Blessing of God's Word

How indescribably good is the blessing all Christians have in God's word delivered to us!  Sometimes when I read words written in a message or email it is impossible to decipher the tone or the intent of the writer.  I have read bios that give details about a person but I still do not know them at all.  There have also been many people I thought I knew who ended up being completely unlike my assessment or changed so drastically they were a stranger known in name alone.  God and His word do not change, and therefore what God has revealed about Himself can be known and relied upon.  Adopting a worldview with the lens of Scripture guides us to discern truth from error.

Recently I was told of a situation that illustrates this well.  Many times God-fearing people believe God has spoken to them, and while God is never wrong--sometimes we are.  I heard of a conversation between believers where one person believed God had said they would always be alone, and the other immediately replied that this was not God's voice.  How could the Christian be so sure?  Because of what Jesus Christ says in His word!  No Christian is ever alone since Jesus is with us.  Hebrews 13:5 says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Since God is with us wherever we go and will never leave or forsake us, in Christ we are never alone.  Jesus was right in the middle of that conversation between Christians, for where we gather in His name there He is in the midst.  By faith in God, we can know He who is truth and reject lies that masquerade as truth.

Born-again Christians can know we are filled with the Holy Spirit, not because of a particular spiritual gift, but on the same basis we can know we can be born again and saved by faith in Jesus:  by the word of God.  John 3:16 famously says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  The only way we can be born again and pass from death to life is the indwelling Holy Spirit who regenerates those who receive Jesus and believe the Gospel.  Jesus pointed out no one can see the breeze that moves the branches of the tree, and the Holy Spirit operates in a similar fashion in those who are born again.  The spiritual, inner work of the Spirit will result in physical evidence that can be seen by everyone.  Though we live in bodies of corruptible flesh, the lives of Christians are no longer ruled by the works of the flesh but begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul wrote in Galatians 5:19-25, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."  Not only does the Bible truly and plainly tell us how things are, but it also provides guidance for how we are to live.  We can objectively know God by the revelation of His word, know we have eternal life, and know what pleases Him.

Know Your Place

Recently I watched a couple of films that bore a strong resemblance to one another.  Both had female protagonists who were independent (but had the support and friendship of an animal), were disobedient to authority, and headstrong.  Though the films had different directors, they both emphasised the repeated choices of the heroine in the tales to refuse to do as they were told, to disregard societal norms as despicable constraints, and went on to either kill or become what the masses feared.  Both these girls were visionaries, seeing what other people could not, overcame their naysaying peers, and avoided negative consequences for their rebellious ways.  Following their own hearts and going their own way worked out in the end with their desires being satisfied.

The irony in both the stories was the girls who wanted to go alone couldn't succeed alone--not that they ever came to that realisation.  The parallel plot and themes between the films demonstrated how unpopular it is to submit to authority and "know your place."  The aspirations of the girls was to leave their place behind--not to remain in it.  Both of the films depicted the general population as dragging along, their purpose and delight in life sapped from them by daily labours, beaten down by authority, lived in fear of being in trouble, and those in power saw themselves as superior.  The worst thing to be told was "Do as you are told," as if it was impossible to thrive, succeed, or find fulfillment if one did so.  It was predictable and boring that whenever these free-spirits were told what not to do, they would immediately do that one thing--and never learned any lessons or grew in character as a result of conflict.

When I grew up in the United States, part of the Pledge of Allegiance we daily recited at school reminded us where our place was:  "one nation, under God."  I was blessed to have a place in a country I could call my own with a rich heritage that acknowledged God who created the heavens, earth and all things.  I was also blessed to have a place in a family with parents I was called by God to submit to and obey as Ephesians 6:1-3:  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: ³ "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."  I was blessed to have younger siblings I was to care for and be a good example to.  I have also been blessed to have a place in a marriage where before God we are both called to submit to one another in the fear of God.  All Christians are blessed to have a place in the kingdom of God, and that Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for us today.  Knowing and embracing my place under God has been the source of great peace, joy and contentment in my life by God's grace.

It is a grief to my soul when I sense the satanic stench of rebellion being posed as the path to satisfaction, fulfillment and success.  When people reject God and His wisdom, they rob themselves of the rich relationship with God He extends to all as they remain enslaved to the dictates of their own sinful hearts.  It is a romantic, fictional construct to imagine people will be most happy doing what they want as they head to ruin rather than living an abundant life in glad submission to God who gives eternal life.  How privileged Christians are to be God's children and His servants who are given us responsibilities and duties to fulfil.  Jesus told a parable about when a master returned home and his servants ensured he ate and drank by their faithful service, and then they would have an opportunity to eat and drink from his bounty.  The is the proper order of things, and blessed are those who know their place and serve our gracious God and Saviour.  He is our life and satisfaction we cannot find going our own way.

God Gives Life

When I consider creation and all God has made, it is evident He thought of everything.  The more we learn and discover concerning our galaxy, planet, living things, cells and all else that is studied and marvelled over, there is an order, complex systems and invaluable interactions we observe.  It is saying something where there is ongoing research into how things work so well in nature with an aim to design and manufacture products that can begin to approach this impossibly high level of function.  Sheer chance and random processes cannot reasonably account for the stability of elements, the information packed in a living cell, and the existence of plants, creatures and people that reproduce after their own kind.

Based on these observations and many more, it is easy for me to ascribe the wisdom, power and foresight required to create our world and all that is in it to the living God revealed in the Bible.  Nothing the eternal and all-powerful God says or does is pointless or without purpose.  When things do not make sense to us or seem unreasonable, it confirms what God reveals about Himself:  His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.  As the heavens are high above the earth, so God's ways and thoughts are above ours.  It is reasonable that God's wisdom and knowledge is infinitely greater than that of wise Solomon, for the king's wisdom did not spontaneously arise:  it came from somewhere, or in his case Someone.  Everything we have and all abilities we possess came from God who is the Giver of all good gifts.

God said in Isaiah 55:10-11, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."  God used rain and snow to illustrate His purpose in speaking His word.  People depended on seasonal rain to water their crops that would grow and produce flowers, fruit and seeds.  God sent rain on the earth to provide seed for the sower who had the expectation of a future crop, and also bread for the eater by grinding it into flour to sustain their bodies presently.  It was not "good luck" rain happened to fall but was a seasonal blessing God supplied so the needs of plants, animals and people would be abundantly met.

God said, "So shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth."  Rain does not reverse course just before hitting the ground and rise back to heaven, and God's word He sends will accomplished what He pleases and prosper to accomplish His intended purpose.  In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus compared the word of God to good seed that fell on various locations and conditions.  Good seed planted at the right time and place will produce a crop, while seed that is eaten by birds, is scorched by the sun or choked by the weeds and is unfruitful says volumes about the unprepared condition of the hearts of people.  Our response to the word of God can say more about us than about our good God who alone has the words of life.  Praise God He has revealed Himself to us all and how all our needs are abundantly met in Him!  If you ever thought about how life is good, then it follows we ought to ascribe complete goodness to God who gave us life.

