Danger of Abiding Anger

"Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for 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, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so 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 residence in the hearts of fools for the duration of their lives which are soon over.  The Bible describes fools as those who do not believe God exists, that there is no Creator or Judge of the earth before whom they will appear on the day of judgment, the almighty who has the power and authority to cast souls into hell or save them for eternity.  Even God's people can be angry and vengeful, and thus many Bible passages warn of the dangers of remaining angry and being filled with wrath--regardless of the reason.  We observe the folly of Cain who was angry because Abel's offering was accepted and he was rejected by God, and he lashed out and killed his brother.

Anger rested in Cain's heart, and it did not remain hidden or contained there.  Pride and envy urged anger to violent action, and Cain felt justified to murder his brother.  Cain's sin had a devastating effect upon his family, brother and his own life--and it started with feelings of anger we have all experienced.  Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us Christians can be angry without sin, but remaining filled with wrath gives opportunity for Satan's wicked, lying influence:  "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil."  Paul concluded the chapter with a good exhortation for all followers of Jesus in Ephesians 4:31-32:  "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

Since we Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, we are divinely enabled to do as Paul has said.  Rather than justifying anger that fuels us to say evil and seek vengeance, the life of Jesus can be lived through us by being longsuffering, slow to anger and forgiving.  A desire to see justice done is from God, but when anger resides in our hearts we are no longer being led by the Holy Spirit.  Rather than justify harbouring anger in our hearts, we ought to enter the rest God provides all who are weary, hurting and needy by active reliance upon Jesus.  He is the Judge of all the earth, and as Abraham said, He will always do right.  Knowing vengeance is the LORD's, we need not allow anger, hatred or wrath to dwell in our hearts any longer.

Disagreement Without Division

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 silent treatment and refused to converse because her advice had been rejected.  The following chapters contain much conversation between the two, so it is clear they remained on speaking terms.

The decision of Naomi to strongly make her case and to drop the subject when it was clear she and Ruth disagreed is a good example for Christians to observe--especially when disagreements arise about personal or controversial subjects.  God has given everyone unique personalities, perspectives, interests and convictions, and with our diversity brings differences.  It is a tragedy when differences of opinion, emphasis or practice become divisive because people are unwilling to drop a subject after it becomes clear people are not in agreement.  In such cases it is good to be reminded of all we share in common by faith in Jesus Christ who has united us with the Holy Spirit as one to follow, serve and glory Christ together.

After Naomi repeatedly urged Ruth to depart, Ruth told her not to say anything further on the subject. Naomi showed wisdom by listening to her daughter-in-law even as she wanted Ruth to listen and consider her advice.  Naomi was willing to agree to disagree on the matter of their opinions where Ruth should go and live, and Christians ought to extend grace to others as well.  It is reasonable those God has given His word and Spirit can judge among themselves, have a different views, and remain united in the love of Jesus Christ.  Since coming to Christ, haven't your views been refined over time?  God who gives discernment for us to walk wisely can instruct and refine others as well.

Knowing only God can change hearts and minds, even when we are convinced we are in the right we need not continue to hammer away at those who have different or contrary views.  Paul affirmed this freedom concerning convictions in Romans 14:5:  "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind."  While Paul put forth strong arguments to support his doctrine and manner of life, he did not imagine it was his responsibility to change people's minds because God is able to do the impossible.  He said in Philippians 3:15, "Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."

Humans are inclined to be divided by differences and become divisive.  We prefer to pressure others to change than God using a person we do not agree with as being His instrument to change us.  We would rather leave or have someone leave us than trusting and submitting to God by leaving the convincing of others to God and continuing in fellowship with them.  If we say we love God, then we ought to love one another and value the unity and oneness we share by faith in Jesus.

Aspects of Atonement

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 demonstrates God will not receive a sacrifice from one He does not respect--for Cain had no respect for God or His ways.  Under the Law of Moses sinners required the services of a sanctified priest to participate in the offering of sacrifices, and atonement for sin was made by the shedding the blood of the prescribed animal.  The Strong's Concordance defines "atonement" as "to cover over, pacify, make propitiation."  Webster's definition gives insight into various aspects of atonement:  "1) Agreement; concord; reconciliation, after enmity or controversy; 2) expiation; satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing or suffering that which is received in satisfaction for an offense or injury."

