Taking a Stand

This morning at church I did something out of the ordinary for me by inviting people to stand in repentance for sin and to pray together.  I explained to the congregation that until now God has given us all opportunity to repent of our sin, yet repentance is something we can neglect.  We can feel shame or guilt over sin, be disappointed in ourselves for continuing to sin, or be troubled by the consequences for our sin but never actually repent of it with contrition before the LORD.  As a shepherd leads sheep to the water and it is up to them to drink, so it is for those who preach and teach the word of God and seek to lead people to walk in God's ways.  Those who drink deeply of the living water of the Holy Spirit only do so because God has first drawn them.

One reason why it is not my first inclination to ask people to respond to a sermon in church publicly is because it is the easy thing to do.  Please don't misunderstand me:  there can be quite a battle that rages within a person that makes going forward, standing or even raising a hand very difficult to do.  I faced this battle many times during my Christian walk.  But the situation is contrived in an environment where much of the pressure we feel to respond is because of those around us and what they may be doing or thinking.  Having received an exhortation to repent of our sin, we can feel pressure to comply and demonstrate we are listening and doing what is right.  There can be countless reasons people stand or go forward at an invitation that have nothing to do with obedience or submission to God.

At a youth camp I spoke at last week, a youth pastor gave an invitation to people to raise their hands, to repeat a prayer and to go forward.  These are all good things to do when prompted by faith in God and submission to Him.  Just because some will go because their friends are going does not mean taking a stand for Jesus in response to an invitation is without merit.  However, the real stand of repentance is not taken when every eye is closed and head is bowed in the sanctuary but is when no one else is around and you are sitting at your computer and tempted to look at porn, when you want to have another glass of wine, when no one knows you are eyeing a pretty woman or a handsome man.  The stand of repentance of sin is taken when the pressure is on at work to lie and you choose to tell the truth even when it comes at a price; it is in confessing selfish attitudes and cursing in your heart to God who knows full well the corruption of our flesh.

I was blessed beyond measure at camp when a sea of young people were jumping and singing up front to worship music and a young man remained sitting in his seat, scowling with his arms crossed.  It may have been the Holy Spirit was speaking louder and more clearly to that lad who seemed to dig in his heels when all his friends were up front having fun.  While at one stage I may have rejoiced over all those kids who went forward to worship--imagining I had something to do with it--I rejoiced over the one with arms crossed who refused to sing.  Had he made a mockery of the invitation, he would have gone up with all his friends.  But I suspect he was stewing because God was speaking.  I know that young man is deeply loved by God and it is God's will he be saved, and God has done and will do everything to redeem his soul from destruction for eternal glory.  It may be the one who looks least likely to follow Jesus can be transformed to be the one who lives for Jesus faithfully for all his days, so great is the power of our God to save.

Those who will repent of their sin and take a stand for Christ is not during a church service but in all hours of the day when there are continual temptations and opportunities to sin.  We take our stand for Christ, not in the presence of others who observe us standing in church, but before the LORD who sees the thoughts and motives of our hearts.  Going forward in a sermon after wrestling with our conscience does not provide forgiveness, salvation or sanctification but by yielding to Jesus through faith every day as His disciples, loving and trusting Him.

Counting the Cost

Today I had a chat with Christians about our need to count the cost in following Jesus.  Our saviour Jesus is not a useful addition or convenient accessory that improves our life but He is our life.  Jesus spoke about considering the cost of following Him and drew upon practical examples to teach His disciples.

Jesus said in Luke 14:25-33, "Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
²⁶  "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ 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."

The required cost of discipleship is to love and be loyal to Jesus above anything and all others (including ourselves), even those who are related to us.  It means dying to self, choosing to daily lay our lives down in obedience to Jesus as He lay down His own life for the sake of sinners.  A servant is not above his master, and since our Master Jesus freely sacrificed Himself for the glory of God in obedience to His will, so ought we to do in living a life that pleases Him.  Jesus spoke about how a person building a tower considers the cost of the project before starting construction.  A tower could not fulfil its purpose if only a foundation was built.  Everyone would recognise the folly and how laughable it would be to start a project that could not be finished.  All the effort and financial investment would be wasted on a "tower" that never stood.

The second illustration Jesus used was a king on the cusp of battle who was severely undermanned.  The king needed to decide if victory was assured or at least probable with his current fighting force.  If it turned out the king faced a battle he could not win, it would be wise to send a delegation to ask for conditions of peace so he, his army and kingdom would be preserved.  This common sense is also true concerning Christians.  If we are unwilling to bear our cross and come after Jesus, if we do not want to go where He is going and build our lives upon His wisdom, choosing to hear His voice and obey Him, it makes a mockery of Jesus and discipleship.  Those who lose their lives for Christ sake will find them, and those who refuse to forsake their lives--their ways, plans, ambitions, fleshly desires, assumptions, thoughts and sins--cannot be His disciples.  You might as well try to fight a battle you cannot possibly win.  Following Jesus means we follow Him exclusively and continually His way.

Paul, a faithful disciple of Jesus, wrote in Philippians 3:7-11 about how loss for Christ's sake resulted only in gain:  "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."  When Paul shed the skin of everything he once prided himself in, he found himself enriched beyond measure through righteousness by faith in Jesus, the knowledge of Jesus, the power of resurrection to new and eternal life, and the fellowship of His sufferings.  Paul was richer in the end, and it all came at the cost of Christ's shed blood and by the power of the Gospel.  We lose nothing in giving everything God requires because God gives us freely everything that pertains to life and godliness.

