Without Controversy

"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things."

Romans 14:1

This morning in my devotional reading I saw Proverbs 10:12 which says, "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins."  Love esteems others higher than self even when people have convictions or beliefs which differ from your own.  In context the people to whom Paul refers are not outsiders but fellow followers of Jesus Christ in the church.  People were divided over what was appropriate to eat or drink, and Paul urged believers not to dispute over such things.  In the second part of 1 Corinthians 8:1 he also said on the subject, "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."  Knowledge has a way of puffing us up with pride, but love seeks to build others up.

There are many beliefs and practices genuine Christians disagree over, but we ought not to be divisive concerning them.  This especially applies to what Paul refers to as "doubtful things."  Even when Christians disagree about a doctrine or practice, there is likely much common ground they share regardless of their level of maturity.  The NIV rendering of the Romans passage puts it in a different light:  "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."  This provides an easy illustration of the different translations of the Bible Christians prefer.  Because I prefer one translation does not mean I should rail against others who do not share my view.

We might imagine ourselves to be strong in faith and on the side of truth, but if we are the offended party, disputing, stirring up strife, and passing judgment on the intelligence or faith of others, perhaps we are the one weak in faith!  We are called to give more grace, trusting in God's power and ability to open eyes of the blind and change hearts too.  Haven't our eyes been blind at times?  Haven't our hearts been hard?  Haven't we been the one who internalised bitterness or exploded with anger over a doubtful dispute we refused to let go?  May the LORD increase our faith in Him and His Word, to not only know the truth but practice it as we walk in love.

There is no shortage of potential controversy in the church, but God's Word has been given to teach us how to conduct ourselves - not "how to change others."  Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:14-16:  "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁶ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."  There is much revealed in scripture that is not controversial, and may these divine revelations have a powerful impact upon each of us.  God has come to us!  Our crucified and risen Saviour Jesus Christ has been preached among Gentiles and has ascended in glory!  Let us fix our faith upon these rock-solid truths rather than dividing over doubtful things.  

Receive Correction and Instruction

"Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

Proverbs 9:8-9

God's Word is packed with relevant instruction and also reveals the truth about us.  It does not only tells us what to do but exposes who we are.  In this passage Solomon shows how our response to instruction and correction shows what kind of person we are.  Knowledge is not evidence of being a wise man but a humble and loving response when rebuked - even after we did the wrong thing.  A just and wise man will receive correction gladly and not hold grudges against those who bring faults to light.  Having been rebuked a wise man will love the one who cared enough to speak hard truth more still.

How do you respond to correction, instruction, and rebuke?  I would suspect there is not a person among us who enjoys being proved incorrect or exposed as ignorant.  It is natural and fleshly to despise correction, but the wise man who fears God heeds rebuke even if unwarranted.  When it comes to correction and instruction, during our lives we will often have experiences to both offer and and receive correction.  There is always wisdom to glean as a child of God, and we can learn important truths even from an impure source.  There person who rebukes us may be unloving or incorrect in their assessment, but still provides opportunity for our growth.

Sometimes we learn by observing what to do and at other times what not to do.  Solomon walked by an overgrown field and learned a valuable lesson in Proverbs 24:30-34:  "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; ³¹ and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; ³⁴ so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."  What a blessing the presence of God in our lives, for He instructs and corrects us in ways no other person can.  Others can applaud, and the voice of our conscience rightly condemns because God knows our hearts.

As believers we are instructed by God, yet we should not despise the correction He sovereignly directs from other people.  God might stir a wicked man to chasten us severely - not so we will heed wicked advice - but to expose the pride and folly which lurks unnoticed in our own hearts.  Being treated harshly instructs us how not to correct others if and when we are led to do so.  The Proverbs passage says we ought not correct a scoffer, and there is a time to withhold continual instruction from those who refuse it.  After Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for valuing tradition over the Word of God, thus making it of no effect, the Pharisees were offended.  When their offence was conveyed to Jesus He said in Matthew 15:14:  "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

Some people will gratefully heed a warning, but others require instruction only gained by the consequences of a fall.  They scoffed at instruction, so they would be taught by plunging into a boggy ditch.  This interaction shows Jesus at a point allowed people and those they blindly led to fall when they scorned His correction in ignorance.  Their hatred and offence was proof of their folly, and Jesus left them alone in the misguided path of their choosing.  As hard as it can be to utter words of correction and rebuke in love, it may be even harder to leave someone alone knowing they will fall.  Praise the LORD Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the sheep, and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He is good to seek and save the lost and downcast where they fall.  He will pull the most wicked among us from the ditch and wash us clean by His grace.  Better to humbly heed and obey our LORD than to be left alone and hopelessly blind.

More Than a Meal

I was blessed to recall the occasion when Queen Esther appeared before King Ahasuerus unannounced at the risk of her own life.  According to the Law of the Medes and Persians, to appear before the king without being first summoned meant the death penalty - unless he extended the royal sceptre.  After three days of prayer and fasting, Esther came before the king and she found favour in his sight.  I wonder if he was surprised what her request was:  that he and Haman (a chief adviser) would come to a banquet of wine.  Really?  Would a sensible person really risk her life over a private banquet?

If you have read the book of Esther, you know there was much more at stake than the king attending a dinner party.  Esther was desperate to save her people, and God raised her up for such a time to use her position of influence and access with the king to plead for deliverance.  Ultimately the scheme and the wicked adversary Haman were exposed and overthrown.  The brave and courageous deeds of Esther will not be forgotten, and I imagine her husband loved and appreciated her more than ever.

It is remarkable how Esther humbled herself, putting her life in her own hands for the sake of her people so they could be saved.  It is far more remarkable what Jesus Christ has done in becoming flesh and dwelling among us, walking throughout Judea and calling disciples to Himself.  He did not only risk His life, but He laid down His life willingly on Calvary's cross so Jews and Gentiles could be saved for eternity and receive everlasting life.  He is the one who is patient and loving to stand at the door of the hearts of lukewarm Christians and bid them open unto to Him so He can come in a dine.  Wouldn't it be something to host Jesus Christ at your dinner table?  How much more intimate to have the presence of God within us, speaking words of wisdom, grace and truth!

Jesus cried out that if any is thirsty, they should come to Him and drink of the Living Water He supplies.  He does not do so to quench our temporary thirst, but so we will be satisfied and sustained by faith in Him alone.  Esther had a bigger scope in appearing before Ahasuerus than sharing a drink together, and Jesus has a far greater purpose in supplying His broken body and shed blood than fleeting feelings of happiness:  He desires to be our life everyday and forever!  Let us put to death wickedness and throw aside the weights which easily weigh us down, and then we can walk unhindered in our pursuit of our Saviour.  How great it is to have Jesus as Saviour and King, the lover of our souls!

Holding God's Hand

I saw a disheartening sight the other day.  A grown man was holding hands with a little girl, walking her to school.  Now what's wrong with that, you might ask?  What should have been an endearing and sweet scene was reversed by the man's other hand holding a phone.  As they walked in the bright sunshine under shady gum trees, he was transfixed on his screen while the little girl in a school uniform stared blankly and silently ahead.  The sad image has remained with me.

