Greenwoods Community Church

Christian walk lighted,

From the Holy Word of God,

My meditations

By John K. Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Camel’s Delimnna

Last modified on 2013-09-02 13:42:12 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Luke 18:25 (NIV), “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Why did Jesus make such a startling statement? His disciples questioned: if the rich can’t be saved, who can? This might indicate a notion as common then as now: it assumes, if a person is rich, it is because God has blessed him with wealth and he has God’s favor. But haven’t some men gotten great wealth by unscrupulous means? Surely God has not blessed their evil schemes to gain riches. Is Jesus just using hyperbole to emphasize a lesson? But what is the lesson? The disciple’s question and his response indicate His seriousness.
Is there a greater obligation on the rich to come to faith than the ordinary person? Grace is grace to all — poor and rich alike! The rich do not have a greater obligation but a greater obstacle. As we learn from this incident where Jesus meets the rich young ruler, this man had lived a life faithful to the Law, at least in a ritualistic way, yet fell short because in the end his wealth came before God and his neighbor. Money was his God.
It is too easy to see fulfilling certain religious obligations as living the Law. I attend and teach Sunday School, tithe, etc. So doesn’t that count for me? The Kings of Israel were commanded not too accumulate much wealth or possessions lest they corrupt their judgment and integrity. Wealth can bless or curse depending how you use it. You can use it selfishly or wisely for the common good. The farmer with the full barns was self-satisfied but lost all as he lost his life. We pray each Sunday “Thy Kingdom came, Thy will be done.” Perhaps without realizing it we have a part in building that Kingdom and underscoring His will by living out Kingdom values. If our wealth is used as an opportunity help others and further the Kingdom, we do well. The answer is in our attitude toward wealth. Jesus isn’t making a blanket condemnation of the rich, but warning them to truly honor God as they obey the Law.

Wait upon The Lord

Last modified on 2013-07-09 13:41:32 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I don’t remember where I got this or what is its source, but I thought I would pass it along to you. I don’t think it originated with me. But it seems like such good advise for those times when you need support that I would pass it on.

Wait prayerfully
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
Psalm 22:1-5

Wait Patiently
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7

Wait Hopefully
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Romans 8:23-25

Wait Peacefully
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

Wait Confidently
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

Characteristics of Jesus’ Ministry

Last modified on 2013-05-19 01:17:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

1. What did the prophet Isaiah say that the Messiah was going to do when He came?

Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

2. What did Jesus say that He was going to do?

Luke 4: 18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

3. What did Jesus tell John the Baptist’s disciples that He was doing as proof that He was Messiah?

Matthew 11: 2-6: When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask Him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.”

4. When Jesus sent His twelve apostles out to preach in the cities of Judah, what did He command them and how did He empower them?

Matthew 10:5-8: These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “…Go … to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

5. What three works sum up Jesus’ ministry?

Matthew 4:23: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

1. Teaching the good news
2. Proclaiming the kingdom of God
3. Serving those who needed healing

His target audience was the poor and downtrodden.

My Brother Keeper — Still the Law of the Land

Last modified on 2013-04-10 00:02:15 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Nehemiah 5: 1-12. “About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews.”

We saw in my last meditation how God provided for Israel through laws that formed the basis for a just and caring society — if only they had obeyed. God gave them the Torah, a blue print for a social order that would be self-healing and self-strengthening through instituting laws and practices that insured prosperity for all levels of society in the nation. But Israel failed to follow these laws and that failure was a major cause of their judgment — second only to their idolatry which led to their captivity in Babylon for 70 years.

After the Captivity during the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, Nehemiah encountered a serious conflict which he solved by applying the principles taught in the Torah. This story is found in Nehemiah 5: 1-12. “About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews.” Three groups were complaining:
The first group owned no property — renters, day laborers, subsistent farmers. Because times were hard and work on the wall consumed their time, they couldn’t make a living. There was no grain, they were starving, and selling their children into slavery.
The second group owned property — homes, small farms or businesses. They could make a modest living at best. But again conditions were adverse and work on the wall consumed their time and limited their income, so they couldn’t pay their bills or make a living. They were mortgaging their property, had lost access to it, and had no source of income. They were also starving and selling their children into slavery.
The third group was doing better but they were suffering and couldn’t pay their taxes. They would have to sell their children also and indeed some had sold their daughters to their fellow Jews already. A number of factors, obligation to wall building, possibly drought or some other circumstance had diminished the food supply. And the wealthy were profiting at the expense of the poorer in the community.
When Nehemiah learned of this, he was angry and took the leaders of Israel to task. He reminded them of their obligations to those who were suffering as defined in the Torah which was still the Law of the land. It was forbidden by the Law to enslave their fellow Jews or to charge interest on loans. Nehemiah commanded them to return the enslaved children to their parents, to end the charging of interest on loans, and to return the interest already collected. Nehemiah’s words convicted them of their sin, and they did all he commanded. In addition he himself provided grain from his own storage supplies and interest free loans to the needy in obedience to the Law which he loved. And he also offered himself as an example of compassionate leadership.
Although we are now no longer under the legalism of the Law, we should be even more responsive to the compassion, justice and beauty of the Law because we are recipients of compassion, justice and beauty under Grace. So what can we learn from this incident in history? We see the heart of God who did not intend for there to be a permanent poor class. He provided that we be His hands and His heart to relieve the suffering of the poor and to be the instruments of their redemption from poverty. Instead of blaming the poor for their circumstance, we should focus on drawing them out of their plight. By “teaching them how to fish” instead of ignoring them or only “giving them the fish” we can equip them with the knowledge and the tools they need to extract themselves from their poverty.

Are We Our Brother’s Keeper, God’s View

Last modified on 2013-02-25 22:18:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I read an interesting observation about the Torah in a book by Rabbi David Krusner. It went something like this: The Torah provided laws that insured there would be no permanent poor class. Yes, he observed, there would always be poor due to disaster, drought or just plain bad management, but the Torah put in place laws that mitigated those situations. It anticipated that people would get in trouble, but the Law provided a way out for those trapped in poverty. These thoughts got me searching more on the subject, and this is what I have discovered from reading the Torah:

1. If a man was wealthy, he was instructed to share his wealth with his struggling neighbor. He was obligated by the Law to come to his neighbor’s aid by giving or lending money interest free. Goods and animals must also be provided to help the neighbor reestablish himself back into the economy community. And the rich man was to be generous.

2. A king was not to accumulate great wealth, lest it subvert his judgment.

3. Every seven years all debts were to be forgiven and slaves were to be freed. It provided a fresh start for the slave or debtor. When a slave was freed, he didn’t go away empty-handed. His master was to give him grain, live stock, etc., so that the slave could establish himself as a productive part of the village or town. Again his master was to be generous so as to assure the slave’s success.

4. Then there was the Year of Jubilee. Every 49 years, all land that had been sold or otherwise lost to the original family of ownership was to be returned to the family. Slaves were freed as in the seventh year obligation and all debts forgiven. The land was to lay fallow for the year. It was a time of renewal — a time for starting over.

5. Another provision was the kinsman redeemer. If a person had fallen on hard times or had become a slave or had forfeited property, he could be redeemed by a near relative who was wealthy. It was the relative’s duty to act on behalf of the poor relative. He was to redeem the person out of poverty and restore their place in society. The Book of Ruth tells the story of Naomi who is redeemed by Boas. It is a beautiful love story and an important link in the genealogy of David and Jesus.

6. The Torah at different times and in different ways leveled the playing field so that the poor and the oppressed could start over with new opportunities and energy. The impetus was provided by God through the Torah to create a just and fair society. Such was God’s design for the Kingdom of Israel. God desired to create a generous and caring society based on just laws. As always, God was ready to redeem sinners. He legislated a society based on neighborly love. We are asked to love as He loves, not just in word but in deed also.

World poverty today is grinding and is both permanent and virtually inescapable. Wealth is plentiful but compassion is not. God set down just laws to deal with poverty as an example for us, so that we could be our brother’s keepers.

Bibliography:
Sharing of wealth with the poor Deut. 15: 7-10
Release of slaves Deut. 15:10-17
2. Kings wealth Deut. 17:16-17
3. Sabbatical year Deut. 15:1-3
Lev. 25:2-7
4. Year of Jubilee Lev. 25:8-17
see also Year of Jubilee on the web
5. Kinsman redeemer Lev. 25:23-25
Ruth 3:12-13
see also Our Kinsman redeemer on the web
6. Main thesis Deut. 15:4-8

Are You a Keeper

Last modified on 2013-01-23 02:35:04 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Genesis 4:9 (NIV): Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied, “am I my brother’s keeper?”

