God's Merciful Reign

I am convinced unless God was entirely good, loving, gracious, and merciful there would be no possibility for humanity to survive.  If there was a shred of greed, selfishness, pride, or arrogance in God it would only be a matter of time (and God is eternal!) before He wiped us off this planet like we sanitise surfaces of unwanted germs.  Even in times of difficulty and trials He remains good.  Our natural tendency is to turn away from or against the God who is our only source of hope, healing, and salvation to worries and fears.

In correspondence with my mum today she referenced Psalm 103 and what consolation is found there for all!  When I read through God's Word I mused to myself, who can say it better than God Himself, the One whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting?  Now matter where or when we live, we exist in the peak season of God's mercy.  What an exhortation it is for people hungry for God's blessings to place their focus on blessing Him instead.  For your reading and living pleasure, here is Psalm 103 in its entirety.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ⁶ The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. ⁷ He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. ⁸ The LORD is merciful and gracious,slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. ¹³ As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. ¹⁴ For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. ¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. ¹⁷ But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, ¹⁸ to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. ¹⁹ The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. ²⁰ Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. ²¹ Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure. ²² Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!"      Psalm 103

Make Love Flourish

The Bible is filled with exhortations to trust God, and our faith is made evident through our actions.  What may seem a very inconvenient time might provide a great opportunity to make good on our "good" intentions.  God never promises believers a life of ease and convenience but that He will supply all our needs according to His grace.

I was reminded of this as I continue to read through 2 Corinthians.  In chapter 8 Paul told the Corinthian church about the churches in Macedonia, how they were afflicted and in poverty but gave generously to help meet the needs of others in the church who were struggling.  The previous year the Corinthians expressed their desire to give, and though they had far greater resources to draw upon than the Macedonians they never fulfilled their intentions.  After using the Macedonian church as an example, Paul wrote to the members of the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 8:7-8:  "But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also. ⁸ I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others."

The church in Corinth had abundant faith in Jesus, boldness to speak, great knowledge of the truth, were diligent in ministry, and demonstrated love for the saints, yet their giving to those in need lagged behind.  Paul, in a gentle and courteous way, encouraged them to focus on this area of weakness in their walk.  What I appreciate is how Paul did not start comparing the Macedonians with the Corinthians, using guilt or shame to manipulate them to financial giving, but he reminded them about what Jesus had done for them in 2 Corinthians 8:9:  "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."  Giving would be an expression of their love of God, acknowledged their Saviour Jesus Christ who gave all for them, and followed His example.  Through giving to meet practical needs their love flourished--not that they would be burdened and others eased--but so their abundance could supply what others lacked.

How fitting is this exhortation to the church today, and when I say church I mean the individual members of the Body of Christ.  May the love of God flourish through us as we give to meet the needs of others in what seems to be the season to stockpile; to supply generous provision instead of hoarding for ourselves.  I exhort you, believer, to seek the LORD's guidance and follow His directives to reach out today to at least one person you know:  a friend, family member, neighbour, or fellow Christian.  Ask them how they are faring, if they have any pressing needs, and consider how the LORD would lead you to contribute.  The LORD can use countless means to accomplish His good purposes and reveal His love and grace to others, yet it is amazing and awesome He chooses to use us to practically demonstrate His love.  It may not seem the most convenient time to give, but today is always the ideal day to cause the love of God to flourish through giving by faith in God.

Feeling Sorry?

"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."

2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Everyone knows what it feels like to feel sorry, to experience regret over mistakes we were personally responsible for.  We have also felt sorry for people because they were going through a difficult trial or season we had nothing to do with--or felt sorry because we realised we were powerless to change the situation.  The Strong's Concordance connects the Greek word translated sorry with distress and sadness.  Paul distinguished between a godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world.  While sorrow could be generally called a transient grief or a "bad feeling for everyone, the following results help identify what sort of sorrow we have experienced.

One of the definitions of "sorry" in Webster's 1828 dictionary is most appropriate for the human condition:  "poor; mean; vile; worthless; as a sorry slave; a sorry excuse."  We can feel sorrow but in comparison to God we are sorry indeed because we commonly make mistakes, are forgetful, unfaithful, and foolish.  Feeling sorry about these things is an appropriate response!  As children we are taught to apologise, to say sorry to those we have offended or hurt.  Conversely, we feel it is the duty of offenders to not merely say they are sorry but to really mean it--a very subjective aspect of conflict resolution for children and adults alike.  We mistakenly make how badly the other person feels as their dutiful penance to earn our forgiveness.

In the first letter Paul wrote to church in Corinth he took them to task for sinful behaviour rife in their church.  Upon receiving that correspondence they were cut to the heart and expressed great sorrow for their errors.  Paul rejoiced not that they were sorry or felt bad, but their response revealed they sorrowed in a godly manner because it led to repentance.  Their repentance went beyond feeling bad about themselves and what they had done, and this is the hopeless tomb where worldly sorrow dumps and holds everyone hostage.  Godly sorrow about our sorry selves leads to acknowledging our sin, our need to change for the better, and looks to God for forgiveness, cleansing, and seeks reconciliation with those we have wronged.  Paul shared the life-changing results of godly sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7:11:  "For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: what diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter."

Sinners deserve to feel sorry but do not deserve forgiveness.  Praise the LORD through faith in Jesus feelings of sorrow for our sins move us to repent and receive the gift of forgiveness God's grace.  Repentance, having received forgiveness according to God's promise, is intentional to make necessary changes to ensure the sin is not repeated, restitution was made as necessary, appropriate boundaries are set for the future, and steps are taken to live above reproach.  A godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation not to be regretted.  The most regrettable things can thus be redeemed in a believer's life for God's glorious purposes and great rejoicing.  Jesus compared repentance to a lost sheep being found by his rejoicing shepherd in Luke 15:7:  "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."  Only God is able to turn tears of sorrow into joy.

The Third Person

I am grateful I attended a Bible-teaching Christian church as a kid.  But my experience shows even a church that systematically teaches through the Word of God has limitations:  my understanding!  I grew up with a lot of misunderstandings about God and the interpretation of scripture not due to bad exegesis but my own legalistic folly.  I read the Sermon on the Mount and other teachings of Christ as a new law to be followed by the letter and somehow missed the whole "Love one another as I have loved you" which was only possible by being born again through faith in Jesus and walking in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus exposed His disciples (and all people) as judgmental, sinful rascals:  we tend to judge others before we judge ourselves.  He questioned them in Matthew 7:3-5, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."  Jesus illustrated the folly of judging others according to appearance instead of first judging ourselves righteously.  He pointed out the intense scrutiny of others to locate a speck in a brother's eye whilst having a twig from a tree hanging out of your own!  We can be very earnest about removing the speck from our brother's eye while being quite comfortable with the plank in our own eye.  Jesus commanded His followers to actually remove the plank with repentance and turning from it (not just admit it could or does exist) and then with clear vision unobstructed with hypocrisy help restore a brother (Galatians 6:1-3).

