Walking Wisely

My family and I have been hosts this week to a couple which have long been a positive, godly influence in our lives.  It was a pleasure showing them the sights of Sydney and we greatly enjoyed their insights as we chatted about ministry and family.  There is great encouragement when the global body of Christ unites together under His banner of love.  The support of gracious brothers and sisters in Christ is a gift God has provided we do well to embrace.

Last night as a small group of us gathered at Calvary Chapel Sydney for a Bible study, we considered practical ways to walk in wisdom.  Many things were discussed:  being born again, humility, heeding God's Word, fellowship with God through prayer, discipline, and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  There was one aspect in particular that God impressed upon me to emphasise, not that it is more important than the rest.  I do believe, however, it is an aspect which can be quite foreign in our individualistic, self-centered societies:  we have a deep need to be in regular fellowship with Christians.  I do not simply mean attending a local church.  I am talking about forging close friendships centered upon Christ where we are unashamed and transparent, cultivating relationships where all have the freedom to encourage, exhort, rebuke, confess sin and struggles, and strengthen one another by pointing to Christ.

If as born again Christians we are each part of Christ's Body the church, then we must be united in worship of God and fellowship with one another with love and grace, bearing one another's burdens.  We cannot do this alone.  I believe there are many who think they can live for Christ alone and continue to grow.  With the power of the Holy Spirit within them, the Bible to guide them, books and podcasts to encourage them, they do not need to cultivate relationships with other Christians.  That is like a leg saying it does not need the ankle or foot to remain upright!  We are not to view church as a support system for our benefit (though we do greatly benefit from unity in Christ), but to consider how we might practically provide strength for the Body.  We do this by reaching individual lives and ministering to each according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Those who are born again are called to provide edification of the Body through love.  The gifts and resources God has given you are not intended for your sole benefit, but for the good and strengthening of others.  The early church laid hold of this calling with both hands, and by His grace we can do the same.

Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.  Some make the mistake of focusing on service and neglect to fix their eyes and hearts on Christ.  Others think the church exists for their benefit instead of considering how they might contribute to the strengthening and edifying the Body through love.  We must move beyond maintaining a relationship with God and press on in faith in Christ so we might grow and encourage others to do the same.  God's intention was not that we labour to protect ourselves from the world but that we would overcome it through Him.  Christianity is not defined by what we don't do, but is established upon the fact God knows us and we know Him through the Gospel.  Too many times we focus on "not sinning" instead of walking in the Spirit through abiding in Christ.  God places individuals in our lives to sharpen us, not to make us miserable or hopeless.  Jesus is our hope and peace!

Rejoice believer, for you are not alone!  Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us.  He has also united us to fellow Christians that we might run with endurance the race set before each of us.  We may not agree on every point of doctrine or emphasis, but love covers a multitude of my sins.  We walk wisely when we forge relationships where God remains the centre, chief joy, and our all in all.

Purity in Worship

"And he broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images, and filled their places with the bones of men."

2 Kings 23:14

The two first commands of the 10 Commandments boom from the Creator of All, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image."  These are commands all people have broken, even those who claim to trust in God.  God's people agreed to a covenant with God on His terms, that they would love and obey Him.  Yet over the passage of time, generations grew up who did not know the LORD or follow Him exclusively.  They began to worship the gods of the native people and their religious activities were devoid of worship as God intended.

Throughout the history of Israel and Judah, the majority of kings did not worship the LORD and led the nation into idolatry.  There were, however, kings raised up by God who sought to destroy the high places and eradicate the gross idolatry that corrupted the worship of the true God of Israel.  Josiah was one such king.  He re-established the covenant before the LORD and destroyed the pillars, altars, and high places used for idolatrous practices.  Then Josiah did something very interesting.  After breaking in pieces the pillars and images, he filled the area with the bones of men.  Under the Law of God, to touch a dead body or bone made the transgressor ceremonially unclean.  These bones sent a clear message to all who intended to offer sacrifice to the demonic entity:  the place was unclean, and to offer a sacrifice in this place meant those bones could just as easily be yours!

This brought an interesting thought to mind.  The bones littering the ground did not make the high place any more unclean than before.  The worship of any god or image other than God Almighty was unclean, yet the people did not see it.  It took the desecration of the pillars and the pollution with dead things to demonstrate to the people how horrible sin and the consequences were.  This display grabbed the attention of the people.  It's possible for people - even God's people - to be engaged in horrendous activities we don't even realise are sinful.  The way we think, speak, and act slip past our guard unnoticed.  It takes the searching power and conviction of the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see how sinful sin is.  It is a glorious day when the thing we once embraced as fun and wholesome is now as attractive to us as rotting corpses and unclean as bones.  Instead of clearing the carnage and justifying ourselves to continue according to our traditions, may we seek guidance from God in His Word on how we can worship and glorify Him.  Too many times we simply built another altar, erect another image, or seek out another pillar in a shady high place instead of seeking the LORD alone.

What a wonder, that God rejoices in the repentance of His people!  Our sin brought death, but God provides life, grace, and peace through Jesus.  Let us not neglect God's order of things.  It does no good to tear down altars before we have agreed with God's covenant through the Gospel.  We must first repent and be born again!  Once that heavenly transaction has taken place, during our lives we will ever be waging a war against our flesh and the subtle temptations of the devil.  May the pastures where the Good Shepherd leads us to grace be kept free from the pillars and idolatrous images.  God desires and deserves all our worship.

Find True Security

"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. ⁴ And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.' ⁵ "Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; will He not make it increase?"

2 Samuel 23:3-5

For almost a week now, the beginning of verse 5 keeps ringing through my head.  God had revealed to David the state of the man who rules justly in the fear of God.  God compared such a man to the first light of the sunrise, warm rays warming the horizon, without a cloud or threat of storm.  He also likened that man to tender grass that springs out of the earth, providing food for beast and men.  In addition fresh growth and vibrancy, this ruler is like the clear shining after rain:  refreshed, cleansed, and satisfied.  Then comes the confession of humble David:  "Although my house is not so with God..."  God had revealed the truth, the unshakable reality of the man who walks in godliness.  David was a man after God's own heart, but he recognised he was far from perfect.  He had not achieved this ideal reality, and he wasn't afraid to admit it.

This is one thing I admire about David.  He did not pretend he was perfect, nor did he try to fool himself into believing everything was fine.  A godly man is honest, sincere, and transparent, and David was all these things.  It seems these days a man in authority - a king, minister, father, or boss - does not feel at liberty to expose his warts, sins of his past, or the troubled condition where he finds himself.  Admitting weakness or faults represents God poorly some think, and they refuse to acknowledge sin or personal problems even with their friends.  I say such think wrong.  My admission of failure and that my house is not so with God reveals clearly I need Him.  If people are stumbled because of my faults or bad decisions of my kin, perhaps they have put too much stock in following men.  People stumbled at the words and works of the infallible Christ:  how much more if they follow mere men?  David does an amazing thing as king by these admissions:  "God says a just ruler is like the light of the sunrise without clouds, but I cannot say that of me.  God revealed to me that one who rules in the fear of God is like tender grass springing from the earth, yet that does not resemble me or my family."  David knew he was deeply flawed, and this understanding made room for God's unfathomable grace. 

"Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure."  Though David was not perfect, God had given him an everlasting covenant.  The agreement God had with David was eternal and secure.  This gave David great peace, for he understood physical and emotional insecurity very well.  For years he fled from the face of King Saul who tried to murder him.  Even after he was established on the throne, he fled from Jerusalem when his son Absalom tried the usurp the throne.  He found himself in danger in fields, caves, castles, and in the open field.  Could he accuse God of wrong?  No.  David nor his house was perfect before God.  His life was one of thunderstorms, screaming winds, and desolation.  Being king did not end his troubles, in fact, during his time as king is when he weathered some of the most fierce storms.  Yet in all his trials, the light of God shone through his circumstances with illuminating clarity.  The Holy Spirit was upon David to guide his fingers in battle as well as penning many prophetic Psalms in scripture.

