I started lifting weights when I was 14 years old. Charles Atlas had a picture ad in the back of my "Superman" comic books and that's what I wanted. The ad featured a skinny kid getting sand kicked in his face at the beach, and I didn't want sand kicked in my face. I asked my mother how I could look like that and she said, "Lift weights," so I asked for a bench and set of barbells for Christmas one year.
Why did I want that? Because I was always the smallest kid in my class. Other kids made fun of me at school and it made me feel horrible and small. So I did lift weights, joined the wrestling team in the 9th grade, eventually went into the Marines, and earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Upon reflection, none of those things were my natural gifts, but I wanted to be strong and able to stand up for myself. I can't say any of those things have hurt me, but they also haven't made me strong in the way that is most important.
When Joshua takes over the leadership of Israel following Moses' death, the new leader has some big shoes to fill. In fact, Joshua has been called to to do one thing Moses was not allowed to do, lead the people into the promised land. It might seem Joshua was given an impossible task except for one thing; God.
In Joshua 1:7 God commands Joshua to "be strong and very courageous." This was a command from the Lord, not friendly advice from a concerned friend. In other words, it wasn't optional. But what were the conditions of Johsua's strength? A barbell set, a black belt, a tour in the Marines? No, none of the above.
The source of Johsua's strength is found in verse 5 where God says, "as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you."
There it is. The source of Joshua's strength and courage was not in himself, but in God. Why was Joshua assured of victory? Because God was with him.
What are you facing today? Is God with you? If you trust Christ and are not pursuing some sinful course of action the answer is yes. Then be strong and very courageous. God is with you and if God be for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31)?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Appointed to the Ministry
In Acts 13 the Holy Spirit appointed Barnabas and Saul (Paul) "for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2.
Being sent out by the Holy Spirit their first encounter was with a sorcerer who withstood them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, struck the false prophet blind, and the proconsul seeing this, believed.
It seems to me that when we are called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit that we will always have the power necessary to do the work of the ministry. That does not mean the work will be easy or that there will not be those who will withstand us. But with God's help we press on.
Does this mean everyone who stands against the gospel will be struck blind? Of course not. But God still moves in powerful and significant ways when we are filled with the Spirit and on mission for the Lord.
What is your mission? Are you being filled with the Spirit daily? How have you seen the power of God at work? As normal Christians, we should have ready answers for all these questions.
Being sent out by the Holy Spirit their first encounter was with a sorcerer who withstood them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, struck the false prophet blind, and the proconsul seeing this, believed.
It seems to me that when we are called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit that we will always have the power necessary to do the work of the ministry. That does not mean the work will be easy or that there will not be those who will withstand us. But with God's help we press on.
Does this mean everyone who stands against the gospel will be struck blind? Of course not. But God still moves in powerful and significant ways when we are filled with the Spirit and on mission for the Lord.
What is your mission? Are you being filled with the Spirit daily? How have you seen the power of God at work? As normal Christians, we should have ready answers for all these questions.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Defending God's Grace
You sure wouldn't think we would need to defend God's grace.... in the church! But sometimes we do. In Acts 11 Peter returns from taking the gospel to the Gentiles and the first thing that happens is a "clique" accuses him of wrongdoing. Peter explains the working of God through visions and the Holy Spirit and shows his accusers how the Lord blessed in accordance with His Word.
Peter then asks, "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
Good question Peter. Thankfully when the church heard these things they become silent and glorified God. Praise the Lord, for in too many churches today they would have lit up the phone lines, formed a back room committee, fired the pastor, and run off all the people God had just saved.
Let us pray for both; that God saves souls and that the church, even if they don't understand at first, will glorify God.
If we're going to see God move like this, we must do as Peter did, listen to God's voice, be obedient to God's will, and rejoice in God's grace.
Peter then asks, "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
Good question Peter. Thankfully when the church heard these things they become silent and glorified God. Praise the Lord, for in too many churches today they would have lit up the phone lines, formed a back room committee, fired the pastor, and run off all the people God had just saved.
Let us pray for both; that God saves souls and that the church, even if they don't understand at first, will glorify God.
If we're going to see God move like this, we must do as Peter did, listen to God's voice, be obedient to God's will, and rejoice in God's grace.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Recommitment
Okay, so I know it's been months since I posted to this blog. It's not because I'm lazy, although I am at times.... but when our Freedom Life service began in April the challenges of being a husband, dad, pastor, Sunday school teacher, band leader/guitarist, and person somehow pushed out me being a blogger.
I want, however, to recommit to posting to this blog on a regular basis. I pray it will be a blessing to me and you to continue daily through the Word of God.
By the way, I typically read something in the Old and New Testaments each day. I will share with you how the Lord speaks to me in the most significant ways.
Today, I was finishing up Deut. 31-34. What struck me was how God told Moses that as soon as Moses died, the people would rise up and worship other gods (Deut. 31:16ff), and how He would punish them. God then gives Moses a song to teach to the people to be a witness against them. We tend to remember songs.
The end of chapter 31 has Moses saying these words to Israel, "For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands." What a sad commentary.
Still God is gracious and ends the song of Moses with these words, "He [God] will provide atonement for His land and His people." Deut. 32:43. We know that atonement was Jesus Christ.
Rejoice today that where sin abounded, grace did abound much more. Rom 5:20
Have a blessed day!
I want, however, to recommit to posting to this blog on a regular basis. I pray it will be a blessing to me and you to continue daily through the Word of God.
By the way, I typically read something in the Old and New Testaments each day. I will share with you how the Lord speaks to me in the most significant ways.
Today, I was finishing up Deut. 31-34. What struck me was how God told Moses that as soon as Moses died, the people would rise up and worship other gods (Deut. 31:16ff), and how He would punish them. God then gives Moses a song to teach to the people to be a witness against them. We tend to remember songs.
The end of chapter 31 has Moses saying these words to Israel, "For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands." What a sad commentary.
Still God is gracious and ends the song of Moses with these words, "He [God] will provide atonement for His land and His people." Deut. 32:43. We know that atonement was Jesus Christ.
Rejoice today that where sin abounded, grace did abound much more. Rom 5:20
Have a blessed day!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Intentional Sin - Leviticus 4
In Leviticus 4 there are provisions made for sins committed "unintentionally." We might note that there are no offerings provided for "intentional" sins. It seems to go without saying that God does not expect His people to sin intentionally nor does He make a provision for them to do so.
Is this idea propagated in the New Testament? Yes, it is.
Is this idea propagated in the New Testament? Yes, it is.
Romans 6:1-4 (NKJV)
"1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
"1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Although all of our sins are covered in Christ, past, present, and future; it is expected that we not continue in a life of sin. We have been saved from death to live a new life, a life in Christ, a life characterized by His righteousness and His example.
Beloved you are free from sin. Live no longer in it.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Without Blemish - Lev 3
Growing older, I have noticed something very strange. Where my skin used to be clear, there are now marks and blemishes. I have moles I did not have before, and other assorted spots, marks, and scars. A funny thing has happened to my face too. Wrinkles have appeared and my hair has turned gray and is falling out at an increasing pace. Now I will admit to my share of vanity, but these are the sorts of things I have never thought too much about. I supposed ladies did that, thereby keeping the cosmetics and beauty industry a booming business. But perhaps we all might admit, if we could be spotless, without blemish, no age spots, scars, moles, marks, disfigurements, etc. we probably would choose to be so.
In Lev. 3, the Lord required that the peace offering be made from the herd without blemish. That would have been a very special offering the people of that day, a fellowship offering to God, an offering in which they could eat some of the meat, having burned some and given some to the priests.
What then, do we have to offer God given that none of us are without blemish? We are all spotted, marked, and scarred in some way. Sin and its deadly effects have taken their toll on each of us, not just by outward marks, but by inward marks on the soul. In such a condition what do we have to offer God? Is there any hope?
Yes, there is, for a spotless offering has been made on our behalf, and being part of that family, we are able to have peace with God. What was that offering? It was Jesus Christ. He was the spotless lamb of God who was given to make peace and we are those who by faith receive the blessing of His sacrifice.
May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
In Lev. 3, the Lord required that the peace offering be made from the herd without blemish. That would have been a very special offering the people of that day, a fellowship offering to God, an offering in which they could eat some of the meat, having burned some and given some to the priests.
What then, do we have to offer God given that none of us are without blemish? We are all spotted, marked, and scarred in some way. Sin and its deadly effects have taken their toll on each of us, not just by outward marks, but by inward marks on the soul. In such a condition what do we have to offer God? Is there any hope?
Yes, there is, for a spotless offering has been made on our behalf, and being part of that family, we are able to have peace with God. What was that offering? It was Jesus Christ. He was the spotless lamb of God who was given to make peace and we are those who by faith receive the blessing of His sacrifice.
May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Salt of the Covenant
You may have heard me say that God is a covenant keeping God. A divine covenant is a unilaterally imposed promise that rests entirely on the integrity and ability of the promise maker. In this case, God. I believe this to be the essential way in which God relates to humanity. It may also be the unifying theme of Scripture that helps us to understand the way God deals with us throughout the thousands of years of biblical history.
Lev. 2:13 says, "And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offerings. With all your offerings you shall offer salt."
What then is the significance of the salt of the covenant? I believe it to be in the fact that salt does not burn. Burning is a chemical reaction and salt is an extremely stable compound. Thus under the heat of fire all else may be consumed, but the salt remains.
This is the way God's covenants are. When everything else fails, God's promises do not fail.
Lam. 3:22-24, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion.' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!"
Amen to that.
Lev. 2:13 says, "And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offerings. With all your offerings you shall offer salt."
What then is the significance of the salt of the covenant? I believe it to be in the fact that salt does not burn. Burning is a chemical reaction and salt is an extremely stable compound. Thus under the heat of fire all else may be consumed, but the salt remains.
This is the way God's covenants are. When everything else fails, God's promises do not fail.
Lam. 3:22-24, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion.' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!"
Amen to that.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Holiness
I'm starting in Leviticus this week. (I'm also in 2 Peter, but I'll blog about the NT later. I think I will finish Lev. then jump over to the NT. Let me know if you have a preference.)
On another note, Sunday's service was awesome. I am so thrilled to begin this new worship journey. One of the things I want most for the Freedom Life experience at Live Oak is holiness, which is what Leviticus is really all about.
In Exodus the tabernacle was completed and in Leviticus God establishes how the people are to be sanctified (i.e., set apart) and approach Him in His holiness. Then and now, we must approach God in one way, His way.
Today I only want to point out one verse, Lev. 1:4, "Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him."
What is this all about? Essentially it is a personal identification with the sacrifice being offered on behalf of the sinner. There were five offerings acceptable for the burnt offering; 1) bull, 2) lamb, 3) goat , 4) turtledove, or 5) a young pigeon. Laying one's hands on the animal about to be killed and burnt was a tangible way of identifying with the blood about to be shed in atonement for sins. Their blood instead of our blood.
Now we know that the sacrifice of all the bulls, lambs, goats, turtledoves, and pigeons in the world were not acceptable to cover sins. That's why these offerings were repeated over and over again. These offerings were in fact merely sign pointers to the one perfect sacrifice, which was Jesus Christ.
Now picture this. Christ is about to be sacrificed on the cross. Imagine yourself walking up to Him and laying your hands on His head. I want you to identify with Him, with His death, with His blood about to be shed.
Would you do it? Would you place your sins upon Him as your atoning sacrifice? If not, you cannot be saved. No sacrifice you may offer is good enough. It is in Him only that atonement, the covering of sins, is found.
