Taking Grace For Granted

We never know what we take for granted until we lose it.  Over the weekend Sydney was buffeted with strong winds which downed power lines and caused almost 50,000 households to  be powerless.  Right in the middle of sermon preparation on my computer the power to our house went out.  My computer went from a useful machine to being an expensive paperweight or doorstop.  Since all our appliances, computers, and lights require electricity to run, we spent the afternoon sitting in the dark.

During prayer this morning I considered how we need God more than we rely upon Him.  Reliance is an intentional dependence.  Just like computers and refrigerators need electricity to perform their designed function, so we need the Holy Spirit of God to enable us to do God's will.  We need Him constantly but can forget that unless we are a branch connected to the Vine Jesus Christ in faith we can do nothing.  I need countless things which escape my mind at any time, like a heart which effectively pumps blood or oxygen in the air.  God is the One who designed the purpose and functions of individual parts of the body as well as fine-tuning earth's environment to support life.  So much of what God has done--even those who know and love God can take for granted.

I am glad God does not take any of His children for granted as humans can; we can take our parents for granted, but God supplied them by His grace anyway.  Reliance upon God and thankfulness for His gracious provision breaks the cycle of taking things for granted, the assumption that because we have something we are somehow entitled to it perpetually.  When I cracked bones in my wrist and wore a soft cast I was amazed how it impeded normal life:  eating, washing, opening doors, and countless other activities were impacted by one small injury.  God used the loss of electrical power for an afternoon to show me how much I rely upon electricity for daily living and how much more I need what God supplies by grace.  

The Honest Policy

It is good in our relationships to be courteous and thoughtful of the feelings of others, to avoid unnecessary offense.  Where we must be careful as followers of Jesus is we do not become so diplomatic in our interactions with others we cease to honestly present the truth.  Speaking the truth does not mean full disclosure, but it is critical for us to examine our motives in real time and even after a conversation about what we said, why we said it, and when applicable why we held back.

After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers in Egypt, he sent carts to bring his father and the rest of his family to Egypt to escape a great famine.  Joseph was a wise man who feared God, and he also wanted his family to be viewed positively by Pharaoh.  Having lived in Egypt for some time, Joseph knew Pharaoh and the Egyptians hated shepherds.  Guess what?  Israel and his sons were shepherds!  So Joseph, savvy politician he was, suggested spin:  it was true they kept sheep, but their main occupation was cattle.  He coached his family concerning what to say and why in Genesis 46:33-34:  "So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?' ⁴ that you shall say, 'Your servants' occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

Joseph told his father and brothers what to say, and then the great reveal came before Pharaoh.  Everything occurred predictably as Joseph had said, but his family was not as diplomatic as he coached them to be.  He selected five of them who presented well and brought them before Pharaoh.  This was their time to shine.  I crack up thinking about what was going through Joseph's head when I read Genesis 47:3:  "Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers."  Whoops.  The very thing Joseph hoped to sweep under the carpet was the main thing they said:  "We are shepherds, and our fathers were shepherds too."  If Joseph was anything like me, in that split second before Pharaoh he would have felt a twinge of embarrassment and frustration by their candour.

But here's the amazing thing:  though they didn't say the words Joseph told them to say, God gave these men viewed by the Egyptian culture are abominable great favour and the best of the land.  Pharaoh said to Joseph in Genesis 47:6, "The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock."  Not only were they provided a place to stay, but they were given roles as chief herdsmen over Pharaoh's livestock!  Joseph coached his brothers to avoid personal embarrassment, but God brought them into favour with Pharaoh though they were honest and straightforward.

Israel and his sons were shepherds, and they weren't afraid to admit it publicly before the powerful sovereign Pharaoh.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we should be blunt in our allegiance and love of Jesus our Good Shepherd.  To be called a "sheep" is an abominable insult, but we are the sheep of God's pasture without shame.  We may think it necessary to hide this little detail when we have a job interview, or introduce ourselves to a stranger, or in casual conversation.  We imagine this might be a deal breaker--and in the case of Joseph's family there was the risk they would be sent home and the shelter and provision of Egypt could have been withdrawn.  Yet potential offense did not stop the five sons of Israel to boldly speak the truth about their occupation.

As children of God, let us be occupied with His business.  Being forthright and honest about our relationship with God should be our enduring policy.  Our devotion to Jesus Christ might be abominable to many, but we have found favour with God through relationship with Him.  Offenses will occur, but let it never be our intent.  Better to speak the truth and live accordingly before God than to hide behind a persona contrived to please men.

The Discipline of Church

I recently read a couple of Mark Sayers' books, Facing Leviathan and Disappearing Church.  Using a historical framework, Sayers weighs in as a pastor and commentator concerning western culture and its impact on church culture.  In a world which floods us with countless offers and attractive pitches, we can be deceived to think we can become the people God has called us to be without regular church fellowship.  I have borne witness to many people who drift in and out of church, looking for something ambiguous they never seem to find.  Ironically these discerning ones tend to drift and never settle anywhere.  I almost cheered when I read these paragraphs in Disappearing Church:

In an age that encourages maximum autonomy and the transgressing of limitations, perhaps we need to adhere to Todd Hunter's advice to see the institution of church as a spiritual discipline.  We get the idea that making the choice to wake up early and read our Bibles or to commit to regularly giving away our money to a charity or to fast may not always be pleasurable, but in the discipline of these things that we become more Christlike.  Yet we expect church to always be pleasurable, enriching, and exciting.

Maybe the limitations of church, the discipline of regular attendance, the commitment it requires, also teach us to be Christlike.  Maybe we need to reimagine church in our minds as a spiritual discipline, which teaches us the value of delayed gratification, of personally investing in change, of becoming more like Jesus.

Ronald Rolheiser captures this truth well when he writes, "Church involvement, when understood properly, does not leave us the option to walk away whenever something happens that we do not like.  It is a covenant commitment, like a marriage, and binds us for better or worse."  We and our Gnostic predilections ultimately fear church because we fear that it will take something from us, that it will restrict us.  And on this point the Gnostics, both ancient and modern, are right.  For as Rolheiser writes, "What church community takes away from us is our false freedom to soar unencumbered, like the birds, believing that we are mature, loving, committed, and not blocking out things that we should be seeing.  Real churchgoing soon enough shatters this illusion, and gives us no escape, as we find ourselves constantly humbled as our immaturities and lack of sensitivity to the pain of others are reflected off eyes that are honest and unblinking."  Ultimately, we fear church because it crushes Christian Gnostics, who pick their bruised and beaten bodies up, and discover that they are not gods, but humans fearfully and wonderfully made. (Sayers, Mark. Disappearing Church: from Cultural Relevance to Gospel Resilience. Moody Publishers, 2016.)

It is easy to find fault with a pastor or church, but unless fault-finders commit to fellowship in obedience to Jesus Christ the logs in their own eyes often remain.  Church is a place to be fed, to serve, and to seek the LORD in humility with others who are born again, love, and trust Jesus.  A new venture of faith may not be leaving a church but actually committing to serve Jesus there without longing for something different.  Labour to promote health in the Body of believers where God has placed you; you be the salt and light Jesus has called you to be.  Should a member of Christ's Body remain in self-imposed exile because church doesn't measure up to the ideals of an imperfect person?  If we will use God's Word as our guide, there is infinite room to extend love, grace, patience, mercy, and compassion to others with joy.