God was walking in the field and encounters Cain. Even though God knows Cain has murdered his brother, He asks a simple question: Where is your brother? Because Cain’s offering to God was rejected and Abel’s was accepted, jealousy has led Cain to murder. Cain replies to God’s question: Am I my brother’s keeper? By this statement Cain tries to cover up his crime by diverting the conversation to another topic, suggesting he is not responsible for his brother’s welfare. The irony of his statement is that caring for his brother is the issue and Able’s murder is the ultimate violation of this obligation. God confronts him with his crime, pronounces judgment on him, and sends Cain away condemned.
Am I my brother’s keeper? The statement seemingly goes unanswered because of the more pertinent issue — murder. It is still an important question for us to answer. What does it say to me? How much responsibility do I bear for my brother’s welfare? And who is my brother?
First let us look at the question of the importance of caring. In Deuteronomy the Old Testament summarizes the Ten Commandments in two simple commands: Love the LORD your God with the totality of your being and your neighbor as yourself. We think of this as two commands but it is written as one: Love the Lord and your neighbor. Only one love. So is this one command or two? Jesus restates and strengthens the connection between the two, adding that the second was like unto the first. John in his 1st epistle says that to fail in the second is to fail in the first. If you claim to love God but do not love your neighbor, you lie because, if you do not care about your neighbor, you do not love God and have not experienced His love.
My love for God should be genuine and absolute. God must be first in my life, “as the ibex pants for the water brooks ….” I must treat my brother and my neighbor as my own flesh. We are asked to love and pray for our brother, our neighbor, and even our enemy by caring for them-especially in times of need. So, are we our brothers’ keepers? Do we care about them? Do we care for them?

Isn’t Grace Amazing

Last modified on 2012-11-20 02:03:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

1 John 2:3-6 (NASB): By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

This is a very hard statement. I can only live as Jesus did, in a small part. I don’t live as sacrificially as He did, nor do I live as sincere a life as He did. The passage seems so cut and dry, so either/or. If I judge my life by His, I simply fail. I have no chance of succeeding. But are we dealing with a sliding scale? If I judge my life as a whole and average the effort, I still fall far short. If I factor in all the sinful habits I have struggled with all my life, again I fail. While I can truthfully say that I am a Christian, these verses judge my effort to live the Christian life. My Christian life is incomplete and once again I fall far short of the mark. Then I must ask myself, “How well do I live this Christian life?” The world and other Christians might judge me one way and may even give me a pretty good mark, but against the absolute scale of God’s commands, the judgment He reaches will be a different matter.
This is the contradiction of Scripture — absolute righteousness is the standard which is set against the inherent failure of man to achieve it. But this contrast serves to underline in red the great gift of grace which resolves the conflict, showing the power and extent of God’s love and compassion. Life would be a tragic attempt to obey and please God with failure at its end if not for grace. It would leave no attainable solution. The verses just before this passage answer the dilemma. When we fail, and of course we will, Jesus stands at His Father’s side acting as our lawyer declaring that the payment has been met. We also have the Holy Spirit who is there to argue our case. We are cleared of all charges-not by what we have earned but by what Christ has accomplished. Great is our Lord who is always ready, willing and able to forgive our sins!

The Joy of Contrition

Last modified on 2012-10-16 23:47:13 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Isaiah 57:15: For this is what the high and exalted One says,
He who lives forever, whose name is holy:
I live in a high and holy place
But also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit-
To revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite

After chastening Israel for her sins which are many and grievous, the Lord reminds them of His compassion. What I find surprising is the contrast between the loftiness of God and His identification with the contrite, the lowly, the poor in spirit. This verse is the hinge on which His message turns. As harsh as His condemnation is, God still has tender feelings for Israel. He opens the door-offering restoration and His greatest blessing. He is waiting for Israel to be contrite and to forsake their arrogance and rebellion.
To be contrite is to be sorrowful for your sins. To be sorrowful is to admit to wrong doing and to take exclusive responsibility for your actions and declare them to be sin. Only then can you begin the way to forgiveness and restoration. God invites us to recognize our sin and learn contriteness, and God will meet us in the midst of our troubles, but the meeting place is in the contrite heart.
Like a loving father, God calls out to us to return to Him like the Prodigal son, and He is filled with joy when we do so. How tender we realize God is after so much anger and judgment. He can not, He will not ignore the insult to His person, but He is equally ready to forgive. Having reminded us that He dwells in a place apart from us, He then says that He also dwells with us. The gap is bridged in the realm of contrition. We must desire Him so much that we surrender our sin in order to know Him in His greatness. Like the Prodigal, we find we are welcomed home with a celebration.

And Jesus Loved Him

Last modified on 2012-09-25 13:37:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Mark 10:21 (NIV): Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack, ” He said, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow Me.”

What is striking about this verse is that Jesus loves the man before He knows much about him. He recognizes that the man has deluded himself with the notion that he has fulfilled all the Law, when in truth his trust in his wealth has come between him and his God. Yet, he feels incomplete in his devotion and inquires what he lacks to gain eternal life. His question really is asking what else must I do? The answer he receives surprises and disappoints him and he goes away saddened. His wealth is too big of a temptation. He is not willing to let go of earthly treasure to gain heavenly treasure. Yet, Jesus loves him. He loved him before the conversation and after it-in-spite of the rejection. The story ends with the man going away, and we don’t know anything further about him. Jesus was not harsh in His answer to him, but He did go directly to the heart of the matter: Where did the man’s true devotion lie? Before the man could move on he had to come to terms with his love of wealth. The loving Jesus was always there waiting for the man to set aside his love for his monetary idols and find love for the Lord.
Jesus loved the man but the man did not love Jesus. He held him in high regard but he did not love. He was a pious man who satisfied himself with careful devotion to the letter of the Law of God, but he had lost his love for the Law Giver-the One who always loves first. “For God so loved the world…” that He gave His greatest treasure-His Son. And now the Son stands before the man, loving but not being loved in return.
We share this man’s experience. We were going on our merry way. Some of us were spiraling downward to destruction or some, like me, were completely oblivious of our need. But God still loved me and sought me in His unique way and, having gotten my attention, challenged me to love Him back.
Can I now as a Christian face a temptation similar to this rich man? Can I become self-deluded also—fooling myself that I can begin on the path of love that God has laid-out for me and then let things get complicated and stray from the best path? As Jesus’ love for me is constant so should mine be for Him. Simple and not cluttered. I must not mistake piety for love. Love always comes first. True piety is founded in love. I am directed to love the Lord my God with all my being.
Lord teach me to love You as You have loved me.

Thank You for the Breath

Last modified on 2012-08-21 01:14:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Isaiah 2: 22 “Stop regarding man whose breath is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed.”

I like that expression “whose breath is in his nostrils”. It takes away all the pride and pretension of man. For all our boasting, we are only a breath away from death and judgment. We should be thanking God for the gift of each breath each day, and using that time to praise and serve Him who could snatch away that breath at any time. It puts into prospective how fragile life is and how dependent we are on God. These words come on the heels of a series of judgments against the pride of the peoples who surrounded Judah and Jerusalem and who constituted most of her enemies. God promised to humble the pride of these peoples, their idols, their ships of commerce and their beautiful cities. All came under judgment.
We build great cites, we invent marvelous machines, we create a medical system that prolongs life and improves its quality, but we forget God who created us and gave us the ability to create these things. Yet we don’t stop to think of the consequence of such neglect. We are like the man in Jesus’ parable. His industry produced a bountiful harvest and in his pride he planned to expand his operation by building bigger storage facilities and perhaps hiring more help. He never considered that it was God, who through favorable conditions had provided the plentitude. The man did not think of his eternal future. He excluded God from his parameters. His life with all its accomplishments would end that very night. He failed to acknowledge that each breath each day is God’s gift.
Our idols are not objects of stone, metal or wood like the ancients, but our idols are our wealth, our celebrities, our nation, even our own accomplishments. When we willfully loose our dependence on God and put our trust in other things, they become our gods. We no longer love or worship God with our whole being. We no longer offer ourselves as living sacrifices which is our expected level of devotion. Gandhi said “Worship without sacrifice” is one the great social sins. We must not be like the short-sighted man in Jesus’ parable. We must not put off to the last moment the opening of ourselves to our God. Remember: our breath is in our nostrils, and our future awaits us. God be gracious to us for we are weak and foolish.

from Billy Collins’ poem “Days” —

Each one is a gift, no doubt
mysteriously placed in your waking hand
or set upon your forehead
moments before you open your eyes.

A Haiku - My Testimony

Last modified on 2012-07-12 00:55:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Cold Christmas evening,
On leave from army, visiting,
Roguish friend. Preacher?

