Consider God's Creation

When we are awe-inspired by seeing something beautiful, majestic and breathtaking, in that moment we have no complaints or criticisms.  I have been on walks with windswept trees, waterfalls and amazing rock formations which cannot be adequately captured with panoramic photos.  The cry of birds prompted me to stop walking to observe them soaring high overhead.  The wonders of God's creation reveal themselves in the bush as well as near home.  In the latter weeks of summer, every day I awakened to find several fresh cicada exoskeletons perched on the bricks of our house and garage.  It is fascinating how these insects remain silent underground for years, crawl to a vertical surface, emerge from their exoskeleton, fly away and make their noisy summer music in the trees.  One can only marvel over the design and behaviour of living things--and God who created them.

Today I read part of God's words to Job which involved a string of questions that immediately went beyond Job's understanding.  The implication is God not only knew what Job did not and could not know, but God can do everything Job could never do and imagine doing.  There are innumerable creatures God has made which are capable of doing thing humans cannot do, and thus we marvel over them.  We are amazed by their beauty, behaviour, instincts and will to survive.  Documentaries are made to reveal unique traits of plants and animals we never dreamed possible because they are foreign to our experience.  We are captivated by the power of an ox, the speed of a cheetah, and fear the venom of asps.  Observing living things in this world survive, grow, communicate, seek a mate and care for their young inspires and impresses us.  We marvel how creatures could be so perfectly and wonderfully made without criticism of them.

God asked Job, "Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?...¹⁹ Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?...²⁶ Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?"  (Job 39:13, 19, 26 KJV)  God mentioned animals to Job children can identify, and as a child it would be thrilling to see a peacock in person.  To find a peacock's feather would be special treasure for a kid because of its bright colour, large size and lightness.  Many a valiant man has fled from galloping horses that charged him due to their size and strength.  During my last visit to the States I was impressed by the size of a hawk perched on a power pole which was much larger than doves or pigeons commonly seen in the area.  No child criticises a peacock for not being orange; no one scoffs that thoroughbreds are slow or pathetic and claims we can see better or fly higher than a hawk--that we could somehow improve of God's designs.  These are creatures that far excel us in plumage, size and speed, and we praise them without complaint.

Man who does not fault birds for bright plumage or mocks horses for being heavily muscled ironically finds it easy to fault, criticise and mock God who made them.  Job had seen peacocks, horses and hawks, but it was God how gave peacocks wings, horses strength and hawks wisdom to soar in the heaves.  The logic is unescapable:  since Job could never do what God does wonderfully and perfectly, who was he to think God was ignorant of anything or incapable of doing everything?  The wisdom and glory of God seen in nature and the animal kingdom is plainly seen by mankind, and even tiny ants can instruct us in how to live well.  All that we love and marvel over in nature and take pleasure in, all of creation that stuns us with beauty that leaves us speechless without complaint or critique ought to be ascribed to God who is perfect in all His ways.  Who is man to question God or accuse Him of wrong when He has given us life, is wisdom for us and does all well? 

All for Christ's Honour

I watched a show where a character aspired to be a "man of the people," one revered and well-remembered by the masses.  The irony was, the villain was a narcissist who did not love or care for anyone at all besides himself.  Others were only a means to achieve and receive what he wanted and felt entitled to.  It is a strange thing to desire honour from people he deemed disposable.  It also flies in the face of logic for God's people to serve in the hope of receiving honour from men when our lives are to be lived for God's honour.  It should not matter to us that our names be known or remembered, long as Jesus Christ is honoured through our lives.  A child of God can be content to be anonymous if it means God is made famous.

King Saul is a solid example of one chosen and anointed by God who became quite a somebody in his own esteem, and as a consequence he cared more about His own honour than God's.  When he was confronted for disobeying the prophet Samuel and offering sacrifices he had no right to offer, he brazenly remarked in 1 Samuel 15:30:  "Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honour me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God."  For Saul, confession of sin before Samuel was merely saying what he believed Samuel wanted to hear so he would comply with Saul's request.  He had no desire to worship God in public or private, but doing so was a means by which Saul could receive honour from men.  See how pride led to Saul being central and desirous of the spotlight rather than giving glory to God with sincere humility, contrition and repentance.

The apostle John wrote concerning Jewish rulers in Jesus' day in John 12:42-43:  "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  To be put out of the synagogue and excommunicated from fellowship was a greater concern for these rulers than acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  John provided insight into their character, that they "...loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  They valued and cherished the honour they received from people more than "Well done, good and faithful servant!" spoken to them by the mouth of God.  Another way to read this is they preferred men praising them more than the privilege of praising God themselves.  Perhaps they ignored the consequences Jesus warned in Matthew 10:32-33:  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

See how pride, love of man's praise and desire for honour can corrupt any good man does and undermine our integrity!  The worship of God can be thus polluted, service of God made to serve man's selfish ends, and motivation to good works can be driven by greed for honour.  Titus 1:15-16 reads, "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."  How we need the Holy Spirit to give us pure hearts, for in our flesh no good thing dwells.  It is by faith in Jesus sinners are born again and made new creations, and Jesus cleanses us from sin and works to purify our minds and conscience with His word.  God has created us to do good works and ordained we walk in them for the praise of His glory.  As the song goes, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness."  May all God's people be those who boldly profess faith in Christ and by our works honour Him.

The Christian's Work

Our local shopping centre recently had a visit from a local member of parliament, and volunteers were out early putting up signs to advertise the one-hour event.  I even had someone come to the door with her flier that touted what the local MP was doing to "fight" for better mobile phone coverage in our suburb.  The repetition of militant phrases of "fighting" for residents and promises to "keep fighting" if elected again struck me as rather odd as a representative of a party that boasts the majority government at a local and federal level.  I would much prefer the Labour party (or any party for that matter!) to faithfully work for the good of the citizens and residents rather than fighting.

God's people have the assurance of Scripture the battle is the LORD's, and I trust Him to help us more than an arm of flesh, political party or politician (2 Chron. 32:8).  Secular government generally operates without acknowledgement of God, His wisdom or ways, and ironically atheistic government positions itself to be a godlike entity people are encouraged to trust to act in their best interests, to provide for their needs, to protect and "fight" against injustice.  Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD, those who look to God for their provision of daily bread, shelter, help and peace--in the life that now is, and in the life God provides for eternity.

