A New Song of Praise

"He has put a new song in my mouth--praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD."

Psalm 40:3

Psalm 40 begins with David waiting patiently on the LORD Who was inclined to listen to and deliver him.  David praised the LORD for hearing his prayer and answering, Who pulled him out of a pit, established his steps on a rock, and put a new song in his mouth.  David was convinced his song of praise to God would lead others to observe the goodness of God, fear Him and trust in Him as LORD.  Do you believe your praise of God will have this effect on others?  If David did we should because we worship the same glorious God.

How many times have we been interested by the excitement others demonstrated about a movie, book, cleaning product or retail shop?  The passion and gladness of the person compelled us to later think, "What was the name of that shop with the satisfaction guarantee?  What was that product that can remove rust stains from delicate fabrics?"  We only asked the question because we realised our need for a quality service or product we already heard about from a trustworthy source.  Online reviews and testimonials sway us towards or against a purchase based upon the experiences of others.

If we are negligent to praise God publicly for all He is and has done for us, it should be no surprise the impact of our witness is negligible.  There were many gods people of the nations worshipped, but David boldly spoke of his God actually hearing him, taking action to save and deliver him.  David put his experiences into songs of praise that had a profound affect on his hearers to this day because it painted a picture of God's power, sovereignty, goodness and grace towards those who fear Him.  Our smiles and joyful conversation can provide an image that becomes tangible to others as we magnify God's great works towards us in meeting our needs.

It is important we move from theoretical belief in our minds to the public praise of God we rely upon with our mouths in real life, for He has shown Himself trustworthy.  Rather than restraining our praise of God because of the people around us who do not know or believe in God, we ought to keep praising Him so they can know God themselves.  May God put a new song of praise to Him in our mouths so others will see the goodness of God, reverence Him in awe, and will trust in the LORD.  This praise is not only good and acceptable but fruitful for God's glory and fame.

Glorify God's Holy Name

God is a Saviour Who gives eternal life to all who trust Him, a life so powerful it overcomes death.  As our risen LORD Jesus demonstrated through His death, burial and resurrection, the process to enter eternal glory often involves the physical death of the body.  This is true concerning those who come to faith in Christ and are martyred during the Great Tribulation.  As Jesus laid down His life for lost sinners on Calvary, so they will choose to lay down their lives for His sake.  It is a privilege and honour believers embrace by following in our Saviour's footsteps and surrender our lives for Jesus Who joyfully did so for us.

Revelation 15:2-4 describes a heavenly scene that includes this group of victorious martyrs:  "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. ³ They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! ⁴ Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested."  Revelation 12 describes believers who overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and by faith in Jesus these worshippers were also victorious over the beast (the antichrist), his image, mark and number of his name.  This is only possible by the miraculous power of God at work in His people.

These redeemed believers sang the song of Moses found in Exodus 15 and the song of the Lamb.  The context of the song of Moses was after God lead His people to pass through the Red Sea and drowned the army of Egyptians that sought to pursue them.  They sang in Exodus 15:11, "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"  Both the deliverance from Egypt through the Red Sea and the overcoming of the antichrist during the Great Tribulation are miraculous.  As the children of Israel left Egypt in haste and were guided through the Red Sea, through tribulation many people will be ushered into God's presence in glory with exceeding joy.  Many who will be born again during the Great Tribulation will be martyred for their faith, yet the end will be unending joy and worship of our awesome God, victorious in His presence.

Praise God He will not subject His redeemed people to His wrath which will ultimately consume the heavens and earth.  All who fear the LORD, let us glorify His name because His judgments have been manifested to us through His word.  It has been revealed to us by the Gospel God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  The believers who praise God in the heavenly scene were justly in heaven because of the atonement for sin provided by Jesus.  How gracious is God Who has opened heaven to us and given us Himself, for the Holy Spirit has taken residence in our hearts by the Gospel.  The LORD God Almighty is just and true in all His ways, and let us praise our God Who is our strength and song forever.

God's Free Forgiveness

"Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" ²² Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

Matthew 18:21-22

Peter thought his offer of forgiving a brother up to seven times was generous, but the response of Jesus revealed how feeble the goodwill, grace and patience of man is in comparison with God.  Jesus was not saying people are to limit their forgiveness to those who sin against them to 490 times.  His point was we are to forgive and keep forgiving beyond keeping track.  Our forgiveness is not to be limited to our friends or family and ought to be multiplied, extended to our enemies as well.  Since we have been forgiven by God more times than we can count, we are to remained inclined to forgive others as God has freely forgiven us.

Forgiveness of those who wrong us, believe it or not, is an often overlooked step of faith in God He commands we take as followers of Jesus.  Those who refuse to forgive a brother can justify nursing a grudge for many reasons.  They may point to the severity of the offence, the pain we suffered, the fact the sin was repeated multiple times, that the offender really wasn't sorry, or out of fear their sin will continue because they have not changed.  Unless we embrace forgiveness as an act of obedience by faith in God who has freely forgiven us, we cannot forgive as we ought.  We will continue to demand others pay an arbitrary price (one we determine) to convey to our satisfaction until they realise the pain they have caused, and even when they have done so it may not be enough to satisfy our contempt.  Without forgiveness and complete, free release from wrongdoing, there will aways be more to pay.

The refusal to forgive as God forgives us is a reason why some reconciliation attempts between people fall flat.  No amount of meeting present demands can undo the wrongs of the past, and both parties must agree to lay aside their justifications for holding a grudge.  Jesus went on to share a parable with Peter and His hearers that illustrated how someone who intensely recongises their personal need for forgiveness in light of their guilt can remain adamantly opposed to forgiving others in the most trivial matters.  The Christian who refuses to forgive is in perpetual bondage to wrongs suffered, a victim of their own bitterness, pride and disobedience.  Those who sin face eternity in hell, and those who refuse to forgive are presently trapped in a hell of their own making.  This need not be the case, for Jesus came to set such prisoners free.