What’s this Jesus stuff,
That George keeps saying I need,
Look what I’d give up.

What about JW stuff?
I don’t believe it anymore!
What is real truth?

Read Romans, This hour?
King James Version, O too dense,
And I just want sleep! Not God.

Second try, Phillips,
Two in the morning, out loud.
How clear the message.

Speak words I’ve not heard.
Law, grace, redemption, my choice,
Do I dare? Accept?

Struggle abed,
To choose or suffer loss of
What? Lifestyle? Habits?

Better lost than held.
But I do treasure them so.
Must choose or lose chance.

Wrestle with the choice,
Slowly loosed the grip, give in!
Oh! Jesus Savior

Monastery For The Soul

Last modified on 2012-06-19 01:46:04 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Psalms 119:165 (NIV), Great peace have those who love your law, And nothing can make them stumble.

Peace is something I greatly desire. Modern life for me is full of clamor and dissension. Daily I hear of conflict, continuing war, political tensions, horrific multiple murders, massacres, missing children and on and on. These things bear down on me like a heavy weight. Sometimes I just want to get away from it all. I long for a quiet place were tragedies don’t happen. Men and women of the past and even some today seek shelter in monasteries and convents to find peace. They try to create a place apart from the chaotic secular scene. Some live in silence so as to focus on Christ who gives them solitude and peace. Is this the only solution, escaping to a mountain top, far from the insane rush of modern life?
But I have strong commitments and obligations. I feel that walking away would be an act of neglect of my Christian responsibility I can not escape. So what am I supposed to do? I could just hunker down, grin and bear up under all the racket, or I could escape because peace is an undeniable need. I simply need relief. Please stop the world. I want to get off at the next stop — such a silly idea. I must find my solitude in the midst of the chaos.
Today’s passage says that loving the Law or Word of God is the key to peace and a stable life. How can that be? What is it about His Word that brings such wonderful blessings? In a world of lawlessness and disorder, divine law rooted in justice but tempered with mercy and grace brings comfort. Even if the world is crazy, the knowledge of God’s presence and His word is stabilizing and firm. I need to build my monastery in my mind and in my soul so that I carry God’s peace with me where ever I go. These rules of law will structure my life so that I can build that monastery. There I can commune with God and He with me. I’ll build it with solid material — the Word of God will be my bricks, and prayer will be my mortar. I’ll be safe there.

Real Teachers

Last modified on 2012-06-09 02:27:12 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

1 Thessalonians 2:13, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”

As a teacher, my greatest satisfaction comes from seeing my students living the lessons I have taught them. But when the lessons taught become theirs to the extent that I am removed from the equation, then I can begin to feel the joy. More than that when the lessons then originate from the student, I have done my part and I can rejoice. The Spirit now can teach directly and I must step back and let Him take over.

One of the main lessons a teacher teaches is confidence in the Word-its authority from God, its power in the work of the Spirit, and its natural and useful wisdom. Paul experienced this in his ministry among the Thessalonians. He saw believers respond to the Word of truth in positive ways that told him that they not only believed but that the Word had came alive in their words and actions as well. The church could now produce its own teachers and could stand independently of Paul. They would only need his oversight to guide them when questions arose — as they did.

For a church to remain healthy, a teacher or leader in the church needs to build-up individuals that are spiritually mature and mutually cooperative so that the church can continue the work of the Spirit in that place in the absence of the teacher/leader. The church cannot be built on one or two individuals. It always must be growing its own future leaders and teachers. The focus of teaching is never on one’s own wisdom but on the wisdom of the Word. That is where the power is. The teacher only turns on the light. It is the light that guides the lives to Christ and it is in Christ that lives grow. So often in teaching, it is the student who teaches the teacher who then tells the class what they have taught him. Thus he becomes merely the encourager who facilitates the discussion.

Look Again and See for the First time

Last modified on 2012-05-16 00:32:18 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Psalms 119:18, “Open my eyes that I may see, Wonderful things from Your Law.”

The more familiar I am with a passage of Scripture the more my thoughts can be
so patterned and clouded that I can’t see anything new. I get locked in a single
understanding of the verse, and I need divine intervention to break out of my mental
stalemate. Otherwise I will not learn the new lesson God wants me to know and act
upon. The Word always has a new lesson to teach — if I am open to hear its voice.

Just as the beauty of the Word can lift my spirits when I am discouraged, so also
its cleansing message can transform me into something more to God’s desiring. The
seeker who logs in sufficient time studying the Word finds the beauty of the unity of its
message and then finds satisfaction for his hungry soul. But there is always more that
the Word can give. Its message is ever fresh and can fulfill the longings of the weary
searcher. Each passage of Scripture deserves a fresh look that can only be achieved
by listening to the Spirit who is able open up new wonders to us that will thrill our souls.
But we need to ask.

Four Pillars of Grace

Last modified on 2012-05-02 01:38:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

THERE ARE THREE PILLARS OF GRACE, YEA FOUR

Proverbs 30:15…18,21,29: There are three things that are never satisfied, yea four…the grave, the womb, the earth, and the fire.…

Following in the poetic format of the Words of Agur above, I would like to say that: There are three principles that a Christian cannot live without, yea four. They are contrition, confession, redemption, and forgiveness which completes the package.
Without Contrition, I never feel the sting of my sin as Christ views it. It was for that very sin that Christ suffered the pain and punishment even unto to death. My sin is linked directly to one of those lashes he bore. As I practice contrition, I bear the weight of my transgression. I see my action for what it is. What was once pleasure, I now feel as pain. I have sinned against a loving Father who desires only good things for me. He knows that what I considered to be joy is really pain and suffering. A gulf of my own making now separates me from my Father, and I feel the pain of loss. David better expresses my longing and despair. He cries to God for a renewal of that fellowship he had before his sin separated him from his redeemer and friend. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Psalms 32:3-4 (NIV) He realizes his hopeless and without God’s aid he will languish. He confesses his sin and finds relief.

Without Confession, David remained trapped in his guilt and and self-loathing. We have seen prominent people caught in the head lights of sin only to deny their guilt. The longer they avoid the issue the deeper the mess becomes until they are backed into a corner. Not able to extract their reputation, their fall is great. It’s a trap too easy to fall into and harder to extricate yourself. Excepting your culpability quickly and sincerely is more readily excepted by your critics than denial. With God, there is no excuse. He relishes our honesty, and our sincere sorrow for our sins. He knows that we can be weak and fall prey to our passions. He is ready, waiting to hear our confessions and to restore us to our place at His side. John the Apostle says in his first letter, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Without Redemption, I can never know God’s purifying act of love which applies the work of Christ to my life of sin and cleans my soul and dries my tears of shame. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NIV) God no longer sees our sins; He sees only the perfect work of His Son, and He is pleased.
Without Forgiveness, the work would be incomplete, and guilt would haunt us day and night. Forgiveness is the peace that surpasses all under-standing. It is the salve and dressing on the wound. It is also the healing hand that dresses the wound. And it is the kiss of love that sends you on your way happy and healed. Thanks be to God for His wonderful healing care. Amen

Blessed Are The Generous

Last modified on 2012-04-05 23:40:16 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Luke 16: 10-11 Phillips, “The man who is faithful in the little things will be faithful in the big things, and the man who cheats in the little things will cheat in the big things too. So that if you are not fit to be trusted to deal with the wicked wealth of this world, who will trust you with the true riches.” Please also read Luke 16:1-13.

The man in this story is truly a slippery character. He gets caught mismanaging his employer’s properties, resulting in squandering his money. The man is threatened with dismissal. He knows that he is too old for manual labor and too proud to beg. So he creates a scheme to protect himself when he’s dismissed. He plans to make friends of those men who owed his employer a debt by substantially reducing the amount owed. This way, when he is let go his new friends will take him in.
Surprisingly, His employer admires his ingenuity in securing his own future. The story ends there and doesn’t say how his future worked out for him.

But what is Jesus teaching me with this strange story of a rascal who got away with creating his employer twice? Jesus observes that the children of the world are more wise than the children of faith because they use their wealth to make friends so as to insure a secure future. He advises us to do the same. We are to use our money “tainted as it is” to make friends for our “eternal habitation”. What does this mean? What questions should I be asking myself? What value do I put on my wealth? How do I manage it? Is what I possess of greater value to me in my sight than the Kingdom of God? Do I desire for my neighbor what I desire for myself? My neighbors are my friends for my eternal habitation. Isn’t all I own given me by God and as a good steward shouldn’t I be generous with my wealth? Shouldn’t I consider my riches not as mine but as provided to further the Kingdom of God? How do I seek first His kingdom and still be stingy?

