The Faith of the Son of God

I love it when God illuminates a scripture in a fresh way.  Yesterday I was reading the Bible waiting for my number to be called in the Medicare office and read Galatians 2:20 in the King James Version:  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."  There is a subtle difference from the New King James I found most illuminating.  I point this out not for the purpose of pitting one translation over another, but it shed light on another facet of God's truth I had not yet considered.  The New King James Versions reads, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  I do not believe one of these is "right" and therefore the other is "wrong," but they both hold forth important God-breathed truth.

Do you see the difference?  The NKJV renders Paul's statement "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God."  Christians realise our life is intended to be one marked by active reliance in Christ, delighting to do His will.  We place our trust in Christ, and as we walk in obedience the life of Christ is lived out through us.  Now compare this with the wording of the KJV:  "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God."  I found this remarkable.  Not only do we live by faith in Christ, but we live by the faith of the Son of God.  The faith we possess is a gift from God.  We cannot muster or manufacture such a response to God in our flesh.  God has dealt to each person a measure of faith, and our faith can be increased as we step out in obedience and see God's faithfulness.

The genuine faith we possess, therefore, is of the exact kind Jesus demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world in obedience to the Father.  The very fabric of our faith is cut from Christ's faith.  Our spiritual DNA is the same, having been filled with the same Spirit and same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 1:19-23 tells us we were not purchased with corruptible things "...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. ²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever."  Our faith and hope is to be in God, and now the life that we live is to be a demonstration of the faith of the Son of God, even as we love one another as He has loved us.

This is just another example of how the living Word of God is powerful, packed with truth, and applicable to our lives.  God's Word will never pass away, and the wisdom and power of it will not be exhausted for eternity.  Of making books there is not end, yet there will never be another book like the Bible that searches hearts, convicts of sin, is a lamp to our path, and will remain relevant and fresh for all time.  You who are hungry dig into God's Word, for a feast awaits!

Reaffirm Your Love

"Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."

2 Corinthians 2:8-11

In his prior letter to the church in Corinth, Paul had exhorted the church to take seriously their responsibility to discipline a member of their fellowship who was living in sin.  The purpose of church discipline is not to punish or humiliate people, but for their ultimate restoration to a close relationship with God and his people.  The man repented of his sinful lifestyle and was truly penitent.  Paul exhorted them to forgive and comfort the man.  He urged them to "reaffirm your love to him."  This is a lovely benefit of being a part of the Body of Christ, the Church.  People will know we are Christians by our love for one another, even after mistakes have been made.

Paul concluded this section with an interesting observation, that Satan is able to take advantage of those who do not forgive.  Love keeps no record of wrongs, but unforgiveness and bitterness continue to claim wrongs and judge others as perpetually guilty.  Unforgiveness, disobedience, and all manner of sin cultivated in our hearts become tools of the devil, his effective devices to influence and deceive individuals who comprise the Church.  Satan cannot destroy the church, but he can sow discord and divide.  We are not ignorant of Satan's devices because we have all employed his tactics freely and liberally before we became Christians.  Perhaps Satan hoped to use the sinning man or Paul's strong rebuke to drive a wedge between relationships, to splinter and divide the church.  Thankfully his schemes were thwarted:  the church responded obediently, the man repented and was restored, and Paul encouraged them to reaffirm their love to him.

I am convinced confirmation of love is good evidence we have actually forgiven someone.  Sometimes we confuse forgiveness with "renewed agreement of civil toleration."  The words, "I forgive you" may have tumbled out of our mouths, but sometimes our affections towards the offending party cool.  Perhaps we do not feel they have suffered enough or have been let off easily.  We remember their cutting words and evil deeds and the pain remains fresh.  We are Christians, so we will agree to tolerate their presence.  We know if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us.  So we shake their hand and smile, perhaps even sharing light conversation.  If we would be honest, we do not prefer to be around them.  For all we care, they can disappear and take their baggage along with them!  But we cannot blame them for our disobedience in refusing to forgive.  Forgiveness is an act of faith enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is a decision to transfer their sin toward us upon Christ, even as our trespasses have been laid upon Him!  We need to walk in the Spirit to love as well.  Then the joy of the LORD will be our strength, and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.  We will rejoice to affirm our love in practical ways, and begin to live in the liberty Christ has granted us by grace.

Isn't it great that God forgives our sin, reaffirms His love for us, and speaks comfort to our hearts?  How many practical ways God has demonstrated and confirmed His love for me again and again.  Instead of allowing Satan to take advantage of us through unforgiveness, let us forgive and affirm our love for one another.  The demonstration of God's love compels us to love one another, a tangible testimony to the church and the world of God's love that never fails.

The Intentional Walk

Walking is an activity.  To do it requires intentional movement:  standing up to our feet in an upright position and putting one foot in front of the other.  Walking is a fundamental development of human beings, and most of us learned to walk before speaking!  One of the key contributors to illness later in life is an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.  Through neglect and increasing obesity, even walking can become an unbearable chore.  There is a spiritual parallel for Christians to consider:  walking with Jesus is not a passive choice, but an intentional activity.  It is very possible after a passage of time our walk has been reduced to lounging and reclining upon plush sofas of familiar theology.  Unless we are intentional about walking with Jesus daily, every one of us can become spiritually flabby, senseless, and unhealthy - despite the breadth and depth of our knowledge.

One of the potential dangers for every Christian is we can become dull from much hearing.  When we hear the Word and do not respond in obedience, should we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will become increasingly dull to God's voice.  We will pray but will not hear God speak.  We will read the Word without receiving any spiritual nutrition.  We will understand the words and concepts but receive no personal application from the text.  Church attendance will become increasingly burdensome.  We can sing Christian songs without a hint of actual adoration or worship of God, our dry eyes never moistened by the moving wonder of God's love.  Service to God will not provide us joy or satisfaction.  And all the while we are self-deceived, convinced we are actually walking with Christ when our hearts have wandered from Him long ago.  Other lesser, worldly loves will continue crowd out space for God in our life.  We will become increasingly distracted, burdened, and disappointed.  All the while we are feverishly working like Martha, wondering why Mary doesn't give us a hand, when it has been ages since we have taken time to sit and the feet of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

There is a hymn I enjoy that goes, "Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea, daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be."  There is within all genuine believers a fervent desire to draw closer to God because of God's indwelling Spirit.  Do you know it is God's will for every person to have a closer walk with Him?  He will not refuse this request, seeing it is Jesus who has sought us out.  If we plead for a closer walk with Jesus and do not take intentional action - to daily walk closer to Jesus - do not expect this prayer to be answered.  Scripture teaches us Jesus will not refuse or cast aside anyone who comes to Him in faith.  It is we who refuse Him.  Let this sink into your soul.  Instead of including God in our activities, thoughts, and service, it is we who exclude Him.  He has brought us into His own forever family, but we are the wanderers, the forgettors, the ones mired in the love of worldly things.  Let us not pine away for what God has already given because we refuse to take baby steps of faith to walk in obedience.

Do you want a closer walk with Jesus?  It is yours if you are willing to walk with Him.  Take intentional steps to seek God and invite Him into your day.  If we truly value time with God, then we will seek Him as a treasure hunter seeks precious gold.  We would continue to pursue Him even as His love pursues us.  Let us not be as married couples who forget the importance of the loving pursuit of their spouse.  Should we put on weight and grow soft because the thrill of the chase is over?  We cannot be content with our current knowledge of God when there are many things He wants to say to us today!  God, keep me from worldly loves and affection which rob us of time together!  Cause me to take intentional steps to follow you daily - no matter the cost - for you are worthy of all honour, glory, and praise.  Thank you for providing strength through the Holy Spirit to accomplish your will, that I and all those in the Body of Christ would daily walk closer with you!

Holy Hands

At church this Sunday we sang the words, "We raise up holy hands to praise the Holy One, who was, and is, and is to come."  As hands rose throughout the congregation, my heart filled with joy.  The act of raising holy hands is one of faith, for not one person can claim personal perfection.  Our holiness is not our own, but the righteousness of Christ imputed to us.  David was right when he wrote in Psalm 24:3-6:  "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. ⁵ He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."  There is no man who can claim sinless perfection but One:  Jesus Christ.  It is by His grace we lift hands now made holy, washed from sin in the pure blood of the Lamb by faith.

