Victory in the Wilderness

In many ways the temptation of Jesus Christ was a parallel experience to the children of Israel after the nation was birthed out of Egypt.  They were baptised through the Red Sea, and Jesus was baptised in the Jordan.  They were led by the Spirit of God in the wilderness for 40 years, and Jesus was led by the Spirit into and through the wilderness for 40 days.  Though there were similarities, the contrasts are pronounced because the endurance and righteousness of Christ far exceeded the Israelites.  The children of Israel were fed by manna from heaven, water from the rock, and quail carried on the breeze – yet Jesus did not eat any food.  Days into the wilderness the Hebrews murmured against God and Moses, murmured and complained, doubted God could or would save them, and quickly rebelled against God.  Jesus remained faithful without fail and finished the season in the wilderness victorious.

Do you remember the three temptations Jesus was tempted with after being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness?  “Turn these stones into bread,” Satan said.  Jesus responded in Luke 4:4:  "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."  The Israelites failed because  they didn’t obey God who told them to gather so much every day and to not gather on Sabbath.  God was teaching them more than how to gather food but to heed His Word.  Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said, “Bow down before me, and all will be yours.”  Jesus answered in Luke 4:8, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve."  Moses left the camp for a few days to meet with God on Sinai and the people had taken a collection, crafted a golden idol, and worshipped the works of their hands.  Finally Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple and told Him to throw himself down because as it is written in Psalm 91, angels would keep him from harm.  Jesus replied in Luke 4:12, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God."  Jesus believed the Word of God and did not need to prove it to Satan by tempting God.  How many times did the Hebrews tempt God through their unbelief in the wilderness?  Having seen God’s miracles and presence they said, “Is God with us or not?" (also see Exodus 17:7, Numbers 14:22-23; Psalm 78:40-43).

Praise the LORD when God lead us through wilderness He does so with a good destination and end in mind.  What happened when the time of temptation was over for Jesus?  Angels came and ministered to Him.  What happened when the 40 years in the wilderness was over for the children of Israel?  They entered the Promised Land, saw God’s wonders, entered into His victory, and obtained an inheritance.  The trip through the wilderness was for more than reaching the end but so they would learn:  God's people do not live by bread alone, but by every word spoken by God.  God wanted His people to refuse to bow before idols and only worship the LORD their God.  God wanted them to believe His Word and cease tempting Him in their unbelief.

Do you see?  You might feel you are in a wilderness of sorts today and temptation is all around.  Spending 40 years or 40 days in the wilderness is a long time!  But know God not only wants to bring you to an awesome destination but the lessons you are learning now will help you (and others as well) to enter into and be fruitful in the place He has prepared for you.  You don’t need to leave the wilderness to discover the way of escape for temptation God has made, for His Spirit fills us wherever we are as we abide in Him by faith and walk with Him in obedience.

Dealing With Sin

Imagine if God punished us for our sins with the immediate wrath and judgment we deserve!  If God did so there would be no opportunity for repentance, redemption, or salvation.  In all these things God delights.  It is well observed in Psalm 103:8-12, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

After being severely chastened by the LORD for seven years, a notable king's understanding returned to him.  He had this to say of God and His ways in Daniel 4:37:  "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down."  Forgiveness of sin does not mean the consequences for sin are also removed.  Aaron and Miriam murmured against Moses, and God struck Miriam with leprosy for her sin.  Moses begged God to heal her, and after seven days outside the camp she returned whole.  Uzziah's case is another story.

King Uzziah was a good king who was greatly helped by God.  Yet when he became strong his heart was lifted up with pride and transgressed by offering incense God commanded only the priests to offer.  As he offered incense, Azariah the high priest confronted him with 80 other priests.  Instead of recognising his error and repenting, Uzziah was furious.  Being lifted up with pride he would not humble himself before men, so God struck him with leprosy on his forehead.  I imagine his fierce countenance instantly changed when he saw the looks of horror on the faces of the priests coupled with the numb sensation he felt on his face.  2 Chronicles 26:20 reads, "And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him."  Uzziah slowly died of the disease, living in isolation.  His pride led him to going beyond the bounds set for him, and then ironically was unable to fulfil the calling God had upon his life.

How many times have we transgressed?  How many times have we become angry when confronted by others for our sins?  How many times have we deserved to be struck with leprosy or thrust immediately into hell for our pride and subsequent transgression!  Praise the LORD He is merciful, gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in mercy.  These qualities ought not to embolden us to sin because there are many examples of God's fearsome judgment in scripture.  Uzziah was angry at the messengers and God returned his sin - quite literally - upon his own head.  Having been purged from sin, let us not proudly walk therein.  LORD, cause me to humble myself in repentance when my sin is exposed, and especially when you use people to do it.

Responsible Teachers

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. ² But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

2 Corinthians 4:1-2

The ministry of the Word is a sobering, challenging, and rewarding task for those called to it.  Bible teaching and preaching is a responsibility before God and men, for indeed we are handling the words of life.  Nehemiah 8:8 is a good example of what pastors and teachers are to do:  "So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading."  They read from the book of the Law, explained what it meant, and helped the people to see how it applied personally to their lives.

The purpose of studying the Bible is more than gathering information, but is a revelation of the Almighty God who has established all wisdom and truth.  What are some hallmarks of teachers who handle God's Word responsibly?  This is not a complete list, but responsible teachers:

• pray.  They seek the LORD during study, wait on Him for guidance, trust Him to supply wisdom and application, pray for help to deliver the message, and for people to respond.
• are led by the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit will always magnify Jesus Christ and reveal what He has said (John 16:13-15).  
• use scripture to interpret scripture in context.  People are well aware how stats can be distorted to say anything, and the same is true when the Bible is mishandled.
• apply the scripture personally.  Learning new things should never be an end in itself.  People can be "ever learning" but never grasp the truth.
• stick to the good old paths.  New "truth" often makes way for old deceptions.  God has much to reveal to those who walk in the good old way (Jeremiah 6:16) now fulfilled through Jesus who is the Way.
• do not place major emphasis on personal opinions, doubtful doctrine, or speculations.  What people do not or cannot know is hardly as important as acknowledging and practising what they do know.
• would rather be clear than clever.  God made truth simple enough for children to grasp.  Never muddle what God makes plain.
• keep the main point the main point.  The message is infinitely more important than the messenger.
• are focused on edifying the Body of Christ, not entertaining.
• draw conclusions from the text rather than using scattered passages to validate a hypothesis.
• do not take aim at people.  Responsible teacher repent themselves when convicted and trust the Holy Spirit will also transform others in His time and way.
• do not avoid controversial teaching the Bible clearly speaks on because people could potentially be offended.  Preachers do not need to be controversial to be relevant, and without controversy is the revelation of Jesus Christ throughout the Word.
• remind mature believers of what they already know.  Being reminded of things we have neglected can be just as critical to our growth and maturity as a new revelation from God.
• value God's Word as absolutely true and superior to man's ideas in every way - including their own.
• use illustrations wisely.  Spurgeon said even as a tailor puts a knot in his thread, so there should be illustrations and examples in the thread of our discourses so they will stick.  Windows bring light into a house and illustrations illuminate an important point, but never let the window be bigger than the structure.
• do not substitute emotional manipulation for the move of the Holy Spirit.  Emotions are fleeting, but God's Word will endure forever.
• live a life that agrees with their words.  Hypocrisy sours the source.

Paul wrote to a young pastor in 2 Timothy 4:1-4 an exhortation we ought to take to heart:  "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."  People like a good story, but those who handle the word of God have much more than stories to tell.  We hold in our hands words breathed by the Spirit of the Living God, and let us ensure we study to rightly divide them and are committed to proclaiming the whole counsel of God.  May those under the sound of our voices hear sound doctrine.  This will not be enough for some, yet if the foundations of truth are forsaken who can know God and be saved?