I wonder if it is common for Christians to do what I did with this passage:  I conveniently invented a third person in this story who had neither plank nor speck in their eye.  Can you guess who this person was?  It was me, of course!  The reality is in every situation or conflict we are one of the two believers in the parable with either a speck or plank in our eye.  In imagining myself as the third person I foolishly and dangerously placed myself on the level only Jesus Christ is worthy of, being the sinless Son of God and only Judge with perfectly clear vision.  Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart and sees the hypocrisy concealed within.  How critical it is for our growth we would take the scripture personally by relating the most ugly and wretched conduct we see as a glimpse of the reality of who we are and remain apart from Jesus.

When confronted with his inability to meet the demands of Hebrews in the wilderness, Moses cried out to God in Numbers 11:15, "If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now--if I have found favour in Your sight--and do not let me see my wretchedness!"  It was impossible for Moses to provide a BBQ meal in the desert for a million people, and dealing with our own hypocrisy and wretchedness is an impossible task by the effort of the flesh alone.  We cannot love like Jesus asks us to, to love even our enemies like Jesus loves us!  Moses touched on an important point:  he despaired his condition and wished to die.  Jesus provided us an example by dying on our behalf, revealed our total bankruptcy of love and inability to do as He commands, and here's the awesome part:  when we are born again through faith in Jesus we can die to self and the life of Jesus begins to miraculously be lived out through us.  It is not our love but the love of Jesus even for enemies which shines through when I admit I am the one with the twig in my eye, the hypocrite in desperate need for cleansing from sin and grace to humble myself before God and man.

Jesus is the only One worthy to be the third person in the illustration of the story, for there is none of us without sin.  Isn't it amazing God would demonstrate such love, grace, and patience to selfish, proud, unloving hypocrites like me and you by sending His own Son?  Praise be to God now and forever!

Light Affliction and Eternal Glory

Regardless of the state of the world, Christians can peaceably rest in the comfort and goodness of God.  Australia has recently experienced drought, bushfires, floods, an economy reeling from the impact of COVID-19, not to mention the risk of infection from the ongoing pandemic.  I do not know if my generation has ever experienced such upheaval that affects daily life.  Billions have been wiped from the stock market and for those who find security in savings the future looks increasingly grim and bleak.  It is situations just like this which illuminate the blessings God graciously gives those who trust in Him with contentment and freedom from fear, worry, and hysteria.  We can rejoice knowing in the supreme confidence God loves us and is in control.

Followers of Jesus Christ are not strangers to trials and difficulties faced in this life and have continued to joyfully thrive.  On the heels of informing the Corinthian church he and fellow believers were troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down--at times even despairing of life--rejoiced how the life of Jesus was manifested through them.  Their bodies were perishing but God continued to renew them from within day by day.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  When Paul called his suffering "light affliction" he was not downplaying it but comparing it to the eternal glory which awaited him and all those who trust in Jesus Christ.  Their suffering would have an end but the glory they would experience was eternal and far outweighed negative experiences in life which would ultimately be redeemed according to God's good purposes.  Paul lifted his eyes above the problems and pains and fixed them on the eternal God in His holy habitation.

Without being born again by faith in Jesus the best men can do is place their hopes on circumstances changing for the better, labour to make the best out of bad situation, habitually check news reports, hoard goods out of fear, and funnel anger by blaming someone or something for their present state.  It is true there are practical steps we can take to be prepared for disasters and limit exposure to illnesses, but the Christian is given by God strength, comfort, and rest confidently knowing we are safe in Him.  Professors and "experts" are giving predictions about best and worst case scenarios concerning the economy or the viral pandemic but they cannot change a thing.  No matter what happens in the world or to us personally, we need not worry.  Even when our personal reality exceeds a worst case scenario it is light affliction which is but for a moment which is working for our good and God's glory forever.

Where are your eyes fixed today, believer?  To whom do you look for hope?  Are you focused on what you can see (worrying about what you cannot see) or on the eternal?  David prayed in Psalm 27:7-10, "Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. ⁸ When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." ⁹ Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. ¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me."  Cry unto the LORD all who desire mercy, for He will hear and answer.  The God of our salvation will not leave or forsake us in volatile seasons of life because He is faithful and eternal.  Seek the LORD you His beloved children and all our needs will be abundantly met according to His grace and "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

The Faithful Legacy

King Hezekiah is proof the apple doesn't resemble the tree it dropped from, a perfect example God can make godly men regardless of their godless environment.  There are few kings in the history of Judah as wicked as Hezekiah's father Ahaz, yet Hezekiah prepared his heart to seek the LORD.  When he became king he immediately made sweeping changes to purify the land of idolatry and to restore the worship of the one true God of Israel.

Hezekiah left behind a legacy of far greater enduring value than gold or silver but the testimony of a life devoted to the praise, worship, and service of God.  After preparing the Temple to accommodate the worship of God and the storage of sanctified things, he ensured priests and Levites throughout the land were provided for from the offerings obediently brought by the people.  See what 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 says about this king who faithfully served the LORD:  "Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. ²¹ And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered."  May this be said of all God's people, that we too would do what is good and right and true before the LORD.  It is God's will we would seek God with all our hearts who will cause us to have success in all we put our hand to do.

The life of Hezekiah teaches us a godly legacy is not made by what you leave behind but by choosing to live for the glory of God today.  Praise the LORD for His faithfulness and how those who love and trust God begin to resemble Him in godly character as a son bears similar physical features to his dad and mum.  I was always struck by my dad's similar manner and bearing to his father, and how beautiful it is to see the attributes of God in the way we love, forgive, and are patient with one another.  1 Corinthians 1:9 says, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  Let us answer the call to faithfully walk with Jesus today--and keep going!

Choosing Your Battles

When I worked for a union shop as a mechanical insulator, I was nominated by my peers to be shop steward.  This volunteer role was structured to be a liaison between the workers and the union to resolve conflicts between the shop and workers.  If the shop violated the collective bargaining agreement to the detriment of the workers, should the shop refuse to address the grievance it fell to me to contact the union so they could step in and resolve the issue.  It wasn't long until I was called upon to act in the best interest of workers who were being taken advantage of.

In my idealistic youth I imagined the union brass would be keen to stand up on behalf of members who were ill-used by their employer.  I discovered quite the opposite, that the union laboured to keep good relations with shops by ignoring issues raised in the fear they shops would go non-union.  During a conversation with a union business representative it was evident he lacked any desire to follow up the complaint and said with a sigh, "Ben, you gotta chose your battles."  Instantly I fired back to him, "Well, I chose this one.  How about you start doing the job the members are paying you to do?"

The approach of "choosing our battles" is common.  We might identify a losing battle, a pointless or an unnecessary battle.  There are many battles which could be justly fought, but we only want to expend effort when we can win and the potential benefit justifies the cost.  There might be a million justifiable battles and because we cannot fight them all we must choose the most worthy ones.  Every battle we fight requires a certain amount of personal investment, whether the conflict involves nations, a union contract dispute, or one of a personal and private nature.  The Bible sheds much light on battles which is foreign to the world.  Because God fights for His people He is able to accomplish impossible victories no one walking in their own strength would ever dare attempt.  In faith in God Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt without a fight, David slew the giant Goliath with a single stone when armed and amoured men fled at his voice, and Jesus defeated sin and death when He laid down His life on Calvary.  God's battles and the way He fights them are uniquely His own.

