Be Strengthened in God

I was reminded today that feelings are real but are not always true indicators of reality.  There is the possibility our feelings can present a skewed perspective because they make us the centre of our story rather than the LORD God who created us and His goodness.

Jacob's response to unexpected news from his sons is an example of this in Genesis 42:36:  "And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me."  Jacob was overwhelmed when he heard Simeon had been incarcerated in Egypt and the presence of Benjamin (Jacob's youngest son) was required for his release.  He felt personally attacked and overstated the facts he knew to be true, for he put Simeon's imprisonment at the same level of Joseph whom Jacob believed was long dead.  What Jacob didn't realise is that Joseph was alive and he was orchestrating the reunion of their whole family to deliver them from starvation.  Jacob was focused on all that was against him rather than God who was for him, and we can do the same.

David also experienced a situation where all things were against him.  While he sojourned in the land of the Philistines to escape from the hand of king Saul, a band of Amalekites raided Ziklag, burned it with fire and kidnapped all the wives and children of he and his men.  After this shocking discovery David and his men wept until they could weep no more.  The despair of the men turned to anger towards David.  1 Samuel 30:6 says, "Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."  David was deeply afflicted by the troubling situation:  his wives had been taken captive along with the wives and children of all his men, and he was largely responsible for them residing in Ziklag and going to battle alongside Achish!  But David's great distress prompted him to strengthen himself in the LORD his God.  This trial was painful and troubling, but he chose to focus on the LORD God and sought Him instead of fixing his mind on all the things that were against him.

This is the way bad feelings and distress can do us much good, to prompt us by faith to choose to look the LORD God who is for us rather than all that is against us.  Whether our enemies are real or imagined, knowing nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus gives enduring hope and strength to endure.  This is infinitely better than the power of positive thinking that depends on us and is limited by our own strength.  It is good we know we are helpless and unable to do anything so we might seek and rely on the LORD to do everything as we submit to His rule and guidance.  Both Jacob and David endured deeply troubling situations and saw the goodness of God in the land of the living.  May all followers of Jesus also look to Him in trouble and testify of His faithfulness, for we have tasted and seen the LORD is good.

The Quiet and Peaceable Life

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

1 Timothy 2:1-2

In his famous Gettysburg address during the Civil War, president Abraham Lincoln spoke of government of the people, by the people and for the people--all prefaced with the statement, "under God."  Due to the democratic forms of government that allow people to vote in elections, the fact God presides over the appointment of those in authority can be dismissed or forgotten.  For all citizens it is wise to look beyond a ruler whether they are revered or despised by men and to the God who moves their hearts like the turning of a river (Proverbs 21:1).

Paul exhorted Timothy and fellow believers in Christ to offer supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks for all men, for kings and all in authority.  These earnest petitions, requests in prayer and giving of thanks were to be faithfully offered to the end all may lead a "quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."  Depending on where you live or the political climate, it might be more common to sign petitions to oust a governor than to make petitions known before God with thanksgiving.  We can be swept up in praying against people rather than giving God thanks for them.  How far short of Paul's exhortation we fall when we hope to gain political sway towards our desired end rather than leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

When it comes to politics, these days it is the antithesis of quiet and peaceable.  News reports are full of people shouting at rallies, protesting, amplifying their frustrations with loudspeakers.  There is nothing wrong with using the voices God has given us to speak forth His truth in love, our lives ought to be attended with all godliness and reverence.  We are to have the humble mind of Jesus Christ and demonstrate reverence and respect for others even if they view us as opponents or enemies.  The Greek word for "reverence" is also translated "dignity."  This is the quality of being worthy of honour and respect, being composed and calm.  If we lack this godly demeanor in our thoughts and conversation we miss the mark even should our views be biblically spot on.

Let us take to heart this exhortation from God's word personally, to give thanks for everyone--whether they are a sovereign by birth, selected by a political party, elected by constituents or a fellow citizen on the other side of the aisle.  We are called to submit to the KING OF KINGS Jesus Christ who has all authority in heaven and on earth.  Jesus IS the authority, and thus we are never at the mercy of democracy or despots.  Our peace can never come from who is on "capital hill" but what Jesus accomplished on Calvary's hill.  Because Jesus is our peace we can lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence, knowing His reign is eternal and He is good.

The Hidden Cost of Milk and Sin

Several months back I was driving and listening to a radio interview on ABC news.  The subject was a familiar one, that dairy farmers have been doing it tough for some time because of the demands placed upon them by retailers for low prices.  Therefore the price of milk was slated to rise $.50 a litre.  While the price of other commodities had been rising over time, for years milk stayed the same price.  The question was put forth, "Do you support paying more for milk to support Australian dairy farmers?"  The people who called and texted said they were fine paying more for milk.  The consensus among the host and callers was it was the least consumers could do.

