When I think of someone in charge on a jobsite, I don't think of the men wearing the tools. What comes to mind is a man wearing a suit and tie, glossy hardhat on his head without a single scratch or sticker, and carrying a tablet. The boss of the bosses is not paid to swing a hammer, sweat in the sun, or personally install the product: his role is to make sure the job is manned, coordinated, and completed. He has assistants who aid him with everything including making copies, proofreading, orders, mailing, cleaning and even picking up lunch. His time is always at a premium, and it is a waste of valuable company time for him to do menial duties.
God's picture of leadership is quite different from what we see modeled in the world. Jesus explained this to His disciples in Mark 9:35: "And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." The greatest in God's kingdom are the ones who are slaves of all. Those who humble themselves are the ones God will exalt. Jesus is the prime example of leading through serving. He could have delegated His authority to angels and men to keep Himself insulated from the pain, disease, oppression, and struggles of people on the earth. But He didn't delegate what God commanded Him to do. Philippians 2:5-8 reads, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
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who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
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but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
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And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." We are not to only place ourselves in a humble frame of mind, but embrace the lowest and most menial, even undesirable tasks in obedience to God for His glory. Does being scourged and dying nailed to a cross sound fun?
In the Old Testament, Joseph is a wonderful example of this kind of servant hood. After being falsely accused of sexual assault, Joseph was thrown into an Egyptian prison. We read in Genesis 39:21-23, "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
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And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing." Joseph was placed in charge of the prison, though he was himself a prisoner. He was the "shot-caller." Nothing happened in the prison without him knowing about it and giving his approval. Though he didn't have fancy clothes, he was the man walking around with a clipboard. He kept the peace, took care of inventory, and delegated jobs for others to do. What Joseph said was law in that prison.
Yet even with his authority, Joseph served the men he was given charge of. It came to pass that two very high profile men - Pharaoh's chief of the butlers and bakers - were sent to prison by Pharaoh himself. Instead of being placed with the general population, they were incarcerated in a ward in the house of the captain of the guard. Genesis 40:4 tells us, "And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while." Joseph did not delegate the task given to him to a man of lesser status or authority, but he served these men himself. Joseph was a man to whom power was given, but he still humbled himself to serve others. Joseph put into practice the exhortation we read in Galatians 5:13: "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Joseph did not use his authority as a means to justify sloth but used his freedom to serve even his fellow inmates.
Is there any task which you see as "below" you? For instance, it is easy for those of us who have children to order them
around to do menial tasks we are too lazy to do ourselves. Following Christ's example, we ought to see ourselves as below God, others, or any task! If we are blessed by God to have a spouse and children, let us seek to use our liberty to serve one another in love. If by God's grace we have a job, let us be those who use what authority we have to serve, perhaps taking on the job no one else wants. When our eyes are focused on Christ, our view of seniority changes dramatically. Jesus says in Matthew 20:16, "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." If we want to be first, we must be last of all and servant of all. Since God has chosen us by His grace, may we choose to obey him by serving one another in love!
25 January 2013
23 January 2013
Playing Dumb!
A mate and I woke early and headed out for some fishing off a pier at Como, a picturesque spot. Boats were docked to the left, and a large swimming area with the perimeter secured with a shark net was to the right. A public pool, park, clean toilets, and a cafe were all close by. As we spent the morning fishing, many people brought their dogs to the swimming area and let them splash around. On my way to the toilet I found this sign on the pier most amusing.
It does not take a genius to see that the sign had been tampered with! Obviously the sign was provided with the intent to prohibit dogs using the swimming area. Someone who disagreed with the council decision to prohibit dogs spent much time and energy carefully scratching out the red line which once stretched over the dog pictured. What was intended to keep dogs out of the area could now be used as an encouragement! The absence of the red line eases the conscience of those who bring their dogs along for a morning dip. The spirit of the law has been dissolved by the scratching away of a little red line.
This is a prime example of what could be simply called, "playing dumb." Anyone with a brain knows the purpose of the plaque's existence is to convey that dogs are prohibited. But the defaced plaque gives everyone an out: if called upon to answer why they are breaking the rules, they need only point to the sign and say, "Oh! I didn't know!" This goes way deeper than breaking the rules for a cheap doggy bath in revealing the depravity of the human condition! People do this all the time with God's laws. Perhaps they think they can "play dumb" on the Day of Judgment and credit themselves before God because there are people worse than them, everyone was doing it, or by pleading ignorance. It will not work! God's laws were written in stone by the finger of the Living God, and He has also written his laws upon our hearts and conscience. God gave us His law so we might see our need for forgiveness and salvation. "Playing dumb" is dumb. God isn't fooled by our clever ploys to dodge His eternal laws of righteousness.
