New Man Strong

I used to watch boxing in my younger days, and I always enjoyed predicting who would win.  Both fighters talked a big pre-match game, but one of them would end up being the loser--sometimes in mere seconds.  What I observed is the fighter who appeared more heavily muscled often tired more quickly than the other.  This led me to conclude there can be a fighter who works out in the gym to look cut and fit, while others grow lean and strong by training and boxing.  More often than not, the fighter with better endurance was able to focus their strength with sound technique after the more ripped fighter was winded with fatigue.

Today as I chipped away at an old stump, it dawned on me that working is the best exercise because it produces multiple benefits.  There are many people who "work out" today for personal health, yet there is not necessarily any "work" accomplished.  People sweat by running on a treadmill or climbing a stair-stepper but do not go anywhere; they lift weights yet do not move anything from here to there.  The weights are set back on the rack, and the benefit of this kind of workout is a temporary strain of the body that builds muscle or burns fat--but the benefits are limited to a body that is perishing.  It is fine to exercise our bodies to improve and maintain physical health, yet how much better to remove a stump, dig a trench or build a wall at the same time!

When I worked in a trade, there were older fellows I called "old man strong."  While young men spent hours a week in the gym working towards shredded abs or bigger biceps, men in the trade worked on the tools for their living and survival.  These old men could wrangle wooden 12-foot ladders like a stepstool because they learned to control the weight and had mastery of balance and leverage by long experience.  Many a strapping young man was humbled by an inability to work with the endurance, speed, dexterity and strength of old timers who were strong by building physical strength through doing real work--not with the aid of a pool, treadmill, bike or a gym membership.  I believe there is are spiritual parallels in these observations.

Even as some people work out to improve their physique for themselves or others can see, spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible or going to church can be for show.  Paul said he did not run the race God set before him aimlessly, nor was he as like a boxer who only punched the air.  He compared his discipline in labouring to do God's will as a runner sprints towards the finish line and a boxer who spent hours on the speed bag, heavy bag, and absorbed blows to strengthen his body to win (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  If we will be fruitful for Christ's sake, we must abide in the Vine Jesus and seek to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  Better than being spiritual body-builders who flex to impress judges or fellow contestants, we ought to plough up the fallow ground of our hearts, remove the stumps of unbelief and clear the ground of sin that springs up like thornbushes with repentance.

Having been born again by Jesus, we are to become "new man strong" by working out our own salvation as new creations by reliance on our LORD as Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12-16:  "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."  Knowing we are God's workmanship, we are to do all things without complaining and disputing and hold fast the word of life.  As we discipline ourselves to practice such things as we follow Christ's example, our labour in doing God's will shall not be in vain.

Living By Faith

We enjoyed a blessed Bible study last night in the book of Matthew at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  In the midst of the study we came upon words of Jesus that are among His more obscure statements, yet they are instructive and reveal how God's ways are higher than the ways of man.  After responding to disciples of John the Baptist who had been imprisoned, Jesus revealed him to be the greatest prophet ever--yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Jesus would usher in a new covenant in His own blood to redeem people from the curse of sin and impute righteousness by faith in Him never revealed to prophets of old.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:12-13, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John."  The point was well-made in the study that violence is not always bad in itself, for strength, eagerness and vehemence can be directed in doing good.  Yet there is no question violence can be destructive, as violent waves have power to break ships apart and sink them.  The prophets, including John the Baptist, were subjected to violence by evil men who falsely accused them, threw them into prison and killed them.  The kingdom of heaven endured the violence of satanic opposition, yet he was unable to prevent God establishing His kingdom in the hearts of redeemed people by the Gospel.

I read the phrase "The violent take it by force" as a general statement in regards to how the violent take kingdoms (or whatever they want) by force.  Kings are overthrown by armies or murdered by assassins so a new regime can rise.  God's kingdom, unlike kingdoms of this world, cannot be overthrown or taken.  God does not stoop to the violent tactics of wicked men who live by the motto, "Might makes right."  Instead, God chose to draw people to His everlasting kingdom with goodness and gentleness.  All the prophets and the law prophesied until John concerning God's truth, and John the Baptist was called by God to herald the coming of the long-awaited Messiah.  Rather than employing violent force, Jesus revealed God's kingdom is established on the basis of God's love for lost sinners.  Imprisoning John and murdering Jesus did nothing to overthrow God's kingdom or bolster the powers of darkness, for there is no force able to overcome the almighty God.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, "The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."  God will not force anyone to come to Him or become citizens of His kingdom, yet God has demonstrated His love powerfully by Jesus laying down His life for sinners.  How forceful our love should be in light of God's love for us!  Our passion for the truth of the Gospel ought to be declared by our deeds as well as words.  The NLT renders verse 12, "And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it."  The advance of God's kingdom is unstoppable because God drives it forward, and God's people are His chosen instruments to speak the truth in love, to pray for our enemies and preach the Gospel.  Throughout history God's people have faced violent opposition, yet by faith in Jesus He makes us to stand and endure unscathed--refined as gold.  As citizens of God's kingdom, rather than taking by force we live by faith in Jesus.

The 4:15 Club

Exclusive clubs have conditions of membership and entry, and the cost can be so prohibited only the affluent can apply.  Only those deemed worthy are able to join such clubs.  Clubs for dancing and drinks are exclusive for people aged 21 and older.  There are clubs people would rather not be included in like the "27 Club," which is a list of musicians and celebrities who died at 27 years of age.

As I was mowing today, I thought of a "club" I was part of for about 7 years.  I don't remember how it came about, but me and a group of guys from church wanted to meet up regularly but evenings were too busy with work and family.  So my dad, myself, and 3 or 4 others from church remedied this by meeting at a Denny's Restaurant every Tuesday morning at 4:15am.  Christmas and New Year's Day were the only days we did not meet.  Men would come and go, usually because of moving away, and when one left another would show up.  The "4:15 club" continued to meet for years after I moved to Australia, and I saw many of those early risers at my dad's memorial service.

