Wonderful Nature!

In recent Sunday mornings past, my son Abel and I are typically the first to arrive at Calvary Chapel Sydney to open and set up.  Not this week, however!  We were greeted by a large lizard which had parked itself in front of our building!

And a little closer...

The lizard allowed us to come right up to him.  About five minutes after we arrived, he waddled off.  I wish I could have captured his clumsy, floppy gait on camera!  Next time, I'm going to try to pet him.  Living in Australia has taught me a valuable lesson in the importance of conservation and appreciation for native wildlife.  Even the leaves God creates are beautiful!

Jesus is All We Need

My wife Laura has been reading through The Saving Life of Christ by Major W. Ian Thomas.  So many conversations we have had of late involve faith in Christ and the crippling effect of unbelief.  Yesterday we discussed our tendency as humans to ask for what God has already offered.  Minutes after talking over the subject, Laura returned and read this quote from The Saving Life of Christ on page 136:  "Remember, He does not give you strength - He is your strength!  He does not give you victory - He is your victory!  He cannot be your life without being all you need, for "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in Him" (Col. 2:9-10a).  Then count upon the fact - and stop asking for what you have!"

For some of us, we trust in God for our justification but think our sanctification is up to us.  Obedience to God is a necessary hallmark of true faith, for good works will always accompany legitimate faith.  One of the best works is to stop relying upon ourselves or our "works" and looking to Jesus to supply our need, even when we face seemingly insurmountable difficulties.  One of John Wesley's favourite passages to preach from was 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, which flows in the same vein with what Major W. Ian Thomas plainly stated:  "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- ³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."   Jesus is our wisdom, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  He truly is our All in All!

When we take God at His Word - no matter how we feel, no matter how improbable or impossible a situation might appear to our natural senses - we set our feet upon the surest ground:  an eternal, immovable Rock of Salvation.  Any other path which deviates from the Word of God, no matter how certain it may appear, is shifting sand which cascades into a chasm of certain ruin.  If a Christian remains in the middle of God's will, he cannot venture "out on a limb."  Faith in God is not like a child climbing a tree, with every movement towards the top becoming more precarious and dangerous.  Faith in Christ brings a man to his knees, a place where the potential to fall and suffer injury is reduced to nothing.

The words of Hebrews 12:1-3 are appropriate in any case:  "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  Let us look to Jesus for the abundant life intent on receiving even as He has promised us:  not a life quantifiable by health, wealth, fame, comfort, or social status, but a joyful life that endures for the glory of God for eternity.

A Willing Prisoner?

While praying this morning, I was reminded of when Peter was released from prison.  Herod had killed James the brother of John.  When he saw how it pleased the Jewish leaders, he also arrested and imprisoned Peter.  Acts 12:5-10 relates the details of Peter's miraculous release:  "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ⁶ And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. ⁷ Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. ⁸ Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." ⁹ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him."

Peter was a Christian who followed Jesus to the end and the Holy Spirit worked mightily through him.  While he was in prison, people in the church were continually praying for his deliverance.  When the day of his likely public execution drew near, God sent an angel to free him from his bonds.  Peter was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly struck on the side and lifted to his feet as a light shown around him.  The chains fell from his wrists, Peter put on his clothes and shoes as he was commanded, and followed the angel to freedom.  The scene was so surreal that Peter figured he must have been dreaming.  It was not until he was outside the prison that he realized his deliverance from the prison was reality.

In a spiritual sense, every person is born into a prison of sin where Satan is the chief warden.  We are all like Peter, chained in a dungeon behind reinforced walls and doors.  There is no capacity for man to escape from this prison, nor is salvation or reconciliation obtainable through good behaviour.  The only way to be saved from our sin is to repent and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, following Him to the end.  The Bible does not say how long Peter was in prison.  Knowing that James had been killed with the sword and that likely death awaited him was not a enjoyable prospect to consider.  Can you imagine if Peter was so depressed because of his plight that when the angel slapped him on the side and raised him to his feet Peter lay back down between the Roman guards, rubbing his sore ribs?  How ridiculous it would seem for Peter to ignore the command of the angel to follow and willingly place his hands back into the shackles.  But this is the same thing defeated Christians can choose to do every day, believing that escape from the prison which holds them is futile.

