Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. - Job 13:15 NIV
Job's sentiments would be admirable except for one neglected fact. It was never God's intention to slay Job. In fact, while God did give Satan permission to bring any destruction he chose against Job he was told that he could not kill him. The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands, but you must spare his life.” - Job 2:6 NIV
God does not mean harm to us. Sometimes, he will let misfortune come our way in order for us to learn a lesson, or to be moved to a safer place, but he never harms us for sport. That is the devil's work and we need to recognize his attacks when they come our way for what they are. Is it easy to tell the difference? Look at Job, a man who "was blameless and upright he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1 NIV) Even the blameless are tormented by the devil In fact, they may be more open to his persecution because of their close relationship with God, and sometimes they may be the ones who have the most trouble differentiating between the work of God and the work of the devil.
What re we supposed to do? God says to resist the devil and he will flee from you, but first you have to recognize when it is the enemy. For me, the only solution is to stay close to the Father and to do as Job did, live as blameless a life as possible. Perhaps if I resist the devil in those areas of my life where I know he can trap me, I will develop the wisdom to discern when it is his attack versus God's working in my life.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Luke 22: Jeus Turned and Looked Straight at Peter
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” -Luke 22:61 NIV
Sometimes I feel the Lord look straight at me. It is not in an accusing way. Instead he voices his disappointment. 'Have you not been with me all this time? ' he asks. ' Don't you know me? Can you not wait with me an hour? Do you care so little that when your life is threatened, you disown me? Don't you know that I will never leave or forsake you? Why then is it so easy for you to forsake me? What are you afraid of, is it men, is it losing your friends, your position, or comfortable life?
Jesus knows all I've done. He knows the many subtle ways in which I have abandoned or denied him. He knows it all and yet he loves and forgives me. Just as it was with Peter, the love of his gaze cuts me to the quick. What mercy, what love and what grace.
Sometimes I feel the Lord look straight at me. It is not in an accusing way. Instead he voices his disappointment. 'Have you not been with me all this time? ' he asks. ' Don't you know me? Can you not wait with me an hour? Do you care so little that when your life is threatened, you disown me? Don't you know that I will never leave or forsake you? Why then is it so easy for you to forsake me? What are you afraid of, is it men, is it losing your friends, your position, or comfortable life?
Jesus knows all I've done. He knows the many subtle ways in which I have abandoned or denied him. He knows it all and yet he loves and forgives me. Just as it was with Peter, the love of his gaze cuts me to the quick. What mercy, what love and what grace.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Luke 21: Signs of the times
“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life. - Luke 21:12-19 NIV
We're always looking for signs of the end of the times. We're always looking for Armageddon, but few of us are looking for the first signs that Jesus said will take place before his re-appearing. Probably, because we don't want to admit to ourselves that by being Christians, we might be subject to ridicule, to hatred, to betrayal, to persecution. We find it hard to believe that being persecuted for our beliefs could be God's will. But it is, and it has been the way that God has worked down through the ages., That was how God worked with Joseph, with Moses, with Daniel, with the prophets, even with the five missionaries massacred in Ecuador by the Huaorani in the 50's. That is how the gospel is spread.
Most of us want to see the gospel spread. We want to see miracles and healings, but do we want to see persecution? Do we want to lose our reputation for the gospel? Could it be that as we see Christian influence on our nation wane, that it is all part of God's overall plan. Could it be that God is setting the stage for people to be brought to court, before judges, for their beliefs? Could it be that some of us will be thrown into the modern day equivalent of the lions den?
Lest that possibility bring on a spirit of fear, remember that Jesus said, he will give us 'words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.' and 'not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.
This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life. - Luke 21:12-19 NIV
We're always looking for signs of the end of the times. We're always looking for Armageddon, but few of us are looking for the first signs that Jesus said will take place before his re-appearing. Probably, because we don't want to admit to ourselves that by being Christians, we might be subject to ridicule, to hatred, to betrayal, to persecution. We find it hard to believe that being persecuted for our beliefs could be God's will. But it is, and it has been the way that God has worked down through the ages., That was how God worked with Joseph, with Moses, with Daniel, with the prophets, even with the five missionaries massacred in Ecuador by the Huaorani in the 50's. That is how the gospel is spread.
