Jesus, Redeemer of Sinners

I find the book of Ruth deeply touching.  Many parallels can be drawn between the lovingkindness demonstrated by Ruth and Boaz with God's love for us.  Ruth was obedient to Naomi, and Jesus was obedient to the Father.  Boaz delighted to redeem Ruth, and Jesus joyfully paid the cost of our redemption with His own blood.  The book of Ruth contains foreshadowing of what Jesus delighted to accomplish as our Redeemer.  What Jesus has done is infinitely greater than what Ruth or Boaz did, and it remains a compelling and insightful read.

After Ruth conveyed her desire to be redeemed by Boaz, he set about the task at the break of day.  Noami knew Boaz was trustworthy and focused on the task, for she told Ruth not to worry in Ruth 3:18:  "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."  Boaz went to the gate first thing in the morning, the place where legal proceedings were carried out.  Boaz assembled 10 elders of the city as witnesses and the single kinsman who had the right of redemption greater than his own.

Boaz informed the man of his right to redeem the property of Elimelech, which the man was only too happy to do.  Ruth 4:5-6 reads, "Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance." ⁶ And the close relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it."  The inclusion of Ruth the Moabitess and the responsibility to raise up seed for the dead was the deal-breaker for this unnamed relative.  To take Ruth as wife would mar his own inheritance and the closest relative said it was quite impossible.  So he urged Boaz to redeem the property and Ruth, the exact thing Boaz was most keen to do!  Before the day was out, Boaz had seen it done.

What amazes me is how Christ has redeemed sinners from the curse of sin, having shed His own blood on Calvary.  His righteousness has been credited to all who trust in Him.  Having been created in God's image, men are eligible for redemption but not worthy of it.  Unlike Ruth, not one of us in our sinful condition could be deemed "virtuous."  Instead of being like the first man who claimed redeeming Ruth would ruin his own inheritance, Jesus chose for us to become His inheritance.  He did not leave us ruined but causes us to be born again and made new, holy unto God.  The Father has sent the Holy Spirit as the downpayment of our inheritance, for God is our inheritance and we will enjoy His presence forever (Eph. 1:13-14).  How wonderful it is to be redeemed, loved, and wanted!  That is the happy state of every believer, and we do well to think upon and rejoice in God's love toward us always.

Forgiving Yourself

"We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself."

lyric excerpt from "Up Against the Ropes" by August Burns Red

The concept of "forgiving self" is a statement commonly accepted without critical thought.  But does the Bible in any way support the idea of a person's need to forgive self?  There is plenty written about how God forgives sins and that we are called to forgive others, but forgiving self?  This self-focus stinks of humanism and suggests God's forgiveness is insufficient.

I don't believe people are malicious with their encouragement to "forgive self," but I see no biblical evidence this exhortation comes from God.  Instead of self-help, God tells us to deny self.  Naturally self is our primary focus and our feelings and desires are central to our existence.  1 John 1:9 says concerning believers, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Whether we feel forgiven or not is beside the point.  All sin is primarily against God, and He is the only One who has the power to release us from our guilt.  A man who claims to have this power or authority proudly sits in God's judgment seat.

Think about this in terms of the judicial system.  Say I am guilty of a crime and justice requires a large fine far beyond my ability to pay.  Say a person with financial means heard of my plight and decided to pay the fine in full.  After the exorbitant payment was paid, justice was satisfied.  Since the fine was paid I could legally leave the courtroom a free man.  Wouldn't it be ridiculous for me to hang my head over my guilt and hold out my wrists to be shackled and led away to prison?  "I just can't forgive myself for what I did.  I deserve to rot in prison forever."  The incredulous bailiff would say, "Didn't you hear the judge?  Get out of here.  What's your problem?"  Shouldn't I be thankful to the one who paid for me to be free?  Wouldn't I be overwhelmed with love for such generosity and grace of my saviour?  "Forgiving self" has no bearing on my legal standing before God and any prison in which I remain is imaginary, a paper tiger fashioned by my refusal to receive God's gracious gift.

There is something about penance that appeals to the flesh, that we need to or must afflict ourselves to "pay" for our wrongs.  Again, this is a arbitrary refusal of God's grace.  It is ridiculous to make God's forgiveness depend on my feelings or seek to earn forgiveness only freely received by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the One who makes sinners free indeed (John 8:36)  Instead of urging others to forgive themselves, it would be better for people to repent, receive, and rejoice in God's forgiveness which is all of grace.  We have a part to play in the matter to be released from the guilt of sin, but forgiveness of self is not a legitimate part of the process.

Bitter and Blind

Bitterness and disappointment ruin our perspective.  A friend told me an amusing anecdote he was taught in sales which displays the power of perspective.  A shoe salesman was sent to sell shoes to people in a remote area and he returned despondent:  "Nobody wears shoes!"  His efforts were wasted because it was a dead market.  Another shoe salesman went and returned bubbly, his eyes wide with excitement:  "Nobody wears shoes!  Think of the potential!"  The little story shows we can be negative over things which can be a great boon when viewed from a different perspective.

Naomi in the book of Ruth was embittered by her losses.  Naomi, her husband, and two sons left Bethlehem due to a famine and moved to Moab.  Over the course of time her sons were both married, but eventually her husband and sons all died.  When the famine was over in Bethlehem, Naomi decided to return.  She sent her daughters-in-law away to their families and gods, but Ruth refused to leave Naomi.  She was so determined to stay with Naomi she affirmed only death would separate them.  When Naomi returned home despondent and depressed, she told people a more fitting name for her was Mara, (literally "bitter").  Ruth 1:21-22 says, "I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" ²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest."

Naomi had left with a husband and two sons out of necessity, and she had returned from Moab with Ruth the Moabitess who faithfully loved her and came of her own free will.  Yet because Naomi's perspective was fixed on all she had lost, she did not value what she had in Ruth.  She saw herself as empty because she had no husband or sons, and remained bitter despite having a loving daughter-in-law.  Over the course of time I believe Naomi came to recognise the treasure she had in Ruth.  After Ruth was married to Boaz and Naomi loved her grandson as her own child, perhaps she began to see how the seemingly ill-fated trip to Moab actually enriched her by God's grace.  She saw God as afflicting her when He provided blessing upon blessing.  Bitterness blinded Naomi to the goodness of God.

The women of the town came to see the blessing Ruth was, as did her husband Boaz.  Ruth 4:14-15 reads, "Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! ¹⁵ And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."  Not all who fear God are as Job who blessed God in the day of terrible news and during a long season of affliction, but may we be those who rejoice in all we have by God's grace instead of being bitter over our perceived loss.  Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons because she loved her, and may we rejoice over the love of Jesus toward us.  May we value above our own lives the love others have shown us, not allowing our disappointments to overshadow such blessings God provides.  Those who make their hope in God have fullness of joy no one can take away.

Begging for Judgment

In world news lately there has been a ramping up of "rhetoric" and "provocation" between North Korea and the United Nations, spearheaded by the United States.  The script looks something like this:  North Korea fires a missile over Japan because of war games in the region.  President Trump threatens the offenders with "fire and fury."  Chairman Kim Jong Un makes inflammatory statements, claiming increased sanctions will only increase the push for nuclear weapons.  The United Nations slaps additional economic sanctions on North Korea.  North Korea then fires another missile over Japan.  And the cycle starts over - with no end in sight.

