Be Like Baruch

"After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest."

Nehemiah 3:20

As I read the Bible this morning, this verse stood out from all the others.  Thirty-one times in chapter 3 of Nehemiah (KJV), children of Israel are named as ones who laboured to "repair" Jerusalem.  The wall had been broken down, the gates were burnt with fire, and the city had been desolate for a long time.  What grabbed my attention is that Baruch was the only one with a descriptive word included to show how he repaired:  "earnestly."  The NKJV translates the word "carefully," but it is not as close a translation as the KJV in this instance.

I wondered, what did Baruch do that distinguished him from all the rest?  Many repaired the city, but Baruch repaired earnestly.  The transliteration of the original Hebrew is "hara," and this is the only time in scripture this particular word is translated as "earnestly."  Most of the time it is translated "kindled" (44 times), "wroth" (13 times), "hot" (10 times), and "angry" (9 times).  Copying the definition from the Strong's concordance in the Word Search Bible program, it means: "to glow or grow warm; figurative (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy :- be angry, burn, be displeased, × earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, × very, be wroth."  In my own words, I would say Baruch was fired up!  He literally attacked this building and repairing project with such fervor and violence that it seemed like he was angry.  Baruch had an attitude of great intensity and a singular ferocity which made an impression as he worked.

I would love to meet Baruch, the violent builder that he was!  He funneled all his aggression to labour for God's glory by rebuilding the city in which God had placed His name.  Baruch had a limited role, but the bit committed to him he did with all his might.  Without knowing it, Baruch was heeding the exhortation Paul gave in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  Whatever we do should be done for the glory of God, and we are told to do it heartily.  Christians are called to love God and serve him heartily, vehemently, with all our heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus says in Revelation 3:15-16 to the church in Laodicea, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."  Baruch was not lukewarm, but boiling hot.  God would rather us be boiling hot than cold or lukewarm.  Jesus also worked earnestly.  He knew time was short and He needed to expend His energy fully in glorifying God.  Jesus says in John 9:4-5:  "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  Work was not an option:  it was an imperative.  Whatever Jesus did, He did it heartily.  Jesus did what needed to be done.

Let us be like Baruch, a man wholly on fire to do the job set before Him.  May the same divine power and intensity which marked Jesus Christ mark all Christians as we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire!

Ministry and Word of Reconciliation

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

How compelling is the love of Christ!  During our mid-week Bible study at church, we spent time discussing them together.  The overwhelming theme of scripture is Jesus Christ and how man can only be reconciled to God through faith in Him.  The Bible teaches us of our perfect Creator and God, how man has been estranged and alienated from God through our rebellion and sin, and that God has made a way for man to be reconciled to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  When we repent and trust in Christ, receiving His love and forgiveness, we are born again through the indwelling power of the the Holy Spirit.

Consider the overwhelming theme of reconciliation in the above passage.  God does not need to be reconciled to man, but man has a great need to be reconciled to God.  What amazing love and grace we see in God, that the Almighty would desire to have reconciled to Him such sinners as we!  In scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ, God made flesh, we see a divine revelation of love so pure, merciful, and good.  It is a love which never grows old, a love confirmed again and again through our Risen LORD and Saviour.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new.  One thing I have been considering of late is the fact that God has committed two things to all Christians:  the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation.  God has commissioned all believers as His ambassadors to all people alienated from God through sin, doubt, unbelief, and rebellion so they too might be reconciled to God.  This is the truth:  God the Father made Jesus who never sinned to become sin for all, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Amazing, incredible truth!

How do we effectively labour in the ministry of reconciliation?  Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:  "Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God." (On Being a Servant of God, pg. 3)  The most basic of all human needs is to be reconciled to God.  Human bodies have physical needs, and we are to meet physical needs with love to address the deepest spiritual need of forgiveness and salvation most remain ignorant of.  The ministry of reconciliation should never be divorced from the word of reconciliation.  Jesus is the Word made flesh, and God has given us the Bible, the Word of God.  Food will enter the mouth and be eliminated, but the Word of God will endure forever.  The words of Jesus are the words of life.

God has committed the word of reconciliation to us:  how committed are you to practice and proclaim the Word of God?  Scripture does not exist for us to debate and argue, to prove how we are right and others are wrong, for us to grow in spiritual knowledge and pride, to beat people up and tear them down:  God has given us the Bible so we and others might be reconciled to Him.  That is why Jesus came to earth, faced the cross, and rose from the dead!  The word reconcile basically means "to change, restore."  God wants to change us and make us new creations through His grace.  He desires to restore us to a close personal relationship with Him because He loves us.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Let us be students of the Word and use the scriptures for their intended purpose, all to the end that sinful man would be reconciled to His loving Creator.  John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Scatter Good Seed!

Today I planted some seeds in our small garden in the back yard.  I planted some chili peppers and tomatoes in pursuit of some delicious fresh salsa.  As I poured the seeds into my palm from the tiny packet, I looked from the tiny seeds to the picture of a huge tomato on the envelope.  The pale, dry seeds were extremely tiny, yet the package said to plant them almost a full meter apart!  It is phenomenal that one miniscule seed in the proper environment will certainly sprout into a large bush and bear much fruit.  Amazing!

