Speaking of Jesus

"But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. ⁵ And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Genesis 33:4-5

Jacob had many reasons to be concerned when meeting his brother Esau after being away for 20 years.  When Jacob departed years prior, Esau comforted himself with a plan to murder Jacob for stealing his blessing.  Upon his return Jacob sent droves of animals as presents and bowed himself to the ground 7 times to give honour and respect as a servant to a master.  Esau shed any regal bearing and ran to his brother, embraced him like a beloved friend and they wept tears of joy.  When Esau asked who the women and children who accompanied Jacob were he answered, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Jacob returned from his uncle Laban's house a changed man, having been touched and blessed by God who was with him all those years.  I am impressed how Jacob was forthright about God and His grace to give him a large family to someone who, based upon his character in scripture, could be called a heathen.  It takes boldness, courage and faith in God to give Him credit and honour before people who do not regard Him.  History tells us the people of Edom, descendants of Esau, worshipped many idols.  This did not deter Jacob from plainly crediting God as his provider and gracious giver of all he possessed.

I have witnessed a persistent tendency over the years (and I include myself) to carefully adapt our language to those around us.  I have seen working men marked by salty language clean up their conversation during a formal dinner.  Children shouting obscenities on the playground can speak very differently when their strict parents are present.  I have observed people entirely change their manner of speaking when they discover I am a pastor.  In the same way people change their language to suit their perceived audience, Christians can strike mentions of Jesus from our vocabulary because the people we address do not believe or trust in Him.  We can be intimidated to speak of God to those who deny His existence while we might freely share with Christians.  Jacob's examples demonstrates this ought not to be.

Brother and sister in Christ, let us be ones who say the name of Jesus and extol the awesome glory and virtue of our God who has graciously given us all things.  Everything we have is a gift from God, and thus there is no shortage of things to express our thanksgiving to God to others regardless of their opinions.  If we restrict our mentions of God to those who already know Him, how can others come to know Him?  By faith in God let us be bold and courageous to humbly credit God with praise for all we have regardless to whom we speak.  If we would have Jesus confess us before the Father and angels we have not seen, we can rejoice to speak His name to those we meet--even when they don't know or fear Him.

God's Glorious Word

God created people with the capacity to think and make choices for themselves.  There is satisfaction in being intrigued, formulating a strategy and solving problems.  I find for this reason I enjoy strategy games, puzzles of various kinds and movies that prompt me to consider themes true to life.  Because God created man to reason, it should be no surprise the Bible is the greatest source of thought-provoking and confronting truth in existence.  God's word is authoritative, not an opinion piece or like a documentary designed to sway you to a particular conclusion.  God tells us like it is, and careful thought places before us the decision if we will agree with Him.

Sometimes passages of the Bible do not immediately make sense.  Even after reading the Bible through countless times and studying it for decades in the most familiar passages there is much to learn.  It is not always a new concept or teaching, but it sheds more light on established truth as we use scripture to interpret scripture.  I came across a passage like this last night in Acts 12 when the people of Tyre and Sidon flattered Herod in Caesarea.  After he gave an oration before the people in royal apparel they shouted in unison, "It is the voice of a god, and not a man."  Then a most unusual thing happened in Acts 12:23:  "Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died."  Herod chose not to give God (Who created man's mouth) the glory for his speech, and he was struck down for his transgression.

Acts 12:24 goes on to say, "But the word of God grew and multiplied."  The conjunction "but" shows these verses are connected, and it may not immediately be clear why.  A point Luke made was Herod's oration was not God's word, regardless how regal and sophisticated it may have been.  After that speech Herod and his words were silenced permanently, and it is not even recorded for us in scripture what he said.  In contrast to Herod's words silenced by the grave, God's word grew and multiplied.  God's word endures forever that speaks of His glorious goodness and power to kill and make alive, to wound and bind up.  The enduring truth of God's love, grace, righteousness and salvation has been and will be proclaimed forever, and no one can silence God.  No one can shut God's mouth or make void what He has written.

Verse 24 is a great cause of rejoicing for God's people in a world today because it still rings true.  The good seeds of God's word are still taking root in the hearts of people, saving sinners and making wise the simple.  Great thinkers of the world still peruse its pages, unable to shake the gravity and undeniable truth that speaks to mankind's purpose and need.  Some scoff and scorn; others speak swelling words of pride against God and condemn what He has spoken.  One day they will all lie in the dust and be silenced forever in the grave while God's word will continue to grow and multiply.  Let us be those who heed God's word over man's word and give Him the glory we can think and speak.