David had times of trouble and uncertainty, and it was in these times the eternal covenant God had made with him kept him centered on what mattered.  A covenant is only as strong as the one who establishes the covenant.  God, with all wisdom, power, and grace, established a covenant with David.  He promised to establish His house forever, even though David or his house was not so with God.  He would send Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of David, to be the Messiah whose kingdom will endure forever and ever.  For all who repent and trust in Christ, with us Jesus has established a covenant through His own blood.  We don't need to be perfect to receive His gracious forgiveness, nor do we need to meet God's ideals before the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us.  What a wonder, that although me and my house are not so with God, God has offered to us an everlasting covenant through the Gospel.

Let us follow David's lead in admitting we are not perfect, and neither is our house.  It is by grace we have been saved through faith and not of ourselves.  Though there be storms on the horizon or floods swelling all around us, we can look to the God who has given us an everlasting covenant.  Those who seek the LORD with find Him, and with Him is everlasting security and peace.

What God Longs For

First impressions can be most misleading.  Many deep friendships I now have did not start off that way.  The initial snapshot we have of others, the conversation we walked in on, a few words spoken misunderstood, can give us a very jaded and unfair picture of reality.  This same thing happens when it comes to knowledge of God.  God's character is complex and multifaceted, and it is easy for people to grab bits and pieces out of biblical context to create a monstrous caricature in their minds.  Some can only see God as a mushy "God of love" and others see Him as always furious, ready to dole out judgment for the slightest trespass.  Only through scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit can a man begin to know God.  Those who are known of God on earth can know Him, but our knowledge, experience, and sight is incredibly limited.  Through eternity those saved by the blood of Jesus will be ever growing in our knowledge, appreciation, and worship for who God is and all He has done.

After God revealed Himself to the Israelites in power on Mt. Sinai, the people were overwhelmed by His presence.  When they realised how far above and beyond them God was, they were afraid even to speak with Him!  Yet this mighty God chose them, saved them, and made a covenant with them.  God made a covenant with His people according to His grace, for all people are undeserving of His great divine condescension.  God made a covenant knowing His people would not always be faithful to Him nor heed His Word.  He knew they would rebel, break His laws, promote idolatry and sin, murmur against Him, refuse to believe, and ask for a king like all the other nations rather than being ruled by God alone.  Knowing all His people would do:  cast His words behind them, kill the prophets He raised up to teach them, spit in His face, and murder His only Son, God accepted them anyway.

If man had the foresight of God, he would not give like God.  Even though people are deeply, profoundly flawed, He desired only good for them.  Consider the longing of God in Deuteronomy 5:29:  "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"  Does this sound like a God who is "out to get people?"  God alone knows the insidious nature and the far-reaching consequences of sin and rebellion.  God did not give His people commands to restrict them from having fun, but to protect them from their own wickedness.  God knew what would happen should His people seek after mediums, pervert justice, worship idols, or fornicate:  the land would vomit them out!  Judgment would be required!  God longs that people would have a heart to fear Him and keep His commandments.  Jesus told His disciples in John 15:12, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

How has God loved you?  Jesus demonstrated the love of God by laying down His own life as a sacrifice for your sin.  God knew people could never measure up to His perfect standard, so He made a way through the sacrifice of His Son so all could repent, receive the Gospel by faith, and have eternal life.  God desires that it would be well with us and our children forever.  With new hearts by grace through faith in Christ, may we fear God and always keep all His commandments.  No matter what befalls us in this life, it will be well for us.  God will see to it!

Your King Matters

In the biblical history of the Jewish people we see well illustrated the importance of who sat on the throne.  The one anointed as king wielded great influence on the lives of the people:  some walked according to God's laws, and others encouraged idolatry and great abominations.  What is true for nations has spiritual implications for individuals.  The one you pay homage to will dictate your spiritual health and vitality.  When self sits on the throne, there can be no true peace.  It is only when Jesus Christ is elevated to His rightful status in our lives as LORD and Saviour that all begins to be put right.

After Adam's sin in the garden, man was separated from God.  God promised He would deliver His people from the oppression of sin and tyrannical rulers if they would love Him and walk in His ways.  A day came when the people demanded to have a king like the other nations, rejecting God as their divine ruler.  The majority of these kings were evil and led the nation into idolatrous practices.  After the kingdom was divided between Israel and Judah, there was no shortage of wicked kings and queens!  God in His mercy raised up kings who performed His will to forcibly remove those abominable rulers.  Jehu was one of those kings.  In him we see a picture of how wickedness is overthrown by God's anointed in both hearts and nations.  A day is coming when Christ will return and mete out judgment on all evildoers.  He will not spare in that day when God's wrath is full.  While He tarries, today is the day of salvation.

After Jehu was anointed by a prophet at the command of God, he went on a rampage against Ahab's house.  2 Kings 9:22-24 reads, "Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" So he answered, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?"²³ Then Joram turned around and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!" ²⁴ Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot."  Joram sought peace, but there could be no peace because of the rampant harlotries and witchcraft.  Similar to how allowing a gangrenous limb to remain connected to the body endangers the whole, it was time for Ahab's wicked house to be cut off from Israel.  He and Jezebel had shed much innocent blood, and their blood was upon their own heads.  2 Kings 9:27 "But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoot him also in the chariot." And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there."  Ahaziah tried to escape the penalty of death for his grave sins, but he was tracked down and executed.  His speedy chariot was no match for the demands of God's justice.

Jezebel was not able to avoid her punishment though she was wealthy and alluring.  2 Kings 9:30-33 says, "Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.³¹ Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?" ³² And he looked up at the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" So two or three eunuchs looked out at him.³³ Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot."  Jezebel killed the righteous and promoted the wicked.  She questioned the wisdom of Jehu's act in slaying Joram and Ahaziah.  What she did not acknowledge is Jehu had been anointed and crowned king.  As king, he had authority from God Himself to mete out justice for the grave crimes which Ahab and his house had perpetrated.  Without even acknowledging Jezebel's words, he commanded she be thrown down and promptly trampled her.

Do you see it?  Jezebel is a picture of the wicked ruler of this world, Satan.  A day is coming when Jesus will return to earth with a mighty army and throw down the ruler of this world.  Satan's grip on this world is already broken, for on the cross Jesus crushed his head through His death and resurrection.  Satan is a liar, accuser, thief, and murderer from the beginning.  The day of his reckoning draws nigh.  Jesus will give the command, and Michael will throw Satan down!  Revelation 12:7-11 reads, "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. ⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."

The parallels do not end there.  King Ahab's daughter Athaliah was given as wife to King Jehoram of Judah.  She was an incredibly brutal and wicked woman who seized an opportunity to usurp the throne from her own kin.  2 Kings 11:1 tells the tragic tale:  "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs."  Athaliah ordered the death of her own grandchildren to assume rule over Judah.  If a person is willing to do such unthinkable atrocities, is anything beyond them?  God did not forsake His people even in that dark chapter of their history.  Joash, son of the rightful king, was hidden from Athaliah's wrath and kept hidden in the Temple.  When he turned seven years old, the High Priest Jehoiada called together a group of trustworthy men who were loyal to God and their king.  He organised the coronation of the king without the knowledge or consent of the usurping Athaliah.

2 Kings 11:12-16 reveals the climactic moment, a day of rejoicing and celebration:  "And he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!" ¹³ Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD.¹⁴ When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!"¹⁵ And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, "Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD." ¹⁶ So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses' entrance into the king's house, and there she was killed."  Athaliah cried "Treason!  Treason!" yet there was none in Judah more treacherous than her.  Once the rightful king was anointed, crowned, and established, then the usurper could be destroyed.  When the Anointed Messiah, Jesus Christ the Son of God is crowned and established in a heart by faith, Satan's grip is broken.  All he can do is scream and tear his clothes, for his reign of terror and oppression is broken!  Jesus is for us both King and High Priest, and His Word will endure forever.  Satan and all who follow after him will face eternal death in torment, while those loyal to Christ will experience life and light for all eternity.

What a day of rejoicing it is when the strongholds of Satan come crashing down before the power of our promised Saviour!  Satan's rule for a Christian is effectively over, and we need not fear him any more.  When the true king is rightfully on the throne, the oppression of Satan is dealt a death blow.  Let us not listen to his temptations to doubt or fear, but instead rejoice because salvation, strength, the Kingdom of our God, the power of His Christ has come, and thus Satan has been overcome!  To whom do you bow the knee today:  Jesus Christ or some usurper?  Jesus is the KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.  It is rightly said of Him in Jude 1:24-25, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen."