In the book of Joshua God directed the Israelites to march around Jericho once a day for six days, and on the seventh day He commanded them to encircle the city seven times:  at Joshua's command the people shouted and God caused the walls to fall down flat.  After this miraculous and astonishing triumph, the children of Israel set their sights on Ai--a small city with only 12,000 inhabitants.  The spies reported two or three thousand men was all it would take to defeat.  Because of sin in the camp the 3,000 who approached the city fled in fear and 36 of them perished.  After judgment of those who troubled the camp, Joshua 8:1 says, "Now the LORD said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land."  Instead of only mustering up a small fighting force for a small city, God commanded Joshua to muster all the fighting men of Israel which numbered in the hundreds of thousands.  Of the entire army made ready a portion of them were chosen to fight as Joshua 8:3 reads:  "So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night."

There are many valuable principles in this passage we can apply personally:  to seek the LORD in what battle to fight, to obey God's leading in how to fight the battle, and that we do so with all our might--not only committing a fraction of our resources to the fight.  This walk of faith in God requires all our effort, a complete commitment of readiness to obey.  Because the battle is the LORD's it is always expedient to expend our energies according to His direction, for all our resources and abilities we possess have been provided by His grace.  The battle which we are engaged in is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, against rulers of darkness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6).  In the fight against Ai God directed the children of Israel to utilise military tactics, and though God has given us spiritual armour by the Holy Spirit it does not mean we intuitively know what battle to fight and how to fight it.  Praise God the battle and victory is the LORD's and when He chooses a battle He enables and guides us to contend successfully.

Hope in God's Mercy

Do you enjoy trying to find the perfect gift for someone?  When I wasn't sure what to buy I used to enjoy walking through the shops for ideas.  With enough time and persistence I would nearly always be excited with what I found and look forward to giving it away.  There have been gifts given which were appreciated nearly as much as the giver hoped, but it is especially fun to see people pleased with what they have received.  Some are tough to please, yet many people derive more joy over the person who gives them a gift than in the value of the gift itself.

That is one remarkable thing about God:  though He is perfect, literally has everything, and has the loftiest standards, He is pleased with humble things.  Visiting royals presented King Solomon lavish gifts of gold and precious jewels, spices, the best of oil and wine, and exotic animals--that hardly made a dent in the goods he already acquired.  What could a common person afford to gift a king, much less the KING OF KINGS?  Psalm 147:11 tells us what God takes pleasure in:  "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."  God delights in people who reverence Him, who "hope in His mercy."  Mercy is kindness to others from a heart of love.

Now this is a wondrous thing, that God delights in people who acknowledge and expect to receive mercy from Him!  The prophet Jeremiah said concerning God's mercy in Lamentations 3:21-26:  "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. ²² Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed,because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning;great is Your faithfulness. ²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" ²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. ²⁶ It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."  When Jeremiah and the children of Israel faced the brutal consequences of judgment for their sins at the hand of their enemies, those who feared God were patiently sustained by God's mercies which were new every morning.  Like the manna which sustained the Hebrews day by day in the wilderness, so God's mercies upheld those who faced war, famine, and pestilence.

When we give a gift how satisfying it is to see it joyfully received, and the same is true concerning God:  who is a more generous Giver than He?  His delight is in those who sense their lack and need for His presence, in those who hope in His mercy.  Those who fear God seek Him and receive His loving kindness.  God is not a greedy despot who demands sacrifice to be satisfied but is pleased to see His gifts gladly received and appreciated.  The greatest thrill for a chef, baker, or grill master is to see people heartily enjoy their quality offerings, and God's pleasure is not by what we offer Him but that we happily receive what He freely gives us out of His mercy, grace, and love.

Childish Things

What I learned in English class rings true for interpreting the Bible:  keep the main thing the main thing.  Though some are always on the lookout for "fresh" interpretations to support what is not explicitly said, I believe the deepest meaning of the passage is often in plain sight.  It takes the Holy Spirit and humility to sit quietly and listen to discover profound truths God delights to reveal.

This happened for me the other day as I read 1 Corinthians 13, a passage familiar to many believers.  When I have heard people teach on the second half of it they often wade into debates and conflict concerning whether tongues and prophecy are valid in the church today (which is ironic because chapters 12 and 14 explicitly affirm they are) and what childish things we are to put away.  To use this chapter to debate these topics hijacks the passage from the context and clear meaning of the text which is profound in itself.

On the heels of exhorting people to desire spiritual gifts and not to forbid them, Paul in chapter 13 introduces how God's love is necessary to properly utilise spiritual gifts and how faith, hope, and love will endure after spiritual gifts are eliminated when we are glorified with Christ.  In short, Paul explained the most desirable and useful spiritual gifts today are mere child's play compared to the life which awaits us in eternal glory.  1 Corinthians 13:9-12 reads, "For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

We do not need to wonder what Paul meant when he spoke of putting "away childish things" because he just told us by means of a personal example.  As a child he 1) spoke as a child, 2) understood as a child, and 3) thought as a child.  Meditating on each one of these aspects of own childhood (and children we have observed) helps us to understand the contrast Paul struck between operating in spiritual gifts in part and the glorified state in the presence of Jesus Christ when we see Him as He is in fullness.  Let us consider each one of these childish things Paul put away as he matured into adulthood and began following Jesus Christ.

• Spoke as a child:  children have limited diction and impatiently shout things like "Mine!" and "No!" and "I do it myself."  Infants babble and make sounds without meaning as they imitate their parents or siblings.  On the playground they shout, scream with delight, or call other children names.  They may threaten, "If you don't play it right, I'm not your friend anymore."  All this sounds familiar to us I'm sure.
• Understood as a child:  children are very concrete thinkers, unable to process abstract concepts.  Their understanding is limited and is filtered through who they trust:  if dad or mum said it, it's true without question.  They can be gullible and easily frightened.  The meaning of what people say around them goes right over their heads and they pay it no mind.  They have an innocence which comes from ignorance.
• Thought as a child:  the thoughts of children are very simple and often not connected with reality.  I remember my dad telling me a story of when he sank under the water in a public pool and likely would have drowned if the lifeguard had not sprang into action.  What were his thoughts as his life flashed before his eyes?  He was a bit disappointed at the prospects of missing fried chicken night and hoped the beard of the lifeguard wasn't scratchy.  Children are easily overwhelmed and imagine the entire world is ending over an insignificant event, like Chicken Little thinking the sky was falling because a small apple plonked on her head.

Paul went on from speaking as a child to doing so circumspectly with the wisdom of God in love.  He considered who he spoke to and the right way to convey his feelings and used God's truth to encourage, exhort, rebuke, and edify.  Instead of the limited understanding of a child Paul grew to discern good from wickedness, truth from error, and literal from figurative.  He understood the implications of truth claims and how scripture was to be rightly interpreted and applied personally.  Paul matured from thinking as a child to choosing scripture to filter his worldview rather than relying upon culture or tradition to direct him.  He put away suspicions, superstition, and self-centred thinking with the aim to please God, make disciples of Jesus, and love others.