Called By Name

I remember at 12 years old walking up to a list posted on the snack bar at Western Little League field in El Cajon.  I was elated to see my name included upon the list of "All-Stars" which would represent the league at upcoming tournaments and (should we prevail) even the Little League World Series!  It was a great honour to be an All-Star because only a select few were chosen out of the whole league.  To see my name among other players renowned for their skills which exceeded my own was humbling and a proud moment at the same time.  In retrospect I'm not exactly sure why donning that All-Star uniform and being part of a great team was so special, but it was.

Being chosen by God is a far greater honour than being selected for an All-Star team.  Should our adoption into the family of God and inclusion in His eternal plans stir up even an inkling of pride, something is dreadfully wrong.  We are often wrong and praise the LORD He reveals the truth to us through His Word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Pride is so natural and ever-present in our flesh it can be hard - no, impossible on our own - to recognise and repent.  Players were selected for the All-Star team because of their quality play, yet every Christian is a sinner chosen by the grace of God.  We worked hard to earn a starting position on a baseball team, but it is God's goodness which has drawn us to Him.

The call of Jesus has gone out to all the world, yet this inclusive call does not lessen how special each of us are in the eyes of God.  We who have been brought near by the shed blood of Jesus through faith find ourselves in exclusive company as children of God.  A wedding invitation sent out to an entire nation of people likely would not make anyone feel special for being invited.  But if the wedding invitation was sent by a notable king signed in his own blood, attending would be a priority.  Being called and accepted by God by grace is special because there is no one as great as our God.  His goodness is infinite, and His wisdom is without limit.  We who are worthy of death have been invited into the presence of the Almighty for eternity!

Little League baseball is only a memory for me now 30 years on, but the "glory days" of abiding in the presence of God will be experienced by a child of God now and forever.  I feel special to be included in that rare company not because it is an exclusive group but because of the greatness of the Saviour who has called my name.

Christ's Leading for Life

According to his website, Tony Robbins is described as a "World Authority on Leadership Psychology" and the "#1 Life and Business Strategist."  An article on his site says, "Whether you lead a Fortune 500 company or simply lead yourself as you strive to attain your goals, leadership qualities are absolutely essential to your success. It helps you surmount obstacles, take risks, and find ways to live joyfully and thrive even during the most challenging times."  The article lists six qualities to cultivate in the lives of leaders:  confidence, focus, honesty, being positive, decisive, and inspirational.  Whilst the qualities of good leaders are subjective and this is hardly an exhaustive list, they illustrate well the point:  man's concepts of leadership differ greatly from God's ways.

Allow me to illustrate from a passage of scripture when King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were threatened by a great army.  Based upon the aforementioned list which has no mention of God, King Jehoshaphat was an obvious failure.  He did not bother to put a brave face on the threat, nor did he rally the troops with an inspirational message.  He directed the people to fast and they gathered for a prayer meeting.  This is a king with fortifications, strategists, valiant fighters, and weapons of war.  See what Jehoshaphat prayed when the nation gathered before the LORD in 2 Chronicles 20:12-13:  "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." ¹³ Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD."

Jehoshaphat did not tell his advisers in a private meeting behind closed doors, "Gentlemen, I don't believe we have a chance."  He said "We have no power" nice and loud for everyone to hear, in front of the army, the women and children!  He said, "We have no power against this threat, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."  This is a remarkable admission!  Parents feel they must put on a bold front for their children so they will not be alarmed.  They will lie if it will make their children feel safe.  Jehoshaphat refused to do so.  As king he publicly admitted he did not have any power or resources able to save, he was totally overwhelmed, and could only look to God.  And that, I believe, is a reason why God took charge the way He did, miraculously routing the enemy the following day and brought about a momentous victory.  A hopeless and helpless leader looked to God - rather than attempting in vain to comfort the people or rally his men - and every enemy warrior was destroyed without losing a single man, woman, or child.

The best leaders are those who are led by God.  Their confidence is not in themselves or past victories but in the God who delivered their souls from death.  The godly leader's focus is not the advancing enemy or the formulation of a strategy but on the Living God who is able to save to the uttermost who cry out to Him.  Honesty before God and men is paramount, and bowing our hearts before God is the most positive step we can take in seeking His will.  We must decisively seek the LORD's directives without fear of man, for the way that seems good to a man ends in death.  Finally, Jesus Christ is to be our inspiration.  The only thing more inspiring than a person who commits themselves to God when their life is on the line is the one who faithfully lives for His glory when his life isn't at immediate risk.  That can be you and me as we follow Christ's leading for our lives.

Wrath Upon Us

The Bible often makes me think.  Whilst thinking was allegedly "a dangerous pastime" for Gaston in Disney's "Beauty in the Beast," careful thought is most necessary to read the Bible with understanding.  The Christian life often today is tragically whittled down to catch-phrases and cliches which are totally inadequate to convey God's truth contained throughout scripture.  The strides taken in producing translations for modern readers cannot reduce the complexity and necessity of sound theology.  The Bible is comprised of 66 books, and we need every single one of them for the full revelation God has provided.

I have heard people say many times "Christians are not under God's wrath," and this is true - but this hackneyed cliche doesn't tell the whole story.  It is true we are no longer under wrath because Jesus took our punishment on Calvary.  As followers of Jesus Christ through faith, we have been saved by eternal wrath by Him.  We all deserve hell, but Jesus has atoned for our sins.  The wrath of God is reserved for the wicked who will drink this cup to the dregs.  Plenty of verses back up this position.  So what is the problem?

There's no problem, but a verse I read this morning provides a condition everyone who claims absolute immunity from God's wrath ought to know.  Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah who was invited to a feast by the Ahab, the wicked king of Israel.  The reason for the special feast?  Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat's help to fight his enemies - enemies God likely had stirred up against Ahab to chasten him to repentance.  Because they were both children of Abraham and Israel, Jehoshaphat agreed to an alliance with Ahab to help him.  After Jehoshaphat returned safe from battle because God helped him 2 Chronicles 19:2 says, "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you."  This verse teaches us though God has spared His faithful followers from eternal wrath, should we support evil we can unwittingly place ourselves under God's wrath.  Hopefully these words from God caused Jehoshaphat to think about supporting those who showed contempt towards God through their actions and to repent himself.

How good it is to be circumspect in our reading of God's Word and our lives!  We know we ought to love one another as God has loved us, but in helping his wicked brother Jehoshaphat was heading for judgment and a world of pain and loss.  His soul was secure but he should not have been surprised after making an alliance with wicked Ahaziah his ships sank (1 Kings 22:44-48, 2 Chron. 20:37).  I am grateful God did not give us the "Reader's Digest" version of his Word, modernised and abridged to make it easier for us to read faster.  He has held nothing back we need to know to live righteously and godly in this world, and there is no fine print or hidden charges.  The King James Version can be made plain to us by the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides us into all truth.  When we read with thought, intending to obey, God will reveal new things to broaden our understanding for the purpose of application to our lives.  Praise the LORD we are no longer children of wrath, and God-forbid through our ignorance of His Word we enter into alliances we ought to refuse and bring wrath from God upon us.

The Ride of Your Life

Following Jesus is a personal choice, and those who make the decision discover it can be a wild ride.  I remember very well as a teen my first visit to Magic Mountain, a theme-park filled with roller coasters in Valencia California.  The wildest rides I had ever ridden to that point were in Disneyland, but the Matterhorn had nothing on Revolution or Viper!  When I balked and told my friend I would rather sit a ride out, he said something to me like this:  "You're going on every single ride.  You don't have a choice.  It's going to be awesome."  I did have a choice, but his encouragement was what I needed to discover I loved roller coasters.  I had the greatest time and when new rides were built I was all in.

Roller coasters are specially engineered to safely utilise the force of gravity to thrill.  As you are secured in your seat anticipation builds as the ride slowly clinks up to the highest point.  Some find this slow ascent terrifying and audibly pray before the death-defying drop.  Are you a person who white-knuckles their way through the ride or raises your hands over your head screaming for joy?  I remember a little boy shouting with his eyes tightly shut as we rode "California Screaming" in Anaheim, "I don't like it!  I don't like it!"  After the ride is over, there are basically two responses in people new to roller coasters:  it is either, "Let's do that again!" or "I am never doing that again!"

