10 October 2020

Encouragement from Discouragement

I spent the majority of this week speaking at a teen camp, and it was a fruitful time.  It was a blessing and privilege to have the opportunity to teach young people about God as we studied Psalm 1.  Much prayer and study went into preparation for the delivery of messages and answering questions.  The LORD didn't just speak through me but spoke to me, and told me exactly what I needed to hear when I needed it most.

The impetus for this post was born out of a discouraging situation.  During one of the talks I misspoke when talking about the boab tree and off the cuff related the tree's incredible ability to store water to a camel.  Of course camels do not "store" water in their humps and thus it was an awful analogy--one I would not be allowed to forget.  A camp film was made which one camper was asked about what he thought about the talks and he did not hold back:  "He botched the talk," he said with a frown.  "Camels don't store water in their humps.  It's fat."  When I saw the footage I was disappointed an off-handed comment would be so distracting and send the wrong message.  Everyone had a good laugh, and it was certainly awkward for me.

Later I was praying and a bit discouraged about my mistake, how it likely (at least for one person!) took away from the impact of the Gospel.  Before bed I felt led to continue reading through the scriptures and arrived at Psalm 7. Though I had read through this copy of the Bible many times I discovered something I never noticed before:  a typo at the end of chapter 7 that ended with a colon instead of a period.


Out of discouragement God brought encouragement!  I had not noticed the typo before and it took nothing away from the meaning of the passage.  In a similar way my error was not a hindrance in any way from people receiving the truth of the Gospel because God's word is living and powerful.  I also found encouragement that the publisher had made a punctuation error but God still chose to use them to print His word.  God chooses to use imperfect people like me who make mistakes and He is able to redeem even our failures for good, to humble us and instruct us concerning our need to rely upon Him.  Isn't it amazing God chooses to use flawed people?  We are all undeserving of the privilege to serve Him as He keeps refining and sanctifying us along the way.  Jesus doesn't wait until we attain an arbitrary level of skill before connecting us as a functional, fruitful member of His Body the Church:  by grace we are saved through faith, and we walk by faith despite our failures.

How glad I was to hear a report at the end of the week that many campers chose to follow Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour!  All glory to Him who does wondrous things even when we miss the mark.  We are fools to place our confidence in ourselves, experience or preparation:  we are wise to continually rely upon God to lead us and make our feeble efforts fruitful according to His glorious design.

07 October 2020

The Joy of Waking Up

There is much about our lives we take for granted.  The fact we fill our diaries with plans suggests we expect to live and undertake future activities.  The reality is our future is wholly in the LORD's hands and we may not rise from our beds:  one day our bodies will lay down never again to rise.  It is good to recognise the sovereignty of God who sustains us as James exhorts us in James 4:13-15:  "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

Did you see that?  If the LORD wills, we shall live!  Our lives on earth and for eternity depend upon the God who is our Life.  We do not know what will happen tomorrow, yet we are secure in knowing God who gives strength for the day and everlasting life through faith in Jesus.  David was a man who learned to trust and rely upon the LORD in many trials.  When his son Absalom rebelled to usurp the throne, the threat upon his life was so intense David did not know if he would live to see tomorrow.  He wrote in Psalm 3:4-6, "I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around."  For a lot of people the ability to fall asleep is a far greater concern than waking up.  Every time we are wakened from sleep we can rejoice (though it may feel inconvenient!) because God has graciously sustained us.

David also wrote in Psalm 4:6-8, "There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. 8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."  There were many in David's day who wondered when they would ever see any good.  The year 2020 has copped a lot of hate because of the fires, drought, floods, a global pandemic and financial recession.  But remember believer, the LORD has lifted up the light of His countenance upon us.  Despite trials, strife and uncertainty God puts gladness and fullness of joy in the hearts of those who fear Him.  We can lie down in peace, sleep and be awakened because God has made us to dwell in safety.  There is no doom or gloom in our God who is the Light of the World!  Praise Him for His faithfulness.  We can rise joyfully because our LORD and KING is risen!

06 October 2020

The Mundane and Miraculous

As a carpenter for decades my dad has worked on many impressive sites.  One notable home he helped build in Julian was featured in San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine described as "zero-carbon-footprint, fireproof, concrete house with an observation tower and compound curves everywhere."  It is like a house I have never seen which masterfully combines vision, building skills, architecture with artistry and stunning presentation.  The opportunity to work on such a grand and monumental design is a rare privilege because the house is so unique.  For a builder it is an honour to contribute labour and lend skills to complete a project of overwhelming quality and scope.