God's inclination to forgive repentant sinners is seen in 1 John 1:9:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We are to forgive because we have been freely forgiven by God when we confessed and repented of our sins, the God Who also commands us to forgive others.  Jesus did not forgive us our sins motivated in this manner, nor was He simply following a command:  we have been forgiven by God's grace.  It is by confessing our sin and repenting we can receive forgiveness by faith.  Jesus voluntarily lay down His life on Calvary to satisfy the justice of God to provide atonement for all who have sinned against God in every possible way.  God said to His people in Isaiah 43:25:  "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."  God does not stick our nose into our sins He has forgiven like some might a dog in his mess, for He chooses to remember our sin no more for His own sake.

Knowing we are guilty as sin and deserving of wrath, now having been forgiven of all guilt and transgression before our gracious LORD, we are guided and helped to freely forgive others--without self-righteously keeping tabs on how forgiving we are.  When it comes to forgiveness, we naturally resemble slavers who have people in their employ who are always working to pay off a debt that gains interest faster than it can be paid off.   The strings attached to our forgiveness tangle us and others with bitterness, rage and malice from which we can never be free.  The Bible teaches the free forgiveness of God did not originate in us, but it is a gift of God we receive and is to be freely shared with others.

The Promise of Life

During my time in Australia, I have been amazed by the incredible amount of native trees growing on rocky hillsides, cliffs and in fields.  The Blue Mountains are covered by a sea of gum trees that extend beyond the visible horizon.  I recently went to Camp Kedron as speaker and looked out upon the innumerable trees with leaves in the morning sunlight that flickered in the breeze like golden flame.  It was a glorious moment to behold the greatness of God in His creation, for even as the sun rose high above trees and mountains God rules and reigns over all that is and will ever be.

Trees and all living things in creation provide evidence there is a Creator, a first Cause starting the cycle of trees that produce seeds from which new trees grow.  Bushfires are a common way the the bush is cleared and rejuvenated over time, and God has designed plants, animals and people to reproduce after their own kind.  In Isaiah 55, God used the example of rain that falls to the earth for the purpose to water plants and cause them to grow, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so His word will not return to Him without accomplishing His intended purposes.  Hard ground does not prevent the rain from falling, and by God's grace hearts of stone can be splintered by His word He also likens to a hammer.

The LORD God continued to speak through the prophet in Isaiah 55:12-13:  "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."  Even if people do not regard or heed God's word, those who fear the LORD can be joyful and glad in our God whose word never fails.  As I looked out upon shimmering leaves beyond count, I was blessed to consider the Light of the World Jesus Christ Who provides light in the darkness and raises the dead in sins to eternal life by the Gospel.  What joy is ours because of Jesus our LORD!

The ground brought forth thorns as a result of sin, yet by God's grace His people were given a prosperous, eternal future they could rejoice in.  The cypress and myrtle (gum trees too!) are all evergreen, unlike thorns and briers that flourish for a short season and then die and grow brittle.  God promised His people would go out with joy, be led by peace, and creation would rejoice before those He has transformed and made spiritually fruitful.  What was once a wilderness would be made paradise by God's saving grace, and may our lives also provide a fitting testimony of our great God Who has given us eternal life.  A tree cannot move itself, yet may the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives prompt us to voluntarily and freely praise and worship the God Who speaks.

Longsuffering Salvation

Faith in Jesus Christ ought to impact the outlook of Christians.  Though we trust in Jesus for eternal salvation, it does not follow we are trusting Him for the timing of the events of today.  We know God has created this earth and established the precise motion of the heavenly bodies and earth, yet unexpected traffic when running a couple minutes late can send us into a panic or frustration.  The seconds ticking away distract us from the God who dwells outside time and is never overwhelmed.

Since my early Christian days, I have heard many believers in moments of struggle or who look at "how bad" things in the world are, wonder along with the psalmist:  "LORD, how long?"  Those who look forward to a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells can be troubled by what they see on earth that provides no glimmer of hope.  Allow the words of Peter to give us some clarity if we echo this fervent cry for deliverance in 2 Peter 3:14-15:  "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you..."

While our LORD tarries, it is good to reminded the "longsuffering of our LORD is salvation."  Aren't you glad God is so patient and longsuffering that despite the wickedness in the world, He waited long enough for you and others to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour?  For a long time we were apart from God, under condemnation and damnation, but in receiving the Gospel we are assured of eternal life and fellowship with God forever.  Every day that passes means many more people will hear and respond by faith to the good news of the Gospel.  Because no one can snatch us out of the hand of God who keeps us, we are safely kept and redeemed by God's grace for His glory.

There may be people who walk away from God for a season or permanently, but God ought not to blamed for apostate souls who have willfully divorced themselves from His saving grace freely offered to all.  I am and will be eternally grateful for the longsuffering nature of God, not only because I have benefitted greatly from it, but for all who will receive and know His goodness.  Let us be patient even if our suffering is long, for God has given us an example so we might follow in His steps.  As we look to Jesus we ought to be diligent to be found in peace, without spot and blameless.  Love suffers long and is kind, and may we retain the sweetness of God's grace when we could naturally be made bitter.

The Fruit of Sorrow and Faith

The book of 1 Samuel begins with a heartbreaking passage of the conflict between rival wives of Elkanah  named Peninnah and Hannah.  Peninnah had sons and daughters, but the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, and as a consequence she was childless.  Peninnah was an hateful adversary to Hannah, who provoked and needled her over her barrenness, and it broke Hannah's heart.  Elkanah loved Hannah very much and supplied her a double portion to show how much he cared for her.  Yet Hannah was so grieved over the provocation she could not bring herself to eat anything.  1 Samuel 1:8 reads, "Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"  Rather than lamenting what she did not have, Elkanah begged his wife to find comfort in his love and provision.

