptoms.  I must be undeniably sick to admit I am sick, and I assume the healing process should act more quickly than it does.  After a couple of weeks of a cold or cough it feels like restoration to full health drags on forever!  Being ignorant of the extent or severity of my illness, I assume healing should occur quickly and easily.  As oncologists go to great lengths to destroy all cancer cells, so God is willing to take great pains to resto...

The other night I came across the passage in  1 Timothy 3:4-5  (NIV) concerning requirements for overseers in church leadership:  " He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.  5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) "  When I observe the interactions of children with their parents, the behaviour of the child demonstrates clearly if they have been made to obey their parents or if they have been permitted to disobey.  I remember a somewhat amusing situation years ago when it was very apparent a child was used to doing what he wanted, and because I was a guest in the home I received quite a show of consternation from a parent when he willfully disobeyed.  The behaviour of the child when I was present provided a strong indication of a lack of discipline from his parents when I was not present.  It is the duty of all parents--and especially t...

Have you ever experienced an indignant feeling when you saw people doing what you believe is wrong?  I remember one such occasion when I was incensed as it became apparent I was deceived and misled by someone I trusted to tell the truth.  I was later convicted because I took personal offence when it was in truth sin against God.  It was easy to justify my anger through what is called moral outrage, but since my heart was not humble and contrite before God it was actually immoral outrage. There are passages in the Bible where the outrage people expressed was more an indicator sin within them brought to light by supposed offences.  A classic example is when Nathan the prophet came to king David and told him what turned out to be a parable about a rich man who had many sheep.  In the tale he callously stole the prized, only lamb of a poor man and killed it to provide a meal for his guests.  David was furious at this injustice, and immediately condemned the ri...

Jesus taught His disciples to observe what has been called the "Golden Rule," that as we should do unto others what we would have them do unto us ( Matthew 7:8 ; Luke 6:31 ).  James said concerning the "royal law" in  James 2:8-9 , " If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;  9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors ."  From these passages a corollary can be drawn, that our tendency to show partiality to ourselves was a means to guide our conduct towards others.  Jesus calls us to a higher and better standard than that of Law, for He says we are to love one another as He loves us. Paul explained in his letter to Roman believers that when we condemn others for doing wrong, we expose ourselves as being guilty of the same.  He wrote in  Romans 2:1 , " Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge...

" For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another ." Galatians 5:13 As born again children of God by faith in Jesus, we have been called to liberty.  We have been freed from sin, the sinful demands of our flesh, fear of man, worry, death and the condemnation of the Law of Moses.  Paul compared the Law to a tutor that guided the Jews to please God until Jesus Christ came, and then the Law took them by the hand and handed them over to Jesus for Him to lead them individually and corporately who is greater than the Law.  Claiming to have "liberty" in our individualistic society is akin to saying, "I can do whatever I want."  This is not at all the posture Christians should adopt, for it vaunts self instead of submitting to God and one another in love.  Rather than using liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, through love Christians are called to serve one another. P...

Anyone who keeps an eye on the news or has internet access has likely heard of the murder of Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist who for years engaged in open public debates on university campuses.  His approach provided an opportunity for students and professors to speak with him of their own free will, and passers-by were welcome to listen in.  To the very end, Charlie spoke with people believing they were worthy to be reasoned with--even when their views or actions were unreasonable.  Based on his approach to public debate, Charlie believed it was worth his time to speak with those who were hostile to him and God. Speaking for myself, I try to do everything as efficiently as possible.  I also prefer to see some sort of progression towards a goal.  When I faced a seized bolt I could not remove with a spanner, I pivoted to a grinder.  Should I converse with someone who is firmly set in their views and unwilling to listen to reason, then I do no...

One aspect of the body of Christ the church I have grown to appreciate is the unity of believers with diversity.  As members of our physical bodies have different purposes and functions, all members are to operate with the good of the whole as led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Though there is one church it is comprised of many fellowships that have their own flavour, style and points of emphasis.  One church may be focused more on discipleship, whilst another can be more missionary minded or politically engaged.  God places individuals within each church who are unique from everyone else with their own individual callings, convictions and way of following Jesus. Those who God calls to be in pastoral ministry do well to continue in what they know and have heard from God, to remain faithful to their purpose to preach the word of God.  There are pastors who make political and social issues the main thrust of their sermons, and they have this freedom to do as t...