All manner of thoughts went through my head.  I wondered if the little girl saw the phone as an intruder on a friendly chat she could have with her dad.  Though quite young, I also wondered if the child was resigned to the phone's presence in the hand of her guardian and escort.  Maybe she saw it as a grown-up thing and was looking forward to having a phone too.  "Talk to your little one!" I thought to myself.  They were holding hands but distant, and that fleeting vision has weighed heavy ever since.

I then began to think about my own life and how persistent the impulse can be to immerse yourself in a digital wonderland of information, amusement, and areas of personal interest instead of interacting with real, present people.  Am I present when I walk with my wife, sons, and friends?  Do my devices have a grip on my life which rob me of opportunities to love others?  And even more important, are screens and devices a wedge between me and God?  It would be easy to reverse the picture as an illustration of us and God:  people are like the little girl focused on a screen whilst our Father holds our hand and accompanies us wherever we go.  He does not force Himself on us, and He waits most patiently.  Are we pleased to hold His hand for security and say "Bye!" with a quick smile as we head off on our day, or are we willing to leave the phone alone and see what He wants to talk about?

The wonderful thing is even when we rush off into life, when we are ready to seek the LORD He will be right near because He has been seeking us.  This shouldn't affect us by taking advantage of His love, grace, and patience, but we should value Him above all others.  I love the old hymn which paints the picture of God who walks and talks with me and tells me I am His own.  This is the intimacy God desires to cultivate with us, and in response we ought to rejoice in such a privilege.  May our eyes be fixed on Him and our hearts filled with awe and reverence for Him.  That God would hold our hand and draw us near to Himself!  What joy and rest we have in Him!

Our Sovereign God

Recognising God's sovereignty is a source of peace in the midst of trouble.  When things are difficult we can feel under attack, and we can wonder what the source of our struggles are.  Is it a spiritual attack?  Does Satan or demons have me in their sights?  Am I experiencing the consequences of sin, or am I simply wrestling with my own negative feelings and thoughts?

When Israel was laid waste by armies from Assyria and Babylon, Jeremiah did not credit physical or spiritual foes with their destruction:  he laid the responsibility for their defeat squarely upon God.  He did not blame God as an evildoer as some do, but Jeremiah recognised their plight as a result of the chastening of a holy, righteous God.  Nebuchadnezzar was a mighty king, but God called him His servant.  It was shocking to the Jews God would utilise a Gentile king to do His will, but God remains sovereign over all.  His ways are higher and good, infinitely better than ours.

Crediting God with the destruction of Israel did not move Jeremiah to hate or forsake God, but drove him to seek God with tears.  See what Jeremiah said in Lamentations 2:1-5, and this is a small portion of his lament:  "How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger! He cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel, and did not remember His footstool in the day of His anger. ² The Lord has swallowed up and has not pitied all the dwelling places of Jacob. He has thrown down in His wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; He has brought them down to the ground; He has profaned the kingdom and its princes. ³ He has cut off in fierce anger every horn of Israel; He has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy. He has blazed against Jacob like a flaming fire devouring all around. ⁴ Standing like an enemy, He has bent His bow; with His right hand, like an adversary, He has slain all who were pleasing to His eye; on the tent of the daughter of Zion, He has poured out His fury like fire. ⁵ The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel, He has swallowed up all her palaces; He has destroyed her strongholds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah."

God did exactly as He warned His people through His Word and prophets, but they would not hear.  What is remarkable is why God did this to His own people whom He loved:  He did not chasten them to destroy them, but so they might be restored.  How far they had drifted from God through their idolatry and brought upon themselves this great fall and demise!  In forsaking the LORD they abandoned all hope, but in humble repentance they would without doubt flourish again.  God would bring back His inheritance into the land with rejoicing, and He would plant them where He had established His name.  Jeremiah wisely did not credit the devil or the armies of enemies as the cause of their pains but the God who reigns over heaven and earth, the Judge before every knee will bow.  It is in surrender to God where peace, hope, and salvation begin.

People who have problems with God need to realise they have problems only He can fix; they have wounds only God can heal; they have folly only God can redeem.  Proverbs 3:11-12 says, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; ¹² for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."  God's means of chastening often involve pain, and our response shows if we truly trust Him and value His active love as we ought.

With All Your Heart

Before I head off to buy groceries at the shops, I typically jot down a list of things to purchase.  Just because I write an item on the list, however, does not mean I always remember to buy it!  There are few things more frustrating than taking time to prepare and not following through by carefully checking off the list - and forgetting the ingredient which was a main reason why I headed to the shops in the first place!

The Bible is infinitely more important and useful than a checklist I write, yet in the Bible there is great divine wisdom we should be reminded of often.  One of my favourites is Proverbs 3:5-6:  "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."  I find this verse useful because it is very practical.  It is a command to trust God and not lean on my limited understanding.  It establishes the conditions upon which God will direct and guide me into all truth, when I trust and acknowledge Him in all my ways.  If I trust God halfheartedly I give place to the sin of unbelief, and should I acknowledge God in only some of my ways I will wander from His will.

Now here's the rub:  the Bible says no man can know perfectly his own heart because it is naturally wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).  It is true those who receive the Gospel through faith are given a new heart, but we remain in a body of flesh prone to corruption and deception.  Even Paul, a man greatly led and empowered by the Spirit, did not have the flesh totally whipped into complete submission (Romans 7:24).  I am therefore incapable in the strength of my flesh to fulfil this most basic command.  To trust in the LORD with all my heart I need God's wisdom, strength, chastening, and grace.  I need the presence of the Holy Spirit within me who guides me into all truth.  I must acknowledge my inability to do what God commands to assume a humble posture and be willing to be led to address my unbelief, repent, and trust God instead.

I am very glad for the practical steps we can take to put off the works of the flesh, avoid temptation, and to put on the new man equipped with the armour of God.  But I cannot tick these things off a list and feel better about myself:  constant reliance upon God and acknowledgement of our need for Him is paramount to walk in obedience and faithfulness.  Introspection has merit but pitfalls as well, potentially making ourselves or our efforts the focus rather than God and His grace towards us.  Let us trust in the LORD with all our heart and in every way possible.  God does not just make up the difference we lack or only aid in areas of our hearts hidden from our sight, but by His grace will enable us to obey in this matter.

The Snare of Greed

"Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; ¹⁸ but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."

Proverbs 1:17-19

Trapping birds requires subtlety, but those who devise wicked schemes prepare a trap for themselves.  Snares are most effective when hidden, like a hook completely concealed with bait fish find attractive.  Those ensnared by sin, however, display less sense than threat-savvy birds or fish.  They make plans to destroy others, and even if they achieve their ends they destroy themselves in the process.  The foolish do not realise this, but the wise see the danger from afar.

Solomon warned his son of the dangerous sin of greed.  Greed is like the grave:  it is never full or satisfied.  At its root is a love of self, a lack of thankfulness and satisfaction with what God has provided, and pride.  Those who are greedy for wealth pierce themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).  Greed longs for more, newer, and better.  It compels a man and woman to overwork and prevents them from enjoying the fruit of their labour.  People toil and slave to gain at great cost, and yet life places demands on us to spend.  The lure of a better life always dangles just in front of the greedy, and it robs them of their lives which could be enjoyed presently.

