"Smoldering Firebrands"

In Isaiah, chapter seven, God speaks through Isaiah to King Ahaz.  God is trying to encourage Ahaz to trust Him.  In this one chapter, God seemingly bends over backwards to wrap Ahaz in His protective arms but Ahaz is far too earthbound to receive this comfort.

One of the encouragements is in verse four, when God tries to comfort Ahaz in the face of an enemy nation about to attack.  "Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands..."  I had read this passage last week in studying for a class and it came home to me this morning.  As the fire in our fireplace began dying, one of the logs started to smoke profusely.  It wasn't hot enough to ignite a real fire, just hot enough to be annoying, as smoke began pouring into the room.  I began moving it around, trying to put it into a place where the red hot coals could gain access and set it ablaze.

There are more than a few spiritual illustrations here.  Some for us as believers as to why God allows the "fire" of pain or hard situations.  But what I thought of the most was the passage I had read last week about this enemy nation who thought themselves unconquerable and God called them "stubs of smoldering firebrands"!!   As I watched that smoking log, I realized the impotence of any enemy in the face of the living God.

Questions??

People have lots of questions about Christianity that many times stumps them up and causes them to reject or fall away from the gospel.  Questions abound when it comes to the things of God.  He's God!  There is no way we can completely discover the full depth of Him or His ways.  He has given us one book not because that's all there is but because it is all that is needed for us to seek Him and find Him.  I'm not saying questions are bad.  But I am saying that some questions will not be answered here in this life.  That's where faith and trust come in.  That's where God's Word to us (which great minds have not exhausted) comes in and carries us through to the end.   I will not go into the many questions that men have about God.  But what I would like to do is share a devotion I read this week about such things and challenge believers with important questions that do not need to be neglected.

This devotion is from Charles Spurgeon, November 19th, morning:
"Avoid foolish questions."  Titus 3:9
"Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance...  Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether... if we observe [the verse] to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings."

He goes on to list the questions we should be asking:  "Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind?  Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit?  Am I growing in grace?  Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Savior?  Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master?  What more can I do for Jesus?  Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, [whine, nag, gripe, bellyache] let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable.  Let us be peacemakers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to 'avoid foolish questions'."

Thankfulness

Paul mourns over his sinfulness in Romans 7 (a passage for which I'm especially thankful), "Who will deliver me from this body of death?"  I am tracking with Paul this morning as I'm convicted of the sin of my whining.  I fret over everything.  For a few weeks now, I wake up saying, "God help me.  There's too much to do."  I prayed last night, "God, how can I get it all done?"  I prayed this morning, "God, help me to just worship you this morning" and before I knew it, I was whining about everything in my life that seems to be amiss.

Then it hit me...are you thankful?  Thankful!!  Oh, my, why am I so slow?  How long has it been since I've thanked God?  On my prayer walk, I had decided to come home and make a list of everything in my life that I perceive as a problem.  When I began to think of the "thankful" aspect, I decided that's the list I really need to make!  How convicting as I began thinking of all the wonderful, right things in my life!!  What a list that is!!

"Oh, my GOD!! Forgive me!  The me fog has blocked Your gifts from my mind.  Thank You for reminding me of all the wonderful blessings You have richly bestowed on me."  Being thankful is God's will for us.  "In everything, give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  And the most Wonderful gift God has given: Jesus Christ!  It is He that will "deliver us from this body of death."

"Much Rubbish"

Believers everywhere are fraught with problems.  It's overwhelming!  One day recently I carried this to God and it went something like this, "God how can we witness to a world in darkness when we are sick, tired and walking through dark clouds ourselves?"  A few days later, through providential love, I ran across this verse:  "Thus in Judah it was said, 'The strength of the bearers of burdens is failing, yet there is much rubbish; and we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.'"

