God's Inner Circle

I am continually blown away by the breadth and depth of God's Word.  The 66 books written over a span of 1,500 years do more than dovetail with one another but are in perfect harmony concerning God in the most minute detail.  It is a book one can read for decades and daily discover new connections never before understood, personal revelations from the living God who breathed it into existence.  It does far more than provide intrigue or facts but refreshes us with all we need by God's grace.  God sees our needs met by His grace.

The other night I read something I had forgotten about, how God organised the camp of the Hebrews after the exodus from Egypt.  God's visible presence hovered over the tabernacle in the centre of the camp with three tribes to the north, south, east, and west.  See what Numbers 1:52-53 explains concerning those of the tribe of Levi, those chosen to serve the LORD in facilitating worship of God and teaching of His laws:  "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; ⁵³ but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony."  Instead of receiving an inheritance of land, God was to be their inheritance (Deut. 10:9, Joshua 13:33).

The Levites were responsible before God to be sanctified according to the Law of Moses so they could offer and partake of the sacrifices offered at the tabernacle.  Only purified Levites were permitted to handle the holy things of the tabernacle of meeting.  They were to camp encircling the tabernacle so there would "be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel," providing a sanctified buffer which preserved their fellows.  It was not because Levi or his children were the most pious or deserving of Israel's sons but were chosen by God's grace to be servants about His business.

This caused me to consider how followers of Jesus Christ provide a blessing and benefit to others who do not know or believe in God:  interceding in prayer for individuals and nations, serving with the love of Jesus, filled with generosity, extending grace, showing kindness and compassion for one another.  Jesus called His disciples the "salt of the earth," and salt liberally applied to meat enables it to be preserved for a long time in the right conditions.  Whilst we serve our LORD Jesus Christ, chosen and sanctified by grace similar to the Levites, God's presence in us makes a difference to everyone else in the world.  Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it; we are prone to take much for granted.  I believe the unbelieving world benefits more from Christians than they could possibly realise--even as God operates in a realm beyond our knowledge or observance.  God doesn't need us but makes a good difference to the world through us.

All throughout the scriptures there is the reoccurring theme of God's grace:  grace to bring life where there was once nothing, grace to reveal Himself to wretched sinners, grace to preserve us from wrath we wholly deserve, and grace to use us to bless and save others.  Ephesians 2:13 reminds us, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."  We who were once aliens of the commonwealth of the kingdom of God have been brought into God's inner circle, by grace having been made one with Jesus Christ, even called God's beloved children.  Praise the LORD!

Walking Circumspectly

In his book Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis talked about putting off telling his mother about a toothache.  He waited until he couldn't stand it anymore even though he knew she could relieve his pain because it also meant he would be required to see a dentist!  Like most of us he didn't so much care for the cause to be addressed but the relief of negative symptoms.  Lewis used this analogy to point out we might realise we have a problem with anger and cursing and want to have God deal with it because it is a source of embarrassment but how God also wants to deal with our lust, bitterness, and unforgiveness.  God's intention is to give us the "full treatment" when we would rather half-measures according to our preferences.

God is gracious, merciful, and patient in convicting us of sins.  Our eyes are opened to our sins one by one and we begin to realise how interconnected they are with our unbelieving and selfish hearts.  Through repentance and faith in Christ we are given victory over sins which continue to pester us for seasons throughout our lives.  Sinful thoughts and deeds are so natural to the flesh they can stealthily cohabitate inside us for some time until God's Word or bad feelings tip these squatters off.  This is part of the battle we are responsible to fight, to bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ and see they are bound and arrested.  No one should be more joyful or at rest than a Christian for who God is and all He has done and promised to do--but sin seeks to rob us blind.

Just today I found myself battling anger which welled up quickly and threatened to overthrow self-control.  The LORD helped me to take stock of why I felt angry and stressed:  I felt frustrated by people, feeling stress because I have a lot to do but not much time, and how unexpected expenses keep piling up.  Then I considered, hasn't God promised to provide for all my needs?  Are not my times in God's hands?  Is it hard for God to change the hearts of people--even my own?  It is written in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."  God used feelings of anger to cause me to stop and consider Him, to turn my heart back to Him again rather than focusing on all that seems to go wrong.

Giving vent to anger doesn't change our circumstances or other people:  sowing to the flesh through outbursts of wrath further corrupts us.  God's love, on the other hand, edifies us and others.  Horses wear blinders to force them to look straight ahead, and sin is like blinders fitted on us which focuses on ourselves and the faults of others.  We are to walk circumspectly as children of light giving thanks to God for all things as it is written in Ephesians 5:15-17, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  God has taken off our blinders and revealed His will, given us the Holy Spirit without measure, and may we make the most of the time He has given us as we walk circumspectly.