Return to Your Rest

Recently there has been an uptick in reports of young people riding illegal e-bikes on the street, and it seems the authorities are unsure what to do about it.  On Friday I saw a group of youths riding on the street as they dangerously weaved through traffic.  Youths on motorbikes in NSW have been emboldened of late because the police will not pursue them due to safety concerns.  The problem is, those who are guilty of dangerous, unlawful driving are not caught and believe they are within their rights to hoon around with impunity.  Apparently, this problem will be addressed by new legislation later this year to limit the kind of e-bikes people can buy or operate--and "crush" bikes that exceed the speed limitations--that is, if the authorities can catch them!

The problem I see of dealing with hooning by more legislation is that laws on the books are not being presently upheld.  How will more laws do anything to aid the enforcement of current laws?  Adding more laws will not change the behaviour or hearts of people who are inclined to do as they will.  King Solomon was a wise judge, and he wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:11:  "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  Solomon understood unless there are real consequences speedily doled out to those who do wrong, the sinful hearts of men are hardened in a corrupt state.  Administering the rod of correction to your own rebellious and disobedient children will tend to straighten out crooked ways, but it is the LORD who has the power to change people.

Solomon followed up in Ecclesiastes 8:12:  "Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him."  Solomon also realised there will be people who continue in their sin regardless of the consequences they face or evade.  Since everyone will be brought before the LORD in judgment who always does right, we do not need to worry if justice will be done.  Rather than primarily concerning himself with emboldened sinners, Solomon wisely pointed out his great confidence it will be well with those who fear God.  No one knows the day or hour our souls will be required of us, yet we can know how to obtain God's favour by faith in Jesus Christ today and always.

We have all gone astray, yet by God's grace He saves all who trust in Him.  Psalm 116:5-8 affirms, "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. ⁶ The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. ⁷ Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. ⁸ For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling."  The decisions of the government or bad choices of those who break the law is not nearly as important as each of us to choose to fear God and walk in His ways.  Even if we are run over by an illegal e-bike and the rider is never caught, we can have rest in the LORD who has delivered our souls from death and deals bountifully with us.

Contempt Corrupts

I recently read an article from the perspective of a marriage psychologist who said one of the most surefire evidence of a marriage in trouble was when the couple openly shows contempt for one another.  Webster defined "contempt" in the 1828 Dictionary as:  "The act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless; disdain; hatred of what is mean or deemed vile. This word is one of the strongest expressions of a mean opinion which the language affords."  Contempt is the opposite of love, for it is hardened hatred, disgust and without regard or respect for another person.  Contempt is the fruit of unresolved conflict, bitterness, and resentment, and this corrupt outlook reveals a lack of love and grace.

It has been said that "Familiarity breeds contempt," but it has also been observed a closer relationship with someone can result in greater appreciation and mutual respect.  Should our relationships be soured because of contempt for others, it says more about the hardened state of our hearts than dashed expectations or negative judgments we have made concerning others.  In the Bible God is revealed as the unchanging, holy and awesome, longsuffering, gracious and wise.  He made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He delivered the Hebrews from slavery Egypt.  God appeared before His people in thick darkness and fire as He spoke to them from Mt. Sinai, and the people trembled before Him.  God gave them the Law through Moses, and the people promised to walk in His ways.

One might think because the almighty God who dwelt in the midst of His people was good and glorious, they would have loved and been loyal to Him always.  This was not the case.  People brought sacrifices  to the temple and priests went into the presence of God, yet they despised God and departed from Him.  When God sent the prophet Ezekiel to speak the word of God to His people, see what God said in Ezekiel 3:5-7:  "For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, ⁶ not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. ⁷ But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted."  It had reached such a low point in Israel's relationship with God they would not even listen to Him because of the hardness of their hearts.  Since they would not listen to God, they would not hear Ezekiel either.  Ironically, God said foreign people with a language barrier would be more willing to listen than His own people!

This passage of Scripture in Ezekiel shows the danger of hearing God's word without obedience can lead us to reject Him.  Like the Israelites, we Christians can become dull by much hearing; familiarity with the Bible can make ordinary in our eyes what is miraculous, transformative, and divine truth.  We rarely see ourselves as the entitled, demanding brat who treats his generous and caring parents with contempt, yet this passage shows it is possible unchecked pride in our hearts could result in contempt towards God--and even His faithful servants.  The good and awesome God never changed, but His people can for the worse.  By God's grace may we continually submit ourselves before Him gladly as He sanctifies and refines us to be more like Him:  to respond to hatred with love, to give more grace, to forgive, show mercy and walk humbly as we follow Jesus closely.  

God At Hand and Afar Off

"Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD, "and not a God afar off? ²⁴ Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD."

Jeremiah 23:23-24

God is omnipresent and omniscient:  before there was time on earth God was everywhere and knowing all things--even beyond our universe.  Solomon and the children of Israel knew God's presence was not contained to the Holy of Holies or a temple made with hands.  At the same time, the temple was viewed as a focal point of God's attention because His presence dwelt among His people.  Wherever Jews were in the world, they prayed in the direction of the temple in Jerusalem to acknowledge their God who rules over all.

God made it clear to Jeremiah He was not merely a God near at hand but also afar off.  There was no place where anyone could hide from His presence, for He filled heaven and earth.  Not one sparrow could fall without Him knowing, all the hairs on our head are numbered by Him, and He calls all the stars by name.  God's absolute knowledge and presence is a great comfort to believers, for we are assured nothing escapes His notice.  When the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians and suffered, their cries were heard by God as it is written in Exodus 2:24-25 (LSB):  "So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁵ And God saw the sons of Israel, and God knew them."  The groans of God's people put His promises to their fathers in His mind--not that He ever forgets.  This passage shows God's faithfulness and responsiveness to His people, regardless of their geographical proximity to a temple or city.

God heard the groaning of His people who suffered, remembered His covenant, saw the sons of Israel and God knew them.  Out of all the sounds made by nature, machinery or mankind, God was drawn to observe His people and respond to their suffering by opening a way of deliverance and salvation.  I am reminded of the word of Hanani the prophet who rebuked king Asa because he had relied on an arm of flesh rather than the LORD who made Himself known and saved him in 2 Chronicles 16:8-9:  "Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."  God's eyes run everywhere in the world, looking to show Himself strong on behalf of those with loyal hearts to God.

The Good Shepherd Jesus said in John 10:27-30,  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one."  God hears the groaning of His people, sees and knows us wherever we may be, and we also can be attuned to hear the voice of Jesus as we follow Him.  We are blessed beyond measure the God of Israel is a God at hand and also a God afar off, and not one of us is far from Him in Christ Jesus.  The God who fills heaven and earth has chosen to make Christians His holy habitation by His grace.  Wherever we are, there He is in our midst.