Raising hands during prayer and worship is not intended to draw attention to self, but to the Holy One who has forgiven and redeemed us from sin.  It is an interesting fact the scriptures always speak of raising hands - it is never singular but plural.  To me raising both hands speaks of full surrender.  It is an act of faith to raise both hands in adoration and service to the God who fashioned them and cleaned them.  Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:8, "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."  Inward holiness ought to be revealed in outward piety and obedience to God, living in the way that fully pleases Him.  This too is only accomplished through His grace and a willing heart in submission to Him.

Has your heart been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ?  Then lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting, having cleansed your hands from idolatry and deceit.  From Christ we have received redemption and cleansing, and now offer up praise to the One in whom we live, breathe, and have our being!

Love Greater than Pain

After I came home from hospital, it happened my morning readings were in the book of Job.  This was impeccable timing, because whenever I read Job his suffering dwarfs mine in a matter of sentences.  A sore, surgically-repaired knee is nothing compared to what Job faced!  When pain hits hard it prompts soul-searching and questions.  There was no rational reason for the theft of his herds, the consuming fire from heaven, nor the collapse of the home of his son and subsequent death of all his children in one day.  There was no human answer for why Job's health failed so suddenly and the severity of his suffering.  Job's brilliance was revealed in the midst of his suffering, not by the absence of it.

Job never allowed his pain to reflect poorly upon the character, purity, and righteousness of God.  What happened to Job was wrong, but Job refused to charge it to God's account.  He acknowledged he had freely received good from God and it would be hypocrisy to refuse evil.  Job's suffering was severe.  He was in so much pain he wished he had never lived at all!  He was willing to trade all the good times - the blessings, his family, experiences, riches, friends, everything - to have the privilege of never being born.  Most have never suffered to such a degree, that they would give up memory of all good things they love and enjoy to have never known anything.  Job loved and trusted God, yet his pain was such he would have been content in that moment to have never existed.

Pain leads to self-revelation, and it is also refining.  It has the potential to bury us in self-focus or spurn us to praise and glorify God who is always good, no matter the struggles or pains we face.  I believe Job had a proper view of God. a vision seldom experienced by people today.  We have a benefit Job did not have, in that we can observe how God restored him in the end.  We can allow the fact that Job was restored by God to help us through our difficult seasons, but that is not what brought Job through.  He had no such hope, no precedent.  Here is the point:  Restoration or future benefit should not be what inspires us, but only a vision of God Himself.  Job's pain led to a deeper revelation of God.  Should pain provide a window to a greater vision of God even without physical restoration, we have been graced with a gift beyond compare.  We ought to love the Giver more than the gift. Through Christ, our love can be greater than pain.

A World of Pain

The Bible tells us in heaven there will be no more pain.  Yet alas, on this earthly side of heaven, we are guaranteed pain.  Pain, sickness, and sorrow are consequences of sin, and as long as we live in this body of flesh, pain will be a part of life.  Even Jesus, a man who never sinned, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  He experienced the full range of human pain:  physical suffering, mental anguish, emotional hurts through rejection and betrayal, and spiritual separation from the Father on the cross.  If God should see fit to allow His own Son to suffer and die for the sins of the world as a demonstration of divine love, then pain for those who have received His love need not sting so badly.

It is a truth that often pain must be inflicted before restoration and healing can be experienced.  When I tore my ACL and meniscus in May, it hurt.  Walking was slow and painful.  My knee was stiff, sore, and swollen.  If I twisted it the wrong way or banged it into something, shooting pains told me immediately what I did was not good!  Almost two months have passed and there is no swelling and virtually no more pain.  But there is still a problem.  My anterior cruciate ligament - the major stabilising ligament in the knee - is still gone.  This means I am at high risk of doing more damage to the knee joint and ligaments which are not so easily repaired.  Doing nothing means a certainty of arthritis!  Because of my relatively young age and active lifestyle, surgery is the only way to replace the ligament.  This means today I will be stuck with needles, have my skin cut with a knife, tools will be shoved through keyhole incisions, and a drill will go clear through the bone.  Thankfully I plan not to be conscious during this process!

My point is, some pains and injuries we suffer in life - physical, emotional, and mental - will not get better on their own.  Our greatest pains come from being cut off from a relationship with God because of our sin.  We must come to the place of disturbing the very source of the pain to administer a restorative cure.  I could live with a completely ruptured ACL, but I would have to protect and favour my injured leg.  Even after just two months my other knee has started to hurt because I have been walking slightly off.  Doctors are not healers, but God is.  God is the One who can heal and restore us back to a close relationship with Him.  Even in our physical pain He brings comfort, knowing our pain is not without a purpose.  It is when the pain is too great we are willing to seek help.  Exploring or poking around in my damaged knee without a new ligament to attach would be intensely painful and only cause more scar tissue.  That is all worldly wisdom can accomplish when it comes to a wounded and guilty conscience.  God offers assurance, forgiveness, hope, peace, and love.  God does more than acknowledge our pain, but sets us on a course for healing and salvation.

Today I am heading for a world of pain, but pain isn't always a bad thing.  It is often the door we must pass through to greater revelation, peace, and comfort only God can supply.  It can be the first decisive step to healing and restoration.  Praise God He knows our pain, and in His compassion can do everything to make it work for good!

The Ol' Club

Years ago I spent a few weeks refurbishing a pool table for my garage.  Over the course of time, one of my two-piece pool cues broke.  As I walked to the rubbish bin, I held the lower portion in my hand.  Man, this would be a good club, I thought to myself.  Convinced of the bell-ringing power of my new club, I put it near my bed in the case of an unexpected intruder.  For years the thing collected dust.

Then one day I heard a story (fact or fable I do not know) about a woman who woke up and caught an intruder rifling through her home.  Instead of demanding he leave or threatening to call the police, the woman invited the man to sit down and offered him some food.  As she prepared the meal, she spoke to him gently and told him of God's love for him despite his sins.  This woman's faith in God's protection was her security, even when there was a thief in her home.  The story made an impact on me.  It reminded me God is the one who protects my family, home, property, and myself.  Should I place any amount of trust in a club, my ability to wield it, or a gun when God watches over me?  I did that day what I should have done years before:  the club went straight to the bin.  It was replaced - not with a weapon I hold in my hands - but with the knowledge my life and future is in my heavenly Father's hands, and He can protect far better than I can myself!

When I read of Christians amassing stockpiles of weapons or ammunition because of the state of the world or new governmental restrictions, I wonder if they remember that it is God who fights our battles.  How many times did God deliver and save His people in unconventional means because they trusted in Him!  I think of when individuals or entire armies were struck blind, how the Jews were delivered from slavery in Egypt without an insurrection, or when the walls of Jericho fell flat.  Gideon and his three hundred men bested an innumerable encampment of Midianites armed with torches, pitchers, trumpets, and a catch-phrase.  In the days of Israel when there were only two swords, God turned the swords of the Philistines upon themselves!  David defeated the heavily armed and armoured champion of Gath with a sling and a single stone.  God saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego from a fiery furnace, and protected Daniel in a den of lions.  Isaiah 37:36 tells when the Angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians overnight and killed 185,000 warriors!  Our God causes the chains to fall off of hands and makes prison gates to swing open of their own accord, with even the most vigilant guards clueless.

God defends and protects His people if they will trust Him to do so.  How feeble does that club under the bed seem in light of the power of God!  There is a time for war and peace; there is a time as the Jews did in the book of Esther to make a stand and defend our lives.  But let us be careful we do not forget that it is God who fights our battles.  Let us put no trust in armaments or an arm of flesh, for God is faithful to deliver and save all who trust in Him.

No Record of Rights

1 Corinthians 13 is a great description of God's love.  It is active, pursues, is patient, kind, gracious, generous, and seeks to sacrifice self for the benefit of others.  1 Corinthians 13:5 says of God's love: "It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." (NIV)  The last phrase of this verse is most instructive to me.  In the NKJV it is translated "thinks no evil."  Love is not wary or suspicious, but thinks good of others - even when they have done something wrong towards us in the past.  When we keep track of other's mistakes or faults, we are not walking in love.