The only thing more tragic than a person choosing to reject Jesus Christ is when those who have received Him through faith reject the hope, peace, and victory He has granted by grace.  That smack on Peter's side was intended to wake him up and bring him to his senses, not to make him cower in fear or pain.  Peter's escape from prison hinged upon one thing:  his obedience.  If Peter refused to follow the angel through the doors, he would have likely died in that prison.  As Peter followed in obedience, they walked right past posted guards.  They approached bolted doors and secured iron gates which swung open on their own accord.  Peter didn't have to break the necks of guards, strain at rusted locks, or dig his way free:  God loosed his chains, led him out of the prison, and delivered him by God's grace.

I read a story of a 59 year-old man in the States who robbed a bank of $1 the purpose of being arrested so he could go back to prison for health care purposes.  This story is not an isolated case.  There are people, believe it or not, who enjoy being inside prison more than being out of prison.  While incarcerated inmates are given a bed, clothes, access to clean water and showers, food at regular intervals they do not need to purchase or prepare, medical treatment, and have many friends and activities to pass the time.  Is it so crazy to think that there are professing Christians who willingly go back to a prison of sin for the perceived perks?  Friends, God did not save us so we can stay in bondage:  Jesus came to deliver the captives and set us free!  We must follow Him, and the doors Jesus opens none can shut.

For us who have been born again through faith in Jesus, we never need be arrested again.  Unlike Peter, should a Christian find himself in prison of sin again it is because he has willingly chosen to enter and remain.  Isaiah 54:17 promises us, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."  I'm glad that God slaps me when I am in a sinful rut!  In love and grace He renews our minds and gives us strength to repent and follow Him again.  We have been saved not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to God's mercy.  Let us continually walk and rejoice in this fact!

Do As You Have Said!

I've recently started a new routine of Bible reading in the evenings inspired by something I read in a George Mueller biography.  He said that he had read through the Bible 200 times, and 100 of those times he read on his knees.  Now there was a man who was thoroughly convinced of the truth of God's Word, the importance of seeking to hear God's voice and obtain answers to prayer through reading, and the correct attitude of the heart in approaching God in humility.  So many times we ask God for direction and wisdom, but how often do we actively seek the answer in God's Word?  Now it's your turn to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to do just that!

During my reading last night, I was struck with a statement by the heavenly visitors when the LORD appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre.  Upon seeing these who had the appearance of men, Abraham ran to meet them and bowed himself to the ground.  Genesis 18:3-5 records the conversation:  "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ⁴ Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."

After Abraham offers his hospitality, his guests graciously accepted.  He was not to leave anything undone which he had said.  He was to have water brought so their feet could be washed.  They were then to rest comfortably under the tree.  Then Abraham would supply some bread (and later meat in abundance) so they would be satisfied.  Their answer was simply, "Do as you have said."  These words remind me of Mary's exhortation concerning the directives of Christ in John 2:5:  "Whatever He says to you, do it."

As Christians we are taught from scripture that God always keeps His Word, for lying lips are an abomination to Him.  Everything He has said He will do.  But we must examine ourselves with the rigorous scrutiny with the same words God spoke to Abraham:  "Do as you have said."  When I read those words last night, I was immediately convicted.  Had I done what I had said?  I committed to reading the Bible immediately after putting the boys to bed, but yesterday decided to watch the cricket for an extra half hour before reading my portion.  In His gentle but stern way God said clearly to me, "Do as you have said."  The Father didn't have to tell me specifically what He was referring to, because the Holy Spirit prompted me to know immediately what He meant.  That's the way God speaks:  through His Word, straight to our softened hearts by means of the indwelling Spirit.

Dear Christian, you expect God to keep His Word to you:  have you kept your word to Him?  The same standard applies to both God and man, for God's standard is righteous and true.  What He says to you do it, and do as you have said.  There is joy and peace in keeping His commandments.