Nothing new under the sun, huh?  I looked at this as a testimony of God's personal love for His own, each one of His own!  And how did it go in Nehemiah, chapter four?  "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses."  Bottom line:  Get back to work.  There is much to be done.  "Our God will fight for us." (Nehemiah 4:10-20)

To Grasp the Sun

Just a thought, but in my musing over the angst of the intellectual who rejects God with great irritation towards those who believe, I have a question.  Why do they enjoy the beauty, light and warmth of the sun without being able to figure it out?  They can't land on it, conquer it, move it, change it nor grasp it.  They let it be, knowing that it would be futile to try to do any more than just organize their whole day around it and let it be the sun.

But God, the Creator of the sun, they want to understand in His entirety?  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  Fear Him first, seek Him second, and bow down to Him as God, above all and above even the understanding of those who think themselves wise.

Pleasures of Sin

Have you ever considered the minuscule amount of time the emotion of exhilaration lasts?  If not, think about it now.  I think of it a lot in regard to sin of all kinds: short fulfillment and long consequences.  (You can make your own list here.)  Watching a documentary recently brought the thought to mind again.   A creative and gifted singer/songwriter who never completely made it nationwide because of his propensity to drugs.  It saddened and depressed me to think of all the gifted and talented who crashed and or burned because the drug became the dominant drive in their lives.

In this particular documentary, one young woman who had been married to this guy and bore his child, said this, "He gave up everything for a high."  Think about that!!  And the list goes on and on.  "The pleasures of sin for a season!"  So says the Bible, KJV, in regard to Moses choice.  The NIV says, "He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin."   Or going along with this post, I could say, "He gave up the high for everything."

How sad for this young lady as she recalled a past that still brought tears of regret to her eyes.  And how sad for this man who now is dependent on family because he is mentally incapable of caring for himself.  But sadder still is the one who dies for eternity because they would rather enjoy the pleasures of sin for this earthly season.

Christian Privilege

For our brief stay on earth, our main work as believers is to be fruitful.  God does it all, we merely bow down as His humble servants.  And even that is done in His power!   The Bible tells us the "harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."  (Matthew 9:37)

 In reading Francis Schaeffer's book, "Escape From Reason", the following reminded and disturbed me greatly:  "The Bible teaches that, though man is hopelessly lost, he is not nothing.  Man is lost because he is separated from God, his true reference point, by true moral guilt.  But he never will be nothing.  Therein likes the horror of his lostness.  For man to be lost, in all his uniqueness and wonder, is tragic." And I would add, how horrible to be made in the image of the Creator with whom you never get to spend eternity.

A few days later, I read this in Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening" which also speaks as to the seriousness of the hopeless situation of man without God.  "Sinners are perishing for lack of knowledge; he who loiters may find his skirts crimson with the blood of souls.  Jesus gave both his hands to the nails, how can I keep back one of mine from His blessed work?"   "Up idle heart; stretch out thy hand to work, or uplift it to pray; heaven and hell are in earnest, let me be so..."

Tolerance

For years now, many have screamed "tolerance",  but what are they really saying?  I believe they are saying this:  "I want to do what I want no matter what you think, and I want to be accepted and respected irregardless of the boundaries I cross in doing so.  And if it is harmful to you in any way, so be it, what's that to me?"  Judges 21:25 says, "Everyone did what is right in his own eyes."  So, I'll also go to Solomon who said in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun."

With that out of the way, I'll get on with what I really want to say here.  I have come to look at the word "tolerance" in a bad light for the last several years; don't really like to use the word!  But yesterday, I was reminded of how God's involvement looks on the word.  "...do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"  Ah, here is refreshment for the mind and soul!!  If you are reading this and you do not know Jesus Christ as Savior, then you are enjoying the "tolerance" of God, as you still have the breath of life flowing in you to seek Him!  Act on it!   He is kind, tolerant, patient and loving.  He "is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."  Let us bask in the divine tolerance of Almighty God.  And let us not be slow in doing so!   (References: Ecclesiastes 1:9; Romans 2: 4; 2 Peter 3:9)

Come, Let Us

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image.'  God in Trinitarian conversation, plans His crowning creation.  Man rebelled and though made in the wonderful and creative image of the all-powerful God and can accomplish amazing works with his hands and mind, he, also, with the sin nature unchecked, can commit atrocities unnameable.  Without God, man is the center of his own universe.  But without God, that universe will come to a terrifying and unfulfilled end.

