Seeing God at Work

Today in church we sang "Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickham.  The lyrics go, "When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty, thank You, God.  When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb."  We often need to be reminded of God's love, power and purposes in the past, how He has been faithful to redeem trials for our good and His glory.  Should we be left to our own devices and walk by sight or how we feel, we can miss the redemptive power of God who uses tribulation to draw us to Himself.

Recently in conversation a friend of mine referenced "hard ground" in ministry, how it seems difficult or nigh impossible to make an impact on others when they are resistant to the Gospel.  In thinking over the phrase, it struck me how man has discovered techniques and developed tools to deal with hard ground.  If digging a hole for a post or tree is too difficult for a spade, a mattock or digging bar may do the job.  It is sometimes advisable to soak the area with water to soften the soil or to try digging after rain.  Should a rotary hammer or jackhammer fail to make headway through rock in a mine, professional earth-moving equipment or even dynamite has been used to blast through hard ground.

It is good for us to acknowledge there is hard ground beyond our ability to dig through by our efforts, yet at the same time to focus on God's miraculous way of cutting up hard ground without breaking a sweat.  Indeed, we likely are able to recognise hard ground in others because we have that same tendency in our own hearts:  the hard ground of pride, self-sufficiency and unbelief in God often develops inside us.  I take great comfort in God's word in Zechariah 4:6-7:  "So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. ⁷ 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"  How awesome is God?  The hardest heart can be pierced by God's word easier than a spade cuts through loose sand.

We might lament the ashes of our ruined dreams, the high cost of obedience, or the hard ground we wish was soft, yet we can gladly turn our eyes to God Who can move mountains with His word alone.  While we struggle to dig a small hole in the earth, God can shift mountains of unbelief by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He can redeem the death of His only begotten Son and provide grace and salvation to all lost sinners by grace through faith in Him.  Rather than being an obstacle, the mountain is an opportunity for God to show His might, majesty and sovereignty over all--starting with us believing Him.

Insight From Cain

It is one thing to point out the folly of those who reject God and do not believe in Him, yet it is far more relevant and needful for believers to recognise our folly so we might repent of it.  God's people were unable to enter the land of Canaan because of unbelief in God, and thus were unwilling and disobedient.  Those whose carcasses fell in the desert after the exodus from Egypt are an example for followers of Jesus today, for they illustrate our sinful tendencies that remain after being born again.  There are countless examples in the Old and New Testament that demonstrate the prevalence of sin and the sobering consequences.

One might think after Cain was called out for the murder of his brother Abel, he would admit he was guilty.  Not so!  When God asked Cain where Abel was he replied, "I don't know.  Am I my brother's keeper?"  His lying response had an accusatory tone, as if God was inquiring about a situation that was none of His business.  After God revealed He knew all about Abel's murder, instead of expressing repentance or sorrow he blamed God for chastening him:  "My punishment is greater than I can bear!  You have driven me out this day from the face of the earth!" ( quotes from Gen. 4:8-14)  Now lying and murder were not explicit commands Cain broke, and thus he did not transgress a law--but sin that lay at the door overpowered Cain, and he rebelled against God in pride.

Would you believe Christians can be guilty of the proud, rebellious attitude we see on display in Cain?  Though Cain sinned, he was preoccupied with himself and how badly he was being treated.  This is rich, coming from a fellow who just killed his brother in cold blood!  Cain painted God as the villain in his story when Cain's refusal to fear God and humble himself led to his pains as the consequence of his foolish choices, even after God warned him.  We can feel sorry for ourselves with a "Woe is me!" hopeless attitude without the second part of Isaiah's statement, "I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips..."  Isaiah owned his sin and the sins of his people, citing his unworthiness to see or speak with God in humility.  In Cain we see no contrition whatsoever:  he only felt bad about himself and lamented the curse sin brought upon him.  Cain was angry to be driven out from the presence of the LORD, yet the reality was he had spiritually checked out long before then.  What should have been a reality check to prompt repentance, Cain used as an excuse to spitefully blame God and go his own way.

When we are convicted or made aware of our sins before God, rather than trying to deflect blame on anyone else (including God) or feel sorry for ourselves, let us confess and repent of our sin daily in humility.  Just because we have fallen short of God's glory makes Him no less glorious and powerful to save.  Imagine our failure to do right being a wedge that hinders us from submission to the holy, righteous God Who is our life!  Hebrews 3:12-13 says, "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."  Sin is so deceitful we can come to a place of blaming and condemning God for sin we chose over Him and the consequences of sin in our lives.  God allows us to fail and fall into sin so we would realise how much we have yet to rely on Him fully.  He helps us begin to see the ugly, sinful truth about ourselves when we imagined we could overcome sin by the effort of our flesh when only God can do that.  Do not allow the ugliness of your sin rob God of His beauty and worthiness to be praised, trusted and obeyed.  

