Free To Do Good

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Galatians 5:13

As born again children of God by faith in Jesus, we have been called to liberty.  We have been freed from sin, the sinful demands of our flesh, fear of man, worry, death and the condemnation of the Law of Moses.  Paul compared the Law to a tutor that guided the Jews to please God until Jesus Christ came, and then the Law took them by the hand and handed them over to Jesus for Him to lead them individually and corporately who is greater than the Law.  Claiming to have "liberty" in our individualistic society is akin to saying, "I can do whatever I want."  This is not at all the posture Christians should adopt, for it vaunts self instead of submitting to God and one another in love.  Rather than using liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, through love Christians are called to serve one another.

Paul's caution against the misunderstanding and misuse of liberty shows it is possible to use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, to justify doing as we please because we feel entitled to do so.  Being raised in the United States, I cannot tell you how many times I heard people justify themselves by saying, "This is a free country."  My translation of that hackneyed phrase is, "I can say and do as I want because I can--regardless how it affects others."  As long as we live in a body of flesh in this world, we will be incorrigibly drawn to seek opportunity to please self rather than glorify God by serving one another in love.  The liberty Christ provides is not merely a liberty from law but liberty to love, forgive and serve others.  Prisoners released from prison can remain enslaved to sinful ways that landed them in prison in the first place, but our liberty is to be exercised as new creations through whom the life of Jesus is lived out daily.

Paul said in Galatians 5:14-18, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! ¹⁶ I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."  Our natural, fleshly appetite is to bite and devour one another, to lash out with words or actions that work to destroy people, reputations and relationships.  We are called to mortify these deeds of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit, and this is accomplished by following and obeying the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  Those who try to control and force their flesh to submit by power of the flesh will ultimately fail, but all who walk in the Spirit shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The liberty we have been called to is not primarily focused on what we do or avoid doing but all God has called us to be.  By Jesus Christ the world was crucified to Paul and he was crucified unto the world: they were dead to one another by all Jesus mightily accomplished by His death and resurrection, having made Paul a new creation.  Adherence to the Law of Moses regarding whether a male was circumcised or not (which was a huge point of contention in the early church) had no power over people who were in Christ.  Jesus provided an example of serving one another in love when He took the place of a slave and washed the feet of His disciples before dying on the cross for their redemption.  Those who are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit will heed Paul's exhortation in Galatians 6:10:  "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Pray and Don't Lose Heart

Jesus spoke a parable to illustrate how people always ought to pray and not lose heart in Luke 18.  He spoke of a persistent widow who continued to urge a judge who did not fear God or man to avenge her.  Ultimately it was not a desire for justice but on account of personal annoyance he decided to take action on her case.  He was weary and troubled by the widow pestering him, so to get rid of her he avenged her.  Jesus concluded in Luke 18:6-8, "Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  Jesus affirmed God will surely avenge His people!  We are assured God will respond to the prayers of His own people He loves who cry out day and night to Him.

The point Jesus made was it was not really a question if God could or would answer the prayers of His people, but would His people who claim to trust in Him persist in prayer?  Would they lose heart?  Paul urged believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  God's will is for people to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks.  While God is faithful to hear and answer prayer, He looks upon the hearts of people looking to find faith and truth in the inner man.  He is not pleased to heed the prayers of people who pray to idols or those who refuse to hear or obey His words.  Because God loves His people, He will go to great lengths to turn their hearts to Him through judgment rather than coddle them by giving them everything they ask for.

Case in point:  God's people had been guilty of idolatry and refusing to hear the prophets God sent to warn them.  Because they had forsaken God sold themselves to do great evil, consequences for their sin was inevitable; they could not talk themselves out of trouble.  Jeremiah 11:11-14 says, "Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. ¹² Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. ¹³ For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. ¹⁴ "So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble."

When God's idolatrous people cried out to Him--as well as their idols--He chose not to respond to their prayers to show the powerlessness of their false gods.  God told Jeremiah not even to bother praying for them because His judgments against them were set in the stone of the Law of Moses they ignored and He would uphold.  For Christians today, God's will concerning our praying continually without losing heart is abundantly clear.  Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-2:  "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."  It is good for us to be aware of the powerful impact a humble heart, contrition and repentance for sin has on our prayers--even more than the precise words we say or how long we pray.  God looks upon the heart, and those who humble themselves before Him in faith will always have an audience with the almighty God by His grace.

Daily Spiritual Renewal

"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."

2 Corinthians 4:15-16

As I walked early this morning, evidence of spring renewal was everywhere.  Trees were covered in white and pink blossoms, small green leaves have begun to emerge on deciduous trees, magpies foraged for their young, and the winter chill was gone from the air.  In His wisdom, God created the earth with seasons where winter rest precedes a period of renewal, growth and fruitfulness in the spring.  This led me to consider what Paul meant when he said the "inward man" of a believer is being renewed day by day.  Unlike the four seasons we experience in nature that last for months, spiritual renewal of Christians is intended by God to be our daily experience.

People can lose heart due to disappointments, dashed expectations and physical pains.  Many can be frustrated and feel hopeless about our physical bodies which wear out and perish like everything on earth that at one time was new.  Paul did not lose heart in the tribulations he faced for Christ's sake or his aching joints because day by day he was being renewed with spiritual strength and sure expectation of receiving good from God according to the riches of God's grace.  The psalmist spoke of the renewal of animals on the earth by God's power in Psalm 104:29-30:  "You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. ³⁰ You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth."  After Noah, his family and animals were preserved the ark during the great flood, God's renewal of the earth has continued every year and every day without fail.  Observing God's renewal in the natural realm illustrates the spiritual renewal God desires to do in us day by day.

It struck me:  what if Noah, his family and animals decided to remain in the ark due to fear of future rains and flooding?  When the ship rested on Mt. Ararat and the olive leaf had been fetched by a dove from a tree to affirm the waters had dried up on the earth, it was time for a new season to emerge from the ark, explore and inhabit the new world God brought out of the previous global devastation.  All living things saved alive in the ark were to go forth, and God would make them to be fruitful and multiply.  Though exploring and settling in the land would require hard labour, it was good for Noah and his family to depart the cramped quarters of the ark and even use it for scrap in building projects--knowing God would keep His word to never again flood the earth with water to destroy it.  Spry youths grow weary and faint, but those who wait on the LORD will have their strength renewed to miraculously do spiritually what is impossible for our bodies:  to mount up with wings as eagles, to run without weariness and walk with Christ without needing to stop (Isaiah 40:28-31).