In my life I can say following Jesus has been a lot like a roller coaster at times.  God has led me to do things I never imagined doing or wanted to do, and He has been faithful all the time.  I used to endure rides before I learned to enjoy them.  Grabbing the seat hard and gritting my teeth didn't stop the ride or make it more safe.  Letting go, raising my arms over my head, and committing myself to the experience with an aim to enjoy it was key to me running back to the front of the line to have another go.  When you choose to follow Jesus, it will be the ride of your life.  There will be waiting which seems to take forever, slow ascents and rapid descents, rushes of feelings good and painful, corkscrews and moments when everything is upside down.  But as someone who has followed Jesus for a while I say by the end, regardless of the trepidation I had when I faced new challenges and seasons, "Let's do that again."  Seeing the happy faces of people disembarking the ride gives potential anxious new riders encouragement.  I want to be one of those happy people! :)

How are you enjoying the ride Jesus has you on?  Know He has designed it especially for you and always has your safety and eternal future in mind.  You can grit your teeth all you want, but how much better it is to turn our eyes towards Him, lift our hands in praise, and commit ourselves to Him completely.  There is joy, peace, and comfort in this posture - without queasiness or a sore neck!

Approaching the Unapproachable

The apostle Paul spoke of God's glorious nature in 1 Timothy 6:15-16:  "...He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honour and everlasting power. Amen."  God is from everlasting and His power is infinite.  We cannot stare into the brightness of the sun for long without damaging our eyes, and if we attempted to draw near to this great star the heat would consume our bodies long before our feet ever touched upon the surface.  God is even more inapproachable, and though we cannot see Him the power of what He has made by the words of His mouth causes our hearts to fail.

To be summoned to appear in the court of a king would be a fearful proposition.  I was never comfortable to be called into the office by my boss when potentially my job hung in the balance:  how much more disconcerting to be called before a king who possessed power over life and death!  All he needed to do was say the word and the life of the mightiest subject was forfeit.  When evil Haman plotted the destruction of the Jews, Esther the queen was compelled by her cousin Mordecai to approach her husband Ahasuerus the king of the Medes and Persians to intercede on behalf of the Jews to expose grave injustice and bring about deliverance.  You might think, "Big deal!  She's the queen and married to the king.  She can do anything she wants!"  You would be quite wrong in that assessment, for the law said otherwise.

Esther knew the law of the Medes and Persians, and the law only condemned all in her position should she enter the court without being summoned.  She explained this in Esther 4:11:  "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days."  Going before the king unannounced was an automatic death sentence.  The only exception was if the king held out the golden sceptre.  By this benevolent act the king could go above the law to save who came to him.  After three days of praying and fasting, Esther approached the king, he held out the sceptre, and the rest is history.

It is with such trepidation and soberness we approach the LORD God who has revealed Himself to us by His grace.  Under the Law we are condemned and have no hope of deliverance.  There is nothing we can bring in our hands which would cause God to accept us on our merits.  When we approach the unapproachable God humbly in faith, He has extended grace and deliverance to us through Jesus Christ.  God forbid we would see Jesus only as a friend and not first as God and King of whose presence we are most unworthy.  Esther and all the people knew the law of the Medes and Persians which could not be changed, and many people do not know the Almighty God who does not change.  He is without beginning or ending, immortal, unapproachable, to whom is honour and everlasting power.  When you pray to Him, do not barge into His presence.  Do not be presumptuous to do all the speaking.  We are only able to approach Him boldly because He has already summoned us to appear before His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Our God is a consuming fire, and at the prospect of His might our natural inclination is to run and hide.  Trying to hide from God is futile, for His light shines in all darkness and His understanding is infinite.  Let us draw near to Him in faith even as Esther did before her king.  She did not appear because she was assured of favour from the king but the urgency of her need.  God has assured all those who repent and trust in Him favour, deliverance, and salvation.  The Law which condemned us has been blotted out and nailed to the cross for good measure with our Saviour Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13-15), and our King lives to make intercession on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).  How glorious is it is to be known and accepted by the most high God!  Let us fall on our faces in worship, for He is worthy!

Ponder Your Path

"Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."

Proverbs 4:26-27

In this crooked generation God's people ought to be brave pioneers of righteousness and purity, and our path is the one Jesus Christ has already established us to walk in.  In every circumstance we are directed by God to go the righteous way, for even in temptation God provides a way of escape.

We wander into trouble when we are aimless and are not circumspect concerning 1) where we have been, 2) the direction our lives are heading, and 3) our intended destination.  For this reason the wise Solomon urges those who fear the LORD and have ears to hear to ponder the path of their feet.  Mountain climbers do not reach majestic summits without a clear plan and specialised equipment.  If we do not do the equivalent of climbers who prepare their bodies for altitude and ready gear to traverse known risks which lie ahead, we will fail to reach our potential.  If we do not consider or analyse the path we take beforehand, we will likely make poor choices under pressure.

"Ponder the path of your feet," Solomon said, and we do well to consider the immediate path which lays before us.  In "Empire Strikes Back" Luke Skywalker was criticised by Yoda for being so focused on the distant and murky future he did not consider where he was or what he was doing.  Worrying about his friends and trying to save them was more important than finishing the training which would prepare him for what lay ahead and enable him to save them.  He believed he was ready when he was not ready.  At the end of the film Luke flew away to save others but needed to be saved himself in the end.  Having aligned ourselves with the will of God revealed in His Word, we find our path illuminated.  The wicked do not realise what makes them stumble in the dark.

Continuing along the highway of holiness we are to remove our foot from evil.  Jesus will never lead us into temptation, and we are held responsible to take drastic measures to remove evil influences from our lives.  Ridding ourselves of sinful temptations we know about is a key step in pondering our path and walking uprightly.  Levi Lusko wrote in his book Swipe Right, "Close the computer...walk out of the movie...delete the contact from your phone, break up with that person, change schools, or quit your job if you have to.  Pluck out the eye, cut off the hand.  Do something drastic to your sin, or sin will do something drastic to you.  I know this all sounds way intense - and maybe it is - but know that you can't have a healthy soul and mainline toxic substances." (“Swipe Right: the Life-and-Death Power of Sex and Romance.” by Levi Lusko, W Publishing, an Imprint of Thomas Nelson, 2017, p. 105.)

Having pondered our path, let us continue to progress in faith, hope, and love.  When we are tempted by other routes along the way let us ask ourselves:  where does this darkened, winding passage lead?  Know there are no shortcuts to the celestial city.  May our ways be as established as the Way God has provided for us.

The Wisest Teacher

"The Karate Kid" (1984) movie was an instant classic.  I remember my brother and cousin rehearsing the final "crane kick" over and over, trying to make it look as real as possible without making contact.  The film had a bit of everything people like in movies:  classic lines, funny moments, and the underdog winning.

My favourite character in the film was Mr. Miyagi, the gruff custodian who had an amazing house, sprawling deck, car collection, and taught karate like a boss.  By looking at him you just knew Mr. Miyagi was a stud and was not to be messed with.  Who sits around trying to catch flies with chopsticks?  When whingy Daniel complained about all the chores Miyagi told him to do after agreeing to teach him karate, he was as surprised of the plot twist as I was - he had unwittingly been doing karate drills all day and into the night when he was waxing cars, sanding floors, and painting the fence.  Miyagi was wise, though Daniel didn't think so as he worked.  The one Daniel likely cursed under his breath of being a lazy, lying, selfish Sensei was the one who was forging him into a champion.