Atonement for sin requires two major aspects:  coming into agreement with God for reconciliation and making an acceptable payment to satisfy or cover a debt.  Some overlook the first and most important aspect of atonement, assuming payment is the main thing God cares about.  Since God and His righteous standards do not change, it is man who must change by submission to God and choosing to agree with Him.  Without a change of heart that is brought into agreement with God through repentance, any sacrifice offered is in vain.  Psalm 51:17 reads, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  To think God must receive us due to our sacrifices and is thus obligated to deem us in good standing with Him--without consideration of our hearts and motives--is presumptuous and folly.  God is not a respecter of persons but is discerning as Psalm 34:18 says:  "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

We ought to be sorry for our sin, but contrition does not excuse us from paying the price necessary to satisfy justice.  Praise God Jesus (our great High Priest who is righteous in Himself) has provided the required means of atonement through His shed blood, and all who repent and trust in Him can be born again, forgiven and receive eternal life by the Gospel.  See how there must be humble agreement with God coupled with a price paid to receive atonement for sin?  This is one reason why the death and resurrection of Jesus will not have a saving effect for those who will not receive Him.  Like Cain who would not submit or humble himself before God, their good deeds will not benefit them.  We Christians ought to rejoice that while we were enemies to God we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son Jesus, and having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life through whom we received atonement (Romans 5:10-11).

Life and Rest in Jesus

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 the subject of correction, and this connects well with this purpose of God's Law given to Moses.  A feature of Hebrew wisdom books and poetry is parallelism, and this antithetical parallelism provides the first and second parts of verse 18 as contrasting statements.  Therefore this "vision" is not speaking of visionary leadership or a goal people make to work towards but the revelation of God through His word.  The connection between vision and divine revelation and guidance of God's word is affirmed in 1 Samuel 3:1:  "And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision."

Those under the covenant of Law were instructed, governed, guided, corrected and blessed to observe God's commandments that led them to walk uprightly.  There were benefits for parents who corrected their son, and there was blessing and rest for those who submitted to God's correction.  Like verse 19 said, often words were not sufficient to produce change in a servant, and in His wisdom God allowed individuals and all Israel to endure consequences for their sin to further refine them.  Those who looked to the Law of Moses were looking to God's word, and this is the spiritual vision spoken of in verse 18 that promotes life.  In the New Testament, Christians are exhorted to look unto Jesus and consider Him--His words, actions, teachings and endurance of trials in obedience to His Father--so we might avoid weariness and being faint in our minds (Heb. 12:1-3).  The traditional hymn "Be Thou My Vision" conveys the sense of verse 18 well:  only Jesus can prevent our perishing.

The vision being spoken of by Solomon is not a one-off vision in the night, a dream or plan we make for ourselves but spiritual insight we receive of God and understanding of His righteousness, holiness and goodness.  When people experienced literal visions in scripture it was more than conveying information but was instructive, corrective and a call to definite action.  It would be tragic for people to seek a vision when God has already revealed Himself through God's word and Jesus Christ!  Jesus said to religious Jews in John 5:39-40:  "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."  Without seeing Jesus Christ as the Son of God, people headed towards ruin.  It is Jesus who is our Life and rest, our Saviour who saves, corrects and keeps us.  Happy is the man who looks to Jesus and follows Him faithfully, for He who opens blind eyes gives the Holy Spirit and guides us into all truth.

Fretting Against the LORD

 "The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD."

Proverbs 19:3

The picture of the foolish heart of man fretting against the LORD is an apt one.  I have several shirts that show evidence of fretting from scraping across rough surfaces, and it is unsightly when fibers of fabric pull unevenly.  Webster describes the word "fret" as meaning, "corroding, wearing away; agitating; vexing; making rough on the surface."  Should a fabric continue to rub upon a stone or block surface, the threads will wear away completely and create a hole.  God is the immoveable, eternal God who is resolute and unchanging.  Man's folly prompts him to dash against the righteous God like a bug impulsively flies repeatedly into a light and stuns itself.  It is the bug that comes off worse for wear.

