I love how God uses simple things to declare spiritual truth. This morning I saw a small beetle hanging motionless in a spider's web. Seconds after noticing the bug, a spindly spider with a large abdomen slowly climbed down to its prey. I sat spellbound, wondering what was going to happen. Would the spider wrap up the bug? Would it slowly eat the beetle or lay eggs in it? Much to my surprise, after moving around the beetle a few times, the bug fell to the floor. The spider skillfully crept back to its hiding place out of sight.
That was anti-climactic, I thought to myself. How silly it seemed to go through all the trouble of spinning a web only to fumble your food to the ground and forget about it! But then it hit me: cutting loose the dead beetle was deliberate. One of the aspects of a effective web is to make it virtually unseen. A bird will seldomly fly into an obvious trap, nor will a beetle crawl into the mouth of a bird. A spider's web is nearly invisible until a moth or bug flies into it. As long as the beetle was hanging in the middle of the small web, it was much more noticeable. Removing the dead bug from the web reset the stealthy trap for future victims.
It occurred to me the scene was a picture of Satan's tactics. He holds forth the alluring aspects of sin but does not include the whole picture - that sin leads to certain death. He craftily cuts loose the corpses of those fallen into iniquity so the simple run headlong to their destruction. How thankful I am that God warns us of the devastating, destructive consequences of sin. Even as sin brings certain death, repentance and trust in Christ leads to eternal life. A fool looks at the fun or enjoyment laying just out of reach on the other side of sin's invisible web, yet the discerning believer sees the corpses littering the ground under the web as dire warnings to heed. This depicts the truth spoken in Proverbs 22:3: "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." The souls that sins will surely die (Eze. 18:20), and those who repent and trust in Christ have a certain hope of life eternal in the presence of the LORD.
Our responsibility is to fear God and keep His commandments. With the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it is not burdensome. What is a burden is when we try to pursue the tantalizing offering of the world to satisfy our flesh and still walk in the way which fully pleases God. Micah 6:8 reads, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" We cannot earn salvation through our efforts, but receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In light of the grace we have received, our faith can be demonstrated with works by denying the flesh, being renewed in the Spirit of our minds, and walking in obedience to the Spirit. In this God is well pleased, and we can receive a full reward!
14 January 2015
11 January 2015
The Unmodified Seed
“And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind.
And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 1:12
In the
beginning God created plants which brought forth seed after their own
kind. In simple terms, the seed of each
plant is produced in the fruit.
Fruitfulness increases future fruitfulness as more plants grow to
maturity. Seeds produce plants which
grow more plants which will bring forth additional fruit of the same kind. Over the years, plants have been “engineered”
or genetically altered to improve aspects of the fruit. Seedless watermelons and mandarins, sweeter
corn with more kernels, and firmer tomatoes are all examples of such efforts. Whilst many of these engineered crops have
various benefits, in many cases they are rendered unable to reproduce
themselves. The alterations have made
seedless watermelons but removed the capacity for future fruitfulness from the
same vine.
At camp
this week, we have talked about the importance of answering questions by sharing
the pure Word of God, the Bible. In the
Parable of the Sower, Jesus compared the Word of God to good seed which falls
on different soil conditions which represent various conditions of the human
heart. Even as many plants and crops are
genetically altered to make them more palatable or to remove those annoying
seeds, the same can be done with the good seed of God’s Word. If we alter the Word or the message, we strip
the text of the power to be fruitful in the hearts and minds of others. Pressure from scientifically minded people have
sought to introduce man’s ideas into the biblical account of creation of the
earth by God. In doing so, the text may
be more acceptable to our finite, biased minds and make it unfruitful. The Gospel of Jesus Christ shared without the
necessary seeds of man’s sinfulness, need for repentance and atonement, and
that Jesus is the only way of salvation, rob souls of kernels necessary to spring
into new life.
07 January 2015
Riding Along
During recent months I have been cycling for exercise and to strengthen my surgically repaired knee. These days I am on the lookout for new routes to try. While I usually stick to the bike paths, it is fun to take on new roads and challenges. I have often quipped Jerusalem and Riverstone have some similarities: regardless which way you came from, it seems you always "go up" to Riverstone! Pushing hard up the hills provides a welcome challenge, but I still prefer racing down them!
The other day my sons and I went fishing with a good friend. We headed down Boundary Road to Wiseman's Ferry, and the scenery was beautiful. Cows lounged under the shade of spreading trees, and green fields stretched out for kilometres. "This would be a good place to ride," I thought to myself. There wasn't a true bicycle lane, but there seemed like enough room to comfortably stay out of the way of passing traffic. The gentle rise and fall of the terrain would be a good challenge as well. One the way back I had decided: Boundary Road was my next cycling destination.