Paul followed with another example, that "now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face."  Mirrors in Paul's day were often polished metal which were a far cry from seeing someone in person.  With all the spiritual knowledge Paul possessed and spiritual gifting he operated in by the power of the Holy Spirit he resembled a child compared to who God would glorify him to be; looking in a mirror which provided a dull and warped reflection of his own face would one day be lost and forgotten in the clarity which would surpass 8K resolution.  In the presence of the almighty God glorified the spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy would vanish, but love would remain as 1 Corinthians 13:13 says:  "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  The almost parenthetical placement of 1 Corinthians 13 between chapters 12 and 14 prevent the folly of downplaying the value and need of spiritual gifts now which are provided according to the will of the Holy Spirit.

I pray you are as blessed (or even more so!) as I was to consider in light of the great things God has provided today by the power of the Holy Spirit we have even more to look forward to when we are glorified in the presence of Jesus.  The ways we speak, understand, and think now resembles well the ways of a child compared to the apostle Paul, ways we will someday put off when we meet Jesus face to face.  A good application of the passage is not just to long for eternity but to recognise childish speaking, understanding, and thinking in us now, intentionally put it off, and put on the new man which is created after Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 4:14-15 makes the point "...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ..."  Through the Holy Spirit God has given us the ability to know and do His will, to speak the truth in love and grow into the image of Christ.

The Matter of Self-Belief

My wife works at a Christian bookstore and occasionally brings home one for me to read.  I am convinced King Solomon's claim was spot on when he wrote, "Of making books there is no end." (Ecclesiastes 14:12)  It seems easier than ever to write a book too, as these days anyone can print their own book without an editor or publisher!

Anyway, I have started reading one of these new offerings on the subject of mentoring.  The premise of the book seems biblically sound, but there were times I felt good reasoning somehow led to incorrect conclusions.  My mind followed the track of logic until the final word of a paragraph!  Here is an example of what I mean:

Every man is living out "The Story of Me."  And I have yet to meet a man who wouldn't love to be the hero in that story--if only he knew how to do it.  But here's the catch:  information alone can't turn him into a hero.  Nor can technique.  Nor can a strategic plan or a set of goals.  Certainly no app can do it, either.  Something has to take place inside the man--inside his heart and mind--that transforms him into acting as a hero would act.  It's ultimately a matter of believing in himself.  (bold emphasis mine, quoting Bill Hendricks in Men of Influence, pages 56-57)

It's certainly debatable what motivates "heroes" to do admirable acts which justify the label, and it is ironic some of the most heroic men and women would humbly declare they have done nothing to deserve such praise:  they simply did what others would have done in the situation.  It is true there are heroes in history who did not profess faith in God, but was it self-belief which saved the day?  To say the necessary transformation inside a heart and mind is a result of "believing in himself" is not the conclusion I expected.  Since no man has the capacity to create himself or transform his heart and mind, it is only faith in God which can bring about this required miracle.

But then I started thinking:  what is the proper role of self-confidence in Christianity?  Does it have a place, what Hendricks calls "believing in himself?"  I would say biblically it has no place whatsoever, but in reality self-confidence can creep in.  The church in Galatia is a good example of this dynamic:  they started their journey of faith well by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, but then tried to progress through the efforts of the flesh.  I do not believe Jesus was self-confident, but He knew who He was in relation to His Father in heaven.  Self-confidence is always a snare because it rests in self and pride.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus and grow as we humble ourselves and obey Him--not because having a relationship with God gives us self-confidence.

Psalm 118:8 says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  We do not always chose the best option but tend towards what is natural, to place our confidence in other people or ourselves.  But Jesus did not place His confidence in men because He knew what was in them.  Our boldness, strength, and success does not come from believing in ourselves but in the revelation of our God "...according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him." (Ephesians 3:11-12)  At the same time it is good for us to examine ourselves:  is it self-confidence or faith in Christ which moves me to serve God and others?  Am I bold because I am confident in myself or in humility before God?  Self-belief is misguided, but faith in Christ places our confidence in Him.

The Gift of Longing

"The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing."

C.S. Lewis (from "The Weight of Glory")

There is longing in every human heart because God created us needy.  We are carried in the womb for 9 months and emerge needing to be washed, fed, and carried.  Young children are completely dependent on their parents for love, provision, protection, nourishment, and training.  Unknown to little ones (and many older, independent folks too) is we have spiritual needs which outweigh the physical ones which are signaled by our bodies like hunger, thirst, and fatigue:  the need for forgiveness and redemption by God because we are sinners.

C.S. Lewis touched on a unique aspect of the human condition:  an appreciation of the arts, of music, pageantry, and beauty.  Our taste in clothing styles, music and cuisine differs, but the appreciation of skills and creativity beyond our own captivates and enraptures.  We long for love and acceptance, to be appreciated, to accomplish something significant and worthwhile.  This longing may be numbed or go dormant by cynicism or perceived failures, but the desire remains.  Have you ever known this longing, a dream that is felt more fully when awake than asleep?  Whether this longing burns bright or has died down to embers, it is a need only fully satisfied in God.

Isn't there a longing in everyone to be wanted, even to be needed?  We all want to be chosen, acknowledged as belonging, valued for who we are--though flawed.  The great God who created mankind has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ and called us all to Himself.  The beauty of His invitation to know and live with Him forever is not on the basis we are numbered among a select few but His awesome greatness and love for all.  The fabled courage of the knight risking life and limb against a fire-breathing dragon to save a princess only hints at the longing we have to be so courageous ourselves and is put to shame by the love demonstrated by God for us.  We want to be the brave knight but we are better cast as a vain and unfaithful damsel who grows to love her own reflection over all else.  While we were yet sinners Jesus Christ died for us so we could be saved!  All the songs and poetry of the world together cannot outshine this truth which eternally satisfies our deepest longings.

Worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness!  Even now He is preparing room in His kingdom for all who return His love with trust.

Sought Out by God

I enjoy metal detecting as a hobby.  A few years back I bought a quality detector which has the ability to "discriminate" between various metals on a scale from 1 to 99.  The readings correlate with a change in tone which helps a detectorist (also called a fossicker in AUS) to choose quality targets.  I don't want to spend a lot of time digging up bits of foil or rusty nails when I could be digging coins.  Even with discrimination the depth and size of the object can give a signal that sounds better than reality.  My detector has the ability to completely silence a custom range to prevent digging up scrap iron or tiny bits of foil which saves a lot of time.

While I was digging through sand today I considered how Jesus had the power to discriminate, to know the hearts and minds of people without them uttering a word.  He could have gone only to the people who would be open to discussion or willing to believe, but He didn't.  Jesus actually did the opposite, going specifically to sinners who had need for repentance.  He ate with tax collectors and sinners, people the Jewish religious leaders avoided like lepers to avoid any uncleanness.  When Jesus went to a feast given in His honour, Luke 5:30-31 says, "And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" ³¹ Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."  Jesus sought out the people others had written off as unclean and sinning because they had need to repent of sin and by grace through faith in Jesus receive forgiveness and salvation.

