Goodwill To Men

In my high school days, many perfect Saturday mornings were spent searching for lost treasures in thrift stores.  My mate Evan and I would troll El Cajon op shops looking for quality vinyl records and sweet polyester shirts.  It was the early 90's but we loved the music and clothes of the 70's!  We would always hit the Salvation Army, then head over to AMVETS, and finally Goodwill.  Goodwill Thrift Stores have an interesting history, dating back to 1902.  Founded by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, the organisation helped people through donations and provided opportunities for people to work.

With the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ rapidly approaching, I was reminded today of what the heavenly host proclaimed to shepherds who tended their flocks that night long ago in Luke 2:14:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  It is one thing for a man to have "goodwill" to his fellow man, but how wondrous and lovely it is for the Almighty God to proclaim peace and goodwill toward men.  How utterly undeserving we are of such favour from God, that He will send His own Son to be the Saviour of the world.  God is holy, and for Him to show mercy and kindness to us really is phenomenal.  There is no good thing in man, but Jesus came to change that forever.  When people have offended us we don't want to visit or have anything to do with them, but God demonstrated love in the profound act by becoming a man and walking among us sinners.  God has His messengers, but He would deliver this message of love, grace, and salvation Himself.

How can we respond to so great a love, to such "peace, goodwill toward men?"  It is reasonable for us each to acknowledge and receive it.  Unless we acknowledge a gift is intended for us, we will not open or appropriate it.  Having goodwill towards God and towards others is another fitting response.  We can show gratitude to God with generosity towards others, being gracious and longsuffering to all.  Jesus came with goodwill toward all people, not just a select few.  The motto for the Goodwill Thrift Stores became, "Not a Charity - But a Chance."  God's charity (love) is the only chance we sinners have for salvation, for it is impossible for us to earn the righteous standing before God required.  Jesus came to this earth with His future death in mind, for it is written in Romans 5:8:  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  In dying for sin Jesus gave sinners a chance to obtain eternal life.  There is no chance of salvation apart from Christ, for He is "The Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Glory to God in the highest for bringing peace and goodwill toward men!

Matter Of Faith

Do you ever imagine ideal conditions required for others to believe in God and the truth of the Bible?  Some have gone to great lengths to find ancient artifacts, thinking that if they presented hard evidence - Noah's ark, the gilded Ark of the Covenant, the tablets of stone upon which the 10 Commandments were written, or the original menorah - people would have to believe in light of the overwhelming evidence.  It sounds novel, but I do not believe miracles or relics make believers.  When Jesus told the story of the rich man in Sheol, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to speak to his 5 brothers of the torment which awaited them so they might repent.  Luke 16:29-31 says, "Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' ³⁰ And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' ³¹ But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

Jesus has risen from the dead, and still people do not believe He is the Messiah sent to be the Saviour of the world.  We have fulfilled prophesy and eye-witness accounts in the Bible and do not need the actual nails or cross upon which Jesus Christ hung to know the truth.  God could have preserved the site of Christ's death and burial without question as well as the manger in which He was laid, the broken alabaster flask which held the precious ointment poured upon him, the shackles which bound Jesus in prison when He awaited crucifixion, and the seamless tunic Roman guards cast lots for.  God was wise to allow these relics to be destroyed lest men worship them instead of Christ!  Having visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem this year, I have witnessed this folly firsthand:  people paying homage to rocks rather than the Rock of our salvation.  It is ironic the children of Israel worshiped the bronze serpent made by Moses, yet many refuse to worship the Lamb of God who was lifted up to draw all men unto Himself.

What do you suppose is a better witness of the reality of God's existence and power:  stone tablets upon which are written the 10 Commandments by the finger of God, or a living, breathing person who has been born again whose heart of stone has been exchanged for a heart of flesh upon which God has written His law?  Isn't the testimony of an eye witness who has personally been born again better than all the inanimate, silent relics of the past?  We think, "If by the power of the Holy Spirit I was able to heal that person physically, what an opportunity it would be for them to see God's power firsthand."  I agree!  And there were many people who experienced healing firsthand by the hand of Christ, and still they did not believe Him.  People saw Jesus after He rose from the dead and still doubted (Matthew 28:7)!  Man's problems with faith do not have to do with the lack of physical evidence or facts, but pride and folly in his own heart.