On another note, Sunday's service was awesome. I am so thrilled to begin this new worship journey. One of the things I want most for the Freedom Life experience at Live Oak is holiness, which is what Leviticus is really all about.
In Exodus the tabernacle was completed and in Leviticus God establishes how the people are to be sanctified (i.e., set apart) and approach Him in His holiness. Then and now, we must approach God in one way, His way.
Today I only want to point out one verse, Lev. 1:4, "Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him."
What is this all about? Essentially it is a personal identification with the sacrifice being offered on behalf of the sinner. There were five offerings acceptable for the burnt offering; 1) bull, 2) lamb, 3) goat , 4) turtledove, or 5) a young pigeon. Laying one's hands on the animal about to be killed and burnt was a tangible way of identifying with the blood about to be shed in atonement for sins. Their blood instead of our blood.
Now we know that the sacrifice of all the bulls, lambs, goats, turtledoves, and pigeons in the world were not acceptable to cover sins. That's why these offerings were repeated over and over again. These offerings were in fact merely sign pointers to the one perfect sacrifice, which was Jesus Christ.
Now picture this. Christ is about to be sacrificed on the cross. Imagine yourself walking up to Him and laying your hands on His head. I want you to identify with Him, with His death, with His blood about to be shed.
Would you do it? Would you place your sins upon Him as your atoning sacrifice? If not, you cannot be saved. No sacrifice you may offer is good enough. It is in Him only that atonement, the covering of sins, is found.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Our Big Day Approacheth
Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted this week. There have been a host of details to take care of in preparation for the first Freedom Life service at Live Oak on Easter Sunday morning, April 24th at 8:30 am. I never imagined how much work would go into bringing us to this day by so many people. I thank God for every one.
Please keep studying God's Word and praying for this new beginning in the life of our church. Hopefully I will be back on track with 2-3 postings per week.
Yours in Christ,
Keith
Sorry I haven't posted this week. There have been a host of details to take care of in preparation for the first Freedom Life service at Live Oak on Easter Sunday morning, April 24th at 8:30 am. I never imagined how much work would go into bringing us to this day by so many people. I thank God for every one.
Please keep studying God's Word and praying for this new beginning in the life of our church. Hopefully I will be back on track with 2-3 postings per week.
Yours in Christ,
Keith
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Promise of Presence
What do you want from God? Come on now.... be honest. I know you want something. Maybe not right this second, and I know it's hard to admit because of pride, but all of us want something from God. After all, He is God. He can do anything. He knows everything. He is everywhere. With God all things are possible.
Do you know what God wants? He wants to be with us. The end of God's purpose for us is the dwell in the midst of His people.
Revelation 21:3-4 says, "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
But in Exodus 33:3 the Lords says, "I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff necked people." So Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away. The people would watch Moses come and go, but they did not go with him and God did not come into their midst.
This worried Moses because what he wanted most of all was the presence of God. Moses said in 33:15, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here," then Moses asked to see the glory of God.
Wow! It was all about God's presence.
So what do you want from God? Do you want His power or His presence?
Do you know what God wants? He wants to be with us. The end of God's purpose for us is the dwell in the midst of His people.
Revelation 21:3-4 says, "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
But in Exodus 33:3 the Lords says, "I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff necked people." So Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away. The people would watch Moses come and go, but they did not go with him and God did not come into their midst.
This worried Moses because what he wanted most of all was the presence of God. Moses said in 33:15, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here," then Moses asked to see the glory of God.
Wow! It was all about God's presence.
So what do you want from God? Do you want His power or His presence?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Religion, Relationship, and Revelation
Religion is not necessarily a bad word. People do lots of things religiously; brush their teeth, work out, watch TV, eat, and on and on. What does it mean to do something religiously? It simply means to do it regularly and as a matter of course. It's a habit; it's expected, and it's okay to do things that way. But is it okay to be religious in our relationships?
Maybe, but maybe not. I religiously tuck my kids in bed. I religiously wash the breakfast dishes for my family in the morning. I religiously balance our family checkbook and pay the bills. I religiously buy birthday presents for my family. But wait a minute... do they really want me to do those things out of habit and obligation, or do they want me to do them out of love?
I believe they want me to do them out of love, and love is relational. I think it's okay to brush your teeth religiously, but not to give birthday presents that way. Gifts are an act of love. My wife would never want me to buy a dozen roses on her birthday and say, "Here you go honey. It's your birthday, I HAD to buy you something..." She would not appreciate that; she would resent it. No, she wants me to get exited about the gift, to pick out something special that she wants, and to make a big deal about giving it to her. Why? She wants me to love her and to show that love. And I want to love her and to show that love.
That's what God wants. He does not want us going through the motions "religiously" just for habits sake. If we do it out of habit and not out of love God also resents it in a way. He will not accept our worship on those terms. It does matter what we do but it also matters why we do it.
Religion for the sake of being religious, what I call "religiosity," is a stench to God. Religiosity is our attempt to control God by our acts and behaviors. But God will not be controlled any more than He exercises His sovereignty to control us in that way. He could force us to love Him and do certain things, but He does not. Why do we think our little religious things will likewise force God to love us and do certain things?
Relationship on the other hand is the flow of love between two persons. It's communal; a two way street. Our "religion," the things we do, must flow out of our relationship with God. And this relationship is a result of the way God reveals Himself to us.
I mention this in Exodus because throughout the book, even up to the Ten Commandments and the giving of the law, God is revealing Himself. He reveals Himself in order to establish a relationship with His people, not a religion for the sake of religion.
God continues to reveal Himself to those in relationship with Him, even as we reveal ourselves to Him. It's not that He doesn't know us, but it's that through our acts of faith we grow to know that He knows....us, intimately and personally.
So how about it? Religion or relationship?
Maybe, but maybe not. I religiously tuck my kids in bed. I religiously wash the breakfast dishes for my family in the morning. I religiously balance our family checkbook and pay the bills. I religiously buy birthday presents for my family. But wait a minute... do they really want me to do those things out of habit and obligation, or do they want me to do them out of love?
I believe they want me to do them out of love, and love is relational. I think it's okay to brush your teeth religiously, but not to give birthday presents that way. Gifts are an act of love. My wife would never want me to buy a dozen roses on her birthday and say, "Here you go honey. It's your birthday, I HAD to buy you something..." She would not appreciate that; she would resent it. No, she wants me to get exited about the gift, to pick out something special that she wants, and to make a big deal about giving it to her. Why? She wants me to love her and to show that love. And I want to love her and to show that love.
That's what God wants. He does not want us going through the motions "religiously" just for habits sake. If we do it out of habit and not out of love God also resents it in a way. He will not accept our worship on those terms. It does matter what we do but it also matters why we do it.
Religion for the sake of being religious, what I call "religiosity," is a stench to God. Religiosity is our attempt to control God by our acts and behaviors. But God will not be controlled any more than He exercises His sovereignty to control us in that way. He could force us to love Him and do certain things, but He does not. Why do we think our little religious things will likewise force God to love us and do certain things?
Relationship on the other hand is the flow of love between two persons. It's communal; a two way street. Our "religion," the things we do, must flow out of our relationship with God. And this relationship is a result of the way God reveals Himself to us.
I mention this in Exodus because throughout the book, even up to the Ten Commandments and the giving of the law, God is revealing Himself. He reveals Himself in order to establish a relationship with His people, not a religion for the sake of religion.
God continues to reveal Himself to those in relationship with Him, even as we reveal ourselves to Him. It's not that He doesn't know us, but it's that through our acts of faith we grow to know that He knows....us, intimately and personally.
So how about it? Religion or relationship?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
My soul never rests, till it rests in Thee
All God's promises come with signs. It's really cool the way God does that because the Lord makes the sign fit the promise. The promise for Adam was that in the day he disobeyed God he would surely die; the sign was animal skins. The promise for Noah was that God would preserve the earth from another disastrous flood; the sign was a rainbow. The promise for Abraham was of blessing and the multiplication of his offspring; the sign was circumcision. The promise for Moses was that God would protect and provide for His people as long as they trusted and depended upon Him; the sign was a day of rest (Sabbath).
Exodus 31:12ff says, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."
The Sabbath was "holy" to them, meaning it was set apart. For what purpose? It was a sign between the people and God. Sabbath literally means to rest, cease, desist. Resting in the LORD says, "God I trust you enough to stop striving to do it all on my own. You will protect and you will provide." God took this so seriously that He warns the people twice in this passage that the penalty of not resting in Him was death. Seems paradoxical, "rest or die!," but perhaps this also pointed them to Christ.
Grace is simply God being our God for us. When we go it on our own we essentially say to God, "I don't need you." When we say that to God regarding eternal salvation, the end result is death. When we rest in Christ and His provision for us, then we shall live... forever. Heaven is in fact portrayed as the ultimate Sabbath, rest in the Lord. This does not mean inactivity. For God rested on the seventh day of creation, but He is never inactive. Our rest is in relationship to God as an act of worship. Remember how the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath? Of what did they accuse Him? They accused Him of working, but Jesus was only busy about His Father's business, therefore, He was not breaking His "rest," but was fulfilling His purpose. Rest is not about doing nothing, passed out in front of the TV on a Sunday afternoon. It is about resting in the Lord, trusting Him, and depending upon Him to be our God as we are His people.
Exodus 31:12ff says, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."
The Sabbath was "holy" to them, meaning it was set apart. For what purpose? It was a sign between the people and God. Sabbath literally means to rest, cease, desist. Resting in the LORD says, "God I trust you enough to stop striving to do it all on my own. You will protect and you will provide." God took this so seriously that He warns the people twice in this passage that the penalty of not resting in Him was death. Seems paradoxical, "rest or die!," but perhaps this also pointed them to Christ.
Grace is simply God being our God for us. When we go it on our own we essentially say to God, "I don't need you." When we say that to God regarding eternal salvation, the end result is death. When we rest in Christ and His provision for us, then we shall live... forever. Heaven is in fact portrayed as the ultimate Sabbath, rest in the Lord. This does not mean inactivity. For God rested on the seventh day of creation, but He is never inactive. Our rest is in relationship to God as an act of worship. Remember how the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath? Of what did they accuse Him? They accused Him of working, but Jesus was only busy about His Father's business, therefore, He was not breaking His "rest," but was fulfilling His purpose. Rest is not about doing nothing, passed out in front of the TV on a Sunday afternoon. It is about resting in the Lord, trusting Him, and depending upon Him to be our God as we are His people.
Friday, April 1, 2011
God Provides the Workers
I have agonized over a big problem in the church. It's the problem of workers. In the churches I've served for ten years, we have had a system for finding workers. It's called the "Nominating Committee." The Nominating Committee is not a biblical idea, it is rather, a political idea. This idea was taken by early Baptists from the democratic process of electing people to serve in various governmental positions. We still see this today in the Democratic or Republican National Conventions. A candidate is nominated by a committee to serve in a position. That candidate is voted upon, being either accepted or rejected. If accepted, they are nominated to the American people who then vote on who they will accept. The last several elections have seen many people not like any of the nominees, but that's another story.
In the church, we do the same thing. We nominate a committee, who then nominates people to serve in the various organizational positions; choir director, Sunday school teacher, VBS director, maintenance committee, etc. The Nominating Committee looks around once per year and solicits workers, usually keeping the same people who did it last year, or otherwise attempting to coerce new people to fill slots that have been vacated. You often hear, "If no one else will do it, I'll do it." The Committee then takes the report to the church who votes on it as a slate nomination. In other words, accept them all or accept none.
Oddly enough, we never find anything like that in Scripture. In Exodus 31:1-11, we find God's plan of placing workers.
