A Keeper

When I went fishing as a kid, we were taught to keep and eat what we caught - that is, if the fish was edible and a keeper.  At Lake Cuyamaca there was a no-release policy regardless of size, but in the ocean bass and halibut had to be an appropriate length. We were also told if we caught a garibaldi to release it because it was the California state fish and protected.  Many times we caught fish that were just an inch short, but we kept the law by throwing them back.

There's plenty of fish in the sea, it is said, and this cliche is often used in reference to people.  In the right time of life it is important to choose the right person to be a lifelong spouse.  A woman may have many potential suitors, but it is her choice which man is a "keeper."  Unlike fish, height or weight probably has little to do with it.  As a follower of Jesus Christ she needs to determine if he also is a man of faith:  will he be faithful, a provider, and rear children who know the LORD?  Does she love and respect him?  Is she willing to commit the remainder of her life in a covenant before God to be united as one in marriage with him?

As I read the Bible this week I was amazed by the love of Jesus, that He gave His life to purchase the church.  The church is comprised of sinners who in themselves are no prize at all:  I am not a "keeper" because I do not measure up to God's righteous standard in any way.  The love Jesus demonstrated in sacrificing Himself to save sinners is the way a husband ought to love his own wife.  Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:28-30, "So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones."  Jesus nourishes and cherishes each member of the church like we are His own flesh and bones.  How miraculous is God's love and acceptance!

In the history of the world I doubt a man has chosen to marry a woman who he knew was a compulsive liar and thief, committed adultery with every person she laid eyes on, was a drunkard and drug addict, in poor health, cursed him to his face when he visited her in prison, and told him she hated him above all others.  I can't imagine any sensible man happily saying at the prospect of such a match, "What a dream come true!  What a catch!"  Compared to the holy purity of God I was worse than this ridiculous character, but Jesus loved me with an everlasting love.  He saw me as a keeper when I was fit only for eternal punishment and death in hell for my sin.  Jesus saves all who trust Him as Saviour, He transforms us from within, and will keep us forever.

1 Peter 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."  How great is our God who gives an eternal, living hope to those fit for destruction!  We are not keepers, but because Jesus loves us He delights to be our Keeper.

Acceptable to God

It's ironic how knowledge is capable of hindering learning.  A great challenge is presented for those who have gained understanding to keep their minds open to new ideas which could also be true.  We were born needing and wanting to learn, and it's possible along the way we have latched onto deceptions we are convinced are true.  In a world filled with deceit, conspiracies real and imagined, and boldfaced lies, when we find the truth we ought to hold fast to it.  Followers of Jesus Christ have the Bible which is a source of genuine truth with does not change, and how privileged we are to have a fixed point of reference as the wind direction and sand continues to shift.

A question for believers is how to best deal with those who hold to faulty interpretations of scripture and their minds are closed on the matter.  The first perhaps is to realise you too may be that person; you have been that person.  I have been rigid in belief where God is flexible, and I have harshly judged people to whom God gives more grace.  Haven't your views changed over the years?  God was patient in His sovereign manner in teaching us, and we ought to give Him time and space in faith to teach others as well.  Romans 14:1 says, "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things."  Paul went on to explain there is unity in Christ between those who eat meat or only each vegetables, between those who observe a day as special and others have no such conviction.  I could add to the list those who drink alcohol and teetotallers, those who believe the earth is round or flat, or concerning eschatology.  Each of us are called to be convinced in our own mind, not expend all our energy in trying to make others agree with our opinion.

But they are plain wrong, something inside you protests.  And they are leading people astray by their beliefs or example!  Ah, but they are not leading you astray, correct?  How concerned we can be about the beliefs of others when it is before God alone we stand or fall, and God is able to make others stand.  Romans 14:3-4 says, "Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. ⁴ Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."  It is clear God makes allowances for differences we judge as wrong:  should we reject whom God has received?  Our personal convictions matter, and the convictions of others matter too.  Most of the time these differences of belief have nothing to do with the nature of God or the Gospel but are topics of far less importance.  If you are willing to go to war and die concerning a matter of opinion or interpretation with a believer, you may be the extreme and unbalanced one.  If someone else is preoccupied with a particular doctrine and you are preoccupied with them, what is the difference?  We all need Jesus!

Paul went on to say in Romans 14:10-13:  "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹ For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." ¹² So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way."  Knowing someone is family changes our perspective about them.  We have been made one with Christ through faith in Him, and we are part of the same body.  Instead of trying to trip up others or push their buttons, to shame and humiliate over opinions, we are to edify one another in our holy faith.  In Christ we have much more in common than the combined total of our differences in perspective, opinions, or preferences.  We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ where we will give account for ourselves before God - with no mention of others or their beliefs.