It is easy to be impressed by the pictures of magazine-worthy homes in person or on glossy pages, yet the kingdom of God is far more glorious being divine and eternal.  However, the kingdom of God in this world under Satan's sway is not as glamorous:  it involves walking by faith in Jesus and not by sight.  Jesus did not come to earth in His unrivaled glory but as a baby born of a virgin in Bethlehem.  The builders of Babel were able to see the slow progress of their efforts, yet children of God may not see any tangible results of their prayers or labouring in the word of God for decades.  The workers in a vineyard could see the grapes they harvested and felt their baskets growing heavy.  Those who scatter the good seed of God's word to others may never see the seed take root or germinate.  All the time the servants of God do not seek recognition for themselves because we live to glorify our Saviour and Rock of Salvation Jesus Christ.  The glory of the house my dad helped build can be seen by our eyes and will in time fade; the glory of the kingdom of Jesus Christ yet to be revealed in fullness will increase in glory forever.

How humbling it is to be a worker in the kingdom of God!  God does not need us but has chosen to use us.  Have you noticed all the times in scripture miracles done by God involved objects which had no power in themselves?  Moses cast a tree into the bitter waters of Marah to make them sweet and drinkable (Exodus 15:23-26).  Elisha  threw flour in a poisoned pot of stew and God made it edible (2 Kings 4:38-44).  The prophet threw salt into the spring at Jericho and God healed the waters to this day (2 Kings 2:19-22). He also threw a stick into water and caused a borrowed axe-head to float to the surface (2 Kings 6:4-7).  Jesus placed mud on the eyes of a blind man and told him to go and wash and miraculously was able to see (John 9:6-7).  Normally adding salt does not make water more drinkable, nor does mud on the eyes help to see better.  In all these cases a common, mundane object was chosen to be used sovereignly by God to accomplish His miraculous, redemptive purposes.

Do you see how we are like the tree cast into the water, the flour thrown into stew, or mud applied to the eyes of the blind?  We are nothing in ourselves but according to God's will He uses us to contribute to His glorious kingdom.  All glory to God who has created all things for His good pleasure and will create a new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells.  By grace through faith in Jesus sinners are born again and endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit who gifts us and makes us fruitful.  Having been given fellowship with God we are enabled to contribute to the glory of God's kingdom.  There was no power in the stick, salt, or mud to do the miraculous:  that is God's glorious domain and He delights to employ us to do His amazing, awe-inspiring works with glory which will be revealed in due time.

04 October 2020

Built on Love

 During a visit to Israel years ago our group went to an ancient "tel" which is an artificial mound of accumulated rubble that was inhabited by successive victors.  It was common for those who sacked a stronghold to break down the clay structures and rebuild on top of them, effectively wiping the previous civilisation from the map.  Archaeologists determined the tell we toured had at least 24 layers, a depth of destruction and loss through the violence of conquest.  It was ironic that the victors were nowhere to be found as the mound was a ruin of its former glory which passed away long ago.

The ruined tels in Israel paint a stark contrast from the kingdom of God established by Jesus Christ.  The Messiah Jesus came to earth not with angelic armies or chariots of fire but as a humble baby born in Bethlehem.  He did not send His disciples into battle with swords and bows.  He sent them as lambs among wolves without supplies for the journey, walking by faith in God and not by sight.  Jesus promised in Luke 12:32, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  What kings of this earth are willing to give their kingdom to others out of love and grace?  This kingdom received by faith would not be one built on the ruins of former civilisations through violence.  It would be established on the Rock of Salvation Jesus Christ who would lay down His own life and shed His blood so all who trust in Him will be born again and receive eternal life.

Since when does a king lay down His life for subjects, much less for ones who are foreigners and aliens from the commonwealth of God's covenant?  Many men have died for king and country, yet Jesus died for the sake of unworthy sinners.  When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, not my will but yours be done" Jesus knew exactly what God's will entailed:  He would be betrayed, rejected, condemned and crucified.  Three days later Jesus rose from the dead and confirmed His authority as the Son of God, His power to forgive sins and to provide eternal life by grace through faith.  Jesus Christ ascended to the Father in the sight of many witnesses and has promised to return to establish His kingdom which is in our grasp by the power of the Gospel.  All kingdoms of the world are temporary, but the kingdom of God endures forever.

Knowing we have received the invitation to God's kingdom, this ought to provoke humility in us and service to one another.  After Jesus was approached by the mother of James and John who asked they be at the right and left hand of Jesus when He entered His kingdom, the other 10 disciples were offended because they wanted this honour for themselves.  Mark 10:42-45 says, "But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  Believers are not to be haughty or arrogant but serve one another in love.  Our age gives us no tenure, our fruitfulness provides no honour for ourselves, nor does our sacrifice warrant any respect from others or special privilege.  As slaves of the KING OF KINGS who has purchased us we rejoice to serve and fulfil His good purposes by grace.  All glory and honour to the Most High who has adopted sinners as His precious saints!