Closely related to keeping no record of wrongs in others is when we keep track of our rights.  It does not demonstrate love when we bring up how much good we have done for others when they have wronged us.  If I point out my "good" deeds to make someone else feel guilty, or to glorify myself in light of their conduct, this is nothing more than manipulation, pride, and self-righteousness.  It is an appeal to the flesh to have our way, and this should not mark the life or thought patterns of a follower of Jesus Christ.  We can feel taken advantage of if we file away all the good we have done for others and do not see the appreciation our efforts merit.  Those who keep record of others wrongs or their own rights will persist in folly.  Our pursuit of recognition or just rewards show we know little of grace and God's love.

When we are tempted to say, "Look what I have done!" know this is often a clear temptation to sin.  What you have done?  Can a man do anything apart from God's grace?  What do we have that we have not freely received?  Jesus was not taken advantage of by the lost He came to seek and serve because He gave Himself freely without reservation.  Let us love freely as Jesus has demonstrated by laying down His life for sinners.  His sacrifice on the cross did not become His trump card to force His way:  "Look what I did for you!  The least you could do is obey me in this small matter!"  That's not the voice or tone of Jesus, but sounds very much like the tone of the accuser of the brethren.  Love keeps no record of wrongs, nor sounds a trumpet to bring attention to our good deeds.  We are called to do all things as unto the LORD, and it is He who will settle accounts with us!  What do you want on that day:  your just due or God's grace?

God Gives the Increase

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

A person need not be a farmer by trade to know acres of desirable crops do not spring up on their own.  A bountiful harvest is enjoyed only after much labour and expense.  The ground must be cleared, tilled, and irrigated.  Good seed must be planted at the appropriate time and spaced according to each kind.  Vigilance is required to protect the growing plants from insects and rodents.  After the planting and watering, then a fruitful harvest may result.  There is no guarantee offered the farmer his efforts will be rewarded with the same degree of fruitfulness every year.  But his faithful labour greatly affects the end result.

No farmer could lay claim to creating seeds, plants, or fruit.  God is the Creator, and skilled farmers have learned methods, devised equipment, pest control measures, and nutritious feed to maximise the potential of a crop.  Paul did not have a fancy presentation or use manipulative techniques when he shared the Gospel.  Yet people responded to the message of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul could not lay claim to the salvation of a single soul.  He had sowed the good seed of God's word which fell on various hearts:  some hard, others had thin and rocky soil, some choked with thorns, and others fell on good soil.  It was not his seed, and it was not even his labour which brought forth a harvest of souls.  Apollos nurtured the young believers, but he only did what was his calling and duty to do.  It was God who caused souls to be saved.  It was God who continued to mature and cause people's lives to be fruitful.  God, by His grace, made the efforts of Paul and Apollos effective in His time and divine way.

We can make the mistake of looking for a harvest before we have been faithful to plant or water!  We can perform the equivalent of planting a single seed or watering for a day, but when growth or fruit is not immediately evident we can lose heart and see our efforts as wasted.  This reveals a lack of faith in God's Word and His everlasting promises.  God has promised His Word will always accomplish what He pleases and prosper in the purpose for which it was sent (Is. 55:11).  Christians ought to keep planting, keep watering, and be led by the Spirit in obedience to His will regardless if we see the harvest we set our hearts upon and long to see.  If we set our hearts upon the harvest, we are focused on the wrong thing.  Disillusionment, weariness, and despair will be the fruit of this error.  Our eyes are to be fixed on Christ, and our hearts founded on His Word.  We are God's fellow labourers, and He will bring the increase.  Our eyes may never see it, but it's good to remember the harvest is not for us.  It is for Him and Christ's eternal glory.

Do no lose heart, Christian labourer!  Do not be fooled into thinking you should stop planting or watering because you have not perceived increase.  It is folly to quit planting or watering because you do not yet have fruit.  The fruit of your efforts is not for you to consume for the satisfaction of your flesh, but to plant again so there will be even more eventual fruit.  God is faithful to supply all our needs.  When we realise we are nothings God has chosen, called, and equipped to serve Him, what joy floods the soul.  He does not put the burden of a fruitfulness quota on us like the Egyptians did on the Hebrews, but to plant, water, or to faithfully do whatever it is God has called us to do.  Are you planting?  Are you watering?  If not, then don't expect to see much fruit.  Though we are nothing, God gives the increase!

Don't Settle for the Suit!

This morning I read a most insightful, instructive passage in the book of Esther.  After Haman felt slighted by Mordecai, he inquired and discovered his Jewish ancestry.  Haman decided the punishment of Mordecai was insufficient, and treacherously schemed to destroy all Jewish people.  He influenced the king to give him permission to destroy this "certain people scattered among the provinces" who refused to keep the king's commands, and this permission was granted.  Mordecai and all the Jews mourned this grave injustice, clothed themselves with sackcloth, and wailed bitterly.  Queen Esther, though a Jewess, was ignorant of Haman's plans to destroy the Jewish people because she lived in relative isolation in the palace.

When I read chapter four, the living Word sprang to life before my eyes.  Esther 4:1-4 reads, "When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. ² He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. ³ And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. ⁴ So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them."  Esther heard of how bitterly her cousin mourned, and she was "deeply distressed."  In every province the Jews made a great mourning, but it was not until her family was directly affected that Esther was moved.  This is no fault of her own, but a common response among all people.  Her next move was one I found particularly interesting.

Without inquiring at all about the cause of Mordecai's mourning, Esther sent garments to clothe Moredecai and to take his sackcloth away from him.  Mordecai refused.  New clothes would not solve the problem which faced him and the Jewish people.  Esther's offer, though she meant well, missed the point.  She did the same thing many of us can do.  We are not as concerned about the cause of mourning as how we can stop it.  Mordecai's distress caused Esther distress and it did not please her at all.  It was only after he refused her gift she did what she should have done at the beginning:  ask concerning the cause of Mordecai's suffering.  Esther 4:5 says, "Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was."  Subsequently she received a copy of the edict against her people and discovered her own life hung in the balance.

The thing which stuck me was, what if Mordecai had been content to receive the clothes from the hand of his royal cousin?  What if he had put off his sackcloth to please her, and never informed her of the purpose for mourning?  It could have meant the death of Mordecai, Esther, and all the Jews!  Here is a question for personal consideration:  how would you respond if you were in Mordedai's position and your death was imminent?  Imagine you had been sick for a while and went to the doctor for a diagnosis.  How would you feel if the doctor sat down grimly and said, "Permit me to be blunt:  you are going to die."  After communicating the severity of your condition, he continued:  "The good thing is you are not beyond hope.  If you will make some major adjustments to your diet and lifestyle, in time your condition could be completely reversed."  What do you do?  Would you value your life to faithfully practice all the doctor ordered and avoid all the foods and practices forbidden?  There are few with such self-control and resolve.  Humans are a curious, difficult bunch.  We want to live, but for some life is only worth living on our terms - even if it means our destruction.

One of the takeaways for me from the passage is that I should never be satisfied with a new suit when it is salvation I need.  Mordecai was not content to be comforted when he and his people needed an advocate.  Churches are growing old and dying all over the world.  Should a dying church be content with more congregants, new buildings, better sound systems, and increased offerings when it is the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit we need?  If God is not in our midst, can we be comforted with anything less?  Should we be pleased with position, authority, or accolades when we have ceased to walk in love or do not experience peace that passes understanding?  How foolish it would be to substitute knowledge of God instead of a relationship with God He freely offers by His grace.  Don't settle, believer.  God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises.  We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ.  We are invited to come boldly ourselves into His throne room of grace ourselves so we might have mercy and grace in time of need.  Mordecai was not permitted to wear his sackcloth inside the gate of the King - but we can!  Are you burdened, troubled, or mourning?  Enter into His presence now by faith, for He will by no means cast out any who come to Him.