God is not worn down by the folly, crookedness or perversion of man He has created.  It is man who wears down under the weight of God's judgments, correction and guilt.  Jesus did not commit Himself to men because He knew the hearts of men and what was inside them:  flattery, deceit, lies, unbelief and willful ignorance.  This passage shows the need for every person to receive a new heart and to walk in the wisdom of God rather than fretting against Him.  Jesus said it was hard for Saul to kick against the goads, and we make it hard on ourselves when we fret against the LORD--causing self-inflicted wounds without cure.  The only remedy for our ills is divine intervention and restoration made possible by faith in Jesus Christ.

When God gives us a new heart, having been born again by the Gospel, we are more inclined to love God and walk in His ways rather than backsliding.  Hosea 11:7 speaks of God's people under Law who continued in their own ways despite His revelation of God in the Scripture and in their lives:  "My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him."  To backslide means to be faithless, to depart from God and fall away.  Years ago I would commonly hear people identify with backsliding but only partly--claiming they had relapsed into sinful habits but they still loved and believed in God.  It almost sounded acceptable to associate oneself with backsliding, for at least they were at church!  It did not seem to make a lasting difference when those bent on backsliding "rededicated" their lives to God, for they needed a new heart and Spirit within them when away from church gatherings.

Jeremiah 3:21-22 provides hope and healing for the fretting backslider:  "A voice was heard on the desolate heights, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God. ²² "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God."  God was able to heal Saul of Tarsus who kicked against the goads, and He is able to heal our backslidings when we return to the LORD.  The sheep that wanders from the fold is exposed to many illnesses, terrors and enemies without the protection of the Good Shepherd, and how good it is for us to return to God, to learn to remember God and be faithful to Him.  Praise the LORD for His mercy and grace, that He calls out to His backsliding children to heal those who return to Him in truth.

More than Satisfying Curiosity

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

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

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

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

Lacking Without Jesus

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

Luke 12:15

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

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

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

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

Why Do You Weep?

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

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

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

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

Honour God with Increase

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

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

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

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

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

Bold and Without Hindrance

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

Acts 28:30-31

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

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

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

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

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

Boldly Proclaiming Christ

It seems like whenever an election comes around, political campaigns tend to focus on flaws in other political parties or candidates.  Sling enough mud, and some of it may stick.  The last time we voted in New South Wales, we were bombarded with television ads, fliers and posters that warned us what people stood to lose or how much costs could surge if voters supported the other party.  Another common tactic I have observed among politicians is when mildly criticised about the weakness of their policies, they swiftly change the subject with earnest to point out the ineptitude of the other party.

When it comes to following Jesus Christ, we are most blessed with only having good things to say about Him.  There is nothing concerning Jesus we need to apologise for or defend, for all He has done and said is wonderful beyond measure.  In sharing Christ and the Gospel we do not need to say how awful other religions are to try to build Him up, for Jesus stands above all other men and gods without rival.  I was reminded of this as I read through the book of Acts and the great tumult that arose because the silversmiths of Diana felt their profitable trade was in jeopardy.

With their livelihoods being at stake due to the spread of Christianity, for two hours straight men of Ephesus who gathered in opposition to Jesus and His disciples shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"  The city clerk finally quieted the crowd, rebuked them for disturbing the peace, and he said concerning Paul and his brothers in Christ in Acts 19:37:  "For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess."  The Jewish and Gentile Christians did not steal the money of the traders in Ephesus nor had they blasphemed Diana.  They did not need to speak poorly of Diana to exalt the name of Jesus!  What was a silver image compared to the Saviour of the world?  All the believers did was proclaim Christ crucified, risen and glorified.

Rather than arguing or being combative with those who refused the Gospel, Paul went to those who would hear him testify of Christ.  Acts 18:6 tells us, "But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."  A similar situation played out in the synagogue in Acts 19:9-10:  "But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord."  By Paul's bold, faithful preaching, people heard the word of the LORD--not how powerless or worthless the goddess Diana was by comparison.

How good it is for God's people to proclaim our Saviour whom we trust, love and obey rather than speaking poorly of other options.  Should people oppose Christ and become abusive, we are not obligated to lock horns with the obstinate.  When people were not receptive to Christ in Macedonia, Paul went to Corinth and Ephesus.  When they were combative and abusive in a synagogue, instead of debating with the unwilling Paul had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus with all who attended.  As God is faithful, so we can be faithful to freely share of the greatness of our God--and we do not need to malign a soul (or goddess!) to do so.