The "Special Trip"

When it comes to ministry, the fantasy of efficiency can become an idol.  We prefer quick, easy, and painless over the alternatives.  But scripture portrays God's ways as being very different to our ideals.  We are sanctified by Jesus Christ and then we are called to embrace our sanctification for our entire lifetime.  It is natural for us to desire to speed up the process even as a small child wants to be an adult:  like they have their own reasons which sound strange or odd to us, I wonder if our reasons sound just as ridiculous before God.

In a bid to save time and energy, it is natural for us to consolidate our trips.  On our way home from work or church we might drop by the shops to buy milk so we don't need to make a "special trip" later.  Whilst we are at the shops we might also withdraw money from the ATM for a future purchase or return an item that has been sitting in our car for a week with the receipt.  Having to make a "special trip" (even when we don't have to go far and have ready transport) is often viewed by those who strive for efficiency as an inconvenience, a product of poor planning, a bummer to be avoided.

I wonder if our requests of God in prayer most often aim towards our ends of ease and consolidation.  We don't want to go through the trouble of doctors, specialists, or surgery:  heal us now God!  We don't want to see our children struggle and fail, nor do we want them to experience the consequences of personal sin, so we insert ourselves into their lives to relieve pressure.  We imagine how God could or should redeem an apparent difficulty or trial, figuring what better way could God use it than by changing hearts, bringing salvation, restoring broken hearts and families, or physical healing that lasts.  Isn't it strange we suggest such things to the Creator of all things, the One who established time and operates out of it, to God who already has an eternal plan for salvation whilst we obsess over a parking spot for lunch?

Though God is always working and redeeming situations beyond our comprehension, I believe He does have a thing for "special trips."  God could have created an earth without seasons, variations of temperature, or chaos--but He didn't.  He allowed people to have wilderness experiences, times of plenty and lack, to be strengthened and then die.  God sent Jesus Christ to come to earth as a human being and be crucified on a Roman cross.  We want quick and easy, but consider how costly was the payment for our atonement and salvation!  How patient God was in waiting thousands of years to fulfill His promise to fallen mankind to send a Saviour!  From the perspective of the flesh life by faith in God is a model of inefficiency and waste, but from the vantage point of faith in God it is an absolutely brilliant, perfect plan.

The next time you are annoyed about having to make a "special trip" or lament the inconvenience of life, consider the inconvenience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It can be presented in a convenient way like an infomercial:  "All you need to do is..." but there is nothing convenient about it.  Jesus made a special trip to put on human flesh and for three decades grew up in a home in Nazareth.  He loved all but was rejected, hated, and betrayed.  He was righteous yet was beaten, scourged, and crucified.  Saving sinners was not a quick or easy fix, nor are there shortcuts to the ultimate glorification of God's redeemed.  Jesus was never in a rush or overwhelmed, and in Him we don't need to be either--even when we have to make a "special trip."

The Certain "May Be"

"Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD'S anger."

Zephaniah 2:3

There is a segment of Bible-believing Christians who tout their authority as children of God by reading passages and "claiming" them because they have appeal--like a person who claims lost property.  It is fine and fitting for Christians to believe the Bible and trust it, but at the same time should realise God has not forgotten His promises, nor is His arm shortened so He cannot save.  If my own forgiveness or salvation rested on my ability to claim anything I would still be hopelessly lost:  it is Jesus who by grace through faith has claimed me.

God's Word is packed with certainties we must believe and expect to see ultimately fulfilled.  But if we will seek righteousness in humility and meekness we will not make demands like a man with legal rights.  When Moses (one of the meekest who ever lived) was challenged by the people, he did not quote Law:  he fell on his face before God.  Jesus walked in meekness and remained silent when He had every right to speak; He did not bristle with threats or ultimatums.  Jesus spoke the truth and committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.  He willingly went to the cross in obedience to God even when there were verses He could have used to justify His self-preservation.

This passage of Zephaniah has what could be called a certain "may be."  God's people faced grave judgment for their sin, and they were exhorted by the prophet to seek the LORD, righteousness, and humility because "...it may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD's anger."  There was no demand placed upon God as if He was slave or lackey to man at his bidding, but it would take faith to humble self meekly before God.  What right do we have as God's slaves to demand anything from Him?  If we were to hear a young child made demands of their parents we would view it as bad manners:  how much more when a person arrogantly approaches the Almighty?

There is a passage in the book of Jonah which bears resemblance to this verse.  After Jonah spoke a message of God's coming judgment to the heathen people of Nineveh, his words reached the ears of the king.  The king believed the word of the prophet and commanded a three-day fast from food and water be observed by all people and animals, and all were to be clothed in sackcloth.  He commanded all people cease from their violence and turn to God.  The king did not quote the Law of Moses but fell upon the mercy of God as Moses when he said in Jonah 3:9:  "Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?"  There was no guarantee, no certainty of salvation.  But there remained hope in God and His great mercy.

It seems today there are some people who presume to know what God will do in a particular situation, yet the king of Nineveh made no such claim.  And guess what?  God responded according to the richness of his mercy and grace--not because the king or people of Nineveh had any right to be spared.  Jonah 3:10 says, "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."  The works of the Ninevites revealed faith in the power of God to bring disaster upon them and also that God could turn it away.  God has spoken, and we ought to place our faith in Him like king Jehoshaphat who reminded God of His promises and concluded with, "There's nothing we can do, so our eyes are upon you." (2 Chron. 20:12)

Better than clamoring for our rights or claiming our authority, we ought to seek the LORD in meekness, to seek righteousness and humility.  This is the person God certainly hears and answers--not the one who proudly speaks presumptuously.

The Heart of the Matter

To properly address an illness, we must go beyond seeking to alleviate symptoms.  The symptoms are not the cause--though they might be the reason we seek medical attention!  Fever, chills, and sore throat are indicators of a streptococcal infection lozenges and pain-relieving medication cannot cure.  It is also important antibiotics prescribed by a doctor are taken even after the fever breaks and pain is relieved to ensure the underlying infection is eradicated.

It has been a common error in Christians circles to view behaviour or symptoms as the problem rather than addressing the issues of the heart, a chief source of the problem.  We kick ourselves for obvious failings but neglect our need to have our hearts transformed and our minds renewed.  It is necessary we realise a drift into sin began with a drift from God.  The depth of our sin can take us for surprise like a woman who went to the doctor and complained of acute indigestion only to discover she was 9 months pregnant and in labour!  It takes prolonged pain and discomfort for us to seek the care of a doctor, and often it is the same which drives us to God seeking forgiveness and salvation.

After God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, their dealings with Him provide insight into our own wanderings.  See what Psalm 106:23-28 says concerning the sin of God's people:  "Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His word, ²⁵ But complained in their tents, and did not heed the voice of the LORD. ²⁶ Therefore He raised up His hand in an oath against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness, ²⁷ To overthrow their descendants among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. ²⁸ They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices made to the dead."  We would all agree idolatry and fornication are sinful, but the problem did not start there:  the problem began when they did not believe God's word (verse 24).  Unbelief led to despising the good land (verse 24), complaining, a refusal to listen to God, and disobedience (verse 25).  This corruption within exhibited itself in idolatry and fornication.