The Necessary Piece of the Puzzle

Yesterday our family returned safely from a visit to the United States.  It was a refreshing and encouraging time of meeting with friends and family.  I was also able to attend a pastor's conference hosted at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and to teach at Jericho Road Christian Fellowship.  As I reflect back upon the things the LORD showed me during the trip, one that has been useful for me is an illustration God provided me to share for the fellowship at Jericho Road.

As we live out our days on earth, we face situations and circumstances we cannot explain or understand.  With our limited vision, it is impossible for us to see how fiery trials can work for good.  Before assembling a jigsaw puzzle, the complete picture has already been printed clearly on the front of the box.  Should you come across a strange or oddly coloured piece, an inspection of the picture provides clues where the piece fits in the big picture.  But when it comes to our lives on earth, God does not reveal the big picture all at once.  Our vision for our lives could be better compared with the bare brown cardboard of the lower box!

The amazing thing about that odd-shaped piece we can't seem to fit into our big picture - that trial, attack, illness, injury, or circumstance we can't understand or explain - is that in His love, wisdom, and sovereignty God has seen fit to use that particular piece to bring our lives to ultimate completion in accordance to His will.  God allows things that are not according to His will to accomplish His will.  For instance, God allowed His own Son Jesus Christ to die - something that is not God's will - to accomplish His perfect will, that all who trust in Him through the Gospel would be born again and never die!  God is not willing any should perish, but He allowed Jesus to be crucified so all could live.  This is a remarkable, wondrous aspect of God.  Paul knew it to be true and all Christians can affirm what is written in Romans 8:28:  "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."

We should receive joyfully the exhortation in 1 Peter 4:12-13:  "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  We are not always able to receive such words, but their truth remains despite our misgivings and current pain.  Trials are not strange events unknown to God, void of divine purpose.  Indeed, they are among the most instructive, refining, and sure tokens of God's presence, power, and faithfulness.  We may never understand how an artist paints a masterpiece  or why the sculptor formed a curious vessel:  can we explain the thoughts or plans of God whose ways are past finding out?

Our call is not to understand or explain but to believe and trust.  We can be glad despite pain and difficulties, for Christ has promised never to leave or forsake us.  As the song goes, "When darkness veils His loving face, we rest on His unchanging grace."  Corrie Ten Boom used to say that we only see the back of the embroidery.  God sees the big picture, and He will work all things for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose!

The Precious Blood

During a communion service today, I held a small cup of juice in my hand.  The grape juice represented the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for the sins of the world - and mine too.  Christians have not been redeemed by corruptible things, but as it is written on 1 Peter 1:19:  "...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."  It amazed me to think God would allow the precious blood of His Son to be poured out for any reason, much less to atone for cursed sinners.

We count precious things we own as treasures, treasures to be guarded, preserved, and cherished.  Yet so great was God's love for fallen men, He poured out the blood of Jesus on the dust of the earth.  The riches of God's glorious love and grace were displayed in God's sacrifice.  It boggles the wildest imagination!  Jesus Christ is in very nature God, and made in the fashion of a man - doubly precious!  In light of God's expense, how highly should Christ and His blood be regarded.

I stared at the cup of juice in wonder.  Marvelous, God's love!  Romans 5:5 says, "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."  Life is in our blood, yet God has given the souls of Christians new life through the indwelling Spirit of God.  Whilst in the wilderness David wrote in Psalm 63:3, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You."  We cannot repay God for His demonstration of love through the precious blood of Jesus being poured out, but we can praise Him.  We can trust Him and believe His Word.  We are forever indebted to God for such love and acceptance.  Glorify Him, you who have tasted and seen that God is good.  He has taken away the bitterness of the curse of sin and replaced it with the sweetness of love and eternal life!

Taken as You Follow

"Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. ¹⁵ Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'"

Amos 7:14-15

Amos is a great example of a man God called to enter His ministry step by step.  God brought him out of a farming profession - breeding sheep and picking fruit - and called him to be a prophet for His people. He didn't have a pedigree which would have been valued in the Jewish community, but he was called a prophet nevertheless.  Like Moses, he was taken from following a flock of sheep and was called to prophesy to the nation of Israel.

Jesus called fisherman, tax collectors, doctors, and educated Pharisees to follow Him.  Jesus is our Good Shepherd who takes us from one pasture and moves us to another.  He takes people from all walks of life and employs them in His service.  Answering His call is a step by step process, as each step taken in faith in God.  Sometimes God gives us the big picture without the little details, but He often reveals the very first step of a series of steps we see only as we go.  Taking that first step in surrender to God's leading with a desire to see the process through enables us to see and pass through the open door.

Amos wrote of his career, and said "then the LORD took me as a I followed the flock."  This is such an important point.  Sometimes when we perceive the call of God there may be a fleshly impulse to stop what we are doing to pursue an ambiguous goal.  But the key is to keep doing what you are doing faithfully unto the LORD and in His time and way He will take you and turn you loose:  "Go, prophesy to My people Israel."  The word from the LORD didn't come until God had taken Amos from the sheepfold and said "Go!"  There is an order to the way God works, but it is unpredictable.  God's horizons and purposes reach far beyond our limited view.

God has you where He wants you.  And until He moves you, keep doing what He has called you to do as unto Him.  The day will come when He will take you and move you to a new arena for His glory.  He may change your profession, where you live, the ministry God has entrusted to you, or call you from your failing body into eternal glory.  The good work He has begun in you He will be faithful to complete.  Trust that He is in control and He has purposes and plans you will enter into as you follow Christ in faith. 

Proud or Humble?

The other day I was struck with a simple truth:  things which tempt me to be proud are the very things which God desires to use to humble me.  Pride comes from a high regard of self.  Our flesh always seeks promotion and recognition.  The basis for true humility springs from a high view of God.    After being born again by faith in Jesus, our whole perspective changes through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  Our chief satisfaction is found in service and glory of God instead of serving self.

Tonight I have a privilege of going to my dad's ordination at Calvary Chapel Santee and I have been asked to share a few words.  From a fleshly standpoint, I have always been "proud" of my dad.  He has always been my pastor, and has always been an godly example for me to follow.  Should I be proud of him, however, it reveals I seek to promote myself through him.  Instead of a feeling of pride, I am greatly humbled that God would grant me such a rich blessing in my dad.  I find it humbling that I should be asked to speak at the service.  It is not because I am a "spiritual" person, but simply the Holy Spirit has continued to transform the way I think and live, bringing my life into submission through God's Word.  God has revealed to my mind and heart that pride cannot have a place in my life.  The acceptance or cultivation of pride in anything cannot be justified in a believer, even if the world says it is man's just due.

The things which make us proud God desires would instead humble us.  The things we view as great achievements and accomplishments are gifts God has provided us by His grace.  I did not deserve a wonderful father nor a loving mother.  In His infinite mercy God has provided these people in my life, and they would be the first to say that anything good in them comes only from God.  Pride in my life will cause me to not see blessings from God as they truly are:  gifts by His infinite grace.  God resists the proud, thus short-circuiting grace I fall short of.  Everything we have and all we are is a product of God's goodness and grace, and this should cause us to be humble, grateful, and thankful to God!

Heart and Bones

"A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones."

Proverbs 14:30

 At Calvary Chapel Sydney, we have been taking an in-depth look at the book of Proverbs in the Bible.  What richness is found for those who linger and receive of the wisdom they contain!  They never grow old, and their truth shines undimmed by passage of time.  They hold forth the unchanging, divine wisdom of God.  As we increase in understanding, our love and knowledge of Christ expands because the Father has made Christ to be wisdom for us.

I found the above Proverb most delightful, for King Solomon through the power of the Holy Spirit made a connection between the heart and bones which was not understood by physicians until the 19th century!  In the Hebrew, the word translated "sound" is "a curative, remedy, a medicine."  We all know the heart is important to the overall health of the body, and when it is working efficiently it circulates oxygen-enriched blood to all the body, cleanses the blood through the liver, removes carbon dioxide, and allows white blood cells to attack disease, among many other functions.  A strong heart promotes health of the entire body.