Finishing Our Race Well

When I was in high school, for 3 years I was part of the cross country team that competed against other schools in a weekly 5K run.  Over 3 decades have passed since I raced, and this morning I decided to run the 5K fun run course our suburb hosts every week.  Let's just say, long gone are the days of running 30-40 miles a week for training that kicked off with an easy 7 or 8 minute warm up before stretching!  I was pleased simply to continue jogging nonstop for first half and averaged 10 minutes a mile throughout.  While I was jogging, puffing and walking, the LORD brought some observations to mind concerning the race of life God has prepared for all of His people to run with joy.

I was never close to being the fastest, most technically sound or best runner on my cross country team, and yet there is a massive contrast between my ability and endurance back then compared to now.  The same can be true concerning our walk with Jesus Christ, that we can go from energetic and fighting fit to becoming heavier, slower and incapable of keeping the pace we did previously.  Even as men and women are different, so our abilities and strengths change over time.  There is nothing wrong with this.  But when our perspective is shifted for our convenience and a desire to avoid painful strain, this can undermine our spiritual preparation and fitness to do what God has called us to do--to run well the race He has set before us.  Youth has its own pitfalls as our lives were often marked by arrogance, pride and looked down on others because we viewed ourselves as superior.

I am going to share some personal examples of how my approach to running as physical exercise that in many ways has changed for the worse, and may the LORD in His wisdom reveal to you, dear reader, of what correlations can be made and positive steps you can take in your life for the better.  The first change I have observed is these days I can allow the weather to dictate whether I go walking or not.  Our cross country team would run in all weather, rain or shine.  We did not substitute half an hour on a treadmill or excuse ourselves from exercise because of misty weather so we could sit and drink a cup of tea.  We weren't worried about an increased chance of falling or catching cold because running was not negotiable.  We were runners; that what we did, and we did it together and on our own time.

Another thing I have started doing that I never did before was to set my sights on a short term goal based upon how I was feeling.  I have decided when walking, "I will run to that light up ahead."  Sometimes I have not even managed to run to the light because my body was not feeling good about running.  When I ran a race in high school, I was committed and determined to keep running all the way to the end.  The goal was the finish line--not the next tree, bush or mile marker to take a break.  To set your sights on what is not the finish line and to settle for less than complete effort because of how you feel means some runners drop out and do not finish the race, and others do not bother starting it.  Better than looking forward to walking a bit and catching my breath after successfully reaching the light, I would be better served to look forward to the shower I will enjoy after the race is completed.  Rest in the presence of God in heaven is far better to consider than retirement from paid work.

A big point of emphasis for runners is that of time.  We all wore wristwatches so we would check our pace and ensure we were pushing ourselves and still have enough in the tank for the last kick.  Our final time was often compared to our "PR" or personal record, and even when others were faster than us we could be encouraged by our improvement.  A slow time felt like a failure, and when compared to others (or our previous times!) it could be embarrassingly slow.  Again, doing poorly in our minds can lead us to feel it isn't worth doing at all when others are so much faster.  I am reminded that Paul rejoiced to run the race set before him with joy, and he wasn't in competition with anyone else.  We used to take pride in how fast we could run a race, but it is irrelevant how long or how short it takes us to run our race before the LORD--long as we finish well.  Rather than priding ourselves in our training or hard work, we credit God for calling us and helping us cross the finish line.

One aspect of cross country I liked was that it was challenging to run on different surfaces, with hills, valleys and pleasant changes of scenery.  Running around a track over and over to me was like a hamster on a wheel, a lot of activity and motion but not going anywhere.  Cross country races have a clear starting and finishing point, and the course in The Ponds is a big loop that finishes where it began.  There is a lot to see, experience and enjoy of the creation God has made.  For those of us who are getting older, it is likely we have reached or gone well past the midpoint of our race:  now we are heading home and that motivates us to keep going.  We aren't to focus on the time we've lost with regret, nor are we to run to best others:  we look to Jesus who sets the pace, strengthens and guides us to finish well.  As Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Truth Who Sets Free

Sometimes a verse spoken out of context can provide impetus to study and analyse passages of Scripture more carefully.  It seems people are pleased to quote fragments from the Bible to condemn others, justify themselves or to gain credibility--even when they think little of God or the Bible as a whole.  For instance, I read a news article that quoted from John 8:32 where Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free."  The writer went on to list things what the passage did not say.  Infinitely more important than what the Bible does not say is what God does say and the message Jesus intended to convey.

In the passage that preceded this well-known quote, Jesus proclaimed He was the light of the world.  The Pharisees opposed Jesus, and they complained He bore witness of Himself and thus His witness was not true.  Later people asked Jesus who He was really in John 8:25-32:  "Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him." ²⁷ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. ²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." ³⁰ As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. ³¹ 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 was not speaking of some arbitrary revelation of truth, but He specifically spoke of Himself as the Truth.  Jesus was sent from heaven to earth by God the Father, and the witness Jesus gave concerning Himself was true.  When Jesus was lifted up on a cross and crucified, He said it would show and confirm what He truly was:  the Lamb of God sent by God to provide atonement for the sins of the world.  Jesus would lay down His life on Calvary in obedience to His Father in heaven, and He would take up His life again by rising from the dead.  Verse 30 says many believed in Him--not just that He was being honest--but that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah God would send to save sinners.  To those Jews who believed Him Jesus said, "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."  Anyone could have followed Jesus around, but His true disciples heard and obeyed His word.  These are those who would know the truth, and the truth would make them free.  The text does not allow us to substitute our truth or what poses as truth in Christ's place, for He objectively is the truth.  To unbelieving religious leaders who remained slaves to sin Jesus said in John 8:36:  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Jesus plainly identified Himself as the truth to Thomas and His disciples in John 14:6:  "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  By the power of the Gospel, Christians are set free from sin that brings death and are set at liberty from the Law of Moses that condemned us.  We are set free from the curse of sin and set free to worship, serve and have fellowship with God forever.  Paul wrote in Romans 6:17-18, "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. ¹⁸ And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."  The freedom Jesus brings is infinitely more than a feeling or a change of mind but a complete transformation of a person who by faith in Jesus goes from slavery to sin and self to be a new creation, a child of God and citizen of heaven.

If we misunderstand what "truth" means in John 8:32 means, we will arrive at very wrong conclusions of what "free" means as well.  This illustrates the importance of carefully reading and considering the context of Bible passages when we quote a phrase or verse, for our flippancy can cause people to miss Jesus Christ and the critical points He was making.  It is God's word, after all, and the wise are zealous to hear Him speak.

Changed by God's Presence

Years ago during a trip to Israel, we sat on the southern steps of the temple mount and had a brief Bible study.  Our guide pointed out how the steps were constructed intentionally with different tread heights and depths so people would walk carefully, being reminded they were approaching the presence of God.  The idea was never to go up to the house of the LORD casually or without consideration of the enormity of the privilege and responsibilities God bestowed upon His people.