A few days later I embarked on my new path. It wasn't very long before I was white-knuckling those grips! The hills which seemed hardly to rise in the Toyota Kluger seemed to stretch on and on whilst cycling. I am basically new to cycling distance and I had to concentrate furiously on the edge of the road. Many areas had no room at all, and the drop off the edge of the bitumen was severe at times. The ride also happened during afternoon peak hour, so cars and trucks whizzed past me. It wasn't too long before I was a bit saddle sore. Towards the end of the ride, I began to lose circulation in my right hand - likely gripping too hard due to intense concentration and physical exertion. I actually experienced more adrenalin on that ride with "close calls" than ever before. At the end of the 53 minute ride, the Strava cycling app on my phone told me I had traveled a distance of 18.2 kms and climbed 215 metres. I am looking forward to improving on my time and distance.
As I cycled, I was amazed how different elevation seemed from when I rode along in a car. It occurred to me we often "ride along" with others in their pain and struggles, the hills they are tackling gentle and easy - kind of like when my mate drove me along Boundary Road. His car was doing all the work. I enjoyed the comfort of air conditioning and was not winded at all. Needless to say, it was a massive difference when I took to the road myself on my bicycle. It was hot. It was perilous and cars swerved around me and at times I was mere centimetres from sliding off the road into gravel. One time I even threw the chain and had to stop and fix it. There was pain and discomfort I experienced on that bike I couldn't have imagined from the plush seats of a vehicle. This is the truth: you never know what someone is going through until you are in the saddle yourself. It is easy for us to dismiss the pain and struggles of others, thinking that our "ride along" gave us real insight concerning how they should cope or what tactics they could use. It seems quite easy until we climb into the saddle ourselves and go through the exercise ourselves, as the road stretches on and the uphills seem to go on forever.
If you know someone who is going through a tough uphill experience - whether it be divorce, illness, depression, loss of a job, chemical dependency, or family strife - demonstrate compassion and loving support. Even if we have driven down that road plenty of times, it takes climbing into the saddle to open our eyes and receive a deeper appreciation of a struggle we couldn't have grasped otherwise. One aspect of the Christian life which is so lovely is whatever suffering God allows, He provides greater consolation and comfort still. The comfort we receive by faith is not only for us, but to give to others when they suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 says, "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."
We don't have to experience all the suffering in the world to offer the consolation and salvation we have in Jesus Christ and God's Word. Jesus has suffered for our sakes, and when we share in the sufferings of one another as faithful friends, we can rejoice and endure through Him. We can never know how much someone else is suffering or how they are doing it tough. But God does, and He is able to deliver and save. He is able to comfort, heal, and restore. He's the One who protects us as we push up the challenging hills of this life. Should we fall, it is He who will lift us up and bring brothers and sisters along to strengthen us in Him. Let us bless the LORD, thanking and praising Him, for our God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
The other day my sons and I went fishing with a good friend. We headed down Boundary Road to Wiseman's Ferry, and the scenery was beautiful. Cows lounged under the shade of spreading trees, and green fields stretched out for kilometres. "This would be a good place to ride," I thought to myself. There wasn't a true bicycle lane, but there seemed like enough room to comfortably stay out of the way of passing traffic. The gentle rise and fall of the terrain would be a good challenge as well. One the way back I had decided: Boundary Road was my next cycling destination.
A few days later I embarked on my new path. It wasn't very long before I was white-knuckling those grips! The hills which seemed hardly to rise in the Toyota Kluger seemed to stretch on and on whilst cycling. I am basically new to cycling distance and I had to concentrate furiously on the edge of the road. Many areas had no room at all, and the drop off the edge of the bitumen was severe at times. The ride also happened during afternoon peak hour, so cars and trucks whizzed past me. It wasn't too long before I was a bit saddle sore. Towards the end of the ride, I began to lose circulation in my right hand - likely gripping too hard due to intense concentration and physical exertion. I actually experienced more adrenalin on that ride with "close calls" than ever before. At the end of the 53 minute ride, the Strava cycling app on my phone told me I had traveled a distance of 18.2 kms and climbed 215 metres. I am looking forward to improving on my time and distance.
As I cycled, I was amazed how different elevation seemed from when I rode along in a car. It occurred to me we often "ride along" with others in their pain and struggles, the hills they are tackling gentle and easy - kind of like when my mate drove me along Boundary Road. His car was doing all the work. I enjoyed the comfort of air conditioning and was not winded at all. Needless to say, it was a massive difference when I took to the road myself on my bicycle. It was hot. It was perilous and cars swerved around me and at times I was mere centimetres from sliding off the road into gravel. One time I even threw the chain and had to stop and fix it. There was pain and discomfort I experienced on that bike I couldn't have imagined from the plush seats of a vehicle. This is the truth: you never know what someone is going through until you are in the saddle yourself. It is easy for us to dismiss the pain and struggles of others, thinking that our "ride along" gave us real insight concerning how they should cope or what tactics they could use. It seems quite easy until we climb into the saddle ourselves and go through the exercise ourselves, as the road stretches on and the uphills seem to go on forever.
If you know someone who is going through a tough uphill experience - whether it be divorce, illness, depression, loss of a job, chemical dependency, or family strife - demonstrate compassion and loving support. Even if we have driven down that road plenty of times, it takes climbing into the saddle to open our eyes and receive a deeper appreciation of a struggle we couldn't have grasped otherwise. One aspect of the Christian life which is so lovely is whatever suffering God allows, He provides greater consolation and comfort still. The comfort we receive by faith is not only for us, but to give to others when they suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 says, "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."
