Jonah Didn't Jump

This morning I began reading the book of Jonah.  God commanded Jonah the prophet to go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it.  Jonah was loath to obey God's command and booked a cruise to Tarshish to escape the presence of God.  God was not ignorant of Jonah's schemes and caused the ship to be tossed by a fierce storm.  The pagan sailors did everything in their power to keep their ship afloat, cried out to their idols and even threw the tackle overboard.  The storm raged on while Jonah slept below the deck.

Jonah was roused by the desperate captain who urged him to call upon his God.  The men determined a man on board must be responsible for the storm, and by drawing straws Jonah was revealed to be the culprit.  He openly confessed he was trying to flee from the presence of God.  Jonah 1:11-12 says, "Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?"--for the sea was growing more tempestuous. ¹² And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me."  Jonah's words surprised me today, though quite familiar with the historical event.  In Jonah's shoes I imagine I would have said something like this:  "Sorry boys for the trouble I've put you through.  I've brought this mess upon you, and it falls to me to get you out.  I will jump into the sea, and may God have mercy on us all."

But Jonah didn't say that.  He told the men they needed to pick him up and throw him into the sea.  An act of faith in God was required for their salvation.  The prospect of throwing a man overboard whom God cared enough about to send a storm upon to correct his course was unacceptable to the men.  They tried rowing hard, but it was no use.  Maybe they could see the edge of the storm and they figured by a concerted effort they could escape it.  But it proved impossible.  Desperate to save themselves and their vessel, they cried out to the God of Jonah.  Jonah 1:14-15 reads, "Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, "We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You."¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging."  Falling upon the mercy of God in their distress, the sailors acknowledged God's power and threw Jonah overboard in faith and obedience.  The sea immediately was calm.

Had Jonah jumped overboard, the sea might have become calm.  But I daresay the results described in verse 16 would either not exist or be very different.  They might have glorified the bravery of the man to commit himself to the deep.  Jonah 1:16 says, "Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows."  These men feared God, convinced He was responsible for the storm and therefore was able to cause it to cease.  They offered sacrifices to God and made promises to Him, the Creator of heaven and earth, the One who made the sea and the dry land.  The conditions of their salvation and preservation were conditional, and the conditions set forth by Jonah required faith.  Even during his wanderings, God used Jonah to bring salvation to lost souls.  I love that Jonah didn't jump.  He knew the way of salvation and urged others to agree to God's conditions of faith.  We do well to decide we won't do for others what God bids them do for themselves.  Let's not remove steps of faith in God from those who seek God's help, for in seeing Him respond to obedience they will fear and worship Him.

The Real "Special"

Recently my family and I watched "The Lego Movie," a zany adventure about a normal construction worker named Emmet who fulfills a prophecy made up to help him believe he was "the special."  Dumbo had his "magic feather," and Emmet had the secret weapon glued to his back.  It is a witty, entertaining film which chronicles the path of an ordinary toy without original thoughts to be a "master builder" through self-belief.  I enjoy the movie.  But I also am aware that under the plastic interlocking bricks there are echoes of the old humanistic mantra:  if you will believe, anyone can become the hero.  You can do anything you want, if you will only believe.

Belief is a funny thing, because it is only as effective as what you place your faith in.  As a young teen my uncle truly believed he could fly like Superman, and was so convinced of his powers he leaped off a roof!  Needless to say, his descent was immediate and continuous until he hit the ground!  Emmet had always followed the Lego instructions, and was frankly lost without them.  He had little to no creativity, ability, or skill.  He was simply urged to "Believe."  Like Neo in the Matrix, when Emmet began to believe in himself he began to understand how to build.  His mind which was once vacuous was suddenly filled with information about Lego bricks.  Everywhere he looked building ideas jumped out at him.  Through his and all others who were brave enough to believe, their Lego world was saved.  Anyone can be special, if they believe they are.

The online Merriam-Webster definition of "special" is, "distinguished by some unusual quality; especially :  being in some way superior; 2) held in particular esteem; 3) readily distinguishable from others of the same category; 4)being other than the usual; 5) designed for a particular purpose or occasion."  From a Biblical perspective, God is special in many ways.  He is in all ways superior to men and is readily distinguished from what He has created.  Since God has created man in His own image, every person is special too - in different ways.  It is God who has made man special, unique and distinct from plants and animals.  God breathed within man a living soul, gave Him dominion over all creation, and designed man for the purpose of enjoying fellowship with God.  But instead of glorifying God for who He is and all He has made, the human tendency is to look to self - to abilities, talents, experiences, wealth, possessions, accomplishments, likes, and dislikes - to define ourselves.

Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)  Just like a branch apart the the vine cannot grow, flower, or produce fruit, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value without the power of God.  If I can do nothing without Christ, self-belief accomplishes nothing.  It is a false hope, a false belief which cannot help or save.  When desperate people sought Jesus to heal their sick children, Jesus instructed them to believe.  One boy suffered demonic attacks, and the girl was near death.  Who or what were the people supposed to believe in?  Themselves?  Why then did they come to Jesus for help?  Self-belief didn't hack it in the difficult time or impossible situations, and it is just as useless today.  Jesus told people to believe in Him.  He said in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."  When we place our belief and trust in God, a whole new world opens to us.  We begin to understand how special we are - not because of us, but because of the God who created us as His image bearers.

Emmet's mind went from being "prodigiously empty" to being filled with knowledge he suddenly had skill to use.  A similar thing happens when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ.  Our spiritual senses were like Emmet's, a great big void where nothing was happening.  Reading the Bible without belief or intent to obey is an empty exercise.  But when we respond to the Gospel in faith, reading the Bible becomes an incredible journey and experience in understanding more fully the God who has demonstrated His love for us.  God sends the Holy Spirit to indwell those who trust in Him and provide understanding of the Bible's meaning.  Words leap off the page and our hearts are filled with great joy through God speaking to us.  Self-belief is an empty promise which sends a soul spiraling to hell, but belief in God begins a new life, a fresh perspective, and a corrected view concerning God and our purpose in this world.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Condemning Yourself

Are there things other people do which you find troubling?  I am not speaking about something annoying or illegal, but actions, attitudes, tone, or behaviour you judge as wrong?  There are things we see easily in others they do not seem to notice.  All people have a tendency to size up others according to our own personal convictions or opinions.  There are few things easier than finding fault with others, seeing as there is no one who is faultless!

God is an amazing redeemer of lost sinners.  Repenting and trusting in Christ does not mean we are suddenly perfect in thought, word, or deed.  The trouble is, having our eyes opened to the truth of God's Word suddenly shines light into all areas of darkness in our lives.  This can lead to people saved by grace through faith condemning others for their faults, real or imagined.  It is good for Christians to remember we will each answer for ourselves before God.  We will have to account for verses like Romans 2:1:  "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

This explains a wondrous principle which can aid us greatly in walking uprightly ourselves.  When our hackles are raised over the behaviour or attitudes of someone else, Paul revealed in condemning the other person we condemn ourselves.  The fact we are sensitised to their sin shows that I practice the exact same things myself.  If I become angry because of a "tone" taken with me, isn't it true I take that "tone" with others?  Paul was once a Pharisee of Pharisees, a self-righteous hypocrite whose life was bound up in obedience to the Law and following traditions of men.  It is no surprise then that Paul was highly sensitised to legalism and bondage from the Law.  That was his natural bent, but God had transformed him through the Gospel.

When I am irritated by someone else, it is a signal I need to change.  My perspective needs to be re-calibrated upon God and the grace He has given. me.  There is a place to judge righteously according to scripture, but that is God's judgment - not mine.  We have a duty and responsibility to hold others accountable to living righteously, but we also must be accountable to others in humility.  I love how God is able to redeem even the hypocrisy of our flesh to open our eyes to faults we did not recognise in ourselves.  Instead of condemning others, let us judge ourselves and live right before God.  Leverage negative impressions of others to search your own heart, not holding any grudge against others.  There is no condemnation for those who walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

Lessons in Contentment

Contentment in all circumstances is possible through faith in Christ (Philippians 4:11).  To be content is to enjoy a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction.  We are given the capacity for contentment through being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul learned in all situations to be content, and therefore we too can and should embrace this learning as well.  Being content begins with knowledge of God's perfect character and confidence in His goodness towards us as His children.  We are to lay aside all fleshly ambition and any worldly sense of entitlement, and refuse to compare ourselves with others.  Recognising all we have is a gracious gift from God and thanking Him for all things is also key.

There are many instructive examples from the scriptures which provide insights into the pitfalls which keep us from contentment, and here are a few concerning the Israelites and their water supply - and for our purpose can represent the necessities of life.  The first which came to mind is from a text in Isaiah I preached from on Sunday at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  Isaiah 8:5-7 reads, "The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: ⁶ "Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son; ⁷ now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty-- the king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks."  God had promised to protect His people, yet they wanted something more tangible.  Seeking aid, King Ahaz made a treaty with the Assyrians, a nation mighty and strong.  God used the water source of Jerusalem as symbolism by Isaiah.  God provided His people the gentle waters of Shiloah which filled a reservoir, sufficient for all their needs.  Nevertheless, they refused the gentle waters and sought to increase their might by harnessing the Euphrates.  They refused the God's provision and sought to enrich and protect themselves without faith in God, and this lead to devastating destruction - like when villages were inundated with floodwaters from the Euphrates when it overflowed their banks.