Psalm 72 is a song written by David and the heading in my Bible says, " A Psalm for Solomon ."  When I read the lyrics of the song, what is written about David's son Solomon and fulfilled in part will be ultimately and completely fulfilled by the Son of David:  Jesus Christ.  In the song, David asked for the king to be given God's judgments and righteousness.  Though Solomon was given great wisdom from God, he did not always walk wisely.  The more I read in this passage, with a prophetic lens we see it alludes clearly to someone greater than Solomon--and Christ affirmed He was indeed that person.  Speaking of Himself and the present generation that rejected Him, Jesus said in  Luke 11:31 :  " The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here ." The name of Solomon pales in compari...

Jesus spoke a parable to illustrate how people always ought to pray and not lose heart in  Luke 18 .  He spoke of a persistent widow who continued to urge a judge who did not fear God or man to avenge her.  Ultimately it was not a desire for justice but on account of personal annoyance he decided to take action on her case.  He was weary and troubled by the widow pestering him, so to get rid of her he avenged her.  Jesus concluded in  Luke 18:6-8 , " Then the Lord said, " Hear what the unjust judge said.  7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  8   I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth ?"  Jesus affirmed God will surely avenge His people!  We are assured God will respond to the prayers of His own people He loves who cry out day and night to Him. The point Jesus made was it wa...

" For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.  16  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day ." 2 Corinthians 4:15-16 As I walked early this morning, evidence of spring renewal was everywhere.  Trees were covered in white and pink blossoms, small green leaves have begun to emerge on deciduous trees, magpies foraged for their young, and the winter chill was gone from the air.  In His wisdom, God created the earth with seasons where winter rest precedes a period of renewal, growth and fruitfulness in the spring.  This led me to consider what Paul meant when he said the "inward man" of a believer is being renewed day by day.  Unlike the four seasons we experience in nature that last for months, spiritual renewal of Christians is intended by God to be our daily experience. People can lose hear...

Growing up in the United States, there was regular talk of our rights and freedoms.  While the Beastie Boys sang raucously to fight for your right to party, the talk in school and on the playground often went to our Constitutional right to freedom of speech and to bear arms.  We felt entitled and deserving of the rights handed to us, and as we grew to adulthood many were fiercely protective of rights as well as pushing to secure additional rights.  For all I heard about rights, however, I heard very little about our responsibilities and duties as God-fearing citizens.  The rights touted by the founding fathers endowed by God who created mankind of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in our modern day often do not include God or His purposes at all. While the world around me seemed to dismiss the responsibilities and duties of U.S. citizens with disdain, I was raised by parents who feared God and sought to please Him.  In our household there was a very clear c...

I was part of a generation that embraced going to university at a level that seemed unprecedented.  Part of the drive was to "work smarter, not harder," to work with our brains rather than with our hands.  The chances of embarking on a more lucrative career seemed more certain by earning a bachelor's degree, and tertiary education in university seems more widespread, expected and even required than ever before.  While there are benefits to earning degrees that prepare people for vocations and industries, having a degree is no guarantee of being industrious or having a strong work ethic.  Character and integrity are not donned as easily as a cap and gown. In the book of Ruth , the readers can observe a young widow of godly character with an inspirational drive to work.  From morning until evening, she gleaned barley in the field of Boaz to provide food for her mother-in-law Naomi and herself.  In the Law of Moses, God bestowed dignity on the stranger, poor, ...

I remember an anecdote shared by pastor Steve Mays in a sermon.  He explained how he was driving with pastor Chuck Smith and a memorable discussion they had.  At one point he lamented, "It's lonely at the top."  Steve said he felt like an idiot when Chuck responded with a gentle rebuke:  "I don't understand your theology."  Chuck's response helped alert Steve to the fact his feelings had become an echo chamber that ignored much of what Steve believed was true:  the call of every Christian and pastor is to serve, to take the lowest place as we follow the example of Jesus; and God is with us and will never leave or forsake us.  If we are feeling lonely, like there is no one to talk to or can understand what we are going through, it very well may be we have forgotten about God who is with us! The exchange between Steve and Chuck as they drove along illustrates how the theology of Christians can become theoretical.  We say the Bible is God's word and ...

" Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, f or anger rests in the bosom of fools ."   Ecclesiastes 7:9 How grateful I am the almighty God is slow to anger!  His anger is not easily inflamed, nor does His rage burn continually.   Psalm 103:8-12 speaks of the character of God:  " The LORD is merciful and gracious, s low to anger, and abounding in mercy.  9 He will not always strive with us, n or will He keep His anger forever.  10  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, n or punished us according to our iniquities.  11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, s o great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;  12  As far as the east is from the west, s o far has He removed our transgressions from us ."  God's righteous anger for sin is always justified, and His wrath and vengeance will be ultimately satisfied. It is ironic the God who lives forever will not always be angry, yet anger is given re...