Isn't God awesome and gracious to seek out people whose lives resembled a burnt-out rusted heap in a junkyard?  Other people may see us as a waste of space or a liability but God sees an opportunity to bestow His love and salvation.  It wasn't that He saw potential in a person to improve, like a collector seeks out rusted out cars to buy on the cheap to restore:  only Jesus has the potential in Himself to bring people dead in sins to life and can transform an eternal soul to have a relationship with Him never before realised.  God has sought out us sinners the world could not help, comfort, or save and has become our living Hope through the Gospel.  God loves people who have been created in His image despite our sins, and He loves those who choose to love Him because He is worthy.  This love, forgiveness, and redemption we could never hope to earn but we gratefully receive by His grace.

The Jehoram Lesson

The life of Jehoram in scripture is a most cautionary tale.  He was made king following the passing of Jehoshaphat, a king who was godly and loved by the people.  Jehoram was given the throne by birthright and his base character was quickly exposed when he killed his brothers and followed the ways of the idolatrous king of Israel.  We imagine a person will "rise to the occasion" when given a position of power but the opposite is true:  they can use their power to do more evil than ever.

With resources and a position which could have been employed to do great good for God's glory, Jehoram led the nation astray.  After years of idolatry, cruelty, and wickedness, God struck Jehoram with an incurable illness.  2 Chronicles 21:20 tragically relates, "He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."  Did you see that?  Jehoram, "to no one's sorrow, departed."  What a legacy to have attached to the opportunity he had to excel as a honourable man, son, brother, dad, husband, or king.  He was offered the opportunity to receive the blessings of God and be a blessing but became a curse and byword.  He was not missed.

Jehoram was buried in the city of David because of his relation to King David, but he was not afforded the honour of being buried with the kings.  He did not live up to the honour and responsibilities of his station before God or man and thus was shamed even after a painful and prolonged illness which led to death.  He did not have the pity of even his immediate family, for to no one's sorrow he departed.  Do you know what is more profitable and useful than being mourned after your passing?  To use the days God has given you on earth to love one another as Jesus loves you.  Even the kings and leaders the people mourned greatly over were not present to receive the accolades and kind words spoken about them.  Better to honour God in life in all dealings with men because He is the One who supplies eternal rewards and honour by His grace.

If Jehoram had not been king, his corpse would have been viewed as no better than unclean refuse by his subjects.  Christians in this life may be despised for holding fast to their integrity and faith in God, but such are precious in the Father's sight.  Psalm 116:12-16 speaks of our motivation to live as ones loved and redeemed by God--not to earn His love:  "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? ¹³ I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. ¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. ¹⁶ O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds."  We deserve worse than Jehoram for our sin, but praise God He has offered us the cup of salvation, inclined His ear, and loosened our bonds because we are precious in His sight.

The Christian Tradition

A conversation I shared with a brother from church started me thinking about the impact of tradition in our expressions of faith and obedience.  Traditions in themselves are not necessarily good or bad but because of our bent towards formula, routine, and self-righteousness they can divorced from the original purpose or reasoning behind them.  We can adopt a legalistic view of what should be done when and how things must be to be done right--typically with our own experience setting the gold standard.

Take water baptism for example:  depending on your culture and Christian denomination beyond the theology there is great variety in the view of baptism, who is qualified to perform a baptism, how it is practically done, and the reasons behind it.  It may be we rely upon our own experience (which was likely impacted by tradition to some extent) rather than the scripture to form our ideas of why baptism in water is important.  Some imagine a person cannot be saved without it, and others downplay it altogether because it is not a "salvation issue."  The Bible is clear salvation occurs by faith in Jesus before baptism in water and not dependent on it (Acts 8:37, Acts 16:30-31) but was practiced in obedience to Christ (Matt. 28:18-20) and identification with Him (Acts 10:44-48).

One of the buildings our church moved into had a baptismal on the stage I believe we only utilised once:  our "tradition" was to go to the beach for a picnic.  We made a day of it and headed down to a nice spot in Mission Bay.  After lunch people made their way to the beach with guitars and sang worship songs.  A pastor addressed the people who gathered from the church and curious onlookers to explain we were having a baptism and why.  People stepped forward to be baptised and queued up to be baptised by a pastor or elder who prayed with them before immersing them in water and lifting them up to applause from the crowd.  I realise this experience would be considered strange or even bizarre by some because their traditions are different.  It is important I do not look back upon my experiences as free from tradition because the ceremony was relaxed and did not involve donning white robes.

No matter what church you attend, it is likely (to some degree) tradition has impacted what things are done and how.  It is the scripture--not tradition--which is to dictate why things are done and we can hold to God's unchanging truth with freedom to honour Him as He directs.  If the reason for us doing something are not supported in scripture, we are under no obligation to continue in it.  Growing up we often held a "sunrise service" early on Easter morning, yet there is no biblical mandate for this.  There is certainly nothing amiss with rising before dawn on Easter to remember with awe and praise our risen Saviour Jesus Christ.  One might say if Mary was willing to go to the tomb before it was day out of reverence for Jesus who she expected to find dead, how much earlier should we rise in honour of our risen King!  Tradition can be justified and staunchly defended as better and right, but that does not make those who keep it spiritually superior over anyone else.

Let us have our traditions but in identifying them as such let us not attach any moral or spiritual obligation to keep them beyond the scripture.  Doing things causes tradition to become an obstacle that hinders people from following Jesus in truth.  The Pharisees were masters of this, straining at gnats but swallowing camels.  Let us follow the scripture in step with the Body of Christ according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, giving grace to others whether they hold to a tradition or not.  Our call is to be convinced in our own minds and not give place to the devil through self-righteous judgments of others.  The Christian tradition Jesus established is one of freedom to worship and honour God according to the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit, not to follow tradition as the end in itself.

Greener Pastures

Many people traverse through life like grazing animals seeking greener pastures.  The undertones of the phrase "seeking greener pastures" are dissatisfaction and restlessness, something we humans can all identify with to some degree.  It seems we only need to be at the supposed greener pasture for a little while--that new job, relationship, suburb, or church--until we realise it isn't quite as green as we would like.  Our experiences seem to line up with the Erma Bombeck book title from the 70's:  The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank.  The grass is greener, but do you want to know why the grass is greener?  Are you sure you want to eat that grass?

We don't need to be like King Solomon who had everything a person could want and piled on exponentially more to know our expectations are rarely met.  It doesn't take much for a dream holiday to turn into an unforgettable nightmare.  The most exceptional circumstances often leave something to be desired because we are insatiable.  Like greedy dogs whose god is their belly, we are always looking for something to hit the spot.  And when we aren't even hungry we open our stocked fridge or pantry to see what might appeal to us because it is lunchtime and are disappointed.  We scroll through the news or a social media feed to look for something new because our eyes aren't tired of seeing.