Mr. Miyagi didn't write a book on wisdom, but the methods he employed to train Daniel are similar to the ways God trains His people to serve Him.  In his sweat and toil Daniel grew bitter because he wasn't doing what he wanted to do, and we can act the same towards God.  We have these arbitrary expectations of what God has called us to not realising He desires to do a work in us too.  Many people are impatient to enter into missionary or pastoral work thinking it all begins with arriving in the field or being ordained by men.  Do you find it interesting Jesus did not go to the synagogue or utilise Pharisee Labour Ready to fill His full-time ministry staff vacancies?  He went to fishermen as they mended their nets; He called a tax collector when he was on the job.  In my case, He sought me out after a career spanning a decade in mechanical insulation I genuinely loved and was content.  He had ordained me to be a pastor and directed me and my family to leave my home in SoCal for Australia.  Even Mr. Miyagi couldn't have predicted that.

So you want to serve God in ministry?  Don't be surprised if He has you doing the equivalent of sanding floors and painting fences - things which seem totally unrelated to what your ideas of ministry preparation are.  One thing about Daniel LaRusso we should take to heart is he stuck around.  He had an awful attitude, sour as can be, but he gritted his teeth and did every task he was directed morning to night - even when unsupervised.  And when he couldn't take it anymore, Mr. Miyagi graciously let him in on what he was doing by throwing punches at him.  Suddenly Daniel realised:  there was a reason behind all those chores.  What seemed completely unrelated and a waste of his time was a critical investment in his development.  God requires His servants to be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2).  Daniel's labours did not earn him the right to learn karate, though that is what it seemed at the time.  Not one of us is worthy to be acknowledged, taught, or trained by God to accomplish His purposes, but the servants worth their salt are those who gladly do the hard yards in obedience to Jesus.  God is much more than a divine "sensei" for the word means, "one who came before."  Jesus existed before the beginning of all things and will endure forever as the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last who graciously gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.

I believe there are many people called by God to be His special ministers who miss their chance because they weren't willing to faithfully do the little things God has placed before them.  They are called to preach and teach, not clean carpets and give rides.  They are called to lead worship, not move chairs or update a website.  They are not content to do chores but want the equivalent of a black belt based upon their sense of God's calling alone.  This sort will always fall short of God's potential for them.  If we labour and are useful for the glory of God, it is all of His grace.  No task is too low for a child of God to embrace, for Jesus humbled Himself to put on human flesh, be the servant of all, and willingly died on the cross.  If God has you sanding floors, do that monotonous and back-breaking task with all your might unto Him.  Someday the season of sanding will finish and you will be blown away how God used it to smooth your rough edges.  If Jesus is your Good Teacher, you will discover His ways and methods are higher than yours!  For those who humble themselves to take the lowest place, ultimately God will say to them:  "Friend, come up higher!"

Kindness to the Dead

Naomi was a woman in the Bible who suffered the loss of her husband and two sons in Moab, having left Bethlehem due to a famine.  She returned home bitter and empty years later with daughter-in-law Ruth.  The people of Bethlehem hardly recognised the grief-stricken woman whose only companion was a foreigner.  Though Naomi had forgotten happier days, God had not forgotten Naomi.  He would provide for her abundantly in unexpected ways, and her mourning would be turned to joy.

Ruth went out to glean in a field and was kindly greeted by the owner named Boaz.  He was kind to Ruth, having been appraised of her loyalty towards her mother-in-law and the God of Israel, and invited her to remain in his field throughout the harvest.  When Ruth returned home carrying a large amount of grain, Naomi was pleasantly surprised with her success.  After Ruth divulged she had gathered in a field belonging to Boaz, consider Naomi's response Ruth 2:20:  "Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives."

Isn't it amazing how God is kind both to the living and the dead?  Without a husband the womb of Naomi was good as dead, and her husband and sons all had passed away.  There was no way the inheritance could be retained in the family, but what is impossible with men is possible with God.  Those who die are beyond our help, but God would show kindness to the dead by providing Boaz as a husband for Ruth.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, "Naomi's mind immediately perceived the significance of the situation. Even the dead might soon be blessed, in that the name of Elimelech, her dead husband, could live on through her faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth. Boaz was a close relative, but more than that, he was a kinsman-redeemer. He could act as a redeemer of property and persons."  God's kindness was not only for dead Elimelech and his house, but for the widowed Naomi and Ruth.  God is able to bring life from death.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead demonstrates His power over sin and death and proves the reality of the Gospel.

God allowed Jesus to die on the cross and rise again so all who are dead in sins and believe in Him can be redeemed forever.  We were dead and without hope, but God has given us eternal life through the Gospel!  Ephesians 2:1-7 reads, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  God has not forgotten to show kindness to the living and to the dead.  He doesn't only raise up seed to carry on our family name but raises us from the dead to life to carry on His name as His adopted children.

Blessed be God, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!

Healthy Spiritual Choices

A wholesome diet and regular exercise are fundamental to good health.  Being discerning about what and how much we eat has a far greater impact than mere outer appearance.  Quality nutrition helps our bodies grow, repair, boosts our immune system, aids digestion, and has many other benefits.  Exercise strengthens muscles, burns fat, increases flexibility, and is good for the heart and brain.  Our attention to diet and exercise is voluntary.  For the most part we make the decision to go for a walk, eat vegetables, limit our intake of processed sugar, drink more water, or avoid alcohol.

Knowing food is more or less healthy - or honestly not healthy at all - does not mean making these personal decisions are easy.  It is hard to restrict ourselves when it comes to diet, and it can be difficult to maintain motivation to exercise.  Sometimes we are determined and dedicated to meet our goals, and other times we have no goal except to eat what we want at the time.  This difficult task of balancing our lives for optimum health physically shows the challenges which we face spiritually.  What we eat and drink is often far easier to monitor and control than what what we take in through our eyes and ears from this world we live in.

No one can force you to drink whiskey when you are alone in your room at night, but images which stir the flesh can flash across your screen.  Profane language and cursing can fill our ears through shows on TV or videos.  The problem is, we are passive players in the process.  To eat you must first pick up the food, place it in your mouth, and choose to swallow it down.  Social media, TV, and the internet brings a stream of potentially foul material we weren't looking for.  There are countless things we see and hear which which are not agreeable to our new nature in Christ.  Granted, there are times we do not have a choice in the matter.  But let us not deceive ourselves:  much of the time we do.  We can turn off a device, we can walk away, and we can throw things out.  We are not at the mercy of this world to tell us what we should see or listen to.  That is God's rightful place.

If food or drink we consume has gone bad, our bodies will grow suddenly ill.  Our bodies are created by God to purge out contaminants and to be cleansed from within.  When a person watches smut, reads filth, hears profane speech, or is exposed to what stirs the flesh to fantasise and sin with their body, it has a negative effect on the health of the soul - even as a diet high in saturated fat and sugar is bad for the heart.  Binge drinking of alcohol is hazardous for the health of a person and affects his or her ability to make good decisions, and going on a sinful "bender" of looking at sensual images is troubling to body and soul.  There are no health benefits whatsoever to drunkenness, and there is only suffering and sorrow awaiting those who willingly expose themselves to what lures them to sin.

What we eat and drink has an impact on our bodies, and what we see and hear affects the way we think.  Indulging the flesh by eating too much leads to a temporary stomach ache, but indulging the flesh through what we see and hear wounds our souls.  These inner wounds do not heal on their own but only through faith in Christ expressed by repentance and obedience.  As much as depends upon us, let us monitor our intake - not just of food and drink - but of what we willingly expose ourselves to.  When you scroll, what are you looking for?  Let us be discerning of what we seek and make decisions to honour God rather than satisfying the fleeting curiosity of the flesh which is intent on bondage and destruction.  As a man thinks so he is, and as we make godly choices with what we see and hear it will have a most positive impact on our spiritual health and vitality.  The choice is yours!

Rejoice in Christ Our Peace

When people request prayer, it is usually to seek help in time of need.  So many problems we face in life are bigger than our ability to solve or fix, and God has graciously invited all who believe Him to make our requests known to God.  We can make requests with thanksgiving and through Jesus enter into His rest, knowing God hears us and is able to accomplish all that concerns us today and always.

