Newness of Life

"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Romans 6:4

Because God is the creator of all things, He can also make "all things new."  This is not speaking figuratively or spiritually but literally and truly.  It is possible for the newness of the life we have in Christ to wear off on us because we can quickly become dull, forgetful and unwise.  If we are not actively looking to the LORD Jesus and consider Him, we can become wearied and faint in our minds (Hebrews 12:1-3).  Thankfully it is not by our good performance or the willpower of our flesh where our strength lies, for the LORD is the strength of our hearts and the lifter of our heads.

Paul spoke of Jesus who was pierced, battered and bloodied on the cross where He died and was buried.  He contrasted the body of Jesus dead three days with Jesus risen from the dead glorified, and His disciples were able to converse with Him, touch Him and confirm He was truly living.  The difference between the dead body of Jesus and the risen Christ was stark, and this is the difference God makes in the lives of believers who are born again by faith in Him.  We were once dead in sins, and having been crucified with Christ now we have been raised to new life in Him.  Thus we ought to walk in newness of life, for the life of Jesus is now being lived out through us.

The marked change in God's people in Isaiah 17:7-8 illustrates this fundamental change of perspective and life from within:  "In that day a man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. ⁸ He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands; he will not respect what his fingers have made, nor the wooden images nor the incense altars."  God is able to change the outlook of people and what they value.  The prophet spoke of a man whose habit and preference was to look to his shrines and the idolatrous works of his own hands for help and guidance--who suddenly looks to his Maker with respect and adoration.  Instead of man tending to look to what he made himself, God draws our attention to our creator who made us in His image.

Coming to Jesus Christ as our Saviour doesn't merely impact part of our lives--a spiritual itch that needs scratching--but results in a transformation from the inside out.  While this change is divinely enabled, we have a role to play in learning to forsake sin and to do what pleases God as is written in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5:  "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God..." (NIV)  Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and this good fruit is produced in our lives by choosing to deny oneself and willingly submit to God.  Paul exhorted Romans 6:19 that as Christians used to present ourselves as slaves of uncleanness, we are to present ourselves as slaves of righteousness for holiness.  Because Jesus makes all things new, He cares about all aspects of our lives--inside and out--for good.

Truth and Lies Together

As someone who grew up in a country that touted freedom of speech, it was common for people to try to silence those they did not agree with.  I remember in university I took a class which involved editing a periodical publication, and I was surprised when we decided (by a majority vote) to censor a particular word because it could be viewed by some as offensive.  As a Christian I often was required to read content that conflicted with my views and convictions, yet I held the line people had the freedom to write their own stories and poems in a university publication without censorship because someone might be offended.  The discussion in our class was respectful and the outcome was accepted without complaint--unlike common demonstrations at universities today where people who disagree silence others by shouting them down, vandalise property or resort to intimidation and physical violence.

There are countries that are very involved in the censorship of ideas on the internet and restrict non-authorised government voices--anything that could undermine or oppose the party line.  Those who continue to share or broadcast material that is deemed illegal or banned can be arrested and imprisoned.  What is ironic is these governments who try to "play God" in a sense are nothing like God, for He allows dissenting rebels and liars to speak freely and even gives them a platform to spout nonsense.  He is not worried or afraid; God is not troubled or wrings His hands about "misinformation," for He is the Truth and has spoken the truth that is unassailable and will stand fast forever.  God is not the author of confusion, for He has provided the unvarnished truth for all to hear.  He allows lies to be spoken so people are provided a genuine choice of who they will believe, trust and follow.  He allows people to swallow down lies that taste sweet but end up bitter and hopeless in the end:  their dissatisfaction and disillusionment can lead them to humble repentance and coming to the LORD like never before.

These thoughts were prompted from the book of Jeremiah after God told him to build a yoke of wood and wear it around his neck as an object lesson, for Israel would serve king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  Jeremiah 28:10-11 says, "Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it. ¹¹ And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.' " And the prophet Jeremiah went his way."  In this passage we see two prophets and two conflicting, contrary messages.  Hananiah breaking the yoke did nothing to stop the word of the LORD coming to pass.  Rather than trying to silence Hananiah's lies, Jeremiah held forth the word of the LORD in Jeremiah 28:15-17:  "Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. ¹⁶ Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.' " ¹⁷ So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month."

People were given the opportunity to see the prophecies of Jeremiah and Hananiah play out:  would Israel break the yoke of Babylon within two years?  Or would Hananiah die within a year?  The word of the LORD through Jeremiah was confirmed when he died, and it would not surprise me if Hananiah's followers flocked to his tomb to pay their respects and continued to speak forth his lies because they preferred the lie over the reality of being in captivity in Babylon for 70 years.  This passage illustrates how God allows the truth and rebellion to be taught in the same streets, for God gives everyone the opportunity to hear the word of God and choose to believe Him--even though it may not seem as dynamic or exciting.  Faith in God makes His word and truth most exciting, for it is freeing and delivers us from the bondage of deceptions.  By faith we can know the Truth, our LORD Jesus Christ, and the Truth will set us free.

Rich in Christ

In speaking, my Grandpa was able to make a point without requiring many words.  Once in my late twenties, a cousin and I accompanied him for a visit to his cabin in the woods of northern California.  Were were eating pizza after fishing and I left a portion of the crust uneaten on my plate that was especially hard and dry.  He looked at the scrap of crust and asked with dead seriousness, "What, are you rich?"  He was of an era and mindset that good manners demands one eats everything on the plate, and to leave any bits behind was a claim to wealth, entitlement and superiority.  I felt justified to leave the crust because it was tough to swallow, but to escape the ire of a man I respected I powered it down.