There is no question Elkanah was good to Hannah, and he used a phrase similar to that employed in the previous book of Ruth.  When Ruth gave birth to a son by Boaz, she provided Naomi an heir who would receive the family inheritance.   Ruth 4:14-15 says, "Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! ¹⁵ And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."  Ruth was a caring, supportive and obedient daughter-in-law who loved Naomi and the LORD God of Israel.  Before they were wed, Boaz affirmed Ruth was known to all those in Bethlehem to be a virtuous woman.  In saying Ruth was a  better daughter-in-law than seven sons, the point was Ruth ought to be treasured by Naomi more than a means to a grandson (or 7 of them!), and Elkanah was a greater blessing to Hannah than any sons he could supply.

The sad story takes a lovely turn when Hannah, in deep grief and sorrow, poured out her heart to the LORD in prayer at the tabernacle.  She begged God to give her conception and promised if God gave her a son she would dedicate him wholly to the LORD's service in the tabernacle.  God did not ignore the cry or tears of Hannah who sought Him:  God Who provided a loving husband in Elkanah also provided a son according to her request without reproach.  God did not chastise Hannah for the desires of her heart, for ingratitude or lack of contentment, as she boldly poured out her soul before the LORD Who was her refuge and giver of all good things.  I am blessed by Hannah's example, that she did not stuff her sorrow away or suffer in silence and neglect coming before the LORD.  Her season of provocation, pain and barrenness resulted in the birth of a son who would grow up to be the prophet and judge Samuel whose name means, "God has heard."  The birth of the child and his life of blessing to the nation was a testimony of the living God who hears and answers prayer--borne out of sorrow by faith in God.

Hannah prayed fervently for a son, and she made good on her promise to the LORD to dedicate him wholly to the LORD.  God did for Hannah more than she asked for as 1 Samuel 2:21 states, "And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD."  See the fruit God causes to grow through sorrow of soul for those who seek and trust in Him!  Hannah shed many tears over the provocations of Peninnah, yet it was after she sought the LORD help and hope was provided by Him.  God did not begrudge Hannah for the desires of her heart and her request to bear a son, and He does not reproach any of His children who approach Him needy, helpless and fruitless to seek His favour.  God is better to us than a spouse or all the sons or daughters in the world, and let us rejoice and worship our LORD with gladness today--as if we have already received infinitely more than we asked for!

Submission to Every Ordinance

One of the consequences of being an Australian citizen is voting is compulsory.  Those who choose not to vote in local or federal elections or a referendum are required to pay a fine which is currently capped at $55.  For followers of Jesus Christ, it should not be the threat of a fine that leads us to do our civic duty to vote, but submission to the government established by God as unto Him.

1 Peter 2:13-16 exhorts believers in the context of doing good works in the public sphere, "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--¹⁶ as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God."  While there are exceptions to this command of Peter, let us not miss the overarching requirements of the child of God to submit to every ordinance of man for the LORD's sake.  Those who appeal to a "higher authority" to justify disregarding the law everyone ought to follow is blatant rebellion before God.  We have the highest authority, God Himself, commanding us to submit by faith in Him to every ordinance, to kings as supreme and governors who ultimately have been established by God.  It is hypocrisy to use God or our faith in Jesus as an excuse not to comply with court orders, paying due wages and tax, and obtaining licenses--like everyone else is required to do.

Our freedom in Christ is not to be exercised by willful defiance against government but obedience to the government as unto the LORD--regardless if we agree with the ordinances, for our convenience, or to show our displeasure.  Even if churches and believers are unfairly targeted by authorities, by faith in Jesus who rules and reigns over all we are to honour and obey Him by submitting to earthly ordinances.  Should it ever come to a point where a government tries to force believers to deny or disobey our LORD Who has taught us to "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's," we need not be defiant with anger and resentment.  Like the Hebrew trio who cheerfully conversed with King Nebuchadnezzar who threatened their lives with death, we can show due respect by politely declining and continuing in faithful allegiance to God.  God honoured these men by their deliverance and salvation, and their good works made a strong impression on Nebuchadnezzar.  In the New Testament, after believers were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, they continued to obey God with joy and gladness--not with anger, frustration and resentment.

Let us take a stand in obedience to God, and know it is God's will we would be as determined to obey our government and local councils as if we were obeying the commands of Jesus Christ Himself.  Rather than defiance and passionate public railing against the Sanhedrin, believers in the early church poured out their hearts behind closed doors in private to the LORD in prayer Who heard and answered them.  The lure of martyrdom for a social, political or a religious cause can be strong, yet to live daily in submission to Christ by obedience to earthly authorities that may despise Him is a true test of our faith in God Who refines us by His grace for His glory.

Speaking Evil and Judging

I have noticed in observing kids especially, when an objective standard is established by a recognised authority they are keen to see others comply.  It seems a great injustice that they would be obedient to the rule and others would ignore it.  Little pleasure is taken in the fact they are doing what they are told when others break the rule without consequences.  It is nigh impossible for some outwardly compliant children to remain silent about rulebreakers without complaining about them or dobbing them in.  It may be I know something about this from personal experience.  One child disobeys to express his own will, and telling on him is a way for the more compliant and legalistic to try to control him.  No motive is pure in this instance.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we grew out of our tendency to disobey, lie, gossip and meddle as we grew older?  Our old ways do not supernaturally vaporise after we come to Jesus Christ in faith.  For this reason James exhorted Jewish believers in James 4:11-12:  "Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?"  Obeying the Law of Moses was a massive part of Jewish culture in ancient times until now, and it was not uncommon for differences of opinion and interpretation to lead to conflict: business deals went sour, family dramas persisted, and people had different religious practices and convictions.  James told believers not to speak evil of one another in judgment.  They were not to vent their feelings or opinions of others by slanderous gossip, to pit people against one another, or to humiliate by divulging private matters.

Speaking evil of others is contrary to what James previously stated, that we ought to humble ourselves before God and man.  James explained that the arrogant judgment of others was actually to speak against the Law--and this is contrary to a heart that is humble and subject to the Law.  The role of judges is to rightly interpret and apply the Law to the lives of people, and those who judge and speak evil of one another disobey the Law.  The only One who is above the Law is the Lawgiver and Author of it, Jesus Christ.  The Law is good when used lawfully, and Jesus is the righteous Judge of all.  Only a fool would speak ill of His Law and by extension the Author Himself, the One able to save and destroy.  Us judging someone or the Law judging someone are two different things.