We who believe, let us be those who boldly testify of what we have seen, heard, and experienced.  We have the Law, the prophets, and all the scriptures which testify of Jesus.  We have the Holy Spirit who has filled us and empowered us to do God's will.  Let us believe in the power of God's Word and the Gospel to bring sinners out of darkness and into the light.  In faith bring the light of scripture into the darkest places, to hearts hardened and resistant to the truth, and see the dynamic saving power of Jesus in action.

Receive God's Comfort

God calls Himself "...the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation" in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.  There is no question for God's faithful followers He is able and willing to supply comfort and abundant consolation.  The amazing and perplexing truth is Christians can refuse to be comforted.  Job inferred it would be foolish to receive good from God and not evil, and it is also foolish to do the opposite.  Why punish ourselves by denying comfort God graciously offers?

There are instances in scripture when people suffered loss and received comfort by God.  There are others who experienced such a depth of grief they were inconsolable.  When Jacob saw Joseph's blood-stained coat of many colours, he imagined his son had been killed by wild beasts.  Genesis 37:35 says, "And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." Thus his father wept for him."  Jacob's grief over the loss of one son for a while overwhelmed the comfort of others he loved in his family.  Strong negative emotions can overwhelm us and hinder us from receiving comfort intends for us.  When the male babies were slaughtered in Bethlehem by Herod comfort seemed beyond belief (Jer. 31:15).

It does not take immense personal tragedy to feel cut off from the comfort of God.  We are not told the circumstances, but the psalmist Asaph candidly wrote in Psalm 77:1-3, "I cried out to God with my voice-- to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. ² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. ³ I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah."  In his trouble Asaph remembered and sought the LORD, and knew he had been heard by God.  But like hard-packed soil which water cannot penetrate, Asaph's soul repelled consolation from God and "refused to be comforted."  Asaph looked to the God of comfort for comfort, but found himself able to receive the comfort he was desperate to receive.

The cure for Asaph's condition was not through his circumstances changing but from a change of perspective.  When Asaph looked for comfort he found none, yet when he considered God comfort came.  He admitted his weakness before God and meditated on God rather than his trouble or current feelings.  Psalm 77:10-13 says, "And I said, "This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." ¹¹ I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. ¹² I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. ¹³ Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God?"  Remembering what God said and did in the past was a key to walk in God's comfort moving forward.

In light of your current difficulties, do you find yourself to be like Jacob or Asaph?  We can stubbornly refuse comfort, and other times we are unable to receive it despite seeking God.  Admit your anguish before the LORD, remember the works of the LORD, and talk of God's deeds.  This is not a formula to be followed but a biblical pattern established for our help and comfort.  Only God can pull us from the pit of depression and despair, and the scripture reveals us what we can do to cooperate with God's will in receiving His comfort.  We are greatly aided to receive God's comfort when we cease demanding or suggesting a course of divine action for God to take, humble ourselves before Him, and praise Him because we trust and love Him - in spite of trouble.  This worship prepares our hearts to experience joy, peace, and receive comfort from the "God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation."

Zeal and Burnout

I've been reading a little book given to pastors at the last conference I attended.  It is titled Zeal Without Burnout by Christopher Ash.  He uses a term I think is very wise to apply to our lives:  sustainable.  We recognise the wisdom of sustainability in energy production and use, in forestry, fishing, and farming.  If we over-fish or cut down trees without replenishment, it will only be a matter of time until alavailable resources are consumed.  These same sensible considerations ought to be applied to our approach to family, work, Christian ministry, and our lives in general.

When I first became a mechanical insulator, I was given a physically taxing job in Los Angeles - when I was living in San Diego!  The foreman told me, "If you can handle this job, you can do anything."  My hours at the Chevron refinery began at 6am (all had to be at the gate by 5:45am for a ride into the refinery) and concluded at 6pm 7 days a week.  I had to rise at 3:30am to pick up my brother and so began a long day.  For a majority of the day we worked in hot, uncomfortable conditions removing asbestos in containment wearing full-face respirators.  I would arrive home after 8pm, eat dinner, visit with my sweet wife for an hour, and go to bed exhausted.

