Light IN the Tunnel

Last night I prayed that God would give "light at the end of the tunnel."  No sooner had the words left my mouth I was instantly convicted by the Holy Spirit.  Certainly God knew what I meant, but being unbiblical I was struck with the realisation it was not a prayer God would honour.  His gentle, gracious correction was appreciated and thus my perspective and prayers changed.

The cliche "light at the end of the tunnel" is often employed to suggest there is a new glimmer of hope in our circumstances.  Our situation and all around us seems dark, but light implies there is hope ahead.  Instead of looking with eyes of faith, it perceives good changes await us in the future.  The end of our trial is in sight, and we can rest assured (based upon what we see) a good outcome lays before us.  Brothers and sisters, let us not forget God has promised never to leave or forsake us.  Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, and in Him is no darkness at all!  If we find ourselves in a dark place and we are straining our eyes for a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, we have forgotten to look to Jesus and trust His promises.  Perhaps we have forgotten the Holy Spirit dwells within us!

Consider the words of David in Psalm 27:1:  "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  David was no stranger to dark places as he fled from King Saul who sought his life.  He often sought refuge in the darkness of caves in En Gedi, an oasis in the desert one can visit near the Dead Sea in Israel today.  God was David's refuge and was a light for him in dark places.  Now was David afraid sometimes?  Sure!  But in the moment of clarity when he wrote Psalm 27 inspired by the Holy Spirit, he realised all his fears were unfounded because God was with him and was his light and salvation.  David made mistakes navigating dark places, but God brought him through all victorious.  Knowing Jesus is our light and salvation requires us to walk in faith.

In his book The Pursuit of God, hear what A.W. Tozer wrote about faith:  "Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed.  Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus.  Sin has twisted our vision inward and made is self-regarding.  Unbelief has put self where God should be, and is perilously close to the sin of Lucifer who said, "I will set my throne above the throne of God."  Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line...The Word induces us to lift up our eyes unto the Lord and the blessed work of faith begins." (Tozer, A. W. The Pursuit of God. Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread Publications, 1993. Print. pg. 85) Instead of looking to ourselves for strength or wisdom, we are called to look to God.  If Jesus is our light and salvation and we are experiencing fellowship with Him, we will not be in darkness even if we find ourselves in caves and or lost in a network of tunnels and trials which seem endless.

When God is your light and salvation, don't hope for "light at the end of the tunnel."  When we have fellowship with God, we have Light brighter than the sun.  Who should we fear besides Him?

Love Trumps Social Justice

God's ways are higher and better than man's ways.  All God made is good, but men lose the plot by going their own way.  It seems like these days the push for "social justice" and "equality" has been frenetic.  Many people feel their "rights" are being trampled through government overreach and a lack of representation.  There appears to be an overweening sense of entitlement among people which is being expressed through protests, rallies, and proposed legislation (and pushing back against said legislation).

I saw a sign the other day which read, "Equality is a right."  I cannot agree with this statement wholesale (as catchy and popular as it might be), because the truth of it depends upon the context.  First of all, this view can only be sustained by acknowledging God's existence and rule as the United States "Declaration of Independence" states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Based on scripture I believe the chief unalienable rights of people God has created are the knowledge of God and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Life, liberty, and happiness are only realised through being born again and experiencing spiritual regeneration.  Things which used to be "self-evident" have today been overthrown in a sea of subjectivity.  Maybe there was a day when people believed they had a Creator, but most today do not acknowledge or live in light of this biblical truth.

All men are created equal by God, but all would agree not everyone's station in this life are equal.  God has given authority to kings and governments to make and enforce laws their subjects are to submit to, the roles of a husband and wife are distinguished by God who ordained marriage, and children are responsible before God to honour their father and mother.  When God no longer has the right to command and rule, men have nothing besides natural law which ultimately degrades into lawlessness and anarchy where all do what is right in their own eyes.  If "equality" is a right provided at random by the cosmos, there is nothing which distinguishes the nature of a monkey from a man or the authority of a child from the Prime Minister.  The great leveller of mankind is the ultimate judgment of God when all people will stand before Him and give an account for their lives.  Naked we are born, and naked we go to our graves.  People will be separated by God even as a shepherd distinguishes sheep from goats.  Even then there will be varying degrees of responsibility people have based upon their knowledge.  The punishment of the wicked will have levels of severity, even as only some of those deemed righteous through faith will receive a full reward.  No one has the right to eternal life, but God gives freely to those who meet His conditions.

Here is the point of this rambling:  social justice and human rights ought not to be the battle cry or aim of the church, but our lives should proclaim grace and love for all.  Social justice focuses on the marginalised people, those viewed as the minority, and the poor.  The Bible says we ought to help the widow, the fatherless, and the stranger.  Our motivation for doing so is not their intrinsic human rights, but because we have freely received life and love and extend it to others in joyful obedience to God.  It is all of grace, not of perceived worthiness.  Jesus did not come to earth to save us because we lacked social justice - if God gave us justice we would rightly be destroyed forever!  Jesus came as a revelation of God's love for us which does not depend upon our ethnicity, sex, age, or "good" performance.  He died unjustly on a cross so God's justice would be satisfied and we could receive the free gift of salvation when we repent and trust in Him.  The Gospel has been freely offered to all by God's grace, and we too ought to show love, compassion, mercy, grace to all people, regardless of their social status.

When we are born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and are obedient to God's leading, our good relationship with God will affect others in this world positively.  We can experience life, liberty, and joy through knowledge and obedience to Christ we can share with others.  Free from the shackles of humanism we can meet practical needs without strings attached, sharing God's love from a pure heart.  The world's concepts of love and justice are broken, but we who have been made whole have been set apart by God as His ambassadors so all might taste and see God is good.  

Say It Like It Is

A Melbourne cafe has been international news of late for a chalkboard sign which clearly states the shop's principles.  The part which had people talking was the 18% tax placed upon men to draw awareness of a "gender pay gap" according to statistics.  As a man, the statement of the cafe being a "space by women for women" does nothing to make me feel like a welcomed or valued patron.  I appreciate the candour of the establishment, but I would choose to buy coffee elsewhere.  They are free to to business as they want, and I am free to buy coffee or a meal at the venue of my choice.  Works for me!

Whether you agree with the ideology of the cafe or not, one thing I applaud management for is taking a clear stand even when it is a debatable or potentially unpopular one.  Instead of creating a meaningful conversation, however, this sort of stance seems to promote division and isolation.  Followers of Jesus have to navigate the troubled waters of society in trusting obedience to Christ whilst lovingly reaching out to people who are staunchly opposed to Him.  Jesus said we shouldn't be surprised when people hate us because He was hated first - and He only did what was right!  Christians face conflicts outside and inside the church, not to mention personal conflict within us.  We seem to bounce between vilifying fellow believers by legalism and ignoring or even accepting sinful conduct as good in an attempt to show grace.  It is a challenge to ensure our beliefs are reflected in personal morality according to the truth stated in the Bible.