If you have ever played baseball, you know the umpire has the authority to officiate the game.  He does not make the rules but enforces them, and the umpire's word is final.  The umpire alone calls balls and strikes, and any player with a brain in his head knows it is in his best interest not to argue with the umpire--even when he is convinced the umpire made a bad call.  It is not in the player's favour to openly assert or even imply the umpire is blind, does not know the strike zone or is stupid.  If the player is not immediately ejected for his comments, he can be sure any future marginal calls will not go his way.  So the smart, self-controlled player shuts up, lets the umpire make the call, and does his best to get a hit within the rules of the game.  If we know not to speak poorly of an umpire, how much more careful should we be not to speak evil of one another and by extension the Law?  We aren't a judge or the Lawgiver, and thus we are called to be obedient to Christ as His faithful subjects.

James asked, "Who are you to judge another?"  We are not called to voice negative opinions of others as if we are a judge in a court of law "just stating the facts" of a case.  As those subject to Christ, we should focus our efforts on what He requires of us rather than stating how others have failed to measure up.  Even if we are in a position of authority in the church or a judge, it is not fitting we would speak against the Law or by extension the Lawgiver.  There are ways to deal with sin and offence in the Bible we ought to follow, and speaking evil of others through gossip or slander are not ways God has prescribed.  If we speak evil of the brethren we are like the self-righteous hypocrite who tattles on others, a sinner before the God Who will bring every word and motive of the heart into judgment.  Those who speak evil of others do so at their own peril, for there is one Judge--and we are not Him.

God Must Be Glorified

It is great pleasure for those who give gifts to have them joyfully received.  Some people can be difficult to buy for because they seem to have everything or have refined tastes.  King Solomon was a man of enormous wealth, and I imagine very challenging to impress.  To have your gift gladly received and used by him would have been a great compliment, and in a small way could be viewed by the giver as accepting his own person.  If a commoner has difficulty to give a suitable gift to someone who isn't even royalty, to find an acceptable offering before the LORD God is impossible!

In His grace, God provided His Law for the Hebrews that outlined acceptable offerings and sacrifices for His glory that also benefitted the people by atoning for sin and feeding them.  Imagine how joyful the people were after the tabernacle had been constructed, Aaron the high priest and his sons were sanctified, and the LORD consumed the sacrifice on the altar with fire from heaven in their sight.  Leviticus 9:23-24 tells us what happened:  "And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, ²⁴ and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces."  When a baseball player hits a home run fans instinctively stand to their feet, and when a rugby player scores a try a shout of joy rings out from faithful supporters.  The glory of the LORD appeared to the people and the burnt offering was consumed on the altar, God's people shouted with joy and fell on their faces before His presence.

To have your offering received by God with fire from heaven!  What amazement, what gladness swept through the people!  The incredible act proved God's existence, was affirmation they had done according to His Law, their sin was forgiven and they had been accepted by Him--unlike Cain who was rejected.  But the euphoria did not last long.  Leviticus 10:1-3 says, "Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. ² So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. ³ And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace."  God who consumed the sacrifice offered Him, in accordance to Law, also consumed the priests who disobeyed God by doing what He had not commanded.  In the process of offering the first sacrifices in the history of the nation of Israel two men perished before God due to their sin.  This had a sobering effect upon all who witnessed the event:  no priest in the line of Aaron was God, and they were to give Him reverence rather than show off or seek glory for themselves.

This passage makes clear our best efforts or doing as we see fit makes us acceptable before God.  The only way we can stand before Him, serve Him and present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable before God, is when we follow God's ordained way.  Jesus has revealed Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Under the New Covenant of grace, our God remains a consuming fire.  We see this in the early church when Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit about the price of the land and were struck dead.  Great fear came upon the church and all who heard these things.  The righteous response of His faithful servants is to humble ourselves before God and to glorify Him through our obedience--not to bury the talents He gives us lest He find reason to reject us--for this betrays our carelessness and selfish desire for our own glory.

Hebrews 12:28-29 says of Christians, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire."  As Adam Clarke wrote, "He will either hallow or destroy us: he will purify our souls by the influence of his Spirit, or consume them with the breath of his mouth!"  Those who humble themselves before God in faith and obedience are made holy by His indwelling presence, and He daily teaches us to put our sin to the sword in repentance.  It is only by the grace of God through the Gospel we are enabled to stand before Him and offer ourselves as living sacrifices.  Having accepted us by grace through faith, we are to serve Him with reverence and godly fear.  Judgment begins at the house of God, and by our sanctified lives may the almighty God be glorified today!

Blessed are Those Who Lack

In His wisdom, God created man in His own image with needs God alone can meet.  He made our bodies to send signals to the brain with feelings of hunger, thirst, and if we are too hot or too cold.  By responding to our senses, we can take practical action for the health and well-being of our bodies.  The simple action of drinking water or moving from the sun into shade can prevent heat exhaustion, dehydration and sunburn.

Our needs go beyond tending to our physical flesh, for we have emotional and spiritual needs as well--having been given the capacity to have understanding of personal relationships and our environment, love, desires, ambitions and a conscience to guide our moral decisions.  Based on a complex combination of what we know, how we feel and our personal preferences we seek outcomes to benefit us to our satisfaction.  The trouble is feelings of happiness, contentment and satisfaction are temporary and fleeting.  We expend effort to pursue good feelings that can be hard or impossible to obtain, and whenever we experience them we cannot enjoy them as we would like.

Because we are made in God's image and have a personal relationship with God, He has designed us in such a manner that lasting, genuine satisfaction can only be found in Him alone.  Our hunger, thirst and desires we can only temporally relieve point us to seek Him in faith in every area of life.  Jesus taught His disciples in Luke 6:20-21:  "Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."  By faith in Jesus those who felt the pinch of poverty, hunger and lack, and the pain of grief could look beyond the present season to a new opportunity for lasting satisfaction, abundance and joy.  There have been times we have been pleased to receive our wages or a gift that allowed us to afford expenses and to obtain our desires.  We have felt the physical pleasure of eating delicious food and the satisfaction of being content.  We have wept over things that made us wonder if we could ever be happy again, and happiness has come unexpectedly.