The invitation of the beloved to the Shulamite to venture outside to appreciate God's renewal of the land is fitting for Christians to consider spiritually in this new day God has made in Song of Songs 2:10-14:  "My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. ¹¹ For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. ¹² The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. ¹³ The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away! ¹⁴ "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."  The Shulamite needed encouragement to rise and go toward the one who loved her, and Christians need encouragement as well to rise from our winter slumber.  The winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers are blooming, birds are singing and fruit is growing.  This is the spiritual reality when Jesus Christ renews our inward man day by day.  Will we remain bundled up in the dark, afraid of being rained on when the Light of the World shines and calls us by name to rise and seek Him?

A Timely Rebirth

It is normal to read a passage of scripture and have no idea what it means because it is God's word and is foreign to us.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, however, reading the Bible with understanding is far easier than sifting through tax forms, legal documents or medical publications.  The LORD is able to make His word go straight to our hearts and sheds light on life in ways we never previously considered.  I love and appreciate God's word is true, trustworthy and relevant.  Often God's word is a personal call to action, and He supplies instruction and correction that is always wise and practical.

Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 was part of my Bible reading this morning God shed light on for me:  "If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.  ⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness."  The contrast between the man with 100 children who lived a long life and a stillborn child was unexpected and shocking.  It is remarkable a child who never lived a day could be better thought of and remembered than a father of many children, and it is indeed possible.  Man can achieve and acquire many possessions; he can sire children and build an empire.  But if his soul is not filled with good--if he is ungodly and no one cares to remember him--an unborn child has more going for him.  From Solomon's temporal, worldly perspective, what advantage did the man who lived a long life have over the unborn child when they both go to the grave?

This comparison provoked much thought for me.  To live and develop the reputation of being greedy, wicked, surly and selfish, what a waste it would be of the opportunity God gives us to honour Him and reflect well upon the grace and blessings God has provided us.  It is incredible the one who lived long and accomplished much can be less thought of than the stillborn child who never said a word or lived a day.  We do not know how long we will live, but our choices make a difference how we will be remembered by God and other people.  Those who are born again by faith in Christ and live life in light of God's goodness to them will be well-remembered on earth and have an eternal legacy in the presence of God.  Right when we needed God, Jesus came to us in His time and way to be with us forever.

God gives us one lifetime, and the only day we can do anything is today:  we have this one day to be generous, loving and kind.  Today we can be a caring listener, helper and godly leader.  Today is our one chance to love our spouse, children and friends, and in His strength we can make the most of this present moment to serve and do good.  In looking to God we see what is truly good, and He guides us to live in the way that pleases Him.  People do not need children or a long life to be satisfied in the life God graciously gives us, for to be His children forever is our greatest privilege.  Without Christ our lives spiritually resemble a stillborn child, great potential for life ultimately unrealised.  Paul considered himself "born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:7) and when it comes to being born again by faith in Jesus:  "Better late than never!"

Curse Turned to Blessing

In the Judges passage we read today at church, the elders of the tribes of Israel placed a curse upon any of the tribes of Israel who gave their daughters to the remaining men of Benjamin.  Though God put a curse upon those who failed to keep His law, the Israelites made great effort to avoid the curse they had spoken.  This made me consider the impact of curses on Christians today, and I have observed a fair amount of  concern and what seems to be misguided fear on the subject.

It is not uncommon for me to speak with Christians who wonder if they are the unwitting victims of a curse.  A mix of feelings, circumstances and teachings on the subject convince people there is something they must do to rid themselves of a curse to receive blessing from God.  This is not scriptural or possible, for it is Jesus Christ alone who frees us from the curse of sin and death.  God promised to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “...I will bless them that bless you and curse those who curse you.”  When Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam said inspired by the Holy Spirit in Numbers 23:8:  "How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?"  It is wonderful that Nehemiah 13:2 says God turned Balak's curse into a blessing!

Having been made Christians by faith in Christ, we are no longer under the Law of Moses or the curses therein.  We have been set free from the defilement of sin by Jesus Christ, and we are also set free from the curses of the Law as well.  Paul wrote in Galatians 3:13-14, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."  In Christ, believers can be assured of God's blessing and are no longer cursed.  If you believe Jesus has redeemed you by His shed blood and washed you clean of sin, you are also free of the curse of the Law because He became a curse for us.  He died so we could live; He was cursed so we can be forever blessed.

As Christians we ought to consider:  should we justify living in fear of a curse Jesus has changed into blessing?  Should we sin by fearing being cursed when Jesus Christ became a curse for us that we might receive the promise of the Spirit by faith?  Since sin brought a curse, should we willfully continue in sin Jesus died to deliver us from?  It is ironic for a person to be quite concerned about a curse but quite casual concerning their sin and lack of repentance.  Brothers and sisters, let us give Jesus full credit for what He accomplished through His provision of atonement and redemption by His shed blood.  Having become a curse for us Gentiles, we can receive the blessing of Abraham:  God will bless those who bless us, and curse those who curse us.

Our Mighty Redeemer

The last two days I read chapters of Proverbs that mentioned "landmarks" which had been established previously, and how it was wise not to remove them.  Proverbs 22:28 bluntly says, "Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set."  There are people who may be almost offended at this prohibition because they have little respect for their fathers.  There are some who are inclined to question and challenge or dismiss the position of ancient landmarks because they seem outdated and irrelevant to modern life.  Even when we do not understand why a fence or boundary stands where it does, the existence of it ought to convey the simple truth to rational minds there was a reason behind such labour.

To the children of Israel, the ancient landmarks were established by the God of Israel who gave to each tribe and family an inheritance of land by lot.  Thus the primary reason to leave the ancient landmark in the original location was to honour God by submitting to His rule.  God gave the Hebrews land with clear boundaries they were to be content to dwell in and be good stewards of it all their days, and the land was to pass to the next generation.  We are given insight into why people would move a landmark in Proverbs 23:10-11:  "Do not remove the ancient landmark, nor enter the fields of the fatherless; ¹¹ for their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you."  People would remove landmarks due to envy and covetousness, in a desire to enlarge their borders by encroaching into the inheritance of others.