We didn't meet early in the morning to draw attention to ourselves or because it was a big sacrifice to prove our devotion to the LORD; it was simply the time that worked for a lot of us who worked in trades.  Meeting together in person allowed each us of to positively impact one another as disciples of Jesus.  Sometimes my dad would provide a book for us to read and/or discuss and we talked about verses from the Bible as well as our present lives.  Everyone had the opportunity to share and contribute to the conversation.  We were able to be a godly witness to the waitresses, praying for them and one another as we enjoyed fellowship over Grand Slams and oatmeal.  Our humble gatherings, led by the Holy Spirit, were fruitful and an encouragement to all willing to attend.

The "4:15 club" illustrates the lasting, positive impact our lives as Christians can make on others for the glory of Jesus Christ by spending time with them in person.  The cost of sacrificing an hour of sleep was a bargain in exchange for the deeper friendship and fond memories of brothers in Christ who faithfully sharpened each other week after week.  Friends, what might you do to meet up with fellow Christians on a regular basis outside of church to encourage one another?  What keeps you from meeting up with Christians--not to create an exclusive group or impress people--but to join your life with others in Christian fellowship to bring God glory?  How enriched are the souls who give of their time and effort to love others by a simple act of buying and eating breakfast together!  As Psalm 133:1 exclaims, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Gathered to Our People

At the memorial service for my dad yesterday, I was greeted by family and friends I had not seen for a long time, over two decades in some cases.  I also met people I had only seen in pictures.  It was like a family reunion of sorts, members of the Body of Christ regathered to honour the memory of Dad who was beloved and respected by many.  While the occasion was tinged with sadness, it was made overwhelmingly sweet by love and kindness of dear friends who attended.

The pastor mentioned Genesis 25:8 as evidence death of the body is not the end for people who fear God:  "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people."  The assembly of people at the church was an illustration of how passing away for a believer provides an entrance to God's presence in heaven and joins us to believers gone before us.  Dad's departure from his frail and failed body meant a joyous union with Jesus and all of God's people in glorified in the eternal state.

Abraham was gathered to his people, not by virtue of blood relation, but that of shared spiritual heritage by faith in God.  Psalm 144:15 says, "Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!"  By the Gospel Jesus has opened wide the gates of heaven for all who will trust in Him as written in Revelation 5:9-10:  "And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, ¹⁰ and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."  God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

It is a marvelous thing God has promised the former things will be forgotten and not come into mind (Isaiah 65:17-18), yet we will know God as we are known (1 Corinthians 13:12).  We will not lament who we do not see in the eternal state but rejoice in the LORD Jesus and all His redeemed forever. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 reads, "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  What a victorious and joyful entrance to heaven and existence it will be, to be with God and His people--our people--always!

God Declares Truth

There are many sayings and cliches we hear that promote a message we wish could be true.  My uncle was quoted as saying something like, "If your heart can conceive it and your mind can believe it, you can achieve it."  There is evidence to support this could be true--though our desires and belief have no guarantee of fulfillment.  I wanted to bowl a perfect game and believed I could do so, but despite training and practice I never managed to achieve the milestone.  Of all the games I bowled in my adult life I only started a game with 9 strikes in a row once, and I finished with a 279.  Inspirational sayings may be nothing more than wishful thinking when results depend upon our efforts.

What prompted these thoughts to percolate in my mind was due to a slip of paper in a fortune cookie I read yesterday:  "Affirm it, visualize it, believe it, and it will actualize itself."  This statement goes far beyond wishful thinking because it is plainly ridiculous.  Our observations and life experiences show us nothing in this world can actualize itself, that something imagined could by itself become a concrete reality we benefit from.  It is a very good thing declaring something to be true, visualizing and believing it does not make it actualize itself, for this is the thing nightmares are made of.

I love that God's plans and purposes for our lives exceed our wildest dreams and most fervent desires.  Christians know this is true because God's love is not of this world, a thing we never could have imagined until Jesus revealed His love for all by dying on the cross for us sinners.  Our greatest imaginations and conceptions of heaven are far too small even when the eternal state is described in the pages of the Bible.  We often see as in a mirror dimly, a hazy faint image of a future we cannot grasp or clearly make out.  But the glories of heaven are entirely believable because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven in view of His disciples--some of whom joyfully embraced martyrdom rather than deny Christ, so great was their confidence in Christ's promise of eternal life to all who trust in Him.

Better than affirming, visualizing and believing in what we can imagine or conceive in our minds is the reality God has declared of His existence, sovereignty and power broadcast through the heavens that declare His glory for all to see.  God alone has the power to speak things into existence, for He is the creator of the heavens, earth and all living things.  Man longs for this power and seeks it for himself, yet this is God's sovereign territory as it is written in Lamentations 3:37:  "Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?"  Man naturally values his imaginations and what could be more than the reality of God and what He has commanded and declared to be true.  Faith in God opens our hearts and minds to comprehend Him and what is even when it is beyond our understanding, and this reality is better than man's fantasies.

Practice Love

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

John 13:34

As Christians, we love God because He first loved us.  Having freely received His love, we are also called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love others like He loves us.  God's love is not of this world and is not natural to our flesh, so it requires spiritual regeneration by the Gospel, faith in God and obedience to embrace God's will to love one another as Jesus does.

When going through notes penned during a funeral service years ago, I came across an acronym for "love" I had not seen before that I found useful.  While it is not a formula to be followed or a perfect summation of God's love for us in convenient form, it provides practical advice for what form God's love can take in our interactions with others--a sacrificial love that cares deeply for the good of others without thought of self.