When Jesus was criticised for doing what some considered "work" under the Mosaic Law, He corrected their understanding in John 5:17:  "...My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  God has always been at work to accomplished His plans and purposes concerning all created things and humankind, and Jesus worked as well.  This statement angered the Jewish rulers because they rightly viewed it as Jesus making a claim of equality with God, since He called God His Father.  Jesus taught those who are of His kingdom ought to put their hand to the plough without looking back, for we are called to be God's workmen who need not be ashamed (Luke 9:62; 2 Timothy 2:15).  Doing good works is a purpose of our salvation as it is written in Ephesians 2:10:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

While soldiers engaged in warfare provide good illustrations and insights concerning our walk of faith in Jesus, I find the workman concept to be even more useful and practical.  The example Jesus provided in person as He walked and taught in Israel was not taking vengeance on enemies or "fighting" anyone but that of a faithful friend, a farmer, beast of burden, a labourer in the field who worked while it remained day.  If we only exert our efforts in fighting we may never edify or build each other up in faith in God.  Since the battle is the LORD's and Jesus has claimed the victory, we do well to set our minds to work to trust, obey and follow Jesus as the people in Nehemiah's day banded together to built the wall (Nehemiah 4:6).  We do well to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."

God's Service

We can view deliverance as all or nothing, yet God was intentional to grant His people some deliverance.  Because His people humbled themselves before the LORD, He decided not to pour out His wrath on Jerusalem by Shishak, king of Egypt.  But He said in 2 Chronicles 12:8, "Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."  This made me consider:  how is the service of God distinguished from the service of the kingdoms of the nations?  Only after personally experiencing the two options the wise of God's people would come to appreciate and love God more because His yoke is easy and His burden light by comparison.

When God appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and later revealed Himself to the Hebrews on Sinai, God made a covenant with them.  He made promises to make them great and prosperous, to provide for their needs, protect them from enemies and establish them in their own land as an inheritance.  He chose them, not because Abraham or the Jewish people were the mightiest people, but because He is a gracious, merciful and awesome God who chose them.  In the Law of Moses God gave His people statutes to keep and sins to avoid, and He did all this for their good and to enable privileged fellowship with Himself.  God gave His people a covenant and precious promises He would be faithful to keep, and they were beneficiaries of His goodness and generosity.

Shishak, on the other hand, was all about taking anything he wanted from the Jewish people.  He only sought to enrich himself from their labours.  He was not interested in helping or giving them anything.  There was absolutely no love, kindness or relationship to be enjoyed.  The children of Israel found themselves impoverished and lacking with no promise of prosperity or protection.  They were slaves to a cruel master who did not care about them, their children or future.  Compared to God Shishak had no power at all, yet the power he had was never inclined to be used for their good.  There was no satisfaction of a job well done but a fear of reprisal if Shishak was ever displeased--and it is doubtful he was ever pleased with them.

The children of Israel experienced the difference between serving to be blessed and serving because they were blessed.  They could never earn the favour or approval of Shishak, for this was never an option on the table.  They worked to placate an adversarial ruler, avoid punishment and grimly hang onto survival.  The service of God was completely different, for the LORD loved His people as the apple of His eye.  He cared for them like a good shepherd who led his flock, provided for their needs and protected them from harm.  Shishak would suddenly come with demands and leave, but the LORD dwelt among His people as their God who fought their battles, was faithful to bless and gave them peace.  The children of Israel had no idea how good life was under God, so God gave partial deliverance so they could compare serving God or Shishak.

To people weary and burdened by the cares of life under Roman occupation and the demands of lifeless religion, Jesus called in Matthew 11:29-30:  "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."  How blessed we are to serve alongside Jesus Christ because of His humility, gentleness and generosity.  He truly loves us like no one else would or could.

What God Does

There is no one more generous than God, for He has given everyone our lives and all that we have.  He is willing to give people what they want, like when the Hebrews told the prophet Samuel they desired him to anoint a king over them.  God will give justice to those who demand it, and He will also freely give the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit to those who request this of Him.  God gives grace to the humble and demonstrates love even to His enemies, for Jesus laid down His life to save sinners.

Incredibly, all God gives is able to work towards and accomplish His good purposes from beginning to end.  I think about the parable Jesus told of the prodigal son, how at his demand the father gave his ungrateful and entitled son his inheritance early--likely knowing full well the money would not be invested wisely.  All his inheritance was subsequently wasted, and his lack led the son to come to his senses.  He chose to humble himself and return to his father, and this led to a restoration of a relationship the son never realised was so far gone.  Dad saying "yes" to his wayward son led to a change in his son that was as stark as the difference between death and life.

Daniel knew God as the almighty who raised up kings and deposed them, the sovereign God who rules over all.  The LORD who gives is also the LORD who takes away for His good reasons.  Job 12:24-25 says of the living God:  "He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. ²⁵ They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man."  As people with limited strength and resources, we can look to leaders for help and guidance.  It is not good when our leaders and bosses are heartless, without understanding and are like those who wander aimlessly, who are blind as those in darkness and stagger like drunkards.  This can be a very apt description of people we observe in positions of leadership, and God is willing to allow this so we might realise our need for Him!

See how God is infinitely greater than man and worthy of trust as it is written Psalm 146:3-9:  "Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. ⁴ His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. ⁵ Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, ⁶ who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, ⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. ⁸ The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. ⁹ The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down."

To those who are unworthy, weak, hungry and oppressed, we can rejoice in God our help.  We know and serve our Creator who loves us, keeps truth, feeds us, gives freedom, opens our blind eyes and raises us when we are cast down.  Jesus loves us freely without reservation, and as those made righteous by faith in Jesus we rejoice to receive and walk in His love.  When God turns the way of the wicked upside down, He sets things right.  No matter what God allows to befall us in this world, He is our hope who freely helps those who trust Him.  Even when situations are not "good," we can know all things will work for good who know God, for He is faithful and true.

Keeping Receipts

After making a purchase, I always request a copy of an invoice for budgeting purposes.  The paper or digital receipt is a useful record as a proof of purchase, details whether I used card or cash, and itemises the GST included in the transaction.  My wife has trained me very well at this stage to obtain a record of money spent so she can input the data into a spreadsheet.