The contrasting point the proverb makes is most compelling.  In an article written by Dr. Barry Cooper called, "The Origins of Bone Marrow as the Seedbed of Our Blood," he describes several early incorrect theories of what bone marrow was.  Dr. Cooper writes, "The marrow is currently well defined as the seedbed of our blood, producing 200 billion red cells, 10 billion white cells, and 400 billion platelets on a daily basis. Yet, the role of the marrow was unknown in antiquity and only first experimentally defined during the latter 19th century."  Although he lived in antiquity, through the Holy Spirit Solomon made a connection between the heart and bones - something not understood until almost 3,000 years later!  It is a catastrophic condition when the marrow inside bones ceases to function properly.  The entire immune system is compromised when the blood cell factory of the marrow fails, even if the heart continues to beat.  Unless there is a transfusion of healthy bone marrow, the condition is a certain death sentence.

From a spiritual vantage point, Solomon describes the horrific effects of envy.  It is a hidden, silent killer more deadly than leukaemia.  It multiplies within our inmost being, concealed by the appearance of strength and stability.  Envy in a person is like a house freshly painted, but all the timber has been eaten by termites.  Envy can be described as discontent or resentment aroused by apparent success of others.  It is a view of life focused on self and others, wishing we had what others do.  Envy has taken hold in our bones when the blessings of others wounds us, and we begrudge benefits others receive.

So how do we undergo a spiritual bone marrow examination?  It will happen only by the probing, piercing Word of God quickened by the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."  Christians are called to guard their hearts, because from the heart springs forth all the issues of this life.  We ought to have regular marrow check-ups as well, for envy is rottenness to our bones.  Praise the LORD that He was wounded and pierced for our iniquities, and when the Great Physician pierces us it is for our ultimate healing and restoration - not our destruction!

Not Try, but Trust

"It is not "try" but trust, not "do" but done."

Corrie Ten Boom

This is one gleaming nugget of wisdom plucked from the surface of an address Corrie Ten Boom made to a group of largely new believers.  In the message she emphasised the love of Jesus and the blessing of forgiveness.  When Corrie speaks of Jesus and the Gospel, it sounds very simple - and it is.  We have ways, however, to exponentially complicate matters when we try to do in the flesh what can only be performed through the Spirit.

One of Corrie's common object lessons was a flashlight with only one battery stuffed with rags.  She said that when a person makes a decision to follow Christ and is born again, it is like one battery is placed within us.  But one battery will not allow that flashlight to operate.  We need the second battery, which she said is the gift of the Holy Spirit who operates within us in power.  The spot for the second battery was filled with crumpled rags which each represented a sin:  self-pity, unforgiveness, and lies.  Those rags must be confessed and forsaken before the Holy Spirit can have His proper place in our hearts and cause our light to shine before men so they might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

If we try to forgive, we will find at some point we are unable.  We must trust God is able, because forgiveness is according to His will.  When we submit to God even when we feel it is impossible and choose to obey, He will do it.  We can be duped to focus on what we have to do when we should instead look to what Jesus has already done.  Because of what Jesus has already done, He provides power and ability to do.  It is not us doing it, but God through us.  What a comfort this is to those who are heavy laden and in need of rest!  Let us rest in God and the promise of the Spirit.  When we try His promises, He will prove them true.

Pain Free or Well?

In a conversation yesterday, a mate of mine asked a question I found quite profound.  He said his physiotherapist constantly asks the question:  "Do you want to be pain free, or do you want to be well?"  The answer to this question will greatly impact treatment.  I believe this simple question holds profound spiritual implications.

The point made by the physiotherapist is a critical one for him and each seeking treatment to understand.  This man has broken people coming to him who face various degrees of physical pain.  His expertise and skills to improve the condition of those who seek his service are directly impacted by their willingness and desires.  I suspect most people just want the pain to go away.  They do not care to have their lives terribly impacted by any course of treatment, despite long term benefits.  Most people are not keen to make permanent, major adjustments to their activity level, lifestyle, or habits.  They don't want to be burdened with diet restrictions or commit to series of daily stretches and exercise regimen.  If there was such a thing as a magic tablet to cure all ills, that's all people want!  All the physio can do in this case is provide temporary relief of pain, perhaps some manual adjustments to bring people "out of the woods," and at some point lose clients because he isn't accomplishing lasting results.  It's a tough job to be sure - dealing with people who want to be pain free but don't care to be well.  If people aren't interested in being well, he likely wouldn't bother burdening such with exercises and treatments.

Those who want to be well are willing to embrace massive changes in their diet and exercise routine because they want to attack the root cause of their pain.  They will be faithful to do their daily stretches and alter their lifestyle because they trust the physio and his methods of treatment.  Becoming well is not an immediate transformation, but a process.  It's important to understand our bodies do not just "heal" themselves.  God designed our bodies to work constantly towards health.  Oxygen is carried by red blood cells, white cells are mobilised to fight infection, recording each strain of virus and bacteria for future defense.  Pain is a signal that tells the body it is not well and needs treatment and special care.  Instead of masking pain with drugs or seeking an easy fix, those who will be well need to work toward that end under the guidance of one who can make an accurate diagnosis, and apply effective treatments.  Our bodies work hard on the inside, and to be well we must pitch in with health-promoting lifestyle changes.

Largely speaking, pain has a bad rap.  Sometimes damaged nerves can cause chronic, debilitating pain.  This is not what I am referring to.  God designed our bodies to feel pain as a warning sign of damage.  A lack of pain is potentially damaging and even deadly to the body.  One incurable disease that leads to disfigurement and death is leprosy.  When nerves to extremities become damaged, the lack of sensation leads to pressure wounds, burns, and serious infections.  Some who suffer from leprosy end up being blind, having lost sensation to their eyes.  Pain is an effective defense mechanism.  Leprosy illustrates how a lack of pain ultimately leads to self-destruction.  A book that goes into great detail on this point is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey.

If we apply this question to our spiritual walks, perhaps it will open our eyes to the fact we have only wanted to be pain free and don't actually care to be well.  God wants us to be well.  Have you finally arrived to the place where you want to be well at any cost?  It is a beautiful place to be when we are in pain and realise we don't just want our pain to be relieved, but we want to be well and submit our entire lives into the hands of Great Physician - not so He can wave His hands over the spot and speak instant healing, but so He will tell us a course of treatment according to His Word we will embrace.  Don't you want to be well?  You hesitate because of the cost, the ongoing commitment, or perhaps you think you know yourself well enough!  Jesus walked up to the lame man at the pool of Bethesda and asked the question:  "Do you want to be made well?"  He did not answer the question.  Jesus is asking you the same question today.  How do you answer?

Fishing For Significance (in space without fish)

We live in a day when self sits on the throne.  During my life I have seen the self-esteem movement develop, and digital technology and social media has made way for "selfies."  A major aspect of social online activity has become self-promotion.  The thirst for significance grows unabated, despite the self-serving platforms.  There are countless ways humans search for significance:  their interests, careers, and political, social, or religious inclinations.  There is a desire in every person to be seen, appreciated, recognised, even liked.  We put so much stock in seeking people's positive comments and opinions it becomes like an addictive drug that makes us feel better about ourselves.  On the other hand, negative feedback and bullying has led to suicide attempts and even death.

I read a post the other day which suggested if you were a "real" friend you would read to the bottom of the post, pass it on, write one word that describes that person, etc.  To me it was a cry, clear evidence a thirst for significance still unmet.  Having hundreds of virtual "friends" was not enough, so a post was employed to guilt others into responding.  Social interaction for some has gone far beyond an activity, but has become a quest for personal satisfaction and acceptance.  Frankly, virtual relationships can never supply the deep emotional and spiritual needs of a person any more than it can feed your body when you are hungry.  Seeking significance even in physical relationships is useless.  Looking for lasting happiness through any activity or positive feedback in this world will leave you empty.  It is like a man fishing for significance in the void of space where no fish are.