Like the man in the story, I am to make friends through my generosity, but not like men of the world buying influence. I am to care for the needy and the oppressed. This way I fulfill the Law of God, loving both God and my neighbor. Then God will give me greater responsibility because of my faithfulness.

I find it interesting that five verses later, Jesus returns to this theme with the story of Lazarus and the rich man which illustrates the principle of this story. The rich man in this story squanders his plenty exclusively on himself, ignoring Lazarus dying on his doorstep. In the Christmas Carol mankind was Ebenezer Scrooge’s business. Likewise is true with the man in Jesus’ story: his business was his neighbor but he failed to see the old man lying there.

My choice is before me. The direction I am to take is clear. I no longer think one can call himself blessed if he has wealth. You are only blessed if you give it away generously.

Yikes, Lord, My Enemy Has Become My Neighbor!

Last modified on 2012-02-26 01:16:31 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Matthew 5: 43-44, You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you shall love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Please read verses 43-48.

Outrageous! Yes that’s what I said, outrageous. Does Jesus really expect me to love my enemy? It doesn’t make any sense.
Yes, that is what my Lord expects of me. God Himself models this behavior for us. In the next verse, we learn that God shows no partiality to friend or foe in that He waters the earth and provides sustenance to both equally. Also, in Romans 5:8, Paul says “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” And again he says in verse 10 “For while we were enemies, we were reconciled…” Secondly, Jesus says, But what of your testimony? If you only love your friends, what does that say to the world? Your enemy does the same for his friends. Shouldn’t you be different?
In 1921, Communist Russia suffered a great famine which affected tens of millions of people, mainly peasants from the Volga-Ural region. Millions had already starved with millions more threatened. While Lenin resisted outside assistance (he later relented), a number of prominent Russians ignored him and made an appeal to the international community for aid. Numerous international relief organizations responded to the call, including the American Relief Administration headed by Herbert Hoover. He was also the chief advocate for the project and administered the effort in Russia, encountering considerable resistance and interference from the Russian Secret Police. The bulk of the relief effort (leadership and funding) came from the ARA which was funded by the US Congress. Hoover became known as the great philanthropist and was a hero to the people he saved. He treated his enemy as the neighbor he was.
During the North Korean famine of the 1990s, I thought that the USA had an opportunity to love our North Korean neighbor by providing rice for the people in need. A relief effort may have produced fruit for the kingdom of God, and we would have truly loved our neighbor. I often wonder if the North Koreans would have been so quick to rattle the atomic saber had we done so.
I either read or heard of a story of a Rabbi and a white supremacist (KKK). The Rabbi found this man much like the man in Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan. He was in dire straits and needing a friend. The Rabbi, like the good Samaritan, cared for him-even taking him into his own home where he brought him back to good health. The man left the Rabbi with his heart changed. The Rabbi truly loved his enemy as his neighbor.
The thought of giving aid to an enemy such as North Korea, especially after fighting a bloody war with them in the 1950s might offend some. But that is what Herbert Hoover did for a much more dangerous enemy. It didn’t soften the heart of communist Russia, but it saved 10 million people and we became known as giving, caring people. That was not an easy decision to make. But those are the kinds of decisions we as Christians are sometimes called to make. These decisions are so contrary to conventional wisdom that we naturally balk at making them.
On a personal level, am I ready to forgive my enemy, much less love and aid him like I would a neighbor? It challenges me as to how much I love my neighbor much less my enemy. Christianity, when it is lived right, is radical and non-conforming. When I find myself responding in a conventional way to extraordinary circumstances, I must seek Christ’s wisdom and His direction. I know His way is always best even if it isn’t the easy way of doing business. When do I know when my enemy has become my neighbor? When Christ tells me so.

Foundations

Last modified on 2012-01-19 18:48:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Corinthians 3:11, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” !

Foundations play a most critical part of any creative project, whether it be a building or any other effort. Even in a simple task like tying a fishing fly, the first wrap of thread is as important as the last. A badly wrapped thread results in a lumpy and unconvincing fly. The first things guide the remainder of the project. Our very lives begin with a genetic foundation to which an early family environmental foundation is added. These beginning influences shape much of our personalities. On this base, we build our character, either good or bad.
When we became new creations in Christ, we receive a spiritual foundation on which to build. The Apostle Paul shows us the importance of that foundation. Christ, he says, is the only sure foundation, the only one on which you can build a solid life. In this passage’s extended, Paul context shows concern that the Church at Corinth is in jeopardy by various competing factions that are each following the one preached to them and each is claiming it is the right way. These factions are tearing the Church apart. He warns that they must be careful that the foundation they lay is only Christ and nothing or no one else and that they then take care to build with materials commensurate with the foundation, and those materials are Christ‘s commandments and teachings.
What is true for the Corinthian Church is also true of how we are building whether it be our own lives, the lives of others, or of the Church. We begin with Christ and we build with Christ. When we do so, our building will persevere. When we bring in other elements, philosophies, world views or our personal quirks, we corrupt the whole structure and we do not honor God or His Son.
I test myself by asking the following questions. Is He the core of all that I am? Is my character built around His teachings and His commands? Do I understand His person as He truly is and says? Do I bring to the Word of God a template of my own making or do I let it speak for itself? Have I created Christ in my image or do I allow Him to shape my character? These are critical questions I must ask myself continually to purify my vision of Him.
To know Him, I must first read, study and meditate on His Word. This is the source of solid building materials. With these materials in hand, I begin building on my foundation with prayer. Obedience to both what I learn from the Word and from my prayer and where it leads me shapes the structure of my character. Have I been transformed to the “image which is Christ” is the test of my workmanship? Do I love others as myself as Christ commanded? Do I serve my Church, my neighbor, my community and the world beyond? Do I seek “first His kingdom and His righteousness”? It is better for the world to know I am a Christian by what am and do, than by what I say.
The second aspect of this building project is How do I build up others and the church? As I build up others I build the Church. So I must ask myself, do I honor Christ’s command and disciple others? Do I teach others what I have learned from my walk with Christ so that they might grow in Christ so that they might also build up others as they grow. We are the building blocks on which the living Temple of God is built and these blocks are formed by Christ. Do I work to maintain the unity of the Church in the bond of peace by building up its leaders and members? Love and her companion humility must be my companions also. Patience and forbearance should stand guard on my words and actions. Although patience and forbearance are nouns they must act like verbs and do the work of Christ through me. Like Paul I must be careful to build on the solid foundation of Christ in those I disciple. As I have been taught so I must teach.

Those Wonderful Words

Last modified on 2011-12-21 02:08:08 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Romans 8 : 1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

It was just a few days before Christmas and I was home on leave from the army, visiting a friend. He had become a Christian while I was away at the base in California. After our long catch-up conversation was over, George urged me to read the first eight chapters of Romans aloud. Fortunately, we abandoned the King James Bible for the more readable Phillips translation. I waded through Paul’s argument for justification by faith alone sans works. Then came chapter eight. As I read those words, the lights went on in the previous chapters. I understood. What had been a growing mystery now spoke with an unambiguous clarity. Paul had come to this wonderful conclusion: “There is therefore now no condemnation …”. These words are the most comforting words in all the language of man. When I realized the truth that my struggle with sin and inadequacy was over and that I had been placed “in Christ,” I offered a sigh of relief. The law no longer judged me and I was free be what God had been wanting me to be. I had come home as a prodigal son but instead the feasting had begun.
Paul’s argument culminates in chapter seven-speaking of the conflict of wanting to obey the divine law but doing the opposite. The very thing I detest I find myself doing, and the good thing I desire escapes my grasp. I am at my wits end and cry out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from the body of this death?” But God’s unmatched gift of grace comes to me with words: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Oh, I can fall back into that trap of self-loathing as I find myself slipping back into old familiar behavioral patterns, but then those wonderful words rescue me and stand me back on my feet, brush me off, and send me on my way. Without those words, I would be paralyzed into inaction. Serving God would be perfunctory. I would be lost in self again.
Fifty years have fled and I still rejoice in those comforting words. What have I learned from this experience? Throughout all of the history of man’s spiritual journey as recorded in Scripture he has failed in every attempt at leading a holy and productive life for God. Even the best and brightest could not make the cut. God offered many ways to satisfy His holiness — from the early self-monitored system to the system of Divine Law and sacrifices. We could not live up to the simplest requirements of obedience. We were too easily distracted or tempted. Man wanted to prove he could do it alone without God. He could not.
But God, because He loved His creation so much, would not be stopped at man’s failure. He chose to do what we could not do. God through His Son redeemed us by His sacrifice on the cross. And now, salvation is low-hanging fruit inviting us to take and taste the goodness of God. In the past, we cried “Oh wretched man that I am,” but God answered with “There is therefore now no condemnation…”
Take, eat and be refreshed.