Seek Out the Truth Yourself

The theme of the primary camp at Kedron last week was "Fruit."  In preparation for the talks I assembled an assortment of interesting fruit facts.  One day I did a demonstration and showed how to easily remove pomegranate seeds using a knife, bowl, and wooden spoon.  Less than half of the kids had ever seen a pomegranate before, and they enjoyed sampling the fruit.  From what I can tell, a pomegranate is an "aggregate fruit" that is technically a berry.  Believe me, botany is not for the timid.  It is very complex and at times confusing, so I tended to share fruit facts I could understand and easily explain.  There is much about fruit I don't know!

The following day we had a local television chef and personality come and visit.  The kids were very excited to see a professional chef they had seen on TV.  He came with loads of different fruit and asked questions about them.  What did he hold up?  A pomegranate!  "Do you kids know what this is?"  Tons of hands were raised.  "A pomegranate!" said the one he chose.  "Who here thinks this is a fruit?"  Again, tons of hands were raised in confidence.  Why, we just learned about this yesterday!  Easy!  "You would be wrong," he said with a grin.  Hands went down in dead silence.  "A pomegranate is actually a flower," he went on to say.  The next time he asked a question, only a few hands went up.  "Not so sure about things, are you?" he asked.  He continued with a terrific demonstration which everyone enjoyed.

Now I admit I am no expert, but what the television chef said had me thinking:  was I wrong?  Did I miss something?  I could find no evidence to support his claim of pomegranates being classified as a flower, not a a fruit.  But the thought came to me:  I wonder who the children believed?  Two opposing views were presented.  Would they believe the professional chef, would they take my word for it, or would they investigate themselves to find the truth?  I saw in that moment a microcosm of what people face when they leave the church into secondary school and university.  They have believed something they have heard without investigating themselves.  When their university professor stands up and tells them what they have believed is incorrect, they begin to wonder.  There stands a professional, a man or woman with education and degrees they highly respect.  It is at that moment many kids forsake all they have been taught in Sunday School as fiction or fables, and choose to side with an intellectual and professional person whom they believe is better qualified to teach them.  Their lack of grounding in truth makes them easy prey to be manipulated and influenced to agree with this new teaching - whatever it may be.  And when the cost in university is being branded as unintelligent or a fool for believing the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, most are loathe to pay that price.

I was very happy with the object lesson I was presented with.  My prayer is that everyone chose to look up the facts about pomegranates and claims of Jesus Christ and His resurrection for themselves.  Both professional celebrities and me can be wrong, for we all make mistakes.  None of us are perfect.  What a great reminder that we need to own our faith by going to the Bible as the source of all truth.  Ken Ham says it well:  "Stop trusting man's word!"  Don't take my word for it, but choose to seek after the truth revealed in Jesus Christ.  If we seek God with our whole hearts, we will find Him!

The Cost of Convenience

Convenience often comes at a price.  You can purchase milk at the corner store near your house, but it will likely cost more money than at major shops.  The cost for convenience can extend beyond mere monetary cost as well.  It may be convenient to buy fast-food off the dollar menu, but it is often not as healthy or nutritious as food prepared yourself at home.  Most of us will weigh the cost of convenience and decide accordingly.  If ordering five pizzas delivered is only a $3 fee, you may well choose that option.  But if it is a three dollar charge per pizza, you may decide pickup is the way to go!

We've heard the sad story of a "relationship of convenience," a relationship sustained by motives other than love and affection for their spouse.  Dealing with strife and contention with little effort to reconcile seems easier and cheaper for some than going through a formal split.  When reading the Bible, I came across such a situation with the Israelites. Jeroboam was made king of ten tribes in Israel, having rebelled against Rehoboam king of Judah.  He knew the law of God required the Jews to go to Jerusalem to offer up sacrifices and assemble for the high feast days.  Prompted by the fear of people potentially becoming loyal to Rehoboam and thus endangering his life, Jeroboam decided to set up idols in Bethel and Dan.  His spin to the people, however, was one of convenience.

1 Kings 12:28 reads, "Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!"  The convenience of these idols and the appointment of local men as priests proved too great a temptation for the people to pass up.  "It's too hard for you to go all that way to Jerusalem," Jeroboam said.  "Sacrifice to God close to home!  Why contribute to the economy of Judah when you can invest right here?"  The nation was led into idolatry and grave sin because of Jeroboam's error.  He sacrificed on the altars, created new feasts according to his own heart, and promoted idolatry as good.  The cost for Jeroboam was exponentially high:  his family was cut off (1 Kings 14:9-10).

In the passage of time God raised up a king named Jehu who was zealous for God.  He destroyed the house of Ahab, killed those who worshiped Baal according to the Law, and destroyed the images and temples of Baal.  But though he was zealous for God, Jehu fell into the trap of convenience.  2 Kings 10:31-32 states, "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. ³² In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel..."  It is a sad thing when God's people do not take heed to follow God with all our hearts.  There are always grave consequences of sin, and in this case parts of Israel were cut off through conquest of their enemies.

Convenience is not a bad thing - in fact, it can be a great thing!  But it is good for us to examine if our relationship with God is one we pursue with our whole heart.  It is good to see if we have fallen prey to seeking convenience rather than simple obedience.  Zeal for God does not mean we can sin without consequences.  We do well to tear down our idols and grind them to powder once we are aware of them, and go back to Christ in humility and faith as at the beginning.  Convenience always carries a cost, and our relationships with God and others are not worth sacrificing over it!  Is any sacrifice too much to maintain a right and good relationship with God?

Strength Made Perfect

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

God allowed a messenger of Satan to trouble Paul, for in Paul's weakness God's strength was made perfect.  The grace of God was sufficient for any situation Paul might experience.  In His wisdom, God allowed Paul to suffer - and not without divine purpose.  Through experience Paul knew by God's grace when he was weak, he was strong.  Human weakness, coupled with humble faith in Jesus Christ, promotes supernatural strength for God's glory.

What the world perceives as weakness is sometimes the embodiment of strength.  Life on earth is made to be "survival of the fittest" where the biggest, strongest, and fastest rule.  We are taught to fight for our rights, showing no signs of weakness.  With pride to fuel our attitudes and motivated by envy, humans learn how to manipulate others to gain advantage.  When faced with the wild popularity of Jesus Christ, the leading religious leaders of the Jews sought to kill Him.  They used lies, the power of politics, and an angry mob to achieve their ends.  Jesus silently walked in obedience to the will of the Father, meekly laying down His life as a sacrifice for sin.  As the Pharisees gloated and scorned Christ as He bled out on Calvary, the One who was beaten, stripped, and pierced was the picture of strength and divine power.  Given the circumstances, no one at the time could have realised that.

The priests and Pharisees believed they had triumphed.  Satan too thought the power of the grave was enough to overcome Jesus, the Lamb of God.  Three days after being crucified, Jesus Christ changed everything when He rose from the dead.  The Lamb had risen; the Lion of the Tribe of Judah had triumphed after all!  Not only is God's strength made perfect through weakness, but often what appears weak to the world is a demonstration of divine strength.  Though it may marvel, the world cannot understand.  There is none stronger than God, revealed in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  When a person is born again through repentance and faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters our hearts and bears fruit.  Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."  If a poll was taken of the best character attributes to succeed in a profession or business, I suspect not one of these fruits would appear in the top 10.  Do loving or gentle lawyers make the cut primarily for their love or gentleness?  Are construction workers filled with joy or peace the ones promoted?  Are musicians chosen for gigs because of their patience or self-control?

The fruit of the Spirit to the world on the surface appears weak, even pathetic.  But it is through the leading of the Holy Spirit real strength is demonstrated.  True strength comes from God.  Through faith in Him our weakness gives release to strength made perfect.  May the power of Christ rest upon us!