It is the Holy Spirit and the bold declaration of the Word of God which will help us navigate the troubles and conflicts we face daily.  When Joshua entered the land of Canaan and was granted victory by God at Ai, Joshua built an altar to the LORD and wrote out the Law given to Moses.  Joshua 8:33 then states, "Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel."  In the congregation of Israel there was a mixture of people:  elders, officers, judges, priests, Levites, and even strangers.  The Law was read plainly without apology, for this was the word of the LORD.   All people in the gathering were exposed to the truth.  No one had to remain among the people of Israel who sought to obey God, just like no one has to eat at the cafe in Melbourne.  Nothing was being forced down anyone's throat.  But for those who chose to remain among God's people they were to hear the truth and obey it, submitting to scripture to shape their beliefs and lives.  It is expected for people in the world to go their own way and follow their hearts, but in our congregations the Word of God must be declared boldly to all and we are accountable to it.  We should not skip over difficult or controversial bits.  We should not try to tweak the Bible to align it with current philosophies or because it could divide.  We should not apologise for how offensive it may be to modern minds.  Would to God His Word would provoke conversation, but more than that:  personal transformation of our hearts and minds.  That's something only God's Word can do.

When we boldly declare God's Word in a spirit of meekness, gentleness, and humility as Jesus did, we will do well.  Many problems and divisions in the church exist because we have not been faithful to do so.  We have not called sins what God calls it:  sin.  The Bible ought to be preeminent in our meetings and messages so people are exposed to God's declared truth, even as Joshua wrote the Law on stones or the policies of the cafe in Melbourne were plainly written in chalk for the whole world to see.  Before very long people who are around us should realise we believe the Bible is the literal Word of God, we believe it without apology, and God help us - we will put it into practice.  If this offends them, we understand and will keep loving them.  Our resolve must shine forth that regardless of threats, protests, or even legal action we will never, ever budge from our allegiance to God and make no apologies for His clearly revealed truth.  God alone has the words of life, and we ought to value His Word above our own lives.  If they are not true we truly are without hope.

Our Real Need

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

I have been often reminded of these verses lately, and these words has been refreshing to my soul.  One might think the rudimentary principles of the faith are dry and boring, but the reality is quite the opposite.  How much insight and wisdom for life are plainly stated in these verses!  It is one thing to remember or comprehend the meaning of the scripture, but another thing entirely to see it consistently a reality in my life.

Lately I have been considering things I can do to share the truth of Christ with others.  I have much I am already doing, but my heart desires to do more.  There is no no shortage of need in this world, and countless causes which are genuine and worthy of pursuit.  But God has used the process of being prepared for ministry whilst working in a trade and the saga of immigrating to Australia and becoming a citizen to show me I can expend much effort and thought in trying to accomplish myself what only God can do.  He is the One who clearly opens doors and graciously provides the ability to pass through them in His time.  Caleb and Joshua had walked through the land of promise as spies, but it was 40 years later before God led them in as conquerors and caused them to dwell therein.  God sometimes gives us a glimpse of something which moves our hearts with desire and expectancy, but the fulfilment remains in the future.  Faith affirms that in His time, God will bring it to pass - and may even use us in the process.

Proverbs 3:5-6 remains relevant in all seasons of our lives as we follow Jesus.  We need to trust the LORD with all our hearts, with undivided affections and obedience.  It is very easy for us to lean on our own understanding and walk by sight and not by faith in God's Word.  Joshua leaned on God for the victory at Jericho, but leaned on his own understanding and the opinions of men before the failure at Ai.  When we acknowledge God in all our ways, we will walk wisely.  Those who only acknowledge God in areas of their lives work folly as Achan did and corrupt rather than strengthen.  He was obedient to follow the Ark of the Covenant and the priests as they walked around Jericho, but took for himself of the spoil which had been claimed by God as His own.  As we are led by the Spirit of God, abiding in God's love, He will direct our paths; He will make our path clear and straight.  In keeping the Word of God we will rightly discern the will of God.

These verses have renewed the exhortation that I trust God will all my heart and acknowledge God in all my ways.  Leaning on my own understanding leads to confusion, disillusionment, and conflict, but God will direct my paths when I seek Him first.  Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6:26-33, "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸ So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Praise God He provides all we need when we seek Him.  He knows what we need, and since our ministry unto Him is His work, He will guide and direct us in the right way without fail.  How glorious it is when we realise our deepest needs and longing are not met by our efforts or sacrifice but are satisfied completely in Him.  Help me to truly learn and remember this Father!

Reproach Rolled Away

There is great richness found in the Bible.  Details which are minor and seemingly insignificant can help us better understand other passages of scripture.  My morning Bible reading finds me in the book of Joshua, and I am enjoying reading the familiar passages as if it is the first time.  One detail which stood out to me like never before occurred after the children of Israel passed over Jordan on dry ground.  Obedience to God was required before a visit from the "captain of the LORD's host" and the victory at Jericho.  God commanded the males to be circumcised, for during the 40 years after the exodus from Egypt no males had been circumcised.  Circumcision was commanded under the Law and important because it identified people with the covenant God made with Abraham.

Joshua 5:8-9 states, "So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. ⁹ Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day."  The name "Gilgal" means "circle of stones, rolled away."  The circumcision of the flesh was the path to healing and wholeness, for in the voluntary shedding of blood people submitted to God in obedience.  The people bore the reproach of Egypt and their neglect of obedience to the Law for decades, but God graciously rolled their reproach away.  "Reproach" is shame and disgrace, and only God can free us from the burden of sin.  It is not the circumcision of the flesh which is now required, but the circumcision of our hearts by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Deut. 30:6; Acts 15:8-9).

After Jesus was crucified on Calvary, He was wrapped in linen and buried in a tomb carved out of solid rock.  A massive stone was laid on the opening, secured with Pilate's seal, and guarded by Romans.  The sins of the world had been laid upon Christ, and He carried our guilt and shame.  When He rose from the dead, the stone was rolled away from the opening of the tomb.  This reminded me Jesus has rolled away the reproach of sin and shame for all who repent and are born again through trust in Him.  We must be regenerated according to the new covenant in Jesus' blood before we can have our shame rolled away, be at peace with God, and walk in the victory He delights to give us.  In one sense Calvary is our Gilgal, for Jesus has rolled away our reproach and made us righteous in His sight.  Glory to God!

Why Are You Anxious?

Are you a person who defines yourself as a worrier?  Anxiety is something everyone battles or succumbs to in varying degrees, and through Jesus Christ we can conquer it.  I don't know anyone who enjoys being anxious, but I know many people who are.  Worrying is so common in many people's lives they do not even recognise when they are carried away by worries like driftwood in floodwater.  When we follow the "what if" road to the final destination we discover it is a circuit that only leads to more worry without an end in sight.  Recognising our tendency to worry is a key step to seeking the deliverance we need by the grace of God.

Jesus commanded His disciples not to worry.  He said in Luke 12:24-30:  "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? ²⁹ And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. ³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things."  Instead of worrying about circumstances, stuff, or the future, the eyes of a child of God are to be fixed on Him with expectancy, realising He knows our needs and is able to supply them.  In Sydney there is abundant wildlife, and God daily provides for the many beautiful birds that roost here.  Worrying or considering every possibility does not provide the power to address my problem.  Jesus asked, "If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?"