It demonstrated integrity to leave the ancient landmark established by your fathers, for the opportunity and temptation to move the landmark would surely arise.  It seems people were emboldened to do this when adjacent land was vacant or was owned by those who did not have an esteemed father who could sit in the gate and legally defend their interests.  Solomon warned those tempted to steal the inheritance of their brethren that the fatherless had God as their mighty Redeemer who would plead their cause.  God would personally take on the case of the widow, fatherless and stranger--groups of people who were often alone and easily oppressed in society.  Ultimately the consequences of encroaching upon the inheritance of others would be set right by God, and all who fear Him will take note.

The principle of not removing ancient landmarks is applicable for Christians today beyond the physical boundaries of land, and it ought to be a great encouragement that God is our mighty Redeemer who will plead our cause when we walk in righteousness.  When we are the ones who are oppressed, whose rights are trampled on or treated with disdain, we can rest in the comfort of God's love, grace and mercy towards us continually.  God forbid we would lack contentment when God has given us everything richly to enjoy.  Rather than viewing gain as godliness, we do well to remember 1 Timothy 6:6-7:  "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  May our lives bring great glory to our Saviour through godliness and contentment (not of this world!) because we are in Christ our mighty Redeemer.

Fervent Love For One Another

It is possible to know scripture by heart that has yet to impact our hearts.  While people are always on the lookout for something new, it is the same old passages of Scripture that provide fresh, relevant guidance to walk in newness of life made possible by the Gospel.  For the spiritually hungry child of God, this never grows old.

Today I considered the passage when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.  Though Jesus was LORD of all, He voluntarily assumed a position typically filled by a slave and washed feet.  John 13:12-15 says, "So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."  Jesus provided an object lesson of conduct that was to mark all His disciples by how they served one another, laying aside any status without thought of themselves.

Before Jesus washed feet, He stripped Himself of His regular clothing and girded himself with a towel that was used to wipe the grime from sandal-clad feet.  When Jesus had washed all the disciples' feet, the towel around His waist would been been noticeably dirty.  This humble gesture was consistent with the considerate character of Jesus showed by laying aside His divine status in a sense to gird Himself with human flesh.  Then He drew near to people who were proud and defiled by sin so He might wash and cleanse them.  Only those willing to be cleansed had their feet washed, and only those who humble themselves to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ are born again.  After our conversion, being washed with the water of the word and the living water of the indwelling Holy Spirit continues to cleanse us of sinful habits, selfishness and pride.

Foot washing is most uncommon in western hospitality, so how can we do for one another as Jesus has said?  Peter, an apostle who allowed Jesus to wash his feet (albeit reluctantly!), quote Proverbs 10:12 in 1 Peter 4:7-8:  "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."  When we believers see another Christian overtaken with sin, expressing themselves with pride or refusing to forgive, we are to draw near to them rather than avoiding them.  Love doesn't cover sins by denying their existence or turning a blind eye to them, but looks to see that person restored to fellowship with God and others in the church.  Jesus did not allow dirty, smelly feet to deter Him from drawing near to wash feet, and He also was willing for the sins of the world to defile Him so sinners could be cleansed and given eternal life.  It requires humility and loyal love to minister grace to Christians so they might be washed clean of offenses.  We cannot wash people of sins or convince them to change course, but Jesus can.

Departing From Evil

King Solomon asked in Proverbs 20:9, "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?"  The answer is no one!  We are all unclean due to sin, and we cannot address our spiritual malady.  A person tasked to wash windows with oil-soaked rags could not eliminate streaks or smears, and no amount of elbow grease could remove the greasy film.  When the light shines through, the filth is clearly seen!  One would have a better chance of cleaning a oily window that purifying our hearts from sin, for we are spiritually dead and powerless to revive or redeem ourselves.  In our natural condition, we are not inclined to humble ourselves before God or man at all.

The Bible teaches us there is one who can forgive sins, and that is the righteous God revealed in Jesus Christ who remained without sin.  Jesus demonstrated His power to forgive sins and that He was God made flesh when He healed a paralytic who suddenly, at Christ's command before many witnesses, stood and walked.  Jesus Christ is good and God; He is righteous, holy and pure.  By His shed blood He provided the means of atonement for sin, satisfying the justice of God by His death so all who trust in Him can be spiritually raised to life forever by faith in Him.  The rising of Jesus from the dead showed His authority and power over sin that brings death.  Having been justified by faith in Christ and set apart as God's own children and inheritance, we are called to live lives free of sin.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:6 long before the Gospel was revealed by Jesus:  "In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil."  Jesus has provided atonement for our sins, and our lives ought to follow His pattern of mercy and truth which guides us to walk uprightly.  For a long time we lived to please and satisfy ourselves, and as born again children of God living in the fear of God prompts us to depart from evil.  Before coming to Christ we were like orphaned children who lied, shoplifted, scammed and picked pockets to survive.  With winter well on the way and death inevitable due to the harsh elements, God was like a kind-hearted man who saw us starving and freezing in rags and offered to adopt us as children so we could be provided for, loved and comforted.  We liked the idea of having new clothes, a roof over our heads in winter and a place at a table for three meals a day, and we agreed to the arrangement.

Imagine the father going to tuck his adopted child into bed, and to his surprise found the bed empty and the window wide open.  It seems bringing a child in off the streets didn't purge his new son or daughter of their old habits!  After scouring the streets the father found his child in an alley behind a bakery, digging through rubbish and eating out-of-date baked goods rats had already spoiled.  Being a son or daughter at the table meant eating unfamiliar vegetables and needing to wait until after dinner for dessert, and as children of God we have many lessons to learn as we willingly submit to His pattern of life.  By the fear of the LORD one departs from evil, and recognising God as our Father and loving to please Him leads us to abandon our old ways and choose Him instead.  We cannot cleanse our hearts from sin, but we can wash our hands with soap and water.  God has provided atonement with His shed blood, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can depart from evil.  We need God's help to have righteous standing before Him and to embrace our sanctification in submitting to Him.