Thankfully, this job lasted only six or seven weeks.  It felt like it lasted a year!  I was grateful when the refinery restricted our hours to 6 days and 10 hours a day.  After almost two months of that job it was clear to my brother and I it was simply not sustainable.  We were wearing out and when an opportunity came to work locally we jumped at the chance.  The human body has physical limits, and it is sometimes easier for me to tell when I am physically exhausted than mentally and emotionally spent.  It doesn't mean it is easy for me to admit it! :)  Yesterday I worked in the yard a bit too long and my body reminded me all evening I am not 25 years old anymore.  Burnout is a bit more tricky to discern than sore muscles and a sunburn.  Christopher Ash wrote concerning avoiding burnout,

"It is good to develop a healthy self-knowledge about what energizes us - what the Holy Spirit uses to bring us that inward renewal.  But these activities will never be enough on their own to bring us true spiritual renewal.  Each of us needs our personal devotional times with God:  times of Bible reading and prayer, times to be glad to be in Christ, times of thoughtful reflection before the Lord:  times to be refreshed.  It is not selfish to guard those times, any more than it is selfish for a firefighter to take a break before heading back into the fire.  Indeed, if we do not give space for renewal, there will soon be nothing left of us to give." (Ash, Christopher. Zeal without Burnout. Good Book, 2016. 77. Print.)

How important it is to know what God has called us to do and respect our limitations.  We should do all we do heartily as unto the LORD, but not to the point where our lives and ministry cannot be sustained healthily.  God is the One who sustains us, for without Him we can do nothing.  We can do all things through Jesus Christ, but it is not for us to do everything.  Let us be about the LORD's business and walk circumspectly, knowing He is the One who will accomplish all.  There is a way we can have so much responsibility we cease to be responsible concerning our bodies, family, and ministry.  Cessation of activity alone does not cancel burnout, but resting in Christ and waiting on the LORD brings renewal.  A break from the grind may be what God has for you, and may obedience to take a break as an act of faith in God be bountifully rewarded with increased fruitfulness.

The Greatest Of All

Yesterday I preached on God's righteous Servant, Jesus Christ.  Unless God explicitly revealed the truth to us in His Word, it is unfathomable how the God who created all things would humble Himself and become a servant (Philippians 2:5-8), even facing the cross for the sake of sinners.  Jesus Christ has given us an example so we might follow in His footsteps, but has also provided the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower and enable us to walk in righteousness.

In Luke 17:7-10, Jesus appealed to the good sense of His disciples concerning a typical relationship between a master and his servants.  Jesus said, "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? ⁸ But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? ⁹ Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. ¹⁰ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"  It was customary for servants to prepare for their master, and after serving the master the servants would eat.  It was no badge of honour for a servant to serve his master, for it was his duty to do so!  Servants of God ought not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought because we are responsible to obey God, to love and serve others.  It is what we have been saved by grace to do!  If God is our King, as His loyal subject we should serve Him.

God is in the business of blowing minds, and I love it when God shocks me with a verse I didn't notice before.  The verse which shocked me was one that reversed this natural order of things.  Jesus told His disciples to be free of worldly entanglements and to be ready for Him and in Luke 12:35-37 said, "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; ³⁶ and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. ³⁷ Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them."  Isn't verse 37 astounding?  For the servants who are faithful and ready, the master will gird himself, have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them!  The servants will be served by the master!  This reminded me of the amazing thing Jesus did after the Last Supper before going to the cross.  He directed His disciples to prepare for the Passover meal, and after the meal was over stripped down, put a towel around his waist, and washed all the disciples' feet.  It made me think at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Jesus will not remain seated on His rightful throne, but will serve His servants, and such grace is impossible for me to grasp fully.

