When I traveled to Israel in 2005, I noticed small metal boxes permanently affixed to the door jambs. The metal box and parchment is called the "mezuzah." A qualified scribe uses special ink and a writing implement to copy selected verses from the Torah. One of the utilized passages is likely Deuteronomy 6:4-9: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." This has been a long-standing tradition observed by Jewish people both in Israel and around the world.
During my trip to Israel I spent several days in Jerusalem, in the walled area commonly called the "Old City" as a point of reference. It was common to see male Orthodox Jews wearing tefillin (small leather boxes which also contain parts of the Torah) on their forehead and left arm. Coming from an American background, it was amazing to see people devoted to their religious beliefs and traditions. I greatly respect those who out of love for God and His word make great sacrifices to honour and obey Him. Indeed, no sacrifice is too great when you serve the greatest God! While my Christian theology may be repulsive to some Orthodox Jews because of fundamental differences (I believe Jesus Christ has been revealed as the Messiah and Son of God), I love and highly respect them.
As I looked at the mezuzah in our hostel, I considered the Spirit behind the letter of the Law of Moses. Hidden under the metal cover were scriptures from the Torah, the Word of God. But because of the case it could not be read. Other than meeting the requirement of the Law, what function could the words of truth serve if they remained hidden and unseen? I read that the parchment is to be inspected by a professional scribe twice during a seven year period. The same question could be posed concerning the tefillin: what profit is it to carry the Word of God so no one can see it? When I read the Deuteronomy passage, I am reminded how God has said that He will write His law upon our hearts. I ought to love God with all my heart, soul, and strength, and continually teach my children to do the same at all times. Just like a man would tie a string around his finger to remind and signal him of a task to perform, or how a woman wears a jeweled frontlet between her eyes for beautification, in like manner the Word of God must be valuable and precious to me. God's Word provides instructions and signs to follow. The doorposts and gates of a home or city provide security and strength. As a Christian, my faith is founded on the truth as revealed through the Holy Scriptures.
It is possible that a man may obey all the traditions of men from his youth and still not enjoy a relationship with God. He might rise early and go to bed late because of much praying, purchase tefillin from revered scribes at great cost, and recite the Torah verbatim daily from memory and still not know God or be known by God. Jesus has been revealed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the Living Bread which has been sent from heaven, and the True Light which has come into the world. Unless a man knows Christ, He cannot know God. Jesus said He is the Resurrection and the Life: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes unto the Father except through Him. Traditions are good when they cause us to remember and honour God, but they can be empty as tefillin without the Torah when we simply "go through the motions."
Psalm 119:11 says, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!" As a young person, I thought this verse meant I was supposed to memorize passages from the Bible. But what good is the memorization of scripture unless I heed it? Jesus Christ is the Word become flesh. When the Spirit of God dwells within my heart, His presence will be evidenced by a life lived for the glory of God through His power. The truths of God's Word keep me from sin. All people ought to treasure and continually bring to remembrance the true sayings of God as revealed in the Bible. Christians are called by some, "people of the Book." May we invest our time in the mastery of God's Word so He might have full mastery over us. What good is a Bible unless it is opened? And what is the purpose of reading without understanding? What will knowledge without wisdom profit?
Jesus says in John 16:12-15: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." Jesus still has much to teach us. No matter how many works we have performed for God's glory, there are many left undone. May our traditions and practices draw us into closer communion with our LORD and Saviour, and may others be drawn to the beauty of His holiness! May Christ Himself be as a sign on our hands and as frontlets between our eyes!
17 October 2011
16 October 2011
Train Up a Child
I think it was pastor Bill Wilson whom I first heard say, "The teacher has not taught until the student has learned." This concept can be applied to the training of children by parents as well. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This is an inspired statement of truth. Parents can feel content with the fact their child attends church, memorizes scripture and doctrine, has been baptised, or makes a profession of faith. But this does not mean the child is being trained. If we would have our children follow the steps of Christ even as we follow Him, parents have a responsibility to train their children.