Troubles Lead to Jesus

In Judges 20, all the other tribes of Israel gathered to go to war against the tribe of Benjamin because of the murder of a Levite's concubine--and they refused to surrender the men responsible for capital punishment.  Though Israel sought the LORD before going up to Gibeah to attack the Benjamites, day after day they suffered huge losses.  The fighters of Israel outnumbered the Benjamites 15 to 1, and they still lost 40,000 men over two days.  Copping huge defeats in battle prompted the Israelites to desperately seek God for help and victory.

One might have assumed because Israel sought the LORD and obeyed Him they would have been assured of success, but victory did not immediately come.  They came to realise despite their manpower and righteous cause they had no chance of success without God's guidance and strength.  They would have been content to be only told what to do, yet God was working toward another aim entirely:  to draw all the children of Israel to Himself and increase their faith in Him.  Sometimes we can have the same approach when we see people who are deceived or without understanding concerning the Christian faith.  We imagine if we only responded to their skepticism or unbelief with the perfect verse (when all God's word is true) a hard heart would soften, a mind would change, and a life would be transformed.  If the outcome of our best efforts falls short of our expectations, we put the onus back on ourselves to know more and do better--when the LORD would have us seek and trust Him to do all the work we cannot.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  We have a responsibility and privilege as God's children to read the Bible (God's word) and to walk in light of it.  We ought to labour to dig into the word to gain knowledge and learn how to rightly divide and interpret it as led by the Holy Spirit.  At the same time we should realise much more than knowledge is needed to change people's minds and hearts.  The strongest arguments and evidence will fall on deaf ears unless the LORD does a miraculous work in others and they willingly yield to Him.  I love how God is able to reveal Himself to people through ways we never imagined possible, to communicate truth that deeply affects people for life.  One sentence, phrase or word spoken by God, a feeling people cannot shake, even a sleepless night can be used by God to orchestrate eternal transformation by His grace.

God is able to use anything and anyone--including us imperfect Christians who make mistakes, flub our words, forget scripture references and can be easily mixed up.  We are incapable of doing good ourselves and are deeply flawed, yet our God is more than sufficient and perfect in every way.  That is a reason why we came to Jesus Christ at the beginning, because we were hopeless and unable to save ourselves!  As much as we desire to see more sinners saved by the Gospel, God has already shown a full commitment to this by sending Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost.  When we face conflict we cannot overcome ourselves, should we feel disillusioned, discouraged and feel like failures, allow the full force of our failure and negative feelings lead us by the hand to Jesus who encourages, strengthens us and increases our faith.  It is not by our might, nor our power but by the Holy Spirit obstacles are overcome--even when it is our own unbelief.

Validation or Transformation?

Today I watched part of a video which discussed a new trend of people using A.I. chatbots like a personal therapist.  Some had positive feedback that the bot "gets" or understands them and served to validate their thoughts and feelings.  This reminded me of some "Jesus" ads I have seen that simply say, "He gets us."  This is an attractive message to a world of people who are seeking validation and people to agree with their opinions and outlook--a far cry from the way Jesus taught Jewish people under the law:  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Much more than validation, we sinners need forgiveness, salvation and transformation!

While Jesus invites everyone to come to Him in faith as they are, He does not keep Christians in our natural fleshly, sinful state.  When we are born again by faith in Jesus, we are adopted into the family of God and filled with the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment.  God does far more than "keep us accountable" because He instructs, chastens, corrects, rebukes and tests us due to His love for us.  Unless we humble ourselves before the LORD and admit we want and need to change, accountability to fellow believers will not profit us at all.  Because God has given us new hearts and renewed minds, we are called to learn to live in the way that pleases God, doing what is right in His sight.

Matthew 21:42-44 speaks of an interaction of Jesus with the chief priests and elders of Israel who believed they were the teachers in Israel yet refused to submit to being taught or change their ways:  "Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? ⁴³ "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. ⁴⁴ And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Jesus identified Himself as the chief cornerstone referred to in Psalm 118:22-24 and also the rock (who is the LORD) God's people would stumble over in Isaiah 8:13-15.  The God of Israel is a sanctuary while also being a stone of stumbling and rock of offence.  Some would fall on Him and be broken, while others would be ground to powder and destroyed by His mighty vengeance.

David Guzik wrote in the Enduring Word Commentary:  "The choice before the religious leaders is the choice before every person. We can be broken in humble surrender before God or be completely broken in judgment."  God knows our every need, and our need for salvation is met when we humble ourselves and are broken for our sin as we look to the Saviour Jesus Christ for pardon and redemption.  It is true Jesus understands us, yet His intimate knowledge of us reveals our fundamental need to be transformed:  to pass from spiritual death to eternal life, to repent of sin and do what God says is good.  He does more than sympathise with us but chastens us to further break us so greater healing, godliness and spiritual fruitfulness will be produced by our lives according to His grace.

When I look for a kiosk to validate my parking ticket, I simply want the stamp that will cause the automatic gate to open, allow me to exit, and go where I want.  Some who like the idea of heaven and fear hell come to Jesus for validation rather than personal transformation.  Jesus loves us too much to put His stamp of approval on our sinful thoughts, motives and ways that work to destroy us.   We come to Jesus knowing we are sinners and only He is able to forgive us, spiritually regenerate us and provide eternal life.  Those coming to Christ for validation will be disappointed, but those who are broken for their sin and look to Jesus for pardon will be blessed beyond measure.

Complacency Kills

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon personifies Wisdom as a woman calling aloud to all who will listen.  In the opening chapter of the book, Wisdom rebukes and warns the simple and foolish people who ignore her words.  God calls out to people who are heading to destruction and stretches out His hand to draw people to safety and the path of life, but many are intent in going their own way which leads to ruin.  Those who despise knowledge and the fear of God, those who refuse the counsel of God and His rebuke, will find themselves needing help and never finding it.  In our natural, sinful state, this is an apt description of all people.

Wisdom speaks of the consequences of ignoring her in Proverbs 1:30-33:  "They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. ³¹ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. ³² For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; ³³ but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."  Eating the fruit of our own way reminds me of Adam and Eve eating fruit from the one tree God forbade them to eat, and they ultimately died as a consequence for their disobedience.  There are things which seem appetising and alluring to our flesh but work to poison our minds and corrupt our souls.  Those who listen to God and heed His word--Jesus who is Wisdom for us (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)--we will live and dwell in safety and security forever.  Jesus likened those who heard His words and obeyed them to a wise man who built his house on a rock that withstood all forces of nature.