The Gift of Pineapple

Last evening I returned with Abel from a week spent speaking at a primary camp hosted at Camp Kedron.  "Fruit" was the theme, and it was amazing how many great activities the kids enjoyed.  We all learned a lot about fruit, and more importantly I trust everyone learned a lot more about God.  I did!

One incident summed up the grace of God demonstrated through the camp perfectly.  Before each session, I shared some interesting "fruit facts" with the kids.  I am no botanical expert, but I did spend literally hours scanning articles and websites to learn more about various fruit.  One day I brought a pineapple, also called the "King of Fruit."  I showed them how the crown can be twisted off, dried, and planted to grow a new pineapple plant.  It is not a single fruit but a sorosis, a multiple fruit where the flowers grow flesh and are pressed closely together.  I pointed out the leaves at the bottom of the pineapple, that when picking one out you want to see those leaves are green.  This shows the pineapple is very fresh.  After talking about the pineapple for a minute or two, I put it aside and continued with the talk.

The next day during break, a particular girl's cabin expressed their interest to eat that pineapple.  I decided the next morning to take the pineapple to chef Phil and ask if I might use the kitchen facilities to cut it up.  He generously volunteered to cut it for me.  As he began to cut off the outer skin, it became evident the heat had not been kind to the pineapple.  Brown splotches had spread throughout the pineapple because it was overripe and going bad.  We arrived to an immediate consensus:  the pineapple was good only for compost.  "Oh well," I said.  "I'll just tell them the pineapple was not good."  Without a word, Phil walked a few steps and from somewhere pulled out a different, fresh pineapple.  He quickly sliced through the pineapple, and it looked great!  He cubed the yellow flesh and presented it beautifully on a platter, with the crown displayed artistically at the top.

During morning tea, I sought out the girls who had asked for the pineapple and handed them the platter.  They were very thankful, appreciative, and apparently hungry - those seven or eight girls ate the entire thing!  It was a lovely illustration of the faithfulness of God.  My pineapple was brown and rotten, yet I was given a delicious pineapple to share that many people enjoyed.  During camp at times I felt a bit lousy with a cold, yet God gave me the strength to speak and press on.  In my flesh no good thing dwells, like that brown, nasty pineapple.  Yet God, by His grace, gave me and the other leaders words to say from the scripture that bring new life and promote health.  I had nothing to offer, but God generously supplied all our needs.

I am thankful to God for all He has done at Camp Kedron, and know He will complete the work He has begun.  When God exchanges His good for our rottenness, let us share it freely with others for His glory.  Thanks Phil for the lesson!  Who would have thought God could use a couple of dumb pineapples to teach life-changing lessons?

Cross Over Jordan

God sees the big picture.  This is quite the opposite of man, whose tendency leans towards self-focus and immediate gratification.  Our physical eyes may have "perfect" vision, yet we can be spiritually shortsighted to the point of blindness.  To enter in to all God has for us requires us to trust Him.  We must be convinced He intimately knows us, our needs, and what is best.

After God led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He intended to bring them into the land He promised to give them.  When they arrived at the doorstep of Canaan, they sent spies into the land for 40 days.  10 out of 12 brought an evil report of the land.  They acknowledged it was a good land but there were giants and massive strongholds.  In their shortsightedness they looked at the giants and their own relative physical stature and strength rather than the power of God who had done mighty wonders to miraculously deliver them from Egypt.  The people cried and wished they had never left Egypt.  Because of the unbelief of that generation, God forbade them to enter the land.  The two spies who gave a good report and urged the people to trust God who would grant them certain victory, Joshua and Caleb, were the only people from that generation who entered into the land 40 years later.

For 40 years, a year for a day, God led the people through the wilderness.  Finally, the day came when it was time to cross over the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.  As they made ready to cross over, the children of Ruben, Gad, and Manasseh talked amongst themselves.  The land on the east side of the Jordan was good land for cattle, and they had much cattle!  Numbers 32 speaks of how they approached Moses and asked politely to be given the land west of Jordan for their inheritance instead of passing over.  They saw goodness of the land and thought, "Man, it doesn't get much better than this!  We would be content to stay right here!"  God, in His mercy and grace, heeded their request and gave them the land.  If they did not want to enter into the land, He would not force them.  He blessed them, despite their unbelief.

Yes, unbelief.  This is the same shortsighted unbelief that can strike the hearts and minds of Christian today.  As we follow Christ, contentment in every situation is something God teaches us.  But we can grow comfortable in our surroundings and be unmotivated to take the next step of faith.  Hey, if God is blessing me on this side of the Jordan, what's the point of crossing over?  Can it get any better than this?  We have cattle and this land is good land for cattle.  Can't I just stay right here, God?  As we see in the text, sometimes God says yes.  But it is always a terrible tragedy when God's people think they know better than God.  To politely decline an inheritance in the Land of Promise because you prefer the grazing where you are - without any knowledge of what God has in store for you - is foolish!

Believers, it gets better.  When we think we have tapped out how good God is, He raises the bar exponentially.  The only way we will know and experience all God has for us is walking by faith, not by sight.  If God has an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, do not be content to stay on the west side - even if you have cattle and it is good land for cattle.  Where God is leading you is where you should go.  Doesn't God know what cattle need?  More importantly, doesn't God know what you need?  Doesn't He know best?  Since He has purchased and redeemed us for Himself, let us go where He leads.  Should God lead you over Jordan, cross over!

God is Good No Matter What

It is good to be reminded that God is in control.  In good times and bad, God stands at the helm of the circumstances of our lives.  He rules and reigns, sovereign over all.  It is common for a Christian to attribute what we see as good and beneficial as Divine Providence blessing us, and when trials or difficulties come it is seen as an attack of Satan.  While it is true Satan is alive and well on planet earth, that he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, he is not to blame for anything we perceive as "bad" which happens to us.  God's sovereignty is not only what we perceive as good, but also has control over what we see as inconvenient, troubling, and even fiery trials.

Do you struggle that God allows both good and evil in the world?  He allows even His own children to suffer greatly at the hands of sinners.  A reason why God's sovereignty is hard for us to comprehend can be our own unbelief.  We look at tragedies, obstacles, even delays, and wonder what could possibly be good about them.  There is nothing good about sin, and the world is steeped in it.  Because we do not see good in the circumstances, we figure there must be a sinister purpose behind them - something other than God.  This is the view from the flesh, a view that does not hold God as all powerful, righteous, and good.  The fact that God has the power to change our circumstances and at times chooses not to is a tablet (pill) that sticks in unbelieving throats.  Yet God wants my thinking to change concerning His character and the things He allows.  He is able to take the most obscene, horrendous evil and make it work for good.  How He does this I cannot say, but I am convinced by scripture this is exactly what He does every time.  God wants to bring us to a place where we trust Him because we know Him, not because we think He has made our lives easier or better.

Romans 8:28 says with unflinching, bold confidence:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  If we are in Christ, He can use our wretched past and uncertain future for our good and His glory.  Instead of seeing everything advantageous as a blessing and delays or trials as enemy assaults, let us rejoice knowing our Father sits on the throne.  There are blessings in both what we perceive as good or bad.  Since we aren't God, we won't fully understand His ways or thoughts.  But on the foundation of scripture we stand strong in belief in God's righteousness, goodness, and unfailing love.  No matter what we face, God is good.  In a world that has forsaken God, let us seek refuge in the One who will never leave or forsake us!

2014: A New Beginning

Today marks the beginning of a new year, a year of vast potential, purpose, and promise.  In His wisdom God designed the earth to orbit the sun and orchestrated the division of seasons, months, weeks, and days.  If all we counted were days without hours, time would hold little promise for the future.  There would be no possibility for a year to hold the potential of being "the year where everything changed for good."  A new year opens countless possibilities, and reminds those whose eyes have been opened to the new life we have granted us through faith in Christ.  Every day is a new day to seek God and worship Him, as we grow in His love and wisdom.  Our God is not one of second chances but new beginnings!  Every new day and every new year is one to take hold of as a gift from God and relish the opportunities and even challenges He places before us.