Most of us want to see the gospel spread. We want to see miracles and healings, but do we want to see persecution? Do we want to lose our reputation for the gospel? Could it be that as we see Christian influence on our nation wane, that it is all part of God's overall plan. Could it be that God is setting the stage for people to be brought to court, before judges, for their beliefs? Could it be that some of us will be thrown into the modern day equivalent of the lions den?
Lest that possibility bring on a spirit of fear, remember that Jesus said, he will give us 'words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.' and 'not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Luke 20: A Precious Cornerstone
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’?
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” - Luke 20:17-18 NIV
Sometimes I feel solely responsible for the gospel. I take it poorly when it is rejected. I take it poorly when the world rejects us. I take it poorly when the world lumps Christians with all the other crazies. But, Jesus told us to expect rejection. Shortly before his crucifixion he warns his disciples, in the parable of the tenants, that the world will not accept his message, but instead will put him to death. 'This can never be', they reply, but Jesus has proven to be correct down through the ages. The dismissal of the message in this day should not be surprising. Neither should our response be surprising. Rather than being defensive or panic stricken over the world's response, we should be even more confident that we have been gifted the precious stone; the cornerstone of God's plan of redemption for the world. The stone which, in spite of it's rejection by the world, is the cornerstone for a sure foundation.
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” - Luke 20:17-18 NIV
Sometimes I feel solely responsible for the gospel. I take it poorly when it is rejected. I take it poorly when the world rejects us. I take it poorly when the world lumps Christians with all the other crazies. But, Jesus told us to expect rejection. Shortly before his crucifixion he warns his disciples, in the parable of the tenants, that the world will not accept his message, but instead will put him to death. 'This can never be', they reply, but Jesus has proven to be correct down through the ages. The dismissal of the message in this day should not be surprising. Neither should our response be surprising. Rather than being defensive or panic stricken over the world's response, we should be even more confident that we have been gifted the precious stone; the cornerstone of God's plan of redemption for the world. The stone which, in spite of it's rejection by the world, is the cornerstone for a sure foundation.
So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. - Isaiah 28:16 NIV
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Esther: If I perish, I perish
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:14-16 NIV
The history of the Jewish people might have been quite different were it not for Esther and her willingness to act against injustice. She knew she was risking her life, yet, in she stepped into danger for the greater good, realizing that it was more than her life that was at risk. The lives of all her fellow Jews were at risk unless she acted. As Mordecai said, "who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
These verses remind me of a song written by Derek Loux:
save me from comfort
paper religion
false conversion
make me stand
give me the privilege of suffering with you
that we’d see your glory fill this land
don’t let me perish for lack of vision
the days of peace on earth are few
save me from the famine of revelation
on the horizon the storm clouds brew
who will tarry with me for an hour
who will find out how my heart is breaking
who will tarry with me for an hour
who will be my friend
who will tarry with me for an hour
must i tread the grapes of wrath alone
who will tarry with me for an hour
who will be my friend
will you prepare the way of the lord
will you cry in the wilderness
will you prepare the way of the lord
will you be his friend
if i perish then i perish i am yours i am yours
In 2009 a few days before Christmas, Derek lost his life in a tragic car accident while coming back from a conference focused on rescuing girls from sex slavery, leaving his wife with ten children, most of whom were adopted out of extenuating circumstances. Derek was one who refused to be silent. His wife, Renee went on to adopt three more children in need and the Orphan Justice Center which they founded is still going strong, rescuing the helpless.
Who knows? We are all called to leave our comfort zones, we are all called to fight injustice. Our lives will always be in the hands of the Father, even if we perish.