I read an article today about a person who was described as being known to "keep receipts."  The context was not in the sense of purchasing, but it was a reference to her habit of filing away past slights or offences with intent to produce them years later--keeping a record of wrongs.  When we experience hurt or perceived injustice, we can have a very long memory of what we suffered and hold onto it so we can throw it in the offender's face when an opportunity presents itself, when others are vulnerable.  I am reminded of many films and books where one person spoke out of pride or arrogance, and after the tide turns the same words were vengefully repeated verbatim as a taunt.  This is one who keeps receipts as social currency to insult, demean, and avenge themselves upon their enemies.

While keeping receipts for budgeting purposes can be an important facet of good financial stewardship, keeping receipts as a record of wrongs is biblically an unloving thing to do.  11 Corinthians 13:4-5 says in the NIV, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."  The wisdom of the world says it is good to keep receipts to throw in the face of those who have wronged us, and to give up the valuable record of all the offences we have endured seems weak and wasteful.  As Christians, we are called to be casting our cares upon the LORD who cares for us.  We are also called to humble ourselves to admit we have been offended when others have slighted or wounded us with their words--not to file those caustic comments with intent to avenge ourselves in the future by taking shots at them.

Some people are faithful to keep a record of their expenses year after year, and others are as diligent to keep a long, detailed record of the offences they have suffered.  This practice of keeping records of wrongs (suffered by yourself or others) with the aim to get even or triumph over them absolutely poisons people who keep them.  It is the antithesis of love to keep a record of wrongs, to simmer with anger and seek to avenge oneself.  God's wisdom leads us in the way contrary this world as Hebrews 8:12 says:  "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."  In light of God's love and mercy to us, all our receipts and records of wrongs ought to be put through a spiritual shredder by giving them to God who will render judgment.  By God's grace He helps and heals us, and those receipts need not burden us any longer.  Having been forgiven by God, we can forgive others without resentment or feeling slighted.

If we are compelled to "get back" at others, it may be we have lost sight of all God has given and we have freely received.  God gives more grace (without measure), and let us walk in His ways without keeping records of wrongs.

Observing Haman

Haman was an Agagite who was promoted by King Ahasuerus, and the king commanded people bow the knee when Haman passed by.  There was a man named Mordecai who, day after day, refused to bow and pay homage.  The king's servants enquired to see why Mordecai did not bow, and in conversation he divulged he was a Jew.  Haman was enraged and offended that he was not given honour by Mordecai and Esther 3:6 says, "But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai."  Haman took advantage of his elevated position before the king with the sinister aim of exterminating all Jews because of a personal offence with one man.  He would not stoop to speak directly to Mordecai, but his pride led him to go to the king to murder every Jew in the realm.

Haman was a crafty and deceitful man who, like the devil, offered half-truths to make the way for blatant lies to achieve his self-serving agenda.  Satan is the most clever and crafty of all God's creation, and Haman followed his lead out of hatred of the Jews and love of self.  Observe Haman's proposition to the king in Esther 3:8-9:  "Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."  Haman failed to identify the Jews but called them a scattered people--which implies there were a small number of them.  They were a people who had "different" laws, and falsely claimed they (as a people) did not keep the king's laws.  Because one Jewish man refused to bow before him (while likely all others did), Haman slandered all God's people as disloyal subjects unworthy of life and existence.

Haman judged all the Jews negatively based upon his limited experience with Mordecai, a man he scorned to speak to personally, arrest, or bring before the king.  In seeking the destruction of the Jews by deception, Haman's scheme would lead to His own destruction.  The previous chapter explains this same Mordecai prevented an assassination attempt against King Ahasuerus by sending a message of warning.  The king had recently married the cousin of Mordecai--Hadassah who was called Esther--because he loved her more than all the virgins in his kingdom.  And Haman judged it was unfitting of the king to allow any of the Jews to remain!  Despite his cleverness, Haman's trickery rolled a stone intended to destroy all the Jews that would roll back upon himself and cost him his princely position and life.  Pride comes before a fall, and Haman's fall from the gallows he would construct to kill Mordecai would snap his neck.

As children of the light, Christians ought to avoid the self-serving, subversive tactics of Haman.  He refused to admit his true motivation behind his desire to destroy the Jews, and he walked in the steps of Satan who is a liar, thief and destroyer from the beginning.  Our motive ought to be for the good of others and not their destruction.  Instead of condemning other people or groups due to our negative experiences with one person, we ought to extend grace and mercy to the one who has offended us.  We ought to do what Jesus commanded, that if we have been offended or know someone has something against us we ought to seek to be reconciled with them.  Romans 12:17-19 says to Christians, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord."

It is true God's people observe commands of Jesus Christ that are different from the laws of nations and the wisdom embraced by this world.  Haman sought to take vengeance and destroy Mordecai along with all the Jews, and in a stark contrast we ought to follow the golden rule of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, love another as Jesus loves us, freely forgive as we have been forgiven, and give move grace.  Our comments and communication ought not be to start quarrels or "destroy" others or their convictions, but to express gentleness, longsuffering and meekness from a heart filled with God's love.  Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."  Believers are not required to give full-disclosure to those who mean our harm, but we ought to be honest and sincere with an aim to honour God always.

Hearts Actually Clean

I was reminded of an awkward situation recently.  After using an electric griddle I wiped it clean--only it wasn't very clean.  Small bits of the wet paper towel I used broke off and littered the surface, but I didn't notice them.  When I walked by and saw someone cleaning it, I informed them I had already cleaned it.  Then I received an explanation that the griddle wasn't actually clean, and more cleaning made perfect sense.

One time when we were hosting a family I noticed the bathroom shower looked a bit dull, and upon further inspection it was due to a build-up of soap residue.  As I began the process of cleaning the fiberglass shower enclosure, one of our guests mentioned the shower had just been  cleaned.  The clear insinuation was that I was re-doing what had already been done.  I responded by running my thumbnail along the surface which produced a curled strip of soap similar to how a block plane produces wood shavings.  I had no reason to doubt the actions of cleaning had taken place, but actual cleaning (according to my standards) had yet to be done.