We were also told about Ezekiel 46:9 that guided people on how to depart the temple mount after presenting yourself with the appropriate offerings:  "But when the people of the land come before the LORD on the appointed feast days, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by way of the gate through which he came, but shall go out through the opposite gate."  Our guide said one reason for this command was to illustrate that people who went up to present themselves to God should not leave the same way:  even as their point of entry differed from their exit, so they were to be changed by going up the house of the LORD.

Recently another thought came to mind, that God desired the lives of people to intersect with Him.  Without this command, Jews who came from the south could bring their offering to the outer court and turn around without venturing past the temple where the Spirit of God dwelt in the most holy place.  In commanding people to continue from the south to north (and vice versa), it meant the lives of God's worshippers would also intersect with one another in fellowship.  This is a beautiful picture of the desire of God to dwell in the midst of His people who unite in the fear and worship of God, and one day we will all be gathered in New Jerusalem to worship and serve Jesus, the KING OF KINGS.

As churches gather to worship God, hear His word and enjoy fellowship in Christ's name, it is a foretaste of heaven because Jesus offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for sin.  Those who ascended the temple mount with a sacrifice would have bathed in a mikveh, and Jesus has spiritually cleansed His followers with His own blood and imputed righteousness to us by faith in Him.  Though we have been washed clean, would ought to search our hearts and seek the LORD intentionally with our whole being as it says in Lamentations 3:40-41:  "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD; ⁴¹ let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven."  It is wonderful we can draw near and lift our hearts to God in the presence of fellow believers or right where we are, knowing God will continue to sanctify us by His grace.

As a direct result of speaking with God, the face of Moses shone.  His appearance was altered by communing with God as a man speaks with his friend, and seeking Jesus Christ will spiritually impact our lives and perspective as well.  We come to Christ as we are but He does not leave us as we are, for He makes us new creations He is faithful to sanctify and make spiritual fruitful.  How awesome it is Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us!  We do not need to go up to the temple in Jerusalem to seek the LORD, yet let us not imagine His indwelling Spirit is for our convenience:  it is for our comfort, guidance, and closeness of relationship.  May we be those who seek the LORD, yield to His guidance and rest in His presence.

Open Only For Jesus

When I left my house the other day, I noticed something out of the ordinary at a house on our street.  Despite the early hour, the front door adorned with a Hindu banner stood wide open with no one in sight.  A small wooden table was arranged on the porch with two ornamental brass and silver vessels sitting on top.  I am not sure what the significance of the decorations and the open door were, but it seemed to signal an home that was open and welcoming to spirits and good luck.  It certainly requires faith to believe a banner (Toran) can act as a spirit filter like a flyscreen--allowing sunlight and the cool breeze to pass through but prevents flies and mosquitos from coming in as well.

I suspect those who go to great lengths to obtain good luck and prosperity are often in a quandary when troubles arise and lack sure spiritual footing:  did a malevolent spirit come into their home?  Is their bed or mirror arranged in the wrong way?  Have they angered spirits because they could not find their preferred flowers for an offering?  In the midst of a long season of idolatry in Israel, the Jews found themselves in a similar predicament.  Though the God of Israel established them in the land of Canaan, provided seasonal rain, prosperity, and protection from their enemies, they departed from Him and served the "queen of heaven."  The people of Judah fled from their land to Egypt, and they doubled-down on their need to sacrifice to the queen of heaven in Jeremiah 44:18:  "But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."

God's people foolishly gave credit to the queen of heaven for all God had graciously provided them.  God revealed it was their sin of idolatry that withheld good things like seasonal rain and bountiful harvests from them in Jeremiah 5:25:  "Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you."  The hearts of God's people were cluttered with useless, hopeless idols that were powerless to save, and their troubles were a direct result of departing from God.  The queen of heaven could not help, deliver them from trouble or restore them to their land, but they insisted on serving her anyway.  What a sad situation this was, for spiritually impoverished people who had a rich spiritual heritage of faith in God to wear themselves out seeking the favour of idols that could not see, hear, speak or save.

The door standing open aligns with the new age approach of opening up yourself to deceitful spirits that are not of God.  Jesus Christ showed His power over all unclean spirits by delivering people possessed by them.  He explained what can happen when an unclean spirit leaves a person in Matthew 12:44-45:  "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."  It is good to regularly clean our houses and to put them in order because they quickly become dusty, grimy and disorganised.  Unless the LORD Himself takes up residence in our hearts by faith in Jesus, our hearts and minds resemble an empty house with an open door that allows any unclean spirit in.  Any spirit that would dare enter us--beside the Holy Spirit who is part of the triune God--is a wicked, malevolent spirit.

Jesus pointed out the last state of a man influenced by unclean spirits was worse than the first, and so it also would be with this wicked generation--a blasphemous, unbelieving and corrupt generation.  We observe history repeating itself with the idolatrous men of Judah in the book of Jeremiah, with the self-righteous and proud religious rulers who argued with Jesus, and unbelief in God and His word continues in our day.  There is only one remedy and means of being purged of sin, reconciled to God and true prosperity:  by faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, by opening up the door of our hearts to Him only.  He alone is able to wash us from sin and grant eternal and abundant life.  In this case the cure is also a preventative measure, for Jesus does not leave us empty but fills believers with the Holy Spirit.  One great tragedy in the world is when people are willing to open themselves to every restless spirit but intentionally close the door when Jesus stands, knocks and calls out for us to open to Him.

Declare God's Greatness

As people saved by faith in Jesus Christ, we above all ought to bless the LORD and speak of His great works.  The Law of Moses commanded for parents to diligently teach their children God's words as they sat in the house, walk outside, lie down or rise up.  They were to bind God's word as a sign upon their hand and foreheads and write them on the gates and doorposts of their homes (Deut. 6:4-9).  They were to make God's existence, power, goodness and statues were known so the next generation would continue to know God and walk in ways.

Many of us today live in a secular society that does not acknowledge our Creator, thank, or praise Him for anything.  It is good for people to go far and wide to spread the knowledge and love of God to the unreached as missionaries, and it is good to realise people who live in our cities also have never heard the truth about the God of Israel.  How will children born today be introduced to Jesus Christ unless someone speaks about who He is and all the great things He has done?  There remains unreached people in our own backyards, so to speak, because we never thought to tell them of God's awesome works.

What is amazing is everyone who lives today--despite our diverse backgrounds, educations, passions and experiences--shares something in common:  God has been faithful to supply our needs.  Even people who do not know, believe in, or acknowledge God have Him to thank for creating them and sustaining them thus far.  The fact we can be greedy, grumpy and unthankful does not lessen God's goodness to us.  We Christians learn to look to the LORD to supply our needs, and unbelievers unwittingly look to God as well and by grace receive from His hand.  It is a great blessing to be able to share that God has given us life, provides escapes from death, supplies all our needs, and is the One personally responsible for every good thing we have ever enjoyed.