"[31:1] The LORD said to Moses, [2] “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, [3] and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, [4] to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, [5] in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. [6] And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: [7] the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, [8] the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, [9] and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, [10] and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, [11] and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.” (Exodus 31:1-11 ESV)
Here's God's plan in a nutshell. 1) God calls us by name; 2) God gifts us according to the need; 3) God appoints us to the work; 4) we obey God.
In the New Testament there is much said about gifting, calling, appointment, and obedience; but it works essentially the same way.
An interesting series of events has occurred at Live Oak since the announcement of the Freedom Life service. God has been calling people out. God has been gifting people according to the need. God has been appointing people to the work. People have been obeying God and doing wonderful and creative new things.
As pastor, what do I do in this process? Praise God!!
In the church, we do the same thing. We nominate a committee, who then nominates people to serve in the various organizational positions; choir director, Sunday school teacher, VBS director, maintenance committee, etc. The Nominating Committee looks around once per year and solicits workers, usually keeping the same people who did it last year, or otherwise attempting to coerce new people to fill slots that have been vacated. You often hear, "If no one else will do it, I'll do it." The Committee then takes the report to the church who votes on it as a slate nomination. In other words, accept them all or accept none.
Oddly enough, we never find anything like that in Scripture. In Exodus 31:1-11, we find God's plan of placing workers.
"[31:1] The LORD said to Moses, [2] “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, [3] and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, [4] to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, [5] in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. [6] And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: [7] the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, [8] the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, [9] and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, [10] and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, [11] and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.” (Exodus 31:1-11 ESV)
Here's God's plan in a nutshell. 1) God calls us by name; 2) God gifts us according to the need; 3) God appoints us to the work; 4) we obey God.
In the New Testament there is much said about gifting, calling, appointment, and obedience; but it works essentially the same way.
An interesting series of events has occurred at Live Oak since the announcement of the Freedom Life service. God has been calling people out. God has been gifting people according to the need. God has been appointing people to the work. People have been obeying God and doing wonderful and creative new things.
As pastor, what do I do in this process? Praise God!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Consecration - Making Holy
What does it mean to be consecrated? At the most basic level it means to make holy, to set apart, to sanctify. All of these terms are essentially synonymous in Scripture.
In Exodus 29 there is a long ceremony, seven days, by which Aaron and his sons were consecrated, set apart, for the service of the tabernacle. The ceremony involved the killing of bulls and rams, the making of bread, the sprinkling of blood, the waving of hands, the burning of fat, the anointing with oil, and a host of other activities.
God said, "Thus you shall do to Aaron and his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Seven days you shall consecrate them. And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for the altar and sanctify it. And the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy."
Why did Aaron, his sons, and the altar need to be holy? Because God said He would meet with them there. God's presence is ultimately what makes holy.
Ex. 29:43ff, "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory...I will dwell among the children of Israel and be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God."
That is a powerful proclamation. Holiness comes down to the presence of the Lord. Where God is, is holy. Where God is not, is not holy. So what makes us holy? What makes our assemblies holy? It is certainly not the blood of bulls and goats or the elaborate process of consecration that Aaron and his sons endured.
It is the presence of the Lord that makes us holy. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes us holy before the Lord. It is the presence of God in us that makes our assemblies holy.
Have you ever been into a church and it seemed dead, as if there was no glory of God present? Perhaps the service was just like a thousand other services that observed Bible reading, prayer, singing, preaching, etc., but there was no "holiness" to it. Why? Because God's presence was not there. It's as simple as that.
So what can I do? Can I make anything holy? The answer is I can't make anything holy. Only God can do that. What I can do is pray for God's presence in me and repent of any sin that may hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. It is Christ who has done all of the atoning work. It is His sacrifice that God accepts and honors. By His blood we are made clean and holy before our God.
In Exodus 29 there is a long ceremony, seven days, by which Aaron and his sons were consecrated, set apart, for the service of the tabernacle. The ceremony involved the killing of bulls and rams, the making of bread, the sprinkling of blood, the waving of hands, the burning of fat, the anointing with oil, and a host of other activities.
God said, "Thus you shall do to Aaron and his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Seven days you shall consecrate them. And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for the altar and sanctify it. And the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy."
Why did Aaron, his sons, and the altar need to be holy? Because God said He would meet with them there. God's presence is ultimately what makes holy.
Ex. 29:43ff, "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory...I will dwell among the children of Israel and be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God."
That is a powerful proclamation. Holiness comes down to the presence of the Lord. Where God is, is holy. Where God is not, is not holy. So what makes us holy? What makes our assemblies holy? It is certainly not the blood of bulls and goats or the elaborate process of consecration that Aaron and his sons endured.
It is the presence of the Lord that makes us holy. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes us holy before the Lord. It is the presence of God in us that makes our assemblies holy.
Have you ever been into a church and it seemed dead, as if there was no glory of God present? Perhaps the service was just like a thousand other services that observed Bible reading, prayer, singing, preaching, etc., but there was no "holiness" to it. Why? Because God's presence was not there. It's as simple as that.
So what can I do? Can I make anything holy? The answer is I can't make anything holy. Only God can do that. What I can do is pray for God's presence in me and repent of any sin that may hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. It is Christ who has done all of the atoning work. It is His sacrifice that God accepts and honors. By His blood we are made clean and holy before our God.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
God and a Golden Calf - Exodus 32
Surely you've all seen the great Charlton Heston movie, the Ten Commandments, where he comes down from being on the mountain with God, and all the people are dancing and worshiping around the golden calf. Heston, playing Moses, became so angry he cast the tablets of God down and broke them. But that wasn't all Moses did. He took the golden calf (Exo 32:20), burned it in the fire, presumably to melt it down, he ground it into powder, which he placed into water, and then made the people drink it. Wow! So much for the golden calf. What an object lesson for the people.
This particular episode in the life of God's people never ceases to amaze me on several levels.
The first is just how prone to wander into sin we really are. You would think that such an amazing encounter with God through His deliverance of the people from Egypt would so firmly set His power in their hearts and minds that they would never stray. But they did. Immediately. Sadly, this cycle would repeat itself over and over again in their history. No wonder God continuously calls them "stiff necked."
On a personal note I know that a day has not passed in my life that I did not struggle with sin. As a pastor other people think we do not struggle, but believe me, the temptation to forsake your faith and build a golden calf of even good things, preaching, a church, personal relationships, ministerial success, biblical knowledge, etc., can slip in so silently you hardly even notice, but it is just as real as a golden calf. John Calvin, the great reformer, pastor, theologian, of the 16th century, said the human heart is an idol factory. So true.
Next, is the nearly unbelievable forbearance of Moses. In Exo. 32:10 God told Moses that He would kill all the people and make a great nation of Moses. Let me say, that would have been a far easier path for Moses to take than to deal with the 2 million sinners at the bottom of the mountain. But Moses, man of faith that he was, pleaded with God to spare the people, calling on God to remember His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God did remember and God did relent. Thank God. But what about Moses?
It wasn't the last time he would have a similar conversation with God to spare the people. Moses' compassion towards his people is incredible. I liken this to a man who is called to stay with his church and continue to lead them, although they are difficult and painful because of their stubbornness, versus his leaving to gather his own group. What if Moses had said, "Go ahead and kill them God, they deserve it! I'll start over with my own group of people." The history of the world would be very different. I'm not sure how that could have worked out since Jesus came from the tribe of Judah and Moses was of Levi. Perhaps that could be an interesting theology article one day...
But most importantly is the compassion of God. "The Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people (Exo 32:14)." That is a serious statement. When God said He would kill the entire nation He really meant it. He had already essentially destroyed the nation of Egypt and He would destroy several nations in the land of Canaan to clear it out. God isn't above destroying a nation. In fact, three thousand "unrestrained" men did die at the hands of the Levites that day. I take this to mean that they would not repent of their behavior, therefore, they were killed.
At the end of the age, which I do believe is near, God will essentially destroy all nations and set up His own kingdom rule. But thank God for grace, mercy, and compassion. God relented from the harm He said He would do, and He will relent from the harm that is coming. If He didn't, none of us would make it.
At the end of chapter 32 Moses goes back to God to make atonement for the peoples sins, offering his own life. God did not, however, accept the life of Moses, and Moses' plea was only partially successful. God did not completely cut off the people, but He did punish them for their sin.
We do have a perfect atonement for our sins, one God will accept. Our hope is in the compassion of God found through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. Moses was a murderer. God could not accept His life as an atonement. Jesus Christ was a Savior. This was the only life God could accept, and it was acceptable for the sins of not only a nation, but the entire world.
This particular episode in the life of God's people never ceases to amaze me on several levels.
The first is just how prone to wander into sin we really are. You would think that such an amazing encounter with God through His deliverance of the people from Egypt would so firmly set His power in their hearts and minds that they would never stray. But they did. Immediately. Sadly, this cycle would repeat itself over and over again in their history. No wonder God continuously calls them "stiff necked."
On a personal note I know that a day has not passed in my life that I did not struggle with sin. As a pastor other people think we do not struggle, but believe me, the temptation to forsake your faith and build a golden calf of even good things, preaching, a church, personal relationships, ministerial success, biblical knowledge, etc., can slip in so silently you hardly even notice, but it is just as real as a golden calf. John Calvin, the great reformer, pastor, theologian, of the 16th century, said the human heart is an idol factory. So true.
Next, is the nearly unbelievable forbearance of Moses. In Exo. 32:10 God told Moses that He would kill all the people and make a great nation of Moses. Let me say, that would have been a far easier path for Moses to take than to deal with the 2 million sinners at the bottom of the mountain. But Moses, man of faith that he was, pleaded with God to spare the people, calling on God to remember His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God did remember and God did relent. Thank God. But what about Moses?
It wasn't the last time he would have a similar conversation with God to spare the people. Moses' compassion towards his people is incredible. I liken this to a man who is called to stay with his church and continue to lead them, although they are difficult and painful because of their stubbornness, versus his leaving to gather his own group. What if Moses had said, "Go ahead and kill them God, they deserve it! I'll start over with my own group of people." The history of the world would be very different. I'm not sure how that could have worked out since Jesus came from the tribe of Judah and Moses was of Levi. Perhaps that could be an interesting theology article one day...
But most importantly is the compassion of God. "The Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people (Exo 32:14)." That is a serious statement. When God said He would kill the entire nation He really meant it. He had already essentially destroyed the nation of Egypt and He would destroy several nations in the land of Canaan to clear it out. God isn't above destroying a nation. In fact, three thousand "unrestrained" men did die at the hands of the Levites that day. I take this to mean that they would not repent of their behavior, therefore, they were killed.
At the end of the age, which I do believe is near, God will essentially destroy all nations and set up His own kingdom rule. But thank God for grace, mercy, and compassion. God relented from the harm He said He would do, and He will relent from the harm that is coming. If He didn't, none of us would make it.
At the end of chapter 32 Moses goes back to God to make atonement for the peoples sins, offering his own life. God did not, however, accept the life of Moses, and Moses' plea was only partially successful. God did not completely cut off the people, but He did punish them for their sin.
We do have a perfect atonement for our sins, one God will accept. Our hope is in the compassion of God found through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. Moses was a murderer. God could not accept His life as an atonement. Jesus Christ was a Savior. This was the only life God could accept, and it was acceptable for the sins of not only a nation, but the entire world.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
God is in the Details
Sorry gang, I've been a bad blogger. I'm supposed to make regular posts that are informative, engaging, life changing, remarkable, God glorifying, and so fantastic that you just want to run tell all your friends. That's pretty hard when I'm not posting anything at all....