Just today I came across an article which says how much money Australians need to have to consider themselves rich.  The article asserts, "...the average Australian must be earning a jawdropping $389,118 per year to feel rich."  That's a pretty specific number, and I have no idea how this amount was settled on--which is $50K more than last year.  In the eyes of those interviewed, it takes a lot of money to feel rich.  I strongly suspect should people make this amount of money annually, they may be surprised that the feeling of richness remains elusive.  Even more would be needed to secure that "I'm rich" feeling that remains out of reach.  The working definition I have for being rich is similar to my Grandpa's view:  the rich can afford to pay others to do for them what they don't feel like doing themselves.

I believe it is possible not only to feel rich but be rich with nothing of monetary value because of who Jesus Christ is for all who trust in Him.  The smallest blessing becomes an overwhelming bonus from our Father's hand.  Paul wrote to Christians in 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, "I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."  The richest person on the planet cannot compare with the richness of God who created and owns all things.  God has all power, wealth, authority and majesty, yet God became poor for our sakes in the Person of Jesus Christ so we might become rich.  This does not speak of our financial net worth but the enduring richness of a relationship with God, fellowship with God's people and being made citizens of God's everlasting kingdom.  Jesus taught where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

The context of Paul's words to the Corinthian church were encouragement to make good on their word to contribute financially to the church in Jerusalem that was struggling.  Perhaps after agreeing to gather a contribution the Corinthian's reserves looked to be running low:  how would they fare if plunged into poverty?  Paul encouraged them to remember Jesus who became poor to enrich them beyond what money could buy, and God's sincere love prompts us to give to meet the needs of others generously.  God can use our financial situation and decisions to help us realise what we see as the true riches--making and saving money on earth or storing up treasure in heaven by faith and obedience to Jesus Christ?  Comparing ourselves to others makes us see how little we have and leads to envy and discontent, but by Christ becoming poor we have all things and abound (Phil. 4:18).  Rather than chasing the feeling of being rich, let us find contentment and rest in Christ who is our all in all.

Jesus Works Without a Doubt

It was decades ago when I was made aware of online coupon codes people could use for discounts or free shipping for online orders.  I have noticed the amount of sites that share these codes have increased dramatically but the value and usefulness of the coupon codes have declined.  Some sites will boast having a code that was "used 25 times today," yet the fact it supposedly worked for others is no guarantee I can redeem it and receive the discount.  More often than not, I find these days the online coupon code option is a mirage of savings that rarely pays dividends.

Yesterday we read Isaiah 55:6-7 at Bible study:  "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."  Note the absolute confidence the prophet has for all those who turn to the LORD in humble repentance and faith!  The LORD is near to those of a contrite spirit, and God will have mercy and pardon the wicked man who forsakes his wickedness.  Isaiah is not like a coupon code broker site that raves with thumbs up, "Try it!  It might work for you too!"  God has revealed Himself to sinners in truth, that He is inclined to show mercy and save anyone who turns from sin and seeks Him.

If turning to God gave us lost sinners an outside chance of forgiveness and salvation it would be worth doing:  how much more when God invites us to do so with the guarantee of mercy, abundant pardon and eternal life?  The apostle John wrote with all assurance concerning Jesus Christ in John 1:10-13:  "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  See?  As many as received Him by faith--not some who received Him--He gave the right to become children of God, ushered into His glorious eternal kingdom.

Paul wrote that Christians should pray for all people to live a godly and peaceable life in 1 Timothy 2:3-7 because "...this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, ⁷ for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth."  God has expressed His desire all people would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth--that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  God gave His only begotten Son Jesus as a ransom for all, Jew and Gentile alike.

I encourage you to turn from sin to Jesus now and receive Him by faith, for without a doubt He will show you mercy, abundantly pardon and grant salvation.

Full of Light

God is gracious to give everyone a conscience, and the Bible provides evidence of this knowledge of right and wrong with Adam and Eve and their descendants after them.  It is true the Law of Moses brought knowledge of sin, but we also observe people at times knew what ought not to be done before the Law was provided on Mt. Sinai.  Despite having a conscience, people can have blind spots--dark shadows that cause what is sinful to be justified.

In my evening reading, I was reminded of the powerful influence of the conscience in Genesis 34 after Dinah was raped by Shechem.  Genesis 34:7 reads, "And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, a thing which ought not to be done."  The brothers of Dinah were incensed when they heard Shechem forced their sister.  Their consciences were in agreement what Shechem did was objectively disgraceful and a "thing which ought not to be done."  What is fascinating is the conscience of Shechem did not seem to be troubled as Dinah's brothers, and also his character was shown to be among the more honourable of his father's house.  He was willing to be immediately circumcised to have Dinah as wife because he genuinely cared for her.

It seems the conscience of Shechem and the sons of Jacob also had blind spots:  Shechem justified raping Dinah because he loved and wanted her, and Jacob's sons justified speaking deceitfully with malice.  They agreed to Dinah being the wife of Shechem if he and all the men of the city were circumcised as they were--because a couple of them conspired to murder all the men of the city and plunder them for Shechem's crime.  Jacob rebuked his sons, not for their deceit and murder, but that they brought trouble on him by making him obnoxious to the Canaanites.  Because Shechem had treated their sister Dinah like a harlot, Simeon and Levi felt justified to murder the men of the city and plunder it.

Justification to rape and murder by people who had consciences reminds me of Jesus' words in Luke 11:34-35:  "The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness."  Without the light of Jesus Christ and the word of God that is like a lamp to our feet and light to our path, the hearts and minds of mankind remain full of darkness.  Like Shechem or Jacob's sons, we can be deceived into justifying evil.  Praise God the Light of the World Jesus has come, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment.  May we Christians learn to walk in the light as Ephesians 5:8-10 exhorts:  "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord."

Embrace Being Changed

God has put in human beings a thirst for knowledge and understanding.  As little children grow they begin to ask questions about everything and love to learn, drinking in everything they see and hear.  When children are at an appropriate age, given their physical and social development, they often undertake formal schooling.  At some point, the marks students receive and doing what is required to pass a class begins to overshadow the joy of learning--especially when the information in a course seems irrelevant, has little immediate benefit, or is difficult to understand.