Psalm 145:15-16 reads, "The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. ¹⁶ You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."  Since God is the Creator of all, He is able to employ anything and anyone He wants to provide us food in season.  When I'm hungry I look forward to eating, and it is God who provides the food, sets the table and dines with us.  We might express gratitude to the one who planted and harvested the crops. the shop that offered fresh produce and meat, and those who took the time to prepare the meal, yet we ought to give God thanks for everything.  The fact we have eaten food and drank water today is evidence of God's loving provision for us by satisfying our bodies with good things.  How great is the LORD and worthy to be praised for His goodness towards all!

Contend For the Faith

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

Jude 1:3

In the book of Jude, he wrote to Christian believers to exhort them to earnestly contend for the faith.  The faith to which Jude refers is in Jesus who preached the Gospel and made a way for all sinners to be saved through repentance and faith in the Son of God who died and rose again.  In verse 4 that followed Jude explained why this was necessary:  "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."  Even in the early days of the church, ungodly people had crept into the church, turned the grace of God into lewdness (an opportunity to indulge in lusts) and denied God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.  Like the serpent in the garden of Eden, they questioned, challenged and opposed what God plainly said and led people into sin.

One thing that struck me about Jude's exhortation was the purpose he wrote was to exhort Christians to contend for the faith--not to take up the fight against heretics or falsehoods.  In boldly standing up to promote the Gospel and hold fast to God's word on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, they would be effective and fruitful in ministry.  Jude went on to provide examples of the kinds of ungodly characteristics of people in Israel's history so they could better identify sinful motives in their own lives and the church, the body of Christ.  Peter urged this steadfast resistance in 1 Peter 5:8-9:  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."  Those who engage in lion hunts in distant places potentially leave their own houses and families vulnerable to attack, and our call is to know the truth so we can recognise error and resist it in faith right at home.

Having been informed of the truth of the Gospel by God's word, we are called to contend earnestly for the faith in Christ granted to us by God's grace.  We did not discover it on our own; it was given freely to us by God.  We were once those ungodly people marked for condemnation who have received the Gospel we are to learn to continually walk in:  as we have been freely forgiven, we forgive others.  We have freely received the love of God, and therefore we love one another--even our enemies we pray for.  The battlefield of earnest contention for the faith is not merely outwardly but in our own hearts and minds.  There will be temptation to keep records of wrongs, to sow discord due to personal offence, and to be careless with our words.  Let us heed God's word to be sober and vigilant to remain steadfast in faith and contend earnestly for it so Jesus will be glorified, sinners will be saved, and the church will be edified.

God is Reasonable

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. ² Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. ³ There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."

Psalm 19:1-3

The heavens and earth declare the glory of God, and everything that is has been created by God's wisdom and power.  It is remarkable to me people can observe the rising of the sun every day and the phases of the moon, the orderly march of days, weeks, months and years, and not consider this world is more consistent, precise and orderly than we are at our best.  I have never written anything in my diary on a particular date on accident, yet there are intelligent people who assert today is a fortuitous accident--the culmination of billions of years of natural processes that has resulted in things like stable elements, the water cycle, dolphins, rabbits, and human beings.

Last night I watched a bad science fiction movie that provided a good illustration of how we ascribe purpose and intentionality to even small details.  In the film, explorers noticed a "heat signature" that revealed a pyramid shape under the ice in the Arctic.  The explorers (as well as the viewers) know pyramid-shaped stone structures do not just happen:  they are designed and must be built by someone or something.  As the explorers delved deep into the compound, the experts in various cultures recognised markings and inscriptions that were like a puzzle to be solved.  Not one of the people suggested the artefacts, carvings or stones just happened to be piled in a symmetrical shape, and no reasonable viewer would have imagined that either.    When an explorer was drawn to touch a deposit of slimy goo out of curiosity, not one viewer assumed the goo started dropping from the ceiling because of random, natural processes--but knew it came from something--an alien that would soon be introduced with a jump scare.

It is entirely unreasonable to see living plants, birds and animals on earth that reproduce after their own kind teeming in the wild and assume they came to exist without design or purpose.  No movie has ever been made without a maker or by accident; no book has ever been written without a writer.  In the same way, no creature has ever existed without a creator.  H.R. Giger is credited with designing the well-known xenomorph alien creature in film, yet it is remarkable many people are reluctant or refuse to credit a Creator for designing human anatomy, living cells or DNA.  As difficult as drawing, airbrushing and sculpting is, creating a living creature that reproduces after its own kind is infinitely more complex.  If sculptures do not sculpt themselves, how can we reasonably say human models used by painters and sculptors are the result of a series of ancient cosmic accidents--and not far superior to art in their own right?

I recently recommended a book to a friend I need to read again, and it is titled The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton.  In this book Chesterton shows in his heady, humorous fashion how mankind is unlike all other living creatures--to the point there is really no comparison between them at all.  After this point is well-established, he goes on to show how Jesus Christ is no ordinary man:  He is the everlasting Man, our Creator and God in human flesh.  While science has much to give to help us observe and determine how things work, knowing Jesus helps us to better understand why God has created us and our purpose in this world.  We are more than a jumble of cells but living souls created to know, trust and love God. who loves us.  The heavens declare the glory of God, and may we who are made new creations in Christ proclaim how awesome and good He is so all might come to know and praise Him.

Election Complaints

Yesterday I read a sermon of Spurgeon on the subject of Election, and he made a good point concerning the nature of man to complain and find fault with God--even when God allows man to have his own way.  People who hate God always try to pin the blame on God when He is only righteous, just and good.  We have observed this in politics:  when people despise and oppose a leader personally, he cannot do anything right in their eyes.  We observe the same in God's people miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt who murmured against God and Moses, complained about God's provision and refused to enter the land God promised to give them.  Praise the LORD even when people malign and misunderstand God completely, He continues to draw all people to Himself so they might know Him and be saved.  He does not prevent a single soul from entering into eternal glory (for Christ loves all and died for the sins of the world), but all must come His way by faith in Jesus Christ.