Speaking as a parent, our mistake is often made because we misunderstand what it means to "train." Many parents (me included!) tend to "tell" our children rather than to "train" them. When a soldier embarks to "basic training," he is not merely addressed verbally by his superiors in a classroom setting. Basic training is training for the body, mind, and will for a specific purpose: each soldier is trained for his role in combat. He suffers deprivation of sleep, food, is worked to utter exhaustion in extreme environments to enable him to endure the battlefield and be a viable member of his support team. Can you imagine what kind of soldier has never actually run in his boots, cleaned or fired his gun, or faced moments of difficult decisions in the face of enemy fire? No one is born a soldier: they are made through training. The tragic day of moral and spiritual decay in which we live is a testimony that many parents "tell" their children rather than training them. You cannot train your children without a goal in sight. If a man is trained as a soldier so he may effectively fight for his country and comrades, for what purpose are you training your children? To be moral citizens? To succeed in a high-paying career? To be tough? To follow their hearts? As Christians, we are to train our children to become men and women of God as they grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. All morality, a vigorous work ethic, all godly qualities of character, and goodness spring only from this single Living Source.
Notice that the text does not say, "Train up your children..." but keeps child in the singular tense. This is of great importance. Every child must be trained differently because they have unique temperaments, inclinations, and personalities. What may be effective training for one child may not be adequate for another. Therefore, one difficult job of parents is to intimately know their children and continually initiate communication with them. We must intimately know their character, current stage of life, goals, loves, concerns, fears, and cares. The training of children requires their parents to love and take a personal interest in each one. When we create a false reality where no true freedom nor responsibility exists, we do our children a disservice. We must encourage their obedience and good choices, while administering appropriate discipline, enforcing consequences, and boundaries. Instead of sowing discord through ambiguity or outright hypocrisy, we are to be clear and consistent. This means that we must apologize when we are out of order, even as we tell them to apologize when they do wrong. That is when the telling becomes training.
It is good for me to continually remind myself that my children measure my words against my life with the precision of a surgeon and the tenacity of a wolverine. Even a small child has strong views of what is fair and unjust. My children will not tell me when they see me playing the hypocrite, but their behaviour will often reflect what I do. For instance, let's say I tell my boys they need to wash their hands with soap before they sit down to eat dinner. They will watch me to see if I do the same. If I sit down to the table without washing on a regular basis, they will wonder why they must do something I do not. In their minds, it is an unjust to demand that they wash their hands when the lawgiver of the house will not submit to his own rule. Even something as simple as hand washing slowly can erode the ability of a parent to train their children through hypocrisy. If I place limits upon their screen time or deem what is appropriate or inappropriate based upon content or ratings, I ought to apply limits to myself as well. A parent may maintain outer compliance through threats and intimidation, but rebellion in the heart of the child will grow.
What is the way our children should go? Jesus says in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus did not simply tell His disciples what they should do, but He was a living model for them to see. He did not say "You must be the servant of all" and wait to be served by others: Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as a pattern for them to follow. Jesus did not admonish His disciples to love one another and act selfishly: He humbled Himself to become flesh and died sacrificially on the cross for the sins of the world. His Words carried great meaning: "Love one another as I have loved you." How did Jesus love us? While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. Training is not just the exercise of a mind to consider, but a change in the heart to will and do. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of believers who empowers us to live as we ought as it is written in Philippians 2:13, "...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
Every parent wants their children to excel in every facet of life on earth as God should tarry. But unless we are training our children according to God's Word and Way, we hinder them from the success they should enjoy if we were faithful to our calling. God has a way of making up for all our deficiencies, but that does not mean we are free from the responsibility to obey Him and pray earnestly for our kids. Praise God that He has given us the perfect example of being a good Father. We can look to Him and He will direct us in the way we should go!
Speaking as a parent, our mistake is often made because we misunderstand what it means to "train." Many parents (me included!) tend to "tell" our children rather than to "train" them. When a soldier embarks to "basic training," he is not merely addressed verbally by his superiors in a classroom setting. Basic training is training for the body, mind, and will for a specific purpose: each soldier is trained for his role in combat. He suffers deprivation of sleep, food, is worked to utter exhaustion in extreme environments to enable him to endure the battlefield and be a viable member of his support team. Can you imagine what kind of soldier has never actually run in his boots, cleaned or fired his gun, or faced moments of difficult decisions in the face of enemy fire? No one is born a soldier: they are made through training. The tragic day of moral and spiritual decay in which we live is a testimony that many parents "tell" their children rather than training them. You cannot train your children without a goal in sight. If a man is trained as a soldier so he may effectively fight for his country and comrades, for what purpose are you training your children? To be moral citizens? To succeed in a high-paying career? To be tough? To follow their hearts? As Christians, we are to train our children to become men and women of God as they grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. All morality, a vigorous work ethic, all godly qualities of character, and goodness spring only from this single Living Source.