This fleeting sense of satisfaction we have experienced here and now on earth point to the future God has planned for all who trust and love Him, for hunger, thirst, grief, sorrow and sickness will pass away.  We can know in part what it means to be well, satisfied and content through Christ, and we will know this completely when we reside in new, glorified bodies in a new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells in the presence of God forever.  Life is good, but the best we can experience today by our efforts pales in comparison to the lasting satisfaction and joy found in Jesus where contentment and peace are abundant and constant.  God is worthy to be praised when we become aware of our lack and personal need, for it opens our eyes to the poverty of anything this world can offer and the sufficiency of Christ.

The Willing Giver

Christians who have received the Gospel can view life under the Law of Moses as a extensive list of oppressive, unwelcome demands.  While the Law did contain statutes and judgments that people who feared God submitted to best they could, people were willing to go beyond the letter of the Law to bless God by giving to Him Who had blessed them.  The almighty God heard their cries, freed them from bondage in Egypt, destroyed their enemies, and prepared a good land to enter into.  He also desired to dwell in their midst, and they were given the opportunity to give and labour to that end.

After Moses received God's plans for the tabernacle, he spoke to everyone in the Israelite community to bring an offering to the LORD of whatever they had--and the caveat is they were to be willing, for God loves a cheerful giver.  Exodus 35:20-21 says, "And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. ²¹ Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments."  In the Old Testament we have this wonderful example of God moving in the midst of His people, stirring their hearts to willingly give.  They were not to give because the Law required them to give a particular percentage or amount, nor was a guilt trip laid on them for all God had given them and their obligation to return the favour.  The passage is marked by an incredible willingness in God's people to present offerings to God of what they had of their own free will for His service.

The people were willing to generously give offerings to God and also were willing to come and do the work, to follow the lead of Bezalel and Oholiab to construct the sanctuary.  I am reminded of what happened many years later when the ruined walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt under the leadership of Nehemiah (a cupbearer!), and a diverse group of people who were not masons or even skilled at manual labour who successfully built the wall in a matter of weeks.  The people were so willing to give it came to a point more materials than were necessary for building the tabernacle had been accumulated, and thus the people were restrained from giving.  They had to be commanded by Moses to stop bringing valuable and precious goods to the workers because there was already enough to do the work.  This passage illustrates the willingness to give that marks the people whose God is the LORD.

May the LORD stir our hearts and make us willing to offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto the LORD, and this includes our possessions, skills and abilities.  The raw materials brought to Moses were crafted into a dwelling place of the LORD, and by the work Jesus did on the cross each believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  In light of all God has given us, we should be moved to generously give as unto Him when opportunities to meet needs arise.  2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says in the context for providing for ministry to believers, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."  How blessed we are by the riches of God's grace that is always sufficient in all things to give and contribute to His glorious testimony.

Learning Obedience

A child shares a unique relationship with their parents, having been conceived by them and born subject to them.  Infants and young children are completely reliant upon their parents for survival, and as they develop they learn to understand communication by tone, facial expressions and words.  Parents train their children to do basic tasks themselves, and often children learn to obey by trial and error, failing again and again until they finally succeed.  It takes a lot of effort and coordination for a child to learn to walk, to tie their shoes or dress themselves.

When it comes to obedience, to young children their parent is the authority.  While there are likely exceptions to this, should there be a conflict between what a pre-school teacher or friend says and what mum or dad says, the child will tend to side with their parents.  In that tender age they have no reason to think their parents, who have provided for them and helped them through every season of life, would deliberately mislead them.  It is when they grow older and more independent they question, doubt and even oppose what their parents said, buoyed by the pride and passion of youth.  A combination of faithful training, loving discipline, life experiences that include negative consequences, and exposure to biblical truth help guide people of all ages to mature.

The writer of Hebrews used the relationship Jesus (as the Son of God) had with His heavenly Father to instruct and encourage those who have been born-again to learn obedience.  Hebrews 5:7-10 says of Jesus, "...who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek..."  Small children in trouble instinctively run to their parents for protection, and Jesus cried out to God His Father Who heard Him.  Jesus did not learn obedience by making mistakes that required correction but by the things He suffered.  Jesus learned obedience to His Father in a relationship with God, and as born-again children of God by faith in Jesus we learn to obey Him.

Salvation is not earned by obedience, but genuine faith that saves is marked by obedience.  As Jesus learned obedience, so we also are called to learn to obey God our Father.  The payment Jesus has made for our sin inspires us to walk righteously, and the negative consequences experienced for our sin provides valuable lessons that work to sanctify.  Since the righteousness of God has been imputed to us by faith in Jesus, the loving relationship we share fosters our desire is to please Him by obedience.  Our obedience to Jesus Christ is an indication we have a genuine relationship with God even as a child has with their loving parents.  We too can learn obedience by the things which we suffer, and God provides consolation for our suffering.  Obedience is not always binary but by degrees, for even our best efforts to obey often fall short of God's perfection.

If Jesus Who was without sin needed to learn obedience, it follows we need to learn to obey God as well, to learn to keep our vessels in honour.  Obedience to God may lead to temporary suffering, yet consider the eternal benefits of Christ's obedience to go to the cross to atone for lost sinners!  Death was swallowed up in victory; pain and shame was dissolved with eternal joy and perfect peace.  The benefits of obedience are glorious rewards the wise desire, and to identify with Christ through joyful obedience to God is evidence of our eternal salvation.  Because Jesus is our Saviour, we delight to learn to obey Him.  One day we will be perfected even as Jesus is, and we thus presently offer up prayers and supplications to Him who is able to save us from death and provide eternal salvation.