Where Is Your Mind?

Last modified on 2011-11-28 02:18:37 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Philippians 2 : 3, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, But with humility of mind let each of you Regard one another as more important Than himself”.

In my last meditation, I wrote of the problem of excessive pride. If pride is a bag of peanuts, then sharing them with others is humility. Humility should be the natural expression of our devotion to Christ. It should guard our words and actions. It does not matter what our station in life is, our education or our position in the church is. Humility must govern our behavior.
Paul first challenges the Philippians to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Then he appeals to their devotion to Christ, to their fellow Christians and to Paul himself to maintain their unity. He says “make my joy complete” by being of the same mind, love, spirit and purpose by casting out selfishness and empty conceit, letting humility rule their relationships.
Humility and unity work together to build the Kingdom. Oh, you can have unity with inequality but the bond that holds it together is power not love. Humility grows out of love and is an expression of that love.
Humility is an act of obedience. The Great Commandment demands us to surrender all of self to God. As we obey, we humble ourselves before Him in worship. We can not obey this commandment without first bending the knee in humble adoration. Yet Jesus says that His second commandment is like unto the first. It calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. To love others as we love ourselves humbles us in acts of service to our neighbors.
John in his gospel says this of Jesus: “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, took a towel…then He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples feet ….” To the very end, Jesus in this act of humility to His disciples showed the example of what attitude should govern their church leadership-and thus our attitude.
Paul continues his exhortation with the words: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself… .” To reject this example of Christ’s humility by being so full of self is to put ourselves above Him. He, who possessed the divine essence, had every right to exalt Himself above others, did not do so. Instead He humbled Himself. In doing that He won us back to the Father.
In the book “Grasis”, Henri Neuwen, a Catholic priest, sums up my feelings: “The most important question for me is not how I touch people, but how do I live the word I am speaking. In Jesus no division existed between his word and his action, between what he said and what he did. Jesus’ words were his action, his words were events. They not only spoke about changes, cures, new life, but they actually created them. In this sense, Jesus is truly the Word made flesh; in that word all is created and by that word all is recreated. Grasis by Henri Neuwen p. 125
Where is your mind?

Peanuts and Pride

Last modified on 2011-11-11 02:31:12 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Proverbs 16: 18, “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling”.

Pride is like eating salted peanuts, you can’t stop with just one. Pride is a wide receiver making a great catch in the end zone and then strutting his stuff and spiking the ball after his dance. How would I have looked as Librarian if, upon cataloging a particularly tough book, I did a victory dance and spiked the book? We would all agree-I would have looked foolish. The football player’s performance is accepted by most because it adds to the show. It would not have been acceptable for me. The pride I have just spoken of is the excessive display of ego and arrogance. On the other hand we rejoice with a new mother in her pride for her newborn, or we take pride in our children’s accomplishments. Feeling good about our successes is healthy for self-worth. But it is when we cross that line into sinful pride that we are in trouble.
Isaiah writes that Babylon was the pride of the Chaldeans. Babylon was a feared and aggressive city that dominated the Middle East for many years, proud that it had subdued many small kingdoms. Isaiah also wrote that Babylon devastated the pride of Egypt. But Babylon itself fell to the Persians one evening while Belshazzar arrogantly partied using vessels from the Lord’s temple. The earlier Babylon of Nimrod fell to pride when they tried to build a tower to reach the heavens The last we see of Babylon is in John’s book of Revelation where the great city is no more than a prostitute in bed with the kings of the earth. She has been destroyed by a great empire known as the Beast. The men of commerce mourn her passing, for they made much wealth from her. She was so proud, so sure of her place in the world, but her wrongful pride destroyed her.
Pride of this nature has no place in church leadership or in any relationship. The work of the church is God’s work. Putting self into the business of the church invites failure. Rather than being a church, we create a caricature of the real one. People are hurt. There are divisions. We lose our witness in the community. Pride scatters the good to the wind. A Proverbs says “He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind”. Friendship dissolves in the bitter acid of pride. John equates pride with worldliness. He says “Do not love the world…and the boastful pride of life.
Pride is subtle. Lets say that I do something good and someone praises me. Now, if there is pride in me, I would want more than the quiet compliment. Each Sunday when I offer the morning’s invocation prayer, I do so with some measure of apprehension, so I first offer a quick silent prayer of preparation and ask the Lord to be gracious with me so that I might offer a prayer from the heart-with some grace of expression. If the spoken prayer sounds good, I could be filled with pride, only to be pulled up sharply with this thought from the Lord: A moment ago you feared hearing your own voice, so you prayed for help and I helped you, and now you’re prideful? Oh shame on you!
How do we counter pride so that it doesn’t trip us up. We fight pride with humility.
But that is a subject for my next meditation.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Last modified on 2011-10-29 00:38:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Matthew 5: 3, Blessed are the poor in spirit; For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus used word “blessed” to startle His audience, to set them back on their heels so to speak. He often used this surprise mode — as in the story of the Good Samaritan or the Parable of Prodigal Son. In this way, He brought a truer and deeper understanding to the subject He was speaking about. He took the concept a step further. His audience would quickly be engaged just to see what conclusions one could draw from these stories. On the other hand, the religious leaders often took personal offense at this as He confronted conventional wisdom and their interpretation the Law. In the Beatitudes, for example, He describes those at the bottom of the social order — the poor, the mournful, the humble and seemingly unimportant as blessed. The common understanding of blessed then as now was understood to be applied to those who had acquired wealth, property, and position. “Of course I am blessed look what I have”. “Surely, God has blessed me”. “They would say to themselves”. Jesus challenges that assumption. He declares that the Kingdom of Heaven will be filled with the poor, the desperate, the lonely and neglected. In fact, He says “it easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”. Yet all nine beatitudes invite the dredges of society to come.

Does wealth keep you out, no, only if you let it. There is no inherent blessing in suffering as there is no value in wealth. Look at Job. He had great wealth, property, and position, yet God held him up as an example of faithfulness and allowed Satan to test him. Job prevailed. Yet Job mistakenly mistook his wealth and all that he had as his blessing. Rather it was his relationship with God that was his blessing. When he realized that God was his blessing both in prosperity and in suffering, he found peace and was truly blessed.

Who are the poor in spirit? Rich Stern says this about poverty in his book A Hole in Our Gospel; “After decades of entrenched material poverty, many communities suffer from a poverty of spirit as well.- They lost the last thing that can be taken from them.-hope”. A colleague called it “a married identity”. Kyle a prisoner serving a life sentence in Angola Prison, Louisiana accurately describes “poor in spirit” when he says; “You don’t really know God until He’s all you got”. Kyle came to realize that when the doors of the prison slammed shut behind him. He was poor in spirit and open to the God who was there waiting for him.

How does this apply to my life? I don’t know real poverty. I am not deeply mourning. Does this mean I am excluded from the Kingdom of God? No, to be poor in spirit is a human condition only reached when I can identify with the conditions of poverty. For me to know the meaning of “poor in spirit” is to be so broken that only God can repair the damage. To know that I am poor in spirit, begins my life in Christ. Humbling myself at the prospect of being truly alone and destitute and needing a Savior, not only as a solitary act, but as a continuous attitude of contrition and repentance prepares me for a life in Christ. Forgiveness follows as the blessing that leads to fellowship with the Lord. This a realization I keep before me and with the aid of the Spirit, I can do it.

Jesus Our Great High Priest

Last modified on 2011-10-15 02:00:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hebrews 4:14-16, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who can not sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of Grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

The book of Hebrews was written to Jews who had newly converted to Christ. The writer has fears that if persecution comes they will retreat back into Judaism from which they came. It would an easy way back to safety. Surely, there was much pressure to return.
To encourage them to persevere, he presents Christ as superior to the past because he is the fulfillment of the Law and the establishment of the New Covenant. He declares that Christ is now the Great High Priest, greater than the past priests because He has come to his priesthood by passing into the heavenly temple by way of resurrection and glorification. He has conquered sin by being both the perfect sacrificial lamb and the High Priest that makes the offering for sin. But more than that fact, He experienced the same kinds of temptations they have, yet He succeeded where they failed and He remained sinless. By these experiences, He can be compassionate and merciful to them when they sin. He sympathizes with their condition. He knows the pressure sin places on a person. The writer boldly invites them to “come with confidence to the Throne of Grace” for Jesus will gladly give them mercy and grace in their time of crisis.
These words offer me great comfort as they were not only written for these ancient people but for me as well. Without the knowledge of this truth, I would have no power, no confidence to pursue this Christian life, my walk would be uncertain, my prayer life would be vain and empty. I would have no power or right to pray for our congregation each Sunday morning. I might as well stay seated. But Jesus’ High Priestly work, both on the cross and in the temple of heaven, satisfies the need of sacrifice and Priestly function of intercession on my behalf. By His work, I have been made holy for worship and service. As High Priest, he opens to me a line of communication and I can commune with God. I can now say with confidence “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. Romans 8: 1 Jesus is always there to forgive me when I sin and restore me to fellowship. The way to the Throne of Forgiveness is always open and I can come with confidence to set before Him my need. Praise God for His indescribable gift.