Another water illustration is seen in Jeremiah 2:12-13:  "Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. ¹³ "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water."  God was the source of life for His people.  He protected, provided for, and sustained His people, even as a natural spring supplies clean water for a village in a desert.  Though God did everything for His people, they wickedly forsook God and dug for themselves cisterns in the rock.  This was a significant downgrade.  Instead of drinking from the pure water supply God provided, they chipped away wells in the rock which had cracks.  All the muddy water which flowed into them would slowly drain dry and the people would be left empty.  Their spiritual dry season, having forsaken God, moved them to seek to slake their thirst through efforts of the flesh.

Exodus 15:22-24 tells of a highly significant event.  After God delivered the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty hand the passage reads, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. ²³ Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"  For three days the children of Israel were unable to find water.  When they did find water, they were devastated to find it bitter and undrinkable.  There was water enough, but none could drink it!  They despaired of their circumstances and complained against Moses.  Isn't it true when we find ourselves in bitter, difficult situations we naturally complain?  But God had a plan all along, to test His people and make sure promises to them.  He wanted the people to learn to trust His ability to redeem even seemingly hopeless situations into life-sustaining good.

Exodus 15:25-27 says, "So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." ²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters."  God took bitter, undrinkable water and supernaturally made it sweet so His people, their wives and little ones, flocks and herds could drink and be satisfied.  Even as He healed the waters, He desired to heal His people.  Their pain, griefs, and sorrows He would wash away as their pure source of life.  Marah led to Elim, and there the people found shade, comfort, and rest for their weary feet and souls.

We find contentment when we choose the gentle streams of Shiloah God graciously provides. Seeking larger income streams or help apart from faith in God leads to grave trouble.  Contentment is not found in efforts of the flesh, digging out cisterns from the rock when God has already provided living streams of water.  Even the most bitter disappointments of life can be made sweet and refreshing when we cry out to God and obey Him, choosing to trust and heed God's commands.  When Jesus was confronted by a man who demanded His help to secure part of an inheritance, Jesus refused.  Luke 12:15 reads, "And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  If we covet or compare our lives with others it is impossible for us to be content.  But those who trust God will supply all our needs and even make bitter circumstances sweet in the end, the same discover lasting contentment through Him.

Jesus With Us Always

Christians recognise eternity is of paramount significance, seeing it is forever.  We also recognise our call by Jesus Christ to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, teaching people to observe all Jesus has commanded us.  Jesus finished Matthew 28:20 by saying, "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  The big picture of eternal salvation is very important, but the scope of Christ's sacrifice was greater than providing life after the death of our physical body:  Jesus desires to be with us always, and we should want this for everyone today.  Jesus has a new life for us to enter into daily by faith as we heed and obey Him.

A choice to repent and trust in Christ should not be decided upon simply to avoid hell and secure a place in heaven - at least that alone should not be our motivation.  Hopefully our eyes have been opened to how great God is, how He has demonstrated His love for us, and that He graciously invites us to commune with Him.  When we share the Gospel with others, I trust it is with the aim others would come to faith in Jesus - not just for eternal life - but so they can enjoy unbroken fellowship with Jesus Christ their Saviour from now on through eternity.

People need Jesus today, not just after they die.  Jesus has promised to be with us always if we will follow Him, for He will never leave or forsake us.  Why should we be content a person in pain, grief, sorrow, fears, or trouble is "saved" when it is evident they have a desperate need for the forgiveness, peace, and victory today?  That struggling person, believer or unbeliever, needs Jesus right now.  Christianity is much more than eternal security, though we have it in Christ.  It is a life lived with Jesus for Jesus today.  It is a life reconciled to God.  It is a life led by the Holy Spirit, marked by holiness, and a desire for all others to know Jesus so they too can be born again and start living with Him in relationship right now.

It is a fine thing to desire that others would experience eternal life with Jesus forever, but how about today?  How might a relationship with a risen and glorious Saviour change everything?

Jesus Is the Only Way

Today I was reminded of an object lesson given to primary school children.  Two long strips of masking tape were placed about seven feet apart from one another, and all the children were made to stand on one side of the tape.  I was asked by the teacher to help with the lesson.  My role was to keep anyone from successfully jumping over the seven foot gap, and to gently pull people close to the edge inside.  After the players in the "game" were ready, he addressed the group.