Good Lessons from Bad Examples

The context of the book of Judges is a time marked by everyone doing what was right in their own eyes.  The focus is primarily on God's people who lived just like the heathen nations round about them.  Chapters 17-18 of Judges tell the story of Micah, a Levite from Bethlehem, and men from the tribe of Dan.  All the characters in the passage are unethical and immoral in their relationship to God and one another, everyone aiming to benefit themselves at the expense of God or their fellow man.

Micah's religion was what we call in Australia a "dog's breakfast" because from a biblical perspective it was an absolute mess.  Micah embraced what many people still do today, imagining God would bless and benefit him because of his twisted efforts to honour Him.  Because he did not know God, Micah did not walk in the way God laid forth in the Law of Moses.  He made idolatrous images in violation of the law along with an ephod and consecrated one of his sons as his priest--until the Levite came along.  Micah hired the drifter and grifter Levite, believing God would certainly do him good because he had a Levite as his priest (who was not a qualified priest at all!).

Micah was looking for God to do him good, and the Levite who wandered to find a place (and was treated like a son by Micah) was only too glad to take a better deal with the tribe of Dan after they stole Micah's gods.  The men of Dan were pleased to steal Micah's idols and illegitimate "priest" after he had extended hospitality to them, and then they attacked Sidonians to take their land for themselves.  Every person and group was out for their own interests without thought of others or God, and the heart of mankind has not changed at all.  One of the best sermons I ever heard was taken from these scriptures, titled 10 Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.  He used this passage to point out the utilitarian appeal of a modern presentation of the Gospel that is like a Levite pretending to be priest--the offer of forgiveness without repentance, salvation without faith marked by obedience, and appeals to selfish motives rather than the glory of God simply because He is worthy.

How different things would have been if Micah had trusted and believed in the one true God Who is good!  Instead of looking for a place the Levite could have been blessed to serve at the tabernacle where the presence of the LORD dwelt among His people.  The tribe of Dan could have been content to receive their land by lot as an inheritance from God's hand, be satisfied in abundance, and give rather than steal.  How different for the better we would be if we learned from their bad example!  It is good for us to understand that in the worst examples in scripture we can catch glimpses of ourselves so we might repent of our sin and choose to do what pleases God.  And if you haven't heard that sermon yet, it is well worth your time.  Not only will it provide insight into Judges 17-18 but challenges all to examine our hearts so we might humble ourselves before God and by faith and obedience to be more like Jesus. 

Confidence God Is Able

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded His disciples to show humility and grace rather than demanding retribution under the Law of Moses.  In the Law, God commanded legal retribution ought not to exceed the offence, like an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth.  Rather than retaliating for wrongs suffered, Jesus bid His followers to do good instead.  He said in Matthew 5:40-41, "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."  The Romans oppressed the Jews as second-class citizens, forcing them to carry burdens for up to a mile.  Jesus directed His disciples to go beyond what was required by faith and obedience to Him.

A disciple is not greater than his master, and because Jesus is our Master we ought to follow His example and walk in His steps.  One attribute of God is He lovingly does far more than we could ask or imagine as it is written in Ephesians 3:20-21:  "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  God is not only able, but He delights to do glorious things on our behalf continually.  Nowhere did the Law of Moses make a provision or a promise God's people could be filled with the fullness of God and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, yet Jesus through the Gospel revealed this reality.  How awesome is God and His wondrous ways!

Philemon is an example of someone who obeyed the command of Jesus to "go the extra mile."  After his slave Onesimus ran away, Paul shared Christ with him and he became a born again Christian.  Paul sent Philemon a letter asking him to receive Onesimus back as he would as if he was a welcome guest like Paul himself, now a fellow brother in Christ.  Under Roman Law Philemon had the legal right to brutally punish, torture, sexually exploit or even kill a runaway slave.  Paul politely wrote to Philemon, not because he was afraid Philemon would treat Onesimus poorly, but because he was confident Philemon would walk in obedience to Christ and do good.  Philemon 1:21 says, "Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say."  Confidence in the godly character of Philemon, Paul made his request to receive Onesimus known.

Do you appreciate God does exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think?  Only a fool would not!  Those who love, fear God, and place their confidence in Him ought to seek Him in prayer and make our requests known to Him.  Even when our prayers are short-sighted and limited in scope, God is faithful to go beyond what we ask because He is gracious, merciful and good.  As children of God and servants of our glorious Saviour, let us be those who happily go extra miles (without keeping tabs of other's wrongs or our "rights") as He leads and strengthens us to take the next step.  Our confidence that God does above all we ask or think moves us to pray more rather than less.

Redemption and Good Works

It is strange to me how "good works" can almost have a bad rap in some Christian circles, as if the emphasis on doing them is somehow tied to a works-based faith.  While it is true some people wrongfully imagine they can earn favour or even salvation from God through doing good deeds, there is no question we are saved by grace to do good works.  To preach the necessity of doing good works in itself is not legalism but is evidence we have genuinely been born again.  Instead of seeing good works as a burden or drudgery, our regenerated souls delight to do what pleases God.

Jesus modelled and preached good works to those under Law when He rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23:  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."  The Pharisees were preoccupied with maintaining a squeaky-clean image and embraced burdensome traditions to appear pious but neglected the unclean conditions of their hearts.  They were hypocrites to put greater emphasis on little things others could see rather than addressing their inner wickedness.  Jesus pronounced woe upon them for their hypocrisy, and God forbid we who have been cleansed within by the grace of God and rendered righteous should have lives marked with sloth, selfishness and avoidance of doing good.  On the night Jesus was betrayed He humbled Himself and embraced the role of a servant of all by washing the disciple's feet as an example we should follow, for a servant is not above his Master.

When the Jews asked Jesus how to do the works of God John 6:29 says, "Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  Faith in God is a good work we ought to do, and this leads to embracing a primary purpose of our salvation by the Gospel:  to do good works!  It is written of born-again Christians in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Anyone who is excited about the place Jesus is preparing for us in heaven ought also to be delighted to do the good works God has already prepared beforehand for us to walk in.  During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 5:14-16:  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  The purpose of lighting a lamp is to give light to everyone in the house, and the purpose for the salvation of lost sinners is do all that Jesus commands us so God will be glorified through the good works of His people:  to love and forgive one another, repent of our sin, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and obediently follow Jesus.  The commands of Christ are not burdensome, for He has provided the indwelling Holy Spirit Who helps us to know and do God's will.