The scrap of paper had this written in the middle of it:

• L isten
• O verlook other's faults and offences
• V alue each person
• E njoy everyone

The love of God is deeply personal because it always involves people.  For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, and God's desire is that every single person would receive and respond to His love by freely choosing to love Him back.  God has listened to our cry for love and purpose  in this world, and He has treated us infinitely better than we deserve by His grace.  He values each one of us and enjoys us as we are--though He would have us free from the curse and bondage to sin that brings death.

All who love Jesus Christ are called to love others as He loves us.  God loved us while we were miserable wretches, self-righteous hypocrites and arrogant atheists; He has loved us when we felt entitled to be loved and thought we naturally loved like Him.  Knowing we cannot love as God's loves, how wonderful it is by God's design the fruit of the Spirit is love.  You cannot love as God loves, but are you willing to take a step of faith in God (because you love Him) to give Him the opportunity to love others through you?  Let us be those who choose to put love into practice.

The Supremacy of Christ

God's grace, mercy and love has no equivalent in this world.  All this world can offer are lesser, cheaper substitutes that may have a similar appearance but lack the good motivation God always has.  It struck me today that world aims low (compared to God) and preaches "tolerance" as ethical when Jesus preached and lived according to God's love.  The world is fine when we tolerate people who are different from us while Jesus demonstrated loving His enemies.  God does not merely "put up with" those who malign and falsely accuse Him of wickedness, but He truly loves them and proved it by Jesus dying on the cross for sinners.

People are quite skilled to learn what things to say or do to have their way, to get what they want.  Children learn from a young age the doors good manners can open for them, how by saying "please" and "thank you" they find favour from parents, teachers and even strangers.  Good manners are a far cry from humility, and cultured behaviour is no indicator of the heart.  God's desire is for us to live righteously and godly in this present age, and this is only possible by being transformed from within, born again by faith in Jesus Christ.  There are no shortage of self-righteous people in this world, yet doing good is no substitute for calling on the LORD out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).

The wisdom of the world has great fleshly appeal because it makes sense to us, yet God's ways and wisdom are infinitely beyond ours.  God's wisdom appears foolish to people who do not know Him, and despite man's wisdom he remained completely ignorant of God who created him.  So God revealed Himself to the world through Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:22-25 says, "For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."  Paul does not infer God is foolish but showed how man's wisdom is pathetic when compared with the weak and foolish things God uses in His wisdom to confound the wise.

Some pursue what they call the "good life" when all this world can offer will fade away into obscurity forever.  Jesus is both good (because He is God) and the Life who alone offers eternal life by the Gospel.  Jesus asked in Mark 8:36, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"  Jesus was asked many questions, and often Jesus answered questions of those who sought to entrap Him with questions of His own His enemies could not answer without self-incrimination.  God has the incredible ability to say things a child can easily understand while at the same time the most learned dare not answer.  Isn't His love, righteousness and wisdom awesome?

The Rest of Your Life

When I was thinking of my dad this morning I looked up a jazz/big band album that was among my favourites of his:  Woody Herman Thundering Herd from 1974.  The album cover was memorable because of some pretty amazing 70's hair on nerdy-looking guys posing as football players.  We kids were always allowed to play his records on his turntable, and over the years Dad introduced me to Glen Miller, Buddy Rich, Tommy Dorsey and classical music as well.  He would point out the instruments as I listened along and helped me learn to distinguish them.  A lot of his music was instrumental, so it was a perfect opportunity to practice whistling and imitating the sound of a trombone--an instrument he played.

Amazingly, when I searched for the album the first song that come up was the song I always thought of as "his song" to me because it features a long trombone solo.  I couldn't have told you what the title was before today, but it hit me a bit different because today happened to be his last day on earth.  The song is titled,  "What are you doing with the rest of your life."  There may not be what is considered a perfect song, album or life, but we can have our favourites--and Dad is that for me.  When I think about the body of work my Dad accumulated during his 70 years of life on earth, by God's grace he quietly and steadily accomplished incredible things.  He loved God, family and country; he ate, worked, read and slept with an emphasis on work.  Yet his work never took him away from us or people, for his labours always drew people closer.

At the end of a timed exam people are told by the teacher to put their pencils or pens down, and so it was for Dad--who was content to remain on the tools his entire carpentry career.  A day came (earlier than Dad expected) when God determined it was time for my dad to put down the tools, and he did.  He ran his race God set before him with joy even when there was bad news, unexpected obstacles, valleys and uphill climbs.  He faithfully expressed his love for God by using his gifts and building skills to help others free of charge.  There is no one I admired more or aspired to be like than Dad, and I'm grateful for a life filled with happy memories of a man with a sense of humour who didn't mess around, a fellow who swung a hammer for a living and also tied balloon animals with those calloused hands to minister God's love to kids at church or outreaches.

My dad's favourite verse in the Bible is found Psalm 116:15:  "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."  God loved us sinners so much He sent His Son Jesus to be the Saviour of the world, and He provided atonement with His own blood.  Considering the precious payment God made to redeem mankind, those He has purchased are most precious in His sight having chosen them as His own inheritance.  My dad said many times if he was ever to have a tattoo it would be, "Do not resuscitate" emblazoned across his chest because when God called him home, that is exactly where he wanted to be--glorified in the presence of God without pain and sorrow, loosed from a failing body, finally home and whole for eternity.  It wasn't that Dad wanted to die, but he earnestly looked forward to the day when He would see Jesus in person.

What am I doing with the rest of my life?  It's one of those questions that cannot be answered with words:  looking back may supply a more accurate assessment of our character moving forward than staring into the unknown or having aspirations.  Knowing Jesus is my life as His redeemed through the Gospel, may God help me to run the race set before me with joy, to faithfully follow Jesus all my days no matter what comes--a decision my dad nor countless saints will ever regret.  For those who are in Christ, the rest of our lives lead to rest in God's presence as we serve Him faithfully.