Having one bird as a pet requires a fair bit of planning, resources, and care, yet God is able to supply the needs of all.  A child does not grow by worrying, and flowers do not bloom by working at it.  If we will answer Christ's question honestly, we worry because we really do not trust Him.  We cannot see how God could redeem a situation, so we wonder if He will.  In our desperation to see our needs supplied worry blinds us to God's past provision and promise to provide presently.  Instead of seeking what to eat or drink, we are to seek God and His righteousness (Luke 12:31).  The greatest need we have in this life is to trust God and repent of our sin, and this includes worry.  We typically justify our anxious minds because no one seems to realise the gravity of our situation as we do; our situation feels like an sensible exception to the command of Philippians 4:6-7:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

The things we worry about are the things we ought to pray to God about - with thanksgiving!  We often do not know the peace of God because we have not met His conditions to seek God and make our requests known to Him.  When we choose to thank God in any circumstance without an anxious mind, it reveals we actually are walking in faith.  Then the peace of God will guard us from all worries, fears, and cares of this world which try to worm their way into our minds and hearts.  Praise the LORD this peace does not depend on my resolve or ability, but through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.  We cannot help worrying, but God will help those who ask Him believing and thanking Him no matter what.

Selfie Worship

Do you remember the old days of taking pictures and having to wait days or weeks before knowing how they turned out because actual film was being developed?  These days the majority of time spent taking photos is the review process.  Everyone has a chance to review the shot and personally approve their appearance!  With the advent of digital technology and the mobile phone, "selfies" have become mainstream.  I read somewhere on average it takes about five tries to have a selfie worthy of posting to social media.  As the name "selfie" suggests, it is one of many ways we can employ to make ourselves the centre of attention.  We have matured beyond the little child who shouts at his mum, "Look at me!" but there is an undeniable urge to promote self which remains in us to this day.

One thing I find quite irksome is when I am at a worship gathering (typically a well-attended pastor's conference), and it isn't long before I see people in front of me raising their hands.  These are not hands raised in praise of God, but these hands hold mobile devices to capture the moment with the perfect panorama.  My mind screams in these moments, "This is about God!  This is not about us!"    Now I understand the rationale people might use to justify taking a quick snap, and there is nothing inherently sinful about taking a picture in church - even during worship.  But my question simply is, "Why are you taking a picture?"  Is it to impress others?  It is to post to social media to show where you are?  Is it a keepsake?  Is it because a notable worship musician is on the stage?  Why does the congregation or the band or the venue prompt you to take the picture?"  If' God isn't the reason, there is a problem.  And I think He knows perfectly what a gathering of believers looks like.

Have you ever been to a beautiful location where a picture or video cannot do it justice?  The vibrant colours and grandeur cannot translate fully to film or an SD card.  If if is impossible to capture a nature scene of the beautiful things God has made, how can you hope to convey the glorious assembly of God's people filled with the Holy Spirit pouring out their hearts in praise to Him in one accord?  Well, everyone might be if they weren't taking and reviewing so many pictures.  Better than a picture to memorialise the occasion, how about turning your focus to God alone so the crowd and the voices fade away as you approach God's throne in humble praise?  There will be no mobile phones in heaven, no recordings of worship music, and no digital mixing or amplification.  They will be completely unnecessary, for we will praise God in real time with all the heavenly hosts.  I exhort you brothers and sisters for the sake of God's glory, consider leaving your device in your pocket during the service - or at home!  As we gather in the name of Jesus and praise Him, there is no room for selfies because it is all about Him.

God Will Not Fail You

I was young when I watched "Star Wars" for the first time, and my favourite character was the villain Darth Vader.  Dressed in black with his distinct helmet, flowing cape, mechanical breathing, and red light saber, he captured my imagination.  His powers and persona were far greater than any clean-cut uniformed imperial officer or the expendable Stormtroopers.  As the saga of films continued, each installment revealed additional powers and abilities never seen before.  Darth Vader's supernatural abilities in "Empire Strikes Back" were tempered by his seemingly incompetent Admirals whom he dispatched with force-chokes.  He famously said as Admiral Ozzel breathed his last, "You have failed me for the last time."  Definitely not the kind of monster anyone wants as their superior!

What prompted me to consider Vader's warnings of his men "failing" him was a verse I read this morning in the book of Joshua.  This verse shows the grace and power of God, and revealed that for all his supernatural powers and knowledge, Darth Vader was a weak leader.  When Darth Vader's admirals failed, he also failed.  His plans were thwarted by their poor judgments and incompetence.  There were no learning moments, and no room for error:  in the end all Vader could do was kill those he viewed as failures and install a weaker leader in their place, thus perpetuating the cycle of failure.  Their efforts or profession of loyalty meant nothing, for Vader had no loyalty to those he ruled with fear.

When Joshua was called and established by God to lead the people of Israel after the death of Moses, God encouraged him with promises.  God did not "swear in" Joshua concerning his personal loyalty or make a promise to do his best:  God was the One who made promises to Joshua!  God said in Joshua 1:5, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  What a contrast!  Darth Vader said menacingly to his underlings "Do not fail me," but God said, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  What confidence Joshua could have in a God who had called him and promised not to fail him!  The NKJV rendering of "fail" is "leave," and God's presence would remain with Joshua to guide and help him.  How wonderful it is to have a God who will not fail us.

Isn't it amazing God would say to a humble servant, "I will not fail you?"  God takes born failures, common sinners who have no ability in our flesh to accomplish His will, and He promises not to fail us.  This world, governments, policies, businesses, money, and all that is in this world will eventually fail us.  Only in God is there salvation, redemption, and eternal life.  God's love never fails, and He has promised to never leave or forsake us.  When man promises he will not fail it means nothing, but when God says it we can count on His goodness, grace, and power forever.  Like it or not, we fail.  But God did not fail Joshua, and He will not fail me, you, or anyone who places their trust in Him.

Bread of Revival

When praying about revival this morning, an Old Testament passage popped into my mind.  It concerned the Egyptian servant David and his men found near death in a field whilst pursuing the band who plundered and burned Ziklag.  The men mourned the loss of their wives and children taken captive by the Amalekite raiders.  After David inquired of God, He bid them to pursue and overtake their enemy and they would recover all.

As David and his 400 men pursued the troop, we read in 1 Samuel 30:11-12, "Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. ¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights."  The KJV describes the effect of eating and drinking in this way:  "...and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him."  In other words, eating bread and drinking water revived the man.  The cake of figs and clusters of raisins caused the man's strength to come back to him.  Without adequate food the strength of the Egyptian waned, and what is true in the physical realm in this case is true spiritually.  Feeding on the Word of God has the capacity to revive our weary souls.

I remember a t-shirt in the 80's which read something like, "7 days without reading the Bible makes one weak."  This is certainly true and the sentiment is appreciated by lovers of puns, yet we must do more than read the Bible like we would other books.  We must come to the scripture empty and hungry, expecting to receive something from the LORD.  Our souls must be engaged with this spiritually discerned book with the intent to obey, and this is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Even as the Egyptian was too weak to help himself, so we need to submit to God's power to nourish us.  Genuine revival cannot happen without God, prayer, and the Word of God.  Only God has the words of life and can raise the dead to life.

An additional principle on this theme can be gleaned from the passage.  Once the Egyptian's strength returned to him, he agreed to lead David and his men to his former master under one condition.  His master had abandoned him and left him to die due to illness, and he said in 1 Samuel 30:15, "...Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop."  This Egyptian had been treated as expendable once and valued his life.  As bad as death would be for David to deliver him to his previous master!  When our spirits are revived, we ought to use our newfound strength to shift our allegiances from the old life to a new one.  Having been delivered from a sinful malaise, those who are quickened by the Holy Spirit will despise and avoid the old life devoid of love or compassion which held us in bondage.