Last week was a really busy week, and there are a hundred details going through my mind regarding the new Freedom Life service. Please keep this new adventure in your prayers. God is moving mightily and the devil will do anything and everything to keep it off track.
On that note, if you know me, you know I am a detail person. Perhaps that's why I made a relatively good engineer. Details excite me and I don't mind pulling something apart in order to understand the intricacies of design and function. That may at times hinder me from seeing the big picture and moving forward because "analysis paralysis" can be devastating to progress.
Exodus 20-31 gives me hope, however, that God is also in the details. We can fairly quickly grasp the big movements of God through human history; creation, fall, calling, redemption, gospel, coming of Christ, and final glory, but we struggle to understand the significance of how to eat, or not eat, a piece of meat. Why did God institute so many different types of offerings and feasts? Why did the Lord of all the universe specify the type and color of thread to be used in the curtains of the tabernacle (Exo 26), or tell the priests exactly what to wear when they served (Exo 28), or specify the exact smell He wanted in the temple (Exo 30:34)?
There is an old saying, "the devil is in the details," which means small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on. The little things can bite you. In these chapters of Exodus it seems, however, that God is in the details of how He wants His people to live, dress, act, eat, spend money, pray, worship, and etc. Apparently these details are very important to God.
I do not believe God has changed. God is in the details of our lives too. He may not specify to us the clothes we are to wear, but He certainly cares that we have clothes (Matt 6:28-30). He may not specify to us the meat we are to eat, but God cares that it does not cause us to sin or harm the conscience of others (1 Cor. 8). He may not tell us how the church is supposed to smell on Sunday mornings, but He cares greatly that our lives are to God the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor 2:15).
Yes, God is still in the details of our lives. What details is God working on in your life? Whatever it is, please know and be thankful that it is important to God. Nothing about you is trivial to Him. He loves all of you.
Last week was a really busy week, and there are a hundred details going through my mind regarding the new Freedom Life service. Please keep this new adventure in your prayers. God is moving mightily and the devil will do anything and everything to keep it off track.
On that note, if you know me, you know I am a detail person. Perhaps that's why I made a relatively good engineer. Details excite me and I don't mind pulling something apart in order to understand the intricacies of design and function. That may at times hinder me from seeing the big picture and moving forward because "analysis paralysis" can be devastating to progress.
Exodus 20-31 gives me hope, however, that God is also in the details. We can fairly quickly grasp the big movements of God through human history; creation, fall, calling, redemption, gospel, coming of Christ, and final glory, but we struggle to understand the significance of how to eat, or not eat, a piece of meat. Why did God institute so many different types of offerings and feasts? Why did the Lord of all the universe specify the type and color of thread to be used in the curtains of the tabernacle (Exo 26), or tell the priests exactly what to wear when they served (Exo 28), or specify the exact smell He wanted in the temple (Exo 30:34)?
There is an old saying, "the devil is in the details," which means small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on. The little things can bite you. In these chapters of Exodus it seems, however, that God is in the details of how He wants His people to live, dress, act, eat, spend money, pray, worship, and etc. Apparently these details are very important to God.
I do not believe God has changed. God is in the details of our lives too. He may not specify to us the clothes we are to wear, but He certainly cares that we have clothes (Matt 6:28-30). He may not specify to us the meat we are to eat, but God cares that it does not cause us to sin or harm the conscience of others (1 Cor. 8). He may not tell us how the church is supposed to smell on Sunday mornings, but He cares greatly that our lives are to God the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor 2:15).
Yes, God is still in the details of our lives. What details is God working on in your life? Whatever it is, please know and be thankful that it is important to God. Nothing about you is trivial to Him. He loves all of you.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Fear of God, the Law, and the Gospel
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We all know somewhere deep in our hearts that God is scary. That's not something we talk about much in church, because it's not politically correct in our churchy circles. Yet the writer of Hebrews said, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Heb. 10:31.
When the people of Israel came to Mt. Sinai, to the place where God had told Moses He would meet with His people, His people were not so anxious to meet with God. Even after God told the people that they were to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation, they were commanded to consecrate themselves, but then not allowed to even touch the mountain upon which God would descend lest they die.
Storms are scary. Lightening, thunder, and thick clouds are frightening, and that is how God descended upon the mountain. The Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish." Wow. God threatened to kill anyone who dared approach Him to look upon Him. That is certainly not the way people think of God these days.
Yet it was under these conditions that God handed down the law, the Ten Commandments as we know them. On a side note, can you recite them 1-10, right now? Most people can't, even though many claim to live by them.We Christians don't live by them by the way, because we do not keep the sabbath, which was the sign of the Old Covenant, but that's a post for another day.
Have you ever wondered why God imposed the law upon His chosen covenant people under such fearful conditions? I think it was because that's the way the law works. The ten commandments were and are law. The other laws Moses passes along in Exodus 21-23 are just out workings of the first ten; practical ways to apply "thou shalt not."
The law scares us because we know it's only a matter of time before we slip up and break it. The law hangs over us waiting to judge, waiting to condemn, waiting to show us just how far short we fall of God's standards.
Breaking the law is a scary, and if you think blue lights flashing in your review mirror, or standing in front of a human judge in Raleigh is a fearful thing, then imagine standing before God, who knows all truth in perfection. We can't pull a fast one on Him. There's no talking our way out of our sins.
I am amazed at just how complacent so many people are these days regarding the holiness and majesty of God. We can be so lackadaisical, so trite, so mundane when approaching God or the things of God. What happened to our reverential fear?
I do not mean to make much of this aspect of God simply to make you want to avoid God, but rather to inspire appreciation for the grace of God we now find in Christ. Where there once was no way to approach God's holiness, there now is a way through Christ. Once where there was only the imminent expectation of judgment, there is now the imminent expectation of our Great Advocate making intercession on our behalf. Once where there was only fear, trembling, and the reality of death, there is boldness to come before the throne of mercy for everlasting life.
This is the gospel. Thank God we are no longer under the law, but now under grace. The law is fulfilled, perfectly, and completely, in Christ, and we are in Him.
This makes me want to worship, sing, praise, and tell everyone this wonderful good news.
When the people of Israel came to Mt. Sinai, to the place where God had told Moses He would meet with His people, His people were not so anxious to meet with God. Even after God told the people that they were to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation, they were commanded to consecrate themselves, but then not allowed to even touch the mountain upon which God would descend lest they die.
Storms are scary. Lightening, thunder, and thick clouds are frightening, and that is how God descended upon the mountain. The Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish." Wow. God threatened to kill anyone who dared approach Him to look upon Him. That is certainly not the way people think of God these days.
Yet it was under these conditions that God handed down the law, the Ten Commandments as we know them. On a side note, can you recite them 1-10, right now? Most people can't, even though many claim to live by them.We Christians don't live by them by the way, because we do not keep the sabbath, which was the sign of the Old Covenant, but that's a post for another day.
Have you ever wondered why God imposed the law upon His chosen covenant people under such fearful conditions? I think it was because that's the way the law works. The ten commandments were and are law. The other laws Moses passes along in Exodus 21-23 are just out workings of the first ten; practical ways to apply "thou shalt not."
The law scares us because we know it's only a matter of time before we slip up and break it. The law hangs over us waiting to judge, waiting to condemn, waiting to show us just how far short we fall of God's standards.
Breaking the law is a scary, and if you think blue lights flashing in your review mirror, or standing in front of a human judge in Raleigh is a fearful thing, then imagine standing before God, who knows all truth in perfection. We can't pull a fast one on Him. There's no talking our way out of our sins.
I am amazed at just how complacent so many people are these days regarding the holiness and majesty of God. We can be so lackadaisical, so trite, so mundane when approaching God or the things of God. What happened to our reverential fear?
I do not mean to make much of this aspect of God simply to make you want to avoid God, but rather to inspire appreciation for the grace of God we now find in Christ. Where there once was no way to approach God's holiness, there now is a way through Christ. Once where there was only the imminent expectation of judgment, there is now the imminent expectation of our Great Advocate making intercession on our behalf. Once where there was only fear, trembling, and the reality of death, there is boldness to come before the throne of mercy for everlasting life.
This is the gospel. Thank God we are no longer under the law, but now under grace. The law is fulfilled, perfectly, and completely, in Christ, and we are in Him.
This makes me want to worship, sing, praise, and tell everyone this wonderful good news.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sweet to Sour: Exodus 15:22 ff
When you're walking with the Lord, do you ever feel like life can go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in 2.5 seconds? We often say that when things are going well you had better put your guard on because that's when Satan will attack or when the world will seem to turn on you. I can promise you this, if you're doing nothing to bother the devil, if your love for God is cold, if your service to the Lord is non-existent, if you're not reaching out to share the gospel, if your affections for the disciplines of our faith are on the back burner, then more than likely Satan will do nothing to bother you. But if you are out on the front lines of God's Kingdom, leading the charge into hell to win souls and follow Christ, then you better believe our enemy will throw some road blocks in your path.
It is amazing that in Exodus 15 we encounter the beautiful "Song of the Redeemed" people of Israel. In verse 21 Miraim, the sister of Moses, sings, "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." (ESV) Then the people followed Moses from the Red Sea into the wilderness for three days and found no water. So what did the people do? Have a prayer service? No. Sing a new song to the Lord? No. Entreat Moses to go before the Lord on their behalf? No. Verse 24 says, "And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?'" Moses calls out to God and God makes the water sweet via a log thrown into the water. Go figure.
Then the Lord says, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer." That's quite a promise. In other words the Lord tells the people to trust Him and He will provide for them and not "dis-ease" them as He did when He plagued Egypt those 10 times.
But look what happens in chapter 16, verse 2; the people once again grumble against Moses, this time for food, complaining even to the point that they would rather have died in Egypt as satisfied slaves than in the wilderness as hungry free people. God heard their grumbling and yet again provided for them the bread from heaven. They were to gather the bread for 6 days, and on the sixth day they were to gather enough for the seventh, sabbath (rest) day. They were only to keep the bread overnight on the sixth day, so they could rest on the seventh. Of course, they broke both commands. Good grief!
I can only imagine how Moses must have felt, but I can sympathize with him a bit. At times it seems the least little thing will set people to grumbling. Complaint seems to be the common denominator to many. But what is grumbling? What does complaining say to God? Grumbling is the opposite of thanksgiving and complaining says, "I do not trust you God. Either you're not able to care for me, or you do not care for me at all." Now none of us would say those words to God, but when we complain that is exactly what we're saying.
Not to be overly simplistic, but what should we do when things aren't going well, when perhaps we are thirsty and hungry? Answer: trust God. What should we do when people are complaining about us? Answer: trust God. If complaining is a failure to trust God then faith is trust in action.
Let us pursue faith, trust, and hope in God. He does care, and He is able to care for us.
It is amazing that in Exodus 15 we encounter the beautiful "Song of the Redeemed" people of Israel. In verse 21 Miraim, the sister of Moses, sings, "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." (ESV) Then the people followed Moses from the Red Sea into the wilderness for three days and found no water. So what did the people do? Have a prayer service? No. Sing a new song to the Lord? No. Entreat Moses to go before the Lord on their behalf? No. Verse 24 says, "And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?'" Moses calls out to God and God makes the water sweet via a log thrown into the water. Go figure.
Then the Lord says, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer." That's quite a promise. In other words the Lord tells the people to trust Him and He will provide for them and not "dis-ease" them as He did when He plagued Egypt those 10 times.