It is now 2014, two-thousand and fourteen years since the birth of Jesus Christ, the One who makes all things new.  Revelation 21:5-6 says, "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." ⁶ And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."  The way God makes new is not like a "refurbished" electronic device, but is a continual process as we follow after Him in faith.  We are continually being renewed as we put off the old man - our old ways of thinking, doing, and coping - and choose to be renewed in the Spirit of our mind through the Word of God, and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  We are not doomed to repeat past failures, nor are we required to bear the burden or guilt of them.  The future spreads before us bright and beautiful as we consider the new life God has offered us through the Gospel.

Sometimes we can feel like change in ourselves or our circumstances is impossible.  We have tried hard before and failed:  why should this time be any different?  Ask that question to barren Hannah, Namaan the leper, or the disciples of Jesus who toiled all night without catching a single fish.  Let us never forget that what is impossible with men is possible with God.  Which is harder:  to change external circumstances or to change the heart and mind of a stubborn, willful human being?  I speak of all men and do not exclude myself.  2 Corinthians 5:17-21 says this:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  Here we see our position and calling before God as believers, unbelievable as it might be.  Consider this, believer!  If you are in Christ, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  We have been reconciled to God and have been ordained to reconcile others to Him as well, for He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  It is His work, yet we are called to be ambassadors for Christ as long as He tarries.  This is both a sober task and a joyful duty.

The Israelites were not able to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief, and many Christians encamp in desolate places where the water is stagnant and the food stale for the same reason.  Day after day they trudge on, and God's promises and dynamic power are forgotten.  They do not feel new, thus they do not believe God can make all things new.  Because they have limited God by their shortsightedness, focusing on their past struggles or perceived odds stacked against them, God cannot do for them what they have tried again and again to do themselves.  You may scoff to yourself:  "A man limiting God?  Rubbish!"  Consider Psalm 78:40-42:  "How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! ⁴¹ Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. ⁴² They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy."  Unbelief provokes and grieves God.  Jesus had the power to heal, yet He could not heal many in His home town because of unbelief.  Unbelief stayed His hand and blunted His miraculous power.  Unbelief causes us to forget God's power He has revealed to us, having redeemed us from sin and death.  If God has saved us from hell and transformed our hearts through spiritual regeneration by the indwelling Spirit, is anything too hard for Him?

For some people this new year will be simply another day ticking over to the next.  For others, however, it is a new year where God will have freedom through faith in His people to make all things new.  I find this most encouraging and exciting for my own walk, as well as far-reaching implications for lost people of this world who desperately need a Saviour!  May 2014 mark the beginning of a new walk with Christ that is richer, fuller, and blessed beyond reason as we faithfully follow Jesus Christ and shine bright for Him!

Hope Does Not Disappoint!

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5:1-6

During a drive last night, part of this passage continued to rattle through my mind:  "Now hope does not disappoint."  Everyone alive at some time has been disappointed, and for good reason.  In every heart there are dreams and expectations that this ever shifting world has unceremoniously shattered.  In the KJV the word "hope does not disappoint" is translated "hope maketh not ashamed."  Paul told the Roman believers that the hope God provides would not leave them ashamed or confounded even in the midst of tribulation.  In the fierceness of the storm there will be calm for those who take shelter in their Saviour.  We commonly say we "hope" when we wish for something, but the hope provided by God is an absolute surety.  Christians can have the expectation that God will always work things for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purposes.

The hope God provides through faith in Christ and his unshakable promises in His Word is infinitely greater and better than any hope offered by this world.  The hope of this world is in reality utter and complete hopelessness.  This world will always disappoint.  One thing may make us temporarily happy, but only one little thing need happen to throw us angrily into despair.  Case in point - yesterday I went to a friend's house to watch the last game of the San Diego Charger's football season, a game with playoff implications.  For those of my fellow loyal Charger fans, we know how it feels to be disappointed again and again.  I hoped my team with win against the Kansas City Chiefs, but nothing for the Chargers can be easy!  I refused to even allow myself to hope for the victory as time ticked away.  Amazingly, the Chargers finished with a victory and squeaked into the playoffs.  The happiness of the victory had hardly sunk in when I reached home and found I had left my laptop power supply cable at my mate's house!  How frustrated I was!  Even when my "hope" of an improbable playoff berth had been realised, my own forgetfulness was enough to extinguish my happiness and replace it with irritation!

This situation brought me back to the words of Romans 5.  Those of us who have been born again by grace through faith in Christ have a sure hope that does not disappoint.  No matter what disappointments I face on this earth, my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  I am God's child even if tribulations and troubles come.  I do not need to wait for heaven to receive the proof, for God has sent the Holy Spirit as a heavenly downpayment.  He has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given.  When I feel alone or forgotten, I know I have a High Priest in the heavens who stands at the right hand of the Father living to make intercession for me.  He allows even our forgetfulness to accomplish His glorious good.  The peace that God gives does not ebb and flow like the happiness we experience on this planet, but is a constant certainty for those who live to walk by faith and not by sight.

Football teams will disappoint, and we manage to disappoint ourselves at times!  But thanks be to God who has given us peace, access into His presence, and hope that does not disappoint.  When we were without strength and enemies of God, Jesus demonstrated love for us through His willing sacrifice on the cross.  Never, ever let anything in your life rob you of the joy and peace God has given!

Loving Fathers Displease

How important it is to have a biblical worldview!  God is revealed in scripture as the only true source of wisdom.  If we only see as men see, we are spiritually senseless and without wisdom from above.  Libraries contain a wealth of knowledge, and reading is required for understanding and application.  Without a vantage point provided by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we walk though life like an illiterate man wandering through a library.  He may be familiar with the appearance of books, flip through the pages of large tomes, and admire the pictures, but the captions and text remain unknown to him.

We live in a world that largely claims (by whose or what standard I cannot tell) man is inherently good.  Besides, who is permitted to say what is right and wrong anymore with authority?  The Bible has a very different view of things.  It tells us that there is none good, no not one.  When measured against God's righteous standard there is nothing good in us at all!  Jeremiah 17:9 describes the condition of man in clear terms:  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"  Man is not born righteous and learns evil through outside influence, but wickedness is his natural path.  Circumstances outside a person draw out sin which already resides within.  Proverbs 22:15 says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him."

David was a great king and a man after God's own heart.  The expression of his love to his children, however, did not reveal itself through discipline.  Of David's grown son Adonijah it is written in 1 Kings 1:5-6:  "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ⁶ (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)"  As Adonijah passed through infancy, childhood, and even as an adult, he lacked correction from his father.  It seemed Adonijah was a bit spoiled (perhaps that is too gentle), for the scriptures tell us David at no time rebuked or disciplined him for bad behaviour.  As an adult his pride was on full display, even demanding his father's throne for himself!  The KJV says "his father had not displeased him at any time..."  The original word translated "displeased" is most often translated "grieved."  Because man is born crooked, he cannot walk uprightly.  We cannot even draw a straight line a meter long with chalk unaided, much less live righteously before God all our days!

Some have a view of God that if He is indeed loving, He will acquiesce to our every desire.  This is not a biblical view.  God is altogether righteous and loving, but He is not like a man who gives into the whims of His children to speed them towards their own destruction.  David loved Adonijah, but the love he displayed towards him according to a biblical worldview was more like hate!  Solomon wrote in Proverbs 13:24:  "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly."  If your child is perfect in thought, word, and deed, discipline would be unnecessary.  But if the Bible is true in saying foolishness is bound up in the hearts of children, then discipline is not optional:  it is a requirement to be carried out promptly when necessary!  Discipline is displeasing to those who receive it, but in the end it yields peaceful, delightful fruit.  God loves man too much not to question us.  He at times will rebuke us:  "Why have you done so?"  Those who love Him will receive such love by taking to heart His rebukes.

I do not give my allegiance or loyalty to God because He always does what I want or has not displeased me at any time.  I have given my allegiance and chosen to trust God because He loves me and has proven Himself trustworthy.  Not one word of His promises have failed.  Jesus has demonstrated His love for me and all people by dying on the cross for my sins.  I am the crooked one, and He has opened my eyes to see the straight and narrow way of salvation through the Gospel.  I am grateful for God's love extended to sinners like me!