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:14-16 NIV
The history of the Jewish people might have been quite different were it not for Esther and her willingness to act against injustice. She knew she was risking her life, yet, in she stepped into danger for the greater good, realizing that it was more than her life that was at risk. The lives of all her fellow Jews were at risk unless she acted. As Mordecai said, "who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
These verses remind me of a song written by Derek Loux:
save me from comfort
paper religion
false conversion
make me stand
give me the privilege of suffering with you
that we’d see your glory fill this land
don’t let me perish for lack of vision
the days of peace on earth are few
save me from the famine of revelation
on the horizon the storm clouds brew
who will tarry with me for an hour
who will find out how my heart is breaking
who will tarry with me for an hour
who will be my friend
who will tarry with me for an hour
must i tread the grapes of wrath alone
who will tarry with me for an hour
who will be my friend
will you prepare the way of the lord
will you cry in the wilderness
will you prepare the way of the lord
will you be his friend
if i perish then i perish i am yours i am yours
In 2009 a few days before Christmas, Derek lost his life in a tragic car accident while coming back from a conference focused on rescuing girls from sex slavery, leaving his wife with ten children, most of whom were adopted out of extenuating circumstances. Derek was one who refused to be silent. His wife, Renee went on to adopt three more children in need and the Orphan Justice Center which they founded is still going strong, rescuing the helpless.
Who knows? We are all called to leave our comfort zones, we are all called to fight injustice. Our lives will always be in the hands of the Father, even if we perish.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Nehemiah 10-13 Desecrating the Sabbath
In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.
Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.
I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day?
Didn’t your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.” - Nehemiah 13:15-18 NIV
How is it that we can uphold all of the Ten Commandments with the exception of the fourth commandment? If one commandment no longer applies, then how do the others have any relevance.
This commandment must have been considered important as Deuteronomy discusses this commandment at length:
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day". - Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NIV
Lest we be too hard on ourselves, the Israelites found it easy to disregard this commandment as well. They were buying and selling, treading wine and carry on as if the Sabbath was just any other day, much like most Christians, myself included, in our country are guilty of today. Nehemiah recognized that historically, ignoring the Sabbath always brought calamity on the Israel. When it was pointed out to those returning from exile, they repented and swore before Nehemiah “When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath - Neh. 10;31 NIV
God's laws are just and they are also immutable. When we begin ignoring the commandment about the Sabbath, is it just a moment of time before we start ignoring the commandment to loving God with all our heart, or not murdering? Are we now facing the consequences? Is it possible that the breakdown of society that we are witnessing is a result of stirring up the wrath of God by our desecration of the Sabbath? Just asking?
Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.
I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day?
Didn’t your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.” - Nehemiah 13:15-18 NIV
How is it that we can uphold all of the Ten Commandments with the exception of the fourth commandment? If one commandment no longer applies, then how do the others have any relevance.
This commandment must have been considered important as Deuteronomy discusses this commandment at length:
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day". - Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NIV
Lest we be too hard on ourselves, the Israelites found it easy to disregard this commandment as well. They were buying and selling, treading wine and carry on as if the Sabbath was just any other day, much like most Christians, myself included, in our country are guilty of today. Nehemiah recognized that historically, ignoring the Sabbath always brought calamity on the Israel. When it was pointed out to those returning from exile, they repented and swore before Nehemiah “When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath - Neh. 10;31 NIV
God's laws are just and they are also immutable. When we begin ignoring the commandment about the Sabbath, is it just a moment of time before we start ignoring the commandment to loving God with all our heart, or not murdering? Are we now facing the consequences? Is it possible that the breakdown of society that we are witnessing is a result of stirring up the wrath of God by our desecration of the Sabbath? Just asking?
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Nehemiah 7-9: Just and Faithful
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. - Neh. 7:5-6 NIV
“Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Neh. 8:5-6 NIV
“Now therefore, O our God, the great, mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings and leaders, upon our priests and prophets, upon our fathers and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong. - Neh. 9:32-33 NIV
The remnant has returned from exile. The temple has been rebuilt. Jerusalem's walls have been repaired and now the people gather to worship and give thanks. After the long years of exile, living under foreign rulers and foreign gods, they have a chance to reestablish their relationship with the God of their fathers.
First they must have responsive hearts, they must respond "Amen! Amen!, "So be it!" Then they must bow down and worship. They must extol the God of Heaven. They must praise His name. Finally, they must take responsibility. They must acknowledge their sins, they must confess that they have brought the hardship upon themselves. While they have wandered far from God, He has never left them, he has always been just and faithful.
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