If you become aware of a difference in doctrine or practice, we should be careful to avoid offence in that area.  Love dictates that if I know someone is a vegetarian, I will consider this when preparing a meal for them - even if I enjoy eating meat.  It is not an opportunity for me to win them over to my view by preparing select cuts.  If I know someone has sworn off alcohol, it shows kindness to avoid drinking around them.  Our differences need not be a constant topic of conversation since the love of Christ binds us together as brethren forever.  There is naturally in all of us a desire to be heard, to show ourselves right and others wrong, to stubbornly hold our ground, and frankly to a large degree this springs from pride.  Love is quick to listen, slow to speak, and is not easily angered.  Instead of being a grief to others, let us follow the exhortation of Paul to love one another and walk on a higher plane of grace as Romans 14:17-18 explains:  "...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men."  If we desire to be approved by men, how much more should we desire to be acceptable to God by walking in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!

Hear and God Will Speak

"Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God!"

Psalm 50:7

If people are unwilling to listen, it is pointless to speak to them.  Because God loved His people He spoke to them, revealed Himself to them, and gave them His laws.  When the Hebrews heard God speak from Mount Sinai in power they begged for Moses to speak with God, to interceded on their behalf "lest they die."  Nothing was lost in communication between God and Moses, but subsequent generations were raised who did not know God.

Pious Jews were faithful to keep the Law given to Moses and offered sacrifices.  Their lives were filled with religious activities, worship, and prayer, yet the hearts of the people were not always right before God.  God allowed the nation of Israel to be attacked and plundered, the rain did not fall, and the crops did not grow.  Both in seasons of abundance and famine God sent prophets and raised up priests and Levites to instruct, correct, and shepherd His people.  When God spoke to little Samuel in the night he was instructed to say, "Speak LORD, for your servant hears."  But God's people did not always listen.

Perhaps people wondered why the almighty God remained silent in their plight.  The words of Psalm 50:7 are most instructive:  "Hear, O My people, and I will speak."  I would have expected God to say something like, "When I speak, hear Me."  God told his people he would speak if they would first listen.  No doubt they felt like they had much to say, but they were instructed to listen first.  Unless we seek and listen for the LORD intending to obey, it is no surprise when we do not hear Him.  And if God in His sovereignty knows we are unwilling to hear, at times He will refrain from speaking:  He will not cast pearls before swine.  The last days of King Saul provide an example of a man faced with deafening silence in response to his pleas because he refused to heed the Word of the LORD previously.

If we will hear the LORD, He will speak.  To those under the threat of judgment a gracious promise was provided in Psalm 50:14-15, "Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. ¹⁵ Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."  Our mouths ought to praise the LORD and we ought to keep our word before Him.  If we make a promise and go back on it, it is clear to us words mean little.  Should we not see value in keeping our own word, why should we see God's Word as guiding or binding?  All who are wise desire to hear God speak, and if we will hear He will.  The things He says we ought to take to heart and do.

Misplaced Faith

"And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, ¹⁴ therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh."

Jeremiah 7:13-14

It didn't take long for God's people to misplace faith which should have been reserved for God alone.  They hadn't lost faith, but they placed it in the wrong things.  Instead of trusting in God they looked to the temple as a sign of God's favour, blessing, and protection.  The temple was their place of refuge rather than God!  Surely He would not allow enemies to destroy Jerusalem, for it was where He placed His name - so they thought.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed His people to think back to Shiloh where the tabernacle had once stood.  Because of the wickedness of the priests and people He allowed it to become a total ruin.  God had sent prophets to instruct, correct, and warn His people of coming judgment, but they would not listen.  Words proved ineffective so the rod would be required:  God would thresh His people as a farmer does grain because they refused to hear, answer, and trusted in the temple rather than Him.

Perhaps the people foolishly saw the temple and the ministry therein as a great gift worthy of God, along with all the sacrifices, offerings, and service.  In their mind such great honour and worship was a benefit God was unwilling to be deprived of, built at great cost by King Solomon himself.  But had not the word of the LORD come through Samuel which plainly said, "To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)  Micah 6:8 does not mention the necessity of a temple at all to fulfil good things God requires of men:  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

It is likely God's people heard the worship of the priests and the prayers of the pious but they would not hear God and the prophets He sent to them.  They provoked God to anger with their idolatry, for they gave sacrifices and paid homage to other gods besides Him.  God would allow Jerusalem to fall and the temple to be razed - not only to bring judgment upon wickedness, but for the ultimate restoration of communion and fellowship with His people.  There is always grace in God's chastening.  Despite the grave sins of the children of Israel there was hope in God and His goodness because He sought to refine rather than destroy.  Jerusalem would fall but would be rebuilt; the Jews would be taken into captivity but would be brought back again to the holy city amid revival.

Could it be our faith over time might be misplaced, that we would look to ourselves or our efforts rather than hearing and answering God?  If God will allow a city to fall, won't He allow a man or woman so there might be repentance and restoration of worship in spirit and truth before Him?