Thankfully, there is a way to have this thirst quenched.  It can be satisfied only through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  God is the one who created us, who knew us before we were knit together in the wombs of our mothers.  Jesus is the one who demonstrated God's love for us, for whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us!  Everything we need is found in Jesus!  1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says of the relationship of a Christian to Christ, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- ³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

God doesn't just "like" you - He loves you.  Instead of seeking to satisfy self, glorifying God is what truly satisfies and brings rest to our souls.  Apart from Christ those deep longings of the human soul for significance will remain unmet.  As the Preacher in Ecclesiastes said of life on earth without God, "Meaningless!  Vanity!  All is meaningless!"  We don't need to fish for significance or "likes" when believers already have acceptance and approval of God, the One who gave His own Son so we might live with Him forever.  God loves with an everlasting love, and those who repent and trust in Him walk in that light.  Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."  God's love never fails, and He will never leave or forsake you.  Pretty significant, I say!

Bring Them To Jesus

"Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 

Matthew 17:17

The LORD has provided fresh insight upon this passage for me recently.  Jesus had returned from a mountain with a few of His disciples when a man approached Him with a request.  His son was severely demon possessed, and related how he first brought him to be healed by the disciples of Jesus.  When they were unable to help, he came to Christ for help.  After He heard the man's pleas, Jesus spoke the aforementioned words culminated with, "Bring him here to Me."  Jesus rebuked the demon, and the boy was made whole.  The disciples later asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon, seeing that Jesus had already given them authority and power over unclean spirits.  It was their unbelief, Jesus replied.

In relation to Christian ministry, this passage speaks volumes to those who have ears to hear.  We know that Jesus alone supplies the power through the Holy Spirit for fruitful and effective ministry.  It is not expressly stated why the man did not initially bring his son to Jesus, and frankly it does not matter for my purpose.  The point is, the man sought help from the disciples of Christ because he hoped they could supply his need.  This happens more in ministry and the church of God than you might think.  People tend to look for people, programs, ministries, and things to supply help and hope.  We may think listening to a sermon will do us good, or read our Bibles through twice in a year will help us overcome issues!  But we can neglect simply coming to Christ!  Search as we might for useful or effective aids apart from Christ, they will not supply our true need.  They will be proved useless, even as the disciples were not effective to do what only God could.

The second thing about this passage is the neglect and failure of the disciples to bring the man to Jesus.  They had prayed, even laid hands, or did exactly what had worked every time before.  They were unable to help the boy, and scratched their heads in wonder:  "Why isn't this working?"  Their theology teetered precariously on their shredded faith, not seeing the end they intended.  So they let the man go.  It seems they did not consider bringing the boy to Jesus!  It was the father who desperately sought Christ after his son's problems persisted, but the disciples did not share his desperation.  In their minds they had failed:  why involve Jesus at all with this embarrassing humiliation?  The demon inside this little boy had them beat, and they couldn't understand why or how it was possible.  Ignore the issue, and maybe it would just go away in time.

The man did what the disciples failed to do, but only at the prompting of Jesus.  He brought his son to the disciples, but seeing their failure he came alone to Jesus.  How sad!  Perhaps it is clear now why Jesus said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?"  Then He gave the command which should have been the immediate response of both the man and the disciples concerning the possessed boy:  "Bring him here to Me."  Do we seek help from other people, books, or articles before we bring ourselves in humility before Jesus?  When we are confronted with the problems of other people, do we bring those people before Jesus through intercessory prayer?  Do we bring them to Christ in faith as Saviour?  When we neglect to go to Christ or forget to bring them to Christ, we will be unable to solve even the small problems in this life.  Yet when we go to Christ and bring others to Him, we will experience deliverance and salvation beyond explanation.

How many unsaved people in this world are disillusioned because they have sought help and hope in men but not in Christ!  And there are far too many Christians (one is too many!) who deny themselves victory and power because of unbelief.  If we believe ourselves sufficient, we will be proved powerless.  People do not need ministries and sermons and studies to be free from oppression and sin:  they need Jesus.  You have a problem?  Bring it to Jesus.  Are you aware of hurting people with needs?  Bring them to Jesus.  Do you have questions?  Bring them to Jesus and you will see that He has been the answer all along.

No More Guilt or Shame

Guilt and shame are God-given tools to move people to confession and repentance before Him.  Too many times, however, feelings of condemnation are tolerated and justified in the life of a Christian who has repented of a sin.  To those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation for those who have repented and forsaken their sins.  Old sins need not weigh us down, for the blood of Jesus is sufficient to atone for them.  The justice of God has been satisfied through His sacrifice, and we are free of all guilt and shame by grace through faith.

God has chosen to remember the sins of His people no more, but the devil is only too happy to remind us of our transgressions.  His accusing voice rings in our heads, and because we agree we have done wrong there may be a temptation to allow his venomous attacks without resistance.  When we wander from Christ, He calls us to return to Him.  There is no waiting period for God's forgiveness, some penance that first must be endured before we will be accepted back into fellowship with God when we truly repent.  The scripture says without reservation in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  "That's too easy," some might complain - like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son who returned to his father.  Was the cross too small a payment in your estimation?  That is what it cost God for man to be forgiven of a single sin.  The devil and men alike want men to pay with guilt and shame for their sins when Christ has paid already.

When the book of the Law was read in Nehemiah's day, the people wept when they heard it.  They were remorseful and contrite for their wrongs.  They had sinned greatly against God and without atonement His great wrath would be upon them.  Fresh out of captivity and they had entered into sins that were the cause of their captivity for 70 years!  If man was God, he might be satisfied for people to remain in their guilt and shame a bit longer, to make sure they really knew how great their transgressions were!  God is not like a man.  Those who repent and humble themselves before God in faith and repentance will be accepted by His grace.  Nehemiah 8:9-12 says, "And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them."  Amazingly, the people were commanded not to weep.  Instead they were to rejoice because the joy of the LORD was their strength.  Their tears of sorrow were turned to tears of joy.  Their sins were great, but the atonement, forgiveness, grace, and acceptance of God was greater still.

If we practice sin, the absence of guilt and shame should be very concerning indeed.  This shows our hearts have been hardened and deceived, perhaps even unregenerate!  But if you are a Christian who has repented and forsaken sin, you should no longer bear the weighty yoke of guilt and shame for transgressions Christ has cleansed.  We do well to remember our faults so we will not repeat them.  Instead of drowning in sorrows and shame, and sinning further by pitying ourselves, let us choose to rejoice in the assurance of Christ's forgiveness through the promise of the Word.  Do not delay to come to Christ and be reconciled to Him through repentance.  Those who come to Christ He will by no means cast out (John 6:37).  May the joy of the LORD be your strength as you consider all your Saviour has done for you!

Passing the Spiritual

Before immigrating to Australia, our family needed to complete physicals in the United States to qualify for a visa.  It included a basic physical examination, bloodwork, vision, and drug testing.  Had we failed the physical, we would have been denied a visa and entrance to the country.  After we lived in Australia for two years, again the whole family was required to undergo a physical to obtain a permanent resident visa.  Praise the LORD we each passed the physical and this potential hindrance to obtaining the visa was removed.  God gave us favour with our application and now we remain grateful permanent residents of Australia.  Since we have completed the physicals and have continued to live in-country, we should not need to have physicals when we apply for citizenship next year God-willing.

Paul wrote concerning Christians in Philippians 3:20-21:  "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."  Similar to how immigration to a different country requires a physical, to become a citizen of heaven requires a "spiritual."  Only those who are completely righteous and holy meet God's requirements for heavenly citizenship.  Heaven is open to everyone, but the problem is there is not one person aside from Jesus Christ who meets God's strict standards according to His Law.  Not one person today can pass this spiritual physical.  Polluted by sin, we all fail and will be denied entrance.

But God, in His mercy toward us, sent Jesus to suffer and die on our behalf.  He has risen from the dead, proving His saving power.  God's Word teaches us the effect of Christ and the Gospel in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..."  Whosoever will repent and trust in Jesus Christ, receiving Him as LORD, the righteousness of Christ will be imputed to us (Romans 4:8-11).  Our sins are atoned for by the blood of Jesus through faith, and we receive a life-providing transfusion of Christ's righteousness.  We are holy, even as He is holy.  Only then can we pass the spiritual requirements to gain access into heaven, for we have already received Him in our hearts by faith.

This is good news!  Christians are made citizens of heaven by the grace of God, and have assurance of eternal security through His Word.  Praise God for the way He has made through His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!