Have you noticed the frequency, duration, and fervency of our prayers typically rise in times of trouble?  It struck me recently how God uses trials and difficulties to prompt us - even drive us to pray for people normally who are not in our thoughts.  When we hear of tragedies and atrocities across the world we are moved to pray for people we do not know and will likely never meet.  Prayer has the capacity to invite God's aid into every corner of the globe and beg Him to minister on behalf of people who do not even know Him.  How glorious and generous God is, and He redeems trouble by moving Christians to pray.

In a world inundated with bad news, it is easy to lose a godly perspective.  We begin to focus on the problems, man's hollow solutions, and our inability to change the world (or even ourselves!) for good.  But faith in Christ enables us to rejoice in God whatever the circumstances.  Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Trouble itself has a silver lining when it prompts us to pray.

How good it is, believer, instead of only bringing our concerns or complaints before the LORD that we praise Him for the awesome God He is.  Regardless of our circumstances God remains good and unchanging.  He did not save us to forsake us, nor did He purchase us to disown us.  A good mother will not forget to care for her infant child, and God will never neglect us.  God's love, grace, and magnificent power is beyond anything which threatens us, and His truth cannot be shaken or dissolved by a billion voices who clamour against it.  He has situated our souls upon a Rock of eternal salvation, and we are kept in the hollow of His hand from harm.  Even the young lions suffer hunger, but those who fear the LORD will lack no good thing.  The youths will faint and grow weary, but our LORD does not slumber or sleep.  Let us praise Him, the Good Shepherd of our souls!

We quickly forget how good God is when pains overwhelm us, but God is not overwhelmed.  He is mighty to save, glorious in power, and unparalleled in majesty.  Instead of worrying, let us be praying.  And in our praying, let us make our requests with thanksgiving.  Then we will know something of the peace of God which guards our hearts and minds.  Stealing candy from a baby is an easy thing to do, but no trial or trouble can steal our Peace (Eph. 2:14) from a helpless child of God who cries out to Him in faith.

Abundant Consolation

In God is great consolation.  We need not despair even in trying times of suffering, for God is gracious and full of mercy.  Our trials do not test God in any way, as if anything is difficult for Him, but we are tested by trouble God allows.  God has a miraculous ability to use great pains to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-6, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."  God allows difficult and painful circumstances so we might look to Him as our comfort.  Our natural bent is to avoid anything which resembles tribulation, yet these trials are opportunities for God to abundantly comfort and console.  When Paul suffered persecution for the sake of Christ, he recognised other believers were strengthened and encouraged by his steadfastness.  Likewise, when Paul was comforted those praying for him were encouraged by the answers God supplied.

Consolation is a word we don't use often in conversation which is defined in the Webster's 1828 Dictionary as, "The primary sense is either to set or allay, to give rest or quiet, or the sense is to strengthen, in which case it coincides with the root of solid. The latter is most probable. To comfort; to cheer the mind in distress or depression; to alleviate grief, and give refreshment to the mind or spirits; to give contentment or moderate happiness by relieving from distress."  When I think about being "consoled" it is the picture of a mother or father gathering their distressed little one in their arms, assuring everything will be alright.  The one offering comfort has not changed the situation at all, but their presence changes everything; their assurance is received as gospel truth without question based upon their loving relationship and compassion towards their little one.

So it is with God's consolation of his distressed little ones who face all manner of suffering He allows.  He does not always intervene and change our circumstances to our liking, nor does He change the past.  But He offers us His divine presence and speaks truth from His Word to comfort us when our world seems to be falling apart.  Whatever disturbs our hearts is not beyond His power to change, but He seeks to change our hearts in the midst of trials to implicitly trust Him and look for no deliverance except by His strength and power.  In all tribulation there is abundant consolation for us, and this is the birthright of every child of God who turns their eyes to Jesus.  Praise the LORD for the rest and strength we find in our Saviour!

Neutral No Longer

It is good for every child of God to acknowledge we cannot safely be neutral towards sin in our lives.  Imagine if the children of Israel had remained "neutral" towards the existence of Jericho and tried to enter the land of promise!  This would not have made the inhabitants of the land supportive, helpful, or friendly.  Even a small city like Ai would have grown into a fortified stronghold where the enemy gained strength to subvert the efforts of God's people.  To win even a simple game strategy is employed, and the enemy of our souls does not play:  he fights for keeps.

Carelessness is a killer.  I have a friend whose brother is a hunter and after decades of handling firearms he blew his finger off.  My dad, who has been a skilled woodworker for most of his life, pushed the tips of two fingers into a tablesaw.  Both of these preventable accidents had life-long physical consequences.  I had mowed lawns for decades before my foot slipped under the spinning blades and pulverised my boot (thankfully my foot was fine but the boot was never the same).  Sometimes it takes a mistake for us to treat a potentially dangerous tool with the care it warrants.  Guns, saws, and spinning blades are obviously dangerous if mishandled, yet the internet and mobile phones are powerful tools which are extremely dangerous to mind and soul without proper safeguards.

We can damage our physical bodies in a moment, but we can also do so through repetitive actions.  Sinful thought patterns and looking at lustful images momentarily and over time will do more damage to our mind than a gunshot wound to the hand.  Whilst the gunshot wound is obvious and painful, we often do not realise the damage we do to ourselves through feeding the flesh through the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life.  We cannot remain neutral towards the things we see as if they do not affect us.  We must deal harshly with all which stirs up the flesh and leads to greater sin.  In addition to prayer we must cull not only the sin which enters but seal the gaps in our defences.  The choice to veer from the path of righteousness for a moment is sin.  Sin occurs in the mind and heart often long before we physically act out on it.

Jesus Christ our Saviour has put His foot on the neck of every sin which slinks around in the darkness.  There can be no coddling, no mercy shown to sin which grovels, pleads for its life, and makes vain promises like a captured villain deserving of death.  In Joshua 10 there were five enemy kings who hid in a cave when their armies were routed.  Joshua did not bring them food, water, or blankets with an apology or offer of peace.  He commanded these wicked kings to lay on the ground and for his men to place their feet on their necks.  Joshua 10:25-26 reads, "Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." ²⁶ And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening."  We must be valiant as Joshua was to purge the land of wicked rulers as it concerns our own sin.  Christ has struck the killing blow on Calvary, and it is His victory we are enabled to walk in by His grace.

We must declare war on our sin and be neutral no longer, for sin is not neutral towards us.  Sensible homeowners will not allow wild rats to breed in their homes without taking action to eradicate them.  Remaining "neutral" to a rat invasion leads to damage, disease, and even a home being condemned.  If we will take action on a rat we hear chewing and clawing around because of negative potential consequences, how can we remain neutral to sin which leads to death?  God forgive me when I have ignored my sin instead of waging war in Christ's name!  It is always time to fight for the glory of God - not crusading against unbelieving enemies "out there" but taking up the fight to personally walk victorious in Christ Jesus.

Walking Worthy

Yesterday I heard a song refrain which repeated, "Lord of glory, make us worthy to possess your name."  I read that artists and painters can be poor expositors, and on occasion Christian lyrics can fall into this category.  The most melodic music and uplifting harmony, from a biblical view, is only as good as its adherence to sound doctrine.  Whilst there is freedom in Christ and creativity in expression, it is good for all followers of Jesus to examine the words we hear and sing.

My ears perked up at the phrase, "make us worthy."  Is this something God ever promises to do, to make us worthy of Him?  In my study of scripture man is deemed worthy of many things - like punishment, discipline, and death.  The fact God greatly values man does not mean there is intrinsic worthiness in us.  If we in any way are worthy of God or to be a partaker of His glory by ourselves or efforts then our salvation is not of grace.  We are saved by grace through faith, and therefore any assertion of our worthiness is dashed to pieces like a clay vessel.  Like in the cult classic "Wayne's World" when Wayne and Garth bowed before Alice Cooper shouting "We're not worthy!" none of us are worthy to "hang out" with God based upon our own merit.