The doctrine of grace, rather than leading to smug indolence or justifying ourselves, teaches us to embrace our sanctification and good works because we have been justified by faith in Jesus.  Paul wrote in Titus 2:11-14:  "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."  We do not work with the hope of gaining favour from God because we already have received grace upon grace.  Having been redeemed from death and made alive to God, we are to do the good works of rejecting an ungodly lifestyle and instead living soberly, righteously and godly right now.  It is our reasonable service to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to our Saviour who laid down His life for us by looking to Him, walking in fellowship with Him, zealous for good works.

Good works are not a burden we are to place upon others like the hypocritical Pharisees did, but what Jesus leads us to joyfully labour for Him and serve one another as His redeemed.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  A yoke was placed upon a team of oxen to do work like pulling a cart, to plough or thresh grain.  Jesus bids us come alongside Him, for He will support, help and teach us how to do God's work.  In our flesh we are unable to do the first works of God, yet at Jesus' side we are greatly helped and encouraged to do His good works that bring honour and glory to our Saviour Who has redeemed us for His glorious purposes.

Stir Up the Gift of God

Because Timothy was a man who had genuine faith in Jesus, Paul urged him in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:  "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  Paul had been instrumental in Timothy receiving the gift of God, the filling with the Holy Spirit Jesus promised to give to all who trust in Hm.  In addition to producing the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a born-again believer, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each one according to the will of God.  Paul reminded Timothy to "stir up the gift of God" that was in him without fear, the the Spirit He has given is of power, of love and of a sound mind.

Timothy was exhorted to stir up the gift of the Spirit as one fans coals that began to smolder back into flame.  The Holy Spirit provides the fuel to let the light of the Gospel shine before men through us, and it seems Timothy had neglected this or there was more he could do to that end.  When I think of stirring up things, one reason we do is to agitate and better incorporate every ingredient in a drink or dish.  Perhaps there were many ways Timothy could better incorporate the gift of God into his daily labour and activities.  Another way we commonly say something is "stirred up" is like when a crocodile goes from laying still and silent and suddenly goes into a death roll.  Crocodiles are masters of camouflage, lying still as a log until they violently stir up the water as they feed.  It may have been Timothy was fine for the gift of God to fly under the radar, camouflaged from the view of others out of fear they would not approve or understand.

The divine Holy Spirit God has given us is not a spirit of fear, but in stark contrast a Spirit of power and of love and sound mind.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be God's faithful, bold witnesses wherever He leads us and gives us supernatural ability we do not naturally possess.  God gives His people power to humble ourselves and to love others as Jesus loves us actively and sacrificially.  God's love is described in detail in 1 Corinthians 13 and demonstrated by Jesus in the manner of His life as He selflessly served others and by His death for lost sinners.  The Holy Spirit also gives us a sound mind, understanding and discernment of spiritual things we could not otherwise know.  God provides a circumspect perspective and sober-mindedness, the ability to identify and put off the works of the flesh while walking according to the leading of the Holy Spirit in holiness.

Christians have been given the Spirit of God that rested upon Jesus Christ as it was prophesied in Isaiah 11:1-2:  "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. ² The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."  The fear of God frees us from the oppressive fear of man that would allow the gift of the Spirit to die down like a fire in the rain.  By fanning the flames of the Spirit of God by faith and obedience to Christ, we are led by God as it is written in Romans 8:14-15:  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."  Having been born again we are adopted as sons of God, and thus we need reminding to stir up the gift of God to walk worthily of our glorious Saviour.

The Satanic Suggestion

Satan walks the earth like a lion seeking whom he may devour, yet he can take the form of an angel of light.  Like the Pharisees who were clean on the outside yet spiritually were like unclean tombs within, the devil and those who follow him can seem to have our best interest in mind while working to ruin us.  Peter believed he spoke as a man inspired by the Holy Spirit when he rebuked Jesus for saying He would be killed, yet it was as if Satan were speaking.  Jesus then rebuked Peter for such a suggestion in Matthew 16:23:  "But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

Satan foolishly sought to be like the Most High, and his pride led him to a great fall.  The father of lies is the master of telling them, and it is only by being grounded in the word of God we can recognise and avoid falling prey to His deceptions.  Satan was able to deceive Eve by first questioning then denying what God had plainly said.  For those who can read God's word and have the Holy Spirit within them, blatant lies are not as effective as partial truths--which are still a complete lie.  As long as we reside in these bodies of flesh, there is potential we can be swayed by attractive appeals to our flesh.

We see this appeal to fleshly desire in David's men when King Saul pursued David to kill him.  While in the wilderness of En-gedi, Saul ventured into the same cave David and his men sheltered in.  They urged David to take full advantage of the situation in 1 Samuel 24:4:  "Then the men of David said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.' " And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe."  There were many times in scripture God promised to deliver the enemies of His people into their hand, and it is not clear if God said this in particular to David.  But the second part of their statement reeks of sulfur, for they appealed to his flesh.  Instead of doing to Saul as seems good according to God's will, they used God's name to encourage David to do his own will.  Instead of lopping off Saul's head, he chose to cut off the corner of his king's robe.

So tender was the heart of David that he felt remorse over what he did as it says in 1 Samuel 24:5-6, "Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe. ⁶ And he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."  David confessed his sin before the men, for in doing as seemed good to him it wholly missed the mark of God's righteousness.  David was anointed of God to be king, but since God had not yet removed Saul from the kingdom David was to presently submit to God in faith.  Falling for the devil's lies gives us insight into the evil in our own hearts, and the wise learn from error coupled with repentance.  As much as David loved and trusted his men, the truth of their words could be discerned by knowledge of God and His word.  Appeals to the flesh and encouragement to "do as what seems good to you" ought to be a red flag every time.