Should Be Saved

The English language can be a tricky beast.  While language allows us to express our thoughts, feelings and reasoning, it is possible to write or say words that are misunderstood, read into and misinterpreted by others.  This is one reason why it is important to have conversations face to face, where potential confusion or misspoken words can be explained more clearly.  Fellowship with other believers is critical for mutual encouragement, edification and sharpening in the church.

Recently I had a conversation when I said something that resulted in a visible reaction:  "Some people should not be saved."  Perhaps your eyebrows also shot up reading this.  Seeing the startled look provided an opportunity to explain what I meant by such a statement.  God has plainly told us in the Bible that we have all gone out of the way, have become unprofitable sinners, and cannot do good.  The reality is, in light of God's holiness and righteousness, no one should be saved.  I was including myself among those who should not be saved because of sin, who cannot save themselves by any attempts to do good.

Christians know we should not be saved, yet we can know we have been soundly saved by grace through faith in Jesus.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast."  Having received salvation through the Gospel, we Christians believe all people should be saved because they can be saved.  Of course this does not mean all will be saved, for some are unwilling to come to Jesus and receive the free gift of salvation.  Jesus revealed Himself to be the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one can come unto the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

I love that Jesus has provided salvation for all people, and He has urged whosoever will to come to Him, find pardon of sin and rest for their souls forever.  Concerning Jesus Paul wrote in Romans 10:11-13, "For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."  Based on our sinful conduct we should not be saved, but we should be saved because of the love demonstrated to all people by God through the Gospel.  Wondering if we should be saved is a matter easily shot down by the Law of Moses, but God has brought grace and mercy into the equation by giving His only begotten Son to provide atonement so we can.  The question is, are we willing?

From Wretched to Glorious

"If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now--if I have found favor in Your sight--and do not let me see my wretchedness!"

Numbers 11:15

Based on the words of Moses, his wretchedness was a truly awful thing.  He begged for God to kill him rather than to be confronted with his own inadequacies, failures, folly--not to mention his own unbelief.  It does not appear Moses was at all inclined toward self-harm or truly desired death, but he was totally disgusted by his own wickedness and depravity.  This is why many respect Moses, for by faith in God he was a righteous man, a friend of God, meek and humble.  Statements like this make him relatable to those who also realise the ugliness of their own wretchedness, our eyes having been opened by God to see the sobering truth about our own sin.

Today as I drove on my way to do errands suddenly a series of bad experiences from my past flooded through my mind one after another.  One was a cringeworthy thing I said; another exposed sinful motives of my heart.  As I shook my head in disgust with myself, I was reminded of this statement from Moses.  I did not ask for the LORD to kill me here and now, but the displeasure of confronting my own wretchedness was acutely felt.  Moses desired to have favour in the sight of God, and it is truly God's grace that He opens our eyes to see our sinfulness, need for pardon and transformation.  As much as I would love to never remember those terrible experiences with my wretchedness on display, I can see value in God using them to remind me how unlike Him I am in my flesh.

Eliphaz spoke truly in Job 5:17-18, "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. ¹⁸ For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole."  God forbid His people should be smoke in His nostrils, arrogant hypocrites who are "holier than thou" and see no need for repentance from sin in them.  When self-righteousness creeps into our hearts it makes us very sensitive to the flaws of others and simultaneously blinds us to our own wretchedness.  It does us no good to boast in our sins or to wallow in past failures when we are called to repent and do what is good.  We can look back with longing over regrettable sins of the past we cannot change, or we can turn our eyes to Jesus who is glorious for healing and wholeness.

When God reminds us of our wretched natural state, we are given the choice to dwell on our faults or to to humble ourselves in repentance and look to God who is holy, righteous and a saviour for all who cry out to Him.  I love how Jesus makes all things new, and as Christians we no longer yoked to the past as what defines us.  Our new identity is found in Jesus Christ, and our future is bright and glorious even if our past (which includes what happened earlier today!) is sordid and repulsive.  God saw our wretchedness and sent His only begotten Son Jesus so we sinners could be redeemed and forgiven.  In light of such love, let us fix our eyes and desires upon our glorious Saviour with joyful admiration.

Salvation and Sanctification

People have a propensity to be observant of others, to note similarities and differences.  Another tendency we have is to want to change others, to have them conform to our perspective and convictions.  At one level we realise we are incapable of changing other people, but it doesn't stop us from trying.  We suggest, hint, manipulate and beg in our attempts to mould others into the form that suits us better.  And when this doesn't work, we can withdraw or even be more stern and direct in our methods.  These are generalisations of course, but I'm sure if you can read these words with understanding you've been on one side or the other of this experience--perhaps even both!

Yesterday at church we had an encouraging discussion how God was at work in our hearts and lives, and the subject of wanting to see others saved came up.  Since a sinner's response to the Gospel has eternal implications, it follows we who have received Christ would absolutely want and love for others to receive Him too.  As we know our own journey of faith in Jesus, we realise we were not immediately willing to open our hearts to receive Christ by faith or even to repent of sin after being born again when convicted by the Holy Spirit.  As much as we want other people to be saved from hell and to enter the presence of the LORD Jesus in heaven, know God desires this infinitely more than we can--Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to atone for sins Himself.

One statement that resonated with me from the conversation is God cares as much about a believer's sanctification as seeing sinners saved.  As those who are born again and headed for heaven by God's grace, we can lose sight of this.  We can put all our effort into seeing others saved when God is using their resistance, annoyance and persecution of us to refine our faith and sanctify us.  I am convinced when you decide another person ought to change in some way, God can use that person to change you in ways you don't think need changing.  In fact, that person yet to be saved could be His divinely chosen instrument to bring about spiritual growth in you that rivals the change when you passed from death to life by receiving the Gospel.  It is remarkable how our desire and efforts to bring people to Christ exposes our own worries, fears, cares and anxieties Jesus died to save us from.  Should we justify these sins in us because we do not see saving faith in others?