"But there are some who say, "It is hard for God to choose some and leave others."  Now, I will ask you one question.  Is there any one of you here this morning who wishes to be holy, who wishes to be regenerate, to leave off sin and walk in holiness?  "Yes, there is," says some one, "I do."  Then God has elected you.  But another says, "No:  I don't want to be holy; I don't want to give up my lusts and my vices."  Why should you grumble, then, that God has not elected you to it?  For if you were elected you would not like it, according to your own confession.  If God, this morning, had chosen you to holiness, you say you would not care for it.  Do you not acknowledge that you prefer drunkenness to sobriety, dishonesty to honesty?  You love this world's pleasures better than religion; then why should you grumble that God has not chosen you to religion?  If you love religion, he has chosen you to it.  If you desire it, he has chosen you to it.  If you do not, what right have you to say that God ought to have given you what you do not wish for?  Supposing I had in my hand something which you do not value, and I said I shall give it to such-and-such a person, you would have no right to grumble that I did not give it to you.  You could not be so foolish as to grumble that the other has got what you do not care about.  According to your own confession, many of you do not want religion, do not want a new heart and a right spirit, do not want the forgiveness of sins, do not want sanctification, you do not want to be elected to these things; then why should you grumble?  You count these things but as husks, and why should you complain of God who has given them to those whom he has chosen?  If you believe them to be good, and desire them, they are there for thee.  God gives liberally to all those who desire; and first of all, he makes them desire, otherwise they never would.  If you love these things, he has elected you to them, and you may have them; but if you do not, who are you that you should find fault with God, when it is your own desperate will that keeps you from loving these things--your own simple self that makes you hate them?  Suppose a man in the street should say, "What a shame it is I cannot have a seat in the chapel to hear what this man has to say."  And suppose he says, " I hate the preacher; I can't bear his doctrine; but still it's a shame I have not a seat."  Would you expect a man to say so?  No:  you would at once say, "That man does not care for it.  Why should he trouble himself about other people having what they value and he despises?"  You do not like holiness, you do not like righteousness:  if God has elected me to these things, has he hurt you by it?  "Ah, but," say some, "I thought it meant that God elected some to heaven and some to hell."  That is a very different matter from the gospel doctrine.  He has elected men to holiness and to righteousness, and through that to heaven.  You must not say that he has elected them simply to heaven, and other only to hell.  He has elected you to holiness, if you love holiness.  If any of you love to be saved by Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ elected you to be saved.  If any of you desire to have salvation, you are elected to have it, if you desire it sincerely and earnestly.  But if you don't desire it, why on earth should you be so preposterously foolish as to grumble because God gives that which you do not like to other people?" (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 75-76)

Call to God

What a wonderful privilege and opportunity we have to bring our requests to the LORD in prayer!  Speaking to God has none of the hindrances we experience with modern phones.  We can call but it does not mean anyone is available to talk.  They may not receive or hear a notification, and when we leave a message it can go unread and unanswered.  Our phones can run out of battery or be out of the range of networks which renders communication using them impossible.  Communication with God depends upon the LORD who knows and does all things, God who does not slumber or sleep, and His ears are always open to our cries.  The God who appeared to Solomon and said, "Ask!  What shall I give you?" is just as eager and willing to respond to our praying.

The Bible has many examples of people who were locked up and prevented from contacting others yet had continuous communion with God--and sometimes it was God who initiated the call!  Jeremiah 33:1-3 says, "Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, ² "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.'"  While Jeremiah was imprisoned, the God who created all things spoke to Jeremiah and invited him to call.  He did not need a mobile phone, data plan, to remember the country code and input a correct sequence of numbers:  Jeremiah only needed faith in the LORD God and willingness to pray.  He was not given the right to a single call but could speak with God continuously night and day by God's grace.  God promised to show him "...great and mighty things, which you do not know."  We can be swept up with wanting to know what to do, God's plans, or details concerning the future, but there is nothing greater or mightier than God Himself.  In learning to pray and calling to God in obedience we come to know God in ways we hadn't before.

It is faith in God that gives urgency in praying, confident God's will shall be done.  Though our lives on earth are a brief moment in time in the light of eternity, have you considered how your prayers do not have a shelf life?  They will not pass away with us.  Though we may not see the fulfillment of our request in person, we can know God will hear and answer as we pray according to His will.  There were Hebrews for hundreds of years born into slavery in Egypt who died there, yet their prayers for God to deliver his people were heard by Him.  The voices of those who perished under their burdens were in God's good time answered in the affirmative when He led the children of Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand by Moses.  Pleas of intercession on behalf of God's people continued unabated even after voices were silenced by the grave until God did His wonders.  If it is worthwhile praying once, we are to pray without ceasing to God who invites us to call to Him and is inclined to show favour and goodness for thousands of generations.

God is longsuffering, but He is never slack.  God who sends lightning hurtling to earth faster than our eyes can perceive is able to answer our prayers in an instant; before we ask He is ready to answer.  David prayed in Psalm 86:6-7:  "Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. ⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me."  The same God who promised to reveal to His servants what to say in their hour of need (Matthew 10:19) is able to hear us in the day of trouble, answer and save.  Praise the LORD our sins which once separated us from God have been atoned for and purged by Jesus whose hands are extended to save and has ears that hear our prayers (Isaiah 59:1-2).

A New Name

Conceiving a child proved difficult for Rachel, and at one stage she said to her husband Jacob:  "Give me children or I die!"  He was angry with her request, for she demanded children from him that can only be given by God.  Jacob had done his part best he could, but Rachel's conception was beyond his power.  In time she did bring her request to God who responded to her in Genesis 30:22:  "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb."  Rachel's firstborn son was Joseph, and she was confident God would give her another son.  He was birthed into the world in sorrowful circumstances.

Genesis 35:16-19 says, "Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labour. ¹⁷ Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear; you will have this son also." ¹⁸ And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. ¹⁹ So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."  Rachel could not have known the last thing she would do as she was losing consciousness was name her son Ben-Oni which means, "son of sorrow."  Perhaps she realised she was not long for the world and sorrowed to leave her sons.

Though Rachel called her son Ben-Oni, Jacob overruled her and called him Benjamin--son of the right hand.  He did not allow Rachel's sorrowful passing overshadow his newborn son's life and future.  Jacob himself had been given a new name by God.  Jacob means "supplanter" or "heel-catcher" but he was called Israel by God he wrestled and prevailed with his tearful pleas to be blessed.  He became "one who struggles with God" and prevailed because of God's grace and goodness.  The remainder of his life Israel (Jacob) walked with a limp because of his encounter with God, and Benjamin embarked on the rest of his life without a mother and a new name because his father loved him.

This tragic and endearing passage reminds me how God brings life out of death, for while we were dead in sins, Christ demonstrated His love to die for us.  Because of who Jesus is and all He has done we can be born again and receive eternal life--something better than a name change.  Our sin only brought sorrow to God, us and the world, yet God has looked upon us favourably and adopted us as His own children by the Gospel.  We even read Jesus has a new name yet to be revealed for each one who overcomes through faith in Him in Revelation 2:17:  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."  Aren't we blessed beyond measure God has overruled sorrow and death and given us a new life and identity in Him?  Our new birth comes with fullness of joy and peace forever.

Jesus Has Overcome

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

When Jesus told His disciples on the night He was betrayed they would not seem Him for a little while, and they would each be scattered to their own.  In a little while they would again see Him, and Jesus revealed He was going to the Father.  He spoke to them in proverbs they did not understand fully at the time, but they could bank on their sorrow being turned to joy that could not be taken from them.