The miser Scrooge from Dicken's popular book A Christmas Carol presents an illustration with whom many can relate.  Scrooge was a businessman whose primary aim was the pursuit of wealth.  It was this exact pursuit which threw his life into miserable poverty.  Oh, he had money, and he had many people who owed him money.  But greed took a painful toll.  The greed of Scrooge led to his fiancee breaking off their engagement and robbed him of the chance of companionship, being a husband, father, and grandfather.  He could afford to keep his home and place of business comfortably heated in the winter, but he suffered the cold to save money on coal.  All his life he aimed to gain, and though he gained money his life was corrupted by greed, bitterness, and cynicism.  His net worth was never enough, and life was empty like his cavernous, cold house.  The happy ending supplied by Dickens is welcome, but such a dramatic turnaround is often unfortunately fiction in people poisoned and trapped by greed.

Take the wisdom of God to heart!  The life of your dreams is not as precious as the life God has given you to live today - regardless of your money, status, or perceived lack thereof.  Should you give place to greed you endanger the life you have, for greed "takes away the life of its owners."  We must own up to our greed, or otherwise it will own us.  Greed, like all other sins, will enslave and rob us of the life God intends we live with Him.  Only Jesus can break the yoke of greed and lead us in an abundant life beyond our favourite fantasy.

Our Consuming Fire

The Bible has been a part of my life for as long as I remember.  Yesterday I recalled an occasion as a child when I was inspired by a passage in 1 Kings 18 to build a small altar of rocks in the back yard.  My actions were inspired by God's response to the prayer of Elijah atop Mount Carmel by causing fire to fall from heaven and consume the sacrifice.  I hoped to be amazed by divine fire igniting the dried pine needles I carefully perched on a pile of rocks.  Around the altar I had carved a trench I dutifully filled with water as Elijah had.  I prayed to the God of heaven, but alas, no fire fell.  And it was a good thing too.  God would not indulge a child with the equivalent of playing with matches.

Looking back on that day long ago under the big pine tree, it is instructive of common mistakes even adults can make when it comes to miraculous signs:  I was focused on the wrong things.  I wanted to see fire fall from heaven, but I didn't consider why God caused fire to fall and consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel.  God caused fire to fall and consume the sacrifice for the purpose of revealing His reality, power, and superiority over the idols the people worshipped - not just to show Elijah was a genuine prophet or to amaze the people.  People enjoy seeing incredible, even miraculous things.  And there is something in us which enjoys the thought of harnessing such power to achieve our ends - even just to impress others.

Another thing I did not consider was God's desire for the people to re-establish the worship of God according to His prescribed order.  The people were divided in their allegiance between God and Ba'al.  Because of wicked King Ahab and his wife Jezebel the prophets of God had been hunted and slaughtered whilst the prophets of Ba'al numbered in the hundreds.  1 Kings 18:30 reads, "Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down."  Even as the altar had broken down, so the relationship with God had been broken through idolatry and neglect.  My thoughts weren't focused at all on the glory and worship of God but what I wanted done.  Calling down fire from heaven was about what God could do for me.  After the altar was restored 1 Kings 18:36 says, "And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word."  Elijah drew near to God in prayer and affirmed all he did that day was for God's sake in obedience to God.

Though I tried to follow the example of Elijah, my model had one crucial omission:  the lack of a sacrifice!  I believe it was Leonard Ravenhill, a man revered for his praying who said, "Everyone wants my mantle, but no one wants my sackcloth and ashes."  The gist of this quote is suggests people desire to have influence with the almighty God, yet are unwilling to present themselves before God as a living sacrifice.  Isaac was willing to be bound and laid upon the altar by Abraham according to God's command, and God graciously supplied a ram as a substitute.  It is Jesus Christ who is the Lamb of God who was slain on Calvary as a sacrifice for sinners once for all and therefore put to death the need of sacrificing animals according to the divine Law.  God caused divine fire to fall in the person of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost who regenerates, fills all believers, and guides us into all truth.

If we desire to see fire to fall from heaven, we must be willing to be the living sacrifice upon whom it falls.  Paul exhorted believers in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."   Fire purges, purifies, and consumes; it heats and provides light in darkness.  May it be our lives would provide opportunity for God to restore people to Himself through our obedience so He might be glorified.

Take the Lead to Love

During our family's recent visit to the States, I was blessed to have a meaningful conversation with my brother and his wife.  I appreciate the enlightenment which comes from the thoughtful observations of others from a different perspective.  In the discussion my brother brought up he did not approve with the common suggestion from pulpits that men are called to be the "spiritual leader in the home."  What bothered him was not the call for men to lead well according to scripture, but the statement can be a subtle suggestion men's leadership in the home, marriage, work, or child-rearing is limited to spiritual matters.  I had not thought of this before, and it is a fair point.

We have observed many not-so subtle changes in society and culture today which have eroded what we could call "traditional" values for better or worse.  One wonderful aspect of God and His Word is that it does not change and we can count on God to guide us into all truth regardless of our culture or upbringing.   God has made a distinction between males and females throughout the scripture and provided guidance for what constitutes marriage, roles, duties, and responsibilities.  Though males and females are different and their roles in a family distinct, the role of the our hearts being surrendered before God as believers is of primary importance.  Dealing with the sin in our own hearts is a common struggle we all must face.

It is a ploy of the devil to undermine and sabotage the good things God has created like marriage and the family structure.  He will point to abusive and domineering husbands why a woman ought not to submit according to the biblical mandate, and use contentious or disobedient wives as an example why men shouldn't love them as Jesus loves the church - or be married at all.  The world seizes the language used in the Bible and hijacks it according to fallacious caricatures embracing excess, marital rape, manipulation, and oppression.  This is not to say there are never cases of abuse or oppression among Christians, nor does it suggest non-believers cannot have satisfying relationships.  The fact is we are all sinners, and just because Christians have not lived up to Christ's righteous standards does not mean the standard is evil or wrong.

The Bible outlines not only the roles of husbands and wives, but also the attitude and way we are to do things:  in the love of God.  There is to be grace, mercy, compassion, and caring of the needs of others more than your own desires.  It is not a sentimental relationship but sacrificial as both are obedient to the LORD.  In a marriage the husband is responsible before God to lead as the head, and the wife is to manage the home and children with his authority.  Both have equal responsibility before God to do their part as He leads together.  The marriage relationship is one formed by God and under God, and whether married or single we are all to submit under Him.  Ephesians 5:15-21 is a great exhortation for all people regardless of gender or marital status:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."

It is in this context and heart wives are to submit to their own husbands and husbands are to love their wives.  Whether or not a man believes his wife is in submission to his will, his duty before God is to keep loving his wife as Jesus loves the church - the church for which He purchased with His own blood.  As a married man I must be occupied with this one thing, not being preoccupied with perceived failures of others.  The words Jesus spoke to Peter ring true concerning the issues of others:  "What is that to you?  You follow me."  Husbands ought to take the lead in communicating, serving, sharing, giving, providing, and encouraging.  We ought to be leaders in showing mercy, giving grace, forgiving, helping, and strengthening.  Think of all Jesus has done for us - and what He keeps doing for us despite our faults.  He intercedes for us with the Father, and we ought to pray for our wives.  We should remain chaste in body and mind for our wives, even as Jesus is pure.  In everything we ought to take the lead, and this includes spiritual nurturing and training.  And brothers, if we do not do the first thing to love our wives as Christ loves the church, awful spiritual leaders we will be.

