Are You Alright?

I recently watched a few videos our ministry team put together with a youth group years ago.  One of the films has a song by Sanctus Real which repeats the chorus:  "I'm not alright, I'm broken inside, broken inside.  And all I go through leads me to you, leads me to you."  These may seem rather depressing lyrics but actually the message is uplifting and true.  We are all broken inside and out in a broken world, yet for a child of God the trials and difficulties of life lead us to seek the LORD who is our refuge and help.

It isn't until we are convinced there is something wrong we will investigate to fix the issue.  A decrease of power in an engine that blows smoke, poor performance of an appliance, or symptoms of illness prompt us to take action.  We live in a world permeated with themes of self-empowerment that are a complete lie, and swallowing them leads to disillusionment and despair.  Only the ones who realise they are indeed broken beyond repair and are introduced to the hope, strength, and redemption through Jesus Christ can avail themselves of the healing and restoration found through Him.  Through a pesky messenger of Satan that buffeted him Paul realised when he was weak he was strong because through faith discovered God's power beyond himself.

I have no desire to be controversial nor intend to make a political statement:  whether we tout our "willpower," "manpower," "Girl Power," "Black Power," or any other power it has a limit, therefore has an end, and will end in futility.  The power of mankind cannot compare to the power of God which is infinite and eternal.  Historically mankind has used power to abuse and oppress others but God's power is to save rather than destroy.  Jesus came to set captives free from the prison of sin, bondage to Satan, and the shackles of self.  He laid down His own life on Calvary to provide the means for sinners to become saints, for spiritual inner transformation which will become evident to all.  Admitting our need for forgiveness and salvation is the necessary step to receiving it.

The song "I'm Not Alright" continues this modern day psalm directed to the almighty God:  "Burn away the pride, bring me to my weakness until everything I hide behind is gone.  And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to only you are there to lead me on 'cause honestly, I'm not that strong."  No matter your physical and mental strength it can be exhausted, and what a joy it is to realise brokenness leads desperate people to the LORD every day.  If we could we would be foolish enough to create a world that resembles our conceptions of heaven, it would be a place where there is no sickness, sadness, or sorrow, a place where miracles are unnecessary, a utopia where restoration or redemption is impossible, a place without need of God.  How good God is to prompt us to seek Him out and choose His love, to redeem our brokenness for healing and our weakness for strength.

The Word Who Speaks

Today an electrician and apprentice did some wiring for me.  I had met the duo previously months ago when they installed a few LED signs.  "I think we've met before," the apprentice said.  "I recognise your voice."  I have been told on several occasions I have a "distinct" voice, and I'm not sure what makes it so.  Apparently it is a primary distinguishing characteristic that is more memorable than a buzz-cut and questionable taste in apparel.

Interestingly Jesus compared Himself to a Good Shepherd whose sheep know His voice.  From a great distance sheep will respond to the call of their shepherd, and it is a great analogy of how those who know Jesus as LORD will sense His leading.  It may not be with audible voice we hear with our ears but a thought that comes to us which was not our own:  it does not align with our fleshly desires, nor is it a conclusion we arrived at by consideration.  It can be very brief but profound, is well-directed to speak to our hearts, agrees with scripture, and corrects with a loving tone.  Our response to the voice of our Saviour Jesus indicates He is our LORD and draws us into fellowship with Him as we meditate on God's Word.

Jesus said in John 10:11-18, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

Jesus was sent to the "lost sheep" of Israel, and He also called sheep "not of this fold" (Gentiles) that would hear His voice and respond.  We who were afar off have been invited to draw near by the grace of God, brought into the kingdom of God, and adopted by God as His beloved children.  Jesus called to those who were weary and heavy laden, to those who thirst, to all sinners, to whosoever will respond and receive forgiveness of sins by God's grace.  Isn't it wonderful that God who gave Himself for us continues to speak to us?  He has called us to Himself and also communes with us as friends.  When we speak to Him He hears our voice, and it brings delight to Him beyond words.

The Righteous Key

With the current study of the Gospel of Luke at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I have been reminded of the importance to refrain from "spiritualising" scripture and especially parables.  This happens when we move away from the plain meaning of the text to create an allegory.  Spiritualising makes scriptural interpretation bow to arbitrary keys inserted to supposedly unlock hidden truth.  Try to use the incorrect key on a security door on a house and you will be denied entry, but using the incorrect key to allegedly unlock a parable has led to misinterpretation and wrong application.  I am not suggesting there is only one correct interpretation or application of a particular passage:  my intent is to warn against the error of spiritualising parables, a practise that is more common than one may think.