We decide to follow Jesus knowing it is not a one-time decision but a choice we are content and glad to make every day as we hear and obey His voice.  If we will be new creations by faith in Jesus, we also ought to walk in newness of life.  Otherwise we are like a silly builder who starts building a tower without a foundation, materials or money to finish the task and assumes the project will be soon finished.  It is like a foolish king who sends his troops into a battle where no victory is possible.  Trusting, obeying and following Jesus is not merely a priority for us but the only option for His disciples.  If we are unwilling to agree to Christ's conditions or trust in Him, then we cannot be His disciples--simple as that.

Brought Into God's World

We have been studying through the book of Ruth at Teen Camp this year and I have been blessed to consider Christ as our Redeemer through the book.  During this study I have better observed the choices Ruth made beyond deciding to accompany Naomi to Bethlehem.  After clinging to Naomi at the crossroads between Moab and Israel, Ruth continued to listen to and follow her guidance.

When Boaz saw Ruth gleaning in his field, he told her not to go in anyone else's field and to stay with his servant girls.  Naomi said the same thing after she brought back a large haul of grain.  Then Ruth was bold and courageous to obey her mother-in-law when instructed to go to Boaz as he slept on the threshing floor and to uncover his feet.  "I'll do everything you say," Ruth responded and followed through on all she said.  Her inclination may have been to bustle around and distract herself with activity as she awaited word from Boaz, but she hearkened to the wise advice:  "Sit still, my daughter."

The act of Boaz spreading his garment over Ruth meant that she was coming under the protection of Boaz, to be brought into his world--even as she had come to trust under the shadow of the wings of the almighty God.  Boaz was not to be likened to God in her eyes, but Boaz desired to fulfill his role under law as a kinsman redeemer and raise up seed for the house of Elimelech by taking Ruth as wife.  I read from a Jewish perspective that a person's world ends where his coat ends, and thus a married person is one whose garment extends over other people as well.  It is a beautiful picture of how we, as foreigners of the kingdom of God, come to Jesus Christ by faith to enter His world and enjoy an eternal relationship with Him.

Jesus far exceeds Boaz in His kindness toward us, for Boaz agreed to Ruth's request because she was known to be a virtuous woman.  She had washed, anointed herself and wore clean clothes.  Not one of us is virtuous in coming to Christ for salvation; none of us can cleanse ourselves from the stench of death and stain of sin.  Yet while we were yet sinners, Christ demonstrated His love by dying for us!  By the power of the Gospel we have been given the right to become children of God, to have Him as our Father, and to enter His world--His kingdom where righteousness dwells.  Out of the wreckage of our lives tainted with self and sin, God makes us new creations and fruitful by His grace.

The question is:  will we draw near to Jesus in faith and obedience, or will we continue to go our own way alone?  Will we seek satisfaction in less than God or discover contentment by being brought into His world by a relationship with Jesus Christ?  With all Jesus has done, the choice is ours.

LORD of Hosts With Us

"The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. ⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"

Psalm 46:6-7

The contrast presented here between the kingdoms of the earth and the power of God is striking.  While the nations rage like the sea, troubled and powerful, the LORD rules on high over all.  Kingdoms and nations are agitated in rage; people are moved even as the earth rotates around the sun.  Yet God does not need to move to utter His voice and melt the earth in majesty.  People react in response to what they see or feel, but God acts to further His divine plans and purposes.  He is always ahead of the most perceptive person or spirit, for the intent of hearts are laid bare before Him.

The sons of Korah acknowledged "The LORD of hosts is with us," and this remains true when nations rage.  When the rhetoric starts flying, the sabres are rattling or missiles are firing, the LORD of hosts is with us and the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Knowing what God has already said and promised in His word is a firm foundation for our feet in all seasons of life.  The LORD of hosts remains in command of every spirit and world power, and the nations are a drop in the bucket compared to Him.  At His word kings are raised up and deposed, and we can rest assured of His mercy even in judgment.

The "God of Jacob is our refuge," sang the psalmists, and a glance at the life of Jacob reveals a man whose wits and physical strength were no match for his many enemies that were of his own household.  His brother Esau who at one stage plotted to kill him was a mighty hunter when Jacob was a man of the tents.  Jacob's father-in-law Laban exceeded him with his conniving ways, tricking him into years of labour and changing his wages.  Unreasonable expectations were placed upon Jacob to protect the flock, yet God was his refuge.  In the midst of family drama, scandals in the community or famine in the land, God protected Jacob all His days and caused him to prevail and grow in faith.

Have you grown to appreciate who God is for you, that He is with you and a refuge?  The LORD is not like a bomb shelter or tower that is far away or difficult to access, for God is with us in the person of the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus.  He is acutely aware of our needs even before we ask Him for help,  Sometimes we resemble those troubled and raging nations when faith in Christ provides sure rest and refuge in our LORD.  Our refuge has come to us in the person of Jesus, and He will never leave or forsake us.  May we learn as Ruth to come to trust in the shelter of His wings, knowing He is with us wherever we go.  The God of nations is a shelter for the one who is humble before Him.