Undoubtedly the lure of greener pastures has led unsuspecting sheep to their deaths by hidden dangers they concealed.  Predatory beasts lay in the tall grass with the wind in their face, eyes wide and muscles tense as they crept toward their prey.  You see, it isn't the alluring greenness of a pasture which makes it good for sheep of Christ's fold but the Good Shepherd we follow.  David wrote in Psalm 23:1-2, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."  Could there be greener pastures than those where Jesus has led you?  Maybe, but who cares?  Better to be casting our cares on the One who cares for us than to walk by sight.  Because the LORD is my Shepherd I shall not want, for He will see all my needs abundantly supplied in His time and way.

Predators target animals that are isolated from a herd or flock.  How important it is therefore we would not scatter from our Saviour Jesus!  David concluded his thoughts in Psalm 23:5-6:  "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  On this planet we are in enemy territory under the sway of Satan, yet believers find rest and peace through faith in our Saviour regardless of circumstances.  He provides, guides, and protects us even when the enemies draw close with evil intent.  With Jesus leading us goodness and mercy will follow us all our days regardless of drought, famine, fire or flood.  What enduring contentment there is in our LORD Jesus Christ who is ours, and we are His forever.

Stay Loyal to God

My family and I have been reading through the book of 2 Chronicles and the life of king Asa presents a strong case of our need to keep seeking and trusting God all our days.  Our good God does not change, but we do and not always for the better.  The finest wines can turn to vinegar in poor conditions, and when our hearts drift from reliance in the LORD the wisest can become fools.  King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, yet in his latter days he was a hollow shell of his former self who more resembled king Saul than king David his father.  This teaches us men, regardless of their divinely inspired wisdom, all have their flaws:  none is good like God, not one.

Because king Asa trusted in the LORD God gave him astonishing victories in battle.  He took courage at the exhortation of godly prophets to put away idols from the land and even removed his mother from being queen because of idolatry.  People throughout Israel flocked to him because he set his heart to seek the LORD.  Asa had been king 36 years in Jerusalem when Basha king of Israel came against him.  Instead of relying upon the LORD as on previous occasions, king Asa sent a present to Benhadad king of Syria to make an alliance with him and help him.  Benhadad agreed to the arrangement which ended the threat of Basha and all seemed to be well--that is, until a prophet of God came to Asa with a sobering message.

2 Chronicles 16:7-9 tells us, "And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. ⁸ Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."  When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba and Urijah the Hittite he publicly confessed and repented.  Sadly, king Asa responded in a very different way because he was filled with rage.  He was angry with the messenger and did not receive God's gracious message.  It proved to be the beginning of his end.

2 Chronicles 16:10-13 says, "Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. ¹¹ Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. ¹³ So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign."  Instead of humbling himself in repentance before God, Asa became angry; he put Hanani the prophet in prison and oppressed God's people.  And when he was stricken with a disease he relied on the doctors rather than  seeking God who had the power to help and make him whole.  Before the LORD all the motives and intent of our hearts is laid bare, and God continues to look to show Himself strong on behalf of people whose hearts are loyal to Him.  This loyalty to God ought to continue even when we are rightly (or even wrongly!) rebuked for our foolishness.

How we receive correction and handle depressing news says something about us:  do we seek the LORD or lash out?  Are we filled with rage or allow our hearts to be broken in repentance?  Do we rely on assistance or help from men or return to the LORD in faith, relying upon Him?  King Asa's days as king are spent, but there is hope for us in God.  Praise the LORD we don't need to be kings or queens to learn and personally apply timeless truth from the lessons God has provided through him.  Let us call to mind Psalm 46:1 in times of peace or when we are overwhelmed:  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

The Willing Offering

"These are their numbers, according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor; ¹⁵ and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; ¹⁶ and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor."

2 Chronicles 17:14-16

The Bible is filled with choice wisdom which can be discovered in listings of genealogies and notable people.  Our initial response when we see longs names and numbers might be to skip or skim, but there are insights for hungry seekers even there.  One such person is mentioned is Amasiah in verse 16, a man "who willingly offered himself to the LORD."

God loves a cheerful giver of themselves into His service, and Amasiah is one of many who offered themselves as a living sacrifice for His glory.  Hannah dedicated her son Samuel before his birth into the service of the tabernacle and later he said to God, "Speak LORD, for your servant hears."  Amasiah was no prophet but a faithful man of God nevertheless, a man God made captain in the army of Judah.  The Hebrew word translated "offered willingly" is defined in the Strong's Concordance as:  "to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously; offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing."  The people willingly gave of their goods to build the tabernacle, but greater still is a man who gives himself willingly unto the LORD.  God's eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal and committed to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).

Many people loyal to the God of Israel flocked to King Jehoshaphat who feared and honoured God from all the tribes.  Having willingly offered themselves to God like Amasiah such were pleased to serve the LORD's anointed in Jerusalem.  As a Christian, this made me think of the call for believers to present themselves as living sacrifices to Jesus Christ who died in the place of sinners.  Then it hit me:  if today Jesus literally was sitting on a throne in Jerusalem, would I make it my primary aim to present myself before Him, to willingly offer myself into His service and do whatever He said?  Of course, right?  We would be willing to leave a country, job or career, and all our possessions at great cost just to see in person the Messiah and our KING, to lay our eyes on the One who atoned for our sins on Calvary, to touch the risen and living Son of God.  Like Simeon who held Jesus as an infant we would say upon the conclusion of that meeting, "LORD, I am ready to depart in peace because my eyes have seen your salvation."

Where this illustration falls short is we do not need to wait until Jesus is physically seated on a throne in Jerusalem to willingly offer ourselves to Him, for even now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  He lives to make intercession on our behalf, ready to grant mercy and grace to help in time of need.  It is attractive for us to willingly offer ourselves in person because of what role He might appoint us to or what we stand to gain in the future, but our daily service unto Him should be based upon Who He is and all He has already done.  Willingly offering ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice is more than a pledge or a commitment but is actually doing the thing, freely giving ourselves into His service.  A son in a parable committed to work for his father but "I go sir!" proved to be empty words.  Christian, we must determine if we are all talk and bluster or are willingly offering ourselves to the LORD, not just bowing our knees or heads in prayer but taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus in joyful obedience.

Judgment, Division and Contentions

We live in a highly polarised world where people are divided and divisive.  According to political, ethical, religious, and personal convictions we fashion a unique identity which welcomes people who agree with us and often excludes those who do not.  This "us and them" mentality is something which can colour and corrupt the perspectives of genuine Christians.  Our views of other churches or denominations primarily emphasises points of disagreement rather than Who unites us.  Based on hearsay we can write-off thousands of genuine believers as heretics because of a book or alleged quote from a pastor of a particular church.  Instead of following Jesus we can follow the divisive patterns of men or the virtual gossip of many modern-day watchmen.