Having been born again through the Gospel and filled with the Spirit of God, we continue to reside in a sinful body of flesh.  In our flesh we are no more worthy of God than ever before, yet in His grace God enables us to walk worthy of Him.  We do not deserve God, and He deserves better than us.  It is solely due to God's grace and mercy we are adopted as children and have fellowship with God.  We are Christ's ambassadors to the world now divinely enabled to walk worthy of Him.  John the Baptist was not worthy to loosen Christ's sandal strap, and no one was found but Christ in heaven or earth worthy to break the seals and open the scroll in Revelation 5.  Jesus is the only One worthy of worship, honour, glory, and praise.  It is only by His grace we are invited and able to enter in.

Paul wrote to believers in 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12, "You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; ¹¹ as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, ¹² that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."  We are not worthy, but we should walk worthy of God who has called us by His grace - devoutly, justly, and blameless.  It is fitting we like Paul would exhort, comfort, and charge others to also walk in a manner worthy of Christ's example.  It is only through His indwelling Spirit we are made to walk worthy when we relinquish ourselves to be His possession.

The Future is History

It is always exciting for me to discover new connections in the Bible.  The God who designed this universe has also crafted the remarkable tapestry of history, revealing His handiwork throughout.  History is not filled with what some might mistakenly call coincidences, but signposts directing us to what God later did and even causes us to look expectantly to God for the future.

The city of Jerusalem in Israel, situated on ancient Mt. Moriah, is an amazing biblical site.  Probably one of the most famous instances regarding the site is it is the location Abraham took his beloved son Isaac at the command of the LORD to present him as a burnt offering.  Abraham believed the promises of God to make of him a great nation yet did not hesitate to do what God commanded him.  He laid the wood in order, bound his son, and took the knife to slay Isaac.  Genesis 22:11-12 says, "But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." ¹² And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."  Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw a ram caught in a thicket, and offered the ram as a sacrifice to the LORD on Mt. Moriah.

Fast forward about 860 years when King Solomon began to build the Temple in Jerusalem.  2 Chronicles 3:1 reads, "Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."  Not only is the location of the temple on Mt. Moriah the place where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed, but it is place where King David saw the angel of the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  David had sinned in the numbering of the people of Israel and did not take the required ransom (Ex. 30:12).  God caused an ensuing plague to kill 70,000 men in Israel.  2 Samuel 24:16 tells us, "And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."  King David purchased the threshing floor and offered burnt sacrifices to God, and this is the exact place where the Temple was built.

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem today is revered by many as the "foundation stone" of creation, and it is interesting these two historical events occurred there.  The name "Jerusalem" means "city of peace," and in both instances God commanded for the lives of people be spared.  Abraham was told to put down the knife; the angel of the LORD was commanded to sheath his sword.  Both of the occasions ended with sacrifices being offered to God in worship, to God who is our Peace.  Looking ahead, this is the place foretold by scripture that Jesus Christ will return with a sword to judge the world in righteousness and in Jerusalem He will establish His throne.  Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God provided as an offering for sin, and in due time the risen LORD will be revealed to all in glory.  Out of His mouth will come a sharp sword to smite unbelieving nations, and He will not spare or pity in that notable Day.  Unless God is gracious all would surely be consumed.

When Solomon built the Temple there were two notable pillars mentioned in 2 Chronicles 3:17:  "Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz."  The meanings of these names are insightful:  "He shall establish" and "In it is strength."  Those great pillars were eventually torn down by Babylonian invaders, but the Word of God is established and will endure forever.  The Messiah promised by God has established a New Covenant and shall establish His kingdom on earth, and in Him is strength.  It is fitting the Prince of Peace should reign in Jerusalem, the city of peace, and all will bow the knee before Him.  Our God is one of justice and judgment, but also of restraint.  He is greatly to be feared yet gracious, longsuffering, and merciful.  When God says, "It is enough," He will see it done and all will behold Him.

Down the Road

When God called the children of Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land, they did so with varying degrees of success.  They were told not to make leagues (alliances) with the people of the land but to destroy all who opposed them.  The Gibeonites, hearing of the Israelite advance, out of fear of their great God disguised themselves as distant foreigners.  Joshua and the elders were flattered and pleased by the proposal and made an alliance with them - without seeking guidance from God.  Their neglect of seeking God caused them to ignorantly sin by doing exactly what God forbade them to do.

Whilst the failure with the Gibeonites is commonly known, I came across an interesting passage which had a similar outcome.  The house of Joseph went up against Bethel (formerly called Luz) and the spies struggled to find the hidden entrance to the city.  Judges 1:24-25 reads, "And when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, "Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will show you mercy." ²⁵ So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go."  The men of the house of Joseph did not seek the LORD but asked for the help of a man who departed the city.  They promised to show him mercy and were true to their word.

I was surprised when I read Judges 1:26:  "And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day."  The ancient city of Luz was later called Bethel by Jacob, meaning the "house of God."  The single man and his family to whom was extended mercy went to the land of Hittites and established a new city called "Luz," a city named after the ancient one.  The name "Luz" means "as growing there."  The slackness of the house of Joseph to obey God to eradicate the inhabitants of the land led to Luz being rebuilt and fortified in the land of  the Hittites, a people hostile to God and His people.  Disobedience to God causes problems to grow in our lives which will impact us and others.

This made me consider how important it is for us to seek God and heed His Word.  It seemed a little thing to show mercy to one God had deemed under judgment, but see the fruit of their negligence!  Like a single cancer cell can grow and spread throughout the body, a little disobedience and slackness will certainly lead to a future threat upon our spiritual and physical well-being.  There is no mention in the book of Judges of the house of Joseph doing what was commanded by God in Deuteronomy 20:10-11:  "When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. ¹¹ And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you."  They showed mercy to a man who had no intention of agreeing to conditions of peace, and future generations faced hardened enemies and strongholds because of it.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!  Our God is a merciful God, but let us not be merciful to corrupting influences in our lives.  Should we do what is right in our eyes, we will later reap what we have sown and increased problems down the road - in some cases literally.

Thoughts and Prayers

The news of a mass school shooting in Florida reached our fair shores in Australia on news broadcasts and the familiar inundation on social media of caustic and defensive posts.  A recurring theme was the disdain of people offering "thoughts and prayers" for the victims of the shooting without taking drastic practical action to eliminate these terrible tragedies.  There is palpable frustration for some people when others respond with "thoughts and prayers" after a tragedy because in their minds if tragedies happen what has thinking and praying accomplished?  On the other hand, cursing and making memes does not bring comfort to anyone, alter what has happened, or prevent future tragedies.

This recent shooting occurred on Valentine's Day, a day when cards, letters, and messages are sent with the recurring theme "Thinking of you."  It is not an offensive thing to be remembered and thought well of.  Based upon this, it is likely not the thoughts which riles people up but the mention of "prayers."  It is a confronting and uncomfortable for people to be "prayed" for because this assumes the reality of a God who hears and answers prayer - a concept which many people (especially when suffering is involved) vehemently oppose.  I remember an Australian Prime Minister in the face of tragedy said to victims, "You are in our thoughts" and as a Christian I wondered what mere thoughts could accomplish.  To think of others is kind, but to intercede on behalf of others in prayer to an Almighty God does more than all the thoughts in the world.

Even a child is known by his doings, and horrible stories of violence coming from the United States and others parts of the world are deeply troubling.  Never in my life have I seen the people of the United States more divided and fractured, and like Humpty Dumpty after his fall I do not think horses or men can unite them again.  There is no hope in politics, education, money, or legislation to change the hearts and minds of people.  If everyone had a gun for each hand or no guns at all nothing engineered or conceived in the minds of man can bring salvation for a country intent on tearing itself apart.  It is God - the One who people love or love to hate - who provides hope for the lost, rest for the weary, and salvation for the damned.  Blaming God or scorning prayers offered to Him is to ignore the only hope in this world.  There is no hope in prayer apart from the Living God who answers the prayer of faith in Him according to His Word.