But look what happens in chapter 16, verse 2; the people once again grumble against Moses, this time for food, complaining even to the point that they would rather have died in Egypt as satisfied slaves than in the wilderness as hungry free people. God heard their grumbling and yet again provided for them the bread from heaven. They were to gather the bread for 6 days, and on the sixth day they were to gather enough for the seventh, sabbath (rest) day. They were only to keep the bread overnight on the sixth day, so they could rest on the seventh. Of course, they broke both commands. Good grief!
I can only imagine how Moses must have felt, but I can sympathize with him a bit. At times it seems the least little thing will set people to grumbling. Complaint seems to be the common denominator to many. But what is grumbling? What does complaining say to God? Grumbling is the opposite of thanksgiving and complaining says, "I do not trust you God. Either you're not able to care for me, or you do not care for me at all." Now none of us would say those words to God, but when we complain that is exactly what we're saying.
Not to be overly simplistic, but what should we do when things aren't going well, when perhaps we are thirsty and hungry? Answer: trust God. What should we do when people are complaining about us? Answer: trust God. If complaining is a failure to trust God then faith is trust in action.
Let us pursue faith, trust, and hope in God. He does care, and He is able to care for us.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sing to the Lord
I love Exodus 15 when Moses and the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord. Scripture does not say who wrote the song, but I suspect it was Moses. We do not often picture our great leaders sitting around writing songs, but I think this pleased the Lord in a way all of our busyness and activity can't possibly.
Why did Moses write this song? The reason is obvious; God had just worked a series of miracles that released the people of Israel from 400 years of captivity and fulfilled God's promise to Moses made back at the burning bush.
Why do we not write songs? Is it perhaps that we do not see God's hand moving mightily because we are not stepping out on faith in God and seeing that which only God can do? When God spared Isaac from Abraham's blade, Scripture says Abraham worshiped. I bet he sang. When Moses saw what God had done, he sang. When God gave Hannah a son, she sang. When God revealed His plan to Mary, she sang. When we see God work in our lives we should sing too.
So, in the spirit of this post, I have written a song. It's not a good song, but it is my song. It has no rhyme, but it does have a reason. I love the Lord. How about if you write a song and post it up?
-----------------
Keith's Song
I will sing of the Lord, of His beauty and love.
His promise is secure, His Word will never fail.
God has spoken, spoken to my heart.
His passion for His people compels me to love, love those whom He loves.
Why do I fear? Why do I doubt?
My Lord has never done me wrong.
His goodness flows beyond measure.
Comfort to the troubled heart is His way.
His compassions fail not.
Take strength in the Lord.
Look upon His beautiful face.
A rainbow hung in the sky. My heart raced.
Colors so bright, so beautiful.
Its perfections cause my heart to worship.
Praise our glorious God, crowned with the rainbow.
It's ends touch the earth, its arches circle the heavens.
God's promise is forever.
---------------------------------
Yesterday Anne and I were driving home from piano and saw the most beautiful, perfect, and bright rainbow I have ever seen. It was also a double rainbow on the ends. It was so clear you felt like you could just reach out and touch it. We stopped and looked for about 5 minutes. We worshiped God together there on the side of the road.
Anne showed me a website on youtube of a guy who saw a similar rainbow. He too worshiped, even to the point of tears. What amazes me about this youtube video is it has had 26 million, yes, MILLION views; views of a guy freaking out over a rainbow.
Why do rainbows do that to us? They remind us of God's promise and faithfulness.
Go check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI
I lover you all,
Keith
Why did Moses write this song? The reason is obvious; God had just worked a series of miracles that released the people of Israel from 400 years of captivity and fulfilled God's promise to Moses made back at the burning bush.
Why do we not write songs? Is it perhaps that we do not see God's hand moving mightily because we are not stepping out on faith in God and seeing that which only God can do? When God spared Isaac from Abraham's blade, Scripture says Abraham worshiped. I bet he sang. When Moses saw what God had done, he sang. When God gave Hannah a son, she sang. When God revealed His plan to Mary, she sang. When we see God work in our lives we should sing too.
So, in the spirit of this post, I have written a song. It's not a good song, but it is my song. It has no rhyme, but it does have a reason. I love the Lord. How about if you write a song and post it up?
-----------------
Keith's Song
I will sing of the Lord, of His beauty and love.
His promise is secure, His Word will never fail.
God has spoken, spoken to my heart.
His passion for His people compels me to love, love those whom He loves.
Why do I fear? Why do I doubt?
My Lord has never done me wrong.
His goodness flows beyond measure.
Comfort to the troubled heart is His way.
His compassions fail not.
Take strength in the Lord.
Look upon His beautiful face.
A rainbow hung in the sky. My heart raced.
Colors so bright, so beautiful.
Its perfections cause my heart to worship.
Praise our glorious God, crowned with the rainbow.
It's ends touch the earth, its arches circle the heavens.
God's promise is forever.
---------------------------------
Yesterday Anne and I were driving home from piano and saw the most beautiful, perfect, and bright rainbow I have ever seen. It was also a double rainbow on the ends. It was so clear you felt like you could just reach out and touch it. We stopped and looked for about 5 minutes. We worshiped God together there on the side of the road.
Anne showed me a website on youtube of a guy who saw a similar rainbow. He too worshiped, even to the point of tears. What amazes me about this youtube video is it has had 26 million, yes, MILLION views; views of a guy freaking out over a rainbow.
Why do rainbows do that to us? They remind us of God's promise and faithfulness.
Go check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI
I lover you all,
Keith
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Between the Army and the Sea
With our Freedom Life service now moving forward, I find myself right now between the Army and the Sea. With a word from God now six weeks ago, a series of events was set in motion that is gaining momentum and will necessarily move towards some future conclusion. Like Moses, I am in a place where I cannot go back, but also in which I do not see a clear path forward. Wherever I look it seems there are troubles, complaints, and concerns. I am not foolish enough to think all these concerns will just go away, but I also know that we will need to move beyond most of them if we are going to realize God's promise.
That's where the Lord steps in. When we have done what God has called us to do, and when we have come to the end of our best efforts, that is when we must expect miracles; things that only God can do. Exo. 14:13-14 says, "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
Holding our peace takes faith. We must trust in the Lord and expect to see His mighty power at work. There will never be any shortage of negative people who will say something cannot be done, and in one sense they may be right. It was not possible for Moses to defeat an army or to part a sea. But it was possible for God. There are many things in which I do not see the possibility, but with God, all things are possible.
If, however, we have never seen God show up in miracle working power, then perhaps we have never stepped out in faith and expected anything more than what we could do on our own. God didn't bring Israel out on a magic carpet. They had to pack up their homes and step out in faith. That was their part. They could do that. But they couldn't defeat an army or part a sea either. That was God's part. He could do that and He did.
We can preach, pray, sing, witness, visit, call, invite, etc. We can do our part and we should, but it is God who saves the lost soul. I cannot change anyone's mind on things they hold firmly, but God can change a heart. He did it for me. He's done it for you. He will do it for others.
Where are you today? What army and sea do you stand between? Do you believe God will show up in power and do something you cannot do for yourself, or do you believe God will abandon you and do nothing? It's one or the other. I encourage you to go with God.
That's where the Lord steps in. When we have done what God has called us to do, and when we have come to the end of our best efforts, that is when we must expect miracles; things that only God can do. Exo. 14:13-14 says, "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
Holding our peace takes faith. We must trust in the Lord and expect to see His mighty power at work. There will never be any shortage of negative people who will say something cannot be done, and in one sense they may be right. It was not possible for Moses to defeat an army or to part a sea. But it was possible for God. There are many things in which I do not see the possibility, but with God, all things are possible.
If, however, we have never seen God show up in miracle working power, then perhaps we have never stepped out in faith and expected anything more than what we could do on our own. God didn't bring Israel out on a magic carpet. They had to pack up their homes and step out in faith. That was their part. They could do that. But they couldn't defeat an army or part a sea either. That was God's part. He could do that and He did.
We can preach, pray, sing, witness, visit, call, invite, etc. We can do our part and we should, but it is God who saves the lost soul. I cannot change anyone's mind on things they hold firmly, but God can change a heart. He did it for me. He's done it for you. He will do it for others.
Where are you today? What army and sea do you stand between? Do you believe God will show up in power and do something you cannot do for yourself, or do you believe God will abandon you and do nothing? It's one or the other. I encourage you to go with God.
Monday, March 7, 2011
God Passes Over
We had a wonderful weekend together as a family. Thanks for allowing us to have a couple days just to rest. Our weeks are pretty hectic when the kids are in school and Trish is working every day. With our schedule on Sunday that only leaves Saturday to rest, which is difficult with a house to clean, clothes to wash, groceries to buy, and a "honey do" list longer than my arm (ok, no short jokes). You all know the drill I'm sure.
At any rate, I didn't want to pass over the Passover in Exodus 12. This is the oldest and most important of the Jewish festivals, that commemorates the final release of Israel by Pharaoh and God's great works in bringing them out. In its most basic form the Passover involves the ritual slaughter of a lamb. The lamb's blood is placed on the lintel and posts of the door, and it's flesh is roasted and eaten by each family.
God commanded this be done in order that the first born of that family might be preserved from death in accordance with the 10th and final plague on Egypt. As God went through the land on the prescribed night, any family who He saw had the blood on their door would be "passed over." Notice in Exo. 12:23, it is the LORD who "will pass through to strike the Egyptians," but when He sees the blood, He will not allow the destroyer to enter and kill.
Jesus observed the Passover in obedience to the command of the Lord, but as we now know, He changed its observance at the "Last Supper," as it is commonly called since it was His final earthly meal with His disciples before the crucifixion. I've often thought it should be called the "Last Passover" since we no longer observe this festival annually, but the "First Supper" since we observe the Lord's Supper regularly until He comes again.
We no longer slaughter Lambs in the prescribed manner, and we do not place their blood on our doors. Rather, Jesus is the final Lamb of God to be slaughtered, and His blood is applied to the doorway of our hearts. In the Lord's Supper we observe the ritual now in eating the bread, which is the body of Christ, and drinking the wine, which is the blood of Christ. In this manner we participate with Christ in His sacrificial death, and the destroyer passes us over.
Praise God!
At any rate, I didn't want to pass over the Passover in Exodus 12. This is the oldest and most important of the Jewish festivals, that commemorates the final release of Israel by Pharaoh and God's great works in bringing them out. In its most basic form the Passover involves the ritual slaughter of a lamb. The lamb's blood is placed on the lintel and posts of the door, and it's flesh is roasted and eaten by each family.
God commanded this be done in order that the first born of that family might be preserved from death in accordance with the 10th and final plague on Egypt. As God went through the land on the prescribed night, any family who He saw had the blood on their door would be "passed over." Notice in Exo. 12:23, it is the LORD who "will pass through to strike the Egyptians," but when He sees the blood, He will not allow the destroyer to enter and kill.
Jesus observed the Passover in obedience to the command of the Lord, but as we now know, He changed its observance at the "Last Supper," as it is commonly called since it was His final earthly meal with His disciples before the crucifixion. I've often thought it should be called the "Last Passover" since we no longer observe this festival annually, but the "First Supper" since we observe the Lord's Supper regularly until He comes again.
We no longer slaughter Lambs in the prescribed manner, and we do not place their blood on our doors. Rather, Jesus is the final Lamb of God to be slaughtered, and His blood is applied to the doorway of our hearts. In the Lord's Supper we observe the ritual now in eating the bread, which is the body of Christ, and drinking the wine, which is the blood of Christ. In this manner we participate with Christ in His sacrificial death, and the destroyer passes us over.
Praise God!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Hardening and Hard to Understand: Exodus 5-12
Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? Why did God plague Egypt, even to the killing of all the first born children? Why didn't God just blind all of Egypt until Israel had made their escape? Why did God kill all of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea?