Grief and Love

The life, experiences, and example of Jesus are a constant source of comfort to Christians.  He was in all points tempted, yet without sin.  This demonstrates how He walked in obedience to the Father and He will always lead us according to the Father's will.  The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah being a "man of sorrows" and "acquainted with grief."  We have all experienced sorrow and grief, but never to the level of a holy God who completely knows the thoughts and hearts of men.  There is much which grieves God that escapes our notice, yet Jesus retained fullness of joy. Though He grieved Jesus did not despair, and this is a trap we can avoid by His grace.

Today in prayer I was speaking with God about things which grieve me.  The Webster's 1828 dictionary defines "grieve" in these ways:  "1. To give pain of mind to; to afflict; to wound the feelings; 2. To afflict; to inflict pain on; 3. To make sorrowful; to excite regret in; 4. To offend; to displease; to provoke."  I was reminded how Esau's choice of wives brought about great grief of mind to his mother, Rebekah.  Then in dawned on me:  Esau's poor decisions were a grief of mind to Rebekah because she loved her son.  She cared about him and wanted only the best.  This instance shows grief can be a result of love for others.  Love, when provoked by pains or harm of those dear to us, can respond with grief.

This is a surprising development, that increased love for others brings about additional grief for us - and in addition great happiness and satisfaction.  I am most pleased to be married to my wife and to be blessed by God with two sons.  Their friendship and companionship is a treasure to me, and it is a pleasure to know and spend time with them.  At the same time, because I do love them, their struggles or decisions can be a source of grief.  Their decisions do not grieve someone down the street or across the globe because they do not know or love them.  But because I love them I care, and I become more acquainted with grief because of God's love in me.

When we grow in love of God and others, we will experience grief.  God never does anything to be grieved over, but I can be grieved how I have often grieved Him by sinful choices, selfish behaviour, and hurtful words.  I have grieved him by my unbelief and folly.  I dislike the feelings of grief very much and try to avoid them, and my life has given cause for Jesus to be grieved.  But praise the LORD, I do not need to drown in grief perpetually because my Saviour does not.  He knows me, has saved and washed me, and made me righteous by His grace.  I do not need to grieve continually for others either, having committed them into the hands of God who loves them far more than I ever could.  We should keep on loving, but we don't need to grieve forever as those without hope.  Grief will someday be a thing of the past, and we can always rejoice in the our Saviour's love.

To God We Belong

"And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'"

Acts 27:22-24

During a voyage, the ship bearing Paul to Rome was caught in a severe storm in the Mediterranean sea.  When all hope had been given up of being saved, Paul addressed the men.  He shared with them a fantastic revelation spoken by an angel sent from God that every one of their lives would be preserved.  God had answered Paul's prayer and there would be no loss of life among them.  It was not uncommon for people to worship and serve many gods in a polytheistic culture - including the emperor.  People had household idols for protection, prosperity, good fortune, and countless more.  What was unique about Paul's statement was that he did not have gods or charms in his possession which belonged to him, but he belonged to God.  I imagine in the violent tempest many pagan gods literally overturned, were lost, or thrown overboard in a desperate attempt to lighten the ship and save their lives.  Paul could not lose his God, nor could he be lost by the God to whom he belonged.  What comfort this brings all who fear the God of Israel!

Idolatry has been a common error throughout history.  Micah was a man in the book of Judges who was a religious man.  He was religious, but was not at all righteous.  He was a thief who made a shrine full of idols in his home, made carved and moulded images, fashioned a copy of the ephod used by the priests in the tabernacle, and consecrated one of his sons and later a travelling Levite to be his priest.  He believed God would do him good because of his religious efforts and expense.  A day came when scouts from the tribe of Dan saw the shrine with the valuable images and spoke with the Levite.  They offered him the opportunity to be a priest not only of a household but a whole tribe!  The Levite was glad for a status upgrade, and so the shrine was robbed of both idols and priest.  As you might imagine, Micah was not pleased to be so robbed!  He and his household pursued, overtook the company from Dan, and boldly confronted them.

Judges 18:23-26 says, "And they called out to the children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah, "What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?" ²⁴ So he said, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What ails you?' " ²⁵ And the children of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household!" ²⁶ Then the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house."  The gods which belonged to Micah were stolen, and he did not have the power or ability to take them back from the men of Dan.  Some gods those were which needed protection and security provided by Micah!  Micah felt he had lost everything because gods which belonged to him were taken, but the reality was he lost nothing.  Though fashioned with precious metals by a skilled craftsman artistically, those gods had no power to hear, speak, or save.

What a difference it is to belong to God who has chosen all who fear Him, rather than serving a god of your own devising and choosing.  Paul said to the intellectuals of Athens in Acts 17:29-31, "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. ³⁰ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."  We have not chosen the one true God but He has chosen us, and proved Himself to be Saviour and Judge of all the earth by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.  What a glorious relationship God has invited us to enter, that we could have the right through faith to be children of God!  We may not feel like we belong anywhere in this world, but as Christians we belong to God.  Our belonging and endurance does not depend upon our grip because He holds us close and speaks even in storms.

Jesus Has All Authority

People who speak the same language can have distinct accents.  As a person born in America now living in Australia, my status as a dual-citizen nor the years I have lived here have softened my foreign accent.  I can use and understand Aussie slang in conversation, but my accent still stands out.  I have discovered a similar phenomenon to this in Christian circles, how particular words they employ reveal their beliefs and background.  There is a Christian culture which places large emphasis on the "authority" of believers as children of God.  Whilst God has equipped His children to do His will and contend for the faith, I believe it is much better to focus on the authority and sovereignty of God.  Can you imagine a little child shouting at an advancing army, "Go away!  I have authority!" because he is the son of a king?  As an enemy that's not a kid I take very seriously.

I was reading A.W. Tozer and he had some excellent insights on how believers should conduct themselves in conflict - especially those of a spiritual nature.  There are no shortage of books on how to conduct "spiritual warfare," various praying techniques, and approaches to "deliverance ministry."  Our culture believes if it works for me it must be true or good, but God's Word remains the perfect standard.  This excerpt from The Crucified Life lays out great observations better than I could say myself.

One solution offered these days is to engage the enemy.  When we feel the enemy attacking us, we need to dig in our heels and have a face-off with him.  This is a display of spiritual machismo.  We want to show the troublemaker, and anybody else who might be watching us, that we're nobody to be fooled with.

The only problem is that the devil will never face you directly.  And I might as well say it:  the devil does not fight fair.  The devil uses rules that he makes up as he goes along...The devil loves us to engage him in battle.  This is what he lives for.  He knows that he cannot win, but he also knows that he can do some damage in the process.  The entire agenda of the enemy can be boiled down to one objective:  embarrass God through some of His children.  The devil thought he could do that with Job in the Old Testament.  But what the devil did not know was that God was in absolute control every step of the way.

Another solution that some Christians try is using Scripture to defy the enemy.  But what these Christians do not realise is that the devil knows Scripture better than some theologians.  The devil's heart is not filled with doubt but with hatred and jealousy.  His hatred of God and jealousy of God blind him to the reality of God's leadership.