Repent, Turn and Live

God graciously gives every person the opportunity to experience a relationship with God founded upon His unfailing love.  He has also allowed every human being to make a personal choice if they will trust and love Him or not.  Our Maker allows us to freely choose if we will accept Him as Master.  He is not cruel or brutal for extending this once in a lifetime opportunity to us every day of our lives on earth at the expense of the life of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

From a young age, people generally understand the rights of ownership.  As a child I could comprehend there was a difference between my toys and those owned by my brother and sister.  There were also responsibilities that came with ownership, whether it be a pet or a vehicle.  As the owner of a car it was my decision if I chose to paint or modify the car, to buy new tyres or sell it.  I could wash and wax my car every week or I could avoid cleaning it altogether.  It was my right as a car owner to drive and maintain it as I pleased.  Regardless what other people thought about me or the state of my car, it was mine and I had the final say.

Because God is the Creator of the world and all that is in it, He has every right to do whatever He wants with anything and everyone because everything is all His.  In our Bible study at Calvary Chapel Sydney last night, we spoke about the responsibilities in the Mosaic Law of the owner of a bull that was known to "push with the horn," to be aggressive and dangerous.  Exodus 21:28-29 reads, "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. ²⁹ But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."  A dangerous bull needed to be kept in a paddock to prevent him from hurting anyone.  If the owner of a bull was deemed negligent to adequately restrain his ox whose rampage resulted in someone's death, both the ox and owner would be executed.

The owner of a rogue ox faced a tough predicament.  A bull was a very valuable animal that could accomplish great labour through its strength, but if the bull refused to be trained to wear a yoke and lashed out at people, it was a liability that put his own life and others at risk.  If the ox had ability to reason like a human being, it would need to make a decision that its life and future depended on:  would it rather submit to the yoke and the commands of its master and live, or would continuance in stubbornness and aggression make it most useful to the master by slaughter for meat, leather, tallow and glue?  The loss of the bull's life would be a loss felt by the master, but no one could blame him for dispatching a dangerous animal to mitigate the risk of personal injury or death and to benefit as much as possible on his investment of time, feed and money.

God issued a warning to the proud in Psalm 75:4-5, "I said to the boastful, 'Do not deal boastfully,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn. ⁵ Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.'"  God who created mankind has given us the choice if we will trust and submit to Him in faith or we will continue in our pride and self-reliance.  Jesus came to earth as a human being to offer forgiveness and eternal life for sinners headed to ruin in hell forever.  God will be glorified by those who repent and trust in Him or by the destruction of the proud who lash out at Him with hatred.  Either way, God's power and strength will be on full display.  God's heart of love toward sinners is shown in His appeal to reason in Ezekiel 18:30-32:  "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? ³² For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"

Heeding God's Teaching

Jesus rebuked scribes and Pharisees to their face when they complained that His disciples failed to observe the tradition of the elders by neglect of ceremonial hand washing.  Jesus fired back at their hypocrisy and explained how they made the word of God by no effect through their tradition.  The oral traditions of the elders had overshadowed God's word to the point disobedience to God's commands could be justified.  Jesus said in Matthew 15:7-9:  "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸ 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. ⁹ And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"  The departure from reliance upon God's word led to people's hearts to depart from God and worship Him in vain--divine truth the Jewish religious rulers likely refused to accept.

The laying aside of God's word to accept and promote the traditions of men is a common practice to this day.  I was reminded of this when I browsed the website for the Temple Institute in Israel and read concerning the priestly garments.  Among sprinkled verses of the Old Testament, the main thrust of the article espoused traditional teachings by rabbis what is absolutely foreign to the Torah.  During one of my trips to the Temple Institute, one question asked from our tourist group asked was how sins are atoned for seeing there is no sanctified temple or high priest (among other things) to follow the Mosaic sacrificial system today.  We were told prayer was the means of atonement by the authority of rabbis (not the Bible), and observe what the site says concerning the vestments of the high priest which works to make God's commands of no effect.  The article says "it is taught" (not by Moses or God's word) that priestly garments worn by sanctified priests serve to atone for the sins of Israel even as offerings do.