Despite the widespread international condemnation of these acts, these dangerous provocations continue.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have noticed another kind of provocation which goes largely unnoticed:  provocative deeds and proud words spoken against God.  To reject God's Word - adding or taking away from it - is a grave crime which arouses God's wrath.  A U.S. diplomat said recently the launching of missiles and rhetoric from North Korea is "begging for war."  North Korea aside, I am convinced the sins of people and nations is begging for judgment from God.  God is far more patient and longsuffering than any human court, but His justice is pure and absolute.  The anti-christ rhetoric and scorn of those who take a stand on the Word of God is like the verbal firing of missiles in opposition of God.  I don't believe any sensible person wants war, but judgment from God will surely come to all who remain stubbornly in sin.

Let us not delude ourselves to think the world is the source of problems Christians face, for the issue is sin in us.  Whilst God pronounced woe on heathen nations for their rejection of Him, God also spoke strongly against His own people who forsook His Laws and did according to other nations.  Here is a small sampling in Isaiah 5:20-25:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! ²² Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, ²³ who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! ²⁴ Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. ²⁵ Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them and stricken them, and the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still."

As children of God, we must submit to and seek to uphold the Word of God.  Currently many have been rocked by massive storms, political upheaval, and the voting survey concerning same-sex marriage in Australia have many people pointing fingers at others.  The problems we are facing in the world are profound and we have no means within us to change a single heart.  Our wisdom is incapable of opening blind eyes or releasing the captives of sin.  Thanks be to God He is able to help us and will quicken us to accomplish all things He intends to do.  Those who follow Jesus will suffer for this stand, but there is great consolation for all who trust and fix their eyes upon Him.  The vitriolic and swelling words against God call for justice, yet let us choose compassion, grace, and mercy.  We will not be deterred from loving people, even if we are crucified for our beliefs and convictions.  They might be for war yet may we speak peaceable words, warning others of the certain results of sin.  If we do not love people as God does, our warnings are better applied to ourselves.

Singing in the Dark

One thing I appreciate about the scriptures is how they are true to real life.  There are intense victories won in battle, the unspeakable pain of losing loved ones, frustration over being slandered, and awe over the beauty of nature.  The breadth and depth of the human experience is expressed with insight and understanding of what matters to us.  Because of this agreement with our souls the people of scripture resonate with those who seek after God to this day.

A glorious revelation in the Bible about the nature of God is it is always time to seek Him.  Whether we win or lose, if we are healthy or feel sick, when we are filled with joy or deep depression, God is glorious and praiseworthy.  The book of Psalms is filled with people who knew and trusted God who found themselves in impossible situations.  Desperate times were often the background of David's songwriting.  It seems when he was in great danger the sweet psalmist of Israel was at his most melodious, writing prayerful lyrics to God.  Songbirds can be quiet at night, but it was in the dark times David's songs swelled to heaven.

How about you?  Do you sing to God in the dark times, bringing your petitions and adoration to a God who is the lifter of your head?  What great hope and comfort we find in Him, for when we pour out our souls to Him we are heard.  Psalm 61:1-4 provides an example:  "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. ² From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ³ For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. ⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah"  David trusted in God, and at times he was overwhelmed.  There is great comfort here for those who trust in God who are overwhelmed today, for as God helped David He is faithful to help us.

May the LORD put a new song in our hearts to proclaim His praises, for He is good and His mercy endures forever.  You may not think much of your singing voice, but the LORD delights to hear it because He cares for us.  Whether we find ourselves in a cave, a dungeon at midnight, or feel like we are drowning, God will hear and attend to our prayer.  Praise Him forever! 

Our Choices Affect Others

Driving down Windsor Road yesterday I saw an illuminated sign which read, "Your driving affects others."  That's not something which often preoccupies my mind, but it is true.  Dangerous driving on my part bring increased risk to me, my passengers, pedestrians, other drivers, and property.  Lives have been lost and permanently affected by poor decisions made by others on the road.

Our driving affects others, and the way we live our lives affects others too.  Our everyday choices may not result in accidents which in seconds destroy life and property, but the results can be broader and further reaching.  Should we embrace sin, it will have a catastrophic and destructive impact on our lives and others.  Sin brings destruction not only on lives but upon eternal souls.  Adam is a fitting example, but perhaps that of Micah is more compelling because it occurred after man's initial fall.

Micah lived in a time in Israel when there was no king and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.  Micah had stolen 1,100 shekels of silver from his mother, but after she cursed the thief he admitted stealing the silver.  His mother blessed him for his "honesty."  She claimed she had dedicated the silver unto the LORD, and after he returned it she gave 200 shekels to the silver to make an image for his collection.  Micah had a collection of gods with an ephod, and he consecrated his son to be a priest.  A wandering Levite was later consecrated to take on the role of priest to the family, and Micah believed the LORD would do him good because he had a "proper" priest.  Of course all Micah had done was improper, illegal according to the Law of Moses, and abominable before God but he (like everyone else at the time) did what was right in his own eyes.

Over the course of time men from the tribe of Dan went through the land.  They were looking for good land with people isolated from any help or protection who would be easy prey.  After they found such a place, they took 600 armed men to take the land by force.  On the way they dropped by Micah's house, took his idols and his Levite "priest," and went on their way despite Micah's protests.  They warned him his life and those of his house would be forfeit if he interfered with them, so Micah returned home.  When the men of Dan arrived in Laish, they smote the city and burned it with fire.  They rebuilt the city and called it Dan, after their father.  Judges 18:30-31 explains the shocking consequences of the idolatry of Micah and his mother:  "Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. ³¹ So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh."

Micah's mother made an image of silver, and Micah placed it in a shrine in his house.  The tribe of Dan stole it, Jonathan and his sons become priests who used it in worship, and idolatry was entrenched in Israel for hundreds of years.  How many people and families were ensnared by the worship of Micah's idol whilst the Tabernacle of God stood in Shiloh!  Now I cannot say what your sin might be or what could be the ultimate impact of it, but even if one souls is ensnared and turned aside from the living God it would be too much.  It is a tragedy when one life is unnecessarily lost because of poor driving, and it is horrendous for a soul to go to hell for eternity because of sin.  Jesus came to this earth to seek and save sinners, to destroy the works of the devil, and provide eternal life.  The situation with Micah shows the sin of one person has the capacity to affect an entire nation for evil.

The way we live affects others - for good or for evil - more than you know.  It may not be something you often think about, but it is true.

Temptation's Subtlety

Today I read the passage in Judges 16 when Samson divulged to Delilah the secret of his great strength.  I was struck with how a man of great physical strength who could carry off city gates was eventually pushed over with pestering words spoken by a woman he loved.  Samson had bitter and bloody feud with the Philistines, yet he loved a woman named Delilah who lived in the valley of Sorek.  The Philistine lords for a long time had sought to capture Samson, and they bribed Samson's lover to discover the secret of his strength so they might neutralise it.

An interesting observation is as Delilah ramped up the pressure to share the secret of his strength, there was a softening of her request.  Consider the first time she brought up the subject in Judges 16:6:  "So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you."   This is a straightforward question with intent.  If I was Samson, I would seriously wonder why she would ask such a question!  Did she ask because she wanted to bind and afflict me?  Samson shrugged it off with a lie.  The next time Delilah made her request it was slightly different in Judges 16:10:  "Then Delilah said to Samson, "Look, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now, please tell me what you may be bound with."  There was no mentioning of the source of his strength, nor any reference to affliction.  Again, Samson deliberately misled her.  Delilah's third request was very similar to the second time with the same results.

