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 in 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 a 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.

Awake in Christ's Likeness

What rest and peace God gives those who trust in Him who only does wondrous things!  In an ever changing world Christians have an anchor for our souls forever in Jesus Christ who loves us and has given us exceedingly great and precious promises.  His resurrection from the dead and ascension in glory gives us confidence through the Gospel our sins are forgiven, we have been justified by faith, and have a sure hope of eternal life in His presence.

When the church was birthed in the book of Acts after Jesus ascended to heaven, Christians faced intense persecution in Jerusalem:  none of the apostles, deacons or unnamed disciples were exempt.  It was not like the church was an organisation where leaders were insulated from the threat of beatings, arrests or execution as they were primary targets of those who hated and killed Jesus.  A man filled with the Holy Spirit named Stephen was falsely accused of speaking blasphemy against the Temple and the Law of Moses, and he was hauled before the Sanhedrin for examination.  His divinely inspired proclamation of truth can be read in Acts 7 that enraged his hearers and resulted in him being martyred for Christ's sake.

As Stephen's eyes were opened to see heaven opened and Jesus Christ standing in glory, the respectable mask of the Sanhedrin slipped and revealed them to be a murderous, hateful mob against Christ and His disciples.  They screamed, covered their ears, rushed upon him, cast Stephen out of the city and stoned Him to death.  Acts 7:59-60 tells us, "And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."  In the midst of murderous chaos, Stephen was the one at peace and full of forgiveness.  Without regard for himself or any attempt to dodge the large stones hurled at him from all around, Stephen knelt and prayed with a loud voice to intercede for those who were killing him--even as Jesus had from the cross.  Suddenly a stone hit the mark, and Stephen fell asleep.  The implication is those who sleep will wake.  Though Stephen died, through faith in Jesus Christ he lives now and forever.

I was reminded of this as I read Psalm 17:15:  "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."  Christians have the wondrous expectation that when our eyes close in death, we will awake in the likeness of Christ--satisfied, sinless, glorified and immortal!  Having been deemed righteous by faith in Jesus, there is no fear in death because our Saviour has defeated it.  Our death happened before our birth when Jesus Christ died on the cross, and having been born again and raised with Christ He now lives through us.  Since our death spiritually speaking is in the past, we have only life before us we will enjoy with Him and His people forever.  One day our eyes will close, and miraculously when we open them pain, trouble and sorrow will be a thing of the past, not remembered nor will come into mind, for we have been made new creations by God's grace through faith in Jesus.

Let us not be like those who are asleep spiritually as Paul exhorted believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11:  "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."

Convinced by Christ

"I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

Romans 14:14

God had taught Paul many things by the time he wrote the letter to the Romans as led by the Holy Spirit.  As a Pharisee, Paul would have likely fought tooth and nail against the suggestion some things or people were not unclean in themselves.  The Law of Moses was full of clear statements that described kinds of birds or beasts as unclean for eating, and how a person could be made ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body or due to illness.  There were detailed washings and sacrifices required to cleanse the unclean, and a complete paradigm shift coupled with humble faith in Jesus was needed for Paul to write what he did.  The LORD Jesus Christ needed to convince Paul of the truth nothing was unclean of itself, and so he held forth this truth boldly to the brethren--even those who had not yet been convinced.

Paul confronted Christians in Colossians 2:20-23 whose actions suggested things were unclean in themselves and their spiritual purity was maintained or lost by objects they touched or food they ate:  "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--²¹ "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," ²² which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³ These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."  The problem wasn't that believers in Colossae established wise boundaries for themselves, but the issue was they subjected themselves to self-imposed religion, not realising what Christ accomplished on Calvary.  The Law of Moses that condemned them was nailed to the cross, they had died to sin, and now were risen with Christ who lived through them.  The teaching of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount shows freedom from the Law does not bring lawlessness, for the Holy Spirit guides God's people to a standard far higher than law.

I have observed in Christian circles an appetite for legalism when it aligns with their convictions, for it is easily justified as wise boundaries.  There is an attraction for us towards black and white, to strike a stark contrast and clear line between what is deemed acceptable and sinful.  We can feel a degree of confidence or safety by avoiding what is seen as bad in itself, and we can view ourselves as morally or spiritually superior when we do what is considered good.  Both of these are a snare, for it puts self at the centre and relegates righteousness by our own arbitrary standard.  It is good for us to acknowledge God created all things to be good, and if something is unclean for us we ought to observe it as unclean without fanfare.  We do not condemn a person for avoiding food when they have a severe allergy, and we also should not condemn a person who does not drink alcohol because it could lead them or others to sin.

I remember years ago a person who believed music, when set in a minor key or played with certain drum rhythms, was in itself an "evil beat."  This clearly stands at odds with Paul's statement that nothing is unclean in itself.  God is the God of the hills as well as the valleys; He is the God of the major and minor chords, the God of the acoustic and electric guitar.  He is sovereign over the light and darkness, the day as well as the night.  He is LORD over every atom, the entire spectrum of visible and invisible light, of all things seen and not seen.  Every vibration, frequency, element, chemical, creature and spirit has been created by God for His use.  Even the world, governments and wicked forces of darkness are all under God's rule, and God's people are sanctified by Him for Him in the midst of everything that is.  Rather than fearing things God has made or what man has made can defile us--we ought to fear the LORD and be led by the Holy Spirit in what we do and choose not to do because He is our righteousness.

By faith in Jesus Christ, we can have a clear conscience before God whether we eat meat or only vegetables--or a mix of both!  A Christian can listen to classic music and heavy metal without feeling condemned by God because both can glorify Him.  Paul concluded in Romans 14:21-23, "It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. ²² Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³ But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."  For Paul, being convinced by Jesus meant he had the freedom to eat whatever foods he wanted, but he took pains to avoid stumbling those who expressed concerns.  It is the love of God and others as led by the Holy Spirit who guides us rather than legalism, fleshly desire or the fear of man.  May we all be convinced by Christ nothing is unclean in itself and to live to please and obey Him!