From a human perspective there was not much comfort in what Jesus said because they could not comprehend what Jesus meant or how their lives would be impacted.  They expected and hoped Jesus would remain with them, so to hear He would soon be leaving was an impediment to peace and joy.  Yet in His wisdom Jesus summed up His long conversation with His disciples by saying, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace."  This is a principle that remains in force today and forever for all Christians regardless of our circumstances of life.  In Jesus the disciples would have peace by faith in Him even when He was arrested, crucified and breathed His last.  They would have peace in Jesus after He ascended to heaven and they were hauled before magistrates who wanted to silence and kill them.

In the midst of tribulation God's people can be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world.  Notice Jesus said this in past tense before His crucifixion.  If Jesus said, "I will overcome," current tribulation and trials Christians face might prompt us to wonder if having peace today is even possible.  Jesus overcoming the world was not due to His crucifixion or anything He would do but on the basis of who He is, all He has promised and accomplished.  I am reminded of the word of God spoken to Baruch by the prophet Jeremiah who thought God had added grief to his sorrow and rest proved elusive.  The LORD spoke to Baruch in Jeremiah 45:5 with words that align with Jesus' words to His disciples:  "And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the LORD. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go."  When we seek great things for ourselves, our perspective can be distorted to lose sight of Christ who is greatest and grants eternal life to all who trust Him.

Those who hear Jesus and obey His word He likens to a wise man who built his house upon the rock that could withstand all storms.  The winds will lash and the waters churn, yet in Jesus we have peace because He has overcome the world.  Jesus bids all come to Him, and just because we are familiar with the verses or have them memorised does not mean we faithfully do our part to trust and daily come to Him with our troubles.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  When life is all too much, in Jesus we continually find peace and rest for our souls.  

A More Excellent Way

Paul exhorted the believers in Corinth to walk in the way of God's love and to desire spiritual gifts.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit and bearing good spiritual fruit is paramount for a Christian, and the greatest of these is love.  He asked in 1 Corinthians 12:29-31:  "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."  While God has comprised the church of people who serve in a variety of roles and have spiritual gifts that differ from one another, God's love is what ought to govern us always.

Paul told Christians to earnestly desire the best spiritual gifts, and in saying this he is not pitting gifts God gives against one another in a sort of competition.  Even as we learn to choose to use the right tool for the job, the best gifts are those divinely suited for an occasion as He leads.  The operation of spiritual gifts prompt us to trust God and throw ourselves upon His mercy to help us use them wisely and appropriately.  It is likely one reason why Paul urged Christians to earnestly desire spiritual gifts is because they were not sure where a gift from God began or ended; gifts did not appear as apples or oranges that could be plucked from a tree.  Perhaps it seemed presumptuous to desire a spiritual gift because they were not clearly defined, browsed like wares at a market or exchanged for currency we possess.  When it comes to eating new foods, I often defer to people who have knowledge of that cuisine and what seems most appealing to me.

What we see and experience creates a predicament when it comes to spiritual gifts because under the guise of spirituality and usefulness we can desire spiritual gifts for fleshly reasons, for personal validation and status rather than the glory of Jesus and the edification of the church.  One gift may appeal to one person more than another, yet we ought to come to God willing to receive and operate in gifts that are not our personal preference--like when we attend a catered meal and the food is presented before us without us having a choice--where trading is not allowed.  Even before we ever received a spiritual gift we may have been like Samwise Gamgee in the The Lord of the Rings who was not impressed or grateful with the Elven rope Lady Galadriel handed to him because the nice, shiny daggers Merry and Pippin received looked better.  It is good for us to make our requests known to God concerning particular gifts, yet we ought to rejoice in every gift of God He graciously and sovereignly gives us--even those not on our wish list.

God's wisdom is shown in our praying in faith to receive a gift as well as exercising faith to operate in it.  For a myriad of reasons I have observed people not respond well to spiritual gifts even when they were used "decently and in order" as Paul exhorted in 1 Corinthians 14.  The flesh loves to shine, to be seen to do well and be admired, but I have found spiritual gifts bring a sober caution and careful examination of the heart can require prompting from the LORD to step out in faith and obedience.  Using a spiritual gift has resulted in relationships abruptly ending and people leaving the church, yet God has given gifts for us to use as He leads.  The prophet Jeremiah spoke the word of the LORD that was rejected by God's people:  isn't it likely people can still be offended when the Holy Spirit moves today in a way that is not their way?  How important it is for Christians to walk in unity with Jesus Christ and one another as we are led and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do God's will, for then our relationships with one another can be deepened rather than divided over different gifts God gives.  If we ever make gifts our focus, we can easily lose sight of the Giver.

Before I ever asked for any spiritual gifts or desired them at all, I recall being offended as a teen by a fellow youth who received a spiritual gift.  I confess my initial reaction was not to praise the LORD or be encouraged to ask God for spiritual gifts but was like the hard-sleeping harlot who went before King Solomon to resolve a domestic dispute in 1 Kings 3.  She had accidentally smothered her infant whilst she slept, so she rose in the night and switched her dead child with her roommate's living son.  The women appeared before the king and both claimed the living boy was hers.  Solomon commanded a sword be brought and the living child be divided between them--it was fair they both receive half.  The real mother begged the child to be spared while the thieving woman callously agreed to the murder:  she was willing to cut a living child in half out of envy for her loss and lack.  When I heard someone had a gift I didn't, my heart in that moment resembled the envious woman, willing to divide over my own pride.  Brothers and sisters, may we confess and repent when our hearts are thus inclined and neglect to walk in love towards all.  May our compassion identify us as God's own children.

Do You...Dissemble?

In a Bible passage I read today, God identified a sin in His people we likely never recognised as sin because it is a word I have never heard anyone say (in everyday discussions):  to dissemble.  You may not recognise the word because it is in the King James Version of the Bible, but the practice of dissembling is a natural part of everyday life in our modern day.  Though it impacts our actions and words, it is wicked deception that lurks out of sight in our hearts and likely out of our minds because of the influence it can wield over our motives and intentions that remain unspoken.

Webster defined dissemble in this way:  "To hide under a false appearance; to conceal; to disguise; to pretend that not to be which really is; to pretend that to be which is not; to make a false appearance of."  To dissemble is hypocrisy, and there are copious examples found in the pages of Scripture and in our own lives.  For instance, the Pharisees came to Jesus to ask a question about paying taxes under the guise of seeking spiritual insight--when their real motivation was to seek an opportunity to accuse Jesus and turn people against Him.  2 Samuel 4:6 tells of Rimmon and Rechab who went into the king's house under the pretence of picking up wheat with the intent to murder Ishbosheth the king as he slept in the heat of the day.  It seems it was not out of the ordinary for them to gather grain, and they used this reason to keep guards at ease and enable them to carry out their murderous plot.