Finally Delilah said in Judges 16:15, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies."  Delilah made no mention of binding or affliction.  Her statement is insightful, for she connected the affections of Samson's heart with responding to her request.  She wanted to know where his great strength lie - conveniently not mentioning her intent to bind and afflict him.  Judges 16:16-17a says, "And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, ¹⁷ that he told her all his heart..."  Day after day she pressed him, and the resolve of the mighty judge of Israel crumbled.  It was not long before he was indeed bound, afflicted, blinded, imprisoned, and made the object of ridicule.

It occurred to me the progression employed by Delilah mirrors the tactics of sinful temptation.  At first we are repulsed by the thing, realising the grave consequences of giving into sin.  Day after day of our soul being pressed leads to us wondering what all the fuss is about.  What is the big deal anyway?  Curiosity chews into our resolve and we find our affections shifting from allegiance to God and drifting towards the satisfaction of our flesh.  The scripture does not say, but I wonder if after Samson was bound and his eyes gouged out he regretted loving Delilah in the first place?  Blind in the darkness of a Philistine prison, I imagine Samson started seeing clearly mistakes he made when he could fend off his enemies easily.  It is good for us to realise the enemy of our souls is always looking to afflict and blind us, but as children of God he cannot do so without our permission.  The "secret" of our strength found through trust and obedience to Jesus Christ is no secret, but we can forget to guard our hearts from illicit affections and to keep our hands clean of sin.  When we give into sin's demands, we find ourselves weak as any other man.

Where Is The Compassion?

Paul asked a good question in Romans 9:20:  "O man, who are you to reply against God?"  Maybe there was a day when people realised the implications of arrogantly speaking against God and His wisdom, but it is not today.  I shudder when I hear the swelling words and vain philosophies of people who vaunt themselves over the Almighty LORD of hosts, the Creator and Judge of all the earth.  Woe to those who say they know better than God!  Professing to be wise, such expose their own folly.  These voices who oppose God have the same demonic tenor of those who shouted before Pilate concerning Jesus Christ, "Away with Him!  Crucify Him!"

It is a simple thing to point fingers at the faults of others, but followers of Jesus Christ ought to live as He did in a secular culture and faithfully examine our own hearts.  We cannot stoop to the level of such who speak proudly in arrogance, hating any who oppose them.  If we do not have compassion on those who are deceived and deliberately adding to their guilt before a holy God by rebellion and pride, we sin by refusing to love others as God does.  Passion without love and compassion is sin.  We must stand fast on the Word of God, for only then do we find an unshakeable foundation under our feet.  It is good to uphold righteousness, especially in a sinful world.  Love does not oppose righteousness but completes it.  We will surely suffer for such a clear stand, but praise God for His abundant consolation.

Consider what is written in 1 Peter 2:20-23:  "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously..."  Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, filled with people scattered as sheep without a shepherd.  They refused to believe Jesus was the Son of God, rejected His sound teaching, and scorned His outstretched arms of love.  Those few faithful followers of Jesus today are to follow His example of compassion, mercy and grace when we are maligned, belittled, and slandered falsely.

Brothers and sisters, let us not shy away from using the truth of scripture to combat the satanic deceptions at work in the minds and hearts of people today.  Why use secondary sources or statistics when we can speak forth the powerful words of God?  When Peter spoke to the unbelieving Sanhedrin, he quoted the scriptures.  After Philip ran to the Ethiopian eunuch, he preached Christ from the Word of God.  Whether Paul spoke to unbelieving Jews, Roman rulers, or the philosophers in Athens, he preached from the Bible.  Preaching the Word of God is a single thread connecting all their discourses to believers as well as unbelievers.  Some were enraged, others laughed and mocked, but there were some who believed and were saved.  LORD, forgive me when I have substituted the logic of men for the Word of God!

Will you be so bold to seek opportunities to share the truth of God's Word with others to show why you believe what you believe with meekness and fear?  1 Peter 3:8-12 exhorts us all, "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. ¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. ¹² For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

Loving Indeed

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. "

1 John 3:18

As children of God, we are called to love one another as He loves us.  God's love is practically displayed, meeting all our needs by God's grace.  This love is more than words or feelings, but is actively demonstrated in opening our hearts to one another.  1 John 3:17 asks the question:  "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"  We cannot meet every need, nor does God expect us to.  Based upon the great love we have received from Jesus, our hearts should be open to being used by God to meet needs everywhere in Jesus' name.

When there is hatred in our hearts, we cannot love as we ought.  This passage in 1 John reveals that in God's sight hatred towards our brother is murder in God's eyes, even as looking with lustful intent is the same as committing adultery.  We do well not to hate others, but our aim must be to love them.  As James demonstrated his faith in God through God works, the righteousness of God is displayed through love towards others.  It does us little good to ask ourselves if we nurse a grudge or hatred of others, but better to ask if we have demonstrated love to them.  God's love is active and never fails.  Praise God for that!

What Jesus Does

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another."

John 15:16-17

These things Jesus told His disciples during their celebration of the Passover are true for His followers today.  Whilst instructing His followers Jesus also emphasised their calling.  In choosing to pursue Christ as disciples we can mistakenly place our primary focus on what we have done and what we must do, but the words of Jesus remind us of His divine role.

Jesus corrected the disciples' thinking they had chosen Him because Jesus had chosen them first.  He knew them before they knew Him; He first called them and then they followed.  He chose them and appointed (ordained, commissioned) them to go and bear fruit which would remain.  Having supplied the good seed of the Word of God, it would doubtless bear much fruit according to the design of Jesus Christ.  Jesus also appointed them to pray to God, and whatever they asked in Jesus' name would be given.

See all the things Jesus did for His disciples before they even knew Him?  He chose and ordained them, He formulated a plan for them, and ensured they would be successful.  Do you realise as a child of God He has done the same for you?  You do not need to graduate from seminary, become a foreign missionary, or have a ministry position recognised by men to be eternally fruitful.  All we do is within the context of God's love, loving one another as He loves us.  Disillusionment comes when we figure fruitfulness depends primarily upon our efforts.  We imagine "fruit" to be immediate and qualitative and forget seeds take time to grow.  There is danger in departing from the good Word for anything else in an effort to accomplish our plans rather than seeking God.

I am blessed to know God has chosen me, ordained me, and commissioned me to go and bear fruit.  I am humbled to have access to God's throne room of grace to find mercy and help in time of need.  Since I am called to love as Jesus does and cannot do this without Him, how necessary it is to seek Him.  Looking outside on this spring morning, God knows how to make seeds germinate, flowers bloom, and trees flourish with new growth.  Won't He also do marvellously with His Word in the hearts of those prepared to receive Him?

Do You Suppose?

Have you ever thought something which turned out not to be true?  Expectations and assumptions which seem reasonable can often lead us astray.  A lot of things we think are simply wrong, and God has provided His Word to guide us into all truth.  I was surprised how often supposing and being mistaken correlate in scripture.  It is not always the case, but take a look at some examples:

• The disciples were rowing in the sea and supposed they had seen a spirit when it was in fact Jesus walking on the water (Mark 6:39).
• Joseph and Mary supposed Jesus had left Jerusalem in their company, but He had remained behind in the Temple (Luke 2:44).
• People supposed Jesus was the son of Joseph, but He had been conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary and was the Son of God (Luke 2:23).
• Mary Magdalene supposed Jesus was the gardener when He was her risen LORD (John 20:15).
• Peter corrected the people who supposed the Christians who were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues were drunk (Acts 2:15).
• Stephen related Moses supposed his fellow Hebrews would have understood he had been called by God to deliver them from the Eyptians, but they did not (Acts 7:25).
• The Philippian jailer woke up from sleep, being startled by an earthquake.  He supposed all the prisoners had fled when he saw all the doors open, and would have killed himself had not Paul shouted to say the prisoners had not escaped (Acts 16:27).
• The master of the ship and the centurion supposed they had obtained their purpose to winter in a haven of Crete, only to be driven by a massive tempest and shipwrecked on Malta (Acts 27:13).