In the first Lord of the Rings movie, Frodo was taken aback when Gandalf threw an envelope containing a ring he had been keeping secret and safe straight into the fire.  Gandalf knew fire would destroy the envelope and the wax seal but would not damage the ring:  the purpose of throwing the ring into the fire was to reveal if it was a certain ring of power.  God does a similar thing with us, for He ordains His people to face fiery trials because He knows we will endure them by His grace.  As a result we receive the benefit of having better insight into how much we need God, how often we ignore His existence and promises, and that our faith is small and even nonexistent at times.  God does not show us these things to poke fun at us but to chasten us to repent of our unbelief and strengthen our faith when we take steps to exercise it--in addition to an innumerable amount of things God is always doing perfectly in our lives.  Our embracing the changes God wants to bring into our lives by submitting to the Holy Spirit will have a positive impact on others, far more than any effort of our flesh.

Murder, Hatred and Love

When Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment to love one another as He loved them, it would have been a mistake to love others on the condition of others being a fellow Jew or genuine Christian.  This is the sort of thing we tend to do as human beings, to use a verse that speaks of our obligation to love one another as justification not to do so--because they do not belong with us!  Jesus demonstrated His love for us while we were yet sinners and enemies of God by dying in our place, and it is His example we as His disciples are obligated to follow.

This morning I read a passage in Esther when Haman was glad at the thought of executing Mordecai for slighting him, and how Esau comforted himself with thoughts of killing his brother Jacob for stealing his blessing.  These wicked men harboured hatred in their hearts, and the Bible teaches murder is evidence of hatred.  1 John 3:15 puts it in strong terms:  "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."  Again, we shouldn't restrict those guilty of hatred and murder to those who nurse a grudge towards their brother.  To refuse to love your brother is to abide in death, and to claim we are not obligated to love them because they are not a "brother" is irrelevant given other commands of Christ and the counsel of God's word.

We should not limit the implications of hating (or loving less) whether it be a brother, neighbour or stranger.  Jesus taught our neighbour was not only the one who lived next door or known to us, for He spoke a parable concerning a Samaritan who lay by the roadside after being beaten by thieves and left for dead.  The Jews in Jesus' day had no dealings with Samaritans, and it would have been a shock to suggest to Jews they had any relationship with Samaritans that was remotely neighbourly.  When the man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus responded with a story that provided the example of what it was to be neighbourly, caring and loving towards all--even Samaritans.  Isn't that how Jesus treated those who hated Him?

Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 5:43-47:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?"  Since it is clear Jesus said Christians are to love their enemies, we plainly ought to love everyone--our brothers, acquaintances, neighbours, strangers, Samaritans and those who hate and persecute us.  We cannot muster up such love ourselves, but love is a fruit of the Spirit God's people can give freely and graciously as we have received it from Jesus.

The Net Illustration

Today our family spent a good portion of the day moving in the rain, and preparation for this involved buying a tarp and a net to spread over it.  Made of elastic material with plastic clips, this net of bungee cords (octopus or occy straps here in OZ) was quite handy to ensure the tarp was kept from flapping in the breeze as we transported furniture and household goods.  God was gracious to us and helped us move everything we needed, and water damage was kept to a minimum.

Whenever I use a net I am reminded of when I was an apprentice and one journeyman always had a net to cover insulation material that resembled a fishing net.  I was not a fan of the net because it seemed totally unnecessary and it was my job to untangle it.  This fellow used wire to secure ladders on the rack on his truck, and when he cut the wires he habitually allowed the twisted bits of metal to fall into the net which turned it into an unusable, gnarled mess.  I spent more time than I care to remember trying to pick tangled wires free and make the scrap of net usable again.  He once told me, "I used to wonder how anyone in those old TV shows could get tangled up in a net, but now I know."

All that net-untangling flooded back to mind as I tried to untangle the bungee cord net today.  Whenever I successfully untangled a clip, as I moved onto the next one it would fall onto another bit of the net.  As several of us worked together to stretch out the net to prevent it from tangling again a brother mused, "I bet there's a sermon illustration in this."  I admit I am always on the lookout for a good illustration, though they do not always make it into sermons or studies.  A lot of time they are for my own benefit or probably find their way into a blog--like this one.

As I reflected on how I needed help from others to untangle the net so it was useable, it occurred to me if we happen to be the one in the net, we need help from God and even other people to free ourselves.  David sang in Psalm 25:15:  "My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net."  David realised he needed God's help to lead and deliver him out of the net, and this is true whether the net was laid secretly by other people or the enemy of his soul.  David pleaded similarly to God in Psalm 31:4-5:  "Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. ⁵ Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."  It is awesome this would be quoted by Jesus as among His final words before breathing His last on the cross.  Christ's enemies had set a trap for Him, and He willingly went to the cross knowing His heavenly Father would deliver Him from sin, death and Hell.

There have been times I have come across a dog that has been secured to a post that had become all tangled in the lead to the point it might as well have been caught in a net.  As I spoke reassuringly to the dog, asking how it came to be in such a predicament, the dog's answer was often a hesitant tail wag and looking as sheepish as a dog possibly can.  Dogs seem to know when they need help, and they are mostly willing to be turned around as people lift a leg here or there to extricate the pup from his own entanglement.  We like to think of ourselves as the ones who help others out of tough spots when the reality is we need God's help along with fellow believers to walk freely again as a sheep of God's pasture.  We can be easily ensnared by sin and weights that hinder us, and we can also be hemmed in by unbelief and forgetfulness of God's faithfulness.

Because the LORD is our strength and our Redeemer, let us commit ourselves to Him and walk in His ways.  Being caught in a net may be embarrassing, frustrating or a blow to our pride, but the wise submit to God and one another knowing we are not sufficient in ourselves to find freedom.