We are called, as followers of Jesus, to align our hearts and lives with the truth of God's Word.  If we will not hear or believe His Word, then we deny the lamp God has provided for our feet.  The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth in agreement with the scriptures, and Christ's words provide a sound foundation to build our lives upon.  God provides examples in the Bible for our good that we might learn from the failures of others and choose to walk in the way that pleases God.  If we aim for behaviour modification we are no better than Pharisees condemned by Christ, but God looks upon the heart.  When we are born again through faith in Jesus we are given a new heart and Spirit, and He convicts us of sin.  Having symptoms of sin exposed, by God's grace we can go to the heart of the matter. 

Friends Sharpen

"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Proverbs 27:17

When I worked in mechanical insulation, knives were tools I used daily.  One of the first things you learn after pulling those Dexter Russell or Old Hickory knives from the package is the factory edge is not sufficient.  Knowing the intended use of a knife guided workers in how it should be sharpened:  a fine edge on stainless for cutting rubber was accomplished with a dry stone, and using a double-cut file high-carbon blades could be made serrated.  With a little practice, knives new and old were easily made serviceable by sharpening.

King Solomon compared the sharpening of iron using iron to how interactions with others sharpens  friends.  When swords or daggers were blunted, passing blades on one another corrected blunted edges so both were improved.  Sharpening a blade with a stone uses it up, and over time files become dull and useless.  This is where sharpening of friendship is far superior to modern ways of sharpening knives, because at the same time both people are made sharper.

To sharpen a dull edge it is necessary for exposed metal to be removed.  This is the outworking of friendship, of people rubbing shoulders and spending time together.  The people we surround ourselves with shall have an impact on us and sharpen us for future interactions.  A knife can be a useful tool to do work or for self-defense, but it can also be wielded as a deadly weapon.  Making friends with experienced workers would allow efficient and safe working practices to develop, but hanging with hardened criminals could sharpen us to do evil.  Bad company corrupts whilst good company edifies.

No matter who you are or your life experiences, through faith in Christ we bring great potential for positive sharpening to relationships.  The implication of sharpening is there is something in me that needs to change and flaws of character which need correction:  there is the rust of self-focus to be removed, ignorant judgments to be ground away, ignorance which must be scraped off like burs to expose a new perspective by the help of friends.  We would like to imagine we can do this ourselves through devotion and discipline, but nothing compares to personal fellowship and discipleship.  Both young and old receive the sharpening benefits of friendship.

A dull blade requires more force to be effective and thus the risk of injury is increased.  Better to spend a few minutes sharpening before starting to cut material than to make rough cuts.  We have all been around people who could be described as "rough," either for their abrasive manner or cutting remarks.  Our tendency is perhaps to avoid that person but remember Proverbs 17:17:  "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."  We can be friendly towards people who do not consider us a friend, and sharpening of both parties can occur.  Our positive influence will affect them, and the LORD can use their roughness to hone us to our sharpest so we are fit for His use too.

Mile After Mile

Yesterday I spend time considering the implication of what going the extra mile meant when Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-41, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' ³⁹ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."

Jesus began with a quote from the Law of Moses, but Jesus told his followers not to make demands concerning their rights.  If their eye was gouged out, they had the right under Law to demand the person guilty was made to lose their eye in the same fashion.  This was intended to limit punishment inflicted by the court for crimes.  At the same time would this push for retribution cause the blinded person to regain their lost eyesight?  No:  it blinded another person as well.  The tendency to make others pay is naturally in us all, but Jesus commanded His followers to commit ultimate justice into His hands even when it came at a personal cost.

A slap to the face in Jesus' culture was a personal insult, and Christ's followers were not to respond in kind.  It is the role of government, courts, and judges to uphold God's righteous standards and bring about justice, but we are not called to lash out to even the score.  Since we are to trust God to provide for all our needs, even when sued for the clothes we are wearing.  Verse 41 mentions being compelled to go one mile, and Romans were permitted to force a Jew to carry a load for a mile.  France is quoted by David Guzik in the Enduring Word Commentary on this point:  "The Jews fiercely resented such impositions, and Jesus’ choice of this example deliberately dissociates him from militant nationalists. Rather than resisting, or even resenting, the disciple should volunteer for a further mile.”  I like how this is put because it hones in on the point Jesus made over and over:  following Him requires a change of heart.  The bar is set far higher than compliance with commands, but faith in God and love towards God and others.

Verse 41 had me thinking.  Being "compelled" (pressed into service) to go one mile suggested it was not a personal preference.  How challenging that in faith in God and love of others moves us to gladly volunteer for more of the same.  It is one thing when a man compels us, but I am convinced sometimes God compels us too.  He leads us to do things which naturally we recoil from doing, and when we have done our duty we are seemingly just as far from the finish as ever.  I have realised I am more likely to put a good face to it when I believe God is the one compelling me to go the first mile than when it is another person, and He wants to see this change in me.  If God's love is truly in me, then my love for others ought to rival my love for God--not as an opponent but a compliment--love that is patient, kind, without envy, boasting, pride, rudeness, self-seeking, and keeps no record of wrongs.

God's love for us is enduring, active, and stretches on for eternity.  As we abide in Jesus and His love we are greatly helped to go mile after mile by the power of the Holy Spirit.  God's Word is a light to our feet and a light unto our path so we can remain upright and balanced during our earthly pilgrimage.  God sustained the Hebrews for 40 years in the wilderness with His presence, and their shoes did not wear out.  Having our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace we are enabled to joyfully walk in love as our lives testify of His grace, mercy, and power.

One Thing We Need

"For three things the earth is perturbed, yes, for four it cannot bear up: ²² for a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is filled with food, ²³ a hateful woman when she is married, and a maidservant who succeeds her mistress."

Proverbs 30:21-23

King Solomon said the earth is perturbed when a servant rules, and there is certainly trouble when the unqualified are in charge.  When I worked in a trade I quickly learned not all apprentices I trained handled authority well.  Some imagined additional responsibility was license to delegate their duties to others and cease from profitable labour.  They were unreasonably harsh towards others with less seniority as if they were somehow beneath them.  Let us not think only apprentices are to whom this verse applies, for as God's servants we can try to impose our will on Him.

In Luke 10 Martha invited Jesus into her home, and she and Mary sat as His feet and heard His word.  She was an attentive hostess and sought to serve Jesus well.  Luke 10:40 says, "But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."  Martha served Jesus as her LORD, yet she spoke to Him as His lord!  She questioned if Jesus cared about her having to serve alone while her sister was idle, so she demanded Jesus tell Mary to help.  Like Martha, our lives can be filled with contradictions:  desiring to serve but demanding our conditions are met; calling Jesus Master but telling Him what to do.

Instead of agreeing with Martha or caving to her demands, Jesus responded with a gentle rebuke--not of Mary but of Martha.  Luke 10:41-42 reads, "And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."  Martha was distracted, worried, and troubled by many things and in doing so missed the one necessary thing:  to sit at Jesus feet and hear His word.  She imagined she was doing the serving, but Jesus came as a Servant of all.  While Martha hurriedly washed up Jesus taught how eternal souls could be washed clean of sin.  She worked to put snacks on the table when He came as the Living Bread from heaven who gives eternal life to all who receive Him by faith.