Based on these examples, "supposing" obviously has many pitfalls.  We likely all (to some degree) assume and think many things which have no basis in reality.  No matter how much we know of the truth and think things through, assumptions can creep in.  I believe supposing leads to much unnecessary heartache and sorrow only wisdom and discernment from God can deliver us from.  When you discover things are not as you supposed do not lose heart, but seek the LORD and trust in Him.  God never supposes; He always knows.

The Best Bargain

Do you love to find a great bargain at the shops?  I know many people who will haggle or bargain even over fixed prices with great enthusiasm.  For me, however, I feel uncomfortable with haggling in shops even when it is the norm.  My bargaining has improved over the years after trips to Cambodia, Israel, and from buying appliances at local stores in Sydney, but I still don't enjoy it.  The time spent going back and forth debating over dollars never feels worth the effort in the end.  Even when I have obtained a better price, I wonder if I could have done better.  Anyone with me?

It occurred to me this morning bargaining may be more common than we recognise.  Even for those who hate haggling, it is in the self-centred nature of man to look for or be open to a better offer.  We make these kinds of bargains with ourselves all the time.  We weigh our options concerning eating, drinking, and exercise.  We reduce our calorie intake or increase exercise one day because we want to have dinner and desert at a restaurant that night.  People reduce consumption of alcohol or tobacco to have more money for other things or for health reasons.  We make sacrifices in one area and reward ourselves with other things.  Much of our lives are lived with constant tension between needs and desires, moderation and excess, indulgence and abstention.  Our motives and issues may be different, but this inner haggling happens.

As with decisions which effect the health of our bodies, we can bring this same approach to moral, biblical, and spiritual issues.  We make a mistake when we try to bargain with God concerning repentance and sin.  This happens so subtly it often escapes our notice.  We attempt to trade abstinence in one area for dabbling or indulgence in another - complete with arbitrary, self-imposed boundaries.  We will repent and put sin away from us if we see how it is negatively affecting our lives, but not just because God said so.  We can go so far as to refuse to obey unless our demands are met.  My patience runs thin quickly when it comes to making what I consider drastic changes to my diet.  In the past if I didn't see tangible, quantifiable results quickly from sacrifices, it wasn't long until I went back to my old ways.  In a spiritual sense we can do the same thing.  We can choose to love a person in obedience to Jesus but when it doesn't seem to work in our favour our unbelief rises up:  "See?  I loved that person and it didn't do anything!  What a waste."

The people of Israel provide a good example in the book of Judges when they found themselves oppressed by their enemies.  They cried out to God and He pointed out their chronic idolatry.  "I have saved you many times in the past but you chose to forsake Me.  Cry out to the gods you have chosen and see if they will save you," He said.  See the response of the people in Judges 10:15-16:  "And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray." ¹⁶ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel."  God's people confessed their sin, made their request, but did not make their repentance contingent upon God doing anything for their good.  They put away their idols and served the LORD.  And guess what?  They were still oppressed.  They remained in a miserable season and God's heart went out to them.  Eventually God would deliver His people according to His mercy, but He would lovingly refine them as long as it took.

How good it is when God's people unite with His will and the revelation of His righteousness.  To bargain with God is an affront to His holiness and exposes our selfish unbelief.  Let us be numbered among those who repent and serve the LORD without haggling, not making our obedience contingent on benefits we want God to guarantee us.  Like the good example provided in Judges, let us keep seeking God, keep repenting, and keep serving Him.  Satan and self provide offers which appeal to our flesh, but all they do is deliver us into bondage and death.  God's offer is a fixed price which He has already paid in full through the Gospel, and the cost for us is repentance, trust, and obedience.  God exchanges our sin for righteousness, distance for intimacy, bondage for freedom, and death for eternal life.  We are called to do our part, and He will deliver in due time.

God Our King

The absolute sovereignty of a king is a foreign concept to many today.  Having grown up and lived in democratic countries, being a citizen affords me particular rights.  One of those rights (and privileges) is to participate in elections through voting.  Every person who votes has the same power to elect representatives and pass legislation.  Though my contribution is one vote among many, our system of government allows the voice of the people to be heard.

I have no idea how different life would be if I lived in a nation ruled by a king.  I am not talking about celebrity royals or figureheads, but I imagine life would be very different if I was the legal subject of a monarch whose word was law, whose retribution upon his enemies was swift and severe, and who wielded the power of life and death over his people.  Kings will not suffer any to oppose them.  Forget rubber bullets, tear gas, or being kept overnight in jail:  to protest or even question a king would mean certain death.  King Solomon knew what he was saying by experience when he wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:2-4:  "I say, "Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. ³ Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him. ⁴ Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"  People were urged to be careful in the presence of the king, lest they offend him.  A king is obligated to do whatever pleases him, and who can speak against or even question him?  Life and death is in the power of a king's tongue.  As a king, absolute power is his right.

If we should fear and obey kings whom God has placed in authority, how much more should we fear and reverence the King of kings?  Paul said something similar to Solomon in Romans 9:20-24:  "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honour and another for dishonour? ²² What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"  Though it is foolish to charge God with wrong and question his righteous judgments, people still do.  God is answerable to no man, for He is our Creator and King.  No one has a legal right to oppose Him.  Even as a potter can make whatever he wants with clay, God has the divine right to do exactly as He pleases with His things.  And since we born-again Christians are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ, we are doubly His.  He has glorious plans we cannot conceive of, and instead of questioning Him in doubt we are to trust and obey.

The grace of God is more compelling than any "rights" we claim for ourselves.  Earthly kings are not longsuffering, but God is.  He suffers long with fools and offers them forgiveness and everlasting life if they will repent of their sin and trust in Jesus.  Not one of us has the right to be heard by God, but God has freely given us the right to become His beloved children through the Gospel.  We are given privileged access to God by the blood of Christ, and we are urged to act on this in Hebrews 4:16:  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  God's throne is founded on righteousness, grace, justice and love.  He is not soft, caving into the demands of anyone.  Yet unlike many in authority, God actually listens to each of his loyal subjects.  We have a voice heard in heaven which can accomplish more than a million votes in an election.  We don't deserve this privilege, but God delights to grant this to all who delight in Him.  Let us thank God and show our appreciation by boldly approaching Him in prayer, for He is our worthy King.

The Pencil Message

It is wonderful to realise God knows what we need and is able and willing to meet our needs.  He has promised to provide for us, and sometimes we don't recognise what our needs are.  We might think God's provision of our needs depends upon us remembering to ask Him.  While it is true we do not have because we have not asked, God has freely provided our needs before we were born without us acknowledging Him at all!  He does more for us than we could ever ask or think.

I have been reading lately through the life of Gideon in the book of Judges.  Gideon was a bit incredulous God would choose him to be a deliverer of God's people from Midianite oppressors.  When the Angel of the LORD ascended to heaven, it confirmed God's call upon Gideon and strengthened his faith to take additional steps of obedience.  On two occasions Gideon asked God to confirm he was indeed the one to lead Israel into battle with a fleece, and God did.  Trusting in God, Gideon immediately took action to muster the men of Israel for battle.  After God instructed him to cull the fighting force to a meagre 300 men, God told Gideon to sneak down into the Midianite camp.  As he and his servant crept near to a tent, they heard men discussing a dream about a loaf of barley bread which tumbled down a hill and knocked a tent over.