As a student in school, when I struggled to understand maths concepts I would look at examples and try to mimic them; I turned to the back of the book to find the correct answer and work backwards to see how to arrive at that solution.  I approached the teacher and fellow classmates for more information and details to better understand.  I dug into textbooks (in days before the internet) and asked questions because I wanted to know how to find the correct answer.  It wasn't because I had a burning desire to be competent in calculus, but because I needed to pass the class.  I wasn't interested in personal enrichment, gaining knowledge I would use in a career, or to claw my way out of ignorance:  I wanted to pass the class and move on.

I have observed we can have a similar approach concerning spiritual matters.  Sometimes we are content to be told what to believe without having to think or examine ourselves according to God's word.  We simply desire the security and comfort that comes from believing we know what is true and right.  We look for an answer to our question to support our beliefs, to show others they are wrong, or to validate or justify our practices.  We may not be interested or willing to learn to change at all!  But God is wise to give us His word, the Holy Spirit, and to connect us with fellow believers in a world that is contrary to God so we might learn, grow in understanding, be further refined and fruitful.  While we are seeking a formula to follow so we can arrive at our preferred end, God works to transform us from the inside out and make us more like Him.

As students we were told to correct our own papers that were written in pencil.  There was always a temptation to rub out the wrong answer and change it to right one when it is we who needed correction and changing.  When God tests us, it often isn't a test we pass or fail:  God's tests are meant to refine and purify us, to expose our sin to us so we will repent.  We can be so focused on being told what to do or believe we neglect seeking God for His sake and embracing our personal sanctification.  While we are looking for a checklist of spiritual disciplines like chores to do so we can move on from them, as God would have us continue to rely upon Him, abide in and follow Him.  God is doing a work in our hearts by His grace and He impacts our entire lives presently and our future.  Jesus did not always give easy answers, but He bids us to take His yoke upon us (which is easy and light!) and learn of Him, for in Him we find rest for our souls.

Context That Compliments

It is vital to keep the big picture in mind when we read, interpret and apply Scripture.  Many well-meaning people can be led astray from sound doctrine when they deviate from the immediate context of passages, cherry-pick phrases or view a verse as standing alone when the accurate interpretation is supported by verses around it.  Because the entire Bible is God's word, no verse stands alone as an outlier.  What can seem contradictory at first glance may be complimentary after consideration.  Understanding the immediate context and to whom the book originally was directed can aid us in rightly dividing God's word and living our lives according to His truth.

An example of this is seen in the book of Jeremiah.  Through the prophet, God spoke pointed words to His people and foretold of coming judgment He would bring upon them for their sin they refused to acknowledge or repent of.  He asked in Jeremiah 7:9-10:  "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, ¹⁰ and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these abominations'?"  Did God deliver His people from slavery in Egypt to remain slaves of sin?  Did He bring them into a good land so they could justify what the LORD deemed abominable?  God forbid.

Later in this section God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 7:16:  "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you."  If we read this verse on its own, we might think it falls to us to judge if people are worthy of being prayed for, and we should not pray for people who are in sin--but this would be a very bad interpretation as it violates what God says in other places in the Bible.  For instance, when Jesus was being crucified, He interceded on behalf of the Romans who crucified Him and even the Jews who mocked Him:  "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  Paul said it is God's will we pray for everyone in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:  "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

It is not difficult to reconcile the command not to pray for the inhabitants of Jerusalem though it is God's will for all people to be prayed for and saved.  The problem was, Jeremiah's hearers refused to heed God's warnings or repent of their sin.  The judgment God would bring upon His people would not be turned away by the prayer and intercession of God-fearing people, for their continuance in sin meant their judgment was set in stone.  If they would be broken and repent of their sin, the commandment to destroy could also be broken.  In the case of God's people in Judea, what was needed was contrite hearts and repentance of sin before God, and God would not force their will.  Praying for ourselves and others--knowing God hears us and answers--is to be our rule of life as Christians because this is God's will.  The Jeremiah 7 passage in no way prohibits us praying for others, but it reveals when the iniquity of people is full, intercessory prayer on their behalf will not benefit them.

Withheld From Sinning

If you ever feel you were not given the credit you deserve, just imagine how often this happens concerning God!  I am confident He is often not given any credit when He deserves it, and He is blamed when He only is righteous, holy and just.

As I read the Bible recently, I came across the passage where Sarah, at Abraham's request, deceived Abimelek king of Gerar that Sarah was his sister--and not his wife.  Abraham believed Sarah's attractive appearance put his life in jeopardy as her husband, that unscrupulous men would kill him to have her.  This ruse actually put Sarah's sexual purity at risk, for Abimelek--believing Sarah was Abraham's sister--had her brought to live with him.

The LORD God spoke to Abimelek in a dream and told him he was as good as a dead man, because the woman he had taken was married.  Abimelek had not gone near her, and protested he was completely unaware of her married status.  He insisted he did not have any sinister, adulterous motives.  Genesis 20:6 reads, "And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her."  Abimelech credited himself for being a man of integrity and honour, yet God revealed He was the one who prevented Abimelech from sinning against God.

This made me consider:  I wonder how many times God intervened to keep me from sinning.  Well, it is safe to say every time I consciously or unwittingly did not sin, it was by God's power and grace.  Can we stop sinning by our willpower or strength when we cannot even cleanse our hearts and minds from sinful desires?  Abimelek was prevented from sinning by God, and it follows God can do the same for us.  We cannot blame God should we sin, for God never tempts anyone to sin as James 1:13-14 says:  "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."

How blessed we are the all-powerful God is never tempted by sin, is able to cleanse us from sin and keep us from sinning as well.  Let us praise and worship our awesome God who is pure and holy in all His ways, who declares us righteous by grace through faith in Him.  To be free of the oppressive power and eternal punishment for sin is a wonderful gift of God we may not appreciate as much as we should.

