The Oxygen Mask Lesson

I've watched a lot of flight safety videos in my time, and they all basically convey the same information:  where the emergency exits are, how to put on a life vest, when to inflate it (which includes a light and whistle to attract attention), smoking is prohibited, and what happens if there is a sudden decrease of cabin pressure.  Though I have never experienced this firsthand, the presentation says oxygen masks will drop down from a compartment above.  Instead of fitting the oxygen mask to children first, parents are told to put on and adjust their own mask first.

It makes sense that in a frantic moment a parent's primary desire would be to protect their children and ensure their safety.  That is why the video addresses this small but important detail.  An adult without ample oxygen won't be able to help others or provide direction for their little ones.  It is responsible for all involved for the adults to properly wear their own mask supplying the oxygen, for only then can they help save their children in an emergency.  The takeaway is once I ensure my oxygen mask is worn properly, then I can assist others.  This reminds me of what Jesus said in relation to living righteously myself instead of being critical or judgmental of others.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5, "Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."  In all things followers of Jesus are to employ righteous judgment (John 7:24).  It is hypocrisy to criticise others for sins we also practice.  We must ensure we are first walking in love, humility, and holiness ourselves instead of finding fault with others.  Our own sins obstruct our vision and render us incapable of helping others see clearly.  After we remove the hindrances from our lives we are enabled by God to help others walk more perfectly.  We may consider it a great service to others to remove their "specks," but with a log in our own eye we are more blind still!

If we care about saving others from the power of sin, we must first be saved ourselves.  Praise be to God He has provided a way for us to overcome through Jesus, and having overcome we can aid others breathe in God's love, grace, and forgiveness too.

Word Without Effect

The other day I read Mark 7:1-13, a portion where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in rejecting the commandments of God and teaching instead the traditions of men.  Having laid aside God's word, they found fault with followers of Jesus.  He declared in verse 13 they were guilty of "...making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."  The implications of making God's Word of no effect are enormous, and this caused me to ask the question:  what are effectual benefits of God's Word?

In the Parable of the Sower, the Word of God is compared to good seed which will produce fruit in the lives of faithful followers of Christ.  This reveals substituting traditions for God's Word inhibits fruitfulness.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said those who hear His words and do them are likened to a man who builds his house on a rock which can endure any storm.  Without God's Word then our lives are without a secure or strong foundation.  Peter affirmed in John 6:68 that only Jesus has the words of eternal life.  Should the Word of God be rendered without effect it means eternal life cannot be obtained.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  The consequence of making God's Word of no effect is to stumble aimlessly in the darkness.

Probably one of the most concise and descriptive passages of the effect of God's Word is found in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.  Paul exhorted Timothy, "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  See the invaluable effects of God's Word:

• Provide teaching and assurance
• Able to make wise for salvation through faith in Christ
• Given by inspiration of God
• Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness
• Provided so every disciple of Jesus may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When we exchange the Word of God for man's ideas and traditions, we deny ourselves the truth and assurance God provides.  If God's Word has no effect, there is no hope of salvation!  We lose out on the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction inspired by God!  If we reject the Word we will not mature or be equipped to do good.  What folly it is to put aside God's Word for the "wisdom" of man!  The Pharisees were deceived when they did this in Jesus' day, and there are many deceived today who make this same mistake.  Let us lay Paul's exhortation to Timothy to heart and hold fast to the Holy Scriptures.  Otherwise we reject the light and stumble in the darkness towards destruction.

Stacks of Cash

As I walked past this shrine in our hotel, it had me thinking.  The shrine was supplied with fresh fruit, incense, and what caught my eye was stacks of hundred dollar bills - fake ones.  If those bills were real (as someone mused who passed by), they wouldn't remain there for long!  Why sacrifice real dollars for an idol which can't tell the difference?  This is the epitome of utilitarian religion.  Put on a good show and potentially receive a blessing.  If it doesn't pan out, no big loss.  Pretty weird to worship a god you take for a sucker.

It is most fitting fake money would adorn the altar of a false god.  What good is a god who has carved eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, and a mouth which cannot speak?  What purpose does a god serve which cannot move itself but must be carried as dead weight?  Can such a god save?  Can it bless, protect, or provide anything?  I wonder if those who laid the fake Benjamins down ever stopped to think about this:  if a god is not able to tell the real from the fake, how can it know who is responsible for adorning the shrine?

Whilst there can be sinister spirits at work behind such idols, they are all nothing in comparison to the Living God.  The Bible concludes those who make and worship idols are just like them:  powerless.  Psalm 115:1-8 says, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. ² Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?" ³ But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. ⁴ Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. ⁵ They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; ⁶ they have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell; ⁷ they have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat. ⁸ Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them."

Our God is in heaven and does whatever He wants on the earth, for He created it.  He knows all things!  Jesus answered the thoughts of men and discerned hypocrisy miles away.  Putting stacks of fake silver and gold into the treasure is hypocrisy, and God deserves far better than a superficial show.  May we honour Him, not with tithes and offerings only, but with hearts which truly love and trust Him.  Let us be living sacrifices unto the LORD which is our reasonable service, for He is worthy.  Jesus didn't shed His blood for stacks of cash:  He did so to redeem your soul from death and in so doing demonstrate the love of God for unworthy sinners.  Incredible, right?

Dying to Self

When we met for group devotions the first morning in Cambodia, we were given a sheet titled, "What is Dying to Self?"  I believe it paints very well the picture of what dying to self is, that it is directly connected to attitude.  As much as dying to self is something Christ enables us to do, it is also a godly response when things are done to us or our expectations are not met.  It's not just on short-term trips we must die to self, but to be the hallmark of our lives as we walk in love.  I have typed out the sheet and hope it is useful to you!

WHAT IS DYING TO SELF?

  When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy for Christ...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When your good is evil spoken of, your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance, when you stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility and endure it as Jesus endured it...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption or change of course by the will of God...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you see your brother prosper, and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, or question God when your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart...

THAT IS DYING TO SELF!

Are you dead yet?