Judges 7:14-15 says, "Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp." ¹⁵ And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshipped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."  Gideon had not asked God for a sign, but God gave obedient Gideon a sign which prompted him to worship God.  Hearing the dream and interpretation from the tent of an enemy quickened Gideon to further trust God to arise and fight.  That very night God wrought a great deliverance in Israel, and helped Gideon every step of the way.  When God's people trust and obey Him, God will do marvellous things.

It is good to be reminded of God's calling upon our lives, especially when things are difficult.  God has used many people and situations to bring encouragement my way when I didn't realise I was discouraged.  Once God even used a simple pencil to encourage me!  Growing up in San Diego, I was introduced to golf in my later teen years by friends.  I became a junior member of Singing Hills Country Club and played super cheap golf almost weekly on the executive Pine Glen course.  It seemed to fall to me to organise tee times, and I called the Pro Shop all the time.  It has been about 20 years since I played on Pine Glen and moved to Australia about 7 years ago.  A while back I began to play golf more regularly.  I typically play early in the mornings and walk alone.  This is a great time for me to enjoy exercise, think about things, and pray.  I suppose I was feeling a bit low, and it was more than just my poor golfing!  As I walked up the 9th fairway and conversing with God, I saw a pencil laying on the turf.  Would you believe it was a pencil from my old home golf course (now called "Sycuan Golf Resort") in San Diego?

When I picked up the pencil on an Australian golf course in Windsor with wide eyes - engraved with the "619" area code and the familiar number - I had the overwhelming sense  God knew where I was, He had not forgotten me, I was not alone, and He would supply my needs.  To date it is the only pencil I have ever seen on a golf course in Australia.  The odds of me finding a pencil in Australia from a particular golf course in the United States are staggeringly long.  With God, odds are nothing.  Now the pencil serves as a little reminder on my office bookshelf, a wooden "Ebeneezer" of sorts, a testimony of our faithful God who calls, sends, provides for, and guides His people.  When I saw the writing on the pencil I worshipped God because He used it to speak comfort and peace to my heart.  Let us worship the LORD for His goodness, and for the love and grace He freely offers to all.

Lackey or Leader?

Yesterday I read a familiar text from the book of Judges 5, the narrative of when Jael dispatched general Sisera by hammering a tent peg through his head.  The children of Israel had been oppressed by the Canaanites for 20 years, but God raised up the prophetess Deborah and Barak to defeat their powerful enemies.  Sisera led 900 chariots of iron into battle against Israel, but God aided His people to an improbable victory and routed the Canaanites.  Sisera managed to escape the field of battle and Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite invited him into her tent.  The fleeing general thought he found a safe haven, for the relations between his king Jabin and the house of Heber the Kenite were good.

After she provided milk and a warm blanket Judges 4:20 says, "And he said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there any man here?' you shall say, 'No.'"  There is no explanation provided for what Jael did next.  She did not appear to be intimidated or afraid of Sisera, seeing she freely invited him into the tent.  Perhaps she had remained loyal to the children of Israel because Heber was a descendant of Jethro, the father-in-law to Moses.  Maybe she feared the God of Israel and decided all who waged war against His people were her enemies as well.  Though she had been tasked by Sisera to guard the door and lie about his whereabouts to throw his pursuers off the trail, Judges 4:21 simply says:  "Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died."  Jael then went out to Barak, told him she knew where Sisera was, and showed him the dead corpse.

In seeking to apply this passage to myself, I don't think an appropriate application is "Walk softly and carry a hammer and sharp tent peg."  What I do find compelling is how decisive Jael's actions were.  She was not overwhelmed or intimidated by the enemy general and was determined to bring his deceit upon his own head - quite literally.  She did not feel obligated to obey his request, and always knew in her heart where her loyalties lay.  There is no evidence of any internal conflict, no wavering at all in her plan of action.  She did not seem to worry of retribution from King Jabin or his army, though she lived in a tent without walls, gates, bars, or an army.  This woman was bold, courageous, and without fear.  She took the right course of action without hesitation.  In the Song of Deborah her bravery was lauded, recalling the depth of her commitment.  Judges 5:26 reads, "She stretched her hand to the tent peg, her right hand to the workmen's hammer; she pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, she split and struck through his temple."

The enemy Sisera wanted Jael to be his lackey, but she refused this role.  God delivered his enemy into the hands of a woman as prophesied in the previous chapter by Deborah.  Many who oppose God today are glad to have lackeys in the church, Christians who agree with their worldly perspective and try to influence others to go astray.  The point of application brought home to me from this narrative is I must be willing to take the lead as Jael did, to decisively take action based upon my loyalty to God and His Word.  Many are swayed by the fear of man, and may God's faithful followers not be numbered among them.  We are not called to violent action to achieve any aim, but to follow the example set by Christ to love and serve one another sacrificially.  Jesus was willing to be pierced so I and others could be saved and live forever.  We must take the lead in following Christ's example.  It is not Jael's deception I admire but her decisiveness, and may we be bold in our witness for God even if we are the ones who end up being skewered.

Our Mighty Weapons

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

In the days of the judges in Israel, God allowed enemies of Israel to remain to test His people.  God wanted His people to know war, and the second generation of Israelites born in Canaan knew nothing of it (Judges 3:1-4).  It may seem a strange thing God would want His people to know war, but the way they were to fight was different from everyone else.  It was never about global domination, but possessing the land allotted by God for them.  Since God promised to fight for His people, the way to victory was found in seeking God and obedience to Him.  The walls of Jericho were not breached by elaborate war machines or the ingenuity of men, but through faith and obedience to God.  David defeated the giant of Gath not with a sword or spear but faith in God and willingness to meet the one who defied God with a sling and stone picked up from a brook on the way.  It was God - not Israel's great military might or weaponry - who caused terror to fall upon the enemies of Israel and turned their swords upon one another.  The children of Israel needed to know how to battle trusting God as they remained obedient to Him.

I believe people who comprise the true church of Jesus Christ today find themselves in a similar position as the second generation born in Canaan.  Though countless believers in the world today suffer oppression and persecution for their faith in Christ, there are many Christians who remain unfamiliar with war.  There are battles in our own lives we do not know how to fight, and we look with concern at the mighty cultural forces rising in society which furiously oppose God.  The great temptation Christians face is the one the children of Israel needed to learn to avoid, the seeking and reliance upon worldly means to achieve "victory."  There is a temptation to launch campaigns against those who oppose biblical morality, to leverage media to spread the word, to contribute financially to activists, labour for political sway, and push legislation to protect ourselves and interests.  This only scratches the surface of the carnal (fleshly, temporal) weapons people use in the world to get their way.  I am not claiming any of these approaches are wrong in themselves, but they are all wrong if they are substitutes for faith in God and obedience to His Word.

Paul understood this very well.  He lived in a degenerate culture filled with political intrigue, scandalous sin, and the rife persecution of Christians.  There was undoubtedly a temptation for Christians to use the very means those in the world employed so effectively.  But Paul realised the way a Christian deals with conflict is to be completely different from the world, for our God fights our battles.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, demonic forces which incessantly labour out of sight to oppose God and destroy His people (Ephesians 6:12).  The conflict we face is primarily a spiritual one.  The only way we can learn to fight and prevail against the onslaught of our enemy (which again are not governments, worldviews, or people but are satanic) is to use the mighty weapons God has provided to pull down strongholds, cast down arguments which oppose God, bring thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, and maintain the righteous integrity of the church.