These sorts of questions are difficult to answer from within our modern context and our present age of grace. But they are the same sorts of questions we ask when a young child dies, or a fire destroys a families home, or an earthquake wipes out a city and thousands of lives.
In the modern evangelical church we have emphasized the grace, mercy, and love of God far above the sovereignty of God to rule over His creation. I believe this emphasis to be correct, but it does not lessen the fact that God is sovereign over His creation. It is His to do with as He wills, and that includes not only nature, but individual human lives. This means, furthermore, that God is certainly sovereign over circumstances and events, but He is also sovereign over life and death. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
It is also true that God does not see life and death constrained by the limits of space and time in the same way we do. We mourn the loss of our loved ones not because they have ceased to exist, but because they do not presently exist with us. We comfort ourselves knowing that we will see them again one day. God does not have that problem. He lives in the eternal present and He is always with us.
Death is the curse of sin, and the pain of it are very real to us. God is not unaware of this pain. Simply look to the cross of Christ. Certainly God rules over life and death but in Christ God has suffered through death not only with us, but for us. Indeed, Christ died the death not due Him as it is due every other living human being. Thus, in some sense only Jesus would have any right to complain about the when's or why's of death. But He didn't of course. He willingly suffered that we might be set free.
I cannot give you a rational explanation for why the firstborn of Egypt had to die, or why perhaps your loved ones have had to die out of season, because death is the result of sin and sin is at its very root irrational. It makes no sense why we would sin in rebellion against God, but we did, and we do. What truly makes no sense to me is how or why God could die in our place, but He did. That is the wonder and majesty of our faith.
Is there some tension between God's justice and love? Yes. Is there some tension in God's sovereignty and the responsibility of humanity? Surely. Is there some tension between life, death, and new life in the resurrection? Without a doubt. But thank God He has reconciled all things to Himself in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These sorts of questions are difficult to answer from within our modern context and our present age of grace. But they are the same sorts of questions we ask when a young child dies, or a fire destroys a families home, or an earthquake wipes out a city and thousands of lives.
In the modern evangelical church we have emphasized the grace, mercy, and love of God far above the sovereignty of God to rule over His creation. I believe this emphasis to be correct, but it does not lessen the fact that God is sovereign over His creation. It is His to do with as He wills, and that includes not only nature, but individual human lives. This means, furthermore, that God is certainly sovereign over circumstances and events, but He is also sovereign over life and death. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
It is also true that God does not see life and death constrained by the limits of space and time in the same way we do. We mourn the loss of our loved ones not because they have ceased to exist, but because they do not presently exist with us. We comfort ourselves knowing that we will see them again one day. God does not have that problem. He lives in the eternal present and He is always with us.
Death is the curse of sin, and the pain of it are very real to us. God is not unaware of this pain. Simply look to the cross of Christ. Certainly God rules over life and death but in Christ God has suffered through death not only with us, but for us. Indeed, Christ died the death not due Him as it is due every other living human being. Thus, in some sense only Jesus would have any right to complain about the when's or why's of death. But He didn't of course. He willingly suffered that we might be set free.
I cannot give you a rational explanation for why the firstborn of Egypt had to die, or why perhaps your loved ones have had to die out of season, because death is the result of sin and sin is at its very root irrational. It makes no sense why we would sin in rebellion against God, but we did, and we do. What truly makes no sense to me is how or why God could die in our place, but He did. That is the wonder and majesty of our faith.
Is there some tension between God's justice and love? Yes. Is there some tension in God's sovereignty and the responsibility of humanity? Surely. Is there some tension between life, death, and new life in the resurrection? Without a doubt. But thank God He has reconciled all things to Himself in Christ Jesus our Lord.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Expect the Unexpected
It's been a crazy week. There are a thousand details to work out in beginning the Freedom Life service on Easter Sunday morning. Thank God for the wonderful group of people who are helping out. They have done so much already. It's amazing. God continues to provide opportunities and blessings through people all over the place.
As I've been reading about Moses' encounter with God in the book of Exodus, it occurs to me that we should expect the unexpected. Moses wasn't really looking to be chosen as the leader of Israels exodus from Egypt. Moses wasn't planning how he would confront Pharaoh or guide a million people from their historical home (over 400 years in Egypt) to a new land. Moses had no staff or sharp business plans. What did he have? He had a call from God.
Moses was not looking for God when God came looking for him. We all know the story. Egypt began to oppress Israel after Joseph's death and Israel's remarkable growth. Moses was spared from the killing of the male children and grew up in Pharaoh's home. He murders some Egyptians and flees for his life to Midian, where he makes a new life complete with wife, children, home, and job. Then God shows up.
There are so many things that could be said about the first few chapters of Exodus, but I only want to say one key thing. Expect the unexpected. Don't be surprised when God shows up and changes your plans. One day you're a sheep herder and family man, the next day you're the leader of a nation. One day you're a career engineer, the next day you're a minister. One day you're sitting on the same pew, in the same church, with the same lethargic attitude, the next day God sets you off on a mission adventure.
Expect the unexpected. The Christian life isn't about playing it safe, or crossing all the i's and dotting all the t's. It isn't about being a good little boy or good little girl, or getting your ticket punched to heaven. It's about encountering the living God who shows up and rocks your world, because after all, it's not your world, it's His.
Six weeks ago I had no intention of leading Live Oak to start an early, contemporary worship service. Today it consumes my thoughts and fires my hopes and dreams. Why? God showed up and called. What's going to happen this year? I am not 100% sure on the details, but I know this, God will show up.
I plan to expect the unexpected.
As I've been reading about Moses' encounter with God in the book of Exodus, it occurs to me that we should expect the unexpected. Moses wasn't really looking to be chosen as the leader of Israels exodus from Egypt. Moses wasn't planning how he would confront Pharaoh or guide a million people from their historical home (over 400 years in Egypt) to a new land. Moses had no staff or sharp business plans. What did he have? He had a call from God.
Moses was not looking for God when God came looking for him. We all know the story. Egypt began to oppress Israel after Joseph's death and Israel's remarkable growth. Moses was spared from the killing of the male children and grew up in Pharaoh's home. He murders some Egyptians and flees for his life to Midian, where he makes a new life complete with wife, children, home, and job. Then God shows up.
There are so many things that could be said about the first few chapters of Exodus, but I only want to say one key thing. Expect the unexpected. Don't be surprised when God shows up and changes your plans. One day you're a sheep herder and family man, the next day you're the leader of a nation. One day you're a career engineer, the next day you're a minister. One day you're sitting on the same pew, in the same church, with the same lethargic attitude, the next day God sets you off on a mission adventure.
Expect the unexpected. The Christian life isn't about playing it safe, or crossing all the i's and dotting all the t's. It isn't about being a good little boy or good little girl, or getting your ticket punched to heaven. It's about encountering the living God who shows up and rocks your world, because after all, it's not your world, it's His.
Six weeks ago I had no intention of leading Live Oak to start an early, contemporary worship service. Today it consumes my thoughts and fires my hopes and dreams. Why? God showed up and called. What's going to happen this year? I am not 100% sure on the details, but I know this, God will show up.
I plan to expect the unexpected.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
God's Great Promises
Coming to the end of Genesis it's important to grasp some of the great promises God makes. In theology, we often call these covenants and they can form a basic outline of how God has dealt with and will deal with humanity throughout history.
The first is God's covenant with Adam. This is the covenant of obedience. This covenant establishes the basic relationship of God to man. God created humanity in His own image, then established an intimate relationship with them, talking with them, and coming to them in the garden. God's one boundary was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the day that man ate of this tree, he would surely die. This boundary established God's authority over man and man's requirement to obey God's will. This covenant was made with Adam (Eve was not yet created), and the sign was blood. Yet Adam rebelled against God, disobeyed, and died, bringing death to all his posterity. Adam was covered with animal skins, signifying the death he would die. This is the problem God ultimately deals with in the death and resurrection of Christ, the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45).
God's next great promise was the promise of preservation. In this promise God declared never to destroy the earth again by water and literally place the entire human race at risk. This covenant was made with Noah and the sign was the rainbow. Christ fulfills this covenant when He returns and recreates a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1).
God then promises to bless the earth with a people of His own. These people will be a special treasure to God and be constituted through the faith of Abraham. God's people are not limited in this regard to ethnic Israel, as some mistakenly concluded, but are the inheritors of God's promise by faith (Rom 4) in God. The epicenter of personal faith is found in the person and work of God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Thus, again, in Christ the promises of God are fulfilled.
As I read Genesis 50 this morning I was reminded of the promise that was, for Joseph, still to come, but which he indicated in these words, "'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.' Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them" (v19-21). Even in the circumstances around us that seem most evil, God can and does work them out for good (Rom. 8:28). This is the promise of Christ still to come.
It is good to know that we worship a God who was not constrained to destroy evil (Adam) from the beginning, but who instead began the great work of redemption fulfilled in the God/man Jesus Christ. God brings good from evil, life from death, hope from despair, beauty from ashes. Praise the Lord we have such a promise keeping and awesome God.
The first is God's covenant with Adam. This is the covenant of obedience. This covenant establishes the basic relationship of God to man. God created humanity in His own image, then established an intimate relationship with them, talking with them, and coming to them in the garden. God's one boundary was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In the day that man ate of this tree, he would surely die. This boundary established God's authority over man and man's requirement to obey God's will. This covenant was made with Adam (Eve was not yet created), and the sign was blood. Yet Adam rebelled against God, disobeyed, and died, bringing death to all his posterity. Adam was covered with animal skins, signifying the death he would die. This is the problem God ultimately deals with in the death and resurrection of Christ, the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45).
God's next great promise was the promise of preservation. In this promise God declared never to destroy the earth again by water and literally place the entire human race at risk. This covenant was made with Noah and the sign was the rainbow. Christ fulfills this covenant when He returns and recreates a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1).
God then promises to bless the earth with a people of His own. These people will be a special treasure to God and be constituted through the faith of Abraham. God's people are not limited in this regard to ethnic Israel, as some mistakenly concluded, but are the inheritors of God's promise by faith (Rom 4) in God. The epicenter of personal faith is found in the person and work of God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Thus, again, in Christ the promises of God are fulfilled.
As I read Genesis 50 this morning I was reminded of the promise that was, for Joseph, still to come, but which he indicated in these words, "'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.' Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them" (v19-21). Even in the circumstances around us that seem most evil, God can and does work them out for good (Rom. 8:28). This is the promise of Christ still to come.
It is good to know that we worship a God who was not constrained to destroy evil (Adam) from the beginning, but who instead began the great work of redemption fulfilled in the God/man Jesus Christ. God brings good from evil, life from death, hope from despair, beauty from ashes. Praise the Lord we have such a promise keeping and awesome God.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
God's ways are not our ways
There's an interesting pattern that begins to emerge in Scripture by the time we get to Genesis 48. Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob in order to receive his blessing. These types of blessings were more than just well wishes in the Old Testament; they carried significant meaning in the order and progress of life, even being prophetic in nature. In this case Jacob recognizes Joseph's two sons as his own (v5-6). You will find them listed amongst the tribes of Israel further along in Numbers (Num 26) and other books.
The odd thing that happens here, however, is how Jacob selects Ephraim, the younger brother, over Manasseh, the older brother. This was not the normal order of things and so represents an act of sovereign choice. If you notice, Cain was the older brother, yet Abel's offering was accepted and Cain's rejected. It's actually debated why, but the fact of it remains. But then Noah is chosen through whom God will save the earth. Shem, Noah's firstborn, is chosen who would be ancestor to Abram. Abram, another firstborn, is chosen for God's covenant of blessing. From Abram, Isaac is chosen as the child of promise. From Isaac, another younger son, Jacob is chosen over Esau. From all of his sons Jacob chooses Joseph as his favorite, then chooses Ephraim, the younger, over Manasseh, the older.