"This is one of the deeper aims of wearing these garments, and something for the kohen to ponder while they are upon him. For his everyday actions in the Temple transcend his own personal idiom and take on a more universal theme... he makes atonement and spiritual rectification for all humanity.

Thus we are taught:

• The tunic, which covers most of the priest's body, atones for killing. 

• The pants atone for sexual transgressions. 

• The turban, worn on the head, atone for haughtiness. 

• The belt, wound about the body and worn over the heart, atones for "sins of the heart" - improper thoughts 

• The breastplate atones for errors in judgment.

• The ephod atones for idolatry.

• The robe atones for evil speech.

• The High Priest's crown atones for arrogance."

The Bible teaches sanctified priests were commanded to offer a burnt offering daily as a sin offering for atonement in Exodus 29:36.  Exodus 30:10 says concerning the altar of incense in the holy place:  "And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."  When a census was taken of the people, men numbered over 20 years old were required to give a half-shekel offering to the LORD to atone for their souls (Exodus 30:13-15).  In almost every case under Law, the blood of a clean, animal sacrificed by sanctified priests was required to provide atonement.  There is no suggestion in Scripture what is routinely taught today, that the priestly garments provide "atonement and spiritual rectification for all humanity."  Atonement is a sticky subject because we are all sinners, sinners need atonement by God, and no atonement according to Law is possible because of the lack of the necessary temple, sanctified altar and high priest.  Given the Law even the appearance of atonement under Law today is impossible--just as we sinners cannot keep God's Law without fail.

Paul explained the purpose of the Law of Moses was to shut the mouths of sinners and reveal all as guilty before God, to compel us to trust in Jesus Christ whose shed blood provided atonement for the sins of the world received by grace for all who trust in Him--who atoned for all our sins all at once!  Romans 5:6-11 shows Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for our sins:  "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (KJV, bold emphasis mine)  Jesus is revealed to be the KING OF KINGS as well as our great High Priest, and the book of Hebrews goes into great detail on this point.

While the teachings of men extol intricate garments worn by the priests, God has exalted His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God whose shed blood atones for sin.  Having been born again and washed clean from sin by the Gospel having received atonement, we are called to "put on" the LORD Jesus Christ in Romans 13:13-14:  "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."  Since Jesus has provided atonement for our sins, we ought to live lives sanctified for His glory, led by the Holy Spirit, heeding our Saviour's commands.  There will always be a temptation to lift tradition or teachings above God's word, but Jesus identifies the wise as those who hear His word and do it.  The new covenant in Christ's blood does for us forever what was and would be impossible to do for ourselves even if the priesthood and sacrificial system in Jerusalem was in full swing.  Following the teachings of men causes our hearts to stray from God and vain worship, but heeding God's word guides us to trust in Jesus Christ who provides eternal atonement.

The Contrite Heart

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:17

At times I have wondered how people who lived thousands of years ago would react to common experiences today--like riding in a car on the motorway.  This is something most of us have experienced regularly throughout our lives.  As small children we rode in the backseat an looked forward to have a chance to sit up front and see everything better.  I imagine it would be exhilarating or terrifying to be moving so quickly and yet experience the insulated quiet and stillness of a modern vehicle cabin.

I wonder what people from ancient times would think if they were suited up and led into an operating theatre to watch surgery in progress.  They might be shocked to discover there was a living person on the table opened up with organs exposed, cruel torture taking place before their eyes!  I imagine them watching in horror as a surgeon made an incision or removed cancer, and the observers might have judgments about the expert medical professional that is far from the truth--that the surgeon is a barbaric butcher when the procedure actually "went well" with the intent to promote the health of the patients.

I believe there are some today who have a similar misunderstanding about God, for they condemn Him as cruel and bloodthirsty without ever knowing Him.  Based on what they know, they would not want to know Him.  What some do not understand is man is solely responsible for bringing death into the world through sin (which God specifically warned against), and the sacrificial system in the Old Testament was a physical means by which spiritual cleansing and union with God was miraculously possible.  God condemned human sacrifice as an abominable practice, and He allowed select animals to provide substitutionary sacrifice for guilty sinners.  It wasn't blood God desired to see but broken and contrite hearts as David said.  God despises sin, but He loves to see humble people approach Him in faith marked by obedience.