The first thing mentioned the man was given to eat was bread, and this is suggestive.  It reminds me how Jesus Christ is the Living Bread come down from heaven, the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us.  Those who partake of Him by faith will live forever!  After eating bread the Egyptian was given water to drink, and Jesus is the One who sends the Holy Spirit as Living Water which refreshes our souls.  Instead of skimming the scriptures, how important it is to be immersed in them.  What we read we also should put into practice.  It's amazing how we become alive to the scriptures when we do this!  Praise God for the richness of His Word and the soul-sustaining truth provided therein.  Feeling weak?  Open the scriptures with a hungry heart and receive all God says.

Meekness of Wisdom

"Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom."

James 3:11-13

God's wisdom is in utter contrast to the wisdom of the world.  We are naturally devoid of God's wisdom, and having been born again through faith in Christ we can walk in God's wisdom.  The truth is our attitudes and choices do not always line up with the wisdom revealed in Jesus Christ.  Just like a fig tree bears figs and a fresh spring provides fresh water, the wisdom of God is marked by meekness.  There ought to be agreement between our words and deeds according to God's standard of righteousness.

A fellow believer pointed out this connection to me this morning, that good conduct reveals our works are "done in the meekness of wisdom."  God's wisdom appears foolish to men.  Jesus came with all authority in heaven and earth and He willingly humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, and was the servant of all.  He is Wisdom for us from God (1 Cor. 1:30), and He was revealed in meekness.  He was not boastful, arrogant, or threaten His enemies but prayed for them and served them.  He did not raise His voice on the streets to attract followers or likes.  He was content to do the will of the Father without fanfare or recognition.  Even His brothers criticised Jesus in this area, how He seemed reluctant to reveal Himself to the world or garner attention (John 7:1-13).  This wisdom is demonstrated in meekness by faith in God - something the world perceives as weak and useless.

If we were unsure of the difference between the wisdom of God and man, James provides details in the following verses.  James 3:14-17 says, "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."  The wisdom of the world says we need to look out for self, promote self, and protect self.  When we feel our needs are going unmet or our efforts have not been recognised, envy and self-seeking move us to assert ourselves rather than trust God.  The wisdom of man says it is fine to lie as long as I benefit and no harm is done to others.  Satan is the father of lies, and this kind of "wisdom" is evil and comes from him.

God's wisdom stands in stark contrast to this and is described as "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality and without hypocrisy."  This is a very good working description of "the meekness of wisdom."  Instead of being fuelled by selfish ambition or envy, wisdom from God exudes grace and compassion towards others.  It is pure and righteous, without favouritism or hypocrisy.  There should be agreement between the way we are thinking, feeling, and acting.  The world angles for personal advantage, recognition, and reward, yet the wisdom of God bring rest and comfort to our hearts because we realise God is sovereign and in control.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and God's wisdom is demonstrated in meekness because we know God who is the Almighty, a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Sanctified and Useful

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." ²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."

2 Timothy 2:19-21

It's safe to say since immigrating to Australia I drink a lot more tea and coffee than I did previously.  It may be my imagination, but it seems the amount of mugs we store in the cupboard has proportionately grown as well!  Laura and I enjoy and have grown accustomed to welcome visitors into our home with the familiar question:  "Tea or coffee?"  Not everyone drinks tea or coffee of course, but it is a hospitable and often appreciated offer.

When I read this passage in preparation for an upcoming Bible study, an illustration popped into my head.  Paul had exhorted Timothy to avoid foolish debates, vain babblings, and later would tell him to flee fornication.  In context these are some of the sins which Timothy needed to ensure were not part of his life to be useful in God's hands.  For those who drink tea or coffee, we might have a cupboard full of mugs but we typically have our preferred ones.  My preferred mug at the moment is a magenta mug Laura gave me to commemorate our wedding anniversary with pink flamingos and hearts.  Having just finished a coffee, this is what it looks like right now.

I took a picture of the mug in its used and dirty state as an illustration.  If I received a visitor into my house, I would not offer them a hot beverage in a mug with coffee scum caked on it.  I would put this mug in the sink, switch on the kettle, and pull a clean mug out of the cupboard to prepare the tea or coffee.  Paul said in a great house there are many vessels composed of various materials for different uses.  The master of the house would know which vessels were his and their proper function.  If Timothy wanted to be a vessel of honour, "sanctified and useful for the Master," his life would need to be cleansed of sin.

You might say, "Wait a second.  God does the cleansing of our sin for us, right?"  This is true.  When we are born again and made a new creation, our sins are atoned for and we are forgiven.  But like my favourite mug is dirty after use, even Christians can sin after being born again and wilfully continue in it.  Should my mug be dirty when guests arrive, it cannot be a vessel of honour and profitable for use.  An vessel which honours the Master is a clean one.  To offer tea in a filthy mug would bring dishonour on me!  The exhortation is when we realise we are in sin we must repent, put away the sin, and thus sanctify ourselves.  A mug has no power of its own to be clean or dirty, and we must choose to put sin far from our lives so we might be set apart and ready for God's use.  A child of God in sin is still God's child, even like my mug in an unclean state is still mine and favoured.  When it comes to being used profitably however, only a clean mug will do.

You've probably found mugs which were left behind by the user which after awhile began to grow mould and smell horrible.  That is just a hint of the revolting nature of sin which can grow in our hearts when we practice sin without repentance.  Our usefulness by God will be negatively and dramatically affected until we are cleansed.  Once we humble ourselves and submit to God's cleansing in repentance, we are compared to a clean vessel "prepared for every good work."  I don't know any sane person who would prefer to be a vessel of dishonour, one over whom God wrinkles His nose and sets aside until the person choose to be cleansed inside and out.  Let us be those who are cleansed from sin and graciously sanctified for the use of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Only then will we realise our purpose as useful vessels in God's hands for His glory. 

Life is All About God

One of the biggest challenges we face in following Jesus is shifting our focus off self and to God.  We are naturally the central figure in every situation because we view life from our own eyes.  If we are having a "good" day we are happy; if our expectations have been dashed we feel down.  This propensity to colour reality according to our own feelings or circumstances is done without a thought.  As we follow Christ we don't often recognise it, but life is pretty much all about me.  Let me explain what I mean.

If I find myself in a trial, I might imagine God "must be trying to teach me something."  Therefore it falls to me to learn the lesson quickly so the painful ordeal can be brought to an end, and this assumes I am capable of teaching myself by concerted effort.  This personal struggle often results in frustration and disillusionment because we think ourselves capable of doing God's work ourselves and we find ourselves in the dark.  Our minds become so clogged with judgments and doubts we don't know what to do.  When we are sick we wonder if we have sinned in some way or are under spiritual attack.  Again, we remain the central figure in our drama.  We perceive we are being negatively affected, so it falls to us to figure it all out, do something, or stop doing something to end the madness.  Does this sound familiar?

Last night I was reading from the book of Job and I was struck at the depths of his suffering.  Who but Jesus Christ suffered as this man, and he did not even have the comfort of the scriptures or the promise of the Holy Spirit we have today!  He was an upright man who feared God, and in the midst of great loss, spiritual attack, physical pain, and emotional torment he did not waver in his belief.  But he asked probing questions about the nature of his suffering and demanded an explanation from anyone to justify it.  He defended himself from friends who accused him, falsely asserting his sin was the reason for his tragic circumstances.  In his suffering, Job was central:  he lamented the day of his birth, wished he had died in the womb, and that he had never lived to see such dark days.  He was the main subject in his suffering as he scraped his boils with a shard of pottery.