For any Christian to use Scripture without the Spirit is like engaging in a battle with a paper sword.  It is not the Word only that will turn back the devil; rather, it is the Word and the power.  The devil can quote Scripture better than any seminary professor, but when the Word is under the direction of the Holy Spirit, it will always find its deadly mark.

When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he did nothing to defend himself.  He did not try to engage the enemy.  He did not try to defy his enemies by quoting Scripture.  He simply left his situation in God's hands.  This brings me to David's solution to his problems...In Psalm 57:1, David says, "In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpass."  Instead of going out to fight his own battles, David took refuge in God.  How tempting it might have been for him to show the enemy his strength and might.  To show his enemy that he was not somebody to be messed with must have been a great temptation for a man like David.  Instead of engaging the enemy, however, David took refuge in the shadow of God's wings. 

 What a blessed truth to understand that, in the middle of all of our difficulties and calamities, we have a refuge.  Certainly, there is a time to go forth into battle and engage the enemy.  But this should only be under the direct orders of the Captain of our salvation. (Tozer, A. W., and James L. Snyder. The Essential Tozer Collection: the Crucified Life. Bethany House, 2017. pages 184-185)

Better than asserting my authority in Christ how much better it is to look to Jesus Christ who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18-20).  God is able to protect all His children, and we can trust Him completely.  I am unable to remain vigilant at all times against human or spiritual assailants and have no strength to defend myself, but God is a refuge in every calamity.  We rest in His power and strength.  Praise the LORD He has claimed the battle and the victory as His.

A Time To Surrender

There are many comparisons made in the Bible to help us understand the roles God has called us to.  Each genuine Christian in the church is an important member of the Body of Christ.  The church (and Israel too) are compared to being God's bride.  At the same time we are children of God, and we should relate to Him as a trusting and obedient child would in relation to his father.  We are to be living sacrifices, ambassadors of Christ.  His is the Vine and we are the branches, and we are the sheep of in the fold of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  All together this imagery creates a pictorial symphony, harmonising beautifully our relationship and roles before God.  It is important to maintain a biblical view, well-rounded by the many pictures provided in scripture.

One aspect of the Christian life alluded to in scripture is that of warfare.  This imagery is employed in 2 Timothy 2:1-4:  "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ 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."  Ephesians 6 goes into detail of the armour God has provided by the Holy Spirit, and our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and spiritual rulers of wickedness.  Some people use these passages as a lens through which they view many conflicts, perceive they are "under attack," and take the battle to the LORD in prayer.  It is a good thing to remember it is God who fights for us, who protects and shelters us.  But people like doing things.  They like taking the fight to the enemy best they know how, being vigilant and watchful in prayer.

It occurred to me how it does take courage to trust God and fight.  Sometimes this "fight" may not look like anything which would pass for a "battle."  God directed the Israelites to walk through the parted Red Sea when the Egyptian army pursued them.  He also commanded they walk around Jericho day after day until the seventh day when God cause the walls to collapse.  After hearing the giant from Gath defy the army of the living God young David volunteered and defeated Goliath with a sling and stone.  Jonathan and his armour bearer stormed a Philistine garrison and slaughtered their foes.  On and on stretch the brave exploits and victories of God's people, even to this day.  We are easily stirred by gallant and noble deeds done by people of faith, and aspire to the privilege to see God work in our lives in like manner.

There is a time for victory, and a time to...surrender in defeat?  This is unexpected for a child of God, right?  Well, that's what the prophet Jeremiah spoke to king Zedekiah.  The Babylonians were drawing near to sack Jerusalem, and the king wondered what the correct course of action was.  He inquired of Jeremiah what he should do.  Jeremiah 38:17-18 reads, "Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. ¹⁸ But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.'"  If Zedekiah wanted to survive and preserve the city (not to mention the people and the temple), he was directed to surrender to king Nebuchadnezzar.  God had determined the city would fall, but if Zedekiah would humble himself and surrender, he would be delivered.  This was not a popular course of action amongst the rulers who stood to lose land and power, and Zedekiah knew it.  It turned out he was not willing to obey the word of the LORD, and paid for it dearly:  his sons were slain before his eyes, his eyes were gouged out, he was bound in chains, and taken to Babylon for judgment.

When the hour of Jesus finally came, He was betrayed, arrested, and crucified.  Unlike Zedekiah (whose defences had fallen and army was weak), Jesus could have commanded legions of valiant, powerful angels to defend Him.  One of these angels could have defeated thousands of powerful fighters in an instant.  But because Jesus was obedient to the Father He willingly laid down His life on Calvary.  Jesus did not even need to fight to win, but He surrendered unto the will of the Father - by allowing wicked men to do all they wanted to Him.  This is a very hard saying, and it will not be popular for those who idealise "victory" and what it looks like.  Yet it is a biblical truth, and the Holy Spirit will lead us in following the example of Jesus in the power of His resurrection.  Zedekiah would not humble himself before Nebuchadnezzar because he refused to humble himself before God.  If we will adopt a humble posture before God and obey Him, we win even if to the world it appears we lose.  That is a glorious truth we glean from the Gospel.  He who tries to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for Christ's sake will gain everlasting life.

So how do we know when to fight and when to surrender?  Once we are surrendered to God in obedience He will reveal to us the next step as we abide in His love.  There is a time to cast stones and a time to gather them; a time for war and a time for peace.  Peace which passes understanding is ours when during conflict we look to Jesus in faith and honour Him with our choices.  Having surrendered before God we are provided enduring victory.

As Unto God

Jesus spoke of a future time when He would come in glory and all people would be gathered and judged.  After commending them for feeding Him when He was hungry, giving Him a drink when He was thirsty, visiting Him when He was sick or imprisoned, housing Him whilst a stranger, and clothing Him when He was naked, He said to the wondering chosen who would enter into eternal rest in Matthew 25:40,  "...Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."  There is an example of this in the book of Jeremiah with the Rechabites.

In Jeremiah 35 God used the house of the Rechabites as an object lesson for His erring people.  The patriarch Jonadab the son of Rechab gave his sons clear commands:  they were not to drink wine, build houses, plant vineyards, sow seeds in a field, and were to only live in tents for all their generations.  Generations later the family members faithfully heeded the words of their grandfather Rechab and passed down the commands and prohibitions to their children.  Jeremiah 35:18-19 reads, "And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, ¹⁹ therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever."

The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab would be established before God forever, and God ascribed their obedience as unto Him.  Paul lays out this principle of those who live by the grace of God in Romans 14:6-8:  "He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."  We are to be intentional in living for the glory of God, and God also credits us with obedience to Him when we do so unto the least of these.

The Rechabites honoured their father and God would fulfil His promise to those who do so, proclaiming they would not lack a man to stand before Him forever!  Pretty awesome how God rewards eternally those who honour the authority He has ordained in our lives.

Faith and Humility

Today I was reminded of when Cain and Abel brought offerings before the LORD in Genesis 4:3-5:  "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."  Cain was a tiller of the ground and brought an offering before the LORD, and Abel also offered of the firstborn of his flock.  Abel's offering was accepted by God, and Cain's was not.