God's Compassions Fail Not

In my Bible reading this morning, I considered Psalm 107:17-19:  "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. ¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. ¹⁹ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses."  The Bible describes the fool as people who say in their hearts, "There is no God," those who live as if God does not exist, has not spoken and proudly exalts themselves in God's rightful place.  It is a very predictable and guaranteed outcome, that sin embraced brings affliction and trouble we cannot escape.

When we see people experiencing trouble as a direct consequence for their actions, we are less apt to show compassion on them because they "deserved" what they suffered.  A parent who warns their child to not to bring a balloon into the kitchen or swat it towards a burning stove would likely remain unmoved when their child disobeys and cries when their balloon pops.  "That's what you get," a matter-of-fact parent might say.  Now if the child burns themselves on a hot stove or pot, a loving parent will administer first aid and seek to comfort their little one.  If the injured party happens to be a teenager or adult who knew better than playing around with fire, again, we would be less considerate of their self-inflicted wounds that stand to teach a valuable lesson.

God's grace and love towards us sinners is amazing, for even when we have played the fool--knowing better and without any excuse--He continues to extend compassion and help to those who are afflicted as a consequence of their own sin.  When we cry out to God in our trouble, He will save us out of our distress; He will give the word to heal us.  At times in Israel's history when God's people departed from Him and served idols, He told them to cry out to the idols they had chosen so they would learn how worthless and incapable they were to deliver or heal.  The season of their suffering pained God, for His heart yearned to save and help them.  But like a father corrects and disciplines a son in whom he delights, so God is willing to allow self-inflicted wounds to draw sinners to Himself through repentance.

Lamentations 3:30-32 says, "Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and be full of reproach. ³¹ For the Lord will not cast off forever. ³² Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies."  God is grieved by sin, and He is also grieved when we suffer as a result of our sin.  Because of God's immutable, righteous character, when we are afflicted as God's people there will be an end to it because God is merciful.  Even in the midst of suffering we deserve (and we deserve far worse than we receive as Psalm 103:10 says), God shows compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.  It is because His mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Having freely received such compassion from God, let us extend compassion to others--even when they are responsible for their own affliction.

Praying Child of God

According to the Bible, we are assured of many things concerning praying to God, the eternal Creator of all things.  The true, living God knows all and is able to do everything:  nothing is hard or impossible for Him.  We can know God hears and answers the prayers of those who need Him.  This morning I was reminded of this when I read Psalm 102:17:  "He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer."  God invites and welcomes His people who pray to Him.  His words to the prophet Jeremiah show God's ready willingness to answer prayer as it is written in Jeremiah 33:2-3:  "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): ³ 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'"  God freely chose to reveal Himself to people He created in His image so we might have a relationship with Him, and what is a relationship without regular, personal communication?

Perhaps you have heard people pray with flowery language or in Old English, with copious sprinklings of "thee" and "thy."  While some have prayer books, the only prayer book needed is the Bible that holds forth the divine revelation of God and His will.  Perhaps one of the most tricky things is people feel for prayer to be effective they must follow some sort of formula they are ignorant of, not realising God looks favourably upon a humble heart regardless of the words spoken.  Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee who "prayed with himself" and touted all his service and sacrifices for the LORD, and he expressed gratitude God had elevated him far above base sinners--despite his proud, hypocritical display.  Jesus said in Luke 18:13-14, "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Some expect they will be answered because of their many words, others put a measure of confidence in who or how many people pray for them, and others insist particular words they use are akin to invoking magic utterances that cut through spiritual red tape to expedite the granting of their requests.  The simple prayer of the tax collector in the parable shatters these notions, for he went home justified and received God's mercy just for asking.  Simply put, God hears prayer, delights to answer prayer, and invites people to pray to Him because He desires a relationship with us.  In addition to looking favourably upon the humble in heart, God responds to the prayer of faith.  James taught the prayer of faith would save the sick or weary, and confession of sin and repentance leads to spiritual healing and wholeness that is in Christ, freely offered to all who are born again (James 5:13-16).

Philippians 4:4-7 holds forth God's will for every believer by faith and obedience to Him:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ 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."  See the joyful, grateful attitude we ought to have in praying to God who loves us and answers prayer!  Praying is not only for special occasions or before meals and going to bed, for Paul writes 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."

When we pray, let us never forget we are not God.  Our role is not to tell God what He ought to do or how He could use something for His glory (hoping for our will to be done), for God is infinitely wiser than us.  Books on prayer have a place, but better than reading a sample prayer it is better to pray from the heart to God ourselves knowing He loves us, with confidence He delights to hear and answer us, and that nothing is difficult for Him.  In praying we seek the LORD who guides, helps us and needs no help Himself.  We pray not to earn God's favour but because we have received His favour in Christ and are responding with joyful obedience, glad to cast our cares upon Him, make our requests known, and rest in the knowledge He will answer in His time.  There is no one more carefree and glad than the praying, trusting child of God.

Blessing of Affliction

Last night at Bible study the passage was Psalm 73, a song of Asaph that describes his struggle with how the wicked seemed to prosper and the envy this stirred within him.  He wrestled with God's grace of blessing the wicked who ought to be punished (in Asaph's mind), and that compared to him they did not seem to suffer.  His legalistic mindset bucked against the grace of God that seemed to reward bad behaviour and repay God's faithful followers with affliction.

It was when Asaph sought the LORD in His temple that he received insight from God in Psalm 73:16-19:  "When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me--¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. ¹⁸ Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. ¹⁹ Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors."  As Asaph turned his eyes from the prosperity of the wicked and his own suffering and looked to God, he realised the happiness and security of the wicked was a mirage, an illusion that disappeared in an instant.  The wealth and riches of God's enemies was incapable of helping or delivering them from ruin.  Having wealth, money, power and fame did nothing to help avoid coming judgment by the holy God of Israel.