In the end, however, Job's suffering had very little to do about Job:  it was an opportunity for God to reveal Himself to Job, to His friends, and to us.  Instead of answering Job's questions with dot-point explanations, God asked Job many questions of His own.  This divine revelation made all of Job's pains, questions, and personal wranglings insignificant.  God ensured the end of Job was twice as blessed as the beginning - not because Job "learned the lesson" - but because God is compassionate and merciful.  See what insight is brought to the subject in James 5:10-11:  "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."  Job persevered in faith, but it was never about Job at all.  The end of Job was intended to reveal the compassion and mercy of God given to all who keep trusting God despite pain.  Job is a major player in the book of Job, but it is a book which primarily illustrates the compassion and mercy of God.

What a wondrous revelation, that it does not fall to us to earn God's approval or blessing.  We learn slow but God is patient and compassionate.  God is to remain our central focus as we patiently trust in Him.  Some might ask, "Why would a compassionate or merciful God allow anyone to suffer so?"  God allows suffering to work for our good and the salvation of others.  Consider the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross and the salvation which has come to countless sinners.  The life of Job provides tangible proof of God's sovereign power, gracious blessing, compassion, and glorious rewards for all who endure not only in this life, but in the one to come.  I have been profoundly blessed by Job and how God dealt with him, and may it be God would be so glorified through His dealings with me.  In Christ our lives are God's own, having purchased us with the blood of Jesus.  Life isn't about you or me but all about Him!  

Reading and Heeding

A conversation today reminded me of an eye-opening experience I had as a youth.  In our Jr. High Sunday School class, we were encouraged to read our Bibles every day and bring them to church on Sundays.  Those who did so would be rewarded by a night out to Souplantation - a real treat.  I already aimed to read the Bible every day and so going out for a special meal was a free bonus I wouldn't pass up.  All you can eat for a 13-year-old?  It was a dream come true!

I remember there was one regular student who brought her Bible to class as often as me and (due to the general state of carelessness concerning spiritual things among my peers) I was impressed with this display of faithfulness.  Then one day her parents gave me a ride.  Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw in the back of the car:  there was her Bible lying on the seat, ready and waiting for church on Sunday!  I honestly think my eyes widened and my mouth fell open a little.  Judgmental me felt like the veil had been pulled back to expose a cheat and a fraud, and I was quite shocked and disappointed at the same time.

Now it is possible the other student had two Bibles:  one for the car/church, and the other to read at home.  It is also possible the Bible was left behind only once, though upon inspection that Bible was obvious faded from the sun.  Regardless, it is instructive for personal application:  is your Bible being used for its intended purpose, being read with an aim to hear the word of the LORD?  Would it have more practical use as a paperweight or doorstop than a means of seeking God's wisdom?  And if we are reading the Bible, are we seeking to heed it and put it into practice?  Or is my reading a means of ticking off boxes and gathering up points I hope God redeems when I find myself in strife?

What a treasure we have in the Bible, and God's Word shouldn't gather dust.  No matter how much we think we know, all who know God would readily agree He knows infinitely more than us.  In reading His Word let us seek more than counsel alone but aim to discover God Himself in those divinely-inspired pages.  What truth will God speak to you today?  How about opening the Word and finding out?

Working with Jesus

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops." 

2 Timothy 2:3-6

Last night at Calvary Chapel Sydney our group (Tribe) talked about Paul's exhortation to Timothy.  He used three different examples to instruct and encourage Timothy at the same time.

Soldiers on the front lines suffer many privations and cannot enjoy the presence of family or the comforts of home.  A soldier engages in warfare will not be looking for investment properties, buying stocks, or seeking to marry a wife.  He must remain vigilant, for his life and those he fights alongside are always at risk.  A soldier is trained to follow orders, and it is in his best interest to find favour in the eyes of his commanding officer.  In days past a man fought for a king who could bestow riches and honour:  what more could a man want?

Competitors in the Olympics games were people dedicated to mastery of their discipline.  Today people train from their childhood to hone their skills for the chance of obtaining a gold medal and global recognition as the best in the world.  The main point Paul makes is a participant must compete according to the rules to win the prize.  Each game or competition has specific rules which must be followed.  A false-start leads to disqualification, and the runners must follow the set course.  Only those who compete according to the rules can be crowned.

The third example is that of a "hard-working farmer."  Farming requires long days ploughing, planting, irrigating, harvesting, and preparing crops for market.  It means rising long before the sunrise, battling cold, heat, and insects, and the maintenance of fences and equipment.  Severe frost could mean the loss of crops, and drought can ruin the chance of a profitable growing season.   The farmer must trust the good seed will eventually sprout and bear fruit, even when nothing on the surface seems to be happening.  After hard labour and perseverance, the farmer is the one who receives the firstfruits.

In applying this to the Christian walk, we are like the soldiers who have voluntarily enlisted to serve Christ as King.  We must be willing and prepared to endure hardships, and in doing so we will please God.  Instead of being entangled with the affairs of life, we must make our commitment to God our chief priority.  In one sense we are also like the Olympic athlete, recognising God has laid a course before each of us to run.  If we desire to receive a full reward, we must run in obedience to God's Word.  Those who continue steadfast to the end will receive rewards and a crown of glory.  Finally, we are compared to hard-working farmers who are the first to partake of the crops.  We are to sow the good seed of God's Word with the promise of abundant life to be enjoyed now and for all eternity.

All we are and all we do can be redeemed for God's glory and eternal rewards.  Jesus is a triumphant warrior, a champion of salvation and righteousness, and a hard-working sower of God's Word and Saviour of souls.  We can follow His example and receive a full reward:  we can please our God who has enlisted us; we can compete and win the prize; and our hard work will bring increase for the kingdom of God we will partake of.  Exciting times, walking and working with Jesus!

Out of the Depths

"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; ² Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. ³ If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. ⁵  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope."

Psalm 130:1-5

Often we must be taken to our lowest point before we will look up and cry out to God in earnest.  It may be we have prayed to God many times, but there is desperation and consciousness of our personal need in the depths.  We do not like to see anyone down or low, nor do we delight in being cast down ourselves, but being low may not be low enough.  We should not labour moved by pity to hinder anyone from reaching rock bottom by trying to fix their circumstances, for in the depths is the exact place where God works to deliver and change people for good.

Jonah is a man who cried to God out of the depths.  After God called and commanded him to preach in Nineveh, Jonah refused and boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction.  God prepared a powerful storm which tossed the ship with wind and waves.  While the crew panicked and called all hands on deck, Jonah initially remained asleep in the bottom of the ship.  He was at the bottom of the ship, but he needed to be brought lower.  He did not cry out to God in the storm because he had been sleeping through it!  Jonah instructed the crew to throw him overboard, for he perceived his disobedience was the cause of the storm.  It is possible Jonah expected to die, and this would have been easier than what God prepared for him.

God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he remained alive in the belly of the beast for three days.  After three miserable days beyond reckoning, Jonah found himself at his lowest point.  Only then did he cry out for God's attention and intervention.  Jonah 2:2-7 reads, "And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. ³ For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. ⁴ Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' ⁵ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. ⁶ I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God. ⁷ When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple."