Unclean and Clean

In the Law of Moses, God made a clear distinction between the clean and unclean.  He told the Hebrews which animals were clean to eat and ones they were to avoid eating--as they were unclean to them.  God also described many physical conditions or situations where a person was deemed unclean, and then outlined what was required for them to be ceremonially clean.  This perspective often governed the outlook of God's people, even those like King Saul who did not always honour or obey God.  When David's seat was empty during a feast, Saul said to himself, "Something has happened to him; surely he is unclean." (1 Sam. 20:26)

While some uncleanness was dealt with by washing in water and remaining unclean until evening, there were other conditions that left a person perpetually unclean--like leprosy.  Leviticus 13:45-46 says, "Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!' ⁴⁶ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp."  Touching a person, dead body or any item that was unclean would render the one who touched it unclean.  Job correctly mused in Job 14:4:  "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!"  God spoke to the priests and Levites in Isaiah 52:11:  "Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD."

Perhaps it is verses like these that led people to think "cleanliness was next to godliness."  What this cliche has very wrong is only God can cleanse what is unclean, and He is faithful to do this by His grace.  Our righteousness is not obtained by the foods we eat or avoid, nor are we cleaned by washing our bodies or hands in water.  Nightfall does not cleanse or make us pure in God's sight.  What is truly wonderful is Jesus--who alone is righteous, pure and holy--came to seek and save the lost, to cleanse the unclean, to raise the spiritually dead and give them eternal live, and adopt aliens of God's kingdom as children of God.  Jesus went to unclean, ostricised lepers whom people avoided like the plague, and He touched them without becoming unclean--having miraculously cleansed them.  He reached out and touched bodies of dead people who came to life, for Jesus remains pure and is able to cleanse those who were unclean by sin.

Matthew 8:1-4 reads, "When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. ² And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." ³ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  Leviticus 14 is a long chapter that outlines the elaborate ceremony required after a leper was cleansed of leprosy.  Jesus is able and willing to cleanse anyone who comes to Him of any uncleanness, and He has done so by His blood shed for us on the cross.  May our lives be a testimony of Christ by denying ungodly lusts and living soberly, righteously and godly in this present age, redeemed from all iniquity (Titus 2:11-14).  It is our reasonable service we present ourselves as living sacrifices to Christ who has cleansed us from all sin and uncleanness.

Revive Us Again

When discussing passages from the Bible or theology, it is important to define key terms.  There are many common words and phrases which mean different things to different people.  I have found "revival" to be one of those words.  A casual browse through the Strong's Concordance also shows how one particular Hebrew or Greek word has been translated into a variety of words.  The context of a word is helpful--along with other passages in the Bible that employ the same word--to better grasp the intended meaning.

During a recent Bible study at church, we briefly discussed Psalm 85:6:  "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"  The psalmist asked God to revive him and all God's people spiritually to the end they would rejoice in God.  He astutely realised God's people need God's spiritual empowerment to respond to God as we ought.  As the fire consumes wood in the fireplace, gravity causes logs to settle further into the grate and smoulder in the ash.  The person who intentionally started the fire will need to adjust the logs with a poker and add additional wood with gaps so oxygen will cause the fire to blaze up again.  God who gave us life on earth also provides eternal life by the Gospel, and having been born again we need God to revive us continually by His Spirit.

Even as fire is lit upon a hearth for a purpose--for instance to supply heat for a home, to boil stew or to toast marshmallows--the psalmist connected being revived again by God with rejoicing in Him.  This is one of many purposes God revives His people to the end He would be glorified and His people edified, strengthened, encouraged and made spiritually fruitful.  Some Christians I have met have a different view of revival than the psalmist, focused primarily on what they desire to see in other people, a church or a city:  more people coming to church, more interest in spiritual things, an widespread "awakening" like historical moves of the Holy Spirit in "revival meetings" long ago.  There can be a desire for this sort of revival in others which we see no need for in ourselves.  And what can follow is unless our arbitrary, grandiose concept of "revival" is realised, people who pray to this end can be discouraged that their prayer has gone unanswered.

Like God fills us with the Holy Spirit when we ask Him (Luke 11:13), we can have complete confidence God will revive us again according to our humble request in faith because it is His will for us.  He gave us life and spiritually revived us, but this "revival" will be for His purposes--not to accommodate our romantic spiritual longings.  When we are moved to rejoice in the LORD, especially when our circumstances are difficult and troubling, it is evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in and through our lives.  God has revived us many times when we despaired, wandered away, forgot about God and His promises simply because He is good and faithful:  won't He also revive us when we ask Him to the end we would rejoice in Him?  Isn't He worthy of our praise and thanks always?  It is clearly God's will we would rejoice in Him as Paul urged believers in Philippians 4:4:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"  Let us thank God for reviving us again, for He has done so more times that we have given Him credit.

Loving God's Law

During a morning walk today signs of activity were all around:  the magpies hopping around looking for feed, galahs sailed overhead, and other walkers and joggers were out in force.  The local oval was quiet and serene as the sunrise began to shine over the trees--the silence suddenly broken by the strained grunts of a shirtless man in tiny shorts stretching.  That wasn't the only odd thing that I observed, for as a car drove by a newspaper was hurled from the open window over my head and landed expertly on a driveway.  The resident of that house had already set up a sprinkler to water the turf, and it seemed like the perfect morning to water the grass, enjoy tea or coffee, and browse through the paper.

I find it fascinating how different people's interests and daily activities can be.  One person looks forward to retiring from paid work so they can sleep in late, while another loves rising early to walk or water the lawn.  One person enjoys having a cuppa on the veranda and watching the birds, while another prefers to be indoors and read the paper or the Bible.  By God's grace, I am blessed knowing I do not need to wistfully wait for retirement to look forward to enjoying a retired life because I can enjoy today and every day.  These days I do look forward to rising early for a walk, to read the Bible and pray.  Retirement from paid work cannot offer me a life I cannot have presently, for God and His goodness remains the same.