As Asaph was in the temple, he likely saw people leading animals to be slain as sacrifices and burn offerings to the LORD in obedience to the Law of Moses.  These animals resembled his view of the wicked, that they were well-fed, without blemish or fear of death.  They were used to being catered to and enjoyed the best life had to offer.  Their prosperity only fattened them up to be killed.  The owner of an ox, ram or lamb was not cruel to feed and protect their animals without blemish, and God is not cruel to give a man more than he can wish.  God graciously supplies good things to all people, even His enemies, and He will hold all accountable to acknowledge Him as the Creator and giver of all things.  Being well-fed, having a life free of hard labour, conditioned to expect prosperity to always increase, set people up for a shock when God required their souls.  Those who reject Jesus Christ will be brought to certain destruction, and it is only a matter of time.

The news recently has reported missile bombardments raining death and destruction in Israel and Iran, and also there has been a shocking tragedy of a plane crash in India that resulted in deaths of passengers and civilians.  On a daily basis, countless people wake up never realising it would be their last day alive.  Being envious of those who are prosperous leaves us without satisfaction and gratitude we have when we look to God who comforts, provides, protects and saves.  In Christ, we are able to look Death in the face without fear and worry because we died with Christ, and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:1-4).  Christians, having been raised to new life by Jesus, are called to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, setting our affections on Him and on what will endure.  Life on earth is short, time is precious, but Jesus is infinitely more important and valuable.  May our eyes be opened as Asaph's were, to recognise the blessing of current suffering for sin that prompts us to seek a Saviour than to live in the lap of luxury and be lost forever.

God Most Loveable

What do you view as loveable?  A newborn baby or a fluffy puppy?  What if I told you the most loveable being in the universe is not something small, cute and cuddly but the almighty God who is love?  Truly, there is no one more worthy of being loved than God who loves us with an everlasting love.  The amazing thing is how God presently and eternally rewards those who love Him when it is the very thing we ought to do.  Loving God is right for everyone to do, and God's desire is we would go beyond liking what we receive from God to loving Him with our whole heart.

See some things God promises to do for those who love Him in Psalm 91:14-16 which are all beyond price:  "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."  For the one who simply loves God, God will personally deliver him and set him on high.  The one who loves God will be heard and answered by Him; God will be with him in trouble, deliver and honour him.  God also gives long life (everlasting!) that satisfies, and will reveal His salvation to all who love Him.  Those who love God place their faith in Him which is evidenced by obedience.

Loving God is more than feelings of attraction or affection, but it is connected with doing what God says as is written in Deuteronomy 5:10:  "...showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."  Later in Scripture Jesus, who revealed Himself to be God made flesh by many signs including His resurrection from the dead, said to His disciples in John 14:15-17:  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."  To those who love God, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to regenerate, empower, comfort, guide and enable followers of Christ to be spiritually fruitful, to love as He loves.

A newborn baby is not loveable because of what he or she provides you but because of who it is in relation to you:  someone small, needy and new.  God is awesome, eternal, needs nothing, and is greater than we can imagine, yet we should love Him because His is our Creator and due to our relationship with Him as His beloved children.  Our love for God ought to be from a heart that delights in who God is and His love for us--rather than God's promises of blessing for those who love Him we hope to receive.  As it is written in Psalm 31:23-24:  "Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. ²⁴ Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."  May our love of God be courageous in obedience and strong by faith in Him, for God preserves the faithful who hope in Him.

Doing Is Better than Promising

In a parable Jesus told, a man asked one of his sons to work the following day in his vineyard.  His son replied, "I go sir!" yet he did not go.  His words proved to be empty because he did not follow through with all he said.  The son saying what he would do did not profit him or his father at all, and his good intentions were shown to be fleeting by his empty words--which have been remembered to this day.

The point James made about claims of faith being pointless without works that provide evidence of it is a valid consideration in regards to words we say.  James 2:15-17 reads, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."  James gave a practical example to illustrate how faith without corresponding works is dead by describing someone who was cold and hungry.  Will saying, "Be warmed and filled!" do anything to cover their nakedness or fill their belly?  Of course not.  Someone who loves the needy person and truly desires their wholeness would do what they could to help them without a word.  People who love others demonstrate their love in action rather than simply declaring it.  Faith is more than words we speak, for it is always shown by our decisions and way of life.

It is good that our words agree with our actions, but it is better to prioritise doing good rather than speaking of good we have yet to do.  Recently I read Luke 9:57 that described Jesus walking:  "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."  It was good this person recognised Jesus as worthy of following everywhere, yet this would be better done than promised because talk is cheap.  It is very easy to say we will do something, but to actually follow through is exponentially more difficult and complicated.  When visitors attend church it is common for them to gladly volunteer without being asked anything, "We'll be back!" and to never see them again.  My preference is for them to appear indifferent, say nothing, and return for the next service.  People being in Christian fellowship somewhere is better than saying that is what we want and need:  attending church can say this without a word.

Jesus knew the heart of the person who called Him LORD and promised to follow Him wherever He went.  He was not cynical, sarcastic or dismissive.  Luke 9:58 gives us Christ's reply:  "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  Jesus made it clear to follow Him would be difficult and not to expect to settle down anywhere.  Jesus did not call any place on earth His home, and the only refuge Christ's disciples would have was in Him by faith.  The Gospels demonstrate how Jesus and His disciples were provided for day by day:  they ate grain as they walked through fields, were guests at houses, received gifts, and ate leftovers.  It would be better for Jesus to observe us after a space of time, "Friends, you have followed Me wherever I have gone!" then for us to promise beforehand, "We will follow you!"  There is no harm in voicing our intentions, but what we do and how we live is of greater importance.

Excluded for Christ's Sake

When I was in high school, I remember going with a friend to a country club for a round of golf.  Because there were only two of us, we figured we would be able to "walk on" without booking a tee-time previously.  Perhaps it was because it was a Saturday morning or due to our intentionally loud sweaters, but we were turned away by an unimpressed staff member who said curtly, "You're not playing here today."  Being excluded from the golf course was a disappointment, and even a reasonable explanation wouldn't have changed anything.  We wanted to play golf, and it wasn't happening.