The problem is not primarily the food they eat or even the appetites of the foolish:  it is in turning away from God and their proud complacency where the issue primarily lies.  There is naturally in the proud a fierce and stubborn resistance to yield our will to God's will.  Becoming complacent is a concern for the wise as well as the foolish, for it is a satisfaction in ourselves as we are and will not admit our need to humble ourselves and be changed.  One who is complacent is gratified by themselves and is uncritically satisfied with oneself, pleased with all one has achieved.  It is one who in a sense feels they have arrived at their destination and have no desire or reason to go further.  The complacent are those who are in awe of themselves.  When Wisdom speaks, the wise are willing to examine themselves and acknowledge their folly.  Proverbs 9:8 says, "Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."  Even as the wise can make foolish choices, the wisest among us can become complacent.

People follow programs developed by personal trainers who are fitter than them; those seeking financial advice trust those who have already made their millions by successful investing.  In the world there are people who are commonly viewed as "set for life" because of their notable success in business, sport or politics.  Fame, money and possessions do nothing to refine a person's character, moral compass or faith in God.  If anyone may have been seen as having "arrived" or reached the pinnacle of spiritual success, it was the apostle Paul.  Yet he dismissed this notion in Philippians 3:12:  "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  Paul was not complacent when other Christians may have been.  He freely confessed he had much to learn from the LORD and others, much ground to gain for Christ's sake, and further to go in his spiritual disciplines, practical wisdom and godliness.  The complacent are content where they are and with what they have already done, but the wise will respond positively to rebuke, increasingly walk in obedience to God, and admit they have far to go--coupled with intentional labour and personal sacrifice to head in that direction.

Wisdom said turning from God is deadly, and complacency kills.  Let us be those who receive all of God's counsel and heed His rebukes lest we eat the bitter fruit of our way.  May we believers press on in sanctification increasingly yielded to Christ, for if Paul had not already attained or been perfected neither have we.

Pleasures Forevermore

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm 16:11

Jesus Christ revealed Himself to be the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Before His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples they knew where He was going, and they also knew the way because He is the Way.  Though under the Mosaic covenant, the psalmist David had a sure expectation of eternal life in the presence of God where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever.

John 15:9-11 taught His disciples fullness of joy was not only enjoyed in the eternal state but presently in light of His love:  "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."  Having fullness of joy granted us by God's grace is a wondrous thing, and the pleasures provided by God transcend our physical senses.  The word "pleasure" these days has been reduced to primarily refer to sexual enjoyment, but that is a dumbed-down view of the present and ultimate reality.  The Bible teaches there will be no marriage or giving in marriage in heaven, and thus there will be no sexual activity or procreation.  Our pleasure will not be enjoyed by indulging fleshly appetites but in spiritual union with God who is pleased in us.

Webster defined "pleasure" this way:  "The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish or happiness produced by enjoyment or the expectation of good; opposed to pain."  Notice at God's right hand there are pleasures (plural) forevermore, wholesome delights enjoyed by God's grace.  It is important to point out what gives God pleasure is often different that what pleases mankind.  Psalm 147:10-11 says of God, "He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. ¹¹ The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."  We are pleased and impressed by the speed of horses or the large muscles of athletes who perform amazing feats of strength, yet God takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.  God takes pleasure in the weak, slow and uncoordinated people who trust in Him and rest in His loyal love in the midst of a fiery trial.

God spoke from the heavens to identify Jesus as His only begotten Son in whom He was well pleased.  In Christ we are enabled to do what pleases God as it is written in Hebrews 13:15-16:  "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."  Colossians 3:20 also says, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."  There is nothing more pleasurable to the child of God than to be pleasing in His sight, and it is good for us to maintain this perspective--especially when the passing pleasures of sin seductively beckon us during this earthly pilgrimage.  The fleeting pleasures of this life quickly fade in light of the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore in God's presence.

Reasonable Faith

After governor Festus was swept up in the squabble left unsettled by Felix between the Jewish religious rulers and the apostle Paul, he decided it would be beneficial to interview Paul before King Agrippa and Bernice in Caesarea.  The scribes and Pharisees called for Paul to be executed and he appealed to Caesar, yet Festus could find no evidence of guilt--certainly nothing that even hinted a sentence of death was appropriate.  Festus confided in Agrippa of his predicament in sending Paul to Rome without a charge in Acts 25:27:  "For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him."

It seems more than unreasonable, even unjust to imprison someone without specifying charges against them.  In many countries today those legally empowered to arrest people must notify the suspect they are under arrest and why they are being arrested.  In Jerusalem Paul had not been arrested for a crime but was taken into custody for his own protection because an angry mob attacked him.  He was then transferred to Caesarea because enemies plotted to kill him, and so as a Roman citizen he would receive a fair trial.  Festus was correct anyone accused of a crime and arrested ought to have charges formally laid against them. It was his role as governor to decide if the accusations leveled had any merit.

When it comes to the justice of God, I have observed people who assume the position of Festus and make censorious judgments Him.  They feel it is unreasonable anyone should be beholden to God or His righteous judgment.  Unlike Felix who kept Paul bound as a political favour, God has revealed in His word we are all bound by our own sin, and He specified them one after another.  The 10 Commandments is a good starting point that clearly shows we are bound by sin and under the sentence of death in hell forever due to our guilt, having broken God's law.  Paul wrote in Romans 3:19-20, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  One purpose of the Law of Moses is to silence all sinners from attempts to justify ourselves, for our conscience agrees we are guilty of breaking it.

It is reasonable for God to condemn those who are guilty of sinning even as a judge gives sentence of a man declared guilty of murder by a jury.  It is entirely reasonable for the Judge of all the earth to do right and uphold what is right.  What is more unreasonable is when men choose to reject God's offer of eternal life purchased at the price of His beloved Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world.  God said to sinners in Isaiah 1:18:  "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  We have all sinned and the soul that sins will surely die.  Praise the LORD for the truth of  Romans 6:23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  By faith in Jesus we who were guilty as sin and worthy of death can be forgiven and receive eternal life!  God's love and grace towards sinful humanity is beyond reason, yet it is reasonable considering how good God is.