Jesus Speaks for Himself

As I browsed the wares of a bookstore recently, I was appalled by the blurb on the back of a (supposed) Christian book that has sold in the neighbourhood of 45 million copies.  The back of the book says it was "...written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you--words of encouragement, comfort, and reassurance of His unending love."  While obviously popular, I find it a disgrace anyone who "reveres" God's word would write and print a book that purports to speak the words of Jesus in first person--who has cherry-picked themes and passages as a Jesus Christ impersonator.  I've never quite understood the draw to be an Elvis impersonator for fun, but I cannot begin to comprehend writing a book to be like Jesus speaking to spiritually starving souls when they could be actually reading His words in the Bible.

Perhaps people are drawn to read a book like this is because they are not experiencing God speak to them as they read His word.  Like students in school who didn't read the assigned books and relied on Cliffsnotes pamphlets to summarise the content, maybe people don't bother with reading the Bible.  The pages of the Bible might as well be Greek or Hebrew to them, and there are many things they don't understand clearly.  They want to hear from God as others seem to have, and there are brands of Christianity that put priests, pastors or prophets on a pedestal as the primary means to hear from God--as if God doesn't speak to just anyone.  People can come to a pastor for prayer because they believe they have a better chance of having their prayer heard or answered than if they prayed privately.  I imagine some people scoop up a daily devotional to help get them in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer.

There's nothing wrong with daily devotionals:  writing in first person as if you are Jesus is problematic because this is an effort to assume the voice and tone of God when the writer is not God.  A prophet says, "Thus says the LORD" and God's people can quote the scripture with complete confidence in the LORD to fulfill His word.  In the New Testament you will find no examples of people speaking as if they were Jesus because Jesus is alive and speaks.  Each book of the Bible inspired by the Holy Spirit has variations of style and format.  The books of the Bible were not written by authors who attempted to sound like God was speaking but guided by the Holy Spirit penned God's word in truth which is complete.  To try to speak in the voice of Jesus is to run the incredibly high risk of adding to or taking away from what Jesus has said because Christians are not Christ.  God can speak to us in a multitude of ways that include other people and books they have written, and His word remains the touchstone of all truth.

So you have this book in your library; you've read it and recommended it to others because it was useful to you.  Let me exhort you, dear friend, to read the Bible believing Jesus Himself will speak directly to you.  That is one purpose of God giving us the Scripture, so we might hear God speak, know Him and walk in His ways.  His word guides us into all truth with the help of the Holy Spirit, instructs us in His wisdom, warns, rebukes, corrects and exhorts us.  God tells us things we would never have dreamed up and things we do not like because we are not naturally like Him:  His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  Any daily devotional will become dusty and dry, but God's word is living, fresh and daily supplies our spiritual needs.  Call out to the LORD, and He will hear you and answer.

THE Baby

While putting away Christmas decorations, I made a somewhat amusing and ridiculous observation on the box of a Nativity Set.  As far as I am aware, the term "Nativity" is commonly a reference to a very specific historical event:  the birth of Jesus Christ to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem.  The word according to Webster means, "birth, the coming into life or the world. The feast of Christmas is observed in memory of Christs nativity."  See if you can find the glaring omission in the packaging of the Nativity I placed on a shelf in the shed.

The package identified Joseph as 71.1cm tall, Mary as 68.6cm, and baby--not THE Baby or Baby Jesus or Jesus, but "baby" at an adorable 35.6cm long.  How bizarre and ironic it is for the figures to be measured to the millimetre yet for the identity of Jesus (the central Person and purpose of Christmas for Christians who would be the ones placing this Nativity Set in their yard to commemorate Christ's birth) to be omitted entirely.  Jesus was rejected by His own people (the Jews) after He grew to be a man, and it seems the manufacturer of this Nativity Set was ready to cash in on decorations for $49 of a Messiah they have no desire to honour by clear mention of His name.

It is good we believers refuse to stoop to this level, to be satisfied with forgiveness, salvation and the promise of eternal life from Jesus but live in such a manner His name rarely graces our lips in public or at family gatherings.  Our perspective and outlook ought to be shaped by the fact Jesus was not just a baby or a good man but the Redeemer and Saviour of the world:  Immanuel, God with us.  The prophet said truly in Isaiah 7:14:  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."  Jesus coming to the world should not only be celebrated once a year, at church or among Christians, but when life is hard and even the thought of festivities feels depressing.  Into the darkness of the world and our hearts the Light of the World has shone bright, and may the LORD Jesus Christ shepherd us into perfect peace and fullness of joy continually.

KING OF KINGS

One thing that struck me in preparation for the sermon this week was the visual of Jesus riding a white horse with the name written on His robe and thigh:  "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."  The only time I have seen artwork where the thighs of Jesus are exposed are during His crucifixion, but John saw in the book of Revelation the legs of Jesus which were compared to bronze will be seen and declare a message of His authority and power over all.

When John penned Revelation, one of the most devastating hand-to-hand weapons at the time was the large sword wielded by Thracians called a rhomphaia.  It was so effective it was the only weapon (as far I know) that prompted the Romans to make wholesale changes in armour because of cutting power that could split a shield.  Innovations like horses, chariots and strategic formations resulted in the defeat and subjugation of worthy fighters who were undone by outdated and insufficient resources.  In later times bows and arrows were overmatched by firearms, and tanks and aeroplanes rendered horses irrelevant.  Today I imagine swords are only worn as part of a dress uniform, nothing like the state-of-the-art weapon used in the 1st century.

Instead of having a sword girded on his thigh, Jesus has the name written:  "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."  This is significant because Jesus will not subdue the nations because He has more advanced weaponry.  There is no attack or defence possible against the Almighty God who will come to judge the world in righteousness.  As a skilled chess player has knowledge of strategies and responds to the move of an opponent (while thinking ahead), there will be no defence possible against Jesus, no shift in tactics or weaponry to obtain any advantage.  It is not weapons Jesus has at His disposal but who He is that will make Him victorious--God made flesh.  Unlike Goliath who carried a massive spear and sword, there is nothing intimidating about what Jesus carries.  He does not need armour for protection or weapons to strike down His enemies, for Jesus will annihilate all His enemies by His word alone.