It was by reason of his affliction Jonah cried out to the God he at one time fled from.  He had been brought down to hell, down in the cold crushing depths of the sea - and it was there he discovered he was heard by God.  Jonah had finally been brought to the breaking point by extraordinary circumstances, and it released the prayer for deliverance God delighted in and was prepared to answer.  No one likes the dark depths, but even in those seemingly God-forsaken places His light shines brightly for those looking for Him.  Sometimes we are truly incapable of seeing anything, like Jonah in the belly of the great fish.  But we, like Jonah, can cry out to God.  A tiny baby which cannot express himself in speech can cry, and when we direct those cries to God He will hear us based upon the promises of His Word.  Crying for ourselves does nothing, but God is moved when we cry out to Him in faith.

So if you find yourself at the breaking point, do not stop on the threshold of brokenness.  Forfeit your pride and self-pity and all backup options and throw yourself on the mercy of our great God who hears, forgives, and saves.  Then do as Jonah did, obediently doing the very thing God told you to do at the beginning without resistance.  The depths are not fun but they can be most fruitful.  Turn your eyes away from the impossibilities, away from self, and look again to God in His sovereign throne.  Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame.

Hiding or Helping?

"You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. ² And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. ³ You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother's, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself. ⁴ You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again."

Deuteronomy 22:1-4

When I was a kid, playing "Hide and Seek" in the backyard was good fun.  It was simple enough to understand and play.  The one who was "it" would stand at home base, and in our case was a pole or a pepper tree.  The seeker would close their eyes, count to ten, and upon finishing the count shout, "Ready or not, here I come!"  Then a mad scramble from hiding places ensured as the seeker drew near, and the race was on to touch the base before being tagged (or tipped, for Australian readers).  The rules were simple and everyone regardless of quickness could play.  Despite the seemingly necessary arguments over if you were actually tagged or not, it was a game we happily played over and over again.

As we grow up, life becomes much more complicated than simple childhood games.  Input from parents, educators, and exposure to a world of ideas in print and media (in addition to personal experiences) reveal astonishingly different perspectives.  In formative years these days all are made painfully aware of the rights of each individual to assert what they believe to be true and live accordingly.  Whilst everyone has a God-given right to choose whom or what we will serve, many are cautious not to impose their personal beliefs or views on others.  A culture of political correctness avoids anything which could be construed as offensive or divisive.  This cautious consideration of the feelings and convictions of others when exercised in humility and love is healthy, but can also lead down a path which avoids our personal responsibility to intervene when things go bad, even in the lives of fellow Christians.

I am a city-dweller, but as I read the beginning of Deuteronomy 22 I was carried away to a quaint country town with rolling green hills, a large paddock, and a gate which always seems to swing open when the neighbour is out of town.  I can imagine sitting at the kitchen table and seeing my neighbour's sheep or ox wandering where it should not be and muttering to myself.  Three times in the passage God forbade His people from seeing a lost or wandering animal and hiding themselves from intervening.  We've all done this, like when the phone rings or there is an unexpected knock at the door and you choose not to answer it.  We may "hide" for many reasons, and perhaps on some occasions it might be legitimate.  But if we will be honest, we know exactly how that tired old farmer would feel if he saw that stubborn ox wandering off again:  not my problem!  I have enough work with my own flocks and herds.  Why doesn't he fix that gate anyway?  Serves him right if his stock wander off.  It isn't only farmers who turn a blind eye to a wandering sheep.

We sometimes struggle to know when to step in when we see something that seems off.  A few months ago there were loud, angry shouts late at night on my street.  At the time I wasn't sure what was the right thing to do.  I felt something should be done, but what?  Should I walk up to the house and knock on the door?  Should I call the police?  Would my action be seen as an unwelcome intrusion?  These are the kinds of thoughts which flood our minds and can paralyse us from helpful action.  You don't need to be a farmer to notice when a sheep is caught in a barbed wire fence or a ox or donkey is stuck in the mud.  God didn't want His people to see a problem and ignore it, even when it involved their neighbours' animals.  We naturally want to hide from conflict and justify our reasons for avoiding intervention.  That is why God put these commands forbidding "hiding" in His Law, so all who became aware of a wandering, lost, or fallen animal were responsible before God to act for the good of the animal, even caring for it as their own until it could be safely returned.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul spoke of the passage in the Law which forbade the muzzling of the ox which tread the grain.  The principle is the working animal has a right to partake in the fruit of his labour.  He explained that God cares for people as well as oxen, and those who labour in the Word and provide spiritually have a right to be supported financially by the church.  With this insight, knowing God cares for people as well as oxen, an application of the Deuteronomy 22 passage is when we see a brother or sister wandering from the truth we have an obligation before God to lovingly intervene according to scripture.  Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."  Instead of hiding, when we see someone in trouble we ought to come to their aid.  That is exactly what Paul was doing in writing this letter to the church in Galatia.  They had strayed from the simplicity of the Gospel, and Paul wrote to them to admonish and correct their erroneous thinking.

At our church we have a small box for "Lost Property," and in the States we called this facility the "Lost and Found."  When we find something which belongs to someone else, we should do what we can to return it to them.  When we see a child of God wandering from the faith or fallen into sin, we must not hide ourselves from them.  We are called to help them return to the simplicity of faith in Jesus and obedience to Him, and He will lift them up.  The Good Shepherd of our souls has provided every sheep of His pasture spiritual eyes to see, and when we notice something is off in a brother or sister we are called to exhort, rebuke, and encourage such a one to return to Jesus.  It also may be we are the ones who are wandering from our paddock, lost along the road.  Let us be receptive of God's correction, even when it comes from a fellow brother or sister in the LORD.  We have all been lost at one time, and by God's grace we have been found.  May gentleness, grace, mercy, and love be hallmarks of our faithful service to our LORD and our attitude towards our fellow believers.

Nothing Is Impossible (For God)

Nothing is impossible for God.  As the Almighty God over all He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we ask or think.  Whilst a lack of faith in God can limit Him (Psalm 78:41; Matthew 13:58), God is gracious to do miraculous things we never asked for or expected.  When God says something, we know He will follow through.  How blessed we are to be those who believe and say like Mary, "Let it be to me according to your word."

In the Gospel of Luke there are two times the scripture affirms through God all things are possible, and nothing is impossible for Him.  The context of these statements is most compelling.  The first is when Mary was met by Gabriel and was informed she would conceive and bear a son who would be called Jesus, the Son of the Highest, who would have an eternal kingdom.  She said, "How can this be, since I have never been with a man?"  Conception was not even conceivable because she was a virgin.  Luke 1:35-37 provides Gabriel's response:  "And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. ³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible."

Mary was told she would conceive the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The impossible pregnancy of Elizabeth provided an encouragement for Mary's faith, for she who had been called "barren" was now with child in her old age.  It is in this context he concluded, "For with God nothing will be impossible."  There are many women called barren in scripture God made most fruitful.  All who have struggled to conceive should take great comfort in this.  With the knowledge God has called some people to celibacy, like Jesus Christ, we can have a fulfilling life (single or married) with or without descendants.  When God says He will do something, He will do it in His time - even if it really is impossible for us.  We can take heart in God's ability to do what our best efforts cannot.