The danger of division in the church is nothing new.  From early days the devil has sought to overthrow the church by persecution, undermine it by false doctrine, or subvert it through legalism.  This morning I read Paul's words written to the spiritually gifted yet divided Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13:  "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. ¹² Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"  Paul wrote to a legitimate church of Jesus Christ--not an apostate or false church--that some today would have deem "hyper-Pentecostal" perhaps with disdain.  Yet Paul did not hold this negative view of them.  Having helped establish the church in Corinth, Paul called them brothers and urged them to put away divisions, the same divisions which continue to be an enemy of God's love, grace, and unity in Jesus today.  Judgment led to divisions and then contentions:  it was an environment where those who asserted they were factually right (and others were wrong) were exposed as carnal.

Paul called out the believers in Corinth for their sinful judgments, self-righteousness, and pride.  Did you notice what they were saying?  "I am of Paul; I am of Apollos; I am of Peter; I am of Christ."  The proclamation of their identify revealed pride in themselves.  There was pride in their boasts:  they boasted of their knowledge of the truth, how they discerned fault in others, and created divisions God never made.  It is hard for us to imagine some would follow Paul to the exclusion of Apollos or Peter, but this scripture shows it happened.  Some refused to humble themselves under the teaching or discipline of anyone because they only answered to Christ.  But Paul saw through their self-righteous spirituality and knew their hearts were not right before God.  Judging others as wrong allowed them to approve themselves and maintain an unassailable moral high ground--even when addressed by Paul who helped bring them to salvation.

We need not look beyond ourselves to know this self-righteousness is a real problem.  How many times have we thought or said out loud about another person or church, "I don't like the way their worship is like a show" or "I hate the Bible translation they use" or "I like that we teach through the Bible" (inferring others don't to our high standard).  It is perfectly fine for us to have preferences based upon our understanding of God and His Word, to have personal convictions we aim to uphold for the glory of God.  This does not mean we are justified to condemn other churches, ministries, or people, to judge ourselves right because others are wrong.  Paul wrote in Romans 14:10-13:  "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." ¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way."  Judgment of others led to contempt for them, and Paul urged believers to avoid this pitfall.  Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God, so let us judge ourselves to determine we are walking in the way that pleases Him.

Paul asked the Corinthians, "Is Christ divided?"  The answer is obviously no.  Paul had not been crucified for believers so he had no desire or claim for followers.  Because believers are united under Jesus Christ our Head, we are to walk in humility and love towards one another so there is no hindrance to the fellowship of the saints.  Self-righteousness and pride work to isolate a person unto themselves, and Jesus demonstrated great humility and righteousness when He came to seek and save sinners.  He was not "holier than thou" when He alone was and is holy!  I believe God led me to these scriptures to realign my perspective with His, to cease creating divisions where He has not.  How blatant is my hypocrisy when I do not give more grace to those I perceive as without grace, to judge the judgmental!  By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit may all in the Body of Christ be joined together in the same mind and same judgment:  that we will demonstrate love for one another by ceasing to negatively judge or stumble others as we keep our eyes on Jesus.  Rather than condemnation, may edification of the Church by grace, love, and truth be Christ's enduring legacy through us.

The Always Faithful God

It amazes me how God works countless wonders and yet this does not always translate into faith.  God miraculously brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land after sustaining them for 40 years.  He caused water to flow from a rock and provided bread from heaven, yet they continued to lean on their own understanding, walking by sight instead of faith in Him.  This same tendency goes for me too, for none of us are immune to this short-sighted folly.

Yesterday I read 1 Kings 17 which provides an illustration of how slow people are to recognise God's miraculous provision.  During a severe drought and famine God directed the prophet Elijah to go to a widow woman.  When he found her she was gathering sticks to light a fire to bake her last meal for herself and her son.  All they had was a scant amount of flour and oil and once that was gone they were without hope of survival.  Elijah asked her to bake a cake for him first and promised in 1 Kings 17:14-16:  "For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.'" ¹⁵ So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶ The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah."

In her desperate plight the woman did as Elijah asked because she had nothing to lose.  She exercised a degree of faith in God which was rewarded with enough flour and oil to live on.  One might imagine the woman cooked food daily in amazement and worship of God that food which could have only supplied a meal for her and her son could last for months while feeding a grown man too!  The poor woman who had already lost her husband eventually faced the death of her child from illness.  She confronted Elijah in grief, accusing him of bringing her sin to remembrance and killing her son!  Though God daily provided the food she ate, her resentment caused her faith to whither.  She was at one point resigned to the death of her son, but after his death she bristled with unbelief.  She questioned the motives and legitimacy of this freeloading prophet who had taken up residence with her.  Isn't this inconsistency strangely familiar in us?

Elijah took the child to the room the widow had provided for him and prayed for the child.  1 Kings 17:21-24 reads, "And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." ²² Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. ²³ And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!" ²⁴ Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."  The woman could have known Elijah was a man of God and spoke truth because the flour and oil was divinely sustained, but it seems that miracle was lost on her:  it took the death and revival of her son to realise Elijah was indeed a prophet of the God of Israel.  I wonder:  how many miracles does God do for us which are lost on us?  He has blessed and saved us and yet we doubt Him and accuse those He sends to help us.

Praise the LORD not one of His miracles is wasted, for there is always more where that came from as our eternal, benevolent, gracious King.  His mercies are without end and His grace is sufficient for us day by day.  We will all go the way of the earth when our time comes, but praise the LORD our times are in the hands of the everlasting God who will never leave or forsake us.  We are not always faithful, but He is ever faithful and good.

Forsaking All to Follow

"So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him."

Luke 5:11

No matter how much study or effort goes into the process of preaching, there are countless ways to improve.  There are things I wish I had said which I neglected, topics or passages I wish I had handled differently, or words after saying them in retrospect I would have left unsaid.  After preaching it is a mixture of feeling blessed to learn from God and share from His Word coupled with the knowledge I didn't quite nail it.  Yesterday I taught on the first part of Luke 5 and afterwards was a bit disappointed I didn't expound this verse just a bit more.  Praise the LORD He is a Redeemer and the One who gives understanding of His Word so even man's poor attempts can be fruitful and practical.

After Jesus caused Simon and his partners to haul in a miraculous catch of fish, upon reaching the shore they "forsook all and followed Him."  This meant they left their boats, the fish they had caught, their nets, their families, and homes to follow Jesus.  Since Jesus was their LORD they were completely at His service.  The point I wished I had emphasised was because Jesus is LORD they could be assured their families would be cared and provided for should Jesus lead them away from home.  Following Jesus meant Peter leaving his wife and mother-in-law (perhaps some children as well) and James and John are described as leaving their father in the boat with the servants.

There would be a heavy personal cost to follow Jesus for Simon Peter, but he was not required to sin in divorcing his wife to follow Christ.  He was not required to spend all his money on "the ministry" to the neglect of his own family.  Jesus would lead Peter to places and to people which were outside his comfort zone, but Jesus would not lead Peter to shirk his responsibilities at home.  Just like the fruitfulness of Peter's fishing efforts were directly related to the guidance of Jesus being the captain of his ship, so Peter could trust Jesus to lead him in a godly and good way--even when it meant time away from home.  Separation from family and friends is a hard thing Jesus sometimes asks us to do and we can trust Him to supply the needs of a marriage, friendship, and family.