What brings me to this line of thinking is my morning reading about the tower of Babel.  Nimrod, in his pride, wanted to make a name for himself.  The tower was to be a monument of man in all his glory.  They had been commissioned by God to fill and populate the earth.  Instead, they took residence and combined their strength to display their own glory.  "Come, let us make bricks...Come, let us build for ourselves a city...let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."  This scattering abroad was God's command for them, yet as with Adam, God's command was again ignored.   God removed Adam from his comfort zone and again He proceeds to remove the great city of Babel from it's lofty place.  "Come let Us go down...  So the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the earth."   (Genesis 11:3, 5-9)

The "Come let Us" of God once again overrides the "come let us" of man.  And it always will.  Man's power is no power in the face of God and as His crowning creation, we need to be facedown saying, "Come, let us adore Him."

Guitar Strings

In keeping with my last post (and I'll say oblivious to thinking about it at the time), I was asking God to make me fruitful in whatever way He chose.  As I prayed, I said, "Pluck me as just a string on a guitar unnoticed but used."  Immediately, I was reminded of my post about "bows and arrows" and realized yet another seemingly insignificant item, yet sorely missed when absent.  Continuing in that thought process, I was also reminded of my "evening" read of Charles Spurgeon yesterday:

"All things are possible to him that believeth."  Mark 9:23
"When you read of the high and sweet communion enjoyed by favoured saints, you sigh and murmur in the chamber of your heart, 'Alas! these are not for me.'...You hear of exploits which holy men have done for Jesus; what they have enjoyed of Him; how much they have been like Him; how they have been able to endure great persecutions for His sake; and you say, "Ah! as for me, I am but a worm; I can never attain to this.'  But there is nothing which one saint was, that you may not be.  There is no elevation of grace, no attainment of spirituality, no clearness of assurance, no post of duty, which is not open to you if you have but the power to believe."

Bows & Arrows

Bows and arrows, guns and bullets!  Which item in each pair do you spend the most time researching when making a purchase?  I have absolutely no experience in either pair but I would say the bow and the gun are the major purchase, the most important of the pair, albeit you have to have the bow and arrow, gun and bullet, to matter.  But for my post today, the importance of our view of one over the other is my subject.

We tend to view spiritual gifts that way.  The outward and seemingly more prestigious, we tend to hold in higher esteem.  But we do wrong in that kind of thinking and must be diligent to turn away from that human tendency.  When God is using us or anyone else, whatever the work is, we must be in awe and amazed at His use, not necessarily the work.  We should be praying for each other in EVERY work we do int eh name of Christ Jesus.  Every work needs God's power, protection and provision.

So back to "bows and arrows".  In Zechariah 9:13a, God is describing His use of Judah and Ephraim as "bows and arrows".  So you might think a measly arrow is expendable.  It's shot and may or may not be retrieved again by the owner.  However, it can and does strike fear in the enemy and many times puts an eternal end to that enemy.  And the bow continues to be used over and over again.  But the point to be made is, "I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim."  It is God's use, not the instrument!!  In His Hand, whether it's a one time act or something done over and over again, it is a sovereign, designated plan with a purpose.

Signs of Peace

Riding through a neighborhood last week, I passed a house with two little boys in the front yard.  Guess what they were doing??  Playing!!  They were playing and laughing, oblivious to the world around them.  It made me smile and gave great joy to my heart to watch them.  It reminded me of how seldom I see that sight.  I've thought about this often over the years.  When my children were young, mothers were scared to let children out of their sight.  However, when I was young fifty plus years ago, I played all over my neighborhood.  My mother whistled for us kids to come home to lunch.  Then we went out again and when supper rolled around, mom whistled again.  And if it was summer, we went back out after supper and played until ten o'clock.  Times are, indeed, changing.