Symptoms or the Cause

It is easy to focus on the symptoms and neglect diagnosing and dealing with the source.  For years I have dealt with a shoulder injury by avoiding actions that cause additional pain.  I take care not to lie directly on my shoulder at night, and ensure I stretch properly and warm up before physical activity.  To this point I have not taken the time to seek a professional opinion or pay for scans.  Instead of having the cause fix, history says I prefer to treat my symptoms through strengthening exercises, avoiding painful activities, applying ice and pain relieving rubs, and using anti-inflammatory medications.  Eventually, I keep telling myself, I will have the shoulder examined and scanned.  But in the meantime, I will keep treating my symptoms rather than seeking out the cure.

I do not believe I am alone in this.  Governments, businesses, churches, families, and individuals sometimes see a symptom as a problem rather than ferreting out the cause and dealing with it openly.  Even the medical and scientific communities can focus on the wrong thing.  Billions have been spent on searching for cures of diseases that kill millions every year.  Cancer, for one, is a viscous disease that causes millions to die every year.  People hate cancer.  But cancer, strangely enough, is merely a symptom of a deeper, greater illness in the heart of every man.  Death itself, seemingly the final blow from our perspective on earth, is a symptom of a far worse evil:  that of sin.  Sickness, pain, sorrow, crying, and death are all products of sin.  When Adam rebelled from God, sin and thus death passed to all men.  The fact that people fall ill and die of cancers, disease, or even old age are indicators of man's true spiritual condition in the world.

Sin has a devastating effect upon body and soul.  God says the soul that sins shall surely die.  We mourn disease, suffering, and death in this world, but have we yet mourned over our sin?  Sin is the one who conceives such horrors.  The bodies of believers and non-believers on this planet will perish because we have all been born steeped in sin.  Death for Christians is turning the title page to the first chapter of eternal life in a glorified state.  For the unbeliever it is the penultimate blow, infinitely overshadowed by the second death where all who die in their sins will face the wrath of God for eternity in hell.  To cast a look at sin is to stare into the snarling face of death, truly horrific beyond description.  It is a horror Jesus Christ came to earth to save sinners from and usher us into eternal life through His sacrifice.

I think most people would claim cancer is a far greater evil than sin, but cancer is only a symptom.  Let us take our symptoms to the word of God and see if the effects of sin have clung to us as well.  Consider the list we see in Revelation 21:4-5:  "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  During your life have you every cried, experienced sorrow, or physical or emotional pain?  If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you have most certainly come in contact with sin.  The only cure is found in Christ through the Gospel.  When we repent and trust in Jesus as Saviour, He cleanses our souls from sin and gives us eternal life through Him.  We are all guilty of breaking His Laws, but Jesus has paid our debt.  He took our sins upon Himself, having become sin for us upon the cross.  Have you received this unspeakable gift?

John 11:25-26 reads, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  This is the question Jesus asks all men.  Our answer will determine where we will spend eternity.  John 14:6 also says, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  It is only after we recognise the severity of our disease we will seek after the cure, regardless of the cost.  Won't a man give anything to save his own life?  And what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  A choice of life and death has been placed before you.  Are you ready to stop treating the symptoms and deal with the cause?

Freedom in Confinement

No one likes the idea of confinement.  No one thinks, "I'd really like to see more restrictions placed upon my life."  But there is one Person who willingly accepted personal restrictions beyond anything we could ever imagine:  the Infinite, Almighty God took the form of a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was in a human sense free to do anything He wanted, yet He voluntarily chose to take upon Himself the form of a servant and was obedient to His Heavenly Father in everything.

Jesus is the Creator of all, for without Him nothing was made that is made (John 1:1-2).  He existed from eternity past and had previously no date of birth.  But all that changed about 2,000 years ago when He was conceived in the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit (Is. 7:14) and was born in the city of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5-6).  For the first time, God entered the confines of time.  God was also confined within a human body as Immanuel, God with us.  God become a human being, crying and wailing as a helpless infant after being born, wrapped in cloth, and laid in a manger (Luke 2:16).  Jesus was brought into a family where He put into practice the Law of God, and honoured His father and mother.  Though He was without sin and in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:9), He learned obedience by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8).

Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38).  He healed the sick, delivered those oppressed by unclean spirits, cleansed lepers, and raised the dead to life.  Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for sinners.  Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and was falsely accused of blasphemy.  He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and did not resist evil, for He walked in obedience to the will of the Father.  Think of it:  God allowed sinful men to bind him, scourge, and strip Him.  God allowed His body to be nailed to a cross and took upon Himself our sins (1 Cor. 15:3).  After the death of His body, God allowed Himself to be wrapped in graveclothes and confined in a tomb.  Glory to God in the highest, for He broke free from the bonds of death and rose glorified!

If we will repent and be born again through faith in Christ, we too can have freedom whilst being confined in these bodies.  His victory over sin and death has become our own.  Our regenerated souls long for God, drawn by His love, mercy, and grace.  It is a paradox that in confinement we can discover true freedom and salvation from within.  May we follow the example of Christ, seeking to serve and save others through the Gospel.  Thank God for His wondrous gift and the victory we have through His atoning blood! (Acts 20:28)

In Time of Need

I was riding back from lunch with a couple of mates when the car started making an odd noise.  The sound began a running commentary among all in the vehicle about the source of the sound.  As it persisted and grew worse, a passing driver honked and quickly ended the discussion.  We pulled over and found we had a flat rear tyre.  It turned out that my fellow passenger knew personally a tyre shop owner close by and directed the driver to the entrance.  True to his claims of good service, the process of the inspection and replacement was handled immediately.  This was a case of knowing where to go because you know someone you trust.

The situation had me thinking.  My mate who directed us to the tyre shop performed a role similar to that a Christian who leads others to Christ in time of need.  Had we been without his aid, it would have taken us a long while to locate the jack, remove the spare, and possibly find the spare too was flat!  Because my mate knew the tyre shop owner and the exact location of the shop, we were able to have prompt, quality service and be back safely on the road.  As a Christian, one who had taken refuge in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour, I know He is able to help in time of need.  He is able to redeem lives destroyed by sin, marriages broken through infidelity, break addictions, give beauty for our ashes, and freely give us eternal life.

It takes recognition of our need before we will do anything about it.  We would have kept on driving with that weird noise until we were riding the rim had someone outside the vehicle not alerted us to the trouble!  It is one thing to know you have a problem, but it is another thing altogether to know what to do about it or where to go!  Having responded to Christ's offer of salvation through the Gospel, Christians are called to lead others to experience the new life, joy, and rest He provides.  In one sense, churches are intended to be hospitals where sick people are nursed back to spiritual health.  Church is like a smash repair shop, not a showroom.  We are all damaged through sin, battered through our foolish choices, and victims of living in a perverse world.  It is Christ who not only restores us to His intended calling and purpose to glorify Him, but transforms us from within.

Hebrews 4:16 reads, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Because God put on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, He knows exactly what it means to be human in this world polluted by sin.  He understands what it feels like to be misunderstood, rejected, hurt by family members who didn't believe in Him, arrested, falsely accused, tortured, and even killed by envious men.  Praise God Jesus did not remain in the grave, but rose alive three days later as He said.  He has ascended to heaven and intercedes for us even now.  He invites us into His throne room of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Do you see your need for mercy and grace?  Do you come boldly and humbly to Christ in time of need or do you look elsewhere?  Just like we inspect our tyres to ensure they are filled with air before we drive on them, we ought to inspect our attitudes and feelings to see if they are upright according to God's standards.  When we catch a glimpse of God in His glory, we see how far we are from walking in righteousness.  Our great lack becomes increasingly evident as we mature in faith.  Let us respond to Christ's loving invitation to find mercy and grace to help in time of need.  Let us lead others to Him, because we trust Him!

LORD, Open My Eyes!

One character I find most interesting in scripture is that of Balaam the prophet.  When King Balak sent prestigious nobles a second time to entreat him to return with them, they promised honour and advancement should he curse Israel.  God told him to go with them if the men came in the morning and called him.  In the morning, the text says Balaam rose, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.  It does not say that Balaam waited to be called, but presumed he was free to go anyway.  Numbers 22:22 reads, "Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him."  When opposition to God makes Him our adversary, that is a bad thing indeed!