Jesus alone has the words of life, and it follows we ought to drop whatever we think is important to hear Him first.  To Martha it looked like Mary wasn't pulling her weight, but she had chosen the one thing that was needed without the distraction of multi-tasking.  Is there time set aside each day where you are doing nothing but seeking to hear from the LORD?  There is nothing wrong with praying while laying in bed, surfing, jogging, or golfing, but what a fruitful time God provides when we drop everything to sit as His feet to receive from Him what will not be taken away.  As servants of God let us not make demands of Him or be encumbered with much serving so we miss what we need:  to hear the Word of God.

The Unloved

In everyone there is a thirst to be loved and accepted that is not always satisfied by others.  Leah is an example of this.  There was a woman who was desperate to be loved but no amount of her efforts worked to achieve it.

Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel's hand in marriage, but his deceitful future father-in-law substituted her old sister Leah who is described as "tender eyed."  There are opinions on the exact meaning of this, but it is put in contrast to Rachel being beautiful and well-favoured.  This suggests there was something about Leah's eyes which were not beautiful.  Jacob was angry when he discovered Leah had been given to him in marriage, and a week later consummated a marriage with her sister Rachel.  It says plainly in Genesis 29:30 Jacob "loved Rachel more than Leah."  The rivalry would plague their relationship, and each tried to outdo the other.

God saw what was going on in Genesis 29:31-32:  "When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. ³² So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me."  It is hard for Leah being in a marriage where she was unloved, but she very much desired to be loved.  Hoping to earn her husband's love was a chief pursuit for Leah.  See Genesis 29:33-34:  "Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon. ³⁴ She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi."  Having borne three sons, Leah hoped her husband would love and be attached to her.  The KJV puts it, "joined unto me."  The lack of love put distance between Jacob and Leah.

A day came when Ruben, Leah's firstborn, found mandrakes in a field.  Rachel asked for them, hoping they would help her fertility issue.  Leah's feelings are on display in Genesis 30:15, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" And Rachel said, "Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."  Based upon this verse it seems Leah did not live or sleep with her husband, and she had to make a trade with Rachel for the privilege.  Leah felt like her husband and his affections had been stolen away by her sister, for Rachel was loved and she was unloved.  It is sad and tragic many people feel very much like Leah:  hungry for love and acceptance, working hard to earn it, and never measuring up.

I wonder if this is how people feel who are looking for likes, acceptance, and even love online, posting pictures of themselves in exotic places or exposing their sculpted physique to attract followers.  No matter how much a celebrity loves their fans, their fans love the persona or illusion more than the reality they cannot know from watching a film or performance.  In relationships which turn abusive people still long for love; they desire another person to be joined to them in a friendship or romance.  They give their hearts searching for "the one" who will love them against the odds and every previous experience only to be disappointed again.

How good it is when we realise God loves us by His grace and no one can separate us from His everlasting love!  He loves the unloved and unlovable, having demonstrated His love through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for sinners.  God loves us not because we have worked hard to earn it, nor could our weakness deter it:  God loves us no matter what.  This love cannot be earned but received through faith in Jesus Christ as we read in John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  God didn't love the globe we call earth, but He loves all the people He created on the earth to know Him and be joined with Him forever.  It is in God alone our thirst for love and acceptance is perfectly satisfied, and I hope Leah learned that.

God's Blessing

I came across a connection I found interesting between Laban and and his nephew Jacob:  they were always working angles for their benefit.  When Abraham's servant came to Nahor to find a wife for his master's son Isaac Genesis 24:29-31 reads, "Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. ³⁰ So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, "Thus the man spoke to me," that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. ³¹ And he said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels." (emphasis mine)  Laban was glad to favour people from whom he could enrich himself.  Laban proved to be a shrewd man, always seeking his own prosperity at the expense of others.

Jacob was the younger of Isaac's twin sons born to Rebekah, and he too had a penchant to scheme for his own advantage.  He managed to weasel Esau out of his birthright and blessing.  He was sent to Laban's house in Padanaram to marry within the family, and though a "man of the tents" by God's grace he found the way.  Genesis 29:10 says, "And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother." (emphasis mine)  Jacob was impressed by the beauty of Rachel and the bounty of Laban's flock, and ended up staying with Laban.  Laban acknowledged in Genesis 29:14, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him for a month."  At the end of the month, Laban made the generous offer to Jacob to state his wages--wages Laban agreed to but changed 10 times.

Jacob served Laban for 7 years for the privilege of marrying Rachel, but Laban gave him Leah instead.  He asked Jacob to serve another 7 years to marry Rachel and because he loved her Jacob did so.  When Jacob asked to be released from his service Genesis 30:27 reads, "And Laban said to him, "Please stay, if I have found favour in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake."  Laban and Jacob wanted blessing from the LORD, and the blessing they sought meant material possessions.  Jacob ended up leaving Padanaram with wives, sons, daughters, servants, flocks and herds, more than he could have ever dreamed of receiving.

A touch from God changed the old schemer, and gave him a new name.  Genesis 32:24-30 records a compelling scene as Jacob fretting over returning to his country and his brother Esau:  "Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. ²⁵ Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. ²⁶ And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" ²⁷ So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." ²⁸ And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." ²⁹ Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. ³⁰ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

From that day forward Israel walked with a limp and a blessing received from God.  Instead of scheming for gain he gave:  he gave his brother a generous present, bought land where he made an offering to God, gave Joseph a coat of many colours, gave money for food from Egypt, and even gave his youngest son Benjamin at the request of an unknown ruler in Egypt--who happened to be his beloved and long-lost Joseph.  His life began to reflect the giving and generous God he worshiped.  Isn't God awesome in the way He changes people?  He gives those who seek Him a new name, blessings, and a glorious destiny by His grace.

The Heart Requirement

The almighty God is unapproachable in glory, yet He graciously called the children of Israel as His own inheritance.  He graciously made a covenant with them and His presence dwelt among them.  Offering sacrifices to God under Law became ingrained in the culture of Israel and over time a subtle shift occurred:  people offered sacrifices who did not know God.  They imagined on the basis of their sacrifice they were pleasing and acceptable to God regardless of what they did.  Sin was like a debt in a ledger which sacrifice blotted out, and the greater the sacrifice the more righteous or pious the person.  Ironic, right?

I read this today in Micah 6:6-8:  "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  God was not interested in the apology gifts of His people but preferred they obediently walk in His ways.  You've heard the quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and it rings true here.  The prophet revealed no amount of sacrifice makes a man worthy to approach God, and even offering your child as a burnt offering cannot wash hearts and hands of sin.  Better than sacrificing for sin they should walk in the good way God already directed.

God despised and refused to receive the sacrifices of the proud who gave only in response to their guilt instead of God's worthiness.  They vainly hoped greater sacrifice would make them worthy, but no sinner has merit to be acceptable to God.  God desired His people would do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.  The Father sent Jesus Christ the Son to be the Saviour of the world, and He has bid all men by faith to walk with Him.  Jesus is the Lamb of God without blemish who the Father ordained as a sinless and acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the world.  No man can earn heaven by their gifts, but as many as have received Jesus to them He gives power to become the sons of God by grace through faith.