The object of the game was to cross from one side of the tape to the other side without touching the ground in between.  If any part of your clothes or body touched the floor in the middle, you were out of the game.  He explained that people could use whatever means they wanted to cross, and he offered to lay down so people could walk across his body to reach the other side safely.  Right away some of the athletic boys began to back up, preparing to attempt a jump to the other side.  Others seemed bored with the whole idea, but others were cautions and inquisitive.  How could the expanse be crossed?

Even though our speaker laid down on the ground as a living bridge, very few people crossed successfully because few people were willing to try that route.  Half of the people (mostly energetic boys!) tried to jump over and failed, other bored people walked intentionally into the void and were out, and I gently gripped the hands of children who stood by the edge and drew them into the gap, effectively ending the game for them.  Everyone who trusted the speaker and submitted to slowly walking over his body made it safely to the other side, and everyone who tried to do it on their own or didn't seem to care failed to cross.  Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."  Jesus is that exclusive, open gate for sinners to access salvation (John 10:7-9).

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Jesus laid His life down so we might cross from death to life through Him.  What was an object lesson to the children about Christ was revealing to me about people.  Many people in this life think they are good enough to make it to heaven by their own efforts.  Others couldn't be bothered to think about the claims of Christ or eternity, and slip into hell as surely as people who believe they will be saved by their own virtue.  But there is a small minority who scramble away from the lure of Satan and this world and submit to faith in Jesus Christ.  Only those who confess their sins and repent, trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, will make it to heaven on account of His sacrifice and righteousness.  Salvation and eternal life cannot be earned, but is a gift freely received through repentance and faith in Jesus.

So which of the three groups are you?  Do you think your efforts are good enough to gain you access into heaven?  Don't be deceived!  Unbelief and boredom with the truth of the Bible and the person of Jesus Christ does not free you from guilt or make you righteous before the Judge before whom every man must appear.  Hebrews 9:27-28 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."  No man can leap to the moon through effort, and no amount of good works can free us from the penalty of sin.  Even as the human body cannot endure the deadly conditions of space without special equipment, so no sinner can appear in the presence of a holy God without being consumed as tinder by flame.  It is only by faith in Christ we can be forgiven and clothed with His righteousness and be acceptable in God's sight.

The Blessing of Irritation

Have you ever had something stuck in your eye?  As a kid I would always rub my eyes and they would grow red and irritated.  Over the years I learned how to remove eyelashes and other foreign bodies by flushing them out with water.  A stray eyelash is just one of many irritants life throws our way, like swarms of pesky flies or a pen which works intermittently.  Not only can we find physical problems irritating, but other people have a knack of doing just the thing we despise.  Have you ever wondered why things irritate us which don't bother others - and the fact they don't realise the awful things they do irritates us even more?

The Bible reveals amazing things about us we would never realise on our own, and perhaps don't even want to know.  One of them is found in Romans 2:1.  After writing a long list of sins common to all men, Paul wrote, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."  The things we condemn in other people actually condemns ourselves, for it is genuine evidence we have made a practice of the same thing ourselves.  When we are irritated by the tone of someone's voice, that they sneakily cheat on their exams, or how they are such a hypocrite, we can condemn their behaviour and judge them as wrong.  But if we stop there, what will it profit us?  When others irritate us by behaviour we condemn as wrong, it should be a trigger for us to examine ourselves.  Condemnation in our heart towards others is evidence of our personal need to change.  Believing God's Word ask, "LORD, you have placed your finger on something in my own heart.  How do I do the exact same thing before you so I might confess my sin, repent, and be restored?"

Irritation in my life is one of God's surprise blessings.  God made our eyes to be irritated when there is a foreign body present which needs to be removed so clear, painless vision can be restored.  He also made our emotions to be easily stirred up and our attitudes bristle so we could address the sin which lies unseen in our hearts and minds.  In 2 Samuel 12:1-7, the prophet Nathan came to David and told him a story about a rich man who stole and ate the poor man's only lamb, David was furious:  "That man should die and restore the lamb fourfold because he showed no pity!"  Nathan said, "You are the man!"  David's anger was aroused by a man's petty sin in the story when he had just committed adultery, coveted, fornicated, conspired against Uriah, and murdered that honourable, innocent man in real life.  David's sin caused him to harshly judge others, and it is the same with us.  The speck we see in the eye of others is clear evidence of a stake in our own (Matthew 7:1-5).  If we will judge ourselves faithfully according to God's Word and humbly remove the stake from our own eye in repentance, then we will see clearly to help others with their own problems with a heart filled with meekness and love.  Irritation in us can lead to restoration to God and others if we will trust and obey Him!