It is important for us to examine our motives and ensure we are actually following Jesus in our ministering, not just assuming He is in our boat when we left Him on the shore weeks ago.  There are seasons of life; there are seasons of ministry.  Doing things because we have always done them (or at one time felt led to do them) is not a good enough reason to keep doing them.  God is faithful, and may we also be faithful to forsake all our plans and ambitions so we might follow Him in His way.  Those who are married ought not to seek to be loosed, and those who are unmarried ought not be preoccupied to "settle down" in marriage.  Whether married or unmarried, whether our parents are elderly, our children are young, or the family business is booming, let us choose to follow Jesus.  He will always guide us in the right way and make our efforts in obedience to Him fruitful.

Praise God with Understanding

Over lunch yesterday I shared an engaging conversation about the nature and character of God.  It struck me that no matter how abundant the evidence or plain the facts, at some point faith is required.  God is eternal and infinite in love, wisdom, grace, and goodness.  We humans are finite, locked within time, and our perspective is shockingly limited.  In reaching for better understanding of God and how He operates (who does not share our thoughts, nor are His ways like ours) we cobble together examples which are woefully inadequate using words which cannot do justice to God's reality.  At a funeral or memorial service it is impossible to convey the impact of a single life of a brief span of time:  how can we explain eternity or He who inhabits it?

Because God has graciously revealed Himself through the Word and the person of Jesus Christ we can know Who we worship.  But let us not make the mistake that God is like us any more than a created thing resembles the maker.  He formed Adam from the dust of the ground yet God always has been!  Inventors design and manufacture tools and machines for particular purposes.  A mobile phone looks and behaves nothing like those who designed it, operating on electricity rather than being a living, breathing, thinking person.  A mop bucket, automobile, shoe, or building bear no resemblance to those who engineered or utilise them.  God confronted presumptuous people who assumed He was like them in Psalm 50:19-21:  "You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. ²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. ²¹ These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes."

It is good to recognise God is someone completely foreign and beyond this world.  This proves difficult when we use familiar allusions like saying "God the Father."  God is a Spirit and does not have a body, but when I think of our heavenly Father and a throne I logically envision something rather based on human anatomy with facial features obscured with white light.  Because God is completely beyond human form, this concrete frame of reference is the best we can do because we live in a concrete, physical world.  This world, relationships, and created living and non-living things can only hint at the order, glory, love, and wisdom of God.  The heavens declare the glory of God but they are not god nor is any created thing worthy of worship.

We cannot comprehend or appreciate the size (big or small) of all God has created, yet by faith we can worship and praise the One God who has created all.  Just like fuel for vehicles and battery power for tools or phones runs out, so our understanding has limitations and an end.  There are things we will never fully understand but we are enabled and called to worship God according to our level of understanding.  It would be silly to allow what we cannot know erode our faith in what and Who we do know.  I do not understand how bones form in the womb of a mother, but I know they can and do.  We are all walking miracles by the grace of God, the One we celebrate and worship with thanksgiving.  As our knowledge of God grows like a baby in the womb, may our praise and gratefulness increase for eternity.  God is nothing like us, but He has loved us enough to become one of us to save, transform, and redeem us forever.

The Redeemer's Voice

Psalm 77 by Asaph is a great example that in our distress it is good to remember who God is and all He has done.  We easily forget to relate God's awesome deeds in times past to our current situation.  Because God is faithful the provision, protection, and help in the past enables us to trust Him in the present.  Perhaps we can't predict how or when God will do His wonders, but He will.

Asaph wrote in Psalm 77:11-15, "I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. ¹² I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. ¹³ Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? ¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. ¹⁵ You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah"  Instead of racking his brain to figure out how he could change his circumstances for the better, Asaph meditated on all the times God delivered His people in the past.  He compared the ways of God to powerless idols and fatally flawed mythological gods, and with the true God there was found no equal or real comparison.  Who is a great redeemer like the God of Israel, a Saviour who does miraculous wonders?

Asaph continued in Psalm 77:16-20:  "The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled. ¹⁷ The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. ¹⁸ The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. ¹⁹ Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. ²⁰ You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."  If you have ever been outside in a powerful lightning storm or rattled by a strong earthquake, these natural events can be harrowing and strike fear into the most courageous hearts.  Before the presence of the Almighty it was the water, wind, lightning, thunder, and earth which trembled with fear.  When a way of escape and deliverance from the pursuing army was impossible God was the Way, leading His redeemed people through the Red Sea.

The last verse provides a surprising shift from the verses previous:  the great God which defeats enemies, delivers from death, and causes the elements to tremble with reverence, is a gentle Good Shepherd towards His chosen people.  The earth rightly trembles before its Creator, the One who reaches down as a loving father who takes the hand of his frightened child and says with a smile, "Don't be afraid!  Here I am, and I won't leave of forsake you."  Isn't it amazing the God whose voice is like thunder speaks in a soft and still voice which calms troubled souls who trust Him?  God continues to deliver, lead, and save His redeemed as He always has.

Rejoicing in the LORD Always

A hit song by Bobby McFerrin in the 80's repeated the phrase, "Don't worry, be happy!"  Perhaps the sentiment could be equated with the Aussie standby "No worries" or Disney's "Hakuna Matata" from the Lion King movie.  It suggests a change of mind and focus, that instead of fretting over circumstances out of our control we simply choose happiness instead.  While we can agree worrying can't change our situation, the pursuit of happy feelings is often futile.  The idea worrying and happiness cannot co-exist to some degree is unfounded, for the happiest people endure worrying times.

I am reminded of an approach different to the McFerrin's lyrics by Paul's words in the book of Philippians.  This letter was written from prison where he had been wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for years and said in Philippians 4:4:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Rejoicing in the LORD is very different from being "happy."  Happiness often depends on what happens, but regardless of the circumstances of life we always have great cause to rejoice in the LORD.  God is worthy of all honour, glory, and praise, the sovereign KING over all for eternity who loves us!  A fruit of the Spirit is joy, so not only is God worthy of being perpetually celebrated but supplies fullness of joy to our lives.  God works in us to both will and do His good pleasure, and Paul directs us to rejoice in the LORD always.

Jesus modeled and taught His followers that instead of worrying we ought to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all we need will be added to us.  It feels good to be happy when it lasts, but the huge pitfall of seeking happiness is it is self-focused.  Solomon used his great wealth and power to pursue happiness and fulfillment but he ended up empty.  It is ironic narcissistic people who seek happiness tend to be overwhelmingly dissatisfied.  Paul clues all in on a key to overcoming worry in Philippians 4:6-8:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

The one who rejoices in God always is to pray to God instead of worrying.  The focus is to be on God, not the situation or even how bad we feel.  There is one startling omission from what we might expect in verse 8:  there is not one mention of self.  None of us can rise to the standard God has set concerning truth, nobility, or being absolutely just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, or praiseworthy.  Rejoicing in God, praying to God, thinking about God, that is the place we who naturally worry discover enduring peace and security.