People in Micah's day made sacrifices which gave them glory before men, and men viewed them as righteous though they gave out of guilt for sin.  They forgot sacrifices are not offered by the righteous but by sinners!  Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart.  As Jesus and His disciples watched people contribute money to the Temple treasury, He pointed out a poor widow who threw in two mites--the smallest denomination of coinage.  To their great surprise He said she gave more than all because she gave out of her lack.  This likely has more than financial implications:  she gave without pride, arrogance, or self-confidence from a heart that hungered and thirsted for God.  David wrote in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."  It isn't the monetary value of the sacrifice which impresses God but hearts which are broken and humbled before Him.

To obey is better than sacrifice, and the broken and contrite heart is willing to give God all.

Not Immune, but Loved

I was reminded of a childhood memory of a friend at church who was convinced he was "immune" to the effects of poison oak because of his Native American ancestry.  The reason?  He and two friends unwittingly walked through a patch of poison oak:  they were covered with hives, and he had none. Seeing I was most skeptical of his claims, he proceeded to grab leaves of poison oak and slowly rubbed them on his arms and across his face.  When he came to church on Sunday, it was obvious to all (including him!) he was NOT "immune" to poison oak.

It is a common misconception that coming to Jesus Christ in faith brings comfort and rest to life without struggles which plagued us before.  There is a sense our relationship with God means we are immune to the trials of life, and that sin's negative influences and effects are negated.  They felt they could choose to walk in sin without consequences.  An example of this is seen in the children of Israel who departed from obedience to God in Micah 3:11:  "Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us."  I imagine they quoted hackneyed phrases to pump up their confidence like, "No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper," or "If God be for us who can be against us?"

Sin remains as poisonous and deadly as ever after we come to Christ, desiring to cut us off from fellowship with God and other believers.  The context of what Paul wrote was not that relationship with God causes us to avoid painful trials, but though He allows them nothing can separate us from His love--very different to what many assume.  It is not the cessation of pain or problems, but consolation from God in the midst of them.  As long as we live in this body of flesh in a fallen world we await ultimate redemption and thus pain and problems will continue.  Yet even as Jesus rose from the dead, there is a continual supply of hope, help, and deliverance in Him.

Read it in context for yourself in Romans 8:31-39:  "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God did not spare His Son Jesus Christ from suffering, grief, pain, and death, but He has exalted Him above all other names.  He has all authority in heaven and earth and freely has given us all things.  Jesus lives to make intercession for us and at no point in our lives on earth will we be free of our need for help, wisdom, and strength from Him.  See the things which Paul and other Christians suffered!  Not one of them was immune to distress, persecution, famine, peril, or sword; many believers suffered cruel deaths at the hand of God's enemies.  Yet though they encountered fiery trials and brutal pains, they were greatly loved by God who demonstrated His love for sinners on the cross.  Paul was accounted (like Christ) as a sheep to be slaughtered, yet by God's grace he would rise.  This is the promise, not the absence of pain or problems but the presence and power of the Almighty God now and forever.

Sometimes our pains are self-inflicted, like my friend who covered himself in poison oak.  But praise God He is a Healer, a Redeemer, and Restorer of souls to all who turn to Him in faith.

Love-Based Relationship

Last night as a family we watched a film we hadn't seen for over a decade:  How To Train Your Dragon.  Hiccup is a young lad who aspires to be a dragon slayer but doesn't seem to fit in with the other Vikings of the village.  This is especially true concerning his brave and brutish father.  Hiccup was more apt to try to befriend dragons rather than kill them.  He is a constant source of embarrassment to his father, who at one point says to him:  "You're not my son."

About 15 minutes later in the film, however, Stoic the Vast's opinion of Hiccup changed due to his brave exploits:  "I'm proud to call you my son," his father beamed.  "It seems they share a performance-based relationship," I said aloud.  The son was always working to earn the approval of his father, and the father exuded bitterness at perceived failures yet pride for apparent success.  Stoic viewed Hiccup in light of his failure or success, whether he was able to meet or exceed expectations he had for his son.  Sadly, I don't think the dynamics of their relationship are unique.  Performance-based relationships are more common than we might think.

One thing for which I am grateful is God's gracious acceptance of flawed people because He loves them--not because they have measured up to His immaculate standard.  In my personal experience with corporations and workplaces it was always very much, "What have you done for me lately?" rather than trust and mutual respect.  Any favour was a thinly veiled "You Owe Me" rather than "Well done."  Isn't it amazing that we owe God for everything, yet He never once says "You owe me?"  The wise realise we owe Him our lives, all we possess, and can only credit Him for the amazing future He has in store for us.  Just because we can't measure up doesn't mean working to please Him isn't worth it.  We are called to wisely respond to the everlasting love He has extended to us, humbled to be His chosen, adopted child.

With God we are not in a performance-based relationship, yet at the same time faithful servants will be rewarded accordingly.  He entrusts more to those who are faithful in the little things.  Instead of despising the days of small things, we are to be faithful unto the LORD who has provided all things by grace.  Every day is a good day to praise and honour God, the One who has accepted us and is pleased to call us His own even when we fail and fall.  What peace, rest, and comfort is ours by the mercy and grace of God.  God is not proud of us but pleased with us, for ours is a relationship based on love, not performance.

Divine Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is an effective technique in quality film making.  It can take the form of subtle details included towards the beginning of the film which have relevance later.  These intentional clues suggest or point to a future event.  One example which comes to mind is the wedding in the movie The Deer Hunter:  if the bride and groom take a sip of wine and do not spill any, it means good luck.  When I saw the camera zoom in on a couple of drops hitting the white wedding dress, I knew things weren't going to go well.  The next sequence thrusts the viewer into a shocking sequence during the Vietnam War.

Whilst reading this week I came upon a Bible verse which foreshadows what God foreknew.  After Samson told Delilah God was the source of his miraculous strength, and if his hair was cut he would be weak as any other man, she had it done.  When she called out to Samson the Philistines were upon him, he expected to draw upon his supernatural strength at other times.  But he did not know the Holy Spirit had left him, and was easily overcome.  Judges 16:21 says, "Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison."  Samson was cast into darkness without hope, but the following verse gives a glimmer of hope:  "However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven."

In his affliction Samson would turn eyes of faith to God.  He was blinded, bound, and enslaved, but Samson's hair began to grow:  there was hope of restoration to fellowship with and strength from God to overcome his enemies.  Samson had been a judge in Israel for 20 years, but when he pressed on the supporting pillars of the house with all his might he killed more Philistines in one moment then he had in the 20 previous years combined.  The sun rising in the east reminds us of God's mercies which are new every morning, rainbows remind us of the covenant God has made to never again destroy the earth with water, and the regrowth of hair points to a new opportunity to seek God and His strength.

Revival and renewal is daily and seasonal in the world, and by God's grace a continual need in our lives He is faithful to meet.  Samson's hair was shaved and the covenant with God broken, but his hair began to grow again after it was shaved.  Even when we are guilty as sin, there is hope for us if we turn to God in humble repentance and faith.  All hope is not lost if we have God, for the joy of the LORD is our strength.  The resurrected Jesus Christ is awesome foreshadowing of people being raised to new life ultimately in glory for all who trust in Him.