As part of my weekly routine I buy groceries for my household.  Whilst the increase of the price of milk does not impact my ability to buy it, I have noticed something the ABC presenter did not explain.  I have noticed, not only the rise of the cost of milk, but the cost of all dairy products.  This makes perfect sense:  the increase of the cost of milk means it will cost more to make yogurt, cream, cheese, ice cream, etc.  The rise of the cost of milk is not in isolation and would impact the price of all offerings from the dairy industry.  With the cost of doing business these days it still might not be sufficient.

For many people this rise does not mean they are unable to buy milk or dairy products, but it would have been a good point of consideration up front to answer the question:  "Do you support paying more for milk?"  The result of raising the cost of milk has shown the original premise to be incomplete and flawed.  I believe this is a good example of how sin has a "knock on" effect in our lives.  The phrase "knock on" is a rugby term when a player loses control of the ball forward after touching a hand or like a fumble in gridiron.  The result of a "knock on" means the stoppage of the game and a change of possession.  One tiny fumble of the ball, one accidental brush by the tip of a finger, and your team forfeits the ball.  This can lead to losing the whole game.  Adultery in the heart can lead to fornication, estrangement from family, damaged relationships and ruined marriages.  Sin isn't something we can keep to ourselves but negatively impacts us, others and our relationship with God.

Hebrews 3:12-13 provides a warning and exhortation for Christians:  "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."  Because of Jesus we do not need to fall for sin's deceitfulness, become hardened in heart or depart from the living God in unbelief.  Sin that can flourish like weeds inside us can be rooted out by the power of God, the wisdom of His word and godly fellowship with fellow believers.  Sin brings death, and praise God He has abolished death and brought immortality to light through the Gospel.  Let's not be tempted to think sin looks affordable when it is deadly and deceitful, for it is never isolated to a particular act.  Having received new hearts, may we keep them soft with swift repentance of sin and obedience by faith in God.  In doing so we will realise the blessing of Jesus Christ is infinitely beyond price.

Examine Yourself and Receive

On the first Sunday of every month at Calvary Chapel Sydney we receive communion, and the verses which impacted this week are found in 1 Corinthians 11:26-28:  "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. ²⁷ Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup."  Paul wrote this to a church in Corinth marred by factions, drunkenness and carelessness.  What was supposed to be a time of unity with Christ and one another by proclaiming His death lacked evidence of His love and holy life.

The bread symbolises the body of Jesus broken for us and the cup represents the blood of Jesus shed on Calvary to provide atonement for sinners.  Jesus instituted a new covenant in His own blood by grace through faith, and receiving communion is an acknowledgement we have spiritually received Christ by faith even as we eat the bread and drink the cup.  As there ought to be a correlation between the physical reality of eating and spiritually of receiving, our lives should be a testimony of a new life by faith in Christ that resembles His own in love, grace and obedience to God.  Paul reiterated the purpose of the love feasts at Corinth, that they ought to demonstrate the unity and love they received by Jesus with one another.

Paul critiqued the sinful manner that crept into their gatherings and bid them examine themselves to the end they would "eat of the bread and drink of the cup."  The idea was not to exclude any follower of Jesus Christ from receiving the LORD's supper.  If the idea of the love feasts in Corinth was to have fellowship with God and one another, in Paul's estimation they had been falling woefully short due to sin.  We eat a meal to satisfy our needs and strengthen our bodies:  why would a person go to a restaurant to fast?  In a similar way, if people did not desire fellowship with God, to glorify Jesus Christ and edify one another, what was the point of receiving communion?  All who chose to receive communion in obedience to Jesus were to examine their hearts, confess and repent of sin, and thus eat the bread and drink of the cup because of all Christ accomplished for them.  No one is worthy on the basis of their own works to receive communion, yet all that believe the Gospel are responsible to receive it in a worthy manner.

In my youth there may have been an occasion where I chose not to receive communion because I was acutely aware of a particular sin and felt guilty about it.  My feelings of guilt were a poor substitute for confession and repentance.  How much better it would have been for me to respond in repentance for sin and rejoiced in the provision of forgiveness by Jesus who died to freely offer it to all sinners!  To refuse to receive communion because of your own failings betrays a lack of understanding of what Jesus has accomplished for us unworthy sinners:  He has given us forgiveness by grace through faith in Him.  He did not come to starve people out or destroy them but to save them, so we might joyfully proclaim His goodness and salvation to all now and forever.