Notice that the text does not say, "Train up your children..." but keeps child in the singular tense. This is of great importance. Every child must be trained differently because they have unique temperaments, inclinations, and personalities. What may be effective training for one child may not be adequate for another. Therefore, one difficult job of parents is to intimately know their children and continually initiate communication with them. We must intimately know their character, current stage of life, goals, loves, concerns, fears, and cares. The training of children requires their parents to love and take a personal interest in each one. When we create a false reality where no true freedom nor responsibility exists, we do our children a disservice. We must encourage their obedience and good choices, while administering appropriate discipline, enforcing consequences, and boundaries. Instead of sowing discord through ambiguity or outright hypocrisy, we are to be clear and consistent. This means that we must apologize when we are out of order, even as we tell them to apologize when they do wrong. That is when the telling becomes training.
It is good for me to continually remind myself that my children measure my words against my life with the precision of a surgeon and the tenacity of a wolverine. Even a small child has strong views of what is fair and unjust. My children will not tell me when they see me playing the hypocrite, but their behaviour will often reflect what I do. For instance, let's say I tell my boys they need to wash their hands with soap before they sit down to eat dinner. They will watch me to see if I do the same. If I sit down to the table without washing on a regular basis, they will wonder why they must do something I do not. In their minds, it is an unjust to demand that they wash their hands when the lawgiver of the house will not submit to his own rule. Even something as simple as hand washing slowly can erode the ability of a parent to train their children through hypocrisy. If I place limits upon their screen time or deem what is appropriate or inappropriate based upon content or ratings, I ought to apply limits to myself as well. A parent may maintain outer compliance through threats and intimidation, but rebellion in the heart of the child will grow.
What is the way our children should go? Jesus says in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus did not simply tell His disciples what they should do, but He was a living model for them to see. He did not say "You must be the servant of all" and wait to be served by others: Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as a pattern for them to follow. Jesus did not admonish His disciples to love one another and act selfishly: He humbled Himself to become flesh and died sacrificially on the cross for the sins of the world. His Words carried great meaning: "Love one another as I have loved you." How did Jesus love us? While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. Training is not just the exercise of a mind to consider, but a change in the heart to will and do. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of believers who empowers us to live as we ought as it is written in Philippians 2:13, "...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
Every parent wants their children to excel in every facet of life on earth as God should tarry. But unless we are training our children according to God's Word and Way, we hinder them from the success they should enjoy if we were faithful to our calling. God has a way of making up for all our deficiencies, but that does not mean we are free from the responsibility to obey Him and pray earnestly for our kids. Praise God that He has given us the perfect example of being a good Father. We can look to Him and He will direct us in the way we should go!
13 October 2011
True Worship
There is always a danger that the Christian life will be compartmentalized into set activities rather than a complete lifestyle. Worship of God does not occur after we pack into the car on a Sunday morning and gather in a building to sing songs of praise or listen to the Word of God preached. The song should be in our hearts from the moment we rise, a song of thanksgiving unto God. Our lives are intended to be an continual spring of worship, a life of obedience lived unto God for His glory. Consider a paragraph from a message delivered by G. Campbell Morgan on the subject of worship (The Westminster Pulpit, Vol. 2, pg. 98):
In the most simple terms, worship is obedience. How many times does it say in scripture, "Praise the LORD?" Many, many times! We are told to pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and the joy of the LORD will be our strength. When we are obedient to Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and has baptized His followers with the Holy Spirit and with fire. How fulfilling it is to worship God! It is so amazing how God has made the eagle and hummingbird so different, but with the same purpose - to bring honor and glory unto their Creator! The eagle is girded with strength and amazing eyesight, while the hummingbird is lightning quick and has dazzling plumage. One eats meat while the other drinks nectar, yet they are both birds with distinct beauty and inspire awe even in casual observers.