God has given Christians the indwelling Holy Spirit who girds us with armour and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Prayer is a primary means of rightly fighting the war which rages around us today.  Ephesians 6:18 exhorts us to be "...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."  Instead of praying to carnal ends, according to sight or our fleshly desires, we are to pray according to the will of God revealed in scripture.  IF we believe in the power of our God and the effectiveness of the mighty weapons He has provided, we will make constant use of them.  Worldly weapons have limitations:  there are only so many rounds in a clip, effectiveness of firearms depends upon the aim of the shooter, and a blunted blade is ineffective.  Those who kill with the sword can also die by the sword.  Those who trust in the LORD find themselves eternally victorious even if it seems we are "losing" a culture war.  Fighting a culture war according to the culture is a losing proposition, but the victory of Christ through faith cannot be stripped away - even by Satan himself.

The battle is the LORD's, and this is not a call to careless passivity:  we have received our orders from the Most High, and we are called to fight His battle His way.  Instead of wringing our hands about the state of things, taking up worldly weapons to do battle, or digging in underground with the hope of remaining hidden, God wants us to learn of war so we might walk in victory and freedom.  We can pray like we have already won because God already has.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is a fitting exhortation:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  In the joy of the LORD is our strength.

A Familiar Flavour

Even as we use our senses to discern if food is suitable for eating, so we must be watchful concerning Bible teaching.  Elihu said in Job 34:2-4, "Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you who have knowledge. ³ For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. ⁴ Let us choose justice for ourselves; let us know among ourselves what is good."  There are foods which looked questionable to me because they were unfamiliar, but when I tried them I agreed they were delicious.  There have also been times when I realised the taste of a familiar food was quite off!  As Christians in this world, there will be unsound teaching which is passed off as biblical the discerning believer will find unpalatable and should reject.  We should not be skeptical or cynical based on appearance alone, but we should be as the noble people of Berea who are described as receiving the Word with readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily to see if the claims Paul and Silas were valid (Acts 17:11).  And this is the point:  people should not preach themselves or their opinions, but endeavour to preach the Word of God.

As children of God filled with the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, we can discern truth from error.  Seminary degrees have their merit, but they are no substitute for the indwelling presence of God.  Just because a man is revered as a Greek scholar does not mean he is infallible, and some who claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit are full of nonsense.  The Word of God, the Bible, is a indispensable beacon of divine light, a revelation of God's truth He has placed above His own name.  We do not worship the scriptures, but the scriptures reveal the God who inspired them and our Saviour who is worthy of all worship.  People usually are playing a sort of game when they tell you to close your eyes and taste food, and no child of God ought to blindly swallow down whatever is offered to them.

How can we know what is sound teaching?  By using scripture to interpret scripture.  The study of scripture can be a very complex process, but it is understood easily enough by those who have faith in God and a hunger to know and do the truth.  Jesus spoke many parables which remained unsolvable mysteries to unbelievers, but they were designed to reveal spiritual truth to those who believed.  Knowledge of scripture helps us to know when teaching diverts from it - even for a moment.  God is able to even use dubious interpretations of men to lead men to discovering the truth.  One of my favourite examples of this is in the Daily Bread devotional titled, "The Oyster Man."  God's grace is no excuse to justify wilful ignorance, but God's Word preached even by unlearned men has power to impact people for eternity.

Paul exhorted Timothy in light of the deceivers in the world to "Preach the Word!"  We live in a day where many people will not submit to sound doctrine but have turned aside to fables, emotionally stirring vignettes, and worldly wisdom.  The way we avoid error is to keep ourselves aligned with the scriptures.  We should be familiar with the Bible as we are with the taste of salt.  We know when food is savoury, and know when it needs salt.  Whenever I cook dinner and the result is a little different than normal, my wife and kids always know.  I can't slip a half teaspoon of chilli or curry powder into lentil soup without notice, and we should notice when a preacher veers from the truth of the Bible.  If the flavour is a bit off, ask questions and dig into the Bible.  Let us put into practice the truth of God's Word, searching the scriptures to confirm what is preached.

Different Beliefs

Yesterday I read John 4 and took note of the instance when a nobleman came from Capernaum seeking Jesus in Cana of Galilee.  The man left his dying son behind and made a day's journey to beg Jesus to come heal his son.  The determined man's request was met with a response from Jesus which seems a bit odd.  John 4:48 says, "Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  One might argue the great distance the man travelled was indicative of genuine belief, but Jesus knew better.

John 4:49-50 reads, "The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way."  The way the nobleman addresses Jesus as "Sir" is proof he did not believe in the divine nature of Jesus - though he was willing to travel far in his desperate search to help his son.  Upon hearing the words of Jesus, the man "believed the word" Jesus spoke to him.  The man believed Jesus could help him, and he believed the words Jesus said.  But did he really believe?

John 4:51-53 concludes the story:  "And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" ⁵² Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." ⁵³ So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household."  As the man travelled home, he was met by his servants who brought excellent news:  his son was out of danger and well!  The man inquired of when exactly the fever had left the boy, and their answer confirmed it was the precise time Jesus promised his son would live.  The initial claim of Jesus was verified, that the man would not believe without signs and wonders.  The man had believed Jesus could heal his son, believed the word He spoke, but it took a miracle for the man to believe in Jesus as LORD.

I wonder if this is true of many who profess "belief" in Christ:  they hope Jesus can help or save them and believe His words, but they do not genuinely believe in Jesus.  These believe in the existence of God, are familiar with Jesus and the events of His life, and even acknowledge the wisdom and power displayed by Jesus, yet do not believe in the way this nobleman and his house came to believe.  I believe God still does signs and wonders today, but they are not needed (though can be useful!) for salvation because we have the Bible which has recorded many miracles Jesus and His disciples performed.  Jesus affirms this to Thomas in John 20:29-31:  "Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." ³⁰ And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

People's beliefs vary and their kind of belief can be different as well.  Thomas said to Jesus after seeing Him risen from the dead, "My LORD and my God!"  That's the kind of belief we need to have if we will have Jesus as our Saviour.  What sort of belief do you have concerning Jesus?  A belief which has moved you to seek Him?  Belief which has resulted in believing His word?  Or belief that transforms your life and makes Jesus your Master and King?

Looking Forward

As you consider the future, are there things you are looking forward to?  Whether it is an event, an opportunity, a celebration, or accomplishment, there are things we all look forward to with joyful expectancy.  When I purchase a gift for someone, I look forward to the moment I can give it to them.  To give is better than to receive, but it is perfectly valid to look forward to receiving a gift as well.  I remember very well circling the Christmas tree at my Grandpa and Grandma's house, casually taking note of the intended recipient of each gift.  It was not permitted on Christmas Eve to pick up a gift, but looking at the gifts was fine.  We kids looked forward to receiving the gifts intended for us to receive.  As we mature we learn to value the giver over the gift.