Everyone, to some degree, has experienced being excluded from something we wanted to take part in.  Our job application has been rejected; our offer of friendship was rebuffed.  We have been made redundant from a job or had people refuse to even speak with us.  Even when we have achieved or obtained our desire, the actual experience may fall short of our expectations.  I played golf for fun and exercise, and a very bad round coupled with slow pace of play could prevent me from enjoyment I hoped to experience.  Jesus spoke on the subject of being excluded for His sake in Luke 6:22-23:  "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. ²³ Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets."  Being excluded usually feels like a bad thing, but when Christians are hated, excluded, reviled and thrown out as evil for Jesus' sake, we can know we are blessed in Christ and called to rejoice.

Even as we receive forgiveness of sin, salvation and eternal life by faith in Jesus, in faith we are called to rejoice when being excluded and maligned by others for the sake of Jesus because great is our reward in heaven.  Prophets of God who spoke His truth were excluded and hated by unbelievers, and we can rejoice to be excluded like they were for Christ's sake.  It is important to recognise this caveat--for the Son of Man's sake--for there can be many reasons why Christians are excluded and hated:  being arrogant and judgmental, pushing controversies and conspiracies, acting like we are "holier than thou," making callous and harsh comments, or hypocrisy without repentance.  Jesus Christ was compassionate, loving, truthful, righteous and perfect in every way, yet He was hated by the Pharisees because He rebuked them for their hypocrisy, was held in high regard by the people, and spoke with authority like the scribes did not dare.

When we take a stand on the Gospel according to the word of God, living to please Jesus and not others or even ourselves, this will grate on some people.  People did not approve of Jesus the Light of the World exposing their sins, and people do not appreciate Christians who follow God's righteous standards of living.  Some are troubled by the suggestion God exists and by those who believe in Him.  Christians will be excluded, hated and reviled for their beliefs and convictions.  Rather than caving to the crowd or seeking to find favour in man's sight, Jesus teaches us to realise and rejoice in the blessing of being accepted and included in His eternal, heavenly kingdom.  We are already part of the most awesome, wonderful community of the church with Jesus as Head, and we have a glorious future awaiting us together in the presence of God.  Let us rejoice (even when excluded!) because our reward in heaven in great.

Breaking Sin's Cycle

"As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

Proverbs 26:11

Like seasons are cyclical and predictable, so we sinners tend to repeat our sins.  Like in the Steely Dan song "Do It Again," the gambler who swore he didn't have a gambling problem found himself back in Vegas with a handle in his hand without explanation.  Almost like by instinct, people are driven to sin and find themselves enslaved to it.  Though people have been created by God in His image, our freedom to choose and make wise decisions can be forfeited when we feed our flesh and go our own way.  Like babies born addicted to narcotics, all humanity lies under the curse of sin passed down from Adam, a chain broken only by Jesus Christ.  Without God's gracious intervention, we will continue pursuing and practicing what works to harm and destroy us forever.

In Psalm 73, Asaph wondered why those who continued in their sin seemed to flourish and not suffer trouble--despite their proud arrogance and rebellion against God.  He mused over what was the point of seeking God and doing good, receiving correction and chastening from the LORD, when others seemed to be prosperous without fear of God and without a care in the world.  But when Asaph drew near to God in worship in His sanctuary, it hit him:  the prosperity of people who remain in sin was an illusion, for God would bring them to destruction in a moment, and there would be no remedy.  Asaph was convicted of envy in his heart and ingratitude for God who loved him enough to chasten him so he might repent and be saved.

Asaph sang in Psalm 73:21-26:  "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. ²² I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. ²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. ²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  In the light of God's revelation of Asaph's folly, he compared his behaviour and thinking to that of a senseless beast, an animal driven by instinct that cannot help itself.  I have observed behaviours in animals that are completely irrational but predictable.  Growing up, our dog would always lick the flyscreen and run on the sliding glass door even though he was not allowed inside.  No amount of speaking to him was able to part him from this odd habit.  Asaph was a stark contrast to Slicker, our Cocker Spaniel, because he responded to God's guidance and counsel.  Faith in God caused Asaph's desires to change from his natural selfishness to satisfaction because God was the strength of his heart and his portion forever.

God allows this beastly condition of sin to bring us to our senses, even like the young man in the parable who demanded he be given his inheritance immediately.  It was after he spent all the money and began to be in want, he realised in a paddock with pigs how wonderful his father had been to him.  Remembering the goodness of his father prompted him to return willing to serve.  Proud and powerful Nebuchadnezzar was naturally full of himself, and God caused him to suffer a seven-year season of insanity.  He went completely feral, was unable to speak or listen to reason, ate grass like an ox, and lived outdoors night and day.  His hair was matted in dreadlocks and his nails grew long like eagle claws.  His senseless, irrational behaviour was a picture of how the sin of pride rendered him spiritually:  incapable of hearing God, receiving correction or changing his ways.  Seven years was a long time, but it lead to a most valuable lesson being learned by Nebuchadnezzar we can all benefit from.

Daniel 4:34-35 says, "And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"  Nebuchadnezzar being restored to his throne is a lovely parallel of what God desires in the hearts of all people:  God would have us look to Him in humility and praise Him.  When we receive God's correction and repent of our sins, our understanding returns to us.  The perpetual cycle of sin is broken by His power, and we ought to be moved to praise, extol and serve God who is wisdom, strength and salvation for us.  Because Jesus lives in Christians, we are delivered from darkness, granted the ability to overcome every instinct to sin, and can now live in the way that fully pleases God as His adopted children (Colossians 1:9-17).

David Danced Naked?

Our Bible study last night reminded me of an awkward interaction at camp when a worship leader emphasised David's joyful abandon in worshipping God when the Ark of God was brought into Jerusalem.  "He was so caught up in worship, he was dancing naked."  He looked at me to affirm the truth he claimed.  "He was naked, right?"  Actually, no:  David was not dancing in the nude.  The Bible passages say clearly he was wearing fine linen and a linen ephod, similar to what the priests or Levites wore (2 Samuel 6:14; 1 Chron. 15:7).  The idea of David being naked is likely based on the snide comments of Michal, David's wife, about David being "uncovered," which was to say he was not wearing his royal robes.  She was offended because she viewed his behaviour as immodest and inappropriate as a king.  Thinking someone should "cover up" does not assume total nudity.