God demonstrated His love for sinful mankind by becoming a man, Jesus Christ, and He provided His own life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus humbled and allowed Himself to be killed by sinful men on the cross, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  His shed blood provided atonement so those who were cut off from God by their own sin could draw near to God in repentance for sin by faith in Jesus.  It is not the one proud of themselves but the humble heart God looks upon as it is written in Psalm 138:6:  "Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar."  James 4:6 also says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

God does not despise a broken spirit and contrite heart, but the proud heart rises up with enmity against Him.  The fool justifies himself while criticising and condemning God he does not know rather than submitting to God who knows all hearts.  Consider the love and grace of God, that He would lay down His life so those who hate Him could come to know Him!  This is the case for every Christian, for we were once aliens of the commonwealth of God and headed for ruin when the grace of God appeared by Christ crucified.  It was not Jesus but the Romans who invented crucifixion, and though Jesus did no wrong the Jewish rulers arrested Him and condemned Him to death.  By laying down His life Jesus conquered sin and death, evidenced by His resurrection from the dead 3 days later and His ascension into heaven.

We will pay big bucks for a medical procedure which requires us to bleed in the wish for a positive medical outcome:  should we condemn or criticise God for freely shedding His blood so we could be guaranteed forgiveness and eternal life by faith in Jesus?  God has sanctified believers with the blood of Christ (Heb. 13:12), and Acts 20:28 explains God's purpose in His sacrifice:  "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "  How humbling it is God has extended His grace to us in our low estate, and how blessed we are to know God in truth.  It is well for the humble, contrite heart before God.

God's Enduring Mercy

Psalm 136 has the highest concentration of the mention of God's mercy in all the Bible--24 times in 24 verses.  Over and over the phrase is repeated, "For His mercy endures forever."  There are only 11 other occasions in the Old Testament this exact phrase is used.  God's mercy has been well described in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary:  "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being."  Man's natural disposition is thoroughly contrary to mercy, but God's mercy endures forever.

God's mercy is demonstrated by who God is as it is written in Psalm 136:1-2:  "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. ² Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever."  His mercy is seen through everything He has done, does and will do, for His mercy endures forever.  The song references things God has done which, on the surface, may not seem merciful.  But we can know without a doubt God is merciful, and as His people we are in the best position to receive and benefit from it continually.  Man often credits himself for what God alone is responsible for as He extends the richness of His grace to all people--even to His enemies.

The song recounts how God smote Egypt in their firstborn as the final plague the LORD visited upon the nation who oppressed His people.  Pharaoh showed no mercy to the Hebrews, for he enslaved them and commanded their male infants be cruelly thrown into the Nile river.  Before the final plague was unleashed upon Egypt, God mercifully provided a way for everyone who believed and obeyed Him to be spared by striking the blood of a male lamb or goat of the first year they ate for dinner upon the doorposts and lintel of the family home.  God did not have to warn anyone; God was under no obligation to preserve life He created.  His mercy was revealed by the great salvation and deliverance of His people, for His mercy endures forever.

There were times in the history of Israel when they suffered greatly for their sin as the Law of Moses had forewarned.  When the prophet Jeremiah looked around and felt like all his hope and strength had perished, he came to realise the hope that remained in God in Lamentations 3:22-25:  "Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!" ²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."  The consequences of sin were awful and brutal (for the soul that sins will surely die), yet there remained hope in God because His mercy endures forever.  Born again followers of Jesus Christ are granted eternal life by the Gospel because God's mercy endures forever.  There is no question if God is merciful:  the question is will we hope in Him, wait for Him and seek Him?

What God Pleases He Does

"For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods. ⁶ Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places."

Psalm 135:5-6

God is the sovereign creator over all, and whatever pleases Him God does.  No one has any right or authority to criticise or condemn Him, even though man makes a habit of doing this.  God has given mankind the freedom to choose what we say and do as those created in His image, yet God is the only being who always does what is right.  With the understanding God has given us, limited by our short-sighted human perspective, we can complain God is not on task when we are unwilling to trust; we suspect He is not working because we are waiting.  The irony is when it seems God is not actively working, He is accomplishing His good purposes we could never imagine.