Discerning Good and Evil

People can be funny when it comes to food.  Everyone develops their own preferences about the kinds of food they like best, their favourite flavours, texture, spices, ingredients used or avoided.  Sometimes we eat out of necessity because we are hungry, and other times we can be more picky.  As people grow older they can also develop an ideology around the best kind of ingredients to use and urge others to avoid foods that are believed to be harmful.  How we prepare and eat food is very personal, yet the common ground all people share is our God-given need of adequate nutrition for our bodies.

Observing children learning to eat is quite an experience.  Babies are born with bodies sustained by milk from mum, and over time they are weaned from milk to eat solid foods.  At first, "baby" food is not very solid or flavourful at all!  When our boys were babies I remember feeding them Gerber mashed peas or carrots--and I recall some pureed meat that I never worked up the courage to taste based on the foul smell.  Finally the day came when the boys happily fed themselves and managed to work some of the food into their mouths after smearing it all over their faces, clothes and high chair.  The next task was to teach them polite manners and proper etiquette when they joined us at the family table.

The writer of Hebrews made an important point concerning the spiritual development of his believing readers who had become dull in Hebrews 5:12-14:  "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."  The author of Hebrews addressed readers who were "unskilled in the word of righteousness."  They were like a child with a full set of teeth and the manual dexterity to use a knife, fork or chopsticks, but were still dependent on milk from their mother's breast.  They were content to rely on their very basic and general knowledge of God and His word (and needed a refresher course!) because they were poorly versed in Scripture.

I heard someone say recently they have observed Christians who "decide what Jesus is like" rather than learning of God from His word.  Full of their own ideas and preferences, they run the risk of creating a fictitious god after their own image because they have not "by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" by the study of God's word.  Think of the many faces and reactions babies have to new flavours--and they aren't always good!  In time children learn to enjoy foods they refused as babies, and their tastes continue to develop even in adulthood.  I have observed people who have been exposed to the expositional preaching of God's word learn to enjoy the flavour of sharp rebuke as well as the sweet promises of peace and rest in Christ.  God designed milk from mum to support the growth and development of their little infants, and God's word is milk to sustain a new believer.  At the same time God's word is meat for those of "full age," for those who, by exposure and practice of God's word, are able to discern good and evil.

The prophet compared God's word to delectable food in Jeremiah 15:16:  "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."  Even as food is chewed, swallowed and absorbed into our bodies, God's word supplies the spiritual nutrition we need to grow and mature as Christians.  It is telling Jesus commanded His disciples to remember Him and proclaim His death until He returned by eating broken bread and drinking of the cup.  God had done a spiritual work within them by Christ whose body would be broken and His blood shed, and Jesus Himself would spiritually fortify and strengthen them because they received Him by faith.  God has provided His word so we would feed upon it--to read, heed it and be edified and changed by submission to it.  Let us not be as the Hebrews who were unskilled in the word of righteousness, but by reason of use may we have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Unity in Christ

God gives wonderful gifts to mankind, and we tend to take them all for granted.  Ageing can be difficult when we feel entitled to the fit body of a young person that heals quickly, is more coordinated, can recall information without a struggle, can see more clearly and hear easily.  When I was a kid I had a wrist contusion that required me to wear a splint for a few weeks.  There were many things that were instantly difficult and showed me how much I took for granted--like the ability to hold a fork, wash myself and tie shoes.  It is easy to take a healthy body for granted because God designed our bodies wonderfully, and we can also take the Body of Christ (the church) for granted too.

By faith in Jesus Christ, we have a connection with God and one another in the church which is miraculous, supernatural and wonderful.  We who were once foreigners and enemies of God have been accepted into the beloved, chosen and blessed by the LORD who we now know as our heavenly Father.  Through the Gospel, Jew and Gentile have been united as one with Christ and we are privileged to have fellowship with God and one another.  There are many professing Christians in the world and in many places many Christian denominations to choose from, yet the fellowship of believers is totally unique in this world.  From a group of sinning strangers God has created brothers and sisters in Christ.  Groups of friends, hobbyists, sports enthusiasts, or work mates apart from Christ cannot experience the oneness we share with Christ and one another.

Psalm 133:1-2 illustrates this unity well:  "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ² It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments."  The psalmist extolled how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.  The anointed of Aaron as high priest is a compelling example of how pleasing and unique our calling as God's people truly is.  The holy anointing oil was something most Jews could only smell and would never touch their skin, for it was reserved for the service of the tabernacle and temple before the LORD.  But the unity God's people can enjoy is precious and at the same time abundant, even as the poured oil ran down Aaron's head, through his beard, and soaked to the edge of his priestly garments.  Aaron was privileged and at the same time humbled to be chosen as high priest, in himself unworthy to  be accepted or to serve the holy LORD.  That is why he needed to be anointed to fulfill his God-given role.

Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One, our great High Priest.  He prayed before His crucifixion concerning His disciples He sent into the world in John 17:20-23:  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."  As Aaron was physically anointed with oil, so all Christians have been anointed by the Holy Spirit and perfectly united with Christ and one another as one the world may know the Father sent the Son Jesus Christ and loved us as He loved His only begotten Son.  How wonderful it is to be chosen, accepted and anointed as members of God's body, the church!

Even as our physical bodies are not always functioning properly, so the church at times can have the spiritual equivalent of aches, pains and illness.  As the Corinthian church illustrates, divisions and conflicts can arise within the church and lead to serious problems.  Despite our falling short of God's perfection, the blessing of the fellowship and unity we have with God and one another outshines all other connections and relationships because unity in Christ profoundly deep and eternal, transcending our earthly existence and all our differences.  How good and pleasant it is to have brethren everywhere and to be united together in the rest, peace and joy of our glorious Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Rather than taking God or the church for granted, let's thank Him for the opportunities He grants to enjoy fellowship with God and one another continually.

Christ's Call to All

I have observed people refer to the role of pastor as a "calling" rather than a career, and this is true.  However, I suspect this reference may hinder people from understanding every Christian has been called by God regardless of their role in church ministry.  It may give the impression that if one is not a pastor, they have not been called by God to anything important--which is untrue.  All God's people are called to serve and glorify Him.  In Os Guinness' book The Call, he makes a distinction between the general call of all Christians and then specific, personal calls to each individual.  The second call can only be answered well when the first call is responded to with faith in Christ, humility and obedience.