Neptune Still Shines

In every person is a desire for significance:  to be appreciated, needed, wanted, understood, listened to, and loved.  We have many ways of trying to quench this inner thirst, and one way we attempt this is through seeking recognition from others.  We have been working and slaving away, but no one seems to notice!  A simple "Thank you!" would be nice, right?  But the truth is, recognition and appreciation by others for a job well-done is a superficial fix which leaves our souls thirsty for more.  Even as our bodies can be dehydrated by activity without replenishing fluids, Christians can find themselves feeling empty even after Jesus promised us satisfying springs of living water by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the only One who can quench our thirst for love, recognition, and forgiveness.  Only Christians therefore are able to tap into this eternal source of living water and find rest for our souls.  Not only that, but through faith in Christ we discover motivation and sustenance to continue labouring joyfully without recognition or applause from people.  We must realise our lives have significance, not because of what we do, but in who God is and our relation to Him.  The Almighty God created man in His own image - think of that!  David wrote in Psalm 139:13-17, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!"

Not only does God know us, but He has ordained good works for us to enter into (Ephesians 2:8-10).  The personal testimony of Jeremiah the prophet is relevant to us concerning our relationship to God as revealed in Jeremiah 1:4-5, "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."  To be known by God!  God knew Jeremiah before He fashioned him and set him apart for His divine purposes.  If we knew God had called us as a prophet, there likely would be a temptation to pride and to broadcast our privilege.  I mean, how would people recognise us as a prophet and appreciate our words unless we tell them?  Well, the call of God does not mean people will recognise, appreciate, respect or accept you.  Consider the life of Jeremiah!

C.H. Spurgeon is called "the prince of preachers," and became the most famous preacher in London and became known world-wide.  He is widely quoted to this day.  Yet this was never his ambition, to be known or recognised by men as someone great.  He wrote of the planet Neptune, "Neptune had long been shining before he was discovered and named; and you and I brethren, may remain unknown for years, and possibly the world may never discover us; but I trust that our influence, like that of Neptune, will be felt and recognised, whether we are seen of men, or only shine in solitary splendour to the glory of God." (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to My Students: Complete & Unabridged. New ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1954. 438. Print.)  God created Neptune to shine, and it had been shining a good while before anyone "discovered" it.  Seeking recognition from men is a thirst which cannot be satiated by recognition from men.  Strange, isn't it?  Solomon wrote a man who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver (Ecc. 5:10), and desiring recognition from men is the same.  Haman loved the praises of men, and when only one man in the entire kingdom did not bow to him he was filled with rage and sought to kill him.

Are you content to shine bright for God and serve Him faithfully even if you are never recognised by men?  If your relationship to God as His beloved creation and redeemed children through faith in Christ is not enough for you, the world is better off not recognising you because you are like the world - without transformation, joy, peace or contentment.  What does the scripture say concerning how we should live?  Philippians 2:3-8 reads, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."  Jesus was lifted up - not in the minds of those respected in the world - as a man despised and rejected and nailed to a cross to die.  Jesus did not count his "followers" every day on social media and was happy if the numbers were up or depressed because He had been "unfriended."  He did not care to receive recognition from men, nor did He commit Himself to men because He knew what deceit, hypocrisy, and fickleness is in man.  Our courage need not rise and fall with man's approval, for we have been accepted by God.

The people who recognise the Almighty God in Spirit and in truth are satisfied with His recognition alone.  I still need an occasional reminder!  Should I find myself disillusioned it is not because God has changed or deceived me, but at some point my focus shifted from praising my Saviour and remembering His sacrifice for me and started feeling sorry for myself.  People of faith in Christ, take to heart Hebrews 12:1-3 to avoid the pitfall of discouragement:  "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  Having your labours or service recognised by others is no cure for discouragement, but considering the sacrifice and humility of Jesus is.  Neptune still shines, and most people don't notice and don't care.  So what?  God does, and any and all rewards which count for eternity come from Him!

If God is For Us...

Christian catchphrases can be scriptural in basis, but understanding the biblical context is important to avoid error.  Over the years I have grown increasingly thoughtful concerning "pat" answers people commonly give.  Even the worship songs we enjoy and sing are not guaranteed to be free of dubious doctrine.  Now granted, a song is not the means to fully explain theological truth.  But we must be cautious not to place an artist's rendition on level with God's revealed truth in scripture.  Unless the song IS scripture verbatim, it is not scripture - is it?