We don't have to experience all the suffering in the world to offer the consolation and salvation we have in Jesus Christ and God's Word. Jesus has suffered for our sakes, and when we share in the sufferings of one another as faithful friends, we can rejoice and endure through Him. We can never know how much someone else is suffering or how they are doing it tough. But God does, and He is able to deliver and save. He is able to comfort, heal, and restore. He's the One who protects us as we push up the challenging hills of this life. Should we fall, it is He who will lift us up and bring brothers and sisters along to strengthen us in Him. Let us bless the LORD, thanking and praising Him, for our God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
05 January 2015
Losing and Finding Jesus
Yesterday I was reminded of when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem for the first time. After the days of the feast were completed, the passage in Luke 2 says they left with a company of other people. They traveled for a day, assuming Jesus was somewhere with the people of the group. When they realised Jesus was not in the company, they hurried back to Jerusalem to seek Jesus. If you have ever lost a child even for a short time it is worrisome, but how much more when you have been entrusted to raise the Son of God!
Luke 2:46-49 states, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Joseph and Mary had "lost" Jesus, but Jesus wasn't lost. His behaviour and choices were completely consistent with His divine character and purpose: "I must be about My Father's business." Joseph and Mary inferred Jesus had wronged them in some way because of their anxious feelings of losing Him. But Jesus asked them, "Why did you seek Me?" The truth is, they never should have lost sight of Him. They should not assumed He was with them when it was they who left Him behind!
There is a picture we do well to meditate upon. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in obedience to celebrate the Passover. A time came when Joseph and Mary figured it was time to head home, but forgot to bring Jesus with them. They simply assumed He would find His way home with them. But on the trip back to Nazareth, they discovered Jesus was not with them! Can Christians do the exact same thing? Absolutely. We go to church on Sunday mornings or to attend a prayer meeting or evening service and assume Jesus will be there. We head off to work or a business meeting and expect because we are a Christian, the presence of Christ will be around us all the time. Even though Jesus was born of Mary it did not mean they were inseparable. You may say, "Wait a second! Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us!" And you would be right. However, just because Jesus will not leave or forsake us does not mean we are unable to leave or forsake Him. If we think by virtue of being born again God is "in" all that we say or do - that God's presence will rubber-stamp our actions or words with His approval because of our belief - we are making an assumption similar to what Joseph and Mary did. "Oh, He must be around somewhere," we say. The reality was Jesus was more than a day's journey away! For three days there was great distance between them and Jesus. But when they sought Jesus faithfully, they found Him. When they finally found Him with great relief, He was about His Father's business.
Let us never lose sight of Jesus. Stay close to His side. He will always be about His Father's business. One of the roles of a shepherd is to seek lost sheep. I am grateful Jesus is my Good Shepherd, so when I lose sight of Him and cry out to Him, seeking Him with all my heart, I can always find Him. Instead of blaming Jesus for not gracing us with His presence, we ought to put into practice James 4:6-10, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
Luke 2:46-49 states, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Joseph and Mary had "lost" Jesus, but Jesus wasn't lost. His behaviour and choices were completely consistent with His divine character and purpose: "I must be about My Father's business." Joseph and Mary inferred Jesus had wronged them in some way because of their anxious feelings of losing Him. But Jesus asked them, "Why did you seek Me?" The truth is, they never should have lost sight of Him. They should not assumed He was with them when it was they who left Him behind!
There is a picture we do well to meditate upon. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in obedience to celebrate the Passover. A time came when Joseph and Mary figured it was time to head home, but forgot to bring Jesus with them. They simply assumed He would find His way home with them. But on the trip back to Nazareth, they discovered Jesus was not with them! Can Christians do the exact same thing? Absolutely. We go to church on Sunday mornings or to attend a prayer meeting or evening service and assume Jesus will be there. We head off to work or a business meeting and expect because we are a Christian, the presence of Christ will be around us all the time. Even though Jesus was born of Mary it did not mean they were inseparable. You may say, "Wait a second! Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us!" And you would be right. However, just because Jesus will not leave or forsake us does not mean we are unable to leave or forsake Him. If we think by virtue of being born again God is "in" all that we say or do - that God's presence will rubber-stamp our actions or words with His approval because of our belief - we are making an assumption similar to what Joseph and Mary did. "Oh, He must be around somewhere," we say. The reality was Jesus was more than a day's journey away! For three days there was great distance between them and Jesus. But when they sought Jesus faithfully, they found Him. When they finally found Him with great relief, He was about His Father's business.
Let us never lose sight of Jesus. Stay close to His side. He will always be about His Father's business. One of the roles of a shepherd is to seek lost sheep. I am grateful Jesus is my Good Shepherd, so when I lose sight of Him and cry out to Him, seeking Him with all my heart, I can always find Him. Instead of blaming Jesus for not gracing us with His presence, we ought to put into practice James 4:6-10, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
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