The worship leader's comments about David dancing naked in public made me quite uncomfortable, for what was the purpose or application of this emphasis?  An encouragement for the true worshippers of God to strip down naked during the worship set?  God forbid!  God was the one who clothed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and He also designed clothing for the priests and Levites to wear in His presence.  Since the Law of God forbade steps leading to an altar lest the priest be upskirted and his nakedness seen (Exodus 20:26), how can anyone claim public nudity is acceptable in the praise of God?  To suggest David danced naked dismisses the plain reading of the text, and to say stripping naked in worship is a worthy indignity has absolutely no place in scripture or in the practice of God's people.  This obscene practice marked wild, unrestrained pagan rituals and idol worship , and it is a sinful action God-fearing people ought to condemn.

The tendency to follow the lead of other people--by repeating an interpretation of the Bible or following a pattern set by others--is found in this text.  It was good David was moved to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, the city where God put His everlasting name.  But David made a grave error by not seeking the LORD nor digging into God's Law to determine the proper order.  The Ark was transported from the house of Abinadab by Uzzah and Ahio on a new cart pulled by oxen when God commanded it be carried aloft with poles by sanctified Levites (1 Chron. 15:11-15).  Did you know there is only one occasion previously when the Ark was transported by an ox cart?  This was how the Philistines returned the cart to Israel in Beth-Shemesh after capturing it (1 Samuel 6)!  Without consideration of what God's word actually said, David and all Israel were led into sin that had deadly consequences.

When Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark, the wrath of God was kindled and he was struck dead.  This was a shock to David, the 30,000 choice men who had been selected to parade the Ark to Jerusalem, and all who witnessed it.  David's immediate response was anger and fear.  But during the following 3 months, the death of Uzzah prompted David to dive into God's word where he read of the proper order God established to transport the Ark of God.  Reading God's Law and putting it into practice led to the safe transport of the Ark to Jerusalem, indescribable joy as David danced with all his might before the LORD, and the presentation of a new song of worship to God by David.  Tragedy borne of sin was redeemed by God to draw David and His people to Himself, and it resulted in the (fully clothed!) worship, praise and a closer relationship with God.

Lifting Up the Horn

"'I said to the boastful, 'Do not deal boastfully,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn. ⁵ Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.'"

Psalm 75:4-5

What goes up must come down, the cliche goes, and and those who are lifted up with pride God can easily bring low.  On the other hand, those who humble themselves God will exalt.  The Bible is filled with examples that illustrate God's ability to bring low the proud whether it be king Saul, king Nebuchadnezzar, Haman--or even Satan himself.  Asaph urged people not to be proud or boastful when they were promoted or advanced in stature, for he remarked in Psalm 75:6-7:  "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. ⁷ But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another."  One distinction between God and all other judges is He is perfectly just and remains gracious and merciful.  Sometimes there is no justice possible from earthly courts, and the judgments of men according to law can lack mercy and compassion.

In the book of Ruth, Haman was a man who boasted greatly about his high-ranking position, and he gathered family and friends to speak of his frequent access to royalty and the power bestowed upon him by his king.  It was in this lofty role he was arrogant, proud and despised those he viewed as below him--people like Mordecai the Jew.  When Mordecai did not bow or give him reverence when Haman sauntered past, Haman was incensed and decided to use his power to annihilate all the Jewish people.  He made a massive gallows with the sole purpose of hanging Mordecai, yet when his wicked scheme was uncovered the haughty Haman was brought low.  He was publicly hung on the gallows, and all Shushan could see Haman's meteoric fall from grace when he was executed high in the sky.

Haman was a man who lifted the horn in pride to his own destruction, even as an ox uses his strength to thrust with horns and inflict damage.  Bull calves are not born with horns, but they grow as they mature and gain strength.  Under Mosaic Law, if an ox gored a person to death, the ox would be stoned and the flesh not eaten.  The owner would bear the loss of his valued working animal for the damage it had done.  Exodus 21:29 says, "But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."  The implication is if an ox was known to be a danger to people because it aggressively lifted the horn, the owner needed to take all precautions to protect people by removing the horns, keeping the animal in a fenced paddock, or if all means failed it would become food for the next BBQ.  The meat would be eaten, and the hide of a stiff-necked ox that refused to heed commands and lifted the horn would be made into leather goods like saddles and sandals--objects that would be sat or walked on.  In some cases a dangerous ox could be more valuable and useful to the owner dead than alive.

Our strength, status or roles that men pride themselves in are the very things which ought to humble the child of God, knowing we are chosen and blessed by God's grace.  Should the LORD grant us horns like a mature bull, we must be wise and gentle in our use of them.  Balaam chose to ride a donkey that was faithful and dependable, one that humbly responded to his guidance by a light tug on a rope.  In a similar fashion, we are called by Jesus to take His yoke upon us and to learn from His example of meekness and lowliness.  Rather than having a stiff neck and refusing instruction, we ought to humble ourselves to yield to God's guidance without the need of bit, bridle or whip.  Knowing we are called to a relationship with the living God ought to humble us rather than puff us up with pride.  Psalm 65:4 reads, "Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple."  How humbling it is to know as Christians we are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, and our satisfaction ought to be in God rather than ourselves or our promotion.

He Is All Fair

 "You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you."

Song of Songs 4:7

In the love story Solomon penned, the Beloved and the Shulamite had a romantic relationship that resulted in an unlikely but happy marriage.  Both husband and wife were enraptured in the love of one another, and in their eyes their spouse was perfect in every way.  This is how people can be in the throes of romantic love, so smitten with happy emotions they overlook faults which become plain to them over time.  Though we admit theoretically no one is perfect, when someone exceeds our ideals we imagine we have found a person who is an exception to the rule.  Modern rates of infidelity and divorce suggest the discovery of flaws in one once chosen to be their lifelong partner.

I have found the greater my familiarity is with something or someone, their flaws become more apparent.  Take the purchase of a house, for example.  No matter how carefully I have observed the structure, appliances, roofing, flooring and landscaping, it is not until I have lived in the house for weeks and months I suddenly become aware of imperfections and faults that escaped my notice previously.  Some issues could not be seen on the surface, like a loose wiring connection to an aerial or a faulty globe in a garage door opener.  My focus in testing the door was making sure the door opened--not that the light was working.  Other things were in plain view the whole time, yet were easily overlooked because I had not shined light directly upon them or run my hand across the uneven surface.