Proverbs 20:9 says, "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?  King Solomon expressed the spiritual truth that God's righteous standards are infinitely beyond our capacity to measure up to:  we cannot keep our hands clean, much less purify our hearts from sin.  The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy in their hearts when He claimed the ability to forgive sins, for that is God's sovereign territory.  Though we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, He is able to cleanse our hearts, purify us from sin, and impute the righteousness of God to us by faith in Jesus.  Like unclean lepers cleansed of their defiling disease by Jesus, sinners can be cleansed (actually clean!) by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

The psalmist sang in Psalm 130:3-4, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  God has the ability to forgive and cleanse us from all sin, and He delights to do so.  His word had a cleansing effect upon our minds, and He expunges the sins of those who confess and forsake them as if they had never been committed.  David prayed according to God's gracious goodness toward all people in Psalm 51:9-10:  "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  God's conditions for cleansing is not perfection, but that we would humble ourselves in repentance of sin, trust in Him and ask.  Having been forgiven and cleansed from sin, we ought to walk in the fear of God who has demonstrated such love for us.

Nehemiah's Prayer

God's word is powerful and able to rebuke, exhort and encourage at the same time.  I had this experience as I considered the prayer of Nehemiah in chapter 1 after he heard about the desolation of Jerusalem and the affliction of God's people.  After a period of intentional inaction, fasting and mourning, Nehemiah prayed to God in a way that is, to some degree, foreign to my regular approach.

What I observe in Nehemiah's prayer is how he prayed for what he knew and believed God would do according to His word and promises:  that God would be attentive to his prayer and the prayers of God's servants who turned to Him, and that Nehemiah would find mercy in the eyes of his king whom he served.  What is absent from Nehemiah's prayer is any request or suggestion what God could do to alleviate His servants who were afflicted and reproached.  He said nothing about how God should help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem or mend gates burned with fire.  Nehemiah prayed as a man who knew God already knew about the situation and the desires of his heart and could do all that was required without help or suggestions.  Nehemiah simply requested to be heard, seen (despite many transgressions) and for mercy.

I wonder:  how many times do we pray to God like He is not God, that like others He must be informed of the dire situation at hand or listen to our suggestions about what He ought to do so what we deem necessary can be done?  Rather than praying according to what God could do, Nehemiah's prayer illustrates our need to pray in faith in alignment with what God has already said He will do.  Nehemiah spent the middle portion of his prayer reminding God what He had said in the Scripture, and he prayed for what God had already guaranteed.  This might seem an unnecessary thing, to pray that God will hear and see us when we know very well as the omniscient and omnipotent living God He will.  If we quickly skip over that bit because we assume it is true concerning God's character, it is possible we take that very thing for granted and thus neglect to pray according to God's will.

Taking the example of Nehemiah on board, this morning I prayed for things I already know are God's will according to His word, and I found it put me more in a posture to listen and wait than to speak.  God had already spoken concerning casting cares upon Him because He cares for me, and that mercy surrounds those who trust in the LORD as it is written in Psalm 32:10-11:  "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"  The consideration of God's word before and during prayer brought a notable shift in the trajectory of my praying, for I prayed according to His promises rather than my felt needs.  Seeing God has promised to provide for our needs, though our faith be small (Matthew 6:30), we can pray God would provide for our needs with joy knowing we are heard and God has spoken!

What a great demonstration of faith and reminder Nehemiah's prayer is to pray to God knowing He is God, has spoken, hears and does according to His word.  What joy God endows His people with by faith in God and surrounded by His mercy:  a people heard, seen and loved of our almighty heavenly Father.

Christ's Story

Over the Christmas break, I watched the live-action version of the Dr. Seuss classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  The major difference between the 2000 version and the original animated film is it delves into the backstory of the Grinch and provides a revenge theme for his hatred of Christmas due to bullying and abuse suffered in school.  The young Grinch was mocked for his appearance and the special gift he worked hard to make was destroyed, and this deep-seated resentment and bitterness fueled his hatred of the Christmas season and desire to cause havoc in Whoville.

I might just be getting old and forgetful, but there seems to be an emphasis on backstories these days as a means of justifying bad behaviour and the rise of the antihero.  Gone is the squeaky-clean person who desires to do good despite their own suffering:  the gritty details of their past must be unearthed that are credited with shaping them into whomever they grew to be.  People commit despicable crimes and point to what they have suffered as a reason for the series of decisions they made that literally lead to others dying--as if they were helpless victims of doing wickedly.  Without a sound foundation of God's goodness and righteousness, it is very easy to justify what God calls evil.

For everyone who is bent and embittered by suffering, the scripture provides examples of people bettered by it as they looked to God.  Without God in the world, evil would always lead to more evil.  Suffering can lead to bitterness, yet it can also be formative in a healthy sense.  This is not to justify making others suffer out of spite or malice, but God's redemptive power is seen in even redeeming suffering for our God and God's glory.  Hebrews 5:7-9 says of Jesus Christ:  "...who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."  Rather than honouring Himself, Jesus humbled Himself as the Son of God and suffered many things as a human being.  In addition to learning obedience, He was perfected and made the author of salvation for all who trust in Him.

Jesus was not doomed to bitterness, revenge and malice because of the sufferings of His youth.  Left on our own, we would not "come around" as the Grinch did, whose heart grew three sizes in one day when he realised Christmas was more than packaging, boxes and bags.  God redeems our suffering to draw us to Himself that we might discover healing, wholeness and salvation by His grace.  Jesus is the pure, holy Saviour who is close to all who draw near to Him in faith and is able to save us--from ourselves, bitterness and desire for revenge.  Our backstory is not as important as Christ's story, for He is able to redeem our hurts and pains for eternal gain.  Isn't it wonderful we need not be slaves to sin or what has happened to us because of who Jesus is for us?

Good Hand of God

We are blessed to have the whole Bible to read and grow in understanding of our Creator and great God.  Reading one Bible passage without comparing with others can throw our interpretations and applications off balance, tilting us away from the truth God has revealed.  It is beneficial to consider what other verses say concerning a subject, and these revelations provide greater accuracy when compared and contrasted with one another.  Today a passage in Ezra reminded me of these important facts.

Job and David wrote of God's hand being upon them, and because of their experiences this has a negative connotation (Job 19:21; Ps. 32:4).  In 1 Samuel 5 God plagued the Philistines for 7 months after they captured the ark, and the destructive plagues were described as the hand of God being heavy on them.  If these were the only way God's hand was mentioned, we could support the view of God's hand indeed being heavy, perhaps even oppressive and destructive.  This "heavy hand" might seem arbitrary or even vindictive without good cause, some unescapable force meted out for an unfathomable reason.  But the priest Ezra lends insight on this subject that helps us bring balance that is lacking in previous examples.