Healthy and Growing

Months ago a large tree was removed from the parkway in front of our house, and a large bare spot was left filled with sand.  It was around that time our neighbour began to prep his lawn for the winter by fertilising it.  I toyed with the idea of feeding my lawn at the time but decided against it.  The area where the tree once stood was mounded and needed to be flattened before installing new turf, and winter wasn't the best time to lay sod (according to my lawn-expert neighbour).  I call him this because the results speak for themselves.  The turf is always green and never will you find a weed in it!

Today I decided to remove some of the dirt to prepare for new sod.  Because I had not fertilised the lawn before winter, every gap in the turf was amazingly filled with many varieties of weeds.  Weeds are most opportunistic.  This practical example demonstrated how the neglect of feeding led to an exponential increase of weeds, and this is true concerning the spiritual life.  The lack of available food caused the turf in my yard to go dormant, and this lack of growth provided an opportunity for weeds to sprout and take over.  When we do not feed often on the Word of God or lack Christian fellowship, our spiritual growth takes a hit.  The best defence for a lawn is a healthy, growing lawn where weeds have no room to take root.  In the same way, efforts to weed out sin without grass which grows leaves gaps weeds ultimately fill.

It is hard work pulling weeds in the hot sun, and unless the space is filled with desirable seed or plants guess what?  The weeds will be back!  If we desire to have a lawn free from weeds it must be fed in the right season, and reading God's Word is always in season for Christians.  Reading and gaining knowledge is not our ultimate end but hearing and obeying the Word of God.  Obedience to Jesus Christ is a key to exponential growth of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

God Hears Our Cries

"Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly. ² 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."

Jonah 2:1-2

The way God redeems affliction to lead people to seek God is a common theme lately in my Bible reading and study.  Jonah went from sleeping in the belly of a ship to crying out to God in the belly of a great fish.  The belly of the fish was nothing like the comical pictures in children's Bibles complete with a bed and table but a terrifying mixture of absolute darkness, stench, pressure, and inescapable heat.  Strangled by weeds, sweating in discomfort, and gasping for foul air, Jonah had discovered and was trapped in a living hell.

It was in the belly of the beast we read of Jonah praying to God for the first time as a result of his affliction.  He cried unto the LORD and was heard by the God who is gracious, merciful, compassionate, and delights to save.  In the darkness Jonah sought the LORD and his faith was buoyed.  Though he had been in the fish for days, he was convinced somehow, someway he would be released from the prison of flesh.  He said in Jonah 2:8-9, "Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy. ⁹ But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD."  The idols of the sailors were incapable of salvation, but God who caused the wind to blow and the sea to rage could silence them.  The God who prepared the fish to swallow Jonah could release him at God's command.  God spoke to the fish and Jonah was vomited upon dry land. (Jonah 2:10)

On a side note, I never considered the large fish likely needed to beach itself to vomit Jonah onto dry land.  It may have provided the first decent view Jonah had of the great fish God prepared to swallow him.  I wonder if the fish just laid there and expired on the sand as Jonah watched, or if it slowly inched back into the water and swam off.  Based upon what happened next in the book I don't believe Jonah would have helped the creature but preferred to sit down to watch it die.  But the dying fish is a great picture of how God will someday destroy Sheol and Death and throw them into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:14).

In the darkness Jonah's eyes turned to God, the light of his salvation.  He was granted divine insight:  "Salvation is of the LORD."  How good it is to remember this in our affliction.  When things are prosperous we can forget about God, and when circumstances are hard we work frantically to change them.  But we are in the midst of affliction and there is no hope, eyes of faith seek the LORD.  We ask God to bless us, and there in the belly of a great fish was such a man:  he had an audience with the living God and realised "Salvation is of the LORD."  For days he choked and struggled within that living furnace and in due time God opened Jonah's eyes to the truth.  Praise the LORD He sees our affliction, hears our prayers, and answers with salvation.

A Personal Turn

Humans have a tendency to take things personally.  This leaning impacts our judgments and how we connect causes and effects with people.  For instance, when my child misbehaves in a public setting I might feel embarrassment or that his conduct reflects poorly upon me as a parent.  Since I take personally the responses of my child to discipline or am sensitive to the opinions of others, when I notice other people's kids misbehaving or throwing a tantrum what might I do?  Without thinking I put the same burden on other children as an honest reflection of their parents.  Our personal investment causes us to take things personally, good and bad.  Situations which have little or no bearing on us we have an ability to turn personal and speak presumptuously.

In the last couple weeks I heard of cases of a well-known Christian author and music writer who have publicly announced they have either left the Christian faith or are "losing" faith.  These sorts of stories are often circulated on websites and social media, and observing the response of readers has been interesting.  The vast amount of responses I have seen concerning the musician and song writer of a popular church have "made it personal," attributing the song writer's lost faith to the alleged watering-down of the scripture in teaching at the church he attends.  Perhaps people who are intimately acquainted with the church feel entitled to offer this opinion.  But from the outside it is nothing more than seeing bad behaviour in a child and blaming the parents for lack of discipline.  Could there be a connection?  Possibly.  At the same time among my online acquaintances there was no outcry against the church of the famous author who is now without faith:  he alone was the primary focus.

We must be very careful to avoid rushing to judgment in these matters, and even better not to judge at all.  If these ministers of God can drift from Him to a place of doubting, we who think we stand should take heed lest we fall.  Since only God fully knows the hearts of men, we risk wading into the error of speaking presumptuously concerning straying brothers or sisters.  Should we blame others for their own personal wrestling, doubts, and unbelief?  Can we blame parents, pastors, or church body for wayward children who do what is right in their own eyes?  That is like blaming a parent for their adult son's STI who moved away from home years ago.  On the flip side there are many godly young people whose parents are totally hostile and opposed to the things of God:  should we credit heathen parents for their child's desire and love for God?  Give credit to where credit is due, and only God is worthy.  To use the behaviour of children to discredit parents or the foibles of parents to slander their children is folly because each stand before the righteous God and Judge.

This morning I read the first chapter of Jonah and I find the provision, grace, and salvation of God towards this wayward prophet most encouraging.  The word of the LORD came to Jonah, but Jonah went his own way:  down to Joppa, down into the ship, and finally down into the belly of the great fish God had prepared.  Parents have been guilty of writing off their own children for their shameful conduct, but God didn't disown Jonah.  In fact, God determined to use Jonah to save the men on the ship, to deliver the wicked Ninevites from destruction, and to provide a sign to point to Jesus Christ as God and Saviour.  Matthew 12:38-41 reads, "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." ³⁹ But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."

God didn't distance Himself from Jonah as if he reflected poorly upon His lordship.  Jonah was not an effective preacher because of years of study or cross-cultural missionary training but by the grace of God which was a sign that pointed to Jesus Christ the Saviour.  Jonah didn't head to Joppa because of bad parenting, nor did he determine to avoid Nineveh because his synagogue watered-down doctrine.  It's true parents make mistakes and the Word of God is not always handled honestly in pulpits, but the point of this post is this:  let us avoid speaking presumptuously about why the author of a book sold in Christian bookshops walked away from the faith or a worship pastor gives place to doubt.  Only God knows exactly what is at work behind the scenes and in their hearts and ours.  Instead of piling on or stoking flames of gossip we ought to show compassion and pray for those who are deceived, lost, or erring.  We ought to remember Jonah and how God used Him as a sign to unbelievers so people would believe and come to salvation through Jesus Christ.  Should people walk away from Christ it is easy to take it personally, but we don't have to:  they have turned from Christ, not us.

