Blessing of God's Word

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

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

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

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

God Gives Life

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

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

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

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

Changed by God's Presence

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

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

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

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

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

Declare God's Greatness

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

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

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

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

A New Name

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

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

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

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

Do You...Dissemble?

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

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

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

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

Pray in Faith

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

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

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

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

When we are distressed by the fruitlessness of our efforts life can become a massive struggle, and when we want dangers and what puts us in fear taken away from us, we can come to God in prayer.  We can intercede on the behalf of others and bring our requests to the LORD knowing He is inclined to hear us and will answer according to His grace and in His time.  Because the LORD is at hand we are wise to heed Philippians 4:6-7:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Peace is not found by obtaining our desired outcomes but by knowing and trusting Jesus Christ who is our peace and is always faithful to hear and answer prayer.

Stand in Faith

When we go to the shops to buy food, there are often varieties of fruit or vegetables to choose from.  The fruit that is presented in the shop has already been whittled down by the pickers and the shop to present the best quality options.  Sometimes I have observed the fruit to be fresh and abundant, and other times it is hard to find a single apple that does not appeared damaged, soft or mouldy.  I try not to touch any fruit or vegetable I do not plan to buy, so I take a good look before I pick up each piece and place it in the bag.  Buying quality meat also requires discernment, for I take note of the cut of meat, the portion itself and the marbling.

Since my dad was a carpenter, I learned the importance of looking at the grain of wood and sighting it to ensure the timber was not warped by the process of drying or storage.  The lumber that is twisted and is full of knots is set aside, and it may require digging far into the stack of wood before pieces worthy of purchase are found.  Not all apples are good ones, and not every 2 X 4 is remotely straight.  I was reminded of this when I considered the word of God spoken to the prophet in Jeremiah 15:19:  "Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them."  Jeremiah was a man who feared God among many who were unfaithful to Him.  There were many lies spoken as the "word of the LORD" that were imaginations of sinful hearts.  God exhorted Jeremiah to be discerning to take out the precious from the vile--to single out the truth of God's word, to believe and proclaim God's wisdom in a current of falsehood and deceit.

In the passage of Scripture preceding God's command, Jeremiah wondered why his pain was perpetual.  He questioned if God had lied to him and become as a stream that failed.  Giving space to these doubts and accusations against God who is revealed as good and righteous caused Jeremiah to wander from Him.  Thus God urged Jeremiah to return to Him, to repent of entertaining the possibility God deceives people, fails to keep His word or is incapable of helping the wounded soul.  Jeremiah was not to return to those who spouted such lies, and if he took out the precious from the vile would be restored as God's mouth.  In speaking forth divine truth, those who trusted and feared God would be drawn to Jeremiah to heed the word of the LORD.  This is a good reminder for all God's people, for we have unclean lips among a people of unclean lips.  There were many in Jeremiah's day who claimed to speak for God, but their words were vile in God's sight.  Let us be those who look to God and His word in a sea of deceit, gathering His truth, proclaiming and submitting to it day after day.

God promised if Jeremiah returned God would bring Him back and cause him to stand before Him, and we are called to stand--having done all our LORD has commanded.  Having been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, we need God to help us stand when the wind howls and the fiery arrows fall like a wave upon our position.  The shield of faith has no trouble at all to deflect and extinguish every arrow expertly aimed at us by our adversary.  Praise God for His protection and His promises, for He is faithful.

No Bad Days!

Growing up and living in San Diego, there was a graphic I saw occasionally on a t-shirt or stickers on the back of a car or van window.  With palm trees in the background, it said:  "No Bad Days."  The vibe reminds me a little of another bumper sticker that basically said, "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work."  The implication of both these statements is the difference between a good and bad day is  based on geography and activity.  A day at the beach is a good day, while a day in the office is not a good one.  This view on the goodness of days can also be applied to what happens on a given day.  Many times people say they have had a bad day or year because of what transpired during it.

Scripture provides a different lens to view days and years--as gifts from God which in themselves are good because He is.  Psalm 118:24 has been made into a song we used to sing in Sunday School:  "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  A company can have a "bad year" from a financial standpoint and bad things can even happen at the beach, yet the day itself and the time God has given us to see it and survive it are good things.  Even when our lives be required of us on a particular date or time and we breathe our last, the day not need be marred in our memory.  By faith in God who is the giver of all good gifts we can distinguish between the tragedy and the day God has given we ought to rejoice in.

As Christians, we can adhere to the view of "no bad day" when there are no palm trees in the background because the goodness of the day does not depend on what we have planned, where we are going, or what we are doing.  I have gone fishing on days that from a fisherman's standpoint were "bad" days for fishing, when the conditions were extreme and no fish were biting.  I remember once our family made the long drive to Lake Cuyamaca and we froze as the wind whipped and the rain drizzled down.  Though my dad had paid for our permits to fish, after about an hour we packed up and he drove us to town where we had a delicious breakfast in a warm cafe.  How grateful we were for the food and warmth!  We went to the Cuyamaca mountains unprepared for the cold and wet, and this made the unexpected pleasure of warming up and eating pancakes a special treat.

If only our gratitude for God would be stirred up to such a degree for the goodness God shows us every day!  Seeing every day as a gift from God helps us never take a day from granted.  Every day is divinely ordained opportunity to see God's goodness as David sang in Psalm 27:13:  "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."  Master Oogway in Kung Fu Panda had some wacky ideas, but he was right to say:  "Today is a gift--that's why it is called the present."  Gifts are given by someone, and every good gift--today included--is given by God (James 1:17).

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 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, vandalising property or resorting 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 the danger of "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.