In Ezra 8, the priest described how they sought the LORD to guide and protect them as they returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  Ezra 8:21-22 says, "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him."  Given the principle God's hand is upon all those for good who seek Him, it follows that even when His hand seems heavy or even destructive, there are redemptive and good purposes God will fulfil through it.  God chastens those He loves, and God's hand was not upon Job to destroy him for sin but to reveal His great mercy and compassion to him and all people (James 5:11).

Ezra described two ways God's hand was upon them for good in chapter 8, for God supplied the needs of His people and protected them on their journey.  He wrote in Ezra 8:18, "Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men..."  He also testified in Ezra 8:31:  "Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road."  Having sought the LORD, God supplied learned Levites to organise the worship of God in the temple yet to be built, and God delivered His people from enemies who sought their destruction.  Without God's help, these practical benefits would have remained elusive.

These verses in Ezra provide insight for all God's people, that if we wonder or suspect His hand is heavy upon us due to illness, circumstances or for any reason, this ought to prompt us to seek the LORD with our whole hearts.  Then there can be no doubt the hand of our good God will be upon us for good, and He will be faithful to redeem even painful trials to accomplish His good purposes.  God's hand is upon those who seek Him for good, not because we have earned this right, but because He is merciful, gracious, compassionate and faithful.  Praise be to God His hand is upon those who seek Him for good!

Appointment to Wrath

A myth Christians do well to dispel is that God's people will never experience the wrath of God.  While it is true Christians will not experience the wrath of God for eternity, the Bible is filled with instances of God's wrath coming upon His own people to correct, refine and draw them to Himself.  We see this in God's dealings with Judah under the rule of wicked King Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28, and God nor His ways have changed.  As Psalm 7:11 says, "God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day."  God's judgment and wrath is not devoid of love, grace and mercy, for He suffers long and is kind; God warns and shows restraint in His administration of justice as when a father disciplines his beloved child for good.

People might wonder, "But I thought the Bible says Christians are not appointed to wrath."  That is true, but Paul wrote that in the context of eternal salvation in contrast to everlasting damnation.  Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11:  "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."  It is a comfort to know God's chastening of us and correction for our sin is not for our destruction but for edification, purification and sanctification.  This passage does not teach we can do no wrong as God's children when we sin.  A loving parent can be moved to anger by foolish and sinful choices of a rebellious son, and because God loves us He will take appropriate action to warn, teach and judge us righteously.

A passage in the Old Testament illustrates both God's wrath against sin in His people as well as our need to do as Jesus taught--to judge ourselves lest we be judged.  Ahaz reigned in Judah and his wicked, idolatrous ways were likened to the kings of Israel.  Due to the sins of Ahaz and his people, God delivered Judah in to the hands of the Syrians and the northern kingdom of Israel who slaughtered valiant men of Judah and Benjamin.  Great spoil and captives of Judah were taken to Samaria with the aim to enslave them.  2 Chronicles 28:9-11 reads, "But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: "Look, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. ¹⁰ And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? ¹¹ Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you."

Because of the sins of Judah God delivered them into the hands of Israel, and in executing God's judgment the malice and rage of the Israelites reached up to heaven.  The prophet Oded confronted Israel for their own faults, for they were not innocent themselves.  God's fierce wrath was upon them for adding to their sin God had punished Judah for!  By God's grace there were wise men among them who agreed with the word of the LORD through the prophet and responded in 2 Chronicles 28:13:  "...You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel."  In humbling themselves before God in repentance, the great wrath of God was turned away for a season.  They judged God to be righteous and themselves to be guilty of great sin, and the people responded by obedience to God and showed kindness to their brethren by providing for their needs and sending them home.

Paul wrote to believers in Ephesians 5:5-7:  "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them."  Knowing Jesus died to cleanse us from sin and reconcile us to God, Christians ought not to be partakers of sin like the people of Judah and Israel were.  The end result of God's wrath is different for the believer and unbeliever, for one is refined as precious gold while the other is consumed as chaff.  Christians are not permanently appointed to wrath as those who rebel against God, yet should we rebel against God a brief appointment with God's wrath can be booked in because He loves us and desires to further sanctify us according to His wisdom.

Verses like Romans 5:9 ought to be balanced and put in perspective by others like Romans 1:18.  Romans 5:9 says concerning born-again Christians, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."  Romans 1:18 also says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness..."  God has revealed Himself to us, the almighty God whose thoughts are not our thoughts and whose ways are higher than our ways.  We cannot fathom all God does, plans and accomplishes through the administration of His righteous wrath and judgments, but we can know God and His ways are good.  What we can do by God's grace is to respond in humility to His correction, confess our sin and repent, and praise God we are not appointed to wrath forever.  Even should His wrath burn against us for a season, it will never be malicious or murderous.  Rather than only being content to escape God's wrath forever, shouldn't we live in a godly way in which He is well-pleased today?

Pillar or Pendulum?

King Uzziah, the father of Jotham, transgressed by burning incense to God in the temple at Jerusalem--something only sanctified priests were permitted to do by the Law of Moses.  Lifted up with pride, Jotham went beyond his station as king and brought judgment upon himself from God who struck him with leprosy.  His condition prevented him from continuing to rule as he did previously, and being a leper became more a defining feature of his reign than his feats of engineering, warfare and husbandry.  He did what was right in the eyes of God generally speaking, but his sin led to a great fall.  Jotham noticed this and took note.

2 Chronicles 27:2 provides an interesting detail concerning the reign of Jotham:  "And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly."  Jotham prepared his heart to walk in God's ways and took care to avoid the sin committed by his father who went into the holy place and burned incense on the altar.  Some people have blamed God for judgments He has administered or troubles He allowed, but Jotham did not do so.  The people continued to live corruptly, but he was not swayed by them either.  He did not walk in the sins of his father or the people, and it is most commendable how Jotham remained faithful to God.