Even as songs written to praise God should not stand in isolation from scripture, neither should scripture.  God has provided the entire Bible - both the Old and New Testaments - so we might have the full counsel and wisdom of God understood by the power of the Holy Spirit.  One of the phrases I have read and sang many times for good reason is found in Romans 8:31:  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  This is a true statement written to Christian believers in Rome.  The purpose of Paul writing this was not to promote a self-empowering theme, but to exhort Christians to actively rely upon Jesus Christ for everything.  They didn't have to live in fear of being judged, persecuted, or even death, for God was on their side.

And so it is with Christians today.  One could say God is in a sense "for" sinners because He sent Jesus to die on our behalf when we were enemies of God dead in sins.  He loves all people and is not willing any should perish.  But don't miss the "if" at the beginning of the sentence in Romans 8:31.  This is a conditional statement not focused on the unchanging character of God but upon our obedience.  God is not "for" us on the basis of our theology or beliefs, but when we live "for" Him.  God is for us as long as we are for Him.  Many times in scripture God told His own chosen people He was against them because they rebelled and lived contrary to Him.  This may be a surprise to you if your understanding of God only comes from songs sung in church.

From the Bible we learn disobedience kindled God's wrath against His people (Deut. 7:4).  The prophet Samuel bluntly told the people in 1 Samuel 12:14-15, "If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. ¹⁵ However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers."  God said the same thing of nations in Jeremiah 18:7-11:  "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, ⁸ if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. ⁹ And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, ¹⁰ if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. ¹¹ Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good."  And again in Ezekiel 13:8, "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you," says the Lord GOD."

I figure there will be some who say, "That's all fine and good to use Old Testament examples, but we are under the new covenant of God's grace."  Romans 15:4 affirms it is perfectly legitimate to use Old Testament examples God included especially for our learning:  "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."  Also, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He does not change (Malachi 3:6)!  When Jesus instituted the new covenant, He established a higher standard than that of the Law - which no one can keep!  Jesus prefaced many statements in the Sermon on the Mount with, "You have heard it said, but I say unto you..."  God highly values faith, repentance, and obedience in both the Old and New Testament.  It is by grace we have been saved, yet we are called to abide in Christ's love through obeying Him!  Jesus said in John 15:10, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."  We can only meet God's conditions for salvation by being born again by grace through faith in Christ, and we are called to obediently follow Christ and His example of obedience to the Father.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Truer words were never spoken.  If God is for us, no one can be against us, and nothing can separate us from His love through Christ.  We are each called to examine our hearts and lives to ensure we are living for God.  Don't assume God is "for" you when you are living a life in opposition to Him.  Those whom He loves He chastens, and we are commanded not to despise this expression of His gracious love.  Take comfort in God's Word, for none who come to Christ will He cast out (John 6:37)!

The Comforts of Clean

This guest post has been contributed by my sister-in-law and sister-in-Christ, Jena Grisez.  The message of our need to be transparent and connected through relationship with fellow Christians resonates in me strongly.  In our western culture deeply steeped in individualism and self-sufficiency, there is a risk Christians can be influenced to worship the idol of privacy instead of exercising faith in God by allowing others to share our private lives.  Enjoy!

I hate cleaning. I guess it would be more appropriate to say, “I hate scrubbing.” I like vacuuming, laundry, dishes, etc., but I can’t stand showers and wood floors. My cycle goes like this:  showers need scrubbing and I begin to notice, then the mold starts growing and I start to consider cleaning them. At some point it’s so disgusting and I’ve put it off for so long, that I begin to fear for our health and I clean them. Because I’ve let it go so long, it’s an hour long deal and I vow to wait as long as possible before I ever do it again. Windows shut me down entirely. Ours have what I call "a natural tint" to them. Others call it dirt. Here’s the thing:  I like picking up and I’m a minimalist, so on a daily basis “stuff” isn’t everywhere. Counters are clear and wiped down, beds are made every morning, and the floors are clear of debris. Generally, I’d say we live in an up-kept house...that is until company comes over.

As soon as someone comes over, all I see is filth. I open the microwave and realize they are looking at the same splattered mess I am. I never noticed that! I guard entry to my master bathroom like it’s storing Ebola. I surreptitiously stand in the way of eye shot when I open the stove. I’ve lived here twelve years and have never once cleaned it! All of a sudden, my safe haven stands in condemnation of me. How do I live so comfortably in such grossness? I’ll tell you how:  I don’t invite guests in.

I think we live our entire lives this way. The obvious is well put together for those around us, but do not pry deeper. We are totally comfortable living in sin as long as no one sees it. I heard a pastor tell a story of a man struggling with sexual sin. He went to the pastor and asked for a counseling session. He expressed how powerless and overwhelmed he felt. The pastor told him to write down every thought he had over the next two weeks pertaining to the subject and the two of them would get together and go over it. Two weeks later the man came to the pastor’s office grinning ear to ear. He sat down and said, “I have nothing to tell you! Not one thought.” “Really?” said the pastor. “What happened?” “Well, I didn’t want to have to tell you anything!”