What's the point? The point is that we have this Americanized ideal of fairness, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's also not necessarily a biblical thing. We have made the rules of fairness part of our culture. Items such as age, seniority, performance, connections, wealth, etc. determine who gets what. But God doesn't work that way. God chooses sovereignly and oftentimes it doesn't square with our sense of fairness.
I know many pastors, myself included at times, who think things are not fair. Why does God raise up that person? Why doesn't God raise up me? We look at our lives, compare them to others, and then question the wisdom of God. Scripture says God raises up and God tears down. Clearly God has the power to do both, but we don't like to give Him the right. How presumptuous we can be at times, because when God doesn't do what we want Him to do, we pout, get angry, quit, feel sorry for ourselves. None are immune it seems from this condition. Perhaps we should learn with the apostle Paul to be content in all things as from the Lord:
"11 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." Php 4:11-13
We often hear and quote v.13 because it sounds like a victory verse, and it is. But we don't hear too much about v.12 because sometimes we abound, but we don't like to be abased. Sometimes we are full, but we avoid being hungry. Sometimes we have much, but we hate suffering need. Yet in Christ, we learn to endure both abundance and abasement.
Why? Because when we love and trust God, then we accept with thanksgiving whatever comes from His hand.
The odd thing that happens here, however, is how Jacob selects Ephraim, the younger brother, over Manasseh, the older brother. This was not the normal order of things and so represents an act of sovereign choice. If you notice, Cain was the older brother, yet Abel's offering was accepted and Cain's rejected. It's actually debated why, but the fact of it remains. But then Noah is chosen through whom God will save the earth. Shem, Noah's firstborn, is chosen who would be ancestor to Abram. Abram, another firstborn, is chosen for God's covenant of blessing. From Abram, Isaac is chosen as the child of promise. From Isaac, another younger son, Jacob is chosen over Esau. From all of his sons Jacob chooses Joseph as his favorite, then chooses Ephraim, the younger, over Manasseh, the older.
What's the point? The point is that we have this Americanized ideal of fairness, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's also not necessarily a biblical thing. We have made the rules of fairness part of our culture. Items such as age, seniority, performance, connections, wealth, etc. determine who gets what. But God doesn't work that way. God chooses sovereignly and oftentimes it doesn't square with our sense of fairness.
I know many pastors, myself included at times, who think things are not fair. Why does God raise up that person? Why doesn't God raise up me? We look at our lives, compare them to others, and then question the wisdom of God. Scripture says God raises up and God tears down. Clearly God has the power to do both, but we don't like to give Him the right. How presumptuous we can be at times, because when God doesn't do what we want Him to do, we pout, get angry, quit, feel sorry for ourselves. None are immune it seems from this condition. Perhaps we should learn with the apostle Paul to be content in all things as from the Lord:
"11 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." Php 4:11-13
We often hear and quote v.13 because it sounds like a victory verse, and it is. But we don't hear too much about v.12 because sometimes we abound, but we don't like to be abased. Sometimes we are full, but we avoid being hungry. Sometimes we have much, but we hate suffering need. Yet in Christ, we learn to endure both abundance and abasement.
Why? Because when we love and trust God, then we accept with thanksgiving whatever comes from His hand.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Prisons and Pits
First off, congratulations to Deborah Smith for two huge milestones. First, her retirement from JMH. You made it girl. I couldn't have done your job there for $1 million/year. Second, the engagement of her daughter Kelly. Praise the Lord for opening doors and bringing Ryan and Kelly together for this moment. I know you are very proud of Kelly, she is a spectacular young woman and Ryan is a fine young man. I'm excited for you all.
Now on to Joseph. There is so much that could be said about Joseph, but I am trying to make these posts shorter so maybe more of you will actually want to read them. So here goes...
God drug Joseph through the ringer, but in the end, God's greater purpose was accomplished. Most of my ministerial life I have felt perhaps the way Joseph felt when he was in the prison and the cup bearer had forgotten about him. You love the Lord, you keep your faith, and you pursue righteousness, but it seems like one problem after another keeps coming your way. Joseph, however, kept his faith and eventually God used him to save his entire family and with it, the nation and future of Israel.
I often wonder why God does things the way He does them, but I have learned that God doesn't answer my "whys?" God does what He does, and He does not always reveal all the details of His plan to us. We are not called to question God, we are called to obey God.
But does every story end with a happy ending like Jospeh's? No and yes. For the Christian, we may experience some very difficult situations, and no, we may never be elevated to be head of something like Joseph was head over Egypt. But, yes, in the end, God has promised us the glories of heaven and the eternal inheritance with His Son, Jesus Christ. That is a happy ending no matter what.
I was talking to Anne the other day and I told her that if something happened to me and I did not live to see her grow up, I wanted her not to be overly sad. I want her to know that my story already has a happy ending no matter what prisons or pits I may end up in, and that all things occur in God's good timing. I will be in heaven and I want her to know she will be in heaven one day too. I want her to live her life to the full, be happy, and keep her faith in God. I never want her to be angry at God for the difficulties in life, but to trust Him and cling to His goodness and promise.
I think I should take me own advice.
Now on to Joseph. There is so much that could be said about Joseph, but I am trying to make these posts shorter so maybe more of you will actually want to read them. So here goes...
God drug Joseph through the ringer, but in the end, God's greater purpose was accomplished. Most of my ministerial life I have felt perhaps the way Joseph felt when he was in the prison and the cup bearer had forgotten about him. You love the Lord, you keep your faith, and you pursue righteousness, but it seems like one problem after another keeps coming your way. Joseph, however, kept his faith and eventually God used him to save his entire family and with it, the nation and future of Israel.
I often wonder why God does things the way He does them, but I have learned that God doesn't answer my "whys?" God does what He does, and He does not always reveal all the details of His plan to us. We are not called to question God, we are called to obey God.
But does every story end with a happy ending like Jospeh's? No and yes. For the Christian, we may experience some very difficult situations, and no, we may never be elevated to be head of something like Joseph was head over Egypt. But, yes, in the end, God has promised us the glories of heaven and the eternal inheritance with His Son, Jesus Christ. That is a happy ending no matter what.
I was talking to Anne the other day and I told her that if something happened to me and I did not live to see her grow up, I wanted her not to be overly sad. I want her to know that my story already has a happy ending no matter what prisons or pits I may end up in, and that all things occur in God's good timing. I will be in heaven and I want her to know she will be in heaven one day too. I want her to live her life to the full, be happy, and keep her faith in God. I never want her to be angry at God for the difficulties in life, but to trust Him and cling to His goodness and promise.
I think I should take me own advice.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Swindling the Swindler
Isn't it amazing how people will scheme and work to get their way. I recently read Genesis 31; the story of Laban and Jacob just before Jacobs departure back to the land of Canaan and home. Leading up to this point it's amazing to see that even though Laban swindles and lies God continues to bless Jacob and multiply his fortunes. Laban's attitude towards Jacob was nothing new if you remember how he tricked Jacob into marrying both of his daughters, Leah the first born, and Rachel the woman Jacob really loved. But now the situation grows progressively worse and God tells Jacob to hit the road and go home.
Jacob was a swindler too, and he was not ignorant of all Laban's schemes, but what impressed me about Jacob is that eventually he learns to trust God saying, "But God did not permit him to harm me (Gen 31:7)." In spite of all the scheming going on God's plan goes forward. Laban tricked Jacob, changing his wages and trying to steal his sheep. Jacob tricked Laban, lying and then fleeing with his flocks and family. Rachel tricked Laban and Jacob, stealing the household gods, then hiding them beneath her skirt. Yet God's purpose goes forward.
The last thing I saw in this story was the erection of the witness stones. Jacob and Laban agreed to go their separate ways and not harm one another. "I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm (v52)." It is good to set boundaries that we will not pass over to do harm; to ourselves or others. Laban went back. Jacob went forward. Both were happy with the split.
Jacob was a swindler too, and he was not ignorant of all Laban's schemes, but what impressed me about Jacob is that eventually he learns to trust God saying, "But God did not permit him to harm me (Gen 31:7)." In spite of all the scheming going on God's plan goes forward. Laban tricked Jacob, changing his wages and trying to steal his sheep. Jacob tricked Laban, lying and then fleeing with his flocks and family. Rachel tricked Laban and Jacob, stealing the household gods, then hiding them beneath her skirt. Yet God's purpose goes forward.
The last thing I saw in this story was the erection of the witness stones. Jacob and Laban agreed to go their separate ways and not harm one another. "I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm (v52)." It is good to set boundaries that we will not pass over to do harm; to ourselves or others. Laban went back. Jacob went forward. Both were happy with the split.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Selling your birthright for a bowl of soup
I just read this morning about the births of Esau and Jacob. Much could be said about this story. Paul speaks of Jacob's election in Romans 9. Jacob was a swindler, liar, and a cheat, yet he stills gets Isaac's blessing. Families can be really dysfunctional sometimes, and we see that in several instances in Scripture.
But the thing that hit me most this morning was Esau's selling of his birthright for a bowl of soup. The first few times I read that story I thought that Esau was just plain foolish, or perhaps he didn't care about the birthright, or maybe he really did believe he was going to die if he didn't get something to eat. But recently as I read this account I realized just how willing we are sometimes to give up what is really important, but future, for something that is trivial but present.
Esau wanted to satisfy the hunger of his flesh.There's nothing wrong with satisfying your hunger. Everyone gets hungry. And it is true that if Jacob were any kind of brother at all he would have given Esau something to eat out of compassion. Still, it just amazes me that Esau would give up his birthright for a bowl of soup. The birthright was his claim as the first born son to the inheritance of his fathers home. I would think that would be fantastically important to him, but it wasn't. For a single meal, he gave up the wealth of his future.
Now, what does that have to do with us? We too have an inheritance. We are promised all that God has to give us in Jesus Christ His Son. The inheritance of eternal life and a heavenly home become our birthright when we are joined to Jesus Christ by faith. All that is His becomes ours, under His Lordship of course, but even as a husband lovingly bestows all his possessions and honors upon his wife, so Christ bestows all His possessions and honors upon His bride, the church. That's us.
So why is it that we are so willing to trade our birthright for a bowl of soup? Why would we give up Christ for temporary pleasures? Why would we forsake our Lord to commit adultery, lie, steal, lose our temper, live like gluttons, and etc.?
Hebrew says it like this:
But the thing that hit me most this morning was Esau's selling of his birthright for a bowl of soup. The first few times I read that story I thought that Esau was just plain foolish, or perhaps he didn't care about the birthright, or maybe he really did believe he was going to die if he didn't get something to eat. But recently as I read this account I realized just how willing we are sometimes to give up what is really important, but future, for something that is trivial but present.
Esau wanted to satisfy the hunger of his flesh.There's nothing wrong with satisfying your hunger. Everyone gets hungry. And it is true that if Jacob were any kind of brother at all he would have given Esau something to eat out of compassion. Still, it just amazes me that Esau would give up his birthright for a bowl of soup. The birthright was his claim as the first born son to the inheritance of his fathers home. I would think that would be fantastically important to him, but it wasn't. For a single meal, he gave up the wealth of his future.
Now, what does that have to do with us? We too have an inheritance. We are promised all that God has to give us in Jesus Christ His Son. The inheritance of eternal life and a heavenly home become our birthright when we are joined to Jesus Christ by faith. All that is His becomes ours, under His Lordship of course, but even as a husband lovingly bestows all his possessions and honors upon his wife, so Christ bestows all His possessions and honors upon His bride, the church. That's us.