As the Angel of the LORD stood in the way with a sword drawn, Balaam was completely clueless to the mortal danger he was in.  The donkey, however, was able to see the imposing angelic warrior.  Upon seeing the Angel, she quickly turned aside into a field.  Balaam was irritated by this unusual occurrence and struck the donkey.  Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow place and when the donkey moved to avoid him she crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.  The searing pain only irritated him more, and he struck her again.  Finally, the Angel of the LORD stood in a place so narrow the donkey could not veer to the side and turn around.  She simply dropped to the ground, prompting Balaam to strike her with his staff.

Numbers 22:28-33 reads, "Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" ²⁹ And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!" ³⁰ So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?" And he said, "No." ³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. ³² And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. ³³ The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live."

More than a donkey enabled to speak by God, I am struck by the irony of the scene.  The donkey saved Balaam three times from the sword of the Angel of the LORD.  When confronted by the donkey after hitting her three times, Balaam raged he wished he had a sword in his hand so he could kill her!  She was three times his saviour, but Balaam's blindness saw her as wayward, careless, and lazy.  Then the LORD opened his eyes and he saw the peril that he unknowingly faced.  He looked into the austere face of grace.  No donkey could possibly outwit or outmaneuver the Angel of the LORD.  God allowed Balaam to be spared, even though he deserved to die for his sin and the donkey deserved to live.

How important it is for God to open our eyes so we can see how He has worked in our lives to preserve and protect us!  The irritations, annoyances, and side-tracks He allows work to advance and accomplish His glorious purposes.  May our eyes be open to see the glory of God so we might fear Him, falling down before Him in worship and reverence, submitted fully to Him.  In a moment man can be cut off from the land of the living, or even destroyed eternally for our rebellion.  Even as God spared Balaam for a purpose, may we be those who bless and refuse to curse.  When God opens our eyes, for the first time we see clearly.  Praise God that He opens the mouths of brute beasts to speak wisdom, causes our eyes to see Him in glory, and chastens us to walk uprightly so we might fulfill His perfect will.

Guest Post by Amy Lambert: Generous Faith

The following was originally posted on the blog called "The Mustard Seed" by Amy Lambert.  Years ago we attended the same church fellowship.  Amy is currently living and serving the LORD in New Zealand. 

The thing about learning to hear the voice of God is that He will often ask you to do some extreme things, things that we wouldn't normally do because they require more faith and trusting in Him alone. Now, before I tell this story, I want you to know that I have been praying for a while about how much detail to share. However, God challenged me to be transparent because people in the western world need to see examples of faith in the areas of materialism and finances. So, please know that my aim is to glorify God, not myself, and hopefully inspire others to surrender all to Jesus and trust in His provision alone. He is worth everything!

On a Wednesday night, my sister Anna (her actual name will be kept anonymous) came to me and handed me an envelope containing all of her money. She told me that God had asked her to give it away 2 weeks prior, but she had been holding on to it because she was afraid that she wouldn't have what she needed. She said that God told her to give it to me and that night with tears in her eyes, she handed me the envelope and chose to be obedient no matter what the cost. I thanked her, comforted her and took the money, wanting to support her obedience to the Lord. I then prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do with it because I actually didn't need it, I have more money than most of my younger missionary sisters and brothers here because I worked for 4 years saving up. I felt like the Lord told me to hold onto it for 3 days and then double the amount and return it to her.

The following day during worship night our leaders wrote on a whiteboard how much students and staff still owed for outreach funds and we were to ask God if He wanted us to support each other financially. Anna's name was on the board needing $3,000NZD. During worship I asked God what He wanted me to give and I felt like He was telling me to pay the full amount for her. While I prayed for confirmation (silently with my eyes closed) suddenly Anna came over and held me in a big hug. She had no idea that I was praying about what to give her and at this point she didn't even know that I would be giving her the money back that she gave to me. I started weeping in her arms because I knew this was God thanking me through her for my obedience to Him. So, I silently agreed to pay for her full outreach costs. The funny thing is that in my mind $3000 seemed like so much money when I thought about what else I could do with it, but once I agreed to give it away, it felt like mere pennies (this is God's grace in sacrificial circumstances).

About 20 minutes later, still in worship, I asked God if that was all He wanted me to give, I didn't want to hold anything back from Him because everything I have He gave to me in the first place. You see, I confess that I had been relying on finances as my security for the sake of what I called "being responsible." The more money I had saved in the bank, the more secure my future seemed. But, God revealed to me that it had become an idol in my life because I was placing my confidence in something other than the almighty God. I have learned repeatedly on this DTS that my Heavenly Father wants to provide for me and when I am fully trusting in Him, not leaning on my own resources, He ends up getting all the glory when the provision comes. Freely I have received, so freely I should give. I would rather be rich in faith than have financial security. So, I had a thought that I should give Bob (again, his real name will be kept anonymous) $2000. The more I tried to worship and pray, this thought persisted and I finally figured it was the Lord's prompting. Again, my brain tried to reason its way out of giving this huge amount of money but the Spirit persisted with the truth that we can't out give God and He always blesses generosity and He will provide for me in whatever His future plans are for me. There is no better investment for my savings than for my brother and sister to go spread the Gospel on outreach because this will reep eternal rewards! Besides, I told myself, I have a car at home I can sell so I can continue as a missionary next year, if God calls me back. The Lord told me again that it is a good thing to rely on the support of others because it is a blessing for them to join in His work in my life; I am blessed and they get the rewards of giving as well as attributed to the fruit of the ministry through me. So, I agreed to give the additional $2000 to Bob. This was an amazing night because I gave out of my abundance, but other students gave even though they had nothing to give, they just obeyed the voice of the Lord to them without questioning how He would provide (living example of 2 Corinthians 8:1-15). At the end of the night I had so much joy, freedom, and peace through being obedient to the Lord and the $5000 felt like pennies.

The next day it was time to give Anna her envelope of cash back. I wrote her a little note, put in the double portion, and left it on her bed. At lunch she came with tears and hugged me telling me how she felt like Abraham sacrificing Issac and God provided in the last moment for her when he saw that she had been faithful. That evening I was washing dishes and a brother (who had just returned from snowboarders DTS outreach so he didn't know me) said God gave him a word for me. The Lord told him that I worship in extravagance, like Mary in the Bible who poured out her costly perfume on Jesus feet, pouring out my inheritance to Him. He said it might look crazy to other people, but to me I am just expressing my love for the One whom I am so in love with. Now, everything I had given was in secret, so I took his word as direct confirmation from the Lord that He was pleased with my obedience.  Anna and Bob don't know that those donations were from me. Also, the financial support I received from others before I came was enough to cover my outreach costs this year, as well as my flight home. So, thank you to those of you who partnered with me in this way.

This week's lectures are on the topic of the Holy Spirit and one point that our speaker made is that life in a Spirit-filled community is very generous and characterised by giving (Acts 4:34-no needy persons among them). God has definitely confirmed this truth through my experience in the YWAM community this season. So, all glory to God for His awesome economy where the more we give away to others, the greater the blessing we receive. He is the ultimate example of this principal by giving the most costly gift of His Son Jesus in order to save humanity. I hope this testimony challenges you and results in a greater faith/trust in God.

You can read more from Amy Lambert by following this link.

Waging War

During the drive home from church last night I asked Abel, "So what do you think about the new house?"  After pausing a moment he said, "I really like it - except for the roaches."  I have not discovered any evidence of an infestation, but few mornings begin without me finding a roach or two lying belly up somewhere in the house.  Since recently moving in I have laid down a generous amount of barrier spray around doors, windows, and skirting inside and out.  Some people are fine with a bug here or there, but when I see a roach or evidence of mice I go into warfare mode.  I want to unleash the strongest, industrial strength poison on the unsuspecting squatters - keeping in mind the health and safety of my family!  I spare no pains to do damage on any filthy critter populations that try to move in and establish themselves in my house.

