The Greatest Story?

 My eyes chanced upon a blurb about an illustrated Bible that began, "The greatest story ever told..."  Though my face did not betray any emotion inside I cringed.  While is true factual history includes stories, it would be a tragedy to bring the divinely inspired word of God to the level of a historical narrative, poetry, mythology, or fiction.  If we view the scripture as a collection of "stories" it greatly impacts the way we read and relate to it.

When I worked in a trade the humble lunchbreak provided a perfect opportunity for master storytellers to trot out their best tales.  Some stories were amazing and unbelieveable, and others dragged on without a clear point.  My favourite stories were the ones I found funny and entertaining.  Those brief moments provided an opportunity to sit back and be transported to another time, have a laugh, and add the best for your personal arsenal should an opportunity to swap stories present itself.  Thinking about stories in this context, the purpose of the story was rarely to guide my future personal decisions but a tale to recall to impress, shock, or amuse others.

To say the Bible is the "greatest story ever told" is to sell it woefully short of the truth.  Stories over time can be embellished for effect, but the scripture God-breathed, does not change, and will endure forever.  God has provided the Bible so we might know the God who created and loves us, to be redeemed and reconciled to Him through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to live in the way that pleases God.  The scripture exists more than to interest or entertain mankind but is a revelation of the living God.  It is filled with history, prophecy, poetry, and wisdom which exist for more than our inspiration and admiration.  More than a story to be recalled, scripture guides us into a Life to live through faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  More than words on a page or a tale told God's word sustains our souls.  The prophet said in Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."  Insight from God received in a believing soul led to Jeremiah discovering great joy in his relationship with God.  A newspaper is filled with articles and stories that may or not be of any personal interest, yet for children of God the Bible becomes a personal address from the Almighty God to miraculously address our most profound needs and guide us into truth by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Having Faith in Jesus Helps

 Yesterday I was reminded of the occasion when Jesus accompanied His disciples on a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.  Mark 4:37-40 tells us, "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"  The disciples panicked as the wind whipped water into the boat, and Jesus sleeping through the ordeal seemed to trouble them even more.

They asked Jesus, "Do you not care that we are perishing?"  It would be fitting to ask those troubled souls, "Do you not care Jesus is with you in the storm?"  The disciples found themselves in a situation beyond their control, and though they united together the problem was greater than they could handle.  Perhaps they imagined with the help of one more person they could bail the water fast enough to stay afloat.  Upon being awakened, Jesus did something they never expected:  He addressed the wind and the sea saying, "Peace, be still!"  Miraculously there was a great calm.  Mark 4:41 describes the response of the disciples:  "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"  Though these men had agreed to follow Jesus and obeyed Him, they still didn't realise the full extent of His care for them and power to save them.

When we are going through troubles, it is easy for us to be like the disciples who looked for help that did not come as they expected.  Perhaps their expectation was Jesus would spring to His feet, take charge of the situation, and lead them to safety.  They would take comfort in His proactive leadership and ability to organise disordered panic and "right the ship."  This can be our expectations we have of other people as well.  The disciples were good to seek Christ for help but the problem was they did so without faith in Him being their Messiah, the Resurrection and the Life, the I AM.  Even Christians can make the mistake of looking to people to be their Saviour and Deliverer when Jesus Christ alone is already with them and has the power to bring peace into chaotic circumstances.

Can you imagine saying of Jesus, "If He really cared about them, Jesus would have known they were in trouble and done something without being asked."  That is blasphemous to suggest of Jesus, and thus it is inappropriate to have this expectation of God's children.  Jesus was not in trouble, and they were not in trouble because He was with them:  their trouble stemmed from unbelief.  The lack of faith in Jesus was not due to the inaction of Jesus but unbelief within their own hearts.  They were wrong to doubt the character and care of Jesus because they were afraid and faithless.  In my own life I have found when I make a negative judgment of the character of others I do so because of my vision is skewed.  The most imperfect person I know the best is me, and praise the LORD He cares for His children despite their lack of faith in Him.  As we look to Him in the midst of trials may we remain certain of His care, provision, protection, and rejoice He will never leave or forsake us.