The call of God upon the lives of each Christian is not an enigma only deciphered by dreams, visions or dramatic divine revelation, for it comes into view as clearly as our initial call to receive the Gospel.  Whether we are willing to answer God's call by yielding ourselves to Him is another matter.  God's call comes to us; we do not need to go seeking it.  As we seek the LORD, what He calls us to do becomes increasingly clear by God's word, His grace and the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  Samson was called by God as a Nazarite from the womb, one who would begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.  He did not aspire to this role, but it was God's call upon His life.

We may all wish we were as Samson, called to be the battle axe of the sovereign God swung against the Philistines.  Our call may not be as dynamic because we are not endowed with supernatural physical strength or established as a ruler over a nation.  Jesus called for all to come to Him in John 7:37-39, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."  Answering this call of Christ in obedience by faith expresses our need only Jesus can supply.  The fact we have answered God's call is not a sign of strength but weakness, an admission of folly only God's wisdom can refine.

Our security and strength is not in our calling but in Him who has called us:  Jesus Christ, the Son of God!  Do you know what your calling is?  God's calling is true of every Christian:  to be conformed into the image of Christ, to bring glory to Jesus as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31:  "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."  Peter said when we do well and suffer for it, this is acceptable to God.  To this we are called, for in so doing we walk in the steps of our LORD Jesus who lived free of sin, did not speak deceitful words or threaten, and He committed Himself to God who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:21-24).  Our calling is in our weakness to rely on God for strength to fulfil Ephesians 6:10 in our lives:  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."

The Bible is littered with such passages that flesh out God's call upon all Christians.  How wonderful that being called, chosen and empowered by God is not only for Nazarites, judges or pastors but for all God’s people.  We could not be born again or saved without being called by God, and Jesus calls us to believe on Him, to look to Him and come to Him.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Answering God's call never gets old because we always need Him, and He is always worthy to be praised and obeyed.

Love Without Discrimination

Jesus taught we are not to discriminate concerning loving others, for we are to follow the example of Jesus who loved His enemies.  He commanded His disciples do the same in Matthew 5:45, "...that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."  Jesus used rain as an illustration of God's gracious provision for all, for God does not reserve the rain only for people who please Him.  God demonstrates His love for all by showering rain on the just and the unjust.  Job observed God also causes the rain to fall in the wilderness where no man is, satisfying the desolate places so herbs can spring forth (Job 38:5-7).

I was reminded of God's love and provision for all people by a Bible passage in Judges.  After God empowered Samson to kill 1,000 Philistines with the fresh jawbone of a donkey, he suddenly felt incredibly thirsty to the point he wondered if he would die!  He cried out to God who caused water to spring from a hollow place in Lehi, and Samson drank and revived.  Judges 15:19 goes on to say, "...Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day."  Samson named it "the spring of him who called" and it remained flowing in Lehi to the time the book of Judges was penned.  We read of many times in the Bible God miraculously answered prayers, and we might assume such wonders were only for those specially used by God.  This passage reveals the spring of water which flowed "to this day" was not just for Samson's sake, but for all who were thirsty who passed that way--Hebrews, Philistines, for anyone who was thirsty as a testimony of God's faithfulness and goodness to all.

Wasn't God gracious to hear the prayers of His people and also provide water for His enemies too?  The water that revived Samson could also have refreshed Philistines after a raid upon the land of Judah as they reveled in plundering God's people.  The Philistines had not cried out to God for water as Samson did and perhaps attributed their refreshment to the provision of Dagon, their god.  Yet the fact they drank fresh water in a desolate place from the rock was a testimony of the God of Israel who loves all people, who gives good gifts out of His grace, who makes the sun to rise on the evil and good, who sends precious rain on the just and the unjust.  God knows every soul who is His redeemed possession, yet He does not withhold love from anyone.  Jesus did not die only for the Jews but for the sins of the world so all could come to repentance through Him and have eternal life.  Not all are willing to come to Jesus in faith, but God extends the Gospel to them just the same.

How good it is for us to be like Jesus who loved His enemies like the spring of living water continued to flow and refreshed the parched and weary!  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, God intends the Living Water of he Holy Spirit to flow from us to others so they too can receive the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus through our witness.  We are not to hinder the flow of God's love and goodness from our lives depending on whether we feel people are deserving of it or are pleasing or acceptable to us.  Before Christ came into our lives we were never acceptable to God because of our sin, pride and stubbornness:  should we arrogantly return to these sins in refusing to love others as Jesus does, having received so great a Saviour and salvation by God's mercy?  May Christ in us be the answer to prayers of others not yet prayed to meet a need presently unknown by others, that they too may be born again and find rest for their souls in Jesus Christ our LORD.

Avoiding Offence

When people are convinced they are right about something and others are mistaken, they can be brash, aloof or dismissive of others and their opinions.  For a great deal of my life I wrongfully valued being right over being meek and gentle like Jesus is.  I was more satisfied in having my facts straight than helping others who could be spiritually likened to lost people in the dark.  By God's grace, He made me aware of my sinful tendency and has worked in my life to transform my perspective, to care more about others and to direct them to Jesus Christ the Saviour than trying to prove my point.

In our Bible study last night, we discussed Matthew 17 and I was intrigued by an interaction Jesus had with Peter in Capernaum.  After they arrived in the city where Peter dwelt on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Peter was approached by Jews who collected tribute money for the temple tax from those 20 years old and above who were numbered according to the Law of Moses.  Nehemiah 10:32 also speaks of an ordinance made by the people to give 1/3rd of a shekel yearly to support the service of the temple.  They asked Peter, "Doesn't your master pay tribute?"  Peter affirmed He did.  When Peter entered the house, Jesus asked him preemptively:  "What do you think, Simon?  Who do kings of the earth charge tribute?  From their own children or strangers?"  Peter correctly answered that kings tax strangers, for their own house is exempt from paying tribute.

Jesus affirmed, "Then the children are free."  He continued speaking in Matthew 17:27:  "Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."  From a spiritual perspective, Jesus and Peter were justified not to pay the tribute demanded of them.  Yet Jesus did not make this a point of contention, lest they offend those who came to collect the tax.  It was not a point Jesus belaboured with the men, going into an involved discourse to demonstrate He was exempt from paying the tax.  Instead, Jesus directed Peter to go the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that came up first.  The fish would have a piece of money that would cover the expense of the tax for them both.