Revelation 19:15 says, "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."  Before Jesus came to earth, God gave people His word so all could know and choose to trust in Him.  God gave Moses His Law and sent prophets to proclaim the coming of the promised Messiah.  God came Himself to earth in the person of Jesus, and after Christ's death and resurrection God has enlisted His servants (Christians) to speak His Gospel to everyone so all could come to the knowledge of the truth, believe in Jesus and be saved.  For those who will not heed God's word or humbly respond to the Gospel spoken by His ambassadors, one day Jesus will return and speak for Himself--and bring destruction upon His enemies that will make all global conflicts combined seem a Sunday stroll.

When I started playing golf, I naively gauged the quality of a player based on the brand and quality of clubs they swung.  I didn't have the money for top-brand equipment, but it wasn't long before I learned clubs are not nearly as important as the coordination and consistency of the one swinging them.  The Hebrews hid from Goliath as he cursed God and defied the armies of the living God because he was a giant of a man with huge weapons.  Many people today don't think much of Jesus as He is depicted seated in a grass field holding a baby or a lamb, yet Revelation 19 paints a very different picture.  The God who spoke the world and all living things into existence can wipe mankind from the earth as a child does a dish.  Do not mistake His patience and mercy for weakness, for He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS who will take vengeance upon His enemies.  Bow the knee before Him today and confess Him as LORD, for He is LORD and will always be.

God With Us Changes Everything

Family Bible reading after dinner provided a great example of what a difference one person can make--even as a child.  We read 2 Chronicles 23 which was a turning point for the southern kingdom of Judah as the coronation of Joash suddenly and dramatically ended the rule (and life!) of the tyrant Athaliah who murdered her grandsons to assume the throne herself.  The High Priest Johoiada bravely sheltered Joash for years in the temple, and when the heir to the throne was 7 years old the priest organised a public coronation ceremony with high security.  Once Joash was crowned king, it meant the treasonous queen was dethroned and promptly executed.

Joash being crowned king resulted not only in the dispatching of Athaliah and all who followed her, but the establishment of a covenant the people of Judah would serve God only.  This immediately resulted in the overthrow of idolatrous worship by destroying altars, breaking Baal's images, and the execution of the priest of Baal.  This progression follows a pattern of those who agree to the covenant God has established by the Gospel, that we would repent of sin and place our faith in Jesus.  With Jesus in His rightful place in our hearts, then our eyes our opened and we are spiritually empowered to discern sin and cast it from our lives.  Jesus turns our lives around from darkness to light, from death to eternal life.  As Athaliah was rendered without authority and powerless by the rule of Joash, so Satan and all demons and curses must bow to the will of the KING OF KINGS.

A seven-year-old boy can seem insignificant in the world, yet when he is the rightful king on a throne he has great authority--even over life and death.  It is estimated there are 368,000 babies born every day in the world, and we are blessed to know just one of them by name.  If their names were put on a list, with so many born there is little that makes one stand out from another.  Every one of them is born completely dependent on their mums and families to hold, wash, clothe, feed and love them.  There was a unique baby born about 2,000 years ago whose birth was spoken of by the prophets and announced by angels:  Jesus Christ born of Mary.  This baby who grew to be a man would bring incredible, unthinkable transformation to the world, ushering in an era of grace and salvation by faith in Him.  Jesus died on the cross for sinners, rose from the grave as He said, and ascended to heaven in glory.  With Him in His rightful place on the throne above and enthroned in our hearts by faith, He still works wonders and turns lives around.

The godly influence of Joash waned as he grew up and especially after the death of his mentor Johoiada.  He was corrupted by influential princes and was guilty of murdering a righteous man:  Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the High Priest.  Jesus has done the opposite, for His righteous influence in the world has remained pure and multiplied exponentially as the Gospel has gone forth and continued to save souls, renew minds, and purify people from sin.  The word spoken to Joseph by the angel remains true in Matthew 1:21-23:  "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." ²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."  God with us!  Praise God for Jesus, the KING OF KINGS who will one day rule the nations with a rod of iron.  This world hasn't seen the last of Jesus, and may people see Him in us.

Serving the LORD Joyfully

When going on full-time paid staff at church, your eyes are opened to many tasks and responsibilities you did not consider previously.  Even with many hard-working volunteers, there are many duties that fall to you.  One of the maintenance tasks I tackled was keeping an eye on the vacuums, making sure they were serviced regularly and the bags emptied.  I was amazed at the sorts of things I would find lodged inside people imagined the vacuum could pick up.  The most unpleasant discovery was fresh vomit, but I digress.

I genuinely believe there was not a single occasion during my time on church staff that anyone but staff emptied the contents of a vacuum.  It was a blessing to have vacuums to use and people who wanted to leave the place clean, but the condition of the vacuums and the belts became my responsibility.  I was reminded of that season when I emptied a vacuum bag at church today, and the thought came to mind:  have you ever had a task you faithfully did and wondered, "Who would be doing this if I didn't?"  It likely isn't exactly true, but perhaps we have felt if we didn't scrub the tub, wipe out the microwave, clean out the fridge, empty the vacuum bag or change the belts no one would do so.  As we grit our teeth and do a job that goes unrecognised and taken for granted, we can feel our efforts are going unnoticed.  We say to ourselves, "Aren't they in for a surprise when I'm not here any more!"