God is a glorious King, and He gives us grace upon grace.  The Saviour who insisted John baptise Him to "fulfill all righteousness" and washes feet is the God we are to worship and emulate.  He delights to humble Himself and serve, and what a joy it is to follow in His footsteps as led by the Spirit.  Greatness in God's kingdom is not earned but marked by humility, submission, and obedience to God and others.  When the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest Jesus set them straight in Matthew 20:25-28:  "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 
²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Hills and Valleys

"Then Job answered the LORD and said: ² "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."

Job 42:1-2

When I injured my knee, I was referred to have scans of various kinds:  an x-ray, ultrasound, and ultimately an MRI.  All of these scans have their purpose and all of them have limitations.  It does no good to have a scan performed unless you have an expert to analyse and interpret it!  After the results were provided to my doctor, she referred me to a knee specialist.  This specialist scheduled me for surgery he later performed, yet he did not do this alone.  A nurse prepared the area for the incision, an anesthetist with an assistant, plus many more people in the operating theatre.  This is an example of how many medical specialists worked together to reconstruct a knee, each having a particular area of expertise.

Similar to this, ancient gods all had particular areas of control.  Some gods were believed to control the sun, caused the rain to fall, brought good luck or fertility, protected the home, healed, and caused lightning to strike.  Different cultures had their own idols and deities they were loyal to through worship and sacrifice.  Among the Greeks and Romans their god resembled our modern-day superheroes, each with "superpowers," strengths, and weakness.  Some can fly, use telepathy, shape-shift, create illusions, and become invisible.  Each has their own area of expertise they use for good or evil.  The Jews were unique among the nations because they worshiped only one God.  This seemed strange to other cultures:  why not have many gods to cover all the bases?  What if the sun didn't rise or crops didn't grow? They didn't realise the God of Israel is the Almighty God who created all things.  There is nothing beyond His view or removed from His awesome power.  He is the eternal, self-existent, and all-powerful God before whom all other spirits and gods are nothing.

The northern kingdom of Israel fought against Syrians who were struck down before them.  The Syrians explained why they lost the previous battle in 1 Kings 20:23, "Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they."  What they didn't realise was the God of the Jews is the God who created all things - the hills, plains, seas, mountains, the sun, moon, and stars.  He is the God of everything and everyone!  1 Kings 20:28 gives us the response of God:  "Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys," therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'"  The God who knows all things, speaks, and reveals Himself with a mighty hand gave the Jews the victory.  The Jews, Syrians, and all nations of the earth shall know God is LORD of all!

God is nothing like an idol that has areas of strength or weaknesses but is God over all.  After Job received a revelation of God's power he said humbly, "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."  God is able to heal, comfort, and strengthen us in  mind, body, and soul.  He supplies guidance, counsel, and provides for our physical needs.  He is God of heavens, earth, sea, and all that is in them.  He gives wisdom and knowledge, and in Him all things consist (Col. 1:17).  Praise the LORD for revealing Himself to us as the God of the hills and the valleys.  In both good and bad times He is still God, and is able to save and deliver us.

Jesus Paid Your Fee

Today in my travels I came across a sign which made some blasphemous boasts, claiming to do what only my God - the Creator of the world and King of the Jews Jesus Christ - can do.

This "Holy Spiritualist" claims to be able to "Handle Any Problem."  The Bible says the approach of seeking spiritists to solve problems only creates more significant ones!  People can be so desperate for knowledge or to affect the outcome of a situation they will go into financial debt, selling even their souls for guidance and power.  King Saul sought the advice of a medium when there seemed no other option, and he was a fool to do so.  The sign I saw welcomed all religions, but my relationship with the Almighty God prohibits such activity because of the abominable nature of it.  Impostors of the true God have legitimate power, but seeking the aid of unclean spirits always brings a curse with it.

What grabbed my attention was the numerous stickers fixed around the sign, informing potential patrons that Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and electronic funds transfer were all acceptable forms of payment.  I have heard people say things like, "All churches care about is money" and it would be a shame if it was true.  Interestingly I have not heard the same criticism of fortune tellers or astrologers who charge fees for their services.  This advertising offers the false promise any problem can be handled for a fee.  Everything in this world which seems too good to be true often is, but God is not of this world.  He sent Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world so we could be saved from the devil, sin, death, and hell.  The world offers a grab-bag of solutions for a price, but nothing and no one in this world has the power to save.