I am impressed at the effort Jesus went through, not only to avoid unnecessary offence, but to instruct Peter of spiritual matters and increase his faith by obedience.  As a fisherman, Peter had caught countless fish--and likely not one of them had a coin in its mouth!  Thus faith in Christ was required to do as Jesus said, believing it would be as Jesus said.  This is the only passage in the Gospels and New Testament which speaks of fishing with a line and a hook because fisherman primarily used nets.  Speaking as someone who has never fished with a net and only used a line and hook, it is interesting Jesus made no mention of what bait to use.  By Peter's faith in Jesus and obedience to His command, it is implied all happened as Jesus said and the tax was paid.  When we are compelled to pay an unexpected tax we can complain, let our annoyance and inconvenience be known, or scold others for just doing their jobs.  Jesus meekly avoided offending the tax collectors and used it as a teachable moment for Peter that resulted in great gain of understanding and faith for him and also for us today.  Jesus showed being correct is no excuse for causing unnecessary offence.

The Glorious Gate

In my daily readings I observed various psalms that spoke of gates, and this reminded me of the 80's Terry Clark praise song, "These are the Gates."  The first verse goes, "These are the gates to the Kingdom.  These are the courts of the everlasting King and we enter in with praise and thanksgiving.  We enter in with praise and thanksgiving with praises on our lips, thanksgiving in our hearts, in loving worship of our Lord."  The song captures well the attitude of God's people who enter His kingdom, thanking God with gratitude for the grace He has extended to all people through the Gospel.

In the Old City of Jerusalem today there are many gates with different names with long, storied histories.  The Gate through whom people enter the kingdom of God is distinct and unique because it is a Person sinners enter by faith.  Jesus said concerning the sheep of His pasture as the Good Shepherd in John 10:9:  "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."  Since Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He is the exclusive path to God the Father and eternal life (John 14:6).  This righteous Way of salvation was spoken of in Psalm 118, a song filled with Messianic allusions.  Psalm 118:19-21 reads, "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."  We could never find or open a gate of righteousness, but God has graciously opened it for us by the Gospel.

When I read this, my mind goes to Psalm 22 that begins with the words Jesus famously uttered from the cross in Psalm 22:1:  "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?"  David prophetically sang of what would take place when Jesus was crucified.  His song contains lyrics the Jewish religious rulers hurled verbatim at Christ with scorn (Matthew 27:43; Luke 23:35).  Psalm 22:16-18 continued from David's perspective:  "For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; ¹⁷ I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. ¹⁸ They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."  David may have been singing figuratively concerning himself, but by the power of the Holy Spirit he sang literally of what Jesus endured on Calvary.  Psalm 22:21 marks a major shift in the psalm from supplication to praise when God answers:  "Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me."

For all those who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ, our prayers for forgiveness and salvation have been answered with a resounding yes according to the Gospel.  By faith in Jesus we have spiritually entered the Kingdom of God, the narrow way that leads to eternal life.  Our hearts have received Jesus gladly even as subjects rejoiced to open the gates of the city for their returning king to enter.  As many as have received Him, to them Jesus gives the power to become children of God, born again by faith in Him.  Psalm 24:7-10 sings from the page with joy for all God's people:  "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. ⁸ Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. ⁹ Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. ¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah."  Let us give God praise and thanksgiving, for the victorious King of glory has come in.

A Glorious Fragrance

"Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."

John 12:3

The worthiness of Jesus Christ to be praised and worshipped is awe inspiring.  Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed the feet of Jesus with costly perfume as He and His disciples visited them for dinner.  As I considered the passage in light of what happened in the previous chapter, it marked an incredible change in Mary.

After Lazarus died of an illness and had been buried four days, Jesus and His disciples came to Bethany and found a town in mourning.  Martha initially came to meet Jesus, and later (seemingly with reluctance!) Mary did as well.  Both sisters expressed regret Jesus had not been there before Lazarus died, for they were confident Jesus could have healed him.  What they did not comprehend was Jesus intentionally did not return until Lazarus was dead and buried so people would come to know and believe Jesus had been sent by God as Messiah by miraculously raising Lazarus to life.

They drew near to the tomb where the body of Lazarus lay, and Jesus commanded the stone to be moved away.  Martha was opposed to unsealing the tomb because it was filled with the stench of death and decay.  John 11:40 reads, "Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"  By faith and obedience to Christ, the stone was rolled away and the pungent smell of death wafted out.  It was shortly thereafter, Jesus having prayed a simple prayer to the Father and called Lazarus by name, the man who was dead four days walked out of the tomb, alive and well.

It struck me that Mary did not use her precious perfume to mask the smell of her brother Lazarus in the tomb.  Perhaps she wrestled with the decision, to anoint the body of Lazarus or to save it for herself.  Was it wasteful to anoint a dead man who could not appreciate it?  After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, however, she realised Jesus was the one worthy of so precious a gift--much to the dismay of Judas who viewed the perfume poured out as a gross waste--costing a worker's annual wage.  The fact Mary did not use this perfume on her brother or save it for herself shows how highly she valued Jesus Christ, and He commended her for choosing to freely pour it on upon Him.  The fragrance filled the whole house.

Judas suggested a better use of the perfume would have been to sell it and give the proceeds to the poor, not because he cared for the poor but would have used it to enrich himself.  John 12:7-8 says, "But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. ⁸ For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."  Mary did not use the perfume for her brother's burial after he died, but she poured out the perfume on Jesus before He died.  She seized the opportunity to bless and worship Jesus through her costly gift, and she is an inspiration for all Christians who say we believe Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, the Messiah sent by God to seek and save the lost.  As we have opportunity, we can give to those in need as unto the LORD Jesus.

The problems of poverty are a permanent blight upon the earth, and no amount of giving will "solve" the problem.  But this means we always will have the opportunity to demonstrate we treasure Jesus Christ above everyone else when we feed the hungry, offer a drink to the thirsty, provide hospitality for strangers, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick and in prison.  Our gifts and service to God are not limited to these specific acts, but Jesus commends those who freely walk in His love towards others as He demonstrated and commanded us.  By the indwelling Holy Spirit, our LORD will guide us to give and serve that He be glorified.  Like the perfume Mary poured out, may our lives be a sweet smelling fragrance to our LORD Jesus Christ because we value Him over all.