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.
23 July 2014
22 July 2014
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?
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?
20 July 2014
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.
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.
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