We catch a glimpse of this in John 11 after Jesus received word His friend Lazarus was sick.  Mary and Martha were assured of Jesus' love for them and their dying brother, and likely assumed because Jesus loved them He was obligated to come at once and heal Lazarus.  Jesus did not do this.  He waited until after Lazarus was "sleeping" in death and explained His purpose in waiting to wake Him in John 11:14-15:  "Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."  Among the disciples of Jesus, there was at least one (Judas!) who did not believe.  Rather than sparing Lazarus from illness and death, Jesus allowed him to die physically so others could be born again and receive eternal life by faith in Jesus when they saw His mighty works.

When Jesus came to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead 4 days and the village was bustling with mourners who came to comfort Mary and Martha who were bereaved of their brother.  Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and wept, and this demonstrated His genuine love for him and those who had suffered great loss.  He then commanded the stone to be moved from the entrance of the tomb.  John 11:41-45 reads, "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴  And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." ⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."

Isn't this incredible?  While Mary and Martha felt Jesus was not helping them by healing Lazarus, He purposed to save sinners by raising Him to life.  The miracle of people being born again is as great a miracle as Lazarus physically walking out of the tomb.  The sign of Lazarus being raised up was another demonstration of God's grace to prove beyond a doubt Jesus was the Christ, the resurrection and the life, and that people by faith in Him could receive eternal life in His name.  This passage teaches us even when God has not answered our prayers or done our will, He is still working to accomplish His glorious purposes.  As people raised to new life by faith in Jesus, may our lives be a living testimony of God's  grace, love, and power to redeem so others will believe on Jesus Christ and be saved.  How good it is that what God pleases He does!

Fearing the LORD

Jesus taught His disciples in Luke 12:4-5, "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"  Rather than fearing man, we ought to fear God for His infinite power and eternal justice.  He is able to do to us what no man can, for He holds mankind accountable forever to His righteous standard.  This power of God who knows the hearts of men and has authority over life and death ought to put us in awe.

The Bible gives us another reason to fear God because of what He does for us!  Psalm 130:3-4 reads, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  If God treated us according to what our sins deserve, we would never be able to stand before Him.  God does not turn a blind eye to our iniquities and sins, nor does He shrug them off.  God provides the means of forgiveness and pardon by the price paid by the LORD Jesus Christ on the cross, for His blood provided atonement for the sins of the world.  When we repent of our sin the LORD freely forgives us, but the satisfaction of God's justice required a price to be paid--and He paid it all.

Psalm 34:8-10 reveals we ought to fear God for all He gives us:  "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! ⁹ Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. ¹⁰ The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing."  God who created us supplies all our needs according to the richness of His grace, and blessed are those who trust the LORD and fear Him.  We fear Him because He is not only able to meet our needs, but does so faithfully without fail.  When we thought we had need of nothing, He saw we were miserable, poor, blind and naked and did everything to redeem and draw us to Himself with cords of love.

Every aspect of God's character is glorious, good and worthy of our fear.  If we respect someone for their physical strength, knowledge or achievements, shouldn't we fear God for all He is, what He does and gives ?  Having had our eyes opened to God's goodness, we ought to fear God for what He does to us, for us and all He gives us.  Since we have been brought into a relationship with God by His grace, we ought to heed Psalm 2:11-12:  "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."  How awesome is God and worthy to be praised, feared and served.  And how blessed are those who put their trust in Him!

Praying For Others

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:31

While it is among the shorter words in this verse, the conditional "if" written here has some of the largest implications.  Reading the passage in context, Paul already established God is for those who are for Him, having provided His only begotten Son to save sinners.  Paul taught there was now no condemnation to those who are in Christ and walk according to the Holy Spirit.  Those who are born again by faith in Christ have the Holy Spirit within them and are children of God.  Paul was so confident of God being for His people, having made us joint-heirs with Christ with whom we will be glorified, he declared in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

If God is for some people, it follows He can be against them too.  This can be observed throughout the Bible, that God is against those who do wickedly--like prophets who prophesied out of their own hearts rather than the word of God.  God said through the prophet in Ezekiel 13:8-9:  "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you," says the Lord GOD. ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD."  The LORD said concerning Babylon in Jeremiah 50:31:  "Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!" says the Lord GOD of hosts; "for your day has come, the time that I will punish you."  This is entirely consistent with the character of God in the Scripture, that He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