The prophet spoke in Isaiah 55:1-3:  "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ² Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. ³ Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you-- the sure mercies of David."  God offers salvation at His own expense.  There is no cover charge to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Only the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ received by faith is able to redeem men from death.  Being "spiritual" cannot satisfy you.  All the power of this world will leave you thirsty for more.  Eat what is good, the Bread of Life Jesus Christ.  Allow Him to satisfy you with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.  Everyone has problems, and only God is able to save us from ourselves and He has paid this fee at His expense.

The Generous God

I was thinking today of how generous God is.  There are so many generous people God has brought into my life who have blessed me beyond belief.  Out of all we have been freely given by God we should freely give, and what great blessing we receive when we do so.  During this time of the year every time I say "Christmas" it reminds me how God gave His only Son so all could be saved and receive everlasting life through faith in Him, and how thankful I am.

Giving cheerfully and freely is a practical way of giving thanks to God for all we have received.  All we have is a gift from God (James 1:17).  This life and all the facets of it we enjoy are gracious gifts freely given by a God who created and loves us.  Our food, homes, money, and daily necessities are met masterfully by the God who knows our needs and how to best supply them.  I am continuously in awe of the many people God has continued to prompt and provide money on a monthly basis and gifts for my family according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  How I can testify of God's generosity through fellow followers of Jesus Christ of time, effort, service, and love!  There is bountiful wealth God gives which transcends possessions, money, or any earthly security.

In this season when we remember Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever provided for men, may we be like those wise men who sought Him and bestowed kingly gifts for His use.  Most of us do not have gold, frankincense, or myrrh on hand, but we can offer Jesus our entire selves - our hands, feet, resources, time, our very breath - to the end others will know His love and generosity through us.  God does not desire a "pay back," for how could we possibly give according to His infinite measure of generosity to us?  He is pleased when we respond through giving to others as He has done for us, "paying it forward" in a sense.  Our primary motive is not to be arbitrary social justice but to give freely to others for the LORD's sake, meeting needs and seeking to bless in Jesus' name.  All benefit from this outworking of God's love.  God has purposefully and intentionally caused amazing, miraculous blessing to rain down upon us in our undeserving state.  In light of this reality as we have received, so let us give ourselves.

It is an appalling contradiction for one who has received love, forgiveness, salvation, and new life from Jesus to be miserly.  Again, I am not speaking primarily about money, though our handling of finances can provide an indication of a heart condition.  We are to be bountiful and free concerning the proclmation and living out of the Gospel.  That is the context of the often quoted words of Jesus when He said, "Freely you have received, freely give."  Matthew 10:7-8 told the twelve as He sent them out, "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."  As God has placed upon our hearts let us freely give, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).  Our resources have an end, but God supplies of love, grace, and goods are endless.  God looks favourably upon generosity, and every signpost along that path was well-set by Him.  This is a path without end, and as we walk along this way we can enjoy have sweet fellowship with our loving and generous Saviour.

A Vessel of Honour

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." ²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."

2 Timothy 2:19-21

It is faith in Jesus Christ which brings forgiveness of sins and cleansing through His shed blood on Calvary.  On their own no one can cleanse their hands or heart from sin.  Yet all who have been born again through the Gospel of Jesus Christ have been washed, justified, sanctified, and have been made righteous.  God knows all people in whom this divine transaction has taken place.  Though this cleansing is initiated by God, Christians are responsible and able to keep their "vessel in sanctification and honour." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7)  As led by the Spirit according to God's Word, we are to take intentional steps in putting off sinful habits and corrupting influences from our lives.  Then we can be a vessel of honour and useful for the Master.

In the passage above, Paul explained to Timothy that in a great house or palace there were many kinds of vessels.  There were vessels for cooking, water storage, drinking vessels, and buckets to collect waste.  These vessels were made of materials like gold, silver, wood, and clay.  The wealth of the owner and the intended practical use of the vessel likely impacted the chosen material.  One point Paul made is all believers have the potential to be a vessel of honour, prepared for the use of the master.  A large clay vessel to hold drinking water and a golden goblet both have their practical use, but they are only useful when clean.  It would be silly for the clay pot to declare that if it was a golden goblet it would take its role more seriously.  A clay pot with a dead rat befouling the water is not fit for the master's use.  Even as a rat carcass must be removed before the clay pot could be sanitised for future use, so there can be sins, possessions, and pastimes which we must choose to put away from us permanently before we can realise our purpose.