After the rich young ruler came to ask Jesus what he needed to do to enter heaven, Jesus had a discussion with His disciples.  They were shocked when He said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.  Men cannot serve God and money, and the love of money keeps many from obedience and allegiance to God.  It is clearly impossible for a camel to pass through a needle, so the disciples rightly mused:  "Who then can be saved?"  Jesus replied in Luke 18:27, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."  It is impossible for any man to save himself, but through Jesus even rich men can be born again and saved by the Gospel.

If God wants a barren woman in her old age to conceive and bear a son, she can and will.  God caused Mary to conceive the Son of God without having been with a man at all!  God is able to bring new life to souls dead in sins and cause them to live forever.  Our God is one who brings life:  impossible, abundant, eternal life.  Let us continue praying and trusting that nothing is impossible for God.  Jesus has brought life and hope for all who believe, and may it be to us according to His Word!

Do What You Can

Shortly before Jesus was arrested and crucified, He and his disciples gathered in Bethany for a meal.  During the meal, Mark 14 explains how a woman anointed Him with very expensive perfumed oil with an estimated value of a year's wages.  Good perfume is always expensive, but usually not that expensive.   Because perfume is valuable the use of it is for special occasions so it will last awhile.  When this woman simply poured out the entire contents of the perfume on Jesus in a moment, it is not surprising they viewed this as a gross waste.  They began to criticise the woman and murmured about how much it was worth.  Instead of wasting it, why not sell it and help the poor?

Jesus didn't see it their way. Mark 14:6-9 reads, "But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. ⁷ For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. ⁹ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."  Jesus knew His remaining time on earth was short and acknowledged the good work the woman did, a sacrifice He is worthy to receive.  There would always be opportunities for His disciples to do good to the poor, but this notable act this woman did was legendary.  She anointed Christ for His burial, and her gracious gift would never be forgotten.

One thing Jesus said rings in my ears as it relates to my life:  "She has done what she could."  She was willing to do what others refused to consider.  They could have poured out expensive oil on Jesus, but they wouldn't.  They couldn't justify the apparent waste of perfume, even if poured out on Jesus.  It is like this woman realised who Jesus was because of all He had done for her, and she knew He wasn't done.  He had forgiven her many sins, and He would go on to shed His blood for the sins of the world.  Because she was recognised the worthiness of Christ she did what she could for Him.  The question I am faced with is, do I do what I can for Jesus?  There are likely many things I can do I have never considered doing because I, like the disciples, do not value Jesus as I ought.  No matter how much we have done, it is likely there are things within our ability to do we have not done because we didn't see the value in it.  To obtain God's perspective we need to look upon Jesus and remember this woman's example of sacrifice.

As recipients of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have freely received amazing blessings from God.  We have been pardoned of our sin and made righteous through faith.  We have been made children of God and filled with the Holy Spirit.  We have been given everything which pertains to life and godliness.  We who have received so much ought to do what we can to meet needs of others for Christ's sake and go even further - to graciously bless them according to God's leading because we value our God and love our fellow man.  What a testimony, that God would say of you or me, "He has done what he could."  Is there any greater compliment from our Master and Saviour than this?

What Judgmental Words Say...About You

When we are judgmental of others, we can know we are guilty of the exact attributes we find offensive.  Romans 2:1 says, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."  There is perhaps no better example of this in scripture than Eliab, David's oldest brother.

After David's three oldest brothers went to fight for King Saul, his father Jesse loaded David with food and commanded him to deliver it to the front lines.  Jesse told David to run to the camp where his brothers were and to see how they fared.  David was obedient to do so.  He was shocked when his discussion with his brothers was interrupted by Goliath of Gath who spoke boastfully against God.  He was dismayed when all the men of Israel (his brothers included!) fled from Goliath and refused to challenge him in battle.  Men of Israel quickly filled David in on how King Saul had promised wealth, his daughter in marriage, and tax-free status for their family.  Yet for 40 days, Goliath had come out daily to taunt Israel and reproach the living God.  David asked, "Who is this Philistine, that He should defy the armies of the living God?"

1 Samuel 17:28 states, "Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."  Wow.  To say Eliab was sensitive is an understatement.  His mouth vomited hate.  Eliab questioned David's motive in coming to the battle.  He reminded him of his lowly status as a shepherd, tending a "few sheep in the wilderness."  He accused him of being proud and insolent (bad, wicked).  I love the response of David in 1 Samuel 17:29, for he resisted any urge to defend himself from this verbal barrage:  "And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"  Eliab attacked David personally, but this assault only exposed his own wickedness.  He was the proud and wicked one, and he transferred his own faults to David.  His own sin negatively coloured his views of others.

In the previous chapter, David had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel.  I wonder if Eliab was still envious of the royal treatment extended to David!  If Samuel had his way, he would have anointed Eliab because of his handsome bearing.  1 Samuel 16:6-7 records Samuel's initial impression of Eliab:  "So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him." ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  God had refused Eliab as king because of the wickedness in his heart, yet chose to anoint the youngest of Jesse's sons:  David, a humble shepherd, a man after God's own heart.  David was not perfect, but he loved, trusted, and believed God.  Through God he would do mighty feats, and one of the most notable was when he killed the Philistine champion with a sling and stone and won a great victory.

One takeaway from this passage is when a characteristic in someone prompts a negative emotional response in us, instead of criticising or questioning their motives we must first examine our own hearts.  Harsh judgment in us indicates we have sin which must be confessed and forsaken.  Once we repent of our own sin and walk uprightly, then we can see clearly to help others be restored.  Insightful Eliab was proud and afraid, unwilling to meet Goliath in battle.  Sin is a giant only slain by faith in God and humble repentance, and this is a fight to which all children of God are called and by His grace enabled to win.

God Pardons His People

"Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. ¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Micah 7:18-19

Have you ever considered how blessed we are the Almighty God is a forgiving One?  We have long memories when it concerns people who have wronged or wounded us.  It seems only death is able to part people from old grudges.  Long after the offender has gone to the grave, hatred and bitterness towards the person can remain.  God could rightly retain His anger forever, for He is eternal and righteous and we are crooked sinners.  But thanks be to God, for He fully pardons those who humble themselves before Him and repent.  To be pardoned is more than being forgiven, for the connection between the offender and the offence is wiped clean.  It is a proclamation of innocence concerning every charge.

Every honest person will admit they have made mistakes during their lives, "mistakes" which the Bible calls sin.  Even as there are natural laws observed in the world, there are spiritual ones.  On earth what goes up eventually comes down, and the soul that sins will surely die.  God, a righteous Judge, is angry with the wicked every day and will also judge the righteous - His people through faith (Psalm 7:11).  When God forgives us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we are born again, God fully pardons us from all sin.  He also passes over our transgressions, meaning our past sins are not held against us in our present relationship.  God does not burn with anger, hold a grudge, or throw our failures to obey in our face again as a reason to refuse our request, but chooses not to remember them (Isaiah 43:25).  That is a good example for us to follow as believers.