Names of the Holy Spirit

I found a pleasant surprise in a book called Bible Word Search by William C. Gordon.  I'm not a big "word search"enthusiast, but it was the content which I found more compelling than the puzzle.  One of the word searches was a list of names of the Holy Spirit.  Gordon wrote, "The third person of the Trinity is referred to by many different names, both in the Old and the New Testament."  In case you are curious, here is list from those provided:

• Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15)
• Spirit of burning and judgment (Isaiah 11:2)
• Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9)
• Spirit of counsel, knowledge, might, and understanding (Isaiah 11:2)
• Spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13)
• Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20)
• Spirit of glory (1 Peter 4:14)
• Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2)
• Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29)
• Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4)
• Spirit of life (Romans 8:2)
• Spirit of love (2 Timothy 1:7)
• Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13)
• Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10)
• Spirit of revelation and wisdom (Ephesians 1:17)
• Spirit of supplication (Zechariah 12:10)
• Spirit of truth (John 14:17)

The names of God reveal much about Him, and these names are all consistent with the revealed character and nature of God in His Word.  Though the word "trinity" does not appear within the pages of scripture, it is consistently affirmed by these and many other passages.  The claim of Jesus Christ to deity was one touted often by His enemies who slandered Him as being demon possessed.  It seems fitting to sign off with 2 Corinthians 13:14:  "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."

The Humble Heart Repents

"Bad company corrupts good habits," the scripture says, and an example of this is seen in the life of David.  David was a man after God's own heart, but he still was not impervious to the influences around him.  Though David did make mistakes as all men do, I admire how he received correction and did not repeat the same error.

David had fled from his king and father-in-law Saul with 400 men who gathered themselves to him.  An organised band of this size could basically do what they wanted without reprisal, but they were honourable according to David's commands.  In the land of Judah they protected the sheep of a wealthy man named Nabal, and being in great need humbly asked for help.  Nabal answered the delegation David sent roughly with contempt.  He would provide no food but spouted insults.

Upon hearing what Nabal said, David told his men to gird on their swords and prepare for a fight.  His plan was to go up to Nabal's house, take what he desired by force, and kill all males by dawn.  1 Samuel 25:21-22 reads, "Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. ²² May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light."  As David approached Nabal's home, he was fuming.  He spoke of himself in third person, his angry complaints sprinkled with the personal pronouns "I" and "me."  He was deeply offended and reacted a lot like his father-in-law King Saul.

The words of David were similar to what Saul spoke concerning the Philistines in 1 Samuel 14:24:  "And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food."  The self-focus seen in Saul was reflected in David.  But David's heart was not like Saul's:  Saul would not repent at the rebuke of the prophet Samuel, but David repented at the correction of Nabal's wife Abigail.  1 Samuel 25:32-33 says, "Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! ³³ And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand."  Though Saul and David sinned by selfish motives and pride, Saul brought a curse but David repented with blessings.

Here is the difference between a proud heart and one that is after God's own heart.  The proud heart justifies itself and seeks honour before men, yet the heart which honours God is humble and responds gladly to correction--even when it is before hundreds of people.  Praise the LORD for giving those who trust Him a new heart which responds to correction and delights in God's wisdom.

Speaking When Opposed

This morning I read a chapter of the book of Amos, and I appreciate the boldness and dedication of this man who continued to speak God's truth in the midst of opposition.  Amos was a man who worked as a herdsman and harvester who God called and ordained as a prophet to Israel.  He was not the son of a prophet or long had aspirations of such a calling.  Amaziah the priest of Bethel was not impressed by the word of the LORD through Amos and reported him to the king, that Amos was conspiring against him.

Amos 7:12-13 reads, "Then Amaziah said to Amos: "Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, and there prophesy. ¹³ But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is the royal residence."  What Amaziah did with Amos who spoke as directed by God remains common to this day.  People are fine with the concept of people having faith in God and His Word, but they don't want to hear it.  They want those abhorrent views as far away as possible! Amaziah questioned the authority of Amos as a prophet, and by speaking against the messenger he hoped the message could be silenced.  The ones who will not be silent will be censured, blocked, or discredited.  Search algorithms are changed to make Christian content harder to find online.  To Christians who are bold to speak truth in love the world says, "Go away!"

Amos didn't flee, and he didn't stop speaking as directed by God either.  This boldness in the face of opposition marks those who are called by Jesus Christ to follow Him.  Our motive for speaking or writing is not to make a name for ourselves as prophets or ministers but obedience to God who created mouths, ears, and godly counsel.  Proverbs 25:12 says, "Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear."  As earrings are designed to be worn on ears, so a wise rebuker and obedient ear go together.  Amos was such a man who spoke in obedience to God concerning the state of the nation Israel, but sadly Amaziah nor the king had an obedient ear.  They refused Amos and his message, but this did not deter the man who feared God.  Let us be as Amos, humble messengers of the most High who fear God and continue to speak truth in love.

The Beauty of Kintsugi

In the book The Third Option, author Mile McPherson referenced "kintsugi," an artistic Japanese pottery repair technique.  Instead of trying to conceal fractures, kintsugi emphasises cracks by making repairs with precious gold or silver.  This process can actually improve the beauty and value of pottery rather than the piece being designated for scrap or the bin.

Quoting from the "My Modern Met" website, "Since its conception, Kintsugi has been heavily influenced by prevalent philosophical ideas. Namely, the practice is related to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which calls for seeing beauty in the flawed or imperfect. The repair method was also born from the Japanese feeling of mottainai, which expresses regret when something is wasted, as well as mushin, the acceptance of change."  It is fascinating how philosophy can find expression in how a broken pot is repaired rather than thrown away.  In the west we live in what some call a "throwaway" culture, where items are almost cheaper to buy new than to have them fixed.  "If it's not broken, don't fix it," the cliche goes, but I have never heard the reverse:  "If it's broken, fix it."  In most cases there is an attraction to what is new, and we place greater value upon new than old.

In kintsugi, brokenness brings out new potential.  If a bowl, cup, or pitcher was never broken, there would be no opportunity to adorn it with precious gold.  And when things are broken--even when the broken thing is a person--we do our best to conceal the damage done.  We admire the work tradesmen do to repair holes in walls or gouged furniture by saying in amazement as we carefully examine for faults, "Wow, you never would have known."  This is something we do with our bodies and past as well.  Money is spent every day to conceal blemishes, to lighten or darken skin, and the removal or covering of unwanted tattoos.  We work to hide our scars rather than being open about our past hurts or faults.  It is for our benefit to humbly confess we are shattered so God might be our Saviour and strength.