It was not until months after moving into our current house I noticed a crack in the wall where a previous repair had come loose.  I tackled the project, imagining I was fixing the only gyprock damage in the house.  In the midst of the repair I began scouring the house, making sure there was no other significant damage.  I found a few more dents and holes I patched and primed--only to find more faults--which included affixing the whole ceiling of one room that was sagging from the ceiling joists.  There have now been three occasions I believed I was done with screws, fiberglass tape, mud, sanding, primer and paint only to start right back at the beginning because I discovered more problems.  The faults were always there, and it took close examination to notice them.  It would be utter folly to suggest the walls and ceilings are in pristine condition, for even my repairs are imperfect.

What is wonderful about Jesus Christ is the exact opposite is true:  the closer we examine Him and the more familiar with Him, His righteousness, goodness and holiness exceeds our wildest imaginations.  He who loves us is all fair, and there is no spot in Him.  The longer I have followed Jesus, the more impressed with Him I am.  The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed when she came to visit Solomon in person, for the stories she had heard did not do him justice.  I have found this to be even more the case with Jesus, for He routinely impresses me and blows my mind.  He is continually faithful, true, gracious, keeps His promises and never disappoints.  He does not forget or forsake us.  The more I grow to know Him, the more His perfection appears.  I am convinced there is nothing or no one remotely like the almighty God who is perfect in all His ways.  I will joyfully stake my life on the reality of the perfection of my God and Saviour Jesus, and I urge you to do the same.

God Hears and Leads

Before mobile phones, once my friend and I went to his house and surprisingly, no one was home.  This posed a problem because he forgot to bring the key to the front door with him.  The prospect of sitting outside the house waiting for someone to come home potentially for hours did not appeal, so we looked around the house for an alternate means of entry.  I understood how to remove flyscreens without damage, and it turned out an open window accessed from the back yard was an easy way in.  This enabled us to open the front door from within.  Two lessons were learned that day:  always bring your house key when you leave the house, and for better security keep those back windows locked--that is, unless you choose to ignore the first lesson.

David sang in Psalm 61:1-3, "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. ² From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ³ For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy."  In times of trouble and feeling overwhelmed David called out to God, as he knew God would hear and answer him speedily.  One might think a rock higher than him or a strong tower would be easily visible from below, but unlike structures built on earth God dwells in heaven where no one can approach without His guidance and leading.  Unless God graciously revealed Himself to us, no one ever could have known Him or shared a relationship with Him.  David had a relationship with the living God, for he said God had been a shelter and refuge for him.

Unlike my friend's house that could be accessed from one unlocked window, strongholds and refuges were not meant to be accessed by anyone outside them.  There was no unlocking city gates in ancient times:  gates and walls needed to be scaled, broken down or tunnelled under to enter.  Once secure, someone inside the refuge was needed to open the gates to enter.  The lowering of the drawbridge before castle gates needed to be done by someone who was already across the moat and in the safety of the castle.  Thus it makes perfect sense David would ask for God to lead him to the rock of salvation and the strong tower of refuge from the enemy.  Would the LORD open to Him?  Based on the character of God revealed in Jesus Christ, He is indeed open to those who humbly seek Him, those redeemed by the Gospel.  John 10:7-9 read, "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

Like a door which is always open and accessible, God is a shelter and refuge for His people always by His grace.  Like chicks that seek refuge under the wings of a mother hen, so God's people flee and flock to Him when we are overwhelmed, and we learn to abide there continually.  The LORD guides and leads us like a shepherd does his sheep, and Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  Though we cannot see Him with our shortsighted vision in a world full of darkness, where confusion obscures our sight and even light dazzles us, our God is never far from us because He hears our cries and answers.  As a caring shepherd is drawn to the faint bleating of a lamb dying from exposure, the LORD draws near to us to help and save us when we cry out to Him.  Blessed is the one whose God is the LORD, for He is the open door to salvation, comfort, safety and eternal life now and forever.

Robe Dipped in Blood

"He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."

Revelation 19:13

Today at church we observed Communion together.  We ate of the bread that symbolised the body of Jesus broken for us and drank of the cup that represents the blood of Jesus shed for sinners to provide atonement.  Christ's trial, flogging and crucifixion were all bloody affairs, and He was pulverised beyond recognition as He drank of the bitter cup given Him by His Father out of love for lost sinners.  After Jesus was confirmed dead by a spear driven into His side, His body was removed from the cross, washed, wrapped with spices, and laid in a tomb.  When Jesus rose from the dead days later, He identified Himself to His disciples by the prints of nails in His hands and the mark on His side.  They were not open wounds but scars on a glorified body.

When I heard the passage in Revelation recited recently, I was struck that the robe Jesus wore was dipped in blood that was not His.  Since His crucifixion on Calvary, Jesus has never bled and will never bleed again--though He still retains physical form with flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).  He who is called Faithful and True in righteousness will judge and make war.  The bloody robe He will be adorned with does not hearken back to His sacrifice years ago but will be the blood of His enemies as it is written in Revelation 19:15-16:  "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."  Jesus has a name no one knows but He Himself, yet He has been revealed to mankind as KING OF KINGS before whom the wise will submit and reverence.

Christians do not bow before Jesus because we are afraid to be trampled in the winepress of God's wrath, but because God has demonstrated His love by taking the punishment on the cross we deserve to pay forever in hell on account of our transgressions.  The wages of sin is death, and everyone who lives long enough in this world will realise all our lives will end in death.  Walk through a graveyard and every person memorialised in that hushed place has a date their lives began and another when it ended.  Jesus does not threaten anyone with death or hell, for we are all heading there due to our sin.  Titus 3:3-7 says, "For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

How awesome it is God has made known to mankind His kindness and love of God through Jesus Christ our Saviour!  Even as Christ's body poured blood on Calvary, so His love has been poured out so all who repent of sin and trust in Jesus can be forgiven, cleansed and born again--justified by God's grace.  Bless the LORD for His Gospel and the cleansing flow provided by grace through faith in Jesus.  We had made our bed with sin and were lying paralysed in it without hope, and God would be justified to let us die and rot there.  Having ascended to the Father in glory, Jesus will one day return and tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God upon sinners, those who have rejected and rebelled against Him, those who wickedly returned evil to God for the good gift of His only begotten Son.  Unless the blood of Jesus has cleansed you of sins, Christ's robe dipped in blood is a sobering revelation--because that blood could be yours.  God's will for you and all people is for us to be among His armies in heaven that follow Him clothed in linen, fine and clean (Rev. 19:14).  By God's grace, the choice is yours.