So are dogs allowed or prohibited at the beach? What is the spirit of the law? We don't need to wonder about what God's standards are, for they are written with a diamond point on plates of iron: Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." This standard cannot be washed away by playing dumb. Without the forgiveness of sins and righteousness through Christ, certainly all would perish for all have sinned. Instead of working to scrub out God's laws, may Christ wash our hearts clean through repentance and faith. The law is good when used lawfully. How good God is, to wash our sins away!
It does not take a genius to see that the sign had been tampered with! Obviously the sign was provided with the intent to prohibit dogs using the swimming area. Someone who disagreed with the council decision to prohibit dogs spent much time and energy carefully scratching out the red line which once stretched over the dog pictured. What was intended to keep dogs out of the area could now be used as an encouragement! The absence of the red line eases the conscience of those who bring their dogs along for a morning dip. The spirit of the law has been dissolved by the scratching away of a little red line.
This is a prime example of what could be simply called, "playing dumb." Anyone with a brain knows the purpose of the plaque's existence is to convey that dogs are prohibited. But the defaced plaque gives everyone an out: if called upon to answer why they are breaking the rules, they need only point to the sign and say, "Oh! I didn't know!" This goes way deeper than breaking the rules for a cheap doggy bath in revealing the depravity of the human condition! People do this all the time with God's laws. Perhaps they think they can "play dumb" on the Day of Judgment and credit themselves before God because there are people worse than them, everyone was doing it, or by pleading ignorance. It will not work! God's laws were written in stone by the finger of the Living God, and He has also written his laws upon our hearts and conscience. God gave us His law so we might see our need for forgiveness and salvation. "Playing dumb" is dumb. God isn't fooled by our clever ploys to dodge His eternal laws of righteousness.
So are dogs allowed or prohibited at the beach? What is the spirit of the law? We don't need to wonder about what God's standards are, for they are written with a diamond point on plates of iron: Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." This standard cannot be washed away by playing dumb. Without the forgiveness of sins and righteousness through Christ, certainly all would perish for all have sinned. Instead of working to scrub out God's laws, may Christ wash our hearts clean through repentance and faith. The law is good when used lawfully. How good God is, to wash our sins away!
21 January 2013
Humans Made to Hunger
"They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
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for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:16-17
It's hard to imagine living without hunger or thirst. Because our bodies need food and water for survival, we have been created to desire what we need. After the fall of Adam and sin passed to all men, our desires have been tainted by sin. Instead of drinking for the health of the body we have descended into drunkenness, and our appetites have led us to gluttony and all manner of excess. Even though it is not a sin to eat or drink, after we are glorified in heaven we will no longer hunger or thirst. We will be able to eat and drink but it will be voluntarily, not out of necessity.
When God created man, He created man without sin. Yet in His wisdom, God saw fit to create man with a hunger and thirst within him. Adam experienced a physical hunger and thirst. But it went far deeper than that. Adam hungered for love, acceptance, and companionship. Adam and Eve both longed for knowledge and significance - before they chose to sin. In trying to satisfy their hunger with the fruit from the forbidden tree, they hungered to be as God. After their willful rebellion against God, man's insatiable hunger has continued to gnaw at him continually. Man lusts after control, power, possessions, honour, and everything else the world can offer. These are all deceptive foods. All of what we hunger and thirst after in this world is actually found in a relationship with the Living God by faith in Jesus Christ.
Humans hunger and thirst by design. Unlike brute beasts, we are not governed by uncontrollable instinct. God has given us His Word, a conscience, and a will of our own. We can choose the foods we put in our mouths and the drinks we put to our lips. We can decide what we will place before our eyes or what we will listen to with our ears. Above the din of this confused world Jesus says in Isaiah 55:1-3: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you-- the sure mercies of David." Jesus is the giver of Living Water, water that will quench all thirst for eternity. Jesus is the Bread of Life, bread that if a man eats he will live forever. All our hunger and our thirst can be swallowed up in the satisfaction and contentment found only in God.
John 6:35 records this truth so we might read, believe, and receive: "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." You were made to hunger and thirst. Find satisfaction and rest in Christ!