The Big Picture and Jesus

Recently I was reminded of a friend who enjoyed playing rough with his dog from the time the pup was quite young.  Over time because of their constant roughhousing antics the dog was conditioned or trained to play rough with everyone, jumping on them incessantly, gnawing and aggressively scrambling around--to the point he was the only one who could interact with the dog.  When guests were over the dog was sequestered in his own area because of his uncouth and feral behaviour.  What seemed good natured fun with a puppy at the beginning became a liability when the pet was full grown.

Whether we are training a puppy or raising children, it is good to have a big picture view of how the actions we take today--or the lack of definite action and clear consequences--can impact their and our futures.  Solomon wrote concerning the responsibility of a ruler in Ecclesiastes 8:11:  "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  He realised the necessity of taking action against evildoers, not only for punitive reasons in light of past wrongs, but to guide them towards making righteous choices in the future.  The negligence of parents and kings to take corrective action conditioned people to continue in a destructive and harmful spirals that impacted individuals and the whole kingdom.  When it comes to discipline, it is wise to have the big picture in mind.

Jesus urged His hearers to expand their perspective beyond "here and now" to eternity.  He bid them to count the cost of following Him as a disciple.  Jesus said in Luke 14:28-33:  "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

Jesus explained the undeniable practical wisdom of making sure you can afford a building project before undertaking it.  The mere chance of being mocked by others for not finishing what you start could deter someone from starting to build.  He also employed the example how a king who knows he is outmanned and outgunned takes the initiative to offer a peace treaty to avoid destruction, retain the crown and preserve his people.  People who count the cost and realise they will fall short are wise to take appropriate action.  Jesus taught those who held onto their own lives were sure to lose them, and those who lost their lives for Jesus' sake and the Gospel would find them.  Those who count the cost with an eternal perspective realise we fall short of the glory of God due to our sin.  Our good works cannot save us, and thus we must be willing to pay the full cost of discipleship in humility before God if we will be saved.

Common sense teaches us we ought to look ahead and keep the big picture in perspective.  Our eyes consider what has been, what is and what lies before us--not only in this life on earth but for eternity.  God is gracious to open our eyes to see our need and the opportunity God has offered us by grace to be born again and to experience an abundant, satisfying life as we follow Jesus today.  More important than money in the bank, completing building projects or avoiding a losing battle, is to be at peace with God through faith in our Saviour which is profitable for all things in this life and in that life to come.

Satisfaction and Life in Jesus

This morning I heard an excellent sermon at Calvary Chapel Jericho Road by pastor Dale Dickinson who expounded upon Jeremiah 2.  In love God called His people to remember Him, for they had committed two evils in departing from Him, their fountain of living water and instead hewed for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water.  The comparison between clean, water from a spring and a dry cistern could not be more stark.  No sensible person living in the desert would trade a pure spring for a cracked and empty well, but God's people had done the unthinkable by drifting from Him.

God described the folly of His people in Jeremiah 2:8:  "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit."  Ignorance of God and His wisdom led to transgression by the priest and prophets.  I find God's observation fascinating, that the priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?"  The implication is they were content to continue their ministry of the temple without God's presence.  Perhaps it had become more of a job than a holy calling, the rites and routine of the daily ministrations digging a rut Tozer called a "circular grave" without the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.

If priests, rulers and prophets could drift from knowledge of God and His presence, it is possible for Christians to slowly depart from love and loyalty to Jesus.  Over time our hearts can grow dull and cold, and we can forget all Jesus has done, is doing and has promised to do with us.  Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:11-12:  "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."  It would be presumptuous to assume only unbelievers could be deceived, for believers can be led astray as well.  Due to sin those who have freely received God's agapao love can grow cold.  The main problem for Christians isn't the existence of false prophets but willing departure from God and placing our faith in what is not God.

Praise the LORD for His love toward us, that He who warns us also warms us by His grace.  The chill of sin may blanket a nation, but we can walk uprightly in the fear of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Broken, dry cisterns may be all around, but there is a source of Living Water by faith in Jesus Christ our LORD.  We find all our needs satisfied in Jesus, and He makes us to be a refreshing source of life through the Gospel to others.