Roaches in a house are like sins in the heart.  They can find their way in no matter how vigilant one may be.  They may even be able to evade barrier spray laid down at suspected high traffic areas.  But when one roach comes to our attention, we can either ignore it, run away from it screaming, or wage war.  Bugs will not just "go away" on their own when you are supplying them shelter, food, and supply of water.  The cost for neglecting to eradicate a stray roach or mouse can lead to an infestation which could cause great damage to property and health.  Even when the evidence of bugs and pests is reduced, it is not time to slack off.  When the battle turns in your favour, it is not time to celebrate yet.  With tenacious discipline we must continue to observe the perimeter, check in cupboards, under furniture, and carefully monitor bait stations.  If we will use the right baits, poisons, and make necessary repairs to holes, even an infestation can be brought under control.

After being born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, a Christian must wage war upon the sins that creep into his mind and heart.  Self-examination is critical as we observe our thoughts, the use of our time, our actions, and attitudes.  One sin allowed to remain unchecked is too many.  We are called to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and refuse to allow Satan a foothold in our lives.  We must wage war on sin, for those who have been freed from it should live no longer therein.  Christ has imputed unto us His righteousness.  After being filled with the Holy Spirit we must remain vigilant, for it does no good to sweep clean our hearts but leave the door wide open for anything to enter.  I really like life on earth - except for sin.  When God brings it to our knowledge through the scripture and conviction of the Spirit, let us spare no pains to kill it off.  Show no compassion for sins Christ died to save us from.  Sin brings death, but Christ brings light and life to all who believe.

The True Christmas Miracle

I was touched by an effort of generosity and goodwill by WestJet.  Their video of Christmas giving has gone viral, no doubt prompting various responses.  It made me profoundly happy, seeing the shocked faces of people who were happy to receive their gift requests.  Check out the video below.

While I was genuinely blessed by the depiction, I realise Christmas and even apparent acts of "goodwill" are viewed these days with increasing cynicism.  For everyone like me there may be a skeptic who humbugs the idea, questioning the motives of a company for giving.  It's nothing more than propaganda, some might say.  It's a glorified commercial.  WestJet did not do this out of the goodness of their hearts because they are in the business of making money.  Think of the business this stunt might net them!  They probably could afford those gifts because they overcharge people with fees and bag restrictions, some might scoff.  The points by the skeptics and scoffers may be true.  I have no knowledge of the true motive behind the "WestJet Christmas Miracle" or how the idea came about.  But this video nails one thing square on:  Christmas is a time for giving and receiving.  But it is a gift far greater than electronic gizmos, toys, or apparel.  Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given man may receive.  Let every heart prepare Him room.

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given because He is God made flesh, the Saviour we need.  He is the Creator, Deliverer, Redeemer, and Messiah sent by God to save people from their sins.  We cannot grow out of Him.  He does not need batteries, power cords, or software updates.  Through Him we have access by one Spirit to the Father.  The salvation and everlasting life Jesus Christ provides is beyond price, but He has given Himself to all who believe at His own expense.  He is the gift we always needed but never in our wildest dreams could have expected.  Jesus has been given not as a ploy to make a few bucks or improve customer loyalty.  He was not sent as some Divine manipulation to trick us into allegiance or service.  Jesus Christ was sent and became a sacrifice for sinners because of love, mercy, and grace from God towards man.  When Jesus was born the angels shouted, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."  God has given peace to men from a heart of love.

Though the WestJet "miracle" was thoughtful, generous, and kind, there is nothing to suggest it was love that motivated their giving.  Santa knew the names of the children (because he had their booking information!) but we do not know that he loved them.  People all over the world give and receive gifts during the Christmas season not motivated by love at all!  We can be motivated by traditions, obligations, greed, and all manner of unwholesome and unholy reasons to give or receive.  The Bible teaches that Jesus demonstrated His motive of love through His death on the cross for our sins.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  The cynics may grumble, the skeptics might scoff, but the truth of God's Word endures forever.  For those who receive the Gospel and are born again by grace through faith in Jesus, nothing can separate us from the love of God.  What a miracle, that God would humble Himself to put on human flesh to save sinners!  Jesus is the greatest gift ever given, and one we should receive and celebrate always!

The Heavenly Perspective

It is natural for our gaze to be drawn away from Christ.  In the midst of the storm the wind-tossed waves look threatening and imposing.  All our senses become focused on escape and self-preservation.  Jesus promised His followers in this world we will face tribulation, but exhorts us to be joyful because He has overcome the world.  God allows pain, trials, satanic assault, and trouble to compass Christians on all sides.  We can be joyful even in the midst of difficulty because Christ has already overcome all.  He is in control.  I am His, and He is mine.

When Stephen was brought before the religious leaders falsely accused of blasphemy in Acts 7, his fear of God swallowed up all fear of man.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, the truth he spoke infuriated the chief priests.  Upon hearing his scathing rebuke they were cut to the heart.  There is no doubt in my mind Stephen recognised their murderous intentions.  Instead of focusing on the multitude of angry faces with murder on their breath, he looked to the LORD.  Acts 7:55-56 says, "But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" They dragged him outside the city, removed their cloaks, and took up stones to slay him.  Even as the stones and boulders found their mark on his body, he continued to look to God.  In that moment Stephen did not pray to be spared a brutal death or seek divine vengeance upon his enemies, but on his knees pleaded with God to forgive them - even as His LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ had done from the cross.

Sacrificial love, grace, and forgiveness are the fundamental characteristics of every Christian.  To walk accordingly, we must turn our eyes to Jesus Christ in simple faith.  If our eyes are fixed upon the stones which have been thrown at us, if our ears are tuned to the accusations hurled in our direction, if our focus is on the angry faces of our enemies, we will lose the heavenly perspective.  We can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit only when we deny ourselves, walk in obedience to our Saviour, and look unto Jesus alone.  One might expect Stephen to be graced with a heavenly vision after fasting and prayer, yet he was ushered into the very presence of God through the indwelling Spirit in the midst of a fiery trial.  Perhaps you tremble at the prospect of future trials you will face.  If we will tremble before the LORD in adoration and worship, in the midst of the trial God will reveal Himself in greater glory still.

Let us decide to turn our eyes to Jesus and trust in Him.  A true vision of God brings our issues and the fearful unknowns into our lives into proper perspective.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom!

Honest Mistake?

Are you serious, I inwardly groaned.  How many times in baking have I put in tablespoons instead of teaspoons?  I suppose that's not as bad as cups for tablespoons, but it pretty much sabotages whatever is being baked.  This morning I was making crepes for the family and only after piling 4 tablespoons of sugar on 2 cups of white flour did I realised my error.  At that moment I faced a decision bakers and chefs from the beginning of time have been forced to answer:  do I try to salvage the dish or just chuck it all and start over?  Many times I have been able to salvage the dish by carefully removing the extra bi-carb or cream of tartar.  But not this time.  I dumped the lot into the bin and started over.

When we make mistakes, that is the right course of action.  If we make a mistake and hope nobody notices, our salvage attempts often produce a poor result.  It is far better to admit our mistakes freely, apologise genuinely, and humbly start over.  This humbling process begins with us confessing our sin before God.  We like to term mistakes like the aforementioned as "honest mistakes," meaning there was no malice in our hearts beforehand.  In actuality it would be better to call such an error a careless mistake.  Had I double checked the amounts and measured carefully, the mistake could have easily been avoided.  Whether or not I had evil intentions when I poured the ingredients didn't change the fact I had loaded the bowl with almost four times more sugar than what the recipe called for!  If my family can notice slight differences in texture and taste from one batch of pancakes or crepes from the last, won't God notice when I try to hide my flaws by my secret salvage attempts?

Repentance is a beautiful gift from God.  It allows sinners like me to have a fresh start.  God put in His law provisions for imperfection.  Through sacrifice, atonement could be made for the sins of people.  God knows we will make mistakes.  Jesus loves sinners, and proved it by dying on the cross for the sins of His enemies.  It was liberating to throw away the contaminated flour and start over.  I didn't have to worry about the taste being off or the ingredients sticking to the pan.  I didn't have to go through the process of spending an hour cooking the crepes only to discover they were inedible.  All the worry, preoccupation, and irritation of making a stupid mistake was over because I started over fresh!  When we have made a mistake, let us be quick to admit it and start over with a new beginning offered us by God's grace.  What joy and peace is ours when we quit trying to salvage our mistakes and begin afresh!