A More Sure Word

Life is filled with amazing experiences.  The greatest and most memorable experiences occur when a man has an encounter with the Living God who created him.  Whilst experiences do much to build faith in the life of a Christian, they can never be repeated.  We cannot feel how we felt at that time, nor can we re-create the situation upon our whim.  Look back all you want, but you cannot go back.  This is a good thing, or else a lot of Christians might be tempted to remain at Elim (an oasis in the wilderness mentioned in Ex. 15:27) when the inheritance God has given to us remains unclaimed over Jordan.

Peter had such an experience when Jesus was transfigured before him.  Peter was overwhelmed as he saw Jesus in glory, conversing with Moses and Elijah on the mount.  Unsure of what to say, Peter made a suggestion that if Jesus agreed, they should build three tabernacles on the mountain:  one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.  He wanted to establish a memorial of this miraculous scene before his eyes.  He never wanted to forget what he saw.  But then something happened.  Matthew 17:5-6 tells us, "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid."  It is clear that Peter's suggestion was not led by the Spirit, for as he was going on about constructing these tabernacles the voice of God the Father boomed, "The is My beloved Son!"  The disciples fell on their faces, rising only after Jesus touched them and invited them to stand.  They headed down the mountain, having had an encounter with God.  God's will was not that they build monuments to their experience, but having been changed by their unforgettable encounter to head down the mountain, serving God and others.

Peter would later write of his experience in his second epistle, and he said something which I find amazing.  2 Peter 1:16-21 reads in the KJV:  "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  One might think that the experience of the transfiguration would be heralded among the greatest spiritual experiences.  To see Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mount, and to hear the audible voice of God speak forth His approval and pleasure in His Son Jesus, would have been stunning proof of Jesus as Christ and His divinity.  That is not what Peter says.  He did not write this in a hope to recreate the glory of that night - or with the wish that others could have experienced it as well.  He was an eyewitness of God's glory, and he heard with his ears the voice of God.  Yet Peter says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy...." Allow that to sink in for a moment.  More trustworthy than Peter's ears, more established than the audible voice of God from heaven, is the surety of the scriptures written for us, dictated through men by the Holy Spirit.  Wow.

There are no shortage of people who are convinced they have heard God speak.  There are many people who are hailed as prophets by their loyal followers.  We have sure words of prophecy concerning Christ all throughout the Bible, the Word of God.  Peter says, "Ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place..."  The scriptures are sure and steadfast.  It is God-breathed and through the Bible we can know with full assurance truth from error.  Do not think that I am minimising the importance of experiences.  We are to experience the presence and fullness of God every day!  When we have experiences - even if we see God's glory and hear His voice audibly - we are not to idolise such manifestations.  May we all have them as He wills!  God desires we fall before Him in reverent worship, and to rise at His leading and come down from that mountain top so we might be of use to Him in the foothills and valleys, in all seasons of life.  For the rest of his life Peter was greatly enriched by his experience on the mountain with Jesus.  But he viewed the scriptures as a more sure word of prophesy than his own eye-witness account.

May experiences of the power and glory of God and the sure words of prophecy committed unto us have their rightful place in our lives!   We live in a dark place, and His Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our paths.  Through God's Word we see Jesus, the Hope of Glory, in everlasting light and power.  On the road to Emmaus, Jesus did not appeal to the signs and wonders of the reality of the resurrected Messiah, but went to the authority of the scriptures.  Interesting, isn't it?  Jesus could have turned stones into bread, healed an illness, or told the men exactly what was hidden in their hearts or past.  He chose to affirm His resurrection and presence with the Word.  Luke 24:25-27 says, "Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."  No bright light, no booming voice from heaven.  Jesus used the light of God's Word and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit to appeal to the hearts and minds of those grieving men.  Jesus would ultimately reveal Himself to the men in His way of breaking bread.  The way Jesus broke the loaves was one thing, but how much more wonderful was the way He pulled apart the Words of Life and gave to each as they had need through expounding the scripture.  Does not God's Word satisfy?

Need Hard Times?

The rest Jesus promises us as we follow Him is not in place of the storms, but in the midst of them.  His presence will bring a calming influence on winds, waves, and hearts, yet we are promised tribulation.  God is not interested in giving us easy victories.  Walking and jumping is easy in a zero-gravity environment, but it doesn't take long for atrophy to set in and cause muscles to weaken.  Some of the life lessons from Naval Admiral William H. McRaven in his speech to the graduating class at the University of Texas could be easily applied to the Christian walk.  Being a United States Navy SEAL is a tough job indeed, and physical ability and fitness is only part of the deal.  One must be mentally strong and determined to endure the stressful rigours of training alone!  Following Christ faithfully in this world is no easier.  There are few indeed who face with joy the spiritual rigours of denying the flesh, taking up our cross daily, and following Jesus.

When God allows hard times in our lives, it is because in a sense we need them.  Why a Navy SEAL need be buried up to his neck in mud for 15 hours as part of training, I can't say for sure.  For six days they are not permitted to sleep, and the whole time drill instructors use every tactic imaginable to dare prospective SEALs to quit.  Once we decide to follow Jesus, the devil uses every tool at his disposal to influence us to walk down any path but that of righteousness.  As in the book of Job, God might even allow Satan himself to take away our goods, children, and health, turning even our friends and spouse against us.  Will we stay resolute?  Or will we quit?

In a message I recently heard by David Guzik, he quoted from Hosea 10:12:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  The point he emphasised is how God's people are told to "break up your fallow ground."  He related how as a missionary he often heard people talk about how "hard" the ground was in the place where they were ministering.  He made the valid point that if the ground where you are ministering is hard, it is because there is something in that hardness you need to break up your own hard heart.  The place where God has us can be the means He provides to plow up our fallow, unfruitful ground.  The people God has around us - like King Saul who threw spears at David - can be the very instrument used by God to transform us.  Like Gene Edwards communicates masterfully through his book A Tale of Three Kings, God uses the outer Saul to kill the inner Saul that lives within each one of us.

God knows what He is doing, and to us it may look like He has missed some important points in relation to our needs, comfort, and growth.  Again, God knows what He is doing and He is in control.  We are called to follow Jesus, sow for ourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up our fallow ground, and seek the LORD.  When times grow difficult will we quit or press on in faith?  Praise the LORD that He will never leave or forsake us, whether we are tempest-tossed on the sea or are buried to our necks in mud.  Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  God knows what we need.  Some seeds require the heat of fire to germinate.  Periods of drought and fierce wind can strengthen and broaden the root structure of trees.  Our muscles grow when they are strained, and our faith grows when it is tested.  Will you see the test through to the end and hear God say "Well done, good and faithful servant?"  Or will we decide we didn't really want to follow Jesus after all?

Christ's Love Unites

I rejoice in the wisdom of God, how He has comprised the body of Christ of many members.  Jesus Christ is the Head, and He grants gifts and talents to each of us through the Holy Spirit.  The book by Os Guinness titled "The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life" explores the call of God upon our lives as Christians.  Though it's been years since I read the book, I remember how he made a distinction between the general call and the specific call upon each Christian.  All of us are called to love God and one another, to forgive, to pray for one another, and to share the Gospel with others.  These are all aspects of the general call we must embrace on the path to discovering our individual calls to specific roles and functions in the church - the Body of Christ.

God has seen fit to draw together people of various ages with unique perspectives, different backgrounds and personalities, with distinct talents and weaknesses to make up the church that spans the globe.  He has sovereignly led each believer to gather and join in worship and service with Christ as our common denominator.  He lays upon our hearts varying degrees of desire to accomplish His will and the power to accomplish it.  Even those who share a call to a single role will have unique ways of answering it.  This is a beautiful thing, the freedom God has provided each of us as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  The answer to Paul's rhetorical questions is obviously no.  God has given unique calls, gifts, and roles in the church.