Where Is God's Honour?

This morning I awakened to the verse running through my mind:  "Where is my honour?"  This prompted me to look up the passage in the Bible, which I found in Malachi 1:6:  "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honour? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence? says the LORD of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'  Through the prophet Malachi, God confronted priests and His people who claimed they honoured God when their actions showed they despised Him--very strong words indeed.  A son honours his father by calling him "sir" and obeying him, but God's people had neglected to give Him basic respect.  A master was reverenced by his servants who knew they would answer to him, yet the priests did not behave as those who would answer to anyone--much less the living God.

Posing rhetorical questions is a repeated technique throughout the book of Malachi, especially in response to God's statements against His people.  When God called out the priests for withholding honour and reverence from Him because they hated Him, they protested.  "In what way have we despised your name?"  I suspect many of the people who brought sacrifices to the priests would have wondered the same thing.  The priests had faithfully served for many years and were upstanding pillars of society.  Priests despising God?  How could this thing be seeing their continual sacrifices to God?  God answered plainly in Malachi 1:7-8:  "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' ⁸ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" says the LORD of hosts."

The priests offered sacrifices morning and evening unto the LORD, and they were to give a burnt offering of a male lamb in the first year without blemish (Numbers 28:3).  God said they had not been faithful to offer sacrifices according to the requirements of the Law of Moses.  They would not say, "God's table is contemptible!" but their actions showed a complete lack of respect for God and reverence for His word by offering the blind, lame and sick on the LORD's altar.  God continued in Malachi 1:13-14:  "You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' and you sneer at it," says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" says the LORD. ¹⁴ "But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow, but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished--for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is to be feared among the nations."  It would be disastrous for a subject to bring a gift to their king they knew was corrupt and blemished.  What was dishonourable to the king would result in greater dishonour to them.  Their very lives might be at risk for such a foolish stunt.  God is more gracious and compassionate than kings of the earth, but let not God's people suppose He is less aware than man!

Seeing Christians are called to offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto God because it is our reasonable service toward the LORD who redeemed us from the corruption of sin and death, the verses in Malachi hit hard.  If priests could offer blemished animals as burnt offerings, we can also offer God scraps of our lives and resources that could not be considered of our firstfruits or our best.  Like the sons of Eli, we may hoard the choicest bits for ourselves and give God the leftovers of our lives, stuff that was heading to the tip anyway.  The sacrifices of God are broken and contrite hearts (Psalm 51:17), yet our hearts can be lifted up with pride and self-righteousness.  Forgive me, LORD God, when I have done as those priests, deceiving myself to think I was honouring you when I was despising you and viewing your service as a weariness.  Create in me a clean heart that gives you my first and best without thoughts of myself, knowing you indeed are the KING OF KINGS who is worthy of all honour, glory and praise.  As it is written in Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."

Yes and Amen

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

 2 Corinthians 1:20

People are not strangers to caveats and limited-time offers, how in marketing the bold print gives but the fine print takes away.  The little asterisk next to an incredible deal often leads to the realisation the advertised deal wasn't as great as initially thought.  I have also had the experience of buying what I believed was an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product only to find it was a very cheaply made knock-off.  Several times I returned products to sellers that assured me a full refund of money but never paid.  Prompt communication fooled me into thinking a company had good customer service until they failed to follow through--and all communication on their end went silent.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul reminded believers they were assured God was faithful to keep His promises in 2 Corinthians 1:18-23:  "But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. ²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, ²² who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."  The Gospel that assures forgiveness of sins and salvation not wishy-washy, but in Christ is Yes and Amen.  The faithfulness of God has been demonstrated continually through His word, covenants and promises kept.  All the promises of God are affirmed by Jesus Christ the Son of God and in Him Amen--all to the glory of God through us.

Someone who receives a good price offered for a limited time realises others may miss out on the bargain.  But Christians can have complete assurance everyone who repents from their sin and believes on the LORD Jesus Christ shall be saved.  We have no need to look for miraculous confirmation of God's promise or wait for a warm feeling to know the prayers of humble sinners are heard and answered by God in the affirmative.  When born again Christians ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have all confidence we will receive based on God's word that reveals God's will as spoken by Peter on Pentecost in Acts 2:39:  "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."  Jesus Himself said in Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  All the promises of God in Christ are Yes and in Him Amen, and what confidence we can have to ask God believing His word in accord with His revealed will.

The blessings, feasts and promises contained in the Law merely hinted and alluded to the substance we have fulfilled in Person in Jesus Christ.  The Law of Moses gave no promise of eternal life, but Jesus made this promise plain to all who received Him.  Jesus said in John 10:27-28:  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."  How glorious is our Good Shepherd and Saviour forever, for all the promises of God in Jesus are Yes and Amen.  In Christ we find rest for our souls all can experience today regardless of circumstances, weather, bad news, feelings and failures.  The LORD has spoken truth and still speaks.  Blessed be the LORD whose mercies are new every morning, for great is His faithfulness.

The God of Jacob

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"

Psalm 46:10-11

Through the psalmist the LORD addresses the reader of His word with a command, to be still and know that He is God who will be exalted!  As much as we like to multitask, our capacity to focus on several things at once reduces our ability to pay full attention.  Being still also does not guarantee our focus on the LORD, for we are easily distracted and ideas flood into our brains without invitation.  When Jesus spoke to the raging waves of Galilee saying, "Peace, be still!" it is almost a taller order to still us because we have our own will we must submit before the LORD in faith and obedience.  God is able to still us, but He desires our willing cooperation.