The Promise of His Coming

Upon my return to San Diego, I was surprised to hear of a hurricane Hilary moving straight towards "America's Favorite City."  I grew up and spent a great deal of my adult life in San Diego, and I never heard of such a thing--or had seen such an almost hysterical response to an incoming storm.  Television programs were rescheduled to provide extra coverage of the "hurricane", and long before it entered the United States it had been downgraded to a tropical storm.  An insurance company made automated calls to encourage their customers to take every possible precaution for this potential disaster.  The hype was so intense school was cancelled for many students today.

Because the buildup was so intense, when it finally started drizzling and raining yesterday the storm was quite underwhelming.  Before the storm everyone was talking about the forecast, and many after the storm had a chuckle over how much a non-event it was.  If this storm was a test of San Diego's emergency broadcast network, based upon my experience I would say it passed with high marks.  It is better to be safe than sorry.  When there are warnings that do not correlate with reality, however, it would be no surprise for people to tune out if future alarms prove false.  Like in the fable of the boy who cried wolf, people grow weary of being mislead--even if others have their best in mind.

Hurricane Hilary has come and gone, and life goes on without a hitch.  Peter warned believers not to forget the warning Jesus gave about coming judgment people made a mockery of in 2 Peter 3:1-4:  "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."  In these last days some people scoff at the idea of coming judgment for sin or their own mortality, but God's people ought to be aware and mindful of both.  We should not scorn God's warnings in His word, by His prophets or Son with the manner of our lives.  The sun rises and sets every day without fail, and winter makes way for spring.  But one day, all that will change for us.

Peter used the flood in the days of Noah as an example in 2 Peter 3:5-7:  "For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  God who destroyed the earth with a flood of water is actively preserving them until He brings judgment with fire upon the ungodly.  The world that existed before the flood perished, and the world that exists now will someday perish:  of this we can be certain.  But praise the LORD God has sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  Meteorologists can get it wrong, but God is never wrong.  With a high degree of accuracy it was predicted when the storm would arrive in southern California, yet only God knows the time when our lives will be required of us and we will face judgment.

How we live today matters as Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."  Let us not mistake His patience and longsuffering for carelessness or forgetfulness.  God has promised, and He will be faithful to complete the work He has begun.  What God says He will do He will do without fail.  The question is, will we sit in the seat of the scornful or make our LORD Jesus  the delight of our souls to hear and obey?

God and Faith that Saves

The Bible is full of heroes of faith in God who are not mentioned in Hebrews 11.  In some cases we are not even given their names, yet they remain worthy of our admiration and emulation.  The living God does wondrous things through people who trust and fear Him, and blessed are those who put their lives in His hands.

Jonathan and his young armour-bearer are a fine example of men who banded together in the fear of God.  They did not consider the "odds" of winning or defeat in battle; they were not buoyed by aspirations of fame nor hesitated at the potential personal cost.  1 Samuel 14:6-7 reads, "Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." ⁷ So his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart."  Jonathan aimed to be more than a disruption to the encamped Philistines who oppressed Israel, for his aim was for God to save them and all Israel.  Nothing restrained God from saving by many or few, and the passage shows even two who trust Him is more than enough.

From a military standpoint, the Philistines had every advantage.  The Philistines were many, well-armed, had lookouts stationed, and held an elevated, fortified position.  Jonathan and the young man who held his armour were two men, and one had his hands full!  Jonathan looked at the situation, not with the eyes of a seasoned military veteran, but with the expectation God would save and with willingness to do his part.  The armour-bearer was pleased to follow Jonathan wherever he went, even if it meant clambering up a mountain and walking into an enemy encampment.  Instead of questioning or opposing Jonathan, the armour-bearer encouraged him to go for it--and he was all in with whatever Jonathan chose to do.

God won a notable victory that day by the hand of Jonathan and his young armour-bearer because they believed God was able to save, sought the LORD for the go-ahead, and boldly took action according to faith in Him.  They did not imagine themselves stronger, better equipped, or more skilled warriors than the Philistines who mocked them but believed their God would do a work to save.  The first half of 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him..."  By God's grace these men were enabled to do what their king and army was unable to do.  These men weren't looking to be heroes, but were willing to be nameless and shameless in their faith in their God who is unrestrained to save.  May each of God's people be numbered among those who believe nothing restrains God by saving by many or few and do all that He puts in our hearts.

God's Appointments

"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."

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

There are many kinds of appointments we have daily, and some of these are arranged and kept by us and others by God.  Yesterday I accompanied my parents to a doctor's appointment, the kind of appointment one would rather not have.  It would be wonderful if we never were sick and doctor's appointments were unnecessary, but having an appointment with a skilled physician is a blessing when you have cancer and want to be rid of it.

I was encouraged by this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 that tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ.  We may forget we have an appointment and miss it, but God never forgets.  As children of God saved through the Gospel, we are not appointed to wrath.  The suffering and pains of this life are not retribution for our sins, for Jesus has provided atonement on the cross, forgiven us and imputed the righteousness of God to us.  In this world, however, we will suffer many trials and tribulations.  We can be sure every one of them is devoid of God's wrath that consumes and destroys, for He utilises trials to refine His beloved children to make us more like Him.

As certain as children of God are not appointed to wrath, He has appointed us to obtain salvation and to live together with Him.  He will not fail to keep these appointments!  Jesus died for us so we can always live with Him in fellowship as companions.  Whether we live in these bodies or after our mortal frame is laid to rest, Jesus has appointed us to life with Him.  Paul exhorted believers to comfort and edify one another with these words, for God has appointed comfort for those who mourn.  The one who mourns over their sin and repents is the one who will be forgiven and comforted, and this knowledge of God's divine appointments and plans for us strengthens us today.

By faith in Jesus we put on the breastplate of faith and love, and we don the helmet of the hope of salvation.  These, my brothers and sisters, will never disappoint.  When we are disappointed with situations in our lives, our hearts and minds are well-protected by faith and the love of God and hope of salvation.  No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, for God has appointed us to live with Him now and forever.  Jesus is our life, and blessed is the one who is comforted and edified in Him.