The prophet exhorted God's people returning from captivity in Babylon in Isaiah 52:11-12, "Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD. ¹² For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."  There was a temptation for the Jews to bring idols or unclean things out of Babylon and carry them back to Jerusalem, even as they had brought idols of Egypt into Canaan.  Idols were often crafted of gold and silver and had great monetary value.  But God's people were to value personal holiness over money, and even be willing to suffer financial loss to remain pure before God as those called to bear His vessels.  Because God was going with them they could entrust their finances and future to Him.  If they defiled themselves with unclean things they would not be fit for the Master's use.  Why should we Christians continue to carry with us memoirs of our captivity because we value them?  Don't we value God's presence more than things which marked our old life of bondage?

Christians today do not bear silver bowls or golden candlesticks in the worship of God in a temple, for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells among us!  Our heart has been made the "Holy of Holies" where the Spirit of God has taken up residence.  Since God is with us and inside us, we are to keep our vessels - our physical bodies and minds - clean from sins and free of worldly defilement.  God has cleansed us, and we also need to cleanse ourselves from fornication, lusts, pride, greed, idolatry, and all things which war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11).  Then we can be a vessel of honour.  Vessels of dishonour are put aside until they are willing to be washed and cleaned so they can be used.  It is a sad thing that a perfectly good pot or goblet could sit unused and not fulfill its intended purpose because it refuses to be clean.  Depart from the unclean thing, O Christian!  Put all that is wicked far from you so you can be the vessel of honour God created you to be.

A Full Reward

"Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."

2 John 1:8

The apostle John wrote the epistle of 2 John to a Christian woman and her children.  Some have suggested it was actually written to a particular church because a specific name was not recorded.  Regardless to whom exactly it was originally penned, as part of the divinely inspired Word of God it is profitable for all Christian believers who have ears to hear.

After exhorting the recipients of the letter to walk in Christ's love by keeping His commands, John issued a warning concerning many deceivers who had gone into the world.  He did not warn them of shady people by name, but he explained in 2 John 1:7:  "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."  Many deceivers were in the world when the church was still young, and I imagine the number of deceivers have multiplied exponentially.  Instead of focusing on deceptions, John told them to look to themselves and ensure they were continuing in the love of Christ.

There is something in us which cares deeply about what other people believe and do.  After Peter has been restored by Jesus and had been commissioned to feed Christ's sheep and follow Him, Peter immediately asked about what John was supposed to do.  Jesus said, "What's that to you?  You follow me."  We naturally saddle ourselves with cares and worries about others.  We may worry over the spiritual condition of an alcoholic and the potential destruction of relationships and family, but our anxiety can't fix the problem.  Rather than obsess over the faults of others, wouldn't it be better for us to repent of our worrying which is a destructive sin as well?  I can't make an alcoholic see his need to stop drinking, but I can choose to repent and obey God myself through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

John's statement instructs us we need to examine ourselves, obey the commands of Christ, and refuse to give ground to deception in our lives.  It is possible, based on this scripture, for people to not obtain a full eternal reward.  Our salvation is secure based upon the atoning sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, but we can deny ourselves a full reward when we are not circumspect and cease examining our lives according to scripture.  God provided a great inheritance of land in Canaan for the tribes of Israel, but not every tribe cared to drive out the enemies and secure their borders.  They were cramped but comfortable enough, and their negligence allowed squatters to mar their inheritance.

God has an inheritance for every Christian in this life, and He has promised eternal rewards He delights to generously bestow upon all His faithful servants.  Let us not lose the things we have worked for and lose ground because we have been deceived what we do or say doesn't really matter.  Let us look to ourselves and live in the way which pleases God so we may receive a full reward.  If God has a reward for me, by His grace I want to receive it in full.  How about you?