So what's my point?  God, too, knows the joy we receive from the sound of children playing.  Zechariah reports good news from God to His people.  They had been oppressed by other nations, war, loss and hopelessness.  But through Zechariah, He lets His people know that peace will again return.  And what is one of the sweet characteristics of peace?  "And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets."  (Zechariah 8:5)  What a wonderfully personal God we serve.  It makes my heart soar to read all the details He desires for those He loves and protects.  Let us rest in His sovereign protection as we hope for the better day to come.

"HELL!"

A young mother tells of going to kiss her young daughter goodnight.  Approaching her child's bed, she hears her sobbing!  The mother asks her daughter 'what is the problem?'  The daughter leans in to the mother, cups her hands  and whispers in the mother's ear, "HELL!"  The mother thinking she misunderstood asks, "what?!!"  The daughter again whispers, "HELL!"  The mother asks why is she crying, what has occurred in regard to hell that is making her sad.  The daughter responds, "I have sinned many times lately and I'm afraid of hell."

Two verses come to mind as I heard this story: "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:3    "...knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men..."  2 Corinthians 5:11

Well, and one more: "Jesus, said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Let us again be pained with the wrath of God that will ultimately send us to "hell" unless we  repent.  Let us as believers be all about turning sinners toward Christ.  May they experience in their hearts like this little child, a holy fear of "hell"!!

Truth or Consequences

In the 40's and 50's, there was a radio show and eventually TV show called, "Truth or Consequences".  It was a game show in which the contestant had to correctly answer a question or suffer the "consequences" of a wrong answer through a zany or embarrassing stunt.  I thought of that show as I read Zechariah, chapter seven.  God tells the people through his prophet, Zechariah, that they are to live out their lives in true, heart-righteous obedience or suffer the consequences.  However, these consequences are much more serious than the TV show's zany and embarrassing ones.

I fear I'm not thinking right in regard to a serious and holy God.  Committed meditation on the facts of God through His word are called for here!!  And this is just what He is calling His people to do through the prophet.  Consider what happened to your fathers, He tells them.  When I told them how to live, they did not obey.  (see last post: Deaf Hearts)  Now this is what happened to them: Great wrath from the LORD of hosts, I would not listen when they called, I scattered them with a storm wind, and their land became desolate.

Praise God for His prophets who committed to telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth with His help.  We, too, have His help.  And let us not become weary or oppressed by this truth.  The very presence of His Word to teach us these things shows His love for us is as strong as His wrath against the sin in us.

Deaf Hearts

  As a continuation of the last post, I will again use the term "solemn".  As believers, we must be all about living and speaking Christ to unbelievers!  But as we do this, we must also be much about watchfulness of our own hearts.  For while I used the last post to propose the condition of the heart without God, the passage from Zechariah actually refers to the heart that had supposedly been submissive to Him.  These five characteristics were being lived out by God's own people!

We must be much in prayer for our hearts to be devoted to obedience or we may find ourselves manifesting some or all of these traits: refusal to pay attention, turning stubborn shoulders, stopping ears from hearing, making our hearts like a "diamond" and in so doing, hearts not hearing: deaf!  And what are we missing with deaf hearts?  The law and the words which the LORD of hosts has sent by His Spirit through the former prophets.

It is a "dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).  This is solemn truth indeed but a needful reminder.

Diamond Hearts

"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.  They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts; but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known.  Thus the land is desolated behind them so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate."(Zechariah 7:11-13)  Solemn words!  "They refused to pay attention...turned a stubborn shoulder...stopped their ears from hearing...made their hearts like flint".  The ESV translation says, "they made their hearts diamond-hard".   As a believer, I think, "why do people work so hard to go to hell."  But then I'm arrested by another thought, "there go I apart from God's grace!"  My attitude must be as the apostle Paul, "Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ."  God grant me power, wisdom and the compassion and love of Christ.  Guide me in devoting myself completely to the word and solemnly testifying to unbelievers that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world and He is The only Rock that can crush a diamond and make it shine!  Praise Your Holy Name!!

