People, Plants, & Pets

Finished reading Jonah about a month ago.  I have read it many times, but this time bothered me greatly.  As I read, I found that I began viewing Jonah with much more contempt than I ever have.  I mean, really!!  He is told by God to preach to a godless people with the hope of hearts drawn to the One True God!  Isn't that what we Christians are here for?  But Jonah hates them so bad, he'd rather spend three days in the belly of a God-ordained fish than pray for help and forgiveness.  Then after all that is done, he goes to preach to the Ninevites and from a distant spot waits in hope that God brings judgment on them anyway.  And while he waits, a wonderful, shady plant grows that makes him feel good (all God's doing); then he painfully grieves for the death of the plant.  All I can say is, "What a contemptible little man."  Yet it is a God-inspired book of the Bible.   It's not for naught, of course, (well, duh...it's God's Word!) but what I mean is in regard to me.  Because what I see in the flawless character of God Almighty evidenced by His great compassion, protection and love is very bold in contrast to Jonah's lack of character.

Now, I am going through this rant for a great object lesson learned a few days after I smugly finished this book.  I'm thinking how glad I'm not like Jonah.  Why God has given me such a desire to see people saved no matter what their past life is like.  And then it happened!  I indulged in a justified, few day long critical, unloving and impatient spirit toward someone.  It had escalated to a boiling point one evening and in my mind, I was frantic with justified and completely rational thinking.  This person was doing wrong and needed something that someone else should be telling them about and I had just let that person know what they should do.  I walked off, went in another room of the house and my countenance and attitude completely changed.  And you know why?  Was it because I reconsider my position in Christ and was convicted?  No!  (However, Praise God, that does come later.)  No, it came because I saw a plant that I love that had been neglected a bit too long of water and had wilted, looking completely lifeless.  I immediately grabbed up the plant and lovingly took it to get a needed sip.  And immediately...IMMEDIATELY, God brought to mind Jonah and his grief over the plant contrasted to his lack of compassion for a human being and 120,00 of those being babies and children!

You know, daily I see injustices done and inconsistencies flourish.  Pets are elevated to the point of owners worried about their pet food being organic!!??  And baby animals ie. sea turtles and more being protected by government.  And trees being hugged and camped around in order to keep it from being cut down.  Yet, unborn babies are killed daily, children are abused, people are sold and bought and on and on I could go with the atrocities men have through the ages done and continue to do.  And as Christians, we see the injustices and grieve.  YET, and as I proved to myself, I am NOT without sin.  For I criticize my brother and sister, both in my thoughts and in my words weekly.  I am not where I need to be!  But with hope, "I press on toward the mark for which God calls me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:14)  For it's not just for times of innocent troubles that come my way that I need such encouragement but also for those times of recognition that I still struggle with this sinful flesh.  But let us fight on!  God will have the victory.  Let us indulge in this Power and His work in us!

The Tread of God

As a young person, from child to adult, I’ve watched my share of what used to be referred to as monster movies:  giant ants, giant dinosaurs, giant gorillas and so on.   When these creatures were on the move, they truly wrecked havoc.  It’s the only visual I have to go on.  And that is what came to mind recently when studying the book of Micah.  But I know it is a poor visual that doesn’t even come close to what will occur under the tread of God.  “For behold, the LORD is coming forth from His place.  He will come down and tread on the high places of earth.  The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys will be split, like wax before the fire, like water poured down a steep place.” (Micah 1:3-4)

 Let this give us cause to meditate on the great power of our Father, God.  May we be encouraged as to our access to that power; may we also be in awe of Him with respect and holy fear.  

The Voice of One

The greatest man that ever lived according to Jesus was John the Baptist.  (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28)  Yet John said about himself, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”   As I was studying to teach about John recently, this description given of himself is in all four gospels.  As I read them over and over each morning, throughout the day, the phrase, “voice of one crying in the wilderness” struck me.  The first time was during prayer for an unsaved acquaintance that someone else had told me was a hopeless case.  

Though we find ourselves “a voice of one crying in the wilderness” of sin and darkness, we must never consider anyone a hopeless case.  Apart from Christ, I am nothing but “with God, all things are possible.”  One may seem like a lonely number, especially in the wilderness, but as one child before an all powerful Father, the possibilities are endless!!  

DEATH

Death continues to remind us of our fallibility.  While our lives seem to go on and on, there will be an end.  I’ve had yet another one of these reminders in my life recently.  And while I grieve a loss, I am revived to remember those still living in darkness.  I must be diligent to pray passionately for those who are without a Savior, for our sin MUST be atoned.  Without THE Solution to that problem, there is no hope in death. 

As I look at my short commentary in my Bible under death, I find only negative descriptions in reference to it.  Consider:  death encompassed, death for sin, bondage of death, shadow of death, doomed to death, hate God/love death, strong as death, agony of death, wages of sin is death and on and on it goes.  But praise to God, for the believer,  “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O Death, where is your victory?  O Death, where is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Let us who remain NOT let a day go by without praying for those in our lives who do not have a Savior for their sin problem.   It is vital that every death be the constant reminder that earth is truly not our home.  And if by grace, we have been saved, then we must be about the business to which we have been called.

New Year's Resolution, 2013

Out of the “I’ve hit a wall” book of Leviticus comes what should fuel any New Year’s Resolution for a Christian.  Leviticus 10:1-3:  Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, “offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them, and they died before the LORD.”  Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the LORD spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored.’  "So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.”

Our pastor has lovingly challenged us as a body of believers to do “winter house cleaning”.  He told us to check our behavior as to promote an influence that shows a vital walk with God.  We must not be casual or careless about our relationship with our Creator.  We must “come out of them and be separate”.   Let us not compromise in regard to the influence we allow in our lives through entertainment, leisure and the attaining of stuff.  We must prioritize our worship and service to Him!!  

Let us not misrepresent the gospel of Jesus Christ by coming so close to sin that it harms our hearts and our witness.  Praise God for loving pastors who exhort us to holiness by causing us to re-evaluate our walk.  Obedience MUST be a lifestyle.