Light Without Heat
We've been experiencing record-breaking heat in Sydney of late. Last Friday the Sydney CBD went over 45 degrees Celsius! The hot breeze fueled over 100 fires throughout New South Wales that burned simultaneously. We are seeing temperatures hotter than ever recorded in Australia. After one of our hot days, during my nightly reading I came to this passage in Revelation 7:16 which ministered to me on multiple levels: "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat..." The Bible tells us that after the final judgment the heavens and earth will pass away. God will create a new heavens and new earth with no need for the sun. Revelation 21:23 says of the heavenly New Jerusalem, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light." Jesus is and will forever be the light of the world.
On earth, it is understood that the sun is our chief source of light. It is also the earth's major source of heat. But in heaven, things will be different. We will no longer be sunburned or uncomfortable under the heat of the sun. As far as I know, all the light sources that utilise combustion or electricity grow warm or even untouchably hot during and after use. When God is our sole source of light both in the physical and spiritual realm, no longer will we be scorched by the sun. Did you know that God spoke light into existence on earth before the sun? After speaking the world we know into existence, Genesis 1:3 reads "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." We read that in six days God created the heavens and the earth and on the last day He rested: seven actual 24-hour days. This is nothing for God to do. He could have created all things in less than a blink of an eye, but in His creation of the universe He chose to utilise the seven-day week as it remains until today. We know this because after each day it reads, "Evening and morning were the first day." It was not until the fourth day that God made the sun, moon, and stars (Gen. 1:14-19).
So the next time you feel the searing heat of the sun upon your skin or experience the uncomfortable pain of a sunburn, know that it will not always be so for those who are born again through repentance and faith in Christ. For those who die in their sins, however, they know nothing of the heat they will experience forever, separated from God in the outer darkness being consumed in the undying flames of hell. Jesus expresses this truth over and over in Mark 9:43-48: "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--44 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--46 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire--48 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"
Heaven and hell are both real. It is only through Jesus Christ we can live eternally in heaven, where sun and fire cannot scorch us. Hell was designed for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:31), yet man chooses to go there if he remains in sin. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. How great that life Christ offers is far beyond our natural ability to appreciate. It is a perfect life, life as it was intended by God: free from sin, death, pain, sickness, and the deceptions of this world. It is a life governed by love, grace, righteousness, and goodness. It is a life in the presence of the eternal God, who created us, sent His own Son to die as a sacrifice for us, has washed us clean, and adopted us as sons, making us kings and priests unto Him. He will provide light without darkness, light without heat. He indeed makes all things new!
On earth, it is understood that the sun is our chief source of light. It is also the earth's major source of heat. But in heaven, things will be different. We will no longer be sunburned or uncomfortable under the heat of the sun. As far as I know, all the light sources that utilise combustion or electricity grow warm or even untouchably hot during and after use. When God is our sole source of light both in the physical and spiritual realm, no longer will we be scorched by the sun. Did you know that God spoke light into existence on earth before the sun? After speaking the world we know into existence, Genesis 1:3 reads "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." We read that in six days God created the heavens and the earth and on the last day He rested: seven actual 24-hour days. This is nothing for God to do. He could have created all things in less than a blink of an eye, but in His creation of the universe He chose to utilise the seven-day week as it remains until today. We know this because after each day it reads, "Evening and morning were the first day." It was not until the fourth day that God made the sun, moon, and stars (Gen. 1:14-19).
So the next time you feel the searing heat of the sun upon your skin or experience the uncomfortable pain of a sunburn, know that it will not always be so for those who are born again through repentance and faith in Christ. For those who die in their sins, however, they know nothing of the heat they will experience forever, separated from God in the outer darkness being consumed in the undying flames of hell. Jesus expresses this truth over and over in Mark 9:43-48: "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--44 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched--46 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire--48 where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"
Heaven and hell are both real. It is only through Jesus Christ we can live eternally in heaven, where sun and fire cannot scorch us. Hell was designed for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:31), yet man chooses to go there if he remains in sin. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. How great that life Christ offers is far beyond our natural ability to appreciate. It is a perfect life, life as it was intended by God: free from sin, death, pain, sickness, and the deceptions of this world. It is a life governed by love, grace, righteousness, and goodness. It is a life in the presence of the eternal God, who created us, sent His own Son to die as a sacrifice for us, has washed us clean, and adopted us as sons, making us kings and priests unto Him. He will provide light without darkness, light without heat. He indeed makes all things new!
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