For all those who are convinced there is value in praying to God, let us be the ones who walk in obedience to His revelation and answers.  Tragedy and pain prompts many questions, and what is the point of God's answering if we will not repent and change our ways?  Men commit senseless tragedies with no regard for God or men every day, yet God is a Redeemer.  In the face of murder, abuse, neglect, and destruction I do not see a ray of light, but I know God is good and without sin.  God has providentially placed His people all over the globe so His light will shine bright through them offering love, comfort, and compassion for all those who suffer.  It is love of God which leads to the love of people and even enemies.  The power of God's love demonstrated by Christ on the cross the wise recognise.  All who have received God's love keep believing, keep trusting, and keep praying no matter what.

Cultivating Companionship

Friends are a blessing from God, and cultivating friendship requires individual effort as well.  As it is written in Proverbs 18:24, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  We are not "close" to brothers and sisters by virtue of having the same parents, sharing a room, or having grown up together.  We can be distant or detached from people who live in the same house as we do!  But if we want friends, it falls to us to be the kind of friend we would appreciate ourselves.  Friendship is not restricted to a handful, for even Jesus called His disciples friends.  If Jesus was not above cultivating friendship with sinners, let us not be so proud to scorn friendship with others - especially of the household of faith.

This morning I read through a list of notable people during his reign in Jerusalem.  Here is portion of the list in 1 Chronicles 27:32-34:  "Also Jehonathan, David's uncle, was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons. ³³ Ahithophel was the king's counsellor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion. ³⁴ After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And the general of the king's army was Joab."  As king David had many counsellors, for in counsel there is great wisdom.  Jehonathan was a scribe and counsellor, and Ahithophel was also an adviser - business associates one could say.  Abiathar was a priest, and Joab was the general of the army.  But the person who stood out to me is Hushai, "the king's companion."  It is amazing the king would have a companion, someone he spent time with as a friend.

The friendship forged between king and subject withstood the test other relationships failed.  Ahithophel turned against David and sided with his usurping son Absalom who sought his life.  The priest Abiathar and general Joab supported Adonijah's rise to power behind David's back, disregarding the will and command of the king.  Yet through it all Hushai was a valuable friend who risked his own life for the good of his friend and king.  His relationship with the king was greater than respect for David's calling or position ordained by God but Hushai valued his person.  Christians and especially pastors have a need of friends of this kind where there is trust without suspicion, transparency without fear, and delight in companionship which goes both ways.

How happy was David to have a friend like Hushai, and blessed beyond measure is the man who makes Jesus Christ his friend.  The most profound and lasting friendships are those formed in the shared fear of the LORD and obedience to His Word.  In a world of superficial "friends" and "likes" profound friendship is found through a relationship with God and enduring friendships which spring from this one.  Jesus has not held back anything from us, and may we not hide from the One who sees and knows all.  Through His demonstration of love on the cross for sinners and patience with His disciples we are provided a perfect picture of the kind of friend we ought to be.  As Hushai was a companion of David, may we be towards our King and other friends in His name.

Getting Off the Ground

Faithful to His promise, God gave His people victory over Jericho.  God commanded the spoils of the fallen city to be brought into the treasury of the LORD.  Anyone who took of the gold, silver, or articles of brass or iron would bring upon themselves a curse.  All the Israelites who stormed the city were obedient to God's command - all except one.  The Bible tells us Achan the son of Carmi took of the treasures for himself and stashed them in his tent.

All seemed well as the congregation set their eyes on overthrowing Ai, a small city in comparison to Jericho.  When the men of Israel went up to battle against Ai, however, the Israelites fled before their enemies.  36 men died in the assault, and the men retreated back to camp and Joshua their commander.  Joshua and the elders tore their clothes in grief and put dust on their heads for the remainder of the day.  How could this be?  Why had God brought them this far to allow them to be defeated?  Wasn't it a horrible thing that God's people should be put to flight?  What if the surrounding nations heard of it!  Oh, the shame!

God's response certainly grabbed Joshua's attention in Joshua 7:10-11:  "So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff."  Joshua's humiliation served no purpose when there was sin which needed to be confessed, exposed, and dealt with biblically. The covenant God made with the people had been broken, and Joshua lying in dust couldn't repair the damage nor restore the loss of life.  The children of God needed to be determined to walk in victory over their own sin even as they desired the defeat of those who chased and slaughtered them.

Sin in the life of the believer has an undermining effect which ruins all.  It reminds me of a verse I read last night of those who pray but doubt in James 1:7-8:  "For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."  Unbelief and disobedience in our lives makes us unstable, unable to stand upright.  The hearts of the men melted when the men of Ai rushed at them even though God had promised them victory.  The victory of God's people is often contingent upon faith and obedience, and this is true under the New Covenant of the Gospel.  Jesus has removed the curse and power of sin, and if we will stand girded in the armour of God and fearless in battle we must confess sin and repent.

This passage teaches me humility without repentance for sin avails little.  Thankfully God spoke to Joshua and revealed the truth.  After atonement for sin the children of Israel were victorious over Ai, and so it is with us.  In our distress let us humbly cry out to the LORD, but let us also be vigilant to confess our known sin and forsake it.  God will not keep us in the dark because in Him is light and no darkness at all.  It is His will we would repent, be forgiven, and victorious.  Grieving over our loss is not adequate to deal with sin which must be repented of.  Praise the LORD God has supplied His righteousness not by works which we have done but according to His mercy and grace.

The Sin of Dread

I was impacted recently by words David spoke to his son Solomon.  The passage of God's Word exposed my own sin, bringing to light a connection I was previously blind to.  This revelation also illustrates the power of words, how we can use them to justify ourselves.  An Australian politician recently said, "I'm not a saint" yet this is hardly a revelation.  This statement really says nothing because most everyone would also say it of themselves.  Had he said, "I am a liar and an adulterer" that is saying something!

Christians know they shouldn't worry, so some will avoid saying they are worrying.  They will use a different word, like they are "concerned."  Christians also know they should not be afraid because God commands us to "Fear not!" and trust Him.  Joshua, Solomon, and many others in scripture were told to "Fear not" because it was their natural tendency.  Guess what?  It is our tendency too - and that includes me.

See what David said to Solomon, the man called and chosen by God to be king of Israel and to build the Temple in Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 22:11-13:  "Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee. ¹² Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. ¹³ Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed."  There are two words David used in the KJV which are often translated "fear" or "afraid" in the Bible:  dread and being dismayed.

I would not claim to be afraid often, but dread?  Dread is a kind of fear repackaged without traditional warning signs of sin.  The Strong's Concordance explains being "dismayed" as "to break down in confusion or fear."  It took reading the Word of God applied by the Holy Spirit to discern fear I didn't know I had in the form of dread and being dismayed.  There are plenty of things I can honestly say I dread, so I was led to confess my sin and begin viewing dread as sinful fear.  It is lovely when God destroys strongholds in an instant which have held our minds and hearts hostage for as long as we can remember.  The God who exposes sin is able to cleanse us and liberate us from bondage, releasing us to praise and serve the LORD like never before.

Praise the LORD that dread now has a recognisable face, like a criminal caught in the act on film.  Never again need I be terrorised with dread because I have been provided the victory through my Saviour.  How about you?  Does dread have a place in your heart or life?  When we repent and trust God we too can be strong and of good courage as Solomon was, and God gave him great success.

Take Another Lap

When I assisted the coach on my eldest son's soccer team, we had a fun-loving bunch of kids with heaps of energy.  Often they were so hyped up during training they were incapable of focusing on simple drills.  During coach orientation we were told it was potentially "abusive" to single out a single player for discipline, so if one player was made to run a lap around the ground for messing around the entire team was also required to run.  The team did a lot of extra running that year, but I'm not sure they learned the discipline running was intended to teach.  Because their energy was often misdirected they didn't play up to their potential.