God spoke of this sin specifically after Achan disobeyed God and stole the spoil of Jericho for himself.  God said to Joshua in Joshua 7:11, "Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff." (KJV)  God did not only know about the wedge of gold, silver and garment Achan stole and hid in the midst of his tent but how Achan and his family also "dissembled," translated "deceived" in the NKJV.  Perhaps Achan volunteered to usher Rahab and her family to safety but he could have done so to look for valuables.  He could have worn loose fitting clothing on purpose so concealing items would have been easier.  I am reminded of Judas who was offended Mary "wasted" valuable oil by pouring it on Jesus because it could have been sold and given to the poor.  John 12:6 shows Judas dissembled in his heart:  "This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it."

Studying the word "dissemble" and considering my own heart today has resulted in my confession of sin and a rekindled desire to walk in sincerity and truth.  We can easily avoid the appearance of sin by burying our motives behind good deeds or actions that are not wrong in themselves.  It is perfectly acceptable to pick up grain if your job is to deliver it; it is good to give to those who lack.  David may have gone out on the rooftop under the pretence of praying or enjoying an evening breeze when his real motive was to see if the pretty lady who lived nearby was bathing with her window open again.  After his deceptions were laid bare, David sang in Psalm 51:6:  "Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom."  By God's wisdom may He reveal when we dissemble in our hearts so we might repent and embrace the truth rather than living a lie.

Running With It

It is wonderful to teach the truth of God's word and for people to receive it gladly and run with it.  Years ago I led a course to equip people to share Christ, and it was great to see people put what they had learned into practice and exert more effort in doing outreach I never thought to do.  The people of Nazareth could have been impressed and pleased to hear the gracious words of Jesus as He read from the scroll of Isaiah and addressed them in the synagogue.  "And to think--this is the son of Mary and Joseph who never went to proper school!"  Sadly for them, blinded by unbelief, they were offended by the Messiah who outshone them and sought to kill Him.

Another kind of "running with" suggests something is carried beyond what was originally intended.  I have seen this when Christians embrace a particular doctrine to the point they become divisive and sow discord among the brethren.  Verses out of context can be "run with" to support extreme and even erroneous views.  The works of Luther and Calvin I have read where they sought to push back against the "papists" were embraced by their followers and run with to the point we now have Lutherans and Calvinists.  In one sense Luther was not a Lutheran; Calvin was not a Calvinist.  I do not fault these reformers because their adherents carried their words further than they did.  These distinctions came later as their theological works were examined, further refined and more precisely defined.

Finally, the prophet Jeremiah spoke of prophets who ran to speak though God had not sent or spoken to them:  they ran bearing a deceitful message of their own hearts.  Jeremiah 23:21-22:  "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. ²² But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings."  Rather than running without being sent or spoken to, prophets in Jeremiah's day would have done better to stand in God's counsel and cause God's people to hear His words.  There is a literal example in 2 Samuel 18 of a man who ran without a message after the death of Absalom.  Ahimaaz was very keen to run and bear tidings to king David that the LORD had avenged him of his enemies.  Joab refused to send Ahimaaz and instead directed Cushi:  "Go tell the king what you have seen."  Still Ahimaaz was undeterred, for he wanted to run.  Apparently he liked running, and from what happened later it seems he was known for his running--because his stride and gait were recognised from afar.

Joab asked, "Why will you run, seeing you have no message ready?"  Ahimaaz did not answer.  He just said, "Let me run."  So Joab permitted it:  "Run."  Ahimaaz was a very good distance runner, but he had not been given a message.  Cushi, on the other hand, had been an eyewitness of what occurred and was sent by Joab to tell the king what he had seen.  While Cushi bowed and obeyed, insistent Ahimaaz continued to pester Joab to let him run after Cushi--whom he overtook by way of the plain.  In the passage we have two runners who went two different paths, one who loved to run and the other with a message.  What this section of scripture illustrates to me is the importance of being sent by God, hearing His words and speaking them accurately.  We are called to carry the good news of the Gospel wherever God sends us, but we must take caution we do not run with God's words to justify going beyond what He has said.  We disciples who have received the Great Commission and go into all the world ought to stand in God's counsel and cause people to hear God's word--rather than running because we want to run, competing with others when we ought to compliment.  Standing in God's counsel is what we ought to run with.

Pray in Faith

God is sovereign and supreme, and He is faithful to accomplish His good plans and purposes.  Though He rules over all, God is easily moved by the prayers of people who trust in Him.  God does all things without instruction or direction, yet He also yields to answer the prayers of His children as a king graciously responds to a humble request of his subject.  God is not whimsical or impulsive as our prayers can sometimes be, and it is a timeless wonder He chooses to respond to our cries.

We observe God answered the prayer of Isaac offered on behalf of his wife Rebekah in Genesis 25:21:  "Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived."  Isaac was likely very well-versed with God's promise to make of his father Abraham a great nation and the very long time he and Sarah waited before he was conceived in his mother's womb.  God waited until a miracle was required, and the deadness of Abraham's flesh and Sarah's barren womb were easily overcome by God's power.  Isaac interceded in prayer for his wife, and God answered his prayer when Rebekah conceived.

The joy of conception and the expectancy of becoming parents was overshadowed as Rebekah suffered an uncomfortable pregnancy.  Rebekah also prayed to God as it says in Genesis 25:22-23:  "But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. ²³ And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger."  God revealed why her stomach felt like a cage match and much more than a sonogram ever could about the future:  she was going to have twin sons of whom God would make two nations.  At the request of Isaac God took action and gave Rebekah conception, and God responded to her inquiry by speaking to her and even told her of things to come.

God's ways of answering prayers of faith are more varied than the people who bring their problems, heartaches and hurts to the LORD.  In the Bible we see God often answered prayers in unexpected ways.  When God sent venomous snakes among His people who complained and murmured against Him, they asked Moses to pray that God would take away the snakes.  God responded to their prayer in a different way in Numbers 21:8-9:  "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." ⁹ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."  Rather than removing snakes to prevent additional people from being bitten, God made a way of healing for those who were dying--and anyone else who would be bitten.  The bronze serpent on a pole people looked at and were healed foreshadowed the coming Messiah Jesus who would be lifted up on a cross, that whoever believes on Him might not perish but have everlasting life.

When we are distressed by the fruitlessness of our efforts life can become a massive struggle, and when we want dangers and what puts us in fear taken away from us, we can come to God in prayer.  We can intercede on the behalf of others and bring our requests to the LORD knowing He is inclined to hear us and will answer according to His grace and in His time.  Because the LORD is at hand we are wise to heed Philippians 4:6-7:  "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."  Peace is not found by obtaining our desired outcomes but by knowing and trusting Jesus Christ who is our peace and is always faithful to hear and answer prayer.