It is impossible for us to love as God does in our own strength.  We are chronically focused on self:  we aim for self-preservation, keep a record of wrongs, angle to insulate ourselves from future pain by maintaining distance, retain our anger, and justify our sinful refusal to pardon others because we are suspicious they will hurt us again.  God never says faith in people is the basis for us forgiving others, but we forgive because He has forgiven us.  God has never commanded us to trust people, but we must trust and obey Him.  God's nature is to pardon iniquity and pass over transgressions.  He is slow to anger and does not retain it "because He delights in mercy."  He removes the stain of sin far from us and relates to us going forward as if we have only done right.  God has compassion on the ones who sin against Him.  Can you show genuine compassion to the person you are angry with?

1 John 1:9 says concerning Christians who have sinned against God, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Isn't the grace of God wonderful?  As we have received, so ought we to freely give to others.  Is it in your nature to pardon iniquity and pass over faults?  It is not in my nature!  Yet since God is our Father, we are to be towards others as He is to us:  to delight in mercy and to have compassion on even those who offend.  With God's help let us pardon others and throw our grudges and burning anger into the depths of the sea.

Thoughts About "Silence"

I enjoy movies which prompt meaningful thought.  I found "Silence" directed by Marin Scorsese to be such a film, a story of young Jesuit priests seeking their mentor and the persecution of Christians in Japan in the 17th century (spoilers follow).  The slow pace of the film allows time for contemplation as the events of the film unfold.  Although the Jesuit faith has major doctrinal beliefs which differ from my own, I was impressed by the conviction and commitments made by the Portuguese missionaries as they ventured into a land largely hostile to foreign religion.  The Japanese Inquisitor compared Christianity to "the persistent love of an ugly and barren woman."  Christianity could not flourish in the swamp of Japan, it was said.

In the film, a Japanese Inquisitor tortured Jesuit padres and found it only emboldened their followers.  It was discovered the way to influence padres to cease their proselytising was to make them watch the suffering of the people they taught and loved.  Villagers were made to "trample" on an icon or spit on a crucifix, and if they refused they were made a public example of.  People were hung on crosses to be drowned at high tide, arrested, bound and thrown into the sea, decapitated, or even hung to slowly bleed over a pit.  The main character and priest in the film demanded a challenge of his faith of his captors, yet watching others suffer proved the hardest challenge of all.  Many times his tormentors said of trampling an icon, "It's only a formality."  They promised if he trampled it meant nothing except they would allow fellow adherents (albeit tramplers) to go free.

That line stuck with me long after the Blu-ray was replaced in its case:  "It's only a formality."  Much of the Jesuit practices displayed in the film were strictly that:  formality.  The people secreted and venerated objects as well as priests to perform rituals.  The people fed off the priests, gathering for mass, holy communion, baptism, absolution, and confession.  One thing which was noticeably absent in the movie was the Bible.  Not once do I recall any of the priests or people opening the scriptures and reading from them.  The priests were honoured by the people as God, but the priests proved powerless to deliver the people from their pains and were impotent to overcome their captors.  Giving in to the demands of their captors seemed the only way of salvation, but it proved to be bondage.  I wonder if the torment of openly denying the faith was worse than seeing people suffer for their faith.

What the movie asserts is true, that only God knows the heart.  A denial of a "religion" is not a denial of Christ Himself.  To tread on a religious icon to denounce a sect is not blasphemy, but to deny Christ is.  Jesus said those who seek to save their lives will lose them (Luke 17:33), and those who deny Jesus before men He will deny before the Father (Matthew 10:33).  We also remember Peter on one occasion denied Jesus three times, but was later restored by Jesus.  Peter clearly was repentant for his error, and the rest of his life was marked as a faithful witness and disciple of Jesus Christ.  Relics and icons are nothing in themselves, and God is not disgraced if we trample.  At the same time if we deny Christ to save ourselves or others present pain, we do God no service.  Wasn't Jesus permitted to suffer according to the will of the Father?  Because the servant is not above the master, Peter wrote to followers of Jesus in 1 Peter 4:19, "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."

I am blessed to say history is not on the side of the cruel Inquisitor who claimed Christianity could not grow in Japan.  I received an email from a young man a couple years ago who was once an exchange student hosted by our family when we lived in the States who told us he had become a Christian - in Japan!  It seems the efforts of those daring Portuguese padres that seemed useless have been fruitful as they spread the seed of the Gospel.  Even in a land opposed to Christ, the Light of the World has continued to shine.  God has spoken and continues to speak in His still, small voice.  Praise the LORD for His faithfulness and love, and He will justly trample down His enemies. 

God's Choice and Ours

I am not a prophet, but I can identify with what Amos the prophet said concerning his call by God to ministry.  It was never in his plans, and being a pastor was not in my plans either.  As an "untrained" man, this was one way Amos knew it was not selfish ambition or reliance upon his education which caused him to answer God's call.  He wasn't just following in his father's footsteps, having inherited the family business.  He was an ordinary guy who was content with a simple life, and God chose to place him in role which never entered into his mind.  I can relate to this in many ways.

God commanded Amos to say many things, and they were not easy on the ears.  He spoke of the punishment God would bring for the sins of the people.  Amaziah the priest didn't like what Amos was saying, and he didn't like where he was saying it.  He sent word to the king, accusing Amos of treason.  Amaziah told Amos to leave, hinting he had no right or authority to say the things he did in Bethel.  Amos 7:14-15 reads, "Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. ¹⁵ Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'"  Amos affirmed he had no family background or specialised training in the school of the prophets, but as he went about his business God spoke to him.  It was not his choice, yet he had been ordained by God as a prophet without approval or qualifications from men.  David went from tending his father's sheep to being king over all Israel, and Amos went from breeding sheep and tending sycamore trees to being a messenger of God.  Peter and John were fishermen Jesus called as apostles, and I was a construction worker God called to be a pastor - in Australia!

I'm sure John never thought he would voluntarily leave his father and the family business to follow Jesus and later be a key leader in the church Jesus established.  I believe Amos was content to work and remain as he was.  He had no aspirations of being a prophet.  But as he went about his business and was faithful to God right where he was, God spoke to him, called him out of his trade and into the role of a prophet.  It was nearly an identical situation when God made me aware of His call upon my life as a pastor in His church.  All sorts of thoughts flooded through my head when this was confirmed in His word and by fellow Christians.  What do I do now?  Do I leave my job?  Do I go to seminary?  For me there was the space of about three years between the realisation of the call and an unsolicited door to pastoral ministry clearly opening.  What was impressed upon me then was to keep doing what I was doing, acknowledge and believe God had indeed called me, and in the meantime apply myself to seeking God and learning all I could.  In the end, God did it all.

If you believe God has spoken to you and called you to a particular role in ministry or place in the world, I encourage you to do as Amos did:  he kept on doing what he was doing.  In due time God moved Amos from his flock and groves and moved him to Bethel, placing His words in his mouth.  Amaziah saw Amos as an unqualified, perhaps even a self-absorbed impostor who ought to go away, but Amos had a charge from God he would by His grace fulfil.  You never know what God has called you to or what He will call others to do.  You never know to what end of the earth God will take you as you follow Him.  Today we are called to faithfulness and obedience, and God will take care of us tomorrow.  The God who speaks to us clearly opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open (Revelation 3:7).  You never need (nor could you) prove to sceptics you have indeed been called by God, but the important thing to remember He is the One who calls, ordains, and enables us to do anything for Him.  Jesus calls out to everyone, and whilst the nature of our calling may differ, every call of God is equally important to answer in faith and obedience.  We don't have the luxury of deciding God's choices, but our choice is:  will we follow Him?