If you have every wondered something like this, allow me to suggest another perspective:  could it be God has you there to serve Him in that precise chore or task no one else notices or thinks of?  It may not be glamorous or a skill to put on your resume, but if you are doing a job no one else is doing it makes sense God has sovereignly placed you there for this purpose--with attention to detail others do not possess.  God has given you an ability to scrub, clean, wipe down, to listen, move chairs from here to there, a skill-set perfectly employed in menial duties others are physically unable or unwilling to do.  Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23-24:  "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  Every task we do, whether unseen or recognised by others, can be done unto the LORD.  When we think more of ourselves than we ought we are serving ourselves, and feeling like everyone needs your contribution is your reward.  How much better it is so serve the LORD cheerfully in the mundane and menial, for great is your reward in heaven--and humility with joy today!

Appointment to Wrath

A myth Christians do well to dispel is that God's people will never experience the wrath of God.  While it is true Christians will not experience the wrath of God for eternity, the Bible is filled with instances of God's wrath coming upon His own people to correct, refine and draw them to Himself.  We see this in God's dealings with Judah under the rule of wicked King Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28, and God nor His ways have changed.  As Psalm 7:11 says, "God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day."  God's judgment and wrath is not devoid of love, grace and mercy, for He suffers long and is kind; God warns and shows restraint in His administration of justice as when a father disciplines his beloved child for good.

People might wonder, "But I thought the Bible says Christians are not appointed to wrath."  That is true, but Paul wrote that in the context of eternal salvation in contrast to everlasting damnation.  Paul wrote 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."  It is a comfort to know God's chastening of us and correction for our sin is not for our destruction but for edification, purification and sanctification.  This passage does not teach we can do no wrong as God's children when we sin.  A loving parent can be moved to anger by foolish and sinful choices of a rebellious son, and because God loves us He will take appropriate action to warn, teach and judge us righteously.

A passage in the Old Testament illustrates both God's wrath against sin in His people as well as our need to do as Jesus taught--to judge ourselves lest we be judged.  Ahaz reigned in Judah and his wicked, idolatrous ways were likened to the kings of Israel.  Due to the sins of Ahaz and his people, God delivered Judah in to the hands of the Syrians and the northern kingdom of Israel who slaughtered valiant men of Judah and Benjamin.  Great spoil and captives of Judah were taken to Samaria with the aim to enslave them.  2 Chronicles 28:9-11 reads, "But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: "Look, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. ¹⁰ And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? ¹¹ Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you."

Because of the sins of Judah God delivered them into the hands of Israel, and in executing God's judgment the malice and rage of the Israelites reached up to heaven.  The prophet Oded confronted Israel for their own faults, for they were not innocent themselves.  God's fierce wrath was upon them for adding to their sin God had punished Judah for!  By God's grace there were wise men among them who agreed with the word of the LORD through the prophet and responded in 2 Chronicles 28:13:  "...You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel."  In humbling themselves before God in repentance, the great wrath of God was turned away for a season.  They judged God to be righteous and themselves to be guilty of great sin, and the people responded by obedience to God and showed kindness to their brethren by providing for their needs and sending them home.

Paul wrote to believers in Ephesians 5:5-7:  "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not be partakers with them."  Knowing Jesus died to cleanse us from sin and reconcile us to God, Christians ought not to be partakers of sin like the people of Judah and Israel were.  The end result of God's wrath is different for the believer and unbeliever, for one is refined as precious gold while the other is consumed as chaff.  Christians are not permanently appointed to wrath as those who rebel against God, yet should we rebel against God a brief appointment with God's wrath can be booked in because He loves us and desires to further sanctify us according to His wisdom.

Verses like Romans 5:9 ought to be balanced and put in perspective by others like Romans 1:18.  Romans 5:9 says concerning born-again Christians, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."  Romans 1:18 also says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness..."  God has revealed Himself to us, the almighty God whose thoughts are not our thoughts and whose ways are higher than our ways.  We cannot fathom all God does, plans and accomplishes through the administration of His righteous wrath and judgments, but we can know God and His ways are good.  What we can do by God's grace is to respond in humility to His correction, confess our sin and repent, and praise God we are not appointed to wrath forever.  Even should His wrath burn against us for a season, it will never be malicious or murderous.  Rather than only being content to escape God's wrath forever, shouldn't we live in a godly way in which He is well-pleased today?

An Enriched Life

At a recent Bible study, we had a group discussion concerning specific ways God has enriched our lives.  Because we tend to associate riches with money or financial gain, it was good to consider changes God has ushered into our lives money cannot buy.  Of course God is able to provide for His people financially and He faithfully does, but money aside:  how would you answer the question?  Having been born again by faith in Jesus we can resemble children born into a family where we take much for granted and feel entitled to having what we want.

As I reflected upon many answers I could give, one answer to how God has enriched my life is a capacity to love and care for others as Christians are exhorted to do in Romans 12:15:  "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."  Being content with God's grace extended to us, we can rejoice with those who rejoice without envy.  We can be legitimately happy when others are glad rather than feeling bad we haven't experienced the success others have.  Their achievements they celebrate need not ruffle or annoy us, and we do not need to downplay their reason for happiness or be compelled to compete with them by informing them others have done better.  Even when we are dealing with the worst news possible, we can still rejoice with those who rejoice because this is God's will for us.

At the same time, Christians are given the capacity to weep with those who weep--to care deeply and sympathise with people who are doing it tough.  We can be disturbed by those who weep and we do not understand why; we wonder what could possibly justify such an emotional response.  In my hard-hearted youth I looked at tears with disdain when God was aware of every tear and why it fell.  At times in my life there were people I could not have cared less about, yet God has brought a change where I have shed tears for people I did not even know personally.  If I was someone who was easily moved emotionally, I never would have understood the profound change Jesus has brought into my life by His love.

Rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep are not my natural inclination, but by God's grace our lives can be enriched by the transformation Jesus brings.  Romans 12:14 is another change among many God intends to bring into our lives:  "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."  How profound it is that God does not merely forgive our sins, save us from hell and promise us eternal life, but He changes the way we think, feel and think--to bless us by making us a source of blessing to others.  How has receiving Jesus enriched your life?