STAND AT YOUR POST

Last modified on 2011-10-02 18:57:14 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Habakkuk 2: 1, I will stand on my guard post, And station myself on the rampart, And I will watch to see what He will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved.

The story of the book is as follows. Habakkuk cries to the Lord that all he desires is for that righteousness, justice and mercy be evident in the lives of the people of Judah. Whereas all he sees around him is terrible disregard for the Law. The resulting corruption, exploitation of the poor, and violence is appalling. He cries out, “Why must I see so much degradation and ungodliness? What, Lord, are You going to do about it?” God answers, “I am calling the Chaldeans from the North whom I have prepared to punish Judah for her sins.” God’s vivid description of the terrible Chaldeans causes Habakkuk to recoil in fear and dismay. He responds, Why, Lord, are You sending a people even more wicked and violent than Judah to punish them? Your action is so extreme.”
But even before God answers his second complaint, Habakkuk pauses a moment to reconsider his words and his tone. He realizes how presumptuous his complaints have been. He has challenged God’s plan for Judah. He recommits himself to the Lord in the words of the quote above. Regardless of his discouragement he will maintain his composure, even in this lapse of faith he will be true to the call of God that he has received. He says: I will stand…I will station myself…I will watch…I will listen for His Word…I am open to God’s reproof. Habakkuk concludes his book with a wonderful prayer of praise and commitment. He will remain faithful to the Lord even if faced with great personal loss.
What has the prophet taught me? The moment I read his words I identified with him in his anxiety and dismay in what he sees in Judah. I have seen the same decline in my own country and world, and I have been anxious and dismayed. I have asked God the same question over and over again. How long must there be so much violence and corruption, so much exploitation and injustice? When will You take action? Senseless wars are fought over the control or access to certain raw materials, territorial disputes, or ancient complaints, and on and on. But it is the innocent that get caught in the crossfire and suffer greatly. We write them off as collateral damage, but to those who suffer there is nothing collateral about their pain or loss. Wealth and power are our chief gods; we crush the lower classes and grind the faces of the poor into the dust in order to make our wealth. The culture of our past history was driven by a Christian heritage, but today it is driven by the marketplace. Today the church is ineffective in proclaiming the message of peace and justice. The result is a crass and vulgar culture that lacks true spirituality, and we hunger for that spirituality and meaning. So I continue to ask the question: When will it end?
So then I have ask myself: Have I learned nothing from Habakkuk? My questioning of God is just as presumptuous as his was, and I am imprudently impatient. Can I submit to God’s action and His timing even though I probably will not see my prayer answered in my life time?
On the other hand, is my voice being raised to these issues? Or am I just fretting? I recognize that faith and trust are the issues that drive my complaints. I must trust and act as I am led. Trust when all seems so dark.
I find solace in Habakkuk’s resolve to keep on doing what God called him to do. Like Habakkuk, “I will stand on my guard post”. I will wait for God’s Word to correct me and set me on my feet. Habakkuk’s closing prayer touched me deeply, and I echo it in my prayers. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet as hinds feet and makes me walk on the high places”. Habakkuk 2: 1

Words of Gold or Lead

Last modified on 2011-09-15 01:04:23 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Proverbs 15:11, Like apples of gold in a setting of silver, Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Proverbs 15:23, A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word.
James 3:6, And the tongue is a fire the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

What a contrast of ideas are found in these three verses. The first two praise the power of language that is meant for good. Words which console, that heal, that make peace in a tense situation are works of art as the writer of Proverbs suggests. James on the other hand exposes the tongue’s dangers. He warns us of the danger of hasty words, word spoken in anger or without careful thought. He describes the tongue as a dangerous fire and corrupter of our very lives. James’ words convict me of those many times I have spoken in haste or in anger, and I have seen the pain my words have created. A word is easy to form on the lips and is remarkably durable. Once spoken it lives on in the memory of the one addressed and becomes a wound not easily healed. Another Proverb says “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city and contentions are like the bars of a castle”, Prov. 18 : 19. Friendship is better than the satisfaction of a sharp reply. Friendship must be cherished. As the Proverb teaches, once a friendship is broken, the trust that held it together is lost and sometimes never to be found. So our words should be carefully chosen .
How do I cultivate such use of language? Where does the word begin but in my heart. If my heart is right, my words have a better chance of guiding my thoughts to a perfect expression of friendship and love. I have the responsibility always of loving my neighbor and creating the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” among my Christian friends. But my heart sets the tone and intent of my communication. My mind working with my heart chooses each word I use. Thus I must be careful to choose good words and frame them with care before I speak so that I may achieve a good end.
When I was a young man of sixteen or seventeen, I hung around with a bunch of older guys and to be one of the guys, I learned the art of a quick comeback. I prided myself on my clever repartee. It made me feel equal with the guys. But there was a carry over into other conversations where it was not appropriate and I sometimes offended someone and embarrassed myself.
I value my Christianity more than anything else and I don’t want my walk with Christ to be tainted. I accept accountability for my words. They are my charges. They must always do the work of the Lord. Do I paint pictures of gold and silver or of lead or mud with my words? Do my words heal or harm? Now I desire to learn the artistry of the kind word. Each time I fail this responsibility, I pray that I have the forgiveness of those I harmed.

Breathe on me, Oh Spirit of God

Last modified on 2011-08-29 12:49:54 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

2 Timothy 3 : 16 & 17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

As the Word of God is inspired (literally “God breathed”), so shouldn’t my life and walk with the Lord be “God breathed”? But instead of words, sentences or paragraphs, my life should exhibit Godly attitudes, Godly deeds, and Godly actions, all borne of a will that is daily being transformed by the image of Christ. Paul in Galatians says “walk by (literally “in”) the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Is this not the same idea looked at from another direction? The former shows the action of the Spirit on my life totally open to his every subtle change of direction. Whereas the latter speaks of my determination to remain on the path chosen by the Spirit regardless of my personal desire or circumstance.
The prophets were just common men as myself. Yet they spoke with the authority of “Thus says the Lord”. To speak so boldly they must have had incredible confidence that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Not only that, they often stood before politically powerful people who held the authority of life or death in their hands. Yet they spoke with such confidence and courage.
Thinking about these men, shouldn’t my life speak with some of that same boldness of spirit? Don’t I have the same Holy Spirit who desires to do a bold work in me? It shames me that I don’t live with the confidence they exhibited. Yes, they all had weak moments like when Jezebel sought after Elijah with threats on his life. But he rallied and stood his ground.
Yet these men of old who penned the holy text retained their personalities and styles in both their actions and writing. But it came out being the Word of God. This is a miracle in itself and this is the beauty of being in Christ. I don’t lose who I am when I become a Christian. I go on being me. It’s just that God reshapes the structure of my personality so that it looks like His Son. When I look in the mirror I see me. When I think or express myself, it’s still me. But God controls the outcome.
In reading about Buddhism, I get no sense that I retain my self-hood but I just dissolve into the great whatever. That is not encouraging because I lose me. The miracle of Christianity is that I still go on being who I am only that I am changed. It is that change that makes all the difference.
The Lord takes a being (me) that has no value because of its (my) weaknesses and sinful tendencies and makes it (me) precious and durable. The weakness and sinfulness that is me dies in Christ and the Spirit breaths life into that dead body and I become a new creation. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His loving kindness is forever”.