If you ever observed a pendulum swinging in a clock or the Foucault Pendulum at the Griffith Observatory, the pendulum goes from one side to the other.  The place it pauses, ever so slightly, is at the most extreme range of its movement.  I have observed this movement to align with typical responses in people, to swing to the opposite extreme than to remain in a central and stable position.  Some who are raised by overbearing parents can rebel against them, and others who had few boundaries are pleased to enforce many.  I imagine there are people, who if their father had been stricken by leprosy from God, would have bailed on God entirely as if God was to blame.  Maybe they would have stayed as far away from the temple precinct, worried they too might be struck with leprosy if they sinned in some obscure manner.  As the passage is rendered in the NKJV, it seems Jotham still worshipped God publicly in the temple courts but did not enter the holy place in the temple as his father did.

2 Chronicles 27:6 says, "So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God."  We do well to follow Jotham's example of faith and obedience to God, who prepared his heart and ways before the LORD his God.  He was not influenced to do evil by his father's proud example, nor did he reject God in anger as a untrustworthy tyrant for putting his father in his place.  Jotham was also not swayed by numbers of corrupt people and remained steadfast in faith.  How many people, I wonder, would have been like a pendulum in Jotham's situation rather than an immoveable pillar given the sinful, swirling influences all around.  In an effort to oppose or push back on what is wrong we can go too far, swinging like a pendulum away from balance in the middle by faith in Christ where righteousness, truth, grace, love and mercy meet.

Good that Never Ends

While driving yesterday, I read a sign that faced a busy intersection that announced the sale of property was almost over.  It read, "All good things must come to an end."  That was not the first time I heard that quote, and it dawned on me from a worldly perspective it was true.  One could debate if that particular sale of property was a good thing, but the world and all the things in it and of it are passing away.  Where the statement falls down completely is in relation to God and what is of God, for He is good without beginning or end.  Jesus identified Himself as the first and the last, the beginning and the end--not to suggest He has an end, for no timeline can contain or restrict His eternal, immortal attributes.

What Jesus said in Luke 21:33 is repeated several times in the Gospels:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  The word of God is timeless, good and will never come to an end.  God's word, even when fulfilled, remains a relevant, true and powerful declaration of God who is, was and will ever be.  Those who trust in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life will never die, even when their earthly bodies breathe their last (John 11:25).  It is written in 1 John 2:17, "And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."  The good and abundant life Jesus gives us will never come to an end.

One thing I love about God's word is it is not a relic, fading words hidden away in dusty tomes.  Everything God said and says is in full force and powerful to instruct, convict, encourage and save.  Recently in Australia there was discussion around a possible "disinformation" or "misinformation" bill, that a government agency would be employed to determine what is true and false and to hold people accountable for intentionally misleading others.  Fraught with grave danger of overreach with opponents warning of potential Orwellian impacts and highly unpopular, the bill was scrapped.  But this desire to "control the narrative" extends beyond the government.  We who believe the word of God is true are on guard against theological heresies as well as humanistic distortions of the Gospel that fundamentally change it to no longer be the Gospel.

In Jeremiah 23, God spoke of dreamers and prophets who did not speak for Him but from their own hearts.  They passed off their own ideas as divinely inspired, yet God was not at all threatened by their folly.  God said in Jeremiah 23:28-29:  "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. ²⁹ "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"  Though they grow together, the stalk of wheat is nothing like the grain that contains nutrition and potential for life.  Plant chaff or straw and it will not grow; plant grain and it will produce life.  God compared His word to fire that immediately consumes chaff, like a hammer that fulfills its designed purpose to break rocks in pieces.  God's word will always accomplish His will in giving it (Isaiah 55:11).  It will always, eternally accomplish what God pleases and will prosper for His purposes.

In this world all good things do come to an end, but we can know God, His word and His good purposes will endure forever without fail.  People come and go, they say this and that.  The best among men are only here for a short season, and the good they do will be forgotten, unappreciated or undone.  But God's word will by no means pass away, and he who does the will of God abides forever.  God is eternal, and His word is living and powerful to continue doing His work and perfect will.  Praise God He is good and will never come to an end!

Giving More Grace

God has given every human being a unique personality and perspective.  Because patience is a fruit of the Spirit of God, it follows not one of us is naturally patient like God is.  There are likely many things that cause us to quickly run out of patience, grow frustrated, or we refuse to tolerate.  A person can be very patient towards a stray dog that lashes out when being fed but will not extend grace to their own spouse or child because they should know better.  We can be more gracious to unbelievers in rebellion against God than a sinning brother or sister in Christ because we expect them to do better.  Whether we are quick to run out of patience or are able to endure for a long season, our patience has an end.

We are blessed God is good and gracious, that He is always longsuffering and kind.  He is not at all like us, full of limitations, and our kindness is more of an exception rather than an unalterable rule.  James wrote of God's grace to believers in in James 4:4-6:  "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? ⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  Married couples who desire a monogamous relationship are not pleased or tolerant with their spouse committing adultery.  To willingly enter into the covenant of marriage and then seek other lovers would rightly be seen as unacceptable.  In a very direct way, James rebuked believers for their quarrels, lusts and love of the world that brought conflict in their relationships with one another and also provoked God to jealousy for their misguided affections and desires.

Jesus taught adultery is a matter of the heart the Law of Moses could not fully address.  It must have shocked Jewish hearers of Jesus who were versed in the Law when He said even looking at a woman with lust was as sinful as sleeping with her!  In God's eyes, adultery with the woman had already been committed because of the wayward heart.  If we were to apply this principle with friendship of the world--the love of money, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life--it is apparent we have been guilty of spiritual adultery because we have not always valued or loved God as much as what we can see, obtain and experience.  Yet what was God's response all those times?  "But He gives more grace."  Though God is righteous and jealous for our love, trust and obedience, even after knowing this we have not always responded by faithfulness to Him.  We have put our trust in ourselves, in others and looked for hope in things other than God--even as an unfaithful spouse casts a wistful glance or seeks attention from others they find attractive.

God gives more grace, and He continues to be gracious despite our proclivity to unfaithfulness.  Like a good shepherd cares for the sheep of his flock, God convicts of us sin, pursues us, speaks gently to us and accepts us despite our foolishness.  It is important we realise grace is undeserved favour from God the humble are enabled by God to receive.  God resists the proud, and this resistance is also a revelation of God's grace.  God could destroy the proud without remedy in a moment, but He resists them so they might see their need for Him.  He gives grace to the humble--not because they are worthy or have earned the right to such grace--but out of His goodness and kindness demonstrated to all people.  Rather than being those who withhold grace from others until they show themselves worthy, let us be as God who gives more grace.  And when we have given grace, let us give more grace we humbly receive by faith from the inexhaustible stores of our Father in heaven.