The point:  we need each other. We need to let a few trustworthy people get right up in our business. If we can't let them see our “dirty bathrooms,” I think we would clean them. Our church family is a powerful tool. Satan knows that, which is why he loves secrets and dark corners. We can do more together than we could ever do alone. Why do you think Jesus so strongly emphasized to love one another and to keep unity? Why do you think Satan works so hard to break us apart? We can be a safe place for one another, bearing one another's burdens in a spirit of love and truth. How beautiful is that? Let’s bring our sin and weakness to the light. We will all be better for it.  (Jena Grisez)

Freedom to Rejoice

I recently read Power in Praise by Merlin R. Carothers, and the LORD used it to speak to me.  The focus of the book is how in obedience to God's Word we must learn to thank and praise God for everything which happens in our lives, whether we perceive it as good or bad.  It occurred to me I am more apt to thank God when I am able to perceive or imagine some possible good from what God has done.  When I cannot see the good in something God has sovereignly allowed in my life, I can be so focused on trying to figure out what could be redeemed in the circumstance I neglect to praise and thank God.

Romans 8:28 provides rock-solid, objective truth for the life of a Christian:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  IF I truly believe this to be true, then I am free to praise and thank God for everything which happens to me, knowing God will work it together for good.  It may not be a good thing, but I should praise God anyway.  David wrote in Psalm 34:1, "I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Praising God is not a legalistic requirement, but a liberty granted us in every situation by the power of the Holy Spirit.  "Where the Spirit of the LORD is there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17)," and often we view our freedom as from something:  freedom from slavery, sin, condemnation, and guilt.  But the freedom afforded us by God's grace is not just freedom from something, but freedom to do what pleases God:  praising, thanking, serving, and obeying Him.

Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  It is much easier for us to rejoice in the LORD than to thank God for the troubling circumstances we face.  Paul exhorted believers to rejoice in the LORD and to be thankful for everything God allows, knowing it will work for good in our lives.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 affirms, "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  We have liberty in Christ to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks.  These are your God-ordained rights by His grace, believer, and see that you put them into practice.  If we were half as enthusiastic concerning exercising these rights as some are concerning their "freedom of speech" or "right to bear arms," I daresay Christians would be a more joyous, prayerful, and thankful lot!

Stir up the Gift!

"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:6-7

Through the Holy Spirit, God gives spiritual gifts to His children to be exercised for the edification of the church and the glory of God.  Timothy was a faithful believer and pastor, but even he needed the exhortation from a brother to "stir up the gift of God" divinely placed within him.  His gift smoldered instead of burning with fervent and intensity.  Just like the wood in a dying fire needs to be stirred with a poker to burn hotter and brighter, Timothy needed to stir up his gift.  This phrase is ambiguous for a profitable purpose.  If a specific gift was mentioned here, it would limit Timothy's and our responsibility to remember and take intentional steps to stir up only a particular gift.  We do not know the gift, but it was a gift which came from God Timothy was exhorted to stir up.  All gifts God gives, therefore, ought to be remembered and stirred up.

I have learned I can easily settle for activity instead of actively seeking God and become passive, waiting for God to "stir me" when by virtue of receiving a gift from God I ought to stir it up.  We have all received gifts from friends and family which have become dusty, neglected, or forgotten in a box somewhere, and the same can be true with gifts we receive from God.  God does not give gifts to elevate our status in the church, so we can impress others, or any other selfish reason:  God gives gifts so we would use them for the benefit of all.  Unless we know what gift God has imparted to us, how can we stir it up to use it?  If we believe the gift God has given is only for me, why would I think to use it for the benefit of others?  We can sing "Stir in me!" until our voices fail, but it does not release us from our responsibility to stir up the spiritual gift God has given us.

The next verse provides a reason perhaps why Timothy needed a reminder and exhortation from Paul:  he was afraid to exercise his gift because of what others might think.  God had given him a gift, yet he was loath to use it lest he be judged, castigated, rejected, or any other excuse whispered into his ears by a spirit of fear.  A spirit of fear had quenched his gift, like sand thrown on a fire.  The devil loves it when Christians are afraid, for should we give place to fear we cannot walk in the love of Christ.  1 John 4:17-18 reads, "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."  If God's love has grown to maturity in our hearts, we will not fear eternal judgment by God - nor the judgments of men.  God has given us a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind.  The fearful person is weak because they look to their own strength and abilities.  The fearful person is unable to walk in God's love and leans on their own understanding.  A spirit of fear brings confusion, doubts, and uncertainty able to cloud the decisions of even a steadfast, gifted believer like Timothy.