God has made people in like fashion. You might be a carpenter, doctor, lawyer, fisherman, salesman, or work in the retail industry. Perhaps you enjoy sports, music, dancing, collecting, traveling, or reading. But you are not to be defined by any of these activities because you are a human being created in the image of the Everlasting God for the purpose of worshiping Him forever. I close with a description of worship found in Colossians 3:12-17: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
"I do not worship God by going to China as a missionary if God wants me to stay at home and do the work of a carpenter. I do not worship God by aspiring to some mighty and heroic thing for Him if the capacity He has given me is for doing the quiet thing, and the simple thing, and the hidden thing, and the unknown thing. It would be very foolish for the hummingbird, instead of entering the tulip, to try to beat back the air and combat with the eagle. It worships by staying where God puts it. It would be very wicked for the eagle to cultivate a mock modesty, and say that it preferred to remain among the tulips when it ought to be soaring sunwards."There is something in the heart of every person that desires greatness. I believe all Christians with any depth of faith waxes warm at the prospect of doing something great for God. To put it in a different way, we want to see God do great things and would be thrilled to be an instrument He uses to further His kingdom. The question is, will I be content to play guitar and sing songs on a city street for His glory if the opportunity presents itself, or will I limit my gift for use in the most prestigious music halls? A life of worship is not one lived in the spotlight, but behind the scenes. If you reserve your service unto God until you have a grand task which suits your ambitions, you waste the talents and life God has given you. Compelled by the love of Christ, it is adoration for God which motivates and moves us to live a life which fully pleases Him.
In the most simple terms, worship is obedience. How many times does it say in scripture, "Praise the LORD?" Many, many times! We are told to pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and the joy of the LORD will be our strength. When we are obedient to Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and has baptized His followers with the Holy Spirit and with fire. How fulfilling it is to worship God! It is so amazing how God has made the eagle and hummingbird so different, but with the same purpose - to bring honor and glory unto their Creator! The eagle is girded with strength and amazing eyesight, while the hummingbird is lightning quick and has dazzling plumage. One eats meat while the other drinks nectar, yet they are both birds with distinct beauty and inspire awe even in casual observers.
God has made people in like fashion. You might be a carpenter, doctor, lawyer, fisherman, salesman, or work in the retail industry. Perhaps you enjoy sports, music, dancing, collecting, traveling, or reading. But you are not to be defined by any of these activities because you are a human being created in the image of the Everlasting God for the purpose of worshiping Him forever. I close with a description of worship found in Colossians 3:12-17: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
12 October 2011
Life has Purpose
After my sons and I arrived at their bus stop yesterday, Zed picked this up off the ground. I tried to convince him that over many years this small piece of metal had been formed by random, natural processes. The letters "BIC" had stamped themselves into what appeared to be red plastic. He looked at me as if I claimed to have swallowed the moon. "But what is it for, Dad?" he asked. "What does it do?" No one in our family smokes, so Zed would have no clue that this little piece of metal and plastic is part of a cigarette lighter.
I appreciated Zed's insight into the lighter piece because without even knowing what it was, he instantly recognized it had been made by an intelligent source for a specific purpose. I did not need to explain this to him: it was as obvious as the sun in the sky. Man invents and manufactures products to perform functions which make life easier to be sold for financial profit. Zed knew this assemblage of metal and plastic did not just happen, but it exists for a purpose. In its current state, it looked worthless. We then turned our attention to the trees, the flowers, and even our fingers. All these living things have been created by God for a purpose too: the glory of God!
What is more remarkable: the little inanimate part of the lighter made by man, or the living, growing tissue of my fingers which nimbly plucked it from the ground? The answer is so elementary I need not answer. But I am deeply shamed and embarrassed that men who have been crafted in the wombs of their mothers can look at the trees, birds, flowers, and even their own bodies and believe they have simply occurred through the random processes in nature without any intelligence behind it. Can intelligence and information come from nothing? There must be a source of wisdom and intelligence, even as the mechanical part of the lighter could be traced back to a manufacturing plant. The raw materials came from somewhere, the design was carefully engineered, and was produced by professionals in massive quantities who invented machines to extrude plastic and form the metal in the proper shape. I don't know a single one of those people who made this little part. But I know the all wise and intelligent Being who has created the heavens, the earth and all that is within them both living and inanimate: God!
The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as the "Word" who became flesh. John 1:1-3 reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." When we see the beauty and splendour of the world and universe, it exists to teach us of God and glorify Him. Psalm 19:1-3 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." God is the one who has placed the DNA in each one of your self-replicating cells. He is the one who formed you and breathed into you a living soul. Therefore it is God who has designed you with a purpose to honor and glorify Him too. When we are separated from God because of our sins, we're like that lighter part all alone: it cannot fulfill the function for which it was designed.
Don't buy the lie that everything around you is the result of some cosmic accident or alien encounter. Realize the purpose for which you have been created. As it says in the Westminster catechism, "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." The way to do that is to repent, trust in Jesus Christ, and honor Him with obedience. God has given us the Bible so we might know Him better and grow in our relationship with Him. Never forget that your life has a purpose, the sole purpose to live for God!
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