Now the explicit reason why Abel's gift was accepted and Cain's was rejected is not mentioned here.  It would be unwise to claim we know hearts only God can righteously judge.  Personally I do not believe the issue is primarily what was offered but the condition of the heart of the one who offered it.  Hebrews 11:4 says Abel gave a more excellent offering because it was done so in faith and was therefore deemed righteous by God.  It is therefore implied if Cain had given humbly in faith in God, he too would have been accepted.  See in verse 5 God "did not respect Cain and his offering."  It was not that the offering was unworthy, but since Cain himself was not accepted by God his offering was also rejected.  The scriptures say that whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23), and though Cain acknowledged the existence of God and even conversed with Him, there was no reliance upon God or humility before Him.  1 John 3:11-12 reads, "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, ¹² not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous."  The wickedness of Cain was not only in a faithless offering but the murder of his brother, refusal to repent when convicted by God, and his self-pity when faced with consequences.

Humility before God is a result of faith in Him, for genuine humility comes from God alone.  I have seen people bowing with their faces touching the ground before monks on the street, but that does not mean they are humble people.  The outward show of humility or presentation of an offering is not always indicative of a heart of humility and faith before God.  The fact Cain's "countenance fell" suggests he was in some way lifted up.  Those who fear God and recognise His greatness - and our great sinfulness - will be drawn to Him in humility.  Jerry Bridges made excellent observations in the book Respectable Sins:

In Luke's account of the sinful woman who washed and anointed the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:36-50), Jesus said, "He who is forgiven little, loves little" (verse 47).  The opposite is also true, as Jesus clearly indicates in verses 41-43; that is, he who is forgiven much loves much.  Simon the Pharisee did not realise how sinful he was and how much he needed to be forgiven, so he loved little or actually not at all.  The sinful woman realised how sinful she was and how much she had been forgiven, so she loved much.  The way to grow in our new affection (for Christ) that Chalmers preached about is to grow in our awareness of Christ's love for us as revealed to us in the gospel.  The apostle Paul wrote that it is Christ's love for us that constrains us to live for Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).  Such love for Him that will drive out our love for the world can only be a response to the deep, heartfelt sense of His love for us. (Bridges, Jerry. Respectable Sins. NavPress, Published in Alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016. page 174-175)

When we humble ourselves in the sight of the LORD, He will lift us up.  He divinely condescends to behold and have respect unto us.  Psalm 138:6-7 states, "Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. ⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me."  How great is our God, that He will not only look upon or hear us but also desires to dwell with us.  He did not remain at a distance from us but Jesus Christ came to earth.  He not only dwelt among us but He chose to die on our behalf, willingly becoming a sacrifice for our sins.  How awesome is our God!  Let us bow humbly before Him, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices for this is our reasonable service.

Clothed With Humility

Some of my favourite fairy tales as a lad were ones written by Hans Christian Andersen:  "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Emperor's New Clothes."  I especially enjoyed the latter because of the incredible ridiculousness of the concept but how apt a depiction it was of the human heart.  The pride and vanity of the Emperor was targeted by deceptive and greedy weavers who promised to make him the most lovely apparel.  They sat before looms without yarn or linen, moving their hands without a thread to be seen.  The weavers claimed the fine fabric they wove was invisible to anyone who was unfit for their office or hopelessly stupid, and because the Emperor was obviously neither he agreed it was the finest he had ever seen.  The whole charade reached a climax when the "clothed" Emperor made a grand appearance before the townspeople who murmured with approval.  Only a child had the sense to say what all the people knew when the foolish king paraded by them nude:  "But he isn't wearing anything at all!"  Sometimes there is wisdom in a simple observation of a child which adults blinded by greed or ambition cannot see.

One of the common threads throughout the tale is how even good men cover for themselves and others.  At one point the Emperor couldn't see the clothes on the loom, so he sent a trustworthy old minister to report of the progress.  The elderly man was shocked when he did not see any fabrics or patterns, but did not want to admit he could not see them so he played along with the sham and provided a detailed report to the Emperor.  A trusted official was sent as well and he too was alarmed when he could not see the clothes!  He could not admit before the Emperor there were no clothes to be seen, for in doing so he would be admitting he was unfit for his position or hopelessly stupid.  So he too played the fool and repeated the words of the swindler weavers, using lies to cover his folly and insecurity.  It seems it was not only the Emperor who was laid bare by the weavers, but the minister, trusted officials, and all the townspeople who vainly praised the clothing they could not see.  It seems good standing before the Emperor was the clothing people used to cover their own pride.

This compelling fable, which well-describes the conflict in a human heart when we seek to please others or cover for ourselves, is an allegory applied to many circumstances we face in life - even when it comes to matters of faith.  The Jewish Pharisees wore clean clothes and searched the scriptures to find eternal life, but Jesus declared it was a cover-up for the rottenness they hid within.  They were like a cup which had been carefully buffed and polished to a high shine, but the cup was filthy within.  Just because the Emperor thought or hoped he was actually wearing clothes does not believe clothes are a sham, for evidence of genuine clothes are all around.  To say the Pharisees used religion as a cover for their own wickedness does not suggest there is not a God who has revealed Himself and can forgive and cleanse people from sin.  The fact there are many gods worshipped does not mean there is not one true God who ought to be feared and worshipped.  Because people have misplaced trust does not mean there is not an almighty God in whom we ought to trust.

Followers of Jesus Christ are not exempt from the folly of the Emperor or the people of the town.  In our Christian circles we can plaster on a smile, act like life is great and all is fine when we are struggling, depressed, and perhaps not even walking with Jesus.  Our lives can be full of compromises and contradictions.  Our knowledge of scripture and theology can be the invisible clothes with which we try to cover the nakedness of our lives polluted with doubts and sin.  We can know about God but it does not mean we are seeking Him; we can say prayerful words with heads bowed but never enter into the LORD's presence because we have never invited Him into us.  Scriptures or Christian catch-phrases can be repeated - not because we actually believe or are experiencing these truths - but if we say them enough perhaps they will.  How we need the truth of God's Word to pierce our hearts and to admit we are unfit for the task of following Jesus and hopelessly stupid on our own!  The ones who humble themselves before God are the ones He will lift up.

Jesus said in Mark 10:15, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  It was the shrill voice of reason which snapped the townsfolk to their senses in Andersen's fable, and may the words of Jesus strike us to our souls.  Let us never suppose we can rely upon our strength, resolve, or knowledge any more now than we did when we first believed.  We need Jesus to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and we desperately need Jesus to stay the course.  The faith of a child in Jesus - not the deceitful ambitions of an adult - is what is needed to be born again, fruitful, and faithful.  Instead of being puffed up with pride, let Christians of all ages heed the exhortation of 1 Peter 5:5:  "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  This is fine clothing which is always in style and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven..

Lifted Hands in the Sanctuary

This morning I was impacted by Psalm 134:1-2, a passage put to music in my church long ago:  "Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD! ² Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD."  The priests and Levites were servants of the LORD who stood in the Temple and courts and "blessed" the LORD.  This blessing of God was an act of adoration, like kneeling before the king.  It is interesting the priests are described as doing this by night, as this typically was a time reserved for rest and sleep.  It is fitting to praise and bless the LORD at all times, especially since His people find rest in Him.  This posture of praise with upraised hands is most appropriate, for these hands would have been washed and empty before the LORD.  Night is a good time to sleep, and hands are designed for holding things and performing work, and to dedicate these to the LORD in service and praise is a beautiful act of worship.