Allow me to remind you, dear brother and sister in Christ whom God has provided a spiritual gift:  stir up the gift of God which is within you.  When God sovereignly gives spiritual gifts, He provides the ability and wisdom through the indwelling Holy Spirit and His Word to regularly exercise the gift in love.  Instead of being influenced by a spirit of fear, remember God has provided the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.  God asked Moses, "What is in your hand?"  Moses carried a rod, and God employed that rod to do many miracles.  In Christ God has provided everything you need to do His work and perform His will.  Whatever God has given you, stir up the gift and remember to use it faithfully and regularly for Him!

Solidarity in Jesus Christ

In the wake of the tragic events in Paris which unfolded over the weekend, I have heard a word repeated over and over again:  solidarity.  The word is defined in the American Heritage dictionary as, "A union of interest, purposes, or sympathies among members of a group; fellowship of responsibilities and interest."  In a sense, those who stand in solidarity with Parisians share their shock, pain, and desire comfort all affected by the cowardly attack.  On the street one might say, "I'm feeling you.  I've got your back."  On the same street there is no shortage of opinions of what the problems in the world are or the best ways to stop them.  It is good to be united against evil, but often the common responses are anything but righteous.

The world's methods of fighting are incapable of stemming the tide which threatens to wash the globe in blood.  People are divided over how to deal with the complex issues and potential threats nations and individuals face.  "Kill first or be killed," some say.  Others point to ideology, religion, or indoctrination as the problem.  Still others make a case for tighter immigration policies, establishing early detection methods to prevent acts of terrorism, and arming/disarming citizens.  All of these suggestions fall well short of what is required to bring transformation in the hearts of people.  And it is primarily a heart problem.  The Bible says man is not basically good, but according to God's standards the heart of every man is wicked and deceitful beyond comprehension.

The reality is, the world is deluded to think we possess within ourselves the capacity to change people for good.  The actions of the world says we can enact positive change by eliminating real threats by dialogue, military action, air strikes, and covert military operations.  On a federal level we can protect ourselves by closing borders, putting more police on the streets, and raising the level of security.  Some say crimes could be reduced by tight restrictions concerning firearm or weapon ownership or eliminating them altogether.  Through improved legislation we could prevent people from immigrating to a country or prosecute those who plot in secret to harm others.  Now I am not saying these are poor suggestions in the proper context, but I am saying none of these ideas have the capacity to change the hearts of men.  Governments and laws have been established because men are evil, and many choose to willfully transgress even in the face of conviction, imprisonment, and death.

In writing to Christians, James said in James 4:1-3:  "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."  Without being transformed by the love of Jesus Christ, there will always be conflict - even among the people who identify as Christians.  How much more conflict will people create who are deceived and blinded to their own wickedness?  Hardness of heart has led to countless marriages ending in divorce, and lust for power and control has led to war, violence, and immeasurable suffering.  The unregenerate heart cannot be refined with the external shackles of law or government control:  the only way people can be permanently transformed within is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Scoff all you want, but the world's best attempts end with war after war with no end in sight.  Isn't that the history of mankind in a nutshell?

The Bible speaks of a glorious day when the risen Jesus Christ will establish His government over the entire earth.  Even at the end of His thousand year reign, Satan will deceive the world and in solidarity they will come against Jesus Christ in a desire to overthrow His rule (Revelation 20:6-10).  Satan and all who follow him will be completely vanquished by Christ.  Solidarity is good and fine, but it begs the question:  what is the best union of interest for the glory of God?  The church must mobilise in practical help and prayer (nothing is more practical!), united in walking in His love and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Fear of man ought not to govern our motives, but instead fear God.  Christ commands us to compassionately pray even for our enemies.  There is good cause to protect our people or families, but remember vengeance is God's sovereign territory.  He has said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." (Deut. 32:35, Nahum 1:2, Romans 12:19).  Not all can receive this saying, but he who has ears to hear, let him hear.  Do you you fear God more than man?

What this world needs is solidarity in the person of Jesus Christ.  It is high time for the church to awake out of sleep and faithfully follow the example of our Saviour.  Jesus is the only one capable of changing the hearts and minds of men, and our call as His followers is to let His light shine through us in the dark world.  Christians are to have a common interest to live holy and share the Good News of salvation to all.  We must not shirk our responsibilities to live out the exhortation of Titus 2:11-14:  "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."  Only when we invite God to transform us and walk by faith in Christ can we make a difference in this world for God's glory.