Directly after these verses, Paul launches into a better, higher way of living:  one where all we say and do - indeed the very substance of our lives - is to be the demonstration of God's perfect love.  Every calling, all service, every distinct ministry in the church is intended by God to be according to His love, the same love Christ demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world.  What I have witnessed over the years (and nearly in the past slipped into that sticky slough myself) is people becoming more and more critical towards the "church" in general.  They feel it is their calling to be watchmen, to warn like the prophets of old.  Predictive and didactic (corrective) prophesy is a vital part of the Body of Christ today.  In accordance with the Word when a prophet speaks today, his words and tone must be motivated and flavoured with love for God and others - even for atheists, heretics, and hypocrites!

What can happen with our individual callings is think everyone should share our perspective or approach.  When others do not agree with our methods or conclusions, the temptation is to separate ourselves from them.  It is sad how when we give the smallest differences the power to divide us when Christ and His resurrection power should unite us!  God's love is never content with distance.  Division in the Body is a massive problem.  I'm thinking if your leg was chopped off in a car accident, instantly you would know you are in serious trouble and need to see a doctor immediately.  Have you cut yourself off from fellowship with other Christians because of a disagreement?  Take the initiative to humble yourself, leaving your gift at the altar so you might first be reconciled with your brother.  Is it wise to use the internet to air your unresolved differences with the whole world, stirring up bitterness, judgments, and gossip?  Why not just suffer wrong and tell God about it?  We must be careful examine our motives in everything we do - even when we write a blog post! :)  Do we write because we love God and people, or do we just want to make our point?  God knows.

Redeemed Injuries

One thing I find very comforting is the redemptive power of God in every aspect of the life of a believer.  Our flesh may cringe and disagree, but the claim of God's Word and the power of Jesus Christ is undeniable.  Paul wrote with confidence in Romans 8:28-29, "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."  All the things we experience are not good, yet God is able to reconcile them for His purposes.  A Christian, therefore, will never suffer pain or difficulty needlessly.  God has glorious, divine purposes in all He allows.

Last night, I started thinking back on the number of permanent injuries I sustained from my time serving with the youth at Calvary Chapel El Cajon.  I held my hands in front of the mirror.  Seeing the unnatural bend in my left thumb, I thought back with a smile to that night at the Centre when Matt broke that thumb during a game of dodge ball.  I pulled on my right thumb to adjust it.  As I did so, I remembered how Jason hyper-extended and cracked it during a game of football.  I thought of my right elbow and how something snapped whilst arm wrestling Kevin on my kitchen table.  That was my final arm wrestling contest!  Then I looked at my front teeth, yep, the chip was still visible.  I remembered how Brian landed a shot on top of my head during a jousting competition the night before Easter at Shadow Mountain.  Though I carry with me tangible reminders of those moments, without a shred of frustration or regret I was led to pray for each of those young men and others besides.

I thought of pains I had endured, and also the wounds I mistakenly inflicted on others.  There were times over the years I failed as a leader.  I made mistakes in dealing with conflicts.  Sometimes I tried to do the work of the Holy Spirit.  I prayed for those God brought to mind, drawing solace from the fact that God would redeem even my mistakes for His glory - even as He used old injuries to remind me to pray for dear people He and I love very much.  Have you pain?  Have you injuries inflicted by friends or enemies?  Every scar tells a story, and God will redeem every one with His love.  Praise the LORD for His redeeming power, and how He takes even our injuries and uses them to accomplish His everlasting purposes.

Children Are Known

God's character is revealed in scripture as just, One who does not show partiality.  All excuses or justifications of men are swept away by God's righteous judgments.  Though God put on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, God is not like a man that He should change.  His Laws are absolute, and His holiness without fail.

This morning I read a most enlightening passage, a verse which stands in stark contrast to the views some have of a gracious God.  2 Chronicles 36:9 says, "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD."  "Evil" is a word in our society reserved for the worst of the worst.  God summed up the 100 day reign of Jehoiachin in a way no one would dare today - a child merely eight years old - like this:  "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD."  Heavy, isn't it?  God did not soften His judgment of Jehoiachin because of his age, his parents, advisors, the fact he was thrown into the deep end as king at a tender age, or the culture of his day.  Jehoiachin stood alone under the piercing gaze of a righteous God, and did evil in God's sight.  This undoubtedly clashes with the views of some, that a good God could have such a view of a mere child.  But that is the point.  God is good, and in Him is no darkness at all.  Without atonement, Jehoiachin would stand eternally condemned for his wickedness - even at eight years old.

There is none who does good, no not one.  In our natural condition, from the womb all are cut off from fellowship with God because of sin.  Proverbs 20:9-11 says, "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"? ¹⁰ Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. ¹¹ Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right."  Even a child is known by God by his deeds, whether he works abominations or righteousness.  By the works of the flesh shall no one be justified, but the righteous live by faith in God.  God knows if there is something good in us toward Him, even during our childhood (1 Kings 14:13).  God grants all opportunity through the Gospel to be forgiven and reconciled to Him.  The Judge of all the earth will do right.  There is much we cannot know or grasp now, but we need not grope for God like a man in the dark.  He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and His immutable Word.  God has demonstrated His love for us because whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Sin is serious business, and God's law reveals our desperate need for a Saviour.  Children and adults alike are observed by God according to righteousness.  How great is our need for the Gospel!  How precious is God's gift of forgiveness and salvation He has offered to all who repent and trust in Him!  Let us not excuse in children what God condemns as evil.  We are to faithfully discipline our children compelled by love, even as God chastens us.  In a culture adrift and bankrupt of biblical morality, God's standard can be upheld in mercy, grace, love, and steadfastness.  God is no respecter of persons, and His righteousness is without partiality.

Rejoicing Always in the LORD

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

 Philippians 4:4

At Calvary Chapel Sydney, we've been studying through Philippians.  Rejoicing in the LORD is a common theme repeated throughout the book.  It's amazing to consider these words were penned by Paul, a man who had been imprisoned without committing a crime.  In fact, in the book of Acts it states one of the rulers who could have released Paul kept him in chains because he hoped to receive a bribe from him - which Paul did not pay!  Paul had every opportunity to be bitter and angry for "losing his freedom."  Yet Paul had learned the secret of contentment and peace that passed understanding through faith in Christ.  He rejoiced in the LORD always, and exhorted all others to do the same.

God uses the circumstances of life to reveal to us the condition of our hearts.  He allows struggles and difficulties to purify and strengthen our faith and resolve to obey Him.  I experienced one such instance (which remains in the infancy stages!) yesterday.  I play baseball on Saturdays with mates at a club in Rouse Hill.  Before the game I knelt on the field for a quick prayer, committing myself and the game to God.  I started on the mound, and for five innings we battled.  Behind 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, I hit a ball up the middle and ran.  As my foot came down on first base beating out an infield hit, I saw the ball kick past the first basement.  Without hesitation, instinctively I began to turn to run to second.  Problem was, my right lower-leg didn't get the message as fast as the rest of my body.  I felt my right knee twist out of joint and all my weight pushed down on it - and down I went like a sack of potatoes.

After a couple of minutes I was able to hobble off and ice up.  I could move my leg, but I knew I was done for the day.  We failed in our comeback bid and lost the game.  Personally I had lost a little bit more still:  the ability to easily walk without a pronounced limp or take off socks and shoes!  24 hours later I am not sure if it is a strain, sprain, or a partial tendon rupture (will make an exam appointment tomorrow God-willing).  But having first given the game to the LORD gave me great peace through the knowledge everything is under God's control.  Whether I am back to the diamond in a week or rehab back to health over months, God has me on an adventure of sorts.  He wants me to do some personal pioneering in patience.  He adjusts our limits at times so we might seek to find our satisfaction and comfort not in what we can do but in His presence and what He has done.

I take Paul's exhortation to heart.  In the LORD I can rejoice always, even when my knee is swollen, stiff, and sore.  The peace God gives is independent of my circumstances or how I feel.  Will I choose to experience this rejoicing for the long haul?  Only God knows, but I aim to.  Whether we suffer a strain or complete knee destruction, God remains just as good.  For those who are facing the worst life can offer, Jesus understands because He has gone through it.  He was in all points tempted - He had every opportunity to become bitter at His Father for what He allowed Jesus to face.  Jesus willingly went to the cross for the joy that was set before Him.  You can rejoice in Him, for He is able to deliver and save.  He will never leave or forsake those who put their trust in Him.