I was prompted during prayer to look up a scripture and my eyes came upon Psalm 63:1-4 which described seeking the LORD in the early hours as well:  "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. ² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. ³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. ⁴ Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name."  Whether morning or night, the one who blessed the LORD is portrayed with uplifted hands in the sanctuary.  David thirsted and longed for God in a dry land, and found satisfaction only in the presence of the Almighty.  He desired to see God's power and glory, and he lifted up his hands in praise.

A sanctuary is a holy or sacred place, and the Temple was a place set apart for the presence of God to dwell.  Since under the New Covenant we have been purchased with the blood of Jesus, Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit where God dwells.  Though God does not dwell in temples made with hands - as if He could be contained - it is good for us to praise the LORD in places set apart for His praise and worship with fellow believers.  The servants of the LORD stood and worshipped with hands raised unto the LORD in ancient times, and it is good for us to do the same today in churches, hired halls, and homes for the glory of God.  In raising our empty hands stretched out to our LORD and Saviour we present ourselves as living sacrifices of praise.  Our lips should utter praise to God and bless Him while we live, for it is He who has provided us abundant and eternal life.

In some churches (unfortunately) it is seen as inappropriate or even a self-seeking gesture to stand with arms raised to the LORD.  Only the LORD knows the heart, and He knows if we are putting on an act or are genuine.  There are practical ways to avoid being an distraction and to be discreet in worship, for we can truly worship God in Spirit and truth kneeling, sitting, or even as a prisoner in the stocks in a dungeon.  It is good to realise even evangelical and charismatic people and churches can have a style or culture of worship formed over the tradition of many years.  Instead of giving place to criticism or distractions, we can be as the servants of the LORD in the sanctuary whose sole focus was on the LORD God.  His lovingkindness is better than life and as long as we live He is worthy to be blessed - even if raising hands is a foreign idea or an odd practice to us.

Repentance and the Kingdom of God

Having recently returned from speaking at a Teen Camp for a week, it made me consider again the key components of the Gospel.  Paul summed them up well the implications of the Gospel in his address before Festus, King Agrippa, and Bernice in Acts 26:20 when he said Jew and Gentile "...should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance."  Though Paul does not speak of the salvation we have by only grace through faith in Jesus, this emphasis on repentance should be no surprise to the converted.  It is interesting to me how Paul did not emphasise common themes camped on today like God's love, forgiveness, or grace.

Perhaps repentance is not a major theme in too many presentations of the Gospel today because it is confronting for both the speaker and the audience, yet without it none shall be saved.  When John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus, Matthew 3:1-2 describes repentance as the primary thrust of his discourses:  "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  Once the kingdom of God was manifested among them with the coming of the KING OF KINGS Jesus, the message did not change.  After John was thrown in prison Matthew 4:17 says, "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave and guess what?  The message to be preached in the name of Jesus was not to change.  Our risen LORD said to His disciples in Luke 24:46-47, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Repentance involves changing our minds and making future choices which align with God's righteousness.  We must turn from sin, then we must turn to God and do the things which please Him.  This is not a call to return to Law but to walk in obedience to God according to His Word.  Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount, "It has been written...but I say unto you...".  Jesus fulfilled the Law, and those who repent and trust in Him are filled with the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  He conveys to us all Jesus says, and this Spirit-filled life transcends that of ordinances and traditions of men.  Jesus calls us to live on a plane higher than that of Law, and repentance and remission of sins is to mark our practices and preaching as we go on with God.  If we desire to enter God's kingdom, we must do so God's Way.

Don't Wrestle Alone

As a kid I always enjoyed wrestling with my dad and brother.  I remember once at a family gathering my uncle Rocky pounced on my brother and I and pinned us both on top of each other.  We loved it.  In high school my brother joined the wrestling team at school and quickly became a far more talented and capable wrestler than I ever was.  But over the years we enjoyed many a good-natured roughhouse together.  Well, most of the time it was good-natured. :)

Wrestling is an activity which one cannot really practice well or even compete in alone.  A person can watch take-downs, holds, and how to ride a leg all day long, but until he grapples with an actual opponent he knows nothing of the fatigue, reversals, and surprises a human opponent brings.  Competitive wrestling always requires another person to have a proper match.  The struggle, strain, and sweat of a good wrestle is only known to those who actively engage with others.

And it is on this point we must be watchful and wary concerning our own struggles and wrestlings.  As children of God, He has made us to be part of His Body, the church.  In this day of increased independence we can be duped to attempt to wrestle through personal struggles alone.  If we chose to wrestle alone we do not do well.  How much better it is to include select brothers and sisters to bat ideas around, to confess our confusion over evidence, and to work together to grow stronger and more equipped for future conflict!  That is the beauty of wrestling a teammate:  you can both improve and grow at the same time.  This is genuine discipleship.  Being on the same team your aim in wrestling is not to defeat each other but to train one another for the purpose of winning as a team.

Brothers and sisters, don't wrestle alone.  There may be times we might (an unadvisedly) wrestle against God as Jacob did, but as our Father He is able to bless us.  We are mistaken to think we can wrestle against principalities, powers, or even flesh and blood or arguments by ourselves, for we need the power of the Holy Spirit to stand strong under attack.  It must be incredibly rare indeed when anything we wrestle with would not be more easily overcome with the support, love, and aid from others in the church. We have responsibilities before God we are held accountable to, and one of these is to help each other - and this includes training others to walk righteously and live victoriously.  Galatians 6:2-5 reads, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load."

Finding Where We Fit

One of the themes I spoke on recently at a teen camp is the subtlety of sin, and it has an uncanny ability to appeal to our personal desires.  This is why examining our motives in light of God's truth is so important.  Thoughts and feelings are able to undercut biblical morality with ease and conceive sin before we even realise it.  A primary way this can happen is in relationships.  We all deal with insecurities on fundamental levels, and it is only when we find our identity in Christ and worth in His love of us where we can avoid being drawn away after sinful desires.

In an address titled "The Inner Ring," C.S. Lewis masterfully describes the subtle draw we all face in seeking to please people - and how elusive the belonging we desire can be.  He makes the point we are all parts of inner rings or circles, yet there are others we long to be a part of.  People are often willing to make concessions or compromise to be accepted, yet even when they achieve their end (having been further corrupted by the process) it cannot satisfy.  There is great risk of corruption of character in all those who aim to please men by "fitting in" instead of seeking to please God.  Here is an excerpt of this address as written in the book, "The Weight of Glory":

There must be in this room the makings of at least that number (two or three) of unscrupulous, treacherous, ruthless egotists.  The choice is still before you, and I hope you will not take my hard words about your possible future characters as a token of disrespect to your present characters.  And the prophecy I make is this.  To nine out of ten of you the choice which could lead to scoundrelism will come, when it does come, in no very dramatic colours.  Obviously bad men, obviously threatening or bribing, will almost certainly not appear.  Over a drink or a cup of coffee, disguised as a triviality and sandwiched between two jokes, from the lips of a man, or woman, whom you have recently been getting to know rather better and whom you hope to know better still - just at the moment when you are most anxious not to appear crude, or naif or a prig - the hint will come.  It will be the hint of something which is not quite in accordance with the technical rules of fair play; something which the public, the ignorant, romantic public, would never understand; something which even the outsiders in your own profession are apt to make a fuss about, but something, says your new friend, which "we" - and at the word "we" you try not to blush for mere pleasure - something "we always do".  And you will be drawn in, if you are drawn in, not by desire for gain or ease, but simply because at that moment, when the cup was so near your lips, you cannot bear to be thrust back again into the cold outer world.  It would be so terrible to see the other man's face - that genial, confidential, delightfully sophisticated face - turn suddenly cold and contemptuous, to know that you had been tried for the Inner Ring and rejected.  And then, if you are drawn in, next week it will be something a little further from the rules, and next year something further still, but all in the jolliest, friendliest spirit.  It may end in a crash, a scandal, and penal servitude; it may end in millions, a peerage, and giving the prizes at your old school.  But you will be a scoundrel.