Planting the seeds was very simple.  I felt no pressure whatsoever, because the growth of the plant and its fruitfulness does not depend on my ability.  They will either grow or they won't.  If there is not growth I will plant more!  I carefully dropped seeds into a slight depression, covered it with soil, and pressed it firmly.  In mere minutes I had sown, watered, and now the waiting begins!  I was reminded of a passage of scripture, Psalm 126:6: "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."  This is a great verse which illustrates well the heart of evangelism.  For the love of God and His everlasting glory, we are to humbly, meekly, and obediently sow seed in the hearts of any who will receive.  In the Parable of the Sower, the seed is the Word of God (the Bible) and the condition of the soil represents the hearts of the hearers.  Not all seed that is sown will grow, but some will.  God's Word is the seed of finest quality and we can trust it will be fruitful according to God's promises.

I think many people put pressure on themselves when it comes to evangelism.  Instead of holding fast to the spiritual perspective that sometimes we sow, water, or harvest in complete reliance upon God, we can make an activity to personally measure our faith and holiness.  When the Word is rejected we take it personally.  When seeds are sown and nothing seems to have changed, we can become disillusioned and lose heart.  As I planted those seeds in boxes filled with clean topsoil, all my confidence was in the seed and the Designer who engineered it:  God.  It should be exactly the same when I share scripture and my faith with others.  Instead of placing my confidence in my words, experience, training, or a tract, I ought to place my faith in God's Word, the blood of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit to regenerate and save.

When the use of God's Word is divorced from evangelism, we should not be surprised when our effort is wasted.  It is like turning the earth with a spade but never planting anything!  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour."  If we are faithful to share the Word of God as led by the Holy Spirit, God will give the increase.  God's Word will always accomplish the purpose for which it is sent, and will never return void.  Scatter it liberally!  If much fruit can come from a tiny dry seed which satisfies the mouth and stomach temporarily, how much greater is an eternal harvest of souls for the glory of God?

Beware of Thieves!

I spent a couple hours this morning digging in the backyard.  With spring rapidly approaching (and today it felt like it had arrived full-force!), it was time to start preparing the plot for a small vegetable garden.  We aim to plant different varieties of chiles, beetroot, tomatoes, and lettuce to start.  As I cleared an area overgrown with grass and weeds by the fence, I found myself having to contend with roots from our neighbor's trees.  Several of his trees near the fence apparently have found an abundance of water in my yard.  Whenever I found one, I dug up as much as I could and cut it off.

I don't know why, but God often teaches me things as I work in the yard.  Lately the lessons have a common thread:  the proper use of my time.  I consider the roots of my neighbors trees as thieves, intruders on my property.  They rob the plants I am trying to cultivate of water and nutrients.  They choke out my plants and impede my ability to properly turn the soil and irrigate.  They destroy the fence and lift up brick pavers.  Under the surface, they deftly grow strong and deep.  I have declared war on those thieving roots, and I am not sympathetic to a single one.

Imagine your life as a Christian like a fenced yard.  Inside your life, within the boundaries of your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit is cultivating spiritual fruit to bring glory to God.  Your thoughts and actions are to be wholly governed by God.  But there influences outside the walls of your heart:  hobbies, cares, and concerns which vie for our attention.  It could be a preoccupation about watching a football game, who was eliminated last night on Survivor, browsing on Facebook, or playing Angry Birds.  It could be absolutely anything, and likely nothing in itself that is sin.  But these roots are a real threat to our relationship with God.  Notice I did not say "can be" a threat.  Every one of those roots ARE threats to take our mind off of Christ and onto things of this world.

In my backyard, I have no sympathy for those thieving roots.  But God is showing me that in my spiritual life I harbour sympathy for particular time thieves.   For example, time at the movies, playing games, and watching sport can rob God of time He desires to spend with me and I should spend with Him.  But wait just a moment, you might say.  Am I saying there is something wrong with hobbies and recreational activities?  Not in themselves.  The problem is within us because we are always unbalanced.  God and the world are not to be weighed on scales with the false balance of cultural Christianity.  I doubt anyone would dispute we give too much thought and time to things we shouldn't.  Next to life in Christ, time is one of the great gifts God has given us.  Time is easier wasted on the world than invested in godly things.

I am slowly, ever so slowly, coming to grips with how hardcore the lifestyle of a Christian is intended to be.  It is evident what I have seen and experienced of Christianity has been more influenced by western culture than it should be.  How much time did Jesus spend extolling the virtues of hobbies and recreational activities?  How often did He justify anything done solely for personal gratification?  I can't think of a single instance!  Jesus always went straight for the heart of the matter, the purpose and motivation behind what we do and why we do it.  Two men can play rugby:  one can play it motivated by pride, because he wants to crush people and win, while the other plays so he might have an opportunity to glorify Jesus Christ through his example.  Same activity, different motivation and outcome.

Christ is supposed to be my all in all, but I sorrow to think He has been reduced to some.  That is just not good enough.  He deserves better.  I encourage you to consider this question:  what do you spend a lot of your time thinking about?  What commands your attention apart from Christ?  That is the thing which has roots creeping under the fence, threatening to sap you of spiritual strength and power.  One by one as those roots come to your attention, do battle on them.  Everything has its place, but we should not be sympathetic towards anything which robs God of time with us and us with Him.  Your spiritual walk will be better and stronger for it.