Do you know God has gifts intended for each follower of Jesus Christ to receive whilst on this planet as well upon our entry into eternal glory?  Is there found in us a heart of gratefulness and thanksgiving for all we have already received and also a sense of expectancy in looking forward to our future home in heaven?  I believe it is completely legitimate for us to look forward to our future heavenly reward provided by God's grace.  There are some super-spiritual people who say things like, "I've been so blessed now, anything I receive in heaven will be a bonus."  While in a sense this is true, should we minimise the value of the reward God has set aside for us?  Heaven is something to look forward to, and I don't want to miss out on any reward God intends for me.  John gave this exhortation in light of the deceivers in the world in 2 John 1:8:  "Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."

It is not selfishness or pride which moves us to receive all the gifts God has for us.  Paul said we should earnestly desire spiritual gifts, and the obedient seek to lay hold of all God offers.  When we receive a crown of glory in heaven, it will be of such purity and value like nothing we possessed in our mortal frame.  In our fallen flesh we give God our sin and He provides His righteousness in exchange.  The work of Christ is described in Isaiah 61:1-3:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ² to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, ³ to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  See these divine exchanges?  We can only give ourselves, and in ourselves we are no prize.  Praise the LORD He values us, loves us, and can be glorified through these clay vessels (to which we are compared), that His glory shines through us.

In the Book of the Revelation twenty-four elders are described as casting down their crowns before the throne of God in worship.  It is a lovely picture of the redeemed emphatically and completely giving to God what God had given to them.  We don't need to wait for heaven to do this, for we can give unto God the glory due His name today.  That being said, more and more I look forward to being in the presence of God in a glorified body without the hindrance of the flesh and this mind which needs constant renewing and reminding and giving God praise.  Our vision is a bit blurry now, but one day it will be flawless.  All we have is a gift provided by God, and God is not through giving.  It follows we ought to look forward to receiving these gracious gifts, for in doing so we will bring Him greater honour and praise forever.  Are you looking forward to heaven?  Are your affections engaged with God there?  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  There is more treasure in store for those who treasure Christ above all.

On the Rooftop

The world is filled with problems too large for anyone to fix.  We would like to think in our modern day we have outpaced the sins of our fathers, but human nature has remained unchanged and corrupted.  Like weeds which spring up from the dirt, we see in our generation the same bigotry, racism, violence, politics, and intolerance in abundance.  Followers of Jesus Christ like me find ourselves trying to find a quiet place on the corner of the rooftop to avoid being swept away by the rising flood of secularism and are immediately drenched to the bone by the dripping of liberal Christians who dismiss our biblical stance.  I don't expect applause from the world for standing on the Word of God.  I don't expect to be understood or appreciated by people who oppose my biblical position or even to be realistically portrayed or represented by those who publicly claim to speak for Christians.  God is my only real Advocate.

In Australia there will soon be a national vote held to discern if people are in favour of changing the Constitution to allow for same-sex marriage, departing from the narrow definition established by God in the Bible.  People are divided if there should be a vote at all, not to mention how people should vote!  I expect the volume of this debate to keep rising over the coming days because that is what happens once everyone has said their piece - without much effect.  A vote will not settle the subject, for even if a change was decided upon in Parliament people would still hold to their beliefs.  All a vote will prove is we do not agree.  My view of what marriage is has never been contingent on a government, constitution, or man's tradition but based upon my understanding of what God has said in His unchanging Word.  Regardless of how a government or society views or defines marriage, God's ordination of a marriage between one man and one woman has been clearly expressed in the Bible and this truth will endure.  Years ago I wrote a parable on this topic called "Sodium Chloride and the Chemist."

It is one thing when people outside the church disagree, but it is a stern challenge of unity when people who claim loyalty to Christ see things differently from scripture.  Even still, we do not need to become angry, frustrated, unloving, or fierce towards others.  We are called to be joyful, patient, and endure to the end.  The Bible has foretold many times in the New Testament that people will depart from the true faith, "...having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:1-5)  People will have "itching ears" and heap unto themselves teachers who tell them what they want to hear rather than teachers who according to scripture convince, rebuke, and exhort others to live righteously according to God's standard (2 Tim. 4:3-4).  This was happening in Paul's day, and it is happening even now.  When we find ourselves forced onto a rooftop we ought to plainly declare the Word of God, keep believing it, and continue obeying it.  Regardless of what others were doing, Paul exhorted Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry."

Whether Caesar Nero was in power or there were wolves in sheep's clothing in the church spouting falsehood, Timothy was to keep his eyes open, endure afflictions, continue to share the Good News of the Gospel, and finish the work God had called him to do.  And what is the work God has called us to do?  The primary part of doing God's work is to believe on Jesus, the One God has sent (John 6:29).  God had called Timothy to feed the flock of God by preaching the Word, even as Jesus and Paul had done.  The scripture is perfectly capable to make a man of God complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  When we love God and love others, we don't need to be afraid of what is happening in the world or angry at those who wrongfully accuse us.  We will not be required to answer for the policies of our government, but we will be judged for our attitudes, behaviour, words, and responses towards other people.  How important it is we honour God's Word over the opinions of men!  Jesus is the Judge who will provide for us a robe and crown of righteousness, having purchased us with His own blood.  Instead of living to please ourselves and those who will pass away, let us honour the One who endures forever by proclaiming His love from the rooftops.

Learning to Cut Straight

When reading the Bible, prior knowledge, commentaries, and personal notes can be an obstacle to learning.  We can easily gloss over basic observations which have obscured by our familiarity with a passage.  People (myself included) can limit the observations, interpretations, and applications of scripture to our prior understanding instead of considering the text as if we have never read it before.

I am convinced the most important step in studying the Bible may be the most simple one:  the step of observation, gleaning facts from the scripture.  Just like a detective meticulously inspects a crime scene, we must leave the passage undisturbed by our personal bias or experience.  We must not allow a sermon we heard years ago (true and meaningful as it was) to derail thorough observation today. We should never assume we already know all God intends to reveal to us, no matter how much knowledge we possess.  God's Word is like a fire, like a hammer that breaks rock in pieces.  It can burn within us like the disciples Jesus taught on the road to Emmaus, and it can pulverise our hard hearts like the convicted people who earnestly said in light of their sin, "What shall we do?"

No matter how much we study the Bible, one error all can fall into is to insert ourselves into the text whilst observing it.  If we place ourselves into the text in the observation phase, our interpretation will be skewed and fall short of the meaning of the passage.  Understand the Bible is divinely inspired and written by human authors in various formats such as historical narrative, poetry, prophecy, instructive letters, and parables.  The Bible is God's Word to us, yet it was given to others before us.  We must consider the context.  On our quest for divine truth, the path, process, and destination are all important.  In physics class it was impressed upon me the correct process was of greater importance than the "right" answer.  Being able to explain why we have arrived at a conclusion and being able to replicate it is superior to copy the right answer without showing your work.

I encourage you, brothers and sisters in Christ, be willing to take time to cultivate the skill of solid Bible study with interpretation and personal application.  Paul's exhortation in 2 Timothy 2:15 is fitting for every child of God to apply personally: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  The word for "dividing" means to "cut straight, to dissect correctly."  Having worked in a trade with my hands for over a decade, I can affirm learning to cut straight is a skill developed by practice.  Just because a perfectly straight line is marked on a sheet of stainless steel does not mean a person can cut perfectly on that line.  Manual dexterity and strength is important to complete the job.  Using the right tool is only part of the process, for we need the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  Knowing what you believe is good, but can you explain the basis of your belief and corresponding actions from scripture?  Understanding how we arrived at a particular destination will help us navigate even difficult passages in the future.