I have heard Christians (jokingly and seriously) say they have been told to "take another lap" by God because they have not yet learned a necessary lesson.  Personally I have never used the analogy, and I find the implications of this perspective concerning.  It runs the risk of placing the emphasis on our measuring up to God's standard by our own efforts rather than extolling the grace of God.  I have seen many people facing difficult circumstances racking their brains to discover some unknown "lesson" they need to learn so God will change their situation.  Again, this sounds a lot like man making himself central rather than God.  This view places the focus on me learning the lesson rather than the grace of God to provide a lesson at all.

During our earthly pilgrimage God will ensure we learn many lessons, yet we do not learn them all well.  When we do learn a lesson, however, we only could do so because God instructed and helped us every step of the way.  Consider for a moment why God fed the children of Israel manna for 40 years in the wilderness as it is written in Deuteronomy 8:3:  "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."  I ask you:  did all the children of Israel who grew up in the wilderness learn the lesson man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God?  Hardly.  These are the same people Joshua upbraided before his death for carrying the idols worshipped by their fathers into the Promised Land.  People who have learned lessons can still repeat their mistakes, but glory to God He is faithful and will still fulfil His Word by His grace.

From beginning to end, it isn't about you or me:  we exist only by the grace of God who loves us, teaches, guides, and helps us.  Life is all about the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, Jesus Christ the Son of God who gives eternal life to all who repent and trust in Him.  As we follow Him we will thankfully learn many lessons along the way because He is a good teacher - not because we are model students.  We ought to put forth effort to seek after Jesus and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly.  During our walk with Jesus our disobedience demands discipline from a loving Father.  People may even be disqualified from service for a season due to rebellion or pride.  But it is not about our stellar performance should we be restored - it never was.  God uses unworthy sinners to do excellent wonders in His strength, and this should not embolden us to sin.  Recognising the grace of God towards us keeps us from even the appearance of sin because the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

It is not about you "learning the lesson."  God has far greater than lessons for us as we follow Christ in obedience, for we are graced with His presence.  Will there be things God teaches us along the way?  Certainly!  But they are all given and received by His grace - not because you ran an extra lap.

Overcoming Faith

Jesus Christ was a man who routinely did the impossible.  He healed people lame and blind from birth, cleansed lepers, and raised the dead.  Once he cursed a leafy fig tree and caused it to wither up from the roots completely in a night.  The disciples were amazed and Peter pointed out the sight to Jesus the next day.  Mark 11:22-23 reads, "So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."

Causing a healthy tree to wither completely from the roots overnight or casting a mountain into the sea by merely speaking are both in the realm of the miraculous.  In one sense no miracle is greater than another, for every miracle transcends human ability and knowledge.  Jesus taught His disciples faith in God is of primary importance in God doing the impossible.  Everything Jesus did was significant and accomplished His purposes.  Whilst man would be content to harness the miraculous power of God for a party trick to impress others, Christ's purpose in causing the tree to whither was an object lesson to illustrate the importance of faith.  It is not our goal in following Jesus to whither trees or throw mountains around, but to recognise our need for faith in our praying.  It is God who does the impossible!

See how Jesus continued in Mark 11:24-26, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. ²⁵ "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."  Unbelief that grows in our hearts can be withered by God and unforgiveness which resembled an immovable mountain in our minds God can remove when we trust and ask Him.  We are called to believe God and forgive others, regardless what they have done.  Jesus said if we have "anything against anyone" we are to forgive them. Have you found this impossible?  Forgiving the sins of others is just as impossible as forgiving ourselves of sin.  Through the shed blood of Jesus and faith in Him God forgives us.  Praise God nothing is hard for Him!

Alan Redpath wrote a fitting conclusion concerning the impossible:  "My friend, I do not know your problems, but I know my Lord, with whom nothing is impossible.  Therefore, if some of you face mountains of impossibility, and you say to yourself wistfully that life can never be any different for you, I believe that the Lord has something to say to you through His Word that can mark the end of your defeat by the impossible, and the beginning of a life of victory which overcomes the world, even our faith in God." (Redpath, Alan. “Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua.” Redpath Family, 2013, pp. 49.)

Our Manner of Serivce

Today I had a new thought as I read 1 Chronicles 18 which provides insight into man's relationship with God.  Having a "relationship" with someone in no way ensures it is a healthy one.  There are strained relationships, dysfunctional ones, business relationships or relationships for convenience, and distant or failed relationships.  Based upon all the kinds of interpersonal relationships humans are capable of having a healthy, close relationship is exceptionally rare.  All people have a relationship with God as those created by Him, but it does not ensure our hearts are inclined or right before Him.

After God established David as king, He gave him victory over his enemies.  1 Chronicles 18:13 says, "He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went."  The Edomites were defeated by David's army and were subjugated to Israel.  The people of Edom became David's servants, and their manner of servitude was of a different sort from the Jews who dwelt in Jerusalem.  Through battle David had become ruler of Edom, but there was no love or loyalty towards David, a foreign king.  David conquered them but they remained Edomites.  They would happily shrug off an obligation to serve David if a better deal came along, and therefore David strategically placed garrisons in Edom - military installations which neutralised the threat of rebellion.

I wonder:  how many relationships of God's "servants" resemble the one between David and the Edomites?  Perhaps they were obliged to bring tribute or gifts to their new king as the defeated Syrians did in 1 Chronicles 18:6, "Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went."  Having been conquered by the love of Jesus Christ, do we serve Him out of love or obligation?  Do we bring offerings to our LORD because we are required to demonstrate our allegiance or because we desire His presence?  The Syrians and Edomites may have been glad to have David as their king should they be attacked, but the garrisons were likely intrusive and a source of bitterness.  The garrisons were reminders they were an occupied people, and I believe professing believers can have this sort of animosity brewing against God.

Those who have tasted and seen God is good do well to embrace their new identity in Christ, choosing to reject their old loyalties and give their allegiance, love, and respect to their new King!  May our sacrifice and service be out of love and thankfulness for who God is and how He has delivered us from sin and death.  The flesh is unwilling and unable to convert, but the Gospel makes new creations through faith in Jesus.  The flesh can be subjugated for a season, yet only those who are born again can be genuinely subject to God.  Once we are born again by faith in Christ can we have a right relationship with God, a closeness well represented by a father and his beloved child.

Revelations Belong to Us

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Deuteronomy 29:29

This verse follows a long and extensive list of commands in the Law of God given through Moses.  There were many promises of blessings for the obedient and even more curses for the disobedient.  Though Christians are not under the condemnation of the Law's covenant because a new covenant has been established through Jesus and the Gospel, this truth and principle of this verse is incredibly relevant today.

The first thing this verse asserts is there are secret things only God knows, and they all belong to Him.  They are His to conceal or reveal as He sees fit.  No amount of searching on our part can unlock them.  God has freely chosen to reveal many mysteries to us not previously known, but other things He has not revealed nor will He.  The secrets we do not know, however, should not hinder us from heeding and observing the truth God has revealed.  Things God has plainly written in His Word are for us and our children forever that we may do all God has commanded us.

God delights to reveal Himself to us, and may we each have open eyes and ears to behold wondrous things from the Bible concerning God and His ways.  But never let what has not been revealed weaken your grasp or resolve concerning what God has already revealed.  From the beginning man has shown great interest in new things, but when it comes to scripture the new is confirmed and supported by what God has already said.  God revealed the Law for a clearly stated purpose:  so His people might do all the words of the Law.  In a similar way Jesus has demonstrated His love for us while we were yet sinners so we might respond accordingly.  Based upon Christ's divine revelation of sacrificial love during His life culminating on Calvary, we too are to love others.

We might have a thirst for hidden knowledge, but God's will is for us to live according to the knowledge we already possess, to walk according to His will as already revealed in His Word.  If you want to know God, the best way to do so is through the testimony of scripture.  God wants much more than to fill our heads with knowledge but so we would walk in the fear of the LORD and obedience to Him.