Put Away the Spandex, You’re Not a Superhero

Last modified on 2011-08-10 11:53:24 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Romans 12: 16, “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

It is good to take stock of your attitudes every so often. The Psalmist asks of God, “Search me, Oh God and know my heart: try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” As a Christian, I have been called to love my neighbor and my brother or sister in Christ as myself. How well do I do this? Do I sort people into classes so as to lift myself up? Do I treat all people as equals? If I am in a leadership role, do I feel as if I’m a step above others? Accepting others must be at the core of my being if I claim to be “in Christ”. Being “in Christ” comes with many benefits, but also many obligations. Being “in Christ” should define my character with the imprint of His Life and Character.
When I consider myself smarter, better, more holy than others, I devalue my worth in the sight of God. God knows my weaknesses and sins, so who am I to boast? If I am truly wise, I will use my talents and resources to benefit others, with humility and lowliness of heart.
I remember an incident, years ago, when I met a man while fishing. We engaged in the usual fisherman talk. How’s fishing? Are they biting? Yet his attitude and coarse language put me off and I desired to distance myself from him, even though he pointed out to me that I had a dangerous bulge in one of my tires. Still I was glad to be rid of him when he left. We met later in a different context-that of the church. There I realized that he was a struggling brother in Christ when I had judged him, not overtly, but inside I had rejected him. While he was coarse in his demeanor, his love of the Lord was without question, and I had not recognized his importance in God‘s eyes. God had put him in my path for a reason. What should have been my attitude? Certainly, I should not have rejected him. Regardless of his rough-hewn appearance, he was still a ministry opportunity and I had missed it. He later became a good friend and I did have opportunities to minister.
I learned an important lesson from that experience. God looks with favor on the humble and contrite of heart and rewards them with His grace. Nobody likes an arrogant or haughty person. They grate on us like sand on the teeth. Rejecting a brother or sister as I did just because I have an issue with them without understanding their situation or complaint, reveals my haughtiness and lack of Christian compassion. Now I look on others with different eyes-those that have been touched by Christ, and I desire, as the Psalmist desired, a regular cleansing checkup from the Lord.

Making a Covenant with My Eyes

Last modified on 2011-07-25 23:25:44 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Job 31: 1-4 RSV, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I look upon a virgin? What would be my portion from God above, And my heritage from the Almighty on high? Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, And disaster the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways, And number all my steps.”

The setting for this passage is Job’s second argument with his three friends as to why calamity has visited him. Here he claims his sexual purity. He has his passions well under control. He says; “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” He stops sin at the very gate of entry. In the Talmudic literature “the eye is the procuresses of sin.” This reminds us of Jesus’ “Everyone who looks on a woman with lust for her has committed adultery with her already …” Job protects his innocence in this area of sin by his commitment to purity having taken extreme measures. He argues in verses 3 & 4 that he deserves reward, not punishment. Those people who don’t take precautions and fall prey to their passions deserve the calamity he is experiencing. He finally asks, “Has God not seen my effort to remain pure, has He not seen my purity?”

What is the lesson I need to learn from Job? Sin is not so much what I look at that tempts me but the mental state I view it with. If I am predisposed to lust, then sin is at the gate of my soul. There are things I should not see and should avoid seeking out. But what about the situations unexpectedly thrust upon me. Those experiences that stare me in the face, as if to say “What are you going to do about it?” Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife lusting after him. He resisted and fled. He remained innocent at the cost of going to prison. David saw Bathseba, lingered in his looking and fell prey to his passions.

Such an encounter challenged me one day at the library where I worked. Two high school girls came in dressed in swim suits. One girl’s suit was patterned in what looked like a British Flag. Given the brevity of coverage and bright colors, the display was provocative to say the least. It put me in an awkward position. To look her in the eyes was to see more than I needed to see and was embarrassed. The situation invited voyeurism because of her daring display. Graciously, her stay was as brief as her swim suit. While the young ladies needed a lesson in what dress is appropriate for library visits, I was still responsible for my eyes. I needed a firm covenant with my eyes to protect my soul from lust. The predisposition of my mind should be such that it guards my soul from desiring what is not mine to desire.

The important lesson I take from this is: to avoid any sin I must say “no” long before the encounter happens, much less tempts me. I must take strong and positive action in the priorities I establish for my life. Who do I want to be and what kind of character do want I to have? Joshua said, “But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

A Prayer for the Church

Last modified on 2011-07-14 01:48:37 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

John 5: 17, 19-20, My father is always at His work to this very day and I too am working. I tell the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all he does. Yes, to your amazement He will show Him even greater things than these.

As part of the course we are studying Sunday mornings, Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby, I first composed a prayer for myself based on the text of the “Seven Realities of Experiencing God”. Later, I wrote this prayer as my desire for Greenwoods Community Church. In some ways we not are far from living this prayer already as a church. Many times, this has been the secret of our success. I would like a greater participation in this great adventure. Much of what is here you recognize as verbatim quotes from the “Seven Realities”. I shunned using quotation marks so that the prayer flowed better. I offer it to any who will read it, and if you desire, make it your prayer as well — with one caveat do so after much personal prayer and soul searching. It seems somewhat formal in its presentation because of its being pieced together from two sources. My words link the ideas together. As I read and meditate on Scripture, I see these principles confirmed by other texts.

Lord, we acknowledge that You are always at work all around us and because of Your Son, You pursue us for a love relationship that is real and personal, and You desire this relationship not only as individuals but as a Holy Congregation. We welcome Your invitation to become involved with You in Your work, both as individuals and as a congregation. We will seek Your voice by the Spirit through prayer, Your Holy Word, the circumstances of our lives, and the Church — so as to learn Your purposes and ways. Knowing that Your invitation to join You in Your work will create in us a crisis of belief. We will respond to that crisis by our faith in You and firm action as You direct us. We will diligently make the necessary adjustments in our lives and in the life of the Church to join with You in what You are doing. Our greatest desire is to know You by experiencing You as we obey You and allow You to accomplish Your work through us.
Thru Jesus Christ Lord, Amen

Delight Yourself in the Lord

Last modified on 2011-07-01 13:40:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

How simple it seems. All I need to do is delight my self in the Lord and all I desire will be mine. Cool! I can do this. No sweat. You mean if I’m not like the fisherman’s wife of the children’s story and choose wisely I get it all? How wonderful that would be — perhaps modest wealth providing I tithed regularly and generously. Good health would be nice and again I’d exercise often and watch my diet. I get all this just for delighting in the Lord. With all these gifts it would be easy to delight myself in the Lord. But wouldn’t I make gods of the gifts rather than honoring the Lord?
While it seems simple to do this, the things I desired would offer no profit in the end. I would easily choose bad things thinking them to be good. I would lack the long term vision of what a good life is. I wouldn’t clearly or fully understand the significance of today, let alone tomorrow and beyond. The Lord is the master of the past, presence and future.
What does it mean to delight myself in the Lord? Delighting in the Lord means desiring Him above all things all the time. Delighting in Him is perpetually seeking Him and obeying His desires. If I seek first the Kingdom of God it becomes the filter which purifies all my desires and leaves only His will. What I once thought important, rather necessary, I now see as ephemeral and secondary at best.
As I delight in the Lord, I mean sincerely delight, I see a change taking place in me which surprises me. For He has not given me what I wanted or desired but rather changed my attitude so I now have new desires. I no longer desire the selfish things of personal comfort. I desire what the Lord desires and He provides the vision and creates the future He wants for me. I crave less of self and more of Him and He then directs my vision outward to others.
Like the butterfly, I began as a hungry worm feeding on self, but then I morphed into a butterfly of God’s making and according to His design. I now share God‘s gift to me with others.
Is there any value in this way of life? It’s not the life I would choose. Understandably, choosing self is natural. We are geared that way. It’s radical to choose God over self. It takes trust which sometimes seems beyond us. But the faith, God give overcomes our fear and we can choose Him. It is so radical, so counter cultural, counter intuitive, it challenges our reasoning. But does it have value. Yes! Because it is the right thing to do and it can change your life. Value accrued depends upon whether I want to delight myself in the Lord. A little delight will produce nothing. It’s all or nothing. But it is a choice, I must make. It’s a choice I must make daily.

Breakfast for the Soul

Last modified on 2011-06-23 01:34:25 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Psalm 5:1-3, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to Thee do I pray. In the morning, O Lord, Thou wilt hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch”.

In his distress, David comes to the Lord early in morning for help. He is being attacked by his enemies with lies and evil schemes. He lays out his case before the Lord. Political intrigue surrounds him. Evil schemes are plotted against him. Those that hate him build a network of falsehood concerning him. He is weary of the battle. You hear his anger in his words. He desperately needs a friend who does not deal in falsehood and deceit. One who loves him.
He prays help me, love me, defend me. In his prayer, he appeals to the very nature of God with the words; “For Thou art not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with Thee” and “Thou dost destroy those who speak falsehood”. Then he asks, “O Lord, lead me in Thy righteousness because of my foe; Make Thy way straight before me”. This reminds me of Jesus’ words “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”. David is seeking God’s purity and holiness so that he might act according to righteousness and not be like his enemies. Note that he asks that God’s way be made straight before him not his way. He desires to walk only in the way God directs not his own.
He ends this Psalm with these words of admonition, “But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, Let them ever sing for joy”. David sought the Lord early in the morning before his trouble defeated him and he found refuge in the Lord’s protection. By his experience, he teaches us to come to the Lord early, beginning our day with God -learning, growing purifying, and praying so that we might be holy. If we begin our day with troubles and concerns, wouldn’t we be better served to include the Lord? He knows our troubles and has solutions for them. He will walk us through our problems and give us refuge. David not only says to pray but also to watch to see God working in our lives to bring comfort and peace to our souls. Come to the Lord early and earnestly, it will be breakfast for your soul.