The world seeks perfection it can never attain, but those who discover the love of God find themselves accepted by Him in spite of flaws.  God does more than a kintsugi master could ever dream of doing, for we are born again by faith in Jesus Christ and transformed into a new creation and provided eternal life.  Our bodies look the same, but the glory of God dwells within us.  2 Corinthians 4:6-7 says, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  In our brokenness we came to Christ for salvation, and through the hurts of the past God's glory shines bright as Redeemer.  No longer must we labour for approval of men or self by a veneer of vanity, for God's grace and power is revealed in our weakness.  It is He who makes us new; it is God who makes the weak strong.

"The Third Option" by Miles McPherson

Yesterday I finished The Third Option by Miles McPherson, pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, California.  It was a thoroughly engaging, thought-provoking read.  Living as an immigrant and now dual-citizen of Australia gave me much more to consider than simply race relations in the United States, as a person who identifies as White living as a foreigner.  Here it is not so much the colour of my skin but my birthplace and accent which sets me apart.

The primary value of the book for me was to explore my own biases regarding identity and race.  Growing up I always felt like my perspective didn't matter because I was part of the privileged majority who could never understand or appreciate the struggles of others.  Maybe all that is true.  But praise be to God all people can be loving, gracious, and accepting of others on account of how God has accepted us.  Living in a foreign land has taught me many valuable lessons, enriched my life, and given me empathy for "outsiders" I wouldn't have had otherwise.

Most people would not admit to being racist, but Miles talks about how everyone has "racial conversations" in our own heads.  This may show itself in us intentionally avoiding a conversation about race because we don't want to appear racist or offend!  Without thought we naturally categorise people based upon their appearance, language, dress, or ethnicity.  A lot of what we think we know about other people or cultures is based upon a minuscule sample size or from what we have heard--not from firsthand experience through immersion in a culture.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard Aussie slang, figured it was common, and used it myself only to be met with confused expressions by other true-blue Aussies!  It wasn't because they didn't understand what I said, but they literally hadn't heard the term used ever before.

Finally, the book brought up something which had been unwittingly weighing on my conscience.  When I was a kid I made a racist and degrading comment to a member of my extended family.  I wondered at the conscience God has given us, for God has put within us the capacity to remember a sentence or word we spoke 30 years ago which was hurtful to others and displeasing to God.  I was wounded in remembering what I said and the tears flowed.  Praise the LORD He brings our sin to mind so we can repent of it, ask for forgiveness, and be reconciled with God and others.  It is a privilege to be reconciled to God and people we have wounded, whether by ignorance or malice.  Words have an incredible capacity to wound or to edify.  If we have used our words to hurt or tear others down, it is in humbling ourselves before God and man in repentance which results in restoration and encouragement for all.

Return and Rejoice

We've been studying through Hosea at Calvary Chapel Sydney on Sundays and I happen to be in the book of Amos for my morning devotions, a prophet who was a contemporary of Hosea.  Because the northern kingdom of Israel had rebelled from God, severe judgment was coming.  Israel resembled a stubborn heifer who refused to budge, so God would put her in the position of a vulnerable lamb in open country.  The fall of Israel at the hand of her enemies was a tragic consequence for her sin.

Amos 3:11-12 says, "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "An adversary shall be all around the land; he shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered." ¹² Thus says the LORD: "As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be taken out who dwell in Samaria--in the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!"  The people of the northern kingdom vainly hoped they would be spared, and they frantically tried to make treaties with their enemies rather than repenting before God.  God made it clear no one in the northern kingdom would escape:  the lamb who decided to forage in the open country would be torn in pieces by the lion of Assyria.  They could hide away in darkened homes upon beds and couches but they would be found and removed.

Whilst the context of this passage was a warning of certain judgment, there is for believers great consolation found here.  If a lion did steal and eat a sheep of the flock, the shepherd would boldly pursue and remove legs or even an ear from the mouth of lion.  David described slaying a lion which came against the flock, and a hungry lion would not easily relinquish a kill without a fight.  Shepherds who worked under a master would retrieve the torn parts of sheep as evidence they had not stolen the lamb or sheep for themselves.  Another way of viewing the passage in light of God's grace, mercy, and love is God knew those who were left in Samaria the capital who were too feeble, sick, or wounded to flee.  Though God's judgment was harsh, He exhibited compassion to consider the torn remnant worth delivering from the mouth of the lion.

Peter compared Satan to a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  Even if he is permitted to sink teeth or claws into one who wanders, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who saves and delivers.  Whilst there was no hope for the northern kingdom of Israel at that time because they would not repent, there remains hope for all today who cry out for help and deliverance.  Our Saviour who rose from the dead is able to bring new life out of death.  We are not to blame the devil for our pains, for God disciplines those who He loves.  Hosea 6:1 says, "Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up."  Pain is a trigger for men and women of faith to seek healing from God, not run from Him in unbelief.  After David confessed his sin he wrote to God in Psalm 51:8, "Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice."

Hosea and David credited God for pains He allowed them to endure, knowing He who tore them was their only way to healing and restoration.  God who delivered David from the paw of lion, bear, and even the giant Philistine prised him from the figurative mouth of the lion, sin which worked to damn him body and soul to hell.  What an awesome God who shows love towards us, to heal, redeem, and save us when we were yet sinners.  In Him we will find cause to rejoice forever.

Sought In Affliction

In preparing for this week's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I came across a quote from Matthew Henry that impacted me:  "Carnal hearts, in time of trouble, see their sickness, but do not see the sin that is the cause of it." (Matthew Henry Concise, pg. 11112)  This insight is easily verified in our own lives, for it is easier for us to describe our negative symptoms to a doctor than to know for certain the cause our malady.  We may have theories about how or when we contacted a virus, but the fact we would even go to a doctor shows our need for help in treatment.

God spoke through Hosea the prophet concerning His people in Hosea 5:13, "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound."  Ephraim and Judah were able to see their symptoms, but they did not seek healing in God.  They vainly went to the king of Assyria for help to assuage their symptoms, desperate for peace.  The unstoppable Assyrian war machine was headed their way, and all hope of successfully defending their borders was lost.  The cause of Israel's trouble was not the might of Assyria but they had forsaken the LORD.  God's complaint was His people did not even know Him, as their sins separated them from God.

This passage of scripture caused me to consider:  am I like the Israelites who only sought to relieve their symptoms or do I seek God to be cured?  Physicians do not in themselves have the power to heal anyone but utilise medical training to prescribe medicine, treatment, and procedures to promote the natural healing ability of the body.  The illness of Israel was exhibited by physical symptoms but had a spiritual cause only God could heal.  Israel stooped to attempt to make a peace treaty with their enemies rather than seek the LORD in repentance.  Instead of making deals with the devil, God's people ought to be zealous in repentance before Him (Revelation 3:19).

Whilst all physical illness we endure does not have a spiritual cause (Job's friends were presumptuous to assume he was afflicted as a direct result of his sin), in the case of Israel there was a direct correlation.  Because they had forsaken God they did not seek Him in their trouble, and because they did not know Him they did what was right in their own eyes.  How often have we too sought help in our trouble from what could not cure us!  Praise the LORD He is sufficient for all things, by grace having provided us all things which pertain to life and godliness.  When we cry out to God in repentance, He comes to us in our affliction.  In our struggle may we seek Him, desiring Him over healing or salvation because He is worthy.