Yesterday I was struck with the love of the psalmist for God's good commandments, judgments and statutes in Psalm 119.  Psalm 119:46-48 reads, "I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. ⁴⁷ And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. ⁴⁸ My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes."  Speaking for myself, there is not a law in Australia or the United States that I love.  It is far more likely there are laws or ordinances I dislike and disapprove of than laws I love.  When it comes to God's word and laws, however, I can honestly say I do love them because they are of God; they are true, righteous and good.  By the Law is the knowledge of sin, and this reveals our need for a Saviour and pardon.

Is there found in you delight to do God's commandments because you love them?  Do you spend time considering God's statutes?  Are you moved to worship God as you read His commands and judgments?  David meditated on God's Law day and night, and Paul affirmed believers ought to meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, virtuous and praiseworthy:  doesn't God and all He has said fit this description?  In The Fellowship of the Ring Bilbo famously said, “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door...", and it is an exciting opportunity every time we open God's word to behold the wondrous wisdom of our glorious God and hear Him speak--a blessing I love much more than a walk in the park.

Two or Three Witnesses

The Bible has unexpected encouragement in well-known passages and the more obscure.  I found great encouragement in a passage that is often quoted in part, that Jesus said when two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).  Most often this is said to encourage people who gather at church or in a corporate prayer meeting to emphasise God's faithfulness to be among His people, to hear and answer prayer, to guide and direct those who gather.  This is all true and wonderful.  Yet the context of the passage gives encouragement in circumstances that can be disheartening:  when dealing with conflict among believers and administration of church discipline.

Jesus taught if a believer was offended by another Christian, the offended party was to humbly go and tell him the fault that caused offence with the aim of reconciliation.  If the one who did wrong was unwilling to listen to the concern of the offended party, Jesus said one or two more believers should accompany the next meeting that "in the mouth or two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matthew 18:16).  This was not a new concept for Jewish Christians, for it was written in the Law in Deuteronomy 19:15:  "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established."  The one or two who accompanied the first person needed to be convinced the offender had indeed done wrong--not to simply go along as moral support or as a favour for a friend.  The idea held forth is two or three of God's people, having been guided by God's word and Jesus Himself who was among them, were able to discern right from wrong and make sound judgments.

Immediately following this teaching, Peter asked how many times he needed to forgive a sinning brother.  Jesus then spoke a parable where binding and loosing--in context the ascribing of guilt or proclaiming pardon--is illustrated along with two or three witnesses.  Jesus said one servant owed a king a great debt, and he begged to be forgiven.  His king had compassion on him and forgave him the immense sum he owed.  Then he went out and grabbed a fellow servant who owed him a small debt (by comparison), and he was unmoved by the pleadings of his fellow servant for more time:  the man who had been loosed from a great debt had him arrested and thrown into prison.  Matthew 18:31 then illustrated the intercessory action of two or three witnesses:  "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done."  The king listened to His servants and took action against the wicked servant who had been forgiven much but refused to forgive his fellow servant who begged him.  The king commanded the man who was loosed to be bound and pay back his debt in full, for he showed no compassion to his fellow servant.

Jesus Christ is the KING OF KINGS, and whether we have done wrong or been offended by others we are to humble ourselves before our LORD and one another, knowing we have been loosed from a debt of sin we could never pay.  As the Judge of all the earth Jesus will always do right, and by faith in Him we can submit to our brethren in love, knowing Jesus is in the midst of our gatherings.  Should we be the one who refuses to forgive or stubbornly continues in doing wrong, we should be circumspect and humble because our King is in our midst.  Those who are grieved when they observe injustice, lack of compassion or corruption can come to Jesus Christ in prayer, knowing He will hear and answer.  Just two or three witnesses is sufficient to establish a matter and begin legal proceedings on earth, and the same is true in a spiritual sense concerning matters of offence and discipline among believers.

Enter Into Peace

God's thoughts and ways are past finding out, yet He miraculously reveals Himself to those who trust and seek Him.  The Bible is full of revelations from God for people in ancient times as well as today, for God does not change.  His word and wisdom are timeless and will endure forever--even after the heavens and earth pass away.

Today I read a passage that sheds light on God's ways in Isaiah 57:1-2 that we do not naturally consider:  "The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. ² He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness."  Though God has created mankind in His image, there is great diversity between each one of us.  We all have bodies with faces, our own personalities and perspectives, and how different they can be from others!  Even as God designed each one of us individually, knitting us together in the wombs of our mothers, God knows when we will be born and the day and hour when we will breathe our last.  God-fearing people have been killed in tragedies, and others died in their beds before tragedy struck.

When we suffer the loss of a godly friend or family member, we can keenly feel the loss.  The prophet Isaiah made the point in his day righteous people perished and they were not mourned.  It never entered into the minds of people the timing of their death was ordained by God to prevent them from experiencing coming judgment for evil.  We see an example of this when the wife of Jeroboam came to the prophet Ahijah to inquire concerning a prognosis for Abijah, her young son who was gravely ill.  Ahijah gave her the bad tidings he was sent to give her in 1 Kings 14:10-13 as a result of Jeroboam's sin:  "...therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone. ¹¹ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!" ¹² Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. ¹³ And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam."