Authentic Christianity

Today I was reminded of a humorous situation years ago.  I met with a lovely family in Australia who was very keen to try some "authentic" American chili.  And when I say "chili" I do not mean capsicum or a type of chili like habanero, but the American dish which is made with chili powder, beef, and beans.  They had never eaten chili before and wanted to see what it tasted like.  I am a bit of a chili enthusiast so I was only too happy to oblige.

After I supplied a recipe, we hit upon a few snags.  Some of the ingredients were not on hand and there was no time to go to the shops.  Beans were omitted because it was not a favourite, and the amount of chili powder was reduced because they weren't "into" spice.  When we tucked into the finished product, I was asked how the dish measured up.  My response was something to the effect of, "It's very delicious, but it's just not chili!"  The chef seemed disappointed, but it should not have been a surprise.  It is pretty much impossible to make "chili" without chili.  Because ingredients people weren't fond of were removed, the dish bore no resemblance whatsoever to the real thing.  It might have been better to make another dish everyone liked rather than alter the dish while hoping for authenticity.

This approach to making chili could be compared to authentic Christianity.  If we want our Christianity to be authentic, then we need to do things God's way according to His recipe - carefully following the conditions Jesus set forth in His Word for His disciples.  We cannot pick and choose according to our tastes, desiring forgiveness from God but at the same time refusing to forgive others.  We cannot substitute sacrifice for obedience when it suits us.  If Jesus has called us to follow Him and we respond with, "LORD, let me first..." we are left with a poor imitation of the real thing:  something we have fashioned according to our preferences which is without Gospel flavour, powerless, and devoid of life.

Luke 9:23-24 plainly states the requirements to answer the call of Christ:  "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."  Authentic Christianity is one of self-sacrifice and obedience to God.  We must deny ourselves and daily choose to take up our cross in following Jesus who was obedient to the will and commands of the Father.  Everyone wants blessings from God, but are we willing to do what is required to receive and appropriate them?  People are fine with God to change their circumstances for the better, but it doesn't mean they actually want a relationship with Him.  Many people were healed and fed by Jesus who didn't care to follow Him daily.  Being healed, delivered from demons, or being touched by Jesus never made a single person a Christian, for being born again is an inner work of grace through faith in Jesus and the surrender of a life to His complete control.

Many in this world are sour on Christ because of their interactions with professing Christians devoid of love or grace who left a bad impression.  It would have been a terrible shame for my Aussie mates around the table to have been told they were eating authentic chili because it potentially could have put them off the real thing.  If real chili had been offered in the future they might have said,  "Oh, I've already tried that and it was awful.  I know I don't like it."  It's true everyone does like not chili, and everyone does not care for Jesus.  But if we will be Christians, then we need to live authentic Christians lives without apology:  loving and forgiving fully, generously giving, sacrificially helping others, exhibiting gentleness and meekness, and speaking the truth so people will repent and discover new life in Jesus through faith.  The only Christianity which transforms lives and saves souls is the authentic kind according to the Bible and the example of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Consider the Source!

Elijah was a faithful prophet of God.  After Elijah proclaimed before King Ahab it would not rain until he said so, the Bible says in 1 Kings 17:2-6:  "Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ³ "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. ⁴ And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." ⁵ So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook."

It is amazing God would use ravens to be His chosen means of sustaining Elijah with bread and meat, for under the Law they were deemed an unclean animal (Deut. 14:14).  The lack of rain led to famine in the land, and for a season God fed Elijah with the assistance of ravens.  Elijah did not refuse to receive the bread and meat from the ravens because he considered the food tainted.  He ate gladly, realising it was God who miraculously supplied his physical needs through a most unorthodox fashion.  Elijah received the food delivered from ravens who were obedient to God's command, unclean though they were.  It was God - not scavenging birds - who was primarily responsible for his provision.