God is not one of those human fathers who us deluded to imagine his child can do no wrong, one who shows nepotism by willing blindness to our faults and folly:  every one of His adopted children by the Gospel is a sinner who does wrong.  That is why Jesus came to provide forgiveness, pardon, salvation and guidance out of His goodness.  While we were still sinners, God demonstrated His love for all by Jesus laying down His life on Calvary.  What wondrous grace, that when we were against God He was for us.  His longsuffering is salvation, for He is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Self-righteousness can lead God's children to feel entitled to God's grace and condemn others, to set ourselves against those who live contrary to God--and assume a posture that is not Christlike.

I have lately been encouraged by Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:43-45:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."  Notice Jesus commanded His disciples to pray for their enemies, not against them.  God is clearly against those who do wickedly, yet as recipients of His grace, mercy and love we are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute us.  This is God's intended path of our sanctification, for Jesus concluded in Matthew 5:48:  "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."  Better than praying against those who oppose God, we can pray for what we know is God's will revealed in His word.  God's people walk in wisdom to pray in alignment with His word rather than against others.

God's Word Fulfilled

When Jesus prayed audibly to the Father before the tomb of Lazarus, He acknowledged God always heard Him.  Jesus did not speak aloud so He would be heard but for the benefit of everyone who stood by as He said in John 11:42:  "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."  He made a clear correlation between what He said and accomplished because of who He was, is and will always be:  the Son of God sent to seek and save the lost, the promised Messiah.  Raising Lazarus from death to life was powerful evidence that affirmed who Jesus was and is.

A similar thing occurred as Jesus enjoyed the Passover feast with His disciples.  All these men had been called personally by Jesus and served Him for several years.  Jesus surprised them by revealing one of His apostles would betray Him in fulfillment of scripture.  To show the emphasis of what Jesus said, here is the passage without italicising John 13:18-19 as it appears in the NKJV:  "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' ¹⁹ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He."  The first italics are a quote from Psalm 41:9 that would literally come to pass in a matter of hours.  Under the cover of darkness Judas would leave the Passover feast, go to the chief priests to betray Jesus, and then lead them to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where He would be arrested.

Jesus told His disciples about His soon and unthinkable betrayal by one of His disciples beforehand so they would "believe that I am He."  Note that when italicised words are written in some Bible translations they indicate a word included by translators that does not appear in the original manuscripts to improve the translation.  In this case, removing the "He" helps us understand who Jesus claimed to be:  the I AM, the almighty God who made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The NIV spells this out plainly in its rendering of John 13:19:  "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am."  In the presence of Judas and all His disciples, Jesus foretold His betrayal by a disciple--the one He literally handed a piece of bread to--so they would all know He was God in the flesh.  When Jesus was crucified the next day, it seems this fulfilled prophecy was forgotten in their grief.  Jesus again affirmed His authority to cleanse the temple, His divinity and power by His fulfilled prophecies, and His victory over sin and death by His resurrection.

God revealed His identity to His people in Exodus 3:14:  "And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"   This name enshrined in the Hebrew scriptures was remembered well by the Jews to whom Jesus addressed in John 8:58:  "Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."  They picked up stones to kill Him because of what they believed to be blasphemy when Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Previously Jesus drew the ire of religious Jews because He referred to God as His Father in John 5:18:  "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."  Jesus was not a Sabbath breaker but the Sabbath Giver.  While they revered their Sabbath traditions, Jesus is the substance of our Sabbath rest that endures forever (Col. 2:16-17).

The fulfillment of Psalm 41:9 and Jesus' words to His disciples in the upper room have been recorded so all might know He is God.  The betrayal of Judas followed the plan and purpose God had from the beginning:  to provide atonement, forgiveness and salvation for all lost sinners who trust in Jesus.  All that Jesus has said will come to pass in God's time, and may our faith in Him grow every time His word is confirmed.  The words of Elizabeth spoken to Mary are true concerning all God's people in Luke 1:45:  "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."  Praise the LORD Jesus Christ!