When Liberty is Beside the Point

A born-again follower of Jesus has been freed from the penalty and power of sin by the Gospel.  The freedom and liberty from sin we have in Christ is not license to sin.  Many who tout their "liberty" as a Christian approach it as a "right" we have as children of God - usually to justify themselves.  This assertion of "liberty" effectively ends any conversation about sinful behaviour or potentially stumbling others.  While it is true a Christian is not under the Mosaic Law and all things are lawful, Paul affirmed not all things are good for me or others (1 Cor. 6:12).  It is in this case liberty is beside the point.

Perhaps an illustration would be beneficial.  I knew a man who was diagnosed with diabetes, a serious condition which effects the entire body.  Complications of diabetes can significantly impact the quality and length of life.  There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed through medication, diet, exercise, and monitoring glucose levels.  Unhealthy activities like smoking cigarettes should be avoided, as it negatively affects blood circulation.  I am sad to say the life of my friend was cut short because he did not take seriously the impact of his lifestyle on his illness.  He was a heavy smoker and from what I remember he ate what he wanted when he wanted.  Even after he lost his foot and leg to gangrene, he kept on smoking.

Now my friend was a Christian and did not practice anything immoral or illegal (to my knowledge).  He was a man who enjoyed milkshakes, cheeseburgers, and cigarettes, and he was at liberty to do all of the above.  But these choices proved to be damaging to his body and prematurely left his wife without a husband and his young children without a dad.  Because we live in a body of flesh in a world steeped in sin, there are temptations which will stir up our desires to sin.  Many things are not evil in themselves, but they do us no good.  There are things we can take in through our eyes, ears, and mouths which are legal but are not helpful; we have freedom and liberty to watch what we want without condemnation yet we wound our souls.  I am sure my friend's life would have been prolonged had he established some clear boundaries in his life according to his doctor's orders, and many people's spiritual well-being has been compromised because under the guise of liberty in Christ they slowly are poisoning and killing themselves with practices which lead to sin.  We must be led by the Spirit, and He will lead us to do what is righteous.

When it comes to our decisions, we make a mistake to limit the impact of our choices to ourselves.  It is helpful for us to consider how our decisions could impact others negatively.  I wonder:  if my friend could have seen into the future and knew foods he ate and cigarettes he smoked would have ended his life so soon, would he have made radical changes?  What if that was you?  Paul was willing to forgo liberties to avoid even the potential of stumbling others because he loved God and others.  Rather than toeing the line or dancing around sin, it would be better for us to answer these questions honestly:  is this good for me?  Is it helpful for my walk with Jesus?  Does it provide any occasion to stumble one who is a young Christian?  Is this thing bringing me or my thoughts under its power?  Are my decisions based on love for others?  All sacrifices we make for Christ because we love Him and others will only enrich us and provide greater freedom.

The Benefit of Failure

Our mistakes have the ability to teach us things instant success never could.  Sinful choices reveal our limitations, short-sightedness, bankruptcy of good character, and an abundance of wickedness.  It is only God's grace which can take a failure and make it the impetus to positive, lasting change.  Our mistakes can produce sorrowful repentance not to be repented of (2 Cor. 7:10).  Peter said he would never deny Jesus, and three times the same night he did.  When he realised what he had done and remembered what Jesus had said, he wept bitterly.  That was the last time recorded in scripture Peter ever wavered concerning his absolute loyalty and public commitment to Jesus.  His failure was the path to redemption, for he had a Redeemer in Christ.

I don't know anyone who enjoys admitting they have made a mistake or have done wrong, but sorrow over sin is helpful to promote spiritual maturity.  Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:3-5, "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. ⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. ⁵ It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools."  It is important to recognise the biblical definition of the wise and fools has all to do with a person's perspective of God.  The wise man hears the words of Jesus and practices them, but the fool lives as if there is no God besides self.  In theatre or film most prefer comedies over tragedies, but there is value in considering the sober consequences of sinful decisions.  We learn more about life through tragedy than jokes.  Solomon said it is better to be rebuked by a wise man than to hear the song of fools.  Better to see the error of our ways in the light of scripture and take intentional steps to change than to try to drink and sing our troubles away.

It is wonderful when we are wise to learn from the tragedies of others rather than blazing sinful trails ourselves.  As long as we live in these bodies of flesh sin is inevitable, but we ought to take steps to avoid it and practice righteousness.  God has given us the Holy Spirit and the Bible to guide us, and when we sin and fail we can warn others of the undeniably awful consequences of that lifestyle.  Things which soil our minds and wound our souls ought to be put far from us.  It is good to have a long memory of the disastrous results of sin, the bitterness of guilt, and retain the sense of shame and horror of transgression so we will not persist in evil.  At the same time, Christians are to live in the light without condemnation for our past, washed clean and pure by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Humbled by God's pardon and deemed righteous by grace, our joy is full as we have fellowship with God and walk in obedience to Him.

Proverbs 9:8-10 says, "Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."  These verses prompt two questions we should ask ourselves:  how do I respond to rebuke, and do I fear God and love men enough to rebuke others?  A wise man walks in God's ways and gently rebukes those who wander into or persist in sin.  If we resent those who correct us, we play the fool.  Even if people are harsh and unfair in their judgment of us, let us determine to love and pray for them.  It is fitting we should sorrow over our sins, and godly sorrow produces repentance and a new beginning.  We will fail, but our gracious Saviour who makes all things new will never fail us.

As the LORD Has Said

"Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said."

Joshua 14:12

When I read Joshua 14 this morning I was reminded of the importance of hearing, believing, and remembering what God has said.  We often "have not because we ask not," and we may not ask because we have forgotten.  It had been 45 years since Caleb walked through Canaan as a spy sent by Moses, but he had not forgotten the promise God made to him through Moses.  Verse 12 begins with "now therefore" because Caleb's request was based upon the premise provided in the prior verses.

Caleb said in Joshua 14:7-11, "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. ⁸ Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. ⁹ So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' ¹⁰ And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. ¹¹ As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in."

At eighty-five Caleb asked for the inheritance of land where his feet had walked decades before:  it was a mountainous land inhabited by giants who dwelt in fortified strongholds.  Though his natural strength and ability to fight remained as a man in his prime of life, it was not his own strength Caleb relied upon.  He knew if God went with him he would be able to drive out the inhabitants "as the LORD said."  Is there found in us a heart of humility, faith, and recall as in Caleb concerning God's Word?  Is there in us a boldness to lay claim of our inheritance God has offered by His grace?  The God who kept Caleb alive enabled him to be victorious and dwell peacefully in land others would have been fearful to enter as a tourist.

For me Caleb's request and God's fulfilment illustrates the power of faith in the life of a believer.  When Caleb reported back to Moses and the people concerning the land, it was not like the area he explored was an idyllic paradise of quiet streams and fruit trees without mountains, giants, and fortified cities.  Caleb had boldly walked up the mountain and saw their strongholds with his own eyes.  Perhaps he even walked right up to the fortress and placed his hand on it thinking, "One day God is going to throw this down and I will be there to see it according to His Word."  Instead of being intimidated by the apparent strength of the inhabitants of the land, Caleb and Joshua said in Numbers 14:8-9, "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' ⁹ Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."

Have you ever been intimidated by a piece of bread?  Probably not!  Yet we likely have all been afraid of circumstances or future threats and by our unbelief denied the One who has promised to defend and fight for us.  Whilst those who did not believe God wept at the prospect of facing giants, Caleb saw the inhabitants of the land as bread easily consumed because the LORD was with him.  May we also demonstrate such conviction and boldness to believe and remember all God has said, laying claim to what He has freely offered us of His goodness.