God was able to use ravens to feed Elijah physically, and God is able to use flawed human beings to hold forth the truth of God's Word as spiritual food to nourish our souls.  We should not despise pastors or teachers because of their flaws and refuse the Bible itself as tainted.  There is no license provided by God for ministers to sin without consequence, but not one Christian is perfect.  It grieves me when I see people refuse the truth of God's Word because they take issue with His chosen messenger.  Elijah wasn't offended to eat food brought to him by ravens.  The people of Israel were glad to drink of the water from the rock even when Moses was overly harsh with them.  Many people waste away spiritually with hunger and thirst because they cannot find a messenger worthy of their flawless standard.

I encourage you to consider this:  if God can use a noisy, squawking raven to sustain Elijah with bread and meat, He can use a flawed person to hold forth biblical truth for your benefit.  This is not to say ministers of the Gospel need not be held to a high standard of righteous behaviour or to justify sin without rebuke or repentance.  But do not let offence keep you from listening to what God could be saying to you even through a sinner saved by grace.  Don't reject a message of truth because it wasn't said in a gentle or loving manner.  Don't refuse to heed God's rebuke through a person who you find offensive or confronting.  Love thinks no evil and rejoices in the truth.  Psalm 119:165 comes to mind:  "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."   God is the source of all wisdom, truth, and righteousness, and all we need is found in Him!  God may use a raven or a frustrated man who hit a rock with a stick, yet God is our source and sufficiency.  We can rejoice in the vessels God uses, for in so doing we rejoice God also has ordained work He wants to accomplish through us!

Blessings or Curses

I've been reading a book with keen interest, as it presents a biblical view on a subject I had not previously given great thought.  This recent recommendation for me is titled, "Blessing or Curse:  You Can Choose" by Derek Prince.  I am about halfway through the book, and it presents a compelling picture of the reality both of divine blessings and curses.  Admittedly I have given much greater focus on the blessings rather than curses.  But since blessings and curses are often stated in the Bible as opposites of one another, it stands to reason if we will have blessings from God room must be provided for the influence of a curse.  If we desire a blessing we should do what God promises to bless and avoid what brings a curse.  Reading this book has caused me to consider my own life and confess sin before the LORD.  I rejoice that Jesus has become a curse for me He can break the power over every single one.

It's a funny thing, that Christians believe God "blesses" people but when we speak of "curses" it starts sounding hokey or bizarre.  Yet both the Old and New Testaments are consistent in saying blessings from God accompany faith and obedience to Him, and curses accompany sinful choices and behaviour.  Sin is never committed in isolation in a person's life, but the darkness begins to affect all areas of a person.  Bitterness and hatred are like poisons which impact our thoughts, words, and deeds.  And even more sinister is the impact our sin can potentially have on people around us - even future generations!  The book also emphasises the power and importance of our words in speaking to people, when we speak of ourselves, and words uttered to God in prayer.

Proverbs 26:2 is one of the many verses explained in the book:  "Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight."  It is a fair point:  every curse has a cause, and they will impact specific areas of our lives.  Sometimes we may not realise we are under a curse, but if there is sin from which we have not repented there is great cause.  Here is a small sampling of warnings God issued His beloved, chosen people in Deuteronomy 28:15-19, "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: ¹⁶ Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. ¹⁷ Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ¹⁸ Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. ¹⁹ Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out."

There is no middle ground between blessings and curses from God.  Which side of that line would you like to be on?  God promises great blessings for those who obey Him, and Deuteronomy 28:13 holds forth a memorable one:  "And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."  Do you feel like a "tail" sometimes, like you are at the mercy of your circumstances, being dragged along without a choice?  In the book Prince remarked we often say things like, "I'm ok - under the circumstances."  He asked, "But whatever are you doing under the circumstances?"  He challenged the reader to answer these questions of self-evaluation:  "Am I living like a head or a tail?  Am I living under my circumstances, or above them?  The answers we give will help us to see how much of God's blessing we are actually enjoying." (Prince, Derek. Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose! Old Tappan, NJ: Chosen, 1990. 50. Print.)

Praise God Jesus Christ is able to set us free from generational and self-imposed curses in a moment when we confess with our lips, repent in our hearts, and renounce the evil, replacing a curse with a blessing.  There are no magic words or formulas to follow, but a heart regenerated by Jesus through faith and the willingness to trust and obey.  The ones Jesus sets free are free indeed!