Glory in God

"Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; ²⁴ but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

It is natural for people to be pleased with what they have earned or accomplished.  God reveals in this passage to make a show of or the celebration of our abilities and possessions (which are gifts received from Him) is misguided.  Man habitually glories in what is not God, and whether we view ourselves as wise, mighty, or rich, this passage aims straight at our hearts with divine correction and instruction.

What are things you "glory" or take pride in?  The way we reveal this pride is often not through overt boasting and bragging, talking loud so everyone can hear.  It can manifest itself by downplaying compliments, by asking questions of others with the aim of sharing your accomplishments, telling a story that is more amazing or exiting than the one just told, or false modesty through humblebragging.  We can delight to be recognised, respected, and recommended.  The things we take pleasure in can be fine in themselves, but when we glory in self or stuff we have it is a dangerous shift towards idolatry.

Instead of glorying in our assets or abilities, God directs those who glory to glory in understanding and knowing God.  This is wisdom, riches, and might that cannot be bought, sold, or earned.  The LORD and knowledge of Him is far beyond price because He is glorious in Himself.  To glory in ourselves is to praise the beauty of a grain of dust compared to the light of the shining sun.  God's glory far outshines the sun in strength and power, for He is the LORD.  The supreme, all-powerful God of all exercises "lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth" and delights in them.  Isn't it crazy we can be more impressed with money, looks, or recognition from people rather than understanding and knowing God?

What a blessing it is to understand and know God because we have a relationship with Him through faith:  faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Understanding and knowing God is more than reading or hearing about Him:  it begins with being born again through faith in Jesus and the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  How delightful it is to meditate on the goodness of God and how He delights to exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  People post videos of their exercise routines for peak physical fitness for bodies which will ultimately break down with injuries, weaken and perish.  God demonstrates His lovingkindness continually which is eternal, and we are partakers of His love which never fails.  When we delight in God, we will delight to do as He does and glory in Him.

Christ In Sight

You don’t need to live long to suffer much.  One aspect of God’s character is He is a Redeemer:  He is able take the suffering of one person and make it a source of comfort for others today.  Christians have eternity to look forward to, yet there is also great comfort for us to receive now.  We imagine the best source of comfort is for our circumstances to change for the better, but people who have suffered and are suffering can provide an unexpected source of encouragement when they endure and rejoiced in the LORD.

I recently received shocking and sobering news of friends in the States whose property and house burned to the ground.  I have never personally known such a loss, and I am grateful to have been spared from this trial.  I am also thankful beyond words for the God-fearing, trusting, and celebrating attitude from my friends despite their loss.  I am reminded of the exhortation they are fulfilling in 1 Peter 4:12-13:  "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  Pain can numb us to the love of God He graciously demonstrates through His word, His people, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

True are the words Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:  "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."  How amazing God makes the ones who have suffered to be comforters through the power of the Holy Spirit!  At the sight of the devastation and total loss I was grieved and then surprised to be suddenly greeted with testimonies of praise and thanksgiving unto God.  Having received the comfort and consolation which is in Christ, victims become victors who shine radiantly with the joy of the LORD.

Giant sequoias have an intriguing relationship with fire.  Being so tall they are often struck by lightning which can start fires sequoias need to reproduce.  The heat of flames is required to crack open their cones to release seeds that can remain locked away for 20 years.  Fire also stimulates growth in giant sequoias, and these trees continue to grow as long as they live.  Isn't it amazing how the fires of trials and tribulations can be a boon to the faith of those who look to the LORD and those who witness their genuine peace?  Fires are deadly and destructive, and it takes the power of God to miraculously use them to accomplish His good purposes in nature and in the lives of His people.  May I learn to praise God always despite of fiery trials because Jesus Christ is in my sight.