Songs of Deliverance

Last modified on 2011-07-01 13:36:53 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Psalm 32:7, “Thou art my hiding place: ; thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance”.

Timely prayer is as important as fervent prayer. When needs press us, we urgently pray for the need then, not later. Don’t say I’ll pray later when I have time. Pray now. When you’re up to your neck in the flood, you don’t say, “I’ll call for help later”. You call in the moment of need.
The need David writes about is his sin. It has drained away his vitality. Throughout the day and night his sin reminds him that he is alienated from his God whom he loves and relies on. He has waited too long and he is hurting badly. Once he remembers the blessedness of God’s forgiveness, he seeks God by prayer. He is contrite and openly confesses his sin. He is honest and forthright in his prayer. He finds the peace of a restored fellowship with his God and all is good.
Once he has found wholeness, he councils his readers to seek God in a timely fashion while God may be found, and the He will keep you out of reach of the flood then it comes. David, then, proclaims his faith with the words “Thou art my hiding place; thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance”.
The final word of this Psalm is from the Lord who guarantees that those who seek Him will find guidance and comfort. He will fill them with the joy of His loving-kindness. Whatever the trouble, whether it be sin or contrary circumstances, the Lord invites you to trust Him then He will sing you “songs of deliverance”.

Jacob Worshipped

Last modified on 2011-06-23 01:34:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Hebrews 11: 21, By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Worship is not something we create as a worship team or as a congregation, nor is it something we receive when we walk in the door each Sunday. It is not there waiting for us to partake of like a commodity.
You bring worship with you from home from the accumulations of worshipful moments during your week and you share those moments with us through your reverence and love for God. Worship can be individual or corporate. Like Jacob, we have those times when are by ourselves and God is oh so close and we reverence Him. Also, there are the times when we join together in the unity of the Spirit and with one voice we praise and worship Him.
I often wondered how many Christians does it take for corporate worship to take place? Pastor often quotes the verse “Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there am I in their midst,” Matt.18:20. With that in mind, it can be as little as two. Just think of it, just two.
On the other hand, if you have a church full of people, how many of them are actually worshiping? Some are, and some are just there. In that case, does God filter out what is non-worship and enjoy what remains? No one knows the answer to this question, but obviously, the more who are worshiping and seeking the unity of the Spirit, the more enjoyment and praise we send to God.
But what is my part? How do I prepare to worship? What do I bring to the service? I can bring my troubles. I can bring the business of the week past. I can bring the mundane nonsense of the week. And, yes, Jesus always has time to heal, to comfort, or to awake you out of your lethargy and give you something exciting. He can give you healing and encouragement in worship. But, what you must bring to worship is a heart desiring the special presence of the Lord. Abandoning yourself to God in celebratory worship realigns priorities and erases the mundane. Then you are ready for worship.
Remember worship is a simple thing and does not need a special place or a special time. “Loving God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” defines the essence of worship. Worship is a way of life, not an action dependent upon special conditions. Jacob worshiped-leaning on the top of his staff.

“The Word is a lamp unto my feet”

Last modified on 2011-06-23 01:34:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Psalm 119:105, “The Word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light for my path.”

The danger of writing a devotion is that the words of the writer might stand out more boldly than Scripture-thus elevating the writer and slighting Scripture. But it is the light illuminates the path not the holder of the light that illuminates the path.
The prophets knew this truth, for when they spoke, they stepped into the shadows so that only the Word of God shone forth. They took no credit except to acknowledge that having their name attached, signified that they were the approved channel God had chosen. This choosing came with a price. Their encounter with God — whether it be in burning bushes, temples, or grand visions of God in the heavenlies — brought humbling fear to them. They looked on the Holy God and they feared for their lives. Knowing how great was their sin and how Holy was their God struck them down. Their call and authority came by His purifying grace. They were chosen to pronounce God’s will with the words, “Thus saith the LORD.” When the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was revealed to Daniel, He praised God with these words: “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.”
Jesus, also, while being the Divine Son and humbling Himself, sought authority in His Father and declared: “For I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father Himself who has Me sent has given Me commandments what to say and what to speak.” Also, Jesus, as Logos of God, had full authority to speak fully but as the suffering servant, He honored the Father and the Word of God. His life and words sanctified the Word of God as sacred and precious — for it is linked to His very being.
The Word of God is too precious to be handled causally or roughly. It has the unique power to change lives and redirect kings and kingdoms. This sacred book has guided my life for 50 years and I attest to its reliability and power. The desire of those of us who seek to hold high the lamp is that others will desire its light and learn to use the lamp. Our words hopefully hold the Word high, but our place must be in the shadows.

The Lord’s Prayer

Last modified on 2011-06-23 01:35:10 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Matthew 6: 9-13 “Give us this day our daily bread”
I fear that a day is coming that this simple phrase will take on a greater significance. It will be a day when our asking will be in earnest. I got to thinking about this statement and realized that we understand it much differently than the disciples did. We plainly live in a time of plenty. Even though we say times are hard, we still enjoy more than any other people both present and from the past. When we ask for our daily bread, what are we asking for? Few of us can’t afford bread. There is no shortage of supply. Our supermarkets have large section devoted to bread. A daily portion is not the issue. In Haiti, their bread is sometimes mixed with mud.
Jesus’ disciples understood what their “daily bread” meant. They knew that the daily supply was not guaranteed. They had felt the pinch of a short supply. So as they prayed, they prayed in earnest. They asked from the heart for bread and were thankful when they received it. When they took to the road as missionaries, their daily bread depended upon the generosity of those they preach to. Paul speaks of knowing what is to have plenty or to go without. I suspect he went without often.
What would it take to bring us that level of thankfulness back into our prayer. If we look to the third world and its suffering, its hunger our asking should include them as well with a mind toward being the channel of supply. Then perhaps, the words “give us today our daily bread” would become more vital more immediate. If we could feel their poverty, their desperation, we could be truly thankful. Remember that Jesus said of the bread at the last supper, “This is My body broken for you” It is in the symbolism of the bread that we learn to appreciate the significance of the bread at a deeper level. It satisfies not only the body but also the soul. God provides that bread for our table and He also provides that bread for our souls.
As we pray those words we must deeply desire the bread which God gives and remember words with which the apostles sent Paul to the mission field ; “And remember the poor.”

Did you see the Lord today?

Last modified on 2011-04-17 01:47:44 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Passage Matthew 25:31-46: The Judgment

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Meditation: In his prayer before the church service, Ed asked :What would we do if Jesus walked into our service this morning? How would we react to Him? What would we do differently?

That got me thinking about Matthew 25 : 31-46 which speaks of Jesus as He comes to claim His kingdom, sits down to judge the nations, separates the sheep from the goats. While it has political implications, it is His criteria for judging that interested me. Unexpectedly, He judges not on some moral ground but rather on how good or badly the nations (and us) have treated the poor, the disenfranchised, the world weary or the exploited. An act of mercy and kindness to one of these merited favor. The withholding of such kindness and mercy merited judgment even damnation. Serving these insignificant people He considered the same as serving Him personally. Jesus took great offense at not serving the poor. It was if you slighted Him personally. Historically, this was one of the great offences Israel committed and she was condemned for her lack of justice to the poor. Isaiah writes “The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people, it is you who have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people, and grinding the face of the poor?”
While Matthew’s words holds that same warning as Isaiah’s, it also has a positive side. For example, Thomas asked Jesus to show him the Father and that would complete his faith. I guess I have thought the same thing as Thomas at times when I have desired Jesus to reveal His presence in some undeniable or profound way to bolster my faith or to assure me that I was going in the right direction. But if we are supposed to live by faith, then trust is the essence of the Great Commandment.
So how does God in Christ answer my request. Do I rely on the words given to Paul, “My word is sufficient for you”? As I sorted through all these ideas, It struck me that God does reveal Christ to me as often as I obey His commandment to “Love my neighbor as my self”. Not just to love only in word but to prove it more so in action.
Matthew’s words reminded me that each act of kindness or mercy, each word of encouragement, each giving of my talents or resources reveals the face of Christ in the face of the one I serve. My prayer is answered with each person I serve, each glass of water I give, each word of encouragement I share. I am giving to Christ. So Ed’s question is answered. Christ was there waiting to be served. This should be a divine incentive to serve all the more. May I always hold close this truth.