So why is it that we are so willing to trade our birthright for a bowl of soup? Why would we give up Christ for temporary pleasures? Why would we forsake our Lord to commit adultery, lie, steal, lose our temper, live like gluttons, and etc.?
Hebrew says it like this:
"14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." Heb 12:14-17
There is a powerful warning in that passage because Esau wanted his blessing back, but once it was lost it could not be retrieved. I believe there are people who have given up their heavenly birthright with some notion that when it suits them they will seek repentance, but will find "no place for repentance, though [they seek] it diligently with tears." That's not popular theology and an unwelcome notion to some versions of the "once saved always saved" doctrine.
There is a profound truth in the perseverance of God's children and the unfailing love of God towards His own, but it is plain heresy to claim that we can accept the gift of grace in Christ, then go out and live any way we please, believing that when we're near the end we can shed a few tears and be welcomed into heaven. The writer of Hebrews in 10:29 calls that "trampling the Son of God underfoot, counting the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulting the Spirit of grace." God forbid!
As a pastor it breaks my heart so often to see people who are doing those very things. I pray for them and trust them to the grace of God, but I do not hold out great hopes for the so called death bed confession of a life long denier of Christ who in the end says he/she doesn't want to go to hell.
My bigger concern, however, is making sure I "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." I do not want to sell my birthright in Christ for a bowl of soup, a fat bank account, a prestigious job, an adulterous affair, a summer beach home, or a big name for myself. There is a Spirit welling up within me, that constantly comforts, guides, warns, directs, encourages, convicts, and etc. This Spirit informs me that the treasure of Christ is more precious than all that the temporary comforts of the world have to offer.
How about you?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
When Faith is Tested
I don't much like tests anymore. I've taken so many tests in my life that the challenge of doing well has lost a bit of its luster. But there is one thing tests do, and that's prove to ourselves and to others that we can demonstrate what we claim.
I guess one of the hardest tests I've ever taken was the National Professional Engineers exam. The first part of the test is an 8 hour written exam with multiple choice questions, problems, etc. You then have to spend four years in practice, get three recommendations from your peers, and sit for another 8 hour written exam in which you have to work out multiple problems from within your field or specialty. Mine was mechanical. I studied for months to take that exam and failed it by a few points. I didn't feel too bad because there is only a 30% first time pass rate, but still I failed, and I was disappointed. I waited 6 months and took it again. That time I passed and was very relieved. I suppose passing that test didn't make me a great engineer, but it did test my ability to persevere and not give up.
When God finally gave Abraham a son at 100, you would think Abraham could sit back and cruise. Life was good! Sarah was happy, (although Haggar and Ishmael didn't have such a good time, but that's another story), Abraham was rich and successful, and the child of promise was growing up healthy and strong. Then God says the most remarkable thing. "He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2 ESV)
What?! Are you kidding me? Could God possibly want Abraham to take Isaac and kill him? A whole burnt offering is, well, burned. That means totally consumed, nothing left but ashes. No way am I going to do that. That's what I would have done. Here's what Abraham did, "[3] So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him." (Genesis 22:3 ESV) Abraham wasted no time, but immediately obeyed God.
Isaac carried the wood for the fire and Abraham carried the fire and the knife. Walking to the appointed place Isaac asks his father, "Here's the wood, and here's the fire, but where is the lamb?" Abraham's reply? "God will provide for himself...."
You know the rest of the story,
"[9] When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. [11] But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” [12] He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:9-14 ESV)
I remember about 13 years ago sitting in an Old Testament survey class with Dr. Gary Galeotti, a gravely voiced old guy from Oklahoma, who was walking us through the OT book by book. When we came to Genesis 22, I sat and listened mesmerized as Dr. Galeotti recounted the faith of Abraham. Anne was little at the time and John had just been born, and I just sat there and started to cry, just like I am starting to do as I write these words.
So often we read the stories of Scripture and they touch our minds, but somehow we do not allow them to touch our hearts or change our lives. The truth of this story touched my heart that day just as it does now. How could a man kill his own son, his only son from the wife of his love? Answer, if God required it. Having been in the Marines I've thought about what it would be like to give my own life. I don't know for sure if I could do it, but I've at least thought about it. But if you ask me whether or not I could give the lives of my children, man I can't even think about that. I pray to God He would never ask me to do such a thing. I can't even bear the thought of it.
Last night we sat together as we do every night before bed, with Anne, John, and James sitting on the couch together. Anne read "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" out loud to us as John and James wrestled next to her. I just sat and looked at them, treasuring the moment, and thinking how blessed I am. Each one is so different, so unique, and so special. My love for them does not have words to describe it. Can I imagine the old man Abraham binding his son and laying him on a pile of wood to be burned, then lifting his own hand to plunge a knife into his body, taking his life to spare him the pain of the fire? No, I cannot imagine that.
James writes, "[18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [20] Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:18-24 ESV)
Remember what I said a few posts ago about faith? Christian faith involves three aspects, knowledge (notitia), belief (assensus), and trust (fiducia). You must have all three to exercise true faith. Abraham knew exactly what God wanted him to do. Abraham believed it was God who had commanded him to go. And Abraham actually trusted God enough to raise his hand to kill the boy.
When James says that faith without works is dead, he is simply saying that knowledge or belief without trusting action is no faith at all. Even the demons believe and tremble. Abraham certainly trembled, but he also trusted God enough to do exactly as God said.
God tested Abraham in this trial, not to prove something to God, but to prove something to Abraham. God knew what was in Abraham's heart, but Abraham also needed to know, the nation of Israel needed to know, and we also need to know. We need to know that faith acts, and that it is by faith that we are accounted as righteous.
To God's praise, He did not have Abraham kill Isaac. God did provide the ram for a burnt offering. In this we see the substitutionary atonement of Christ for us. Even as God substituted a ram for Isaac, so God substituted Jesus for me and for you. Again, I have no words to describe the depth and glory of our God who gave His only begotten Son in a cruel death so that I might live. That's just simply beyond my grasp. I am amazed that so many seem to take it for granted, as if God owed it to us. How presumptuous!
I'm also amazed at the number of people who claim to know Christ, and even to believe, but yet they have no demonstrable trust in Him. I guess I shouldn't be amazed considering the number of times I have failed to trust God, but still I mourn the lack of faith in the church today. We are very religious, but have denied the power of God within. I am pursuing that right now in my own life, and ask for your prayers as the Lord speaks to me about it.
There's so much that could be said from Gen. 22, but the main thing I wanted to share with you is the encouragement to trust God and do whatever the Spirit of the Lord is leading you right now to do. Maybe it's something almost as difficult as God asked of Abraham. I don't know. You know. But whatever it is, trust in God.
"He will provide."
I guess one of the hardest tests I've ever taken was the National Professional Engineers exam. The first part of the test is an 8 hour written exam with multiple choice questions, problems, etc. You then have to spend four years in practice, get three recommendations from your peers, and sit for another 8 hour written exam in which you have to work out multiple problems from within your field or specialty. Mine was mechanical. I studied for months to take that exam and failed it by a few points. I didn't feel too bad because there is only a 30% first time pass rate, but still I failed, and I was disappointed. I waited 6 months and took it again. That time I passed and was very relieved. I suppose passing that test didn't make me a great engineer, but it did test my ability to persevere and not give up.
When God finally gave Abraham a son at 100, you would think Abraham could sit back and cruise. Life was good! Sarah was happy, (although Haggar and Ishmael didn't have such a good time, but that's another story), Abraham was rich and successful, and the child of promise was growing up healthy and strong. Then God says the most remarkable thing. "He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2 ESV)
What?! Are you kidding me? Could God possibly want Abraham to take Isaac and kill him? A whole burnt offering is, well, burned. That means totally consumed, nothing left but ashes. No way am I going to do that. That's what I would have done. Here's what Abraham did, "[3] So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him." (Genesis 22:3 ESV) Abraham wasted no time, but immediately obeyed God.
Isaac carried the wood for the fire and Abraham carried the fire and the knife. Walking to the appointed place Isaac asks his father, "Here's the wood, and here's the fire, but where is the lamb?" Abraham's reply? "God will provide for himself...."
You know the rest of the story,
"[9] When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. [11] But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” [12] He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:9-14 ESV)
I remember about 13 years ago sitting in an Old Testament survey class with Dr. Gary Galeotti, a gravely voiced old guy from Oklahoma, who was walking us through the OT book by book. When we came to Genesis 22, I sat and listened mesmerized as Dr. Galeotti recounted the faith of Abraham. Anne was little at the time and John had just been born, and I just sat there and started to cry, just like I am starting to do as I write these words.
So often we read the stories of Scripture and they touch our minds, but somehow we do not allow them to touch our hearts or change our lives. The truth of this story touched my heart that day just as it does now. How could a man kill his own son, his only son from the wife of his love? Answer, if God required it. Having been in the Marines I've thought about what it would be like to give my own life. I don't know for sure if I could do it, but I've at least thought about it. But if you ask me whether or not I could give the lives of my children, man I can't even think about that. I pray to God He would never ask me to do such a thing. I can't even bear the thought of it.
Last night we sat together as we do every night before bed, with Anne, John, and James sitting on the couch together. Anne read "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" out loud to us as John and James wrestled next to her. I just sat and looked at them, treasuring the moment, and thinking how blessed I am. Each one is so different, so unique, and so special. My love for them does not have words to describe it. Can I imagine the old man Abraham binding his son and laying him on a pile of wood to be burned, then lifting his own hand to plunge a knife into his body, taking his life to spare him the pain of the fire? No, I cannot imagine that.
James writes, "[18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [20] Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:18-24 ESV)
Remember what I said a few posts ago about faith? Christian faith involves three aspects, knowledge (notitia), belief (assensus), and trust (fiducia). You must have all three to exercise true faith. Abraham knew exactly what God wanted him to do. Abraham believed it was God who had commanded him to go. And Abraham actually trusted God enough to raise his hand to kill the boy.
When James says that faith without works is dead, he is simply saying that knowledge or belief without trusting action is no faith at all. Even the demons believe and tremble. Abraham certainly trembled, but he also trusted God enough to do exactly as God said.
God tested Abraham in this trial, not to prove something to God, but to prove something to Abraham. God knew what was in Abraham's heart, but Abraham also needed to know, the nation of Israel needed to know, and we also need to know. We need to know that faith acts, and that it is by faith that we are accounted as righteous.
To God's praise, He did not have Abraham kill Isaac. God did provide the ram for a burnt offering. In this we see the substitutionary atonement of Christ for us. Even as God substituted a ram for Isaac, so God substituted Jesus for me and for you. Again, I have no words to describe the depth and glory of our God who gave His only begotten Son in a cruel death so that I might live. That's just simply beyond my grasp. I am amazed that so many seem to take it for granted, as if God owed it to us. How presumptuous!
I'm also amazed at the number of people who claim to know Christ, and even to believe, but yet they have no demonstrable trust in Him. I guess I shouldn't be amazed considering the number of times I have failed to trust God, but still I mourn the lack of faith in the church today. We are very religious, but have denied the power of God within. I am pursuing that right now in my own life, and ask for your prayers as the Lord speaks to me about it.
There's so much that could be said from Gen. 22, but the main thing I wanted to share with you is the encouragement to trust God and do whatever the Spirit of the Lord is leading you right now to do. Maybe it's something almost as difficult as God asked of Abraham. I don't know. You know. But whatever it is, trust in God.
"He will provide."
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