That is my first reason.  Of all passions the passion for the Inner Ring is most skilful in making a man who is not yet a very bad man do very bad things.

My second reason is this.  The torture allotted to the Danaids in the classical underworld, that of attempting to fill sieves with water, is the symbol not of one vice but of all vices.  It is the very mark of a perverse desire that it seeks what is not to be had.  The desire to be inside the invisible line illustrates this rule.  As long as you are governed by that desire you will never get what you want.  You are trying to peel an onion; if you succeed there will be nothing left.  Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain.

This is surely very clear when you come to think of it.  If you want to be made free of a certain circle for some wholesome reason - if, say, you want to join a musical society because you really like music - then there is a possibility of satisfaction.  You may find yourself playing in a quartet and you may enjoy it.  But if all you want is to be in the know, your pleasure will be short-lived.  The circle cannot have from within the charm it had from outside.  By the very act of admitting you it has lost its magic.  Once the first novelty is worn off, the members of this circle will be no more interesting than your old friends.  Why should thy be?  You were not looking for virtue or kindness or loyalty or humour or learning or wit or any of the things that can be really enjoyed.  You merely wanted to be "in".  And that is a pleasure that cannot last.  As soon as your new associates have been staled to you by custom, you will be looking for another Ring.  The rainbow's end will still be ahead of you.  The old Ring will now be only the drab background for your endeavour to enter the new one.

And you will always find them hard to enter, for a reason you very well know.  You yourself, once you are in, want to make it hard for the next entrant, just as those who are already in made it hard for you.  Naturally.  In any wholesome group of people which holds together for a good purpose, the exclusions are in a sense accidental.  Three or four people who are together for the sake of some piece of work exclude others because there is work only for so many or because the others can't in fact do it.  Your little musical group limits its numbers because the rooms they meet in are only so big.  But your genuine Inner Ring exists for exclusion.  There'd be no fun if there were no outsiders.  The invisible line would have no meaning unless most people were on the wrong side of it.  Exclusion is no accident; it is the essence.

The quest of the Inner Ring will break your hearts unless you break it. (Lewis, C. S. The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses. William Collins, 2013. pages 152-156)

I have grown out of many clothes and shoes by now, and as a grown man I am struck by all the things grown people do not and cannot grow out of by the passage of time alone.  The childish and adolescent desire for Inner Rings does not pass like a pubescent season of acne or a cracking voice but persists until it is done away with at the foot of Calvary through repentance.  How good it is to be loved and accepted by God, and only His acceptance buoys us in conflicts and heals the painful wounds of rejection.  Jesus knows what it is to be rejected.  He could never rise above the "carpenter's son" for some, and the religious elite viewed Him as a demon-possessed deceiver.  Yet Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah!  Jesus did not lose hope because He never placed His heart in the hands of men.  His satisfaction or pleasure was not sought in the accolades or praise of people but in doing the will of the Father.  Praise Jesus for His example, and that we can walk with Him every step of the way.  In Jesus I have found a perfect fit.

Worry-Free Rest

"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city,  the watchman stays awake in vain. ² It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep."

Psalm 127:1-2

Have you ever lost sleep due to pressing worries or cares?  I typically sleep well, but there have been occasions when I struggled to sleep because my mind was working overtime on some problem out of my control.  If you can identify with this, you likely also can identify with this rationale:  "I just can't help it."  It is natural for all people - even followers of Jesus - to worry or fret over difficult or seemingly impossible situations.  There are a lot of things we naturally do which are sinful, and worrying is one of them.

I was blessed to read Psalm 127 this morning and have my mind renewed by God's changeless truth.  Recently we have been dealing with a drought in NSW, and God this past week has brought rain.  Worrying about dry creek beds and catchments cannot bring rain to fill them, but God is able to do so abundantly.  Worry wears us out, and we are best served seeking the God who does great works beyond number.  Psalm 127:1-2 reminds us our best efforts and labours are fruitless without divine aid.  God is almighty and sovereign, and without Him we can do nothing.

How awful it would be to work to exhaustion in building a house but in the end it proved to be all in vain!  I can imagine a tired watchman doing everything in his power to remain awake, but even if he does so it pointless unless God guards the city.  Seeing the advancing enemy does not mean you have the power to defeat the invaders.  Builders need supplies and strength from God to accomplish their task, and no amount of watchmen can prevent a city from ruin God has determined will fall.  It is good for us to realise the completion or preservation of God's work does not depend solely upon our efforts.  The watchmen of Jericho could not prevent its collapse, and we cannot do a constructive thing for God's glory without His help.

God gives His beloved sleep, and it is a shame for us to be robbed of such a gracious gift by our worrying.  Let us not miss the fact God's people are "His beloved."  The Good Shepherd knows it when a single sheep is missing or walking with a limp; He knows when the sheep of His flock are diseased and distressed.  He is the One who makes us to lie down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters.  God is faithful to establish His people on a firm foundation and guards our souls from harm.  Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning from the One who has promised fullness of joy and peace which passes understanding.  Those who seek Jesus and find rest for their souls are benefited by sleep without interruption due to worry.

The Privilege of Repentance

A great instance of poetic justice in the Bible is seen in the book of Esther.  The wicked adversary Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews and had access to the king of Persia.  Though he was able to pass a law to achieve his murderous intentions, he was foiled by the courage and bravery of Mordecai and Queen Esther.  The life of Haman well-illustrates Proverbs 26:27:  "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him."  The one who wanted to kill Jews was himself killed for his evil scheme - on the same gallows he had built for Mordecai.

When King Ahasuerus was informed of Haman's evil plot, he left the room in a rage to compose himself and collect his thoughts.  Haman knew his life was in great danger.  Esther 7:8 says, "When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?" As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face."  From this passage it seems the covering of the face indicates a person was doomed to death.  The laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed, and once the cloth covered the face of a person, their life was finished without any appeal.

It struck me what a blessing and privilege repentance is!  Haman was not given the opportunity to repent of his crimes before a king, yet God has made a way for men to repent of their sins before Him.  God is just and righteous, but great is His mercy, love, and compassion towards us.  His anger is inflamed by wickedness into great wrath, yet when we repent He is gracious to forgive.  Repentance is often viewed as an unpleasant duty, but it truly is a privilege - a gift of God which should fill us with reverence and awe of His goodness towards us.  How glorious is our God who forgives and gives new beginnings to all who repent and trust in Him.