We are blessed many parables include an explanation from Jesus Himself.  The Parable of the Sower is one of the most famous as it is referenced in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  Without the explanation of Jesus we would be left to guess what the seed, birds, and different soils represent.  In Mark 4 Jesus provided keys to understand the significance of these aspects:  the seed is the word of God, the birds that ate seed on the footpath is the devil who steals the Word away, and the shallow, weed stricken, and good soils represent the conditions of the hearts of hearers to receive the word and be fruitful.  Because a key works on one lock it does not necessary fit another.  For instance, not every time seed is referenced in a parable it is God's Word, nor does it mean birds in parables always allude to satanic influence.

Proof of this is seen in Matthew 13.  Directly after the Parable of the Sower Jesus taught using the Parable of the Wheat and Tares and explained it.  In this parable a man sowed good seed in his field yet during the night an enemy came and sabotaged his efforts by planting tares--a weed that has no nutritional value and to the undiscerning eye looks like wheat.  While the explanation of the sower remains the same, the seed in this parable means something different than before.  In response to the request of His disciples Matthew 13:37-39 tells us, "He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. ³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels."  In this parable the good seeds are the "sons of the kingdom."  If we assume the seed was God's word we would misinterpret what Jesus said.  The logic follows we would be wrong to assume every time birds were referenced in a parable they allude to Satan.  We must take great care not to assume or suppose because when we do--not being God and His ways being higher than ours--we can be wrong.  And in the case of those who teach, we can lead others astray.

Parables are examples from the natural world used to teach spiritual truth to those who hear believing, and the same conceals truth from unbelievers.  Each parable stands on its own merit and the explanation of Jesus--coupled with the context--aids us in rightly interpreting and understanding them.  It is true that some parables are not explained by Jesus and thankfully we are not without the context or the ability to cross-reference passages to see what circumstances prompted a parable, who Jesus was speaking to, or why He said what He did like in Luke 18:9:  "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others..."  Through the entire testimony of scripture with the aid of the Holy Spirit there can be a variety of correct interpretations and great latitude for personal application.  Jesus is able to open our understanding to comprehend the scriptures (Luke 24:45), and may we learn to rightly divide them for His glory.  LORD, teach us to prepare our hearts to receive your Word that we might be fruitful.

Walking With God

"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?"

Micah 6:8

The context of the Micah passage is the controversy God had with His chosen people.  He had birthed the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with miraculous deliverance, revealed Himself to them, provided His Law, and brought them into the land of promise.  Not a word failed of His good promise to them, yet they failed to keep His covenant.  They sinned more than the nations He displaced out of Canaan and He judged them with the curses written in the Law of Moses.

Micah, a God-fearing prophet, wondered what needed to be done for the nation to be restored, to show contrition for sin, and to take steps to revival.  The prophet asked God rhetorically in Micah 6:6-7:  "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"  Micah realised all the sacrifices a man could offer was not suitable to cover the greatness of their sin and transgression.  Even if they were to go beyond the Law and offer their beloved children as burnt offerings it would in no way wash them of their guilt.  So what did they need to do?

Then God spoke.  They did not need a new revelation from heaven, for God had already shown them what is good and what God requires of His people:  to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God.  The LORD's answer reminds me of David's words in Psalm 51:16-17:  "For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  God looks upon the heart, and praise the LORD we are given new hearts through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing we can do to earn God's favour, no sacrifice possible to wash ourselves from guilt and shame.  He has provided His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin and has given us an example of justice, love of mercy, and humility in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ gave His disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another as He loved them.  By faith in God we can extend love, grace, and mercy that trumps our natural abilities.  His love is patient and kind, does not envy, boast, or keep record of wrongs.  This divine love bears all things, even endures the pain of betrayal, and seeks restoration of relationship.  To walk humbly with Jesus is to walk in the wisdom James spoke of in James 3:17 that is in stark contrast to the wisdom of this age, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."  Jesus has shown us how to live, and by the power of the Holy Spirit He empowers us to do so.  As we walk with Jesus by grace through faith, He always leads us in righteousness.