It is normal to read a passage of scripture and have no idea what it means because it is God's word and is foreign to us.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, however, reading the Bible with understanding is far easier than sifting through tax forms, legal documents or medical publications.  The LORD is able to make His word go straight to our hearts and sheds light on life in ways we never previously considered.  I love and appreciate God's word is true, trustworthy and relevant.  Often God's word is a personal call to action, and He supplies instruction and correction that is always wise and practical. Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 was part of my Bible reading this morning God shed light on for me:  " If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.   4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departe...

In The Call written by Os Guinness, he provides insight of the contrast between love that is of the world and the love of God.  God's love is truly foreign to this world, and it is revealed by Jesus coming to us sinners for our good though we are unworthy.  We look upon what we love with favour that is fickle and can quickly dissipate when our needs, desires or expectations are unmet, yet God is love.  He has demonstrated His love for us by sending His only begotten Son to die for us while we were sinners.  Consider the contrast between eros and agape explained in The Call : " One view of love is the way of eros.  It sees the search as "the great ascent" of humans toward their desired goal.  For the Greeks in particular and the ancient world generally, eros was love as desire, yearning, or appetite aroused by the attractive qualities of the object of its desire--whether honor, recognition, truth, justice, beauty, love, or God.  To seek is therefore t...

While studying the book of Ruth , I was struck with an interaction between Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth.  As they travelled to Bethlehem, Naomi urged both of her widowed daughters-in-law to return to their mothers houses, to go back to their own people and gods.  Orpah eventually did so, but Ruth clung to Naomi and professed her unwavering commitment to Naomi.  She was willing to leave behind the hope of remarriage and children to live where Naomi lived, and chose to embrace a new identity by faith in the God of Israel.  Ruth 1:18 described Naomi's response:  " When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. "  Naomi had been very forthright and insistent returning to Moab was in Ruth's best interest, but Ruth was of another mind.  When Naomi saw Ruth's mind was made up, that her heels were dug in and she would not be swayed, Naomi dropped the subject.  The verse does not mean Naomi gave Ruth the silen...

During a recent men's breakfast at church, we were treated to hear testimonies of God's faithfulness to work in the lives of His people.  I was encouraged and blessed by those who shared from the heart. There was one story that opened up a fresh perspective of discipleship.  When people speak of or consider discipleship, often people look to spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible, regular times of prayer, attending gatherings with fellow believers to worship God, giving, fasting and Christian service--actions that are done outwardly and are quantifiable.  Some feel if they are doing these things more whilst avoiding sin they are doing well in their relationship with God, and this can be true.  Since the Pharisees were very good at maintaining their religious exterior without having hearts transformed by the Gospel, the embrace of spiritual disciplines do not necessarily correlate with being saved. A brother rehearsed an event which happened years ago as a teen ...

The Law of Moses presents an accurate snapshot of God's judgments and statutes.  What is forbidden under Law is contrary to God's good character--like the perversion of justice by receiving bribes.  The assumption God is partial to people based on their "good deeds" is foreign to the kingdom of God, for the LORD commanded in  Deuteronomy 16:19-20 :  " You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.  20  You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you. "  The God of gods has revealed He does not regard persons nor receives rewards, for He executes judgment on behalf of all ( Deut. 10:17-18 ). It is important to understand sacrifice in itself does not and cannot provide atonement for sin.  The passage which speaks of Cain and Abel both offering sacrifices demonstrate...

Have you ever heard someone say, "Where there is no vision the people perish?"  I have heard this repeated so often I have memorised it, yet it is only the first half of the verse!  I actually have never heard anyone say the verse in full, and when people employ partial quotes of scripture to emphasise a point I am wary of missing the main point God intended.  Typically people quote this verse to show the importance of a vision and the danger of lacking it, yet ignoring the second half of the verse and the immediate context allows "vision" (KJV) to mean a great many things that may not be scriptural. Proverbs 29:17-19 says, " Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.  18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.  19  A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer ."  The verses before and after verse 18 contain t...

Yesterday I visited Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park with family and enjoyed seeing the native birds, mammals and reptiles of Australia.  When we arrived the carpark was filled with tour buses, and the park was as crowded as I had ever seen.  Over time the crowds dissipated, and our leisurely stroll through the enclosures of animals both familiar and exotic to me was pleasant. One thing I like about Featherdale is how the animals in some areas have freedom to move around and interact with guests but can also remain in a "refuge" that is off-limits to the public.  This means a hands-on experience with a wallaby or kangaroo is possible if they are in the mood to venture out of the refuge.  Another interesting dynamic is the feed, water and protection provided for the native animals is a draw for local, commonly found birds in Sydney like rainbow lorikeets and pigeons.  Pelicans stay in their enclosure that is open to the sky while ibis from the community fly in. I...