Be At Peace

The Bible is filled with life situations that provide encouraging illustrations for God's people who trust in Him.  In this way God's word is living and powerful to provide guidance that shifts our focus from troubles to the LORD, from what is unknown to God who knows us, and from what is totally out of our control to submit to the sovereign God who does everything.  During our lives we regularly arrive at the crossroads of needing to choose if we will lean on our own understanding or rely upon the LORD for all things.

I was recently struck by an important decision of King Jehoshaphat after he became king.  Prior to him, his fathers made building cities and fortifying them a high priority.  Rehoboam, Abijah, and Asa were involved in extensive efforts to capture cities and they constructed walls, towers and secure gates.  These building projects were wise and circumspect, good stewardship of resources to provide security for the people.  Jehoshaphat did not neglect the security of the land, for he added garrisons of armed soldiers in all the cities.  Yet Jehoshaphat took steps to address the spiritual insecurity and waywardness of the people--something walls, towers, gates and armed soldiers could not address.

In the third year of Jehoshaphat's reign, he sent leaders and priests throughout the region to teach his subjects the Law of God.  2 Chronicles 17:9-11 says, "So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people."  See what happened after the people were taught of their God in 2 Chronicles 17:10-11:  "And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats."  When Jehoshaphat made teaching of God's word a priority with an aim to obey it, God was an infinitely greater defence and refuge for His people than walls and gates.  The fear of God on neighbouring countries was so great they did not dare attack, and some even brought gifts!  Walls, gates and armies did not deter or prevent attacks like God did.

God's people are wise to look to Him rather than relying on themselves or resources for strength and security.  We must decide if we are going to invest our efforts in fortifying earthly security that can be bypassed, ignored or prove inadequate or if we will build our lives on the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ and His word.  The words of Solomon in Proverbs 3:5-6 are timeless truth for all God's people to heed:  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  When we are walking in step with God like Jehoshaphat, we will see the principle held forth in Proverbs 16:7 fulfilled:  "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."  Even when troubles arise, we need not be troubled because our God is with us--the Prince of Peace.

The Wise and Foolish Exam

"Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more."

Ecclesiastes 4:13

It is said that with age comes wisdom, and this certainly can be true.  It is also true that a good and wise king can make foolish decisions and be unwilling to be instructed or corrected.  A king is in a position of great power and influence, yet life experience and political savvy is no substitute for wisdom that only comes from God.  Only those who maintain a humble posture in faith before the LORD will be divinely enabled to walk in wisdom.

A wise youth and a foolish king both at times need to be admonished, for there is no man who does not sin.  It is not primarily the absence of sin that marks the wise or foolish person but their response to instruction and correction reveals their hearts truly.  Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  Fools are revealed in their disdain to be instructed or corrected, for it is an affront to their pride and conceit.  As Proverbs 12:15 tells us, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."  Unlike a fool, the wise will receive rebuke and repent of sin as it is written in Proverbs 17:10:  "Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool."  When disciplinary action is ineffective to address behaviour, it is not the discipline that is the problem but the person who stubbornly refuses to amend their ways.

Consider the difference between the ways scoffers (who fall into the foolish category) and the wise and how they respond to correction, rebuke and instruction in Proverbs 9:7-9 says, "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. ⁸ Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."  It is good for us to ask ourselves:  when admonished or rebuked, does our love for that person increase or do we hate them?  Our hatred is exposed when we realise hatred means to love less, to be more apt to avoid and ignore a person rather than include them and have an inclination toward helping them.

Solomon's proverb suggests there was a time when a king would accept correction and be admonished, but a day came when he became lifted up with pride, was full of himself and indignation:  he was king!  How dare anyone speak to him in this manner?  Was he so inept and foolish he needed instruction?  If his thoughts were along these lines, a wise man would experience conviction of the Holy Spirit and identify the foolish plague of pride in his own heart that must be confessed and repented of as sin.  God can use a foolish youth to rebuke and correct a wise old king.  Let us not miss the message God speaks to us because of the brashness or folly of His messenger.  Believers, as we grow older may we remain as that poor and wise youth, for God promises the poor in spirit the kingdom of God.

Distinguishing God's Service

Many Christians who have come to faith in God through Jesus look at the Law of Moses as ridiculously complex and burdensome--even unnecessary due to the Gospel.  It would be unwise to hold to this view, especially since the lawgiver Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Since God does not change, this was true for the Jews who kept the Law of Moses by comparison to all other masters to whom they bound themselves.  As keeping God's commandments was His will for His people, He was always faithful to help them walk in His ways.  No man ever kept the Law perfectly because no man (except Christ) is perfect.

The children of Israel toiled under cruel taskmasters in Egypt and they groaned to God in bondage.  They were forced to bake bricks and build cities while Pharaoh decided to slaughter their male children in the river because they had grown strong.  God delivered His people from their crushing burdens and gave them His Laws.  He was the generous provider of all they sacrificed and offered to the LORD, and He made a covenant with them to bless them.  God gave them freedom in His service and did not force them to do anything, and He was gracious to warn them of consequences should they rebel and sin.  Sin was a more brutal dictator than the Egyptians ever were, for the soul that sins will surely die.  There is no escape possible from the sinful plagues of the heart that bind a man body, mind and soul except through the atonement God provided graciously in His covenant.

After the Hebrews were established in the land of promise, they asked Samuel to anoint a king over them who would go before them and fight their battles like all the other nations, God directed Samuel to warn the people what they were asking for.  The king who would rule over them would not rule them gently as God did.  Saul would tax them heavily, take their daughters to be his bakers and their sons to fight in his wars.  In asking for a human king they were requesting someone they would need to support and would be dependant upon their provision.  This was not the case with God as King, for He is not dependant on anyone; He is a provider, protector and fights His people's battles without needing weapons or an army.  Unlike human kings, God is not self-serving, proud, unjust or oppressive.  Serving the LORD according to His Law was a lighter load than what Saul would require of them.