God would bring disaster upon Jeroboam, and in days to come the men of his house would be denied the honour of a burial and memorial.  Their carcasses would be scavenged by dogs and carrion birds--with the exception of young Abijah, whose death would be lamented and he would be buried with royal honour.  Why would he die in his youth?  Not because he would grow up to be a vile person, but God saw in him as a child "something good toward the LORD God of Israel" in all Jeroboam's house.  God knew what He had in this little lad, and when everyone wished for his full recovery God was pleased to bring him home--knowing the great evil that would befall the house of Jeroboam on account of sin.  Those who share the perspective of the apostle Paul who preferred to be absent from the body and to be present with the LORD can gladly welcome God's wisdom, mercy and salvation (in His time and way) when He ushers us into peace in God's presence forever, home at last with our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The death of the body precedes being present with the LORD in eternal glory.  Since our righteousness is in Christ who rose from the dead, though our bodies will die our spirits will live--clothed in a new body that will never see corruption.  It is natural to mourn the loss of a loved one, but we never need mourn the present condition of the redeemed, glorified soul who is finally where they belong:  in peace and rest forever.  What peace we have in Jesus who is our Peace!

Faith Pleases God

There was likely no one more surprised than my dad when I embarked on a career in mechanical insulation.  He remembered very well my aversion to the feeling of gyprock (drywall) dust as a youngster, and he likely figured I was simply not cut out for jobsites and able to endure the dust, noise, fumes and physical labour.  After over a decade in the trade there was probably no one more surprised than me when the LORD opened a door to being a youth pastor in full-time ministry.  Working in a trade was by no means wasted time, for it prepared me for the rigours of pastoral work in countless ways.  I did not begin a career in a trade to please my dad, but I switched into a new line of work with the desire to please God.

It's an interesting dynamic that people who are not particularly fond of their dads wish they could please them.  Dads can be hard--at times even impossible--to please.  I was blessed to be assured of my dad's love and support regardless of my job or career choice, yet not everyone experiences this level of acceptance with their father.  It is possible, however, to live in the way that pleases God--our heavenly Father.  If pleasing our earthly father is a pleasant thought, how much more is pleasing our Father in heaven!  Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9-12:  "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

There is one key and indispensable element to pleasing God as it is written in Hebrews 11:6:  "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."  Those who do not believe in God's existence will not go to God, for they do not believe He has done anything or would be able to do anything.  Jesus is revealed as God made flesh, and He preached repentance from sin and the kingdom of God.  Those who heard the message of the Gospel, when mixed with faith, profited them when they responded to it in faith, submission and obedience:  they repented of their sin, believed Jesus is the Christ, and walked in obedience to Him.  It is God who provides wisdom, spiritual understanding and fruitfulness, and having been born again by faith in Jesus we are able to fully please Him by continuing to trust in Him and repent of sin.  The way we came to Jesus Christ by faith is the way we walk with Christ.  Sorrow for sin and repentance leads to acceptance and rejoicing by God's grace.

Some might imagine God's expectation of His children is perfection, that once we know the truth we will never transgress.  Those who have been children and raised children realise this is totally unrealistic.  Parents desire their children to be honest with them and admit when they have done wrong, to show genuine remorse for disobedience, and to take steps to do better moving forward.  Sometimes signs of remorse in people are merely for show, yet the LORD knows our hearts.  It is good for people to go to God in their sin, confessing their faults with contrite hearts--at our conversion and whenever we are convicted of our guilt going forward.  God will not crush and condemn the humble soul who in faith willingly comes to Him for forgiveness and pardon:  it is the one who asserts they are without sin who remain in sin.  It is amazing that having sinned we please God by repenting of our sin, and all heaven is moved to rejoice over one sinner who repents, one who was lost but returned to God in humble contrition.

Jesus Christ Magnified

As a kid at church, I always enjoyed hearing the testimonies of people who had come to Christ.  It was an opportunity to know a fellow Christian better, hear the way God revealed Himself to them, and how God was working in their life currently.  There were many testimonies I heard which had a large emphasis on a life before Christ and various sinful activities they pursued.  It was rare for someone to open the Bible and read verses God had used to change their minds, Scripture that lead to the realisation of their sinfulness and need for salvation.  Had God's word always been proclaimed in those testimonies perhaps they would have been exponentially more spiritually fruitful!

An intriguing situation occurred in the book of Acts when seven Jewish men (sons of Sceva a Jewish leader of the priests) worked as traveling exorcists and took it upon themselves to command demons to depart in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached.  Acts 19:15-16 reads, "And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" ¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."  The evil spirit knew Jesus the Son of God and Paul His servant, but these sons of Sceva had no part in Christ's kingdom:  they simply applied a formulaic approach based on their observations of Paul.  Without the protection and power of Jesus Christ, these imposter exorcists were overcome and beaten up by the demon possessed man.  Rather than the demon leaving the man he possessed, the hireling exorcists ran naked from the house--their weakness, folly and unbelief exposed for all to see.

When the story spread through Ephesus, Acts 19:17-20 explained the massive impact it had on the hearers:  "This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ¹⁸ And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. ¹⁹ Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."  Fear fell on all those who heard of what happened, and the name of the LORD Jesus was magnified who has authority and power over all spirits.  Not once was Jesus beaten up or unable to cast out a demon with His word alone, for He is truly the LORD of all.  What is amazing is how Jewish and Gentile Christians came confessing their deeds, for they had been involved in occultic practices that employed demonic power.  Not only did they testify publicly their deeds but they brought their books containing their incantations and burned them.

The failure of the sons of Sceva to drive out the demon resulted in Christians fearing God and purging the church of sin when people confessed, repented of their sin and burned their books once and for all in public.  The power of sin that was strong in secret was overcome in public view by the fear of God.  The confessing of sin and burning of the magic books showed how "the word of the LORD grew mightily and prevailed."  Reading and studying God's word is vital for the Christian, and when we submit ourselves to God's word through faith and obedience great strides can be made in personal purity and being a godly witness.  It seems while Christians kept their secret books and the Scripture the power of God's word remained dormant in their lives, but when they confessed their demonic dabbling and destroyed their books, God's word grew mightily and prevailed.  May it be through our lives and testimony the name of the LORD Jesus is magnified, and by our confession of sin and reformation the word of the LORD will grow mightily and prevail.