Jesus Changes People--For Good

The other day I passed by a digital sign that read, "Stop Domestic Violence."  It struck me as rather odd.  I wondered who the target audience was.  It could not be addressing those who suffer from domestic violence, a battered spouse or the verbally or physically abused children at the mercy of a grown bully.  It must be primarily directed at the one responsible for the violence, ironically the one who could be incapable of recognising or stopping their violent and harmful behaviour.  It is one thing to suggest beating the summer heat by the installation of a pool to swim in, but it is another thing altogether to say "Stop Summer Heat."  Good luck with that.  One might as well try to stop the earth's orbit around the sun--or domestic violence with a sign.

My fervent desire aligns with the digital sign:  for domestic violence in every form to stop.  But raising awareness of a problem does nothing to convince people it is their problem, their sin.  Looking at the scourge of domestic violence and other sins from a biblical perspective, a complete change of heart and mind is needed to begin to foster this change.  To try to fight the flesh with the flesh is a losing battle, for we cannot will to do what is right when we are wrong.  The natural man is dead in sins and incapable of changing himself, and to cease from domestic violence is no easier than ceasing from envy, lying or looking with lust.  Change at the source is needed as it is written in Ezekiel 18:30-31:  "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?"

To be saved from ourselves and hell Jesus revealed we must be born again through faith in Him, and the Holy Spirit makes transformational change possible.  He changes our perspective, helps us to avoid sin and to begin to do what pleases God instead.  One reason why domestic violence is fundamentally sinful it is the opposite of loving one another.  Bullying a spouse or a child shows a great lack of the fear of God Who will bring all our words and actions into judgment.  The world often focuses on trying to eliminate the symptoms or fruit of sin when God is able to deal with the root of the problem.  Notice the sign did not say the words of Jesus to His disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you" but to stop domestic violence.  From a worldly view stopping bad behaviour is of primary importance, yet the biblical view is to repent, be born again, and be led by the Holy Spirit in love.  Those who are walking in love will not abuse others.

If our salvation and spiritual transformation was based upon our efforts, not one person could be saved or changed.  God is the One who changes people; the almighty God is able to give us a new heart and mind.  Hebrews 10:16-17 says, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," ¹⁷ then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."  We cannot change or even help ourselves, but God can and does.  Those who repent and trusts in Jesus can be set free from the shackles of all our sins and be empowered to live lives that follow Christ's example.  Domestic violence can stop when those guilty of it have hearts changed so they no longer practice it--a transformation made possible by faith in Jesus Christ Who makes all things new.  Even better than the prospect of domestic violence stopping is for all people to love one another as Jesus loves us.

God Preserves His People

 "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

1 Corinthians 15:33

It is not uncommon for people to adopt or express behaviour they have found odious in others.  I can't remember how many times I have heard people share their own shock when they found themselves following the example of a person they swore they would never emulate.  People can become in character, words and actions exactly what they hate because of unwanted influence others had in their lives.  It is only the LORD Who can open our eyes to see it and provide the ability to change course from being enslaved to sin to walking in the way that pleases God.

David provides a good example of the corrupting influence others can have over us.  When King Saul was freshly crowned, he was a man marked by humility and grace.  However, it was not long before he fully embraced the role of a proud, domineering king who sought honour in the sight of people rather than God.  Even the way he spoke began to change, for his words began to be peppered with haughty oaths and curses.  1 Samuel 14:24 supplies an example:  "And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food."  When Saul's own son and heir to the throne was exposed for eating honey, unaware of the king's oath, the foolish king doubled-down in 1 Samuel 14:44, "And Saul answered, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan."  Because of pride, Saul totally lost the plot and unnecessarily brought great distress and trouble to himself and his people.

As the son-in-law to king Saul who had a seat at his table,  David observed such arrogant behaviour firsthand on a daily basis.  David observed Saul's demeanor that was marked with boasting, oaths and curses.  The Spirit of God had departed from Saul and was upon David, and thus Saul feared David's favour with the people.  On numerous occasions Saul tried to spear David to the wall, and he barely escaped with his life.  I am sure David thought to himself, "I will never be a violent scoundrel like Saul, proudly boasting in his power to avenge himself."  But that is exactly what happened.  While David was on the run from king Saul, he and his men voluntarily protected the shearers of a rich man named Nabal.  After David politely asked Nabal for anything he could spare to help him and his men, Nabal answered the messengers roughly.  1 Samuel 25:21-22 says, "Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. ²² May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light."  This sounds a lot like Saul.

God was gracious to send Abigail, the wife of Nabal, to intercept David and humbly entreated him to receive her present and to refrain from avenging himself.  Unlike Saul, David took to heart the exhortation and gentle rebuke from Abigail, admitted his error, and expressed gratitude to God and Abigail for her wise advice.  1 Samuel 25:32-33 states, "Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! ³³ And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand."  Evil company corrupts good habits, but praise be to God for sending the Holy Spirit and fellow God-fearing people who bring conviction of sin and wise correction so we might recognise our sin and turn from it to trust in the LORD.  We are not doomed to take on the character or flavour of an abusive family member, boss or bully as God's people because He has purposed to make us light of the world and the salt of the earth.  When we start taking on the flavour of sin or begin to walk in darkness, praise God for the Holy Spirit who guides us back to walking humbly and steadfastly with our God.