Another example of how serving God is different than serving idols, men or ourselves is seen during the reign of Rehoboam in Jerusalem.  Having been established in his kingdom, Rehoboam forsook the Law of the LORD and God allowed Shishak of Egypt to plunder him.  God sent a prophet to instruct Rehoboam that his rebellion against God was the cause of his defeat, and he and his people humbled themselves before God.  2 Chronicles 12:7-8 says, "Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. ⁸ Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations."  God allowed the people of Judah to serve Shishak to learn to distinguish his service from the service of other kingdoms.  For three years they served the LORD with gladness, and when they rebelled from God the heavy yoke of Shishak was placed on them--a much heavier yoke that left them weak, plundered, facing threats of retribution, fears and worries. 

If we feel serving God is a heavy burden and difficult chore, remember the other yokes that dragged us down over the years and rendered us helpless and hopeless to deliver ourselves--sins, addictions, pride, people-pleasing and selfishness.  It is true what Jesus says, that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  In His service we discover peace in Him and rest for our souls.  There is joy and gladness in knowing God is with us, helps us, and loves us with an everlasting love.  The apostle writes of the new covenant in 1 John 5:3:  "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."  Those who love Jesus will keep His commandments, to love the LORD and one another as Jesus loves us.  Christ's yoke is easy and His burden is light because He lifts us up and fills us with the Holy Spirit.  He provides divine resources of wisdom, strength and understanding to do God's will, and He is faithful.  God's desire is we would learn to depend upon Him entirely, distinguish His service from all others, and delight to serve Him with gladness.

God's Completed Wrath

I was encouraged while reading Revelation 15 when John observed seven angels parading plagues out of the temple of God in heaven.  Each of them was given a bowl that was filled with the wrath of God that would be a manifest judgment of God through the plague poured out.  It struck me how these plagues came from God and were intended to accomplish His perfect will at the right time.  Though we cannot see a plague as a good thing in itself, knowing God is wise, sovereign and good moves us to worship God when He administers judgment and wrath.

It occurred to me I have often expressed gratitude and praise to God that He is just, but I have neglected to worship God for His wrath He has revealed and will one day pour out bowl after bowl.  Because God is good and righteous, every judgment He makes and action He takes is upright and good.  His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and thus it is faith in God that enables us to thank and praise God like the martyrs, psalmists and children of God for His righteous judgments.  When a judge on earth pronounces a judgment and sentence, we have opinions whether "justice" was served or not.  But we must realise God is not at all like a judge under law and guided by precedent:  He is the lawgiver and the law is beneath Him.  He is not beholden to any law like a human judge, for He is also KING OF KINGS.

In the seven plagues carried by the angels, God's wrath was complete.  It is awesome God's love, grace and mercy have no bounds, and this is revealed by His choice to restrain and limit His wrath.  In light of God's wrath martyrs for the sake of Christ in the Great Tribulation will sing:  "...Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! ⁴ Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested." (Rev. 15:3-4)  Those people who refuse to draw near to God at the revelation of divine love through Jesus Christ on Calvary may indeed be moved by the manifestation of His judgments in wrath.  The glorified believers do no wring their hands at the prospect of the devastation and destruction that will result, but worship the LORD God Almighty for His great and marvelous works and His ways that are just and true.  Nations will come and worship God because He is in Himself glorious and worthy, able to do what we cannot.

The song of Moses ends in Deuteronomy 32:43:  "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people."  The wise who fear God are called to worship and rejoice in God who will avenge the blood of His servants, render vengeance upon His enemies, and provide atonement for the land and His people.  If we will praise God He is just, that He is loving and merciful, we also can praise Him for the righteous administration of His wrath in judgment.  The trusting soul delights to do this, for God does all things perfectly in righteousness.  Praise the LORD for His wrath, and that one day it will be completely finished.

Building Our Lives Right

Yesterday during a Bible study at church, our group briefly discussed 1 Corinthians 3:11-13:  "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is."  More important than a structure itself is that it is built securely upon a foundation.  Our Bible study leader showed how Jesus took aim at hypocrites who focused on appearances and what could be seen by men whilst they neglected to put the teachings of the LORD Jesus into practice.  God looks at the heart--what is under the surface--and repenting of our hypocrisy, hearing and doing what Jesus says is the way to build our lives on a solid foundation.

A point that was made concerning the various building materials Paul mentioned was gold, silver, and precious stones are concealed underground and must be sought by mining while wood, hay and straw are found on the surface.  In the context of Paul's words, the issue at hand is the second group of three materials are all flammable, whilst gold, silver and precious stones can endure the fire.  Interestingly gold and silver can be purified by fire, and it is fire that will "test each one's work, of what sort it is."  Another contrast between the two groups of building materials is the second group is comprised of living things that are now dead and dried out.  Hebrews 9:14 suggests our need to have a conscience cleansed from "dead works to serve the living God" by the blood of Jesus, and good works are not able to pardon from sin or save a soul.  The first grouping is comprised of basic elements (some precious stones) that remain unchanged while the second group slowly will break down and decay into dust.

Paul explained how believers can choose the good foundation of Jesus Christ by the Gospel but build our lives poorly because our thoughts and ways are not His.  We do well to begin a relationship with God by faith in Jesus, but we can ignore or depart from His wisdom.  Christians are all given the choice and opportunity to use the precious materials supplied by God's grace to build a life that will endure by faith in God and His promises, repent of sin, to seek to cultivate godly character and motives to glorify our LORD, to embrace sound doctrine, and obedience to Jesus in the fear of God.  Since believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, He spiritually regenerates us to be fruitful, guides us into all truth, and helps us follow God's will and plans for our lives.  It is our responsibility to submit to His leading, believe God's word and receive encouragement.  God puts our lives to the test long before the final judgment as by fire, for God employs trials, conflicts and relationships to reveal our quality of character--whether it is like Christ or according to the ways of this world.

The only solid and enduring foundation for our lives is Jesus Christ who laid down His life for us, and the way we think, speak and live matters.  Let us be as wise master builders who choose to use quality materials to structure our lives--faith, hope and love--that will endure forever.  We also ought to consider what we adorn our lives with and what storage vessels are allowed to remain.  Paul explained in a great house there were vessels of gold and silver as well as wood and earth, vessels of honour and dishonour.  We are to purge our lives of error and godless chatter as 2 Timothy 2:21-23 affirms:  "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."  Holding fast to Jesus, fleeing from sin and pursuing what is good with fellow Christians is the way to build our lives and please God.