Joy That Remains

A main theme in the book of Jeremiah is the need of God's people to repent of sin and return to the LORD.  The fact the prophet addressed people of Israel who were in a covenant with God is compelling for all Christians who are partakers of the new covenant in Christ's blood.  I don't know if there is a worse feeling for Christians who know they are in unrepentant sin and harden their hearts against God and His word.  I imagine this is a reason people can be averse to going to church and hearing God's word preached--for lack of contrition for sin and refusal to repent makes them resemble uncomfortable children awaiting punishment.  I would rather be on the other side of discipline, having apologised and embraced parents who affirmed their love for me.  The sting of discipline was quickly over as I went my way walking on air, everything set right again with parents who loved me enough to correct me.

When God brings brokenness for sin and we finally yield to His correction, repentance leads to great rejoicing.  We see this in the book of Nehemiah, for upon hearing the word of God the people wept for their sin.  Nehemiah 8:10 says, "Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  It is natural for us to want those who do wrong to realise they have done wrong and express sorrow for harm they caused, and we might continue to beat ourselves up for sins committed long ago.  God identifies our sin, not so we would hopelessly wallow in our sinfulness and failure to please God, but so we might repent, be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God and one another in the church.  Jesus has provided atonement for sin by His own blood so sinners can be cleansed of all shame, guilt and offence and be declared righteous by faith in Him.  Sin depresses us, but God is the lifter of our head and sets us on our feet on the solid Rock of Salvation.  No longer is sin a perpetual cause of sorrow, for "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Think about when the prodigal son returned to his father:  he willingly returned and humbled himself before his father, well aware of his shameful conduct and how he wasted his father's goods.  The father did not look upon him with condemnation and gruffly rehearse his vile conduct to shame him:  his father ran, kissed and embraced him!  He rejoiced his son was now found and organised a feast to celebrate his son's return.  The repentance of his son--a change of mind that led him to change his ways and return to his father--was the cause of great rejoicing for the father, son, household and in heaven.  There wasn't any joy for the erring prodigal in the pigpen:  it was in his father's house there was only joy and gladness.  The "strength" of the joy of the LORD is a word in Hebrew that means refuge, a fortress and defence.  Secure in God's love for us and joy over us, we rejoice and delight to share His love with others.

Jesus said in John 15:9-12, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and Jesus has spoken to us so His joy may remain in us.  His joy isn't fleeting or fickle, for Jesus gives fullness of joy we can experience that exceeds happiness from what happens.  Knowing we will see Jesus who will never leave or forsake us brings joy no one can take away as Jesus said in John 16:22:  "...you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."  How wonderful is our Saviour Jesus, for He can turn our sorrow into joy that remains.

Jesus Hears and Saves

It is good for Christians to consider:  how do your thoughts align with the truth of God's word?  There can be a condemning voice that has an accusing tone we listen to, are beaten down by, and even ascribe to God--when God never said such things in Scripture.  If we would compare the content of those accusing words with God's word, the Bible, we are able to recognise a foul, sulfurous stench which betrays lies Satan speaks to deceive people, aiming to turn focus away from God to themselves and bring despair to the hopeless.  Satan denigrates mankind and tells us how worthless we are, but Christ's sacrifice on the cross reveals His love and delight to save us sinners because He values us.  There is always hope in Jesus Christ for the repentant sinner, for He is loving, gracious and good.

God has proven countless times when people humble themselves, confessing and repenting of sin, He will forgive and accept the contrite of heart who trust Him.  During a season of Israel's history, God's people were guilty of grave abominations through idolatry, spiritual adultery and even human sacrifice, and they were unwilling to heed God's word or warnings through prophets He sent.  For centuries He endured their provocations and caused them to taste the bitter fruit of the sin they cultivated.  If they would only admit they had done wrong and return to Him, He would heal them.  God's loving desire for His erring people was shown in Jeremiah 3:21-22:  "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."

How different are God's ways and thoughts from ours!  God did not demand the people bring sacrifices, maim themselves, go on a long pilgrimage or prove they had "changed their ways" with good deeds:  from the high places where they had viciously sacrificed children they could weep in repentance for their sin and how they had forgotten God.  Right there and then they could return to God and He would heal their backslidings and self-inflicted wounds from sin.  This is similar to Jonah who returned to the LORD in repentance after being swallowed by a great fish.  Jonah 2:1-2 says, "Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly. ² And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice."  In the whirring darkness of the fish's belly, God heard and answered Jonah.  He could not save or help himself, but God could and was inclined to do so.

Isn't it awesome God has sought, pursued and spoken to us?  If you have never known God or if you have walked away from Him or forgotten Him, Jesus is the Way--and the Way back to fellowship with God.  Wherever we are, whatever we've been doing, in our affliction we can cry out to God, repent of our sin and turn to the LORD who will answer us.  There are no hopeless cases as far as God is concerned, for He is able to deliver, save and redeem.  A Philippian jailor ran to Paul and Silas in prison and asked what he needed to do to be saved.  They replied, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." (Acts 16:31)  That very night that man and his whole household rejoiced, for God heard and answered their cries for salvation.  Today the same can be true for you because Jesus saves all who trust in Him!

Gadding About?

In Jeremiah 2, God confronted His people for "gadding about" to change their ways.  In the 1828 Webster's Dictionary, he described this as "To walk about; to rove or ramble idly or without any fixed purpose."  The nation of Israel had become fickle, both in their worship and their foreign policy.  With trouble coming from nations from the north, they sought an alliance with Egypt (where they previously had been slaves and were forbidden by God to return) and took the road to Assyria (enemies who conquered the northern kingdom).  Having forsaken the LORD and served idols, they flitted here and there in a panic, looking for anyone or anything to deliver them.