Calamity Redeemed

When things seem to be going well in our lives it is easy to acknowledge the goodness of God.  But in the face of tragedy or calamity doubts about God's goodness suddenly crowd our thoughts.  Reflecting on my own experiences however, when I have praised God in the midst of suffering, the comfort and peace I enjoy triumphs over "good" times when I took God for granted.  Would to God His people would demonstrate the faith of Job when confronted with grave personal tragedies in Job 1:21-22:  "And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." ²² In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."  Trust in the goodness of God in the land of living brought Job to praise God when circumstances knocked him to his knees.

In a series of rhetorical questions Amos posed before Israelites of the northern kingdom, he concluded with a flourish in Amos 3:6, "If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?"  For whatever reason it is easier for us to believe if life is smooth it is the blessing of God and when things are tough Satan is to blame.  We imagine people who suffer are deserving of punishment for some hidden sin, or those who are "blessed" have "done something right."  But what of the grace of God who causes rain to fall on the just and unjust, Who daily loads us all with blessings and benefits?  Even judgment for sin is a providential gift from the hands of our heavenly Father who loves us.

God is never a passive player in the universe or caught unawares by satanic plots.  Not one calamity occurs without His knowledge and intent to redeem it fully for those who trust in Him.  Joseph provides a good example of man intending things for evil but God using it to save many people alive.  Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in a foreign land but God redeemed it.  It was a painful season for Joseph to be betrayed by his own flesh and blood for a pocket of silver, but later Joseph was given the insight to realise it.  He said to his brothers in Genesis 45:5, "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life."  It was like Joseph needed to remind his brothers over and over to convince them of God's guiding hand in his past, for he said in Genesis 50:19-20:  "Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

Now take care believer:  it is one thing for Job to praise God despite his own suffering and Joseph to credit God for sending him to Egypt, but we must not presumptuously speak for God concerning the suffering of others.  Explaining why they might be suffering or how it can be redeemed can be false hope which distracts from the goodness, grace, and mercy of God:  He has done it but remains good.  Are not God's ways higher than ours?  Aren't His means and ways of redemption beyond our vision?  It was not good Job lost all his children to tragedy in a day but God was able to redeem it for good.  It was no way "good" the righteous Son of God was pierced on Calvary's cross, but God redeemed it to save many alive.  Death was never the will of God, but it was God's will Jesus go to the cross to save many alive.  Sometimes God opens our eyes to the why of a calamity, but better to realise Who God is to us, gracious and good, and despite our pain to draw near to Him in faith.  He is the only One who can save.

Andrew Murray Quote

A quote from Andrew Murray was recently shared with me from a friend battling cancer, and it is a great reminder how God is sovereign and good regardless of our health, circumstances, or feelings.  Because of the depth of suffering, pain, and sorrow we face in this life unless a person knows God they cannot accept this statement as remotely true.  But for those who know God, knowing they are known by Him, they can affirm the words of Andrew Murray when he wrote:

In time of trouble, say, first, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow. And last, say, in his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows. Therefore, say, I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.

It is faith in God which allows us to walk in the love, joy, peace, and patience required to endure and press on.  Because God is faithful to His Word and His promises we can rest in Him even if the earth shakes and mountains are thrown into the sea.  This globe we inhabit will one day be dissolved in flame with everything on it, but those who hope in the LORD lack no good thing.  It may be that death is the passage we must travel to enter into eternal glory, but God's glory will not be tainted by the strain of the journey.  Though I have not experienced cancer, I have received great encouragement from passages like Isaiah 65:17-18:  "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. ¹⁸ But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy."

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to new heavens and a new earth--plus a glorified body free from sickness, pain, and sorrow.  I almost shed a tear thinking about how good it will be to have God wipe away all tears from our eyes.  There is part of us that holds onto memories of this life, good and bad.  In the eternal state we will be perfected and know what we need to know.  Since we will not be God and know everything we will rejoice to be ever learning of our awesome God and resting in His truth without fiery trials and the burden of this perishing flesh.

Praise the LORD He is creating a joyful reunion for all those who fear His name, and we do not need to wait for eternity to experience His love and peace.  We have His comfort and rest today, if we will trust and seek Him, and we will also enjoy His presence forevermore.  It is only the Christian who can say regardless of the season, "All the time God is good!" and experience rest in our loving Saviour who is our life.