Since God will be exalted among the nations and earth, how fitting it is for His people to exalt Him with praise, thanksgiving and adoration.  How blessed we are to know the LORD of hosts and that He is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge.  In considering these verses throughout the day, it proved beneficial to consider the many things God did for Jacob.  God knew Jacob, that though he was younger than Esau he would receive his father's birthright and blessing.  The LORD preserved Jacob, despite his deceitful ways, delivered him from the murderous intentions of Esau, saved him from the schemes of Laban and the dramas of having wives and many children.  God revealed Himself to Jacob, blessed him and protected his family when his sons stirred up trouble.

God made amazing promises to Jacob He was faithful to fulfill--even in the midst of a foreign land and a severe famine.  Genesis 46:3-4 says, "So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. ⁴ I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."  Because God was with Jacob, he did not need to fear anything or what seemed an uncertain future.  Before Jacob's decease, Genesis 48:3-4 states:  "Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, ⁴ and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'"  God spoke to Jacob, blessed him, made him fruitful, gave him a new name and an everlasting possession--all things Jesus will do for all who believe in Him.

Because God has revealed Himself to us, we can be still and know He is God.  It is in Jesus Christ we find rest for our souls, perfect peace, fulness of joy and spiritual fruitfulness.  The LORD of the hosts of heaven is with us, and He has promised never to leave or forsake us.  The God of Jacob is our refuge, and considering how God protected, provided for and blessed Jacob we see foreshadowing of the sure hope we have in Christ.  Our days on earth may be few and evil--and we may never attain to the level of our fathers--but like Jacob we can testify God has been good to us and with us all the way.  May God's people know the LORD Jesus, seek refuge in Him and exalt Him now and forever.

Taking the Bible Personally

Personal application is a step we don't always take in reading the Bible.  We can observe what a Bible passage says, understand what it means, but never make it personal and consider how God's timeless truth ought to impact our present perspective on what we are going through.  Too often the wisdom of the Bible rattles around in our heads without ever reaching our hearts.  We have been apprised of facts that never wielded the transformational power God intends to impact our lives with because we are unbelieving or unwilling to receive God's word ourselves.

On Good Friday at Calvary Chapel Sydney, one of the passages we considered is found in Psalm 34:17-20:  "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. ¹⁸ The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. ¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. ²⁰ He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken."  The apostle John cites this passage from the Psalms in relation to Jesus Christ fulfilling it in His death, thus identifying Him as the righteous Messiah:  the body of Jesus was broken but every one of His bones were preserved intact.  Unlike the other men crucified on either side of Him, the legs of Jesus were not broken because He was already dead.  His decease was confirmed when a Roman soldier pierced His side, and this fulfilled another prophecy in Zechariah 12:10.

It is good that we take personally the fact we are sinners and God has provided atonement through the shed blood of Jesus Christ who forgives and grants eternal life to all who trust in Him.  For all those born again by the Gospel, Jesus is righteousness for us.  The aforementioned verses from Psalm 34 suddenly hit differently as Christians because of all Christ accomplished on Calvary.  These verses can now be taken personally as promises by God's grace.  Every Christian can know, based on the unchanging truth of God's word, when we cry out to the LORD He hears and delivers us out of all our troubles.  God is near and saves us when we humble ourselves, and the LORD delivers us out of all of our afflictions.

As Jesus lay dead in a grave behind a massive stone, there was no tangible evidence Jesus was going to rise from the dead--unless one hearkened back to what the prophets and Jesus previously said to His disciples as His hour approached.  In the same way, it may seem like deliverance from troubles and afflictions is never going to come for us.  There may be no hint based on our circumstances anything could possibly change.  Yet as sure as Jesus rose from the grave and defeated death, we can know God hears, delivers and saves us of all our afflictions.  Faith in God causes us to cling to Him, for the word of God stands sure forever.  Taking the Bible personally prompts us to answer questions:  am I troubled today?  Have I cried out to God for deliverance?  Do I believe God is near and will save me out of all my afflictions?

Blessed are those made righteous in Christ who take to heart God's word, trusting the LORD to fulfill all His promises in due time--as sure as Jesus rose from the dead and lives.

Know Your End

In a world that hypes up how strong, fierce and independent people can be, God leads His people to consider their frailty so He might be their strength.  David prayed humbly according to God's will in Psalm 39:4-5, "LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. ⁵ Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah"  Slaying the Philistine champion did not bolster David's self-confidence but worked to increase God-reliance when enemies came against him.  Esteeming God above others and himself was key to David's successful rule.

David asked for God to impress his own mortality upon him, the realisation that his days on earth were relatively short.  It is good we would recognise and acknowledge our weakness so we might seek strength in God; it benefits us to remember our lives on earth will have an end so we will not take moments God has given us for granted.  At our wisest, strongest, wealthiest and influential, we are altogether vanity.  Knowing our frailty and brevity of life compels us not to live our lives in vain, for Jesus Christ our LORD redeems us so our lives can be profitable for the kingdom of God and for eternity.

We cannot know the times and seasons God has in His own power, and we do not know how many hours, days or years we have left on earth.  Yet the LORD has told us in His word the end of all those made righteous by faith in God.  By the prophetic power of the Holy Spirit, David answered his own query in Psalm 37:37:  "Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace."  Jesus has been revealed as our peace who imputes righteousness to all who trust in Him, has reconciled Jew and Gentile to Himself and united us in His Body (Ephesians 2:14-17).  By His atoning sacrifice Jesus has come and preached peace to all, and all who have received Him are given the right to become children of God.

The mighty men and women of the earth will be brought to the grave, and not one is able to reverse the consequences of sin that brings death.  The lives of Christians can end in a most violent fashion, yet by the Gospel we know our future is peace and rest in our glorious Saviour who is risen and reigns on high.  Our lives are vapour, yet God has redeemed us from the power of the grave and promised us a home in His glorious kingdom forever.  This is a better end to our life story than we could have ever dreamed--made possible by God's grace--a new beginning in heavenly glory for eternity.