In their moment of need they called on God to arise and deliver them, yet God was not beholden to His people who justified themselves.  The prophet described their gadding ways using an unflattering illustration in Jeremiah 2:23-24:  "How can you say, 'I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals'? See your way in the valley; know what you have done: you are a swift dromedary breaking loose in her ways, ²⁴ a  wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs at the wind in her desire; in her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they will find her."  God compared the penchant of His people for spiritual adultery to female camels or donkeys in heat which are aggressive to seek out a mate.  In God's eyes, their roving and rambling was with a definite purpose, seeking lovers other than God who alone loved them through idolatry.

God is quoted in Hebrews 10:38, "Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."  Those who trust God will take steps of faith by obedience to Him, but the LORD is not pleased in those who draw back.  Galatians 2:12 (NIV) contains an illustration from the life of Peter that illustrates fickleness and hypocrisy, shrinking from agreement with God:  "Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group."  Peter changed his ways depending whether Jews were around, and having departed from God the children of Israel roved from idols to God, from nation to nation looking for deliverance found in God alone.  I include this example to show this was not an Old Testament phenomenon, for it is possible for strong saints to draw back from living by faith and live in a manner which is displeasing to God.

It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christians are deemed righteous by God, and thus we are to live by faith in God.  We have been saved for God's sake, to please Him by choosing to trust and obey Him.  It is good for us to consider how we think and live:  are we those who look to Christ for leading and guidance, or do we "gad about" and flit from person or thing to seek help, sympathy or renewed confidence in ourselves?  Psalm 46:10-11 exhorts God's people:  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"  We can be still and at rest in the midst of trials and difficulties, for God is with us and remains our steadfast expectation of good.  When our flesh feels we must do something, living by faith in God means our confidence rests in Him to accomplish the work we could never do in His time and way.

Revived to Rejoice

This morning during prayer I turned to the passage in Psalm 85:6 that reads, "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?"  The God who gave us life desires we would be delivered from death, and that is a reason Jesus was sent to seek and save the lost.  Through the Gospel, people once dead in sins are given new life as born again Christians and granted eternal life.  Even in the Old Testament, people God had granted life and land desired revival, that God would turn His people to Him again by faith.  Revival and repentance go together, for it is a change of mind and heart that involves turning from sin and looking to the LORD with renewed devotion and obedience.

When people speak of revival, they do not always take into account repentance of sin and recognision of how far people have drifted from God as a necessary part of the equation.  The sons of Korah sang, "Turn us, O God of our salvation" and illustrate our need for God to do a work in us.  "Revival" is more than a growing interest in church gatherings, attending services or prayer meetings.  It is something accomplished by the Holy Spirit within the hearts of God's people that often impacts others for God's glory.  In one sense it would be wonderful that revival would not be necessary because by God's grace we continue to seek the LORD and obey His voice, allowing the life of Jesus to be lived out through us.  Because we do live in bodies of flesh that sleep and wake up, with limited energy stores and strength that is depleted and restored by nourishment and rest, in a world marked with seasons and cycles, our physical and spiritual need for renewal and revival is ongoing.

There could be countless reasons why people long for what they call revival:  an awakening to the goodness and power of God, more people coming to church, a miraculous increase of concerned souls who are saved, that people desire to see excitement in others concerning Jesus they are lacking in themselves.  But the reason connected by the psalmist for the revival of God's people is so they would rejoice in God.  How wondrous this is!  We are more apt to rejoice in revival than in God who is gracious and powerful to revive us again!  How easily we rejoice in the gift more than in the Giver, in our hope of salvation than our Saviour who calls us to Himself.  It is good for us to consider:  how much of our rejoicing is in God alone?

The song continues in Psalm 85:7-8:  "Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation. ⁸ I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly."  God has revealed His mercy and salvation through Jesus Christ to all, and in Jesus we have peace.  We can have total confidence in all God has done and He will be faithful to His word, yet will we turn back to folly?  God has spoken, speaks and will speak, and let us be those who are of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world.  Though we remain physically in the world for a season, we are in Christ and He is in us forever.  Rejoice in the LORD, believer, for you have been revived to this end.

Holy and Happy Day

When people gathered for the annual feasts in Jerusalem, it was a time of rejoicing and celebration.  In the days of Nehemiah after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, the people gathered together in the street before the Water Gate where Ezra the scribe read the book of the Law.  Everyone who had understanding was attentive to hear the Law and responded with contrition, and they mourned with weeping over their sins.  Ezra exhorted the people to dry their tears for it was a holy day unto the LORD.  Nehemiah 8:10-12 says, "Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them."  A holy day unto the LORD was meant to be observed with enjoying good food, giving to those in need and rejoicing together.  These people rejoiced because they understood God's word that was declared to them.

In response to God's word, shortly thereafter the children of Israel gathered branches of many kinds--including palm branches--to make booths to dwell in to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.  Their gathering of palm branches reminded me of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem before the Feast of Unleavened Bread in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9:  "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."  Even before Jesus made the descent from Mount Olives toward the city, people placed their clothing and palm branches on the ground before Him.  Matthew 21:9 says, "Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!"  Jesus was revealed as King and Messiah, the Son of David in whom is salvation.  When the Pharisees urged Jesus to rebuke His disciples, He said if they were silent even the stones would cry out.  God had ordained that day to be one marked with rejoicing and worship of the holy God.  Ironically, when Jesus drew near to the city He was not gleeful or exuberant by the praise of the people but wept over Jerusalem because they did not realise the day of their visitation and judgment was coming (Luke 19:41-44).

Consider the triumphal entry of Jesus in light of the richness of Psalm 118:19-29 that points to Jesus our Righteousness, Rock and LORD who died, rose from the dead and lives:  "Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD. ²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. ²¹ I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. ²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. ²³ This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. ²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ²⁵ Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. ²⁷ God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. ²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. ²⁹ Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

Isn't God awesome and worthy of all praise?  May His grace, goodness and salvation be marvellous in our eyes, and let us rejoice and be glad in Him.  In light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the joy of the LORD is our strength.  Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!