"Sound Living"

The word "sound" by definition is "good condition; not damaged, injured, or diseased".  I believe most all people desire their life to be "sound".  In fact, I would like for my life to be "sound as a bell" according to the definition given: "in perfect condition".  The Bible gives us advice as to how this can be a reality.  And as I read Morning of Charles Spurgeon's, Morning and Evening, July 4th, I can think of no better way to put it than he:  "'Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth.' (John 17:17)  The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many.  The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power.  These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure.  The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification.  We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding.  'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.'  Do not say of any error, 'It is a mere matter of opinion.'  No man indulges an error of judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice.  Hold fast the truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the Spirit of God."

AMEN!!

A Consuming Sleep-Over

The visions of the prophets are not there merely for dramatic effect.  There is meaning behind everything God inspires in His word.  I don't mean to wear out the validity and urgency of scripture.  But really, what else matters when it's all said and done?   And this morning I was so excited by what I read in Zechariah, chapter five.  The first few readings of this chapter earlier in the week brought no thrill to me.  Praise God for giving us the power of perseverance.

Zechariah saw a flying scroll and even determined its size as he observed it.  And on a side note (and I use "side note" loosely as it's really a powerful addition, but for this post is not the subject), the size of the scroll is exactly the size of "The Holy Place" in the tabernacle.  I just love all these details with purpose!  But back to my excitement!  Now keep in mind the scroll represents God's law, God's word, and in verse four, God says, "I will make it go forth and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; (these are actually representative disobediences that encompass all the commands of God) and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones."

Now a theologian may say I am spiritualizing the passage a bit.  I hope not because the picture I get here, using my salvation and transformation (a continual process), is a beautiful portrait of God's power over sin.  He makes His word enter the "house" of the person He saves, drives it home to the very destruction of all the sin that person had formerly embraced.  Whatever that person's sin problem before salvation, God completely disrupts and destroys.  To have the "scroll spend the night" will be a complete turn-around and the former way of life, "its timber and stones", will be consumed.  God's power "will" transform us.  Some of it is immediate, some continual but no believer will ever be comfortable in that "house" again.

The negative side of the verse for the hardened, non-seeker who will not submit to God, and I'm afraid this is what the verse is really saying:  God will have the victory over sin and it will be destroyed forever.

Praise God for Jesus Christ Who made the way possible and for His holy Word that brings continual change and consuming of sin.

"Far From the Flames"

Taken from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening:  "The world loves not the nonconformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent.  Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of "moderation".   'What's the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?'  Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin.  When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames.  When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts.  The further from the viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better."
                          Lord, I desire to live as one who bears a blood-bought name,
                        As one who fears but grieving Thee, and knows no other shame.

Seasons of Distress

Seasons of distress are often bumper to bumper.  You get through one and run slap into another.  And on and on it goes.  Sometimes the distress is caused by your own internal struggle with sin.  Sometimes it's caused by external sin and sadness.  Sometimes it's caused by the sinfulness of others who do not consider their sin a problem.  Bottom-line: distress in this life is a given.  The cause is sin and it's here until God makes all things new.

On my prayer walk this morning, I found that not only was the physical part a laborious effort, but the conversation with God as well.  Prayer is like that at times but as I look up at the sky, I know He is and I continue to talk no matter how bad I feel because I know He has the answer to distress.

When I got into the car to go home, on the radio, a cello was playing a beautiful rendition of "Sweet Hour of Prayer".  What comfort it brought to my mind and heart.  As I recalled the words learned from childhood, they began playing in my head.  There is one phrase, however, with which I took issue:  "In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief."  I would have to disagree there.  Even though this doesn't fit, I would say "always only" found relief.

How loving is God to nudge me in my darkness and let me know He is there!!  I've included some of the words here, maybe to encourage you, too!
       Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from a world of care.  And bids me at My
       Father's throne make all my wants and wishes known.  In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has
       often [always only] found relief.  And oft escaped the tempter's snare by thy return, sweet hour of
        prayer.   [There are many more verses and the author is William W. Walford, 1845]

Holy Arousal

"Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused from His holy habitation." Many things come to my mind as I reflect on these words.  One is when parents call out to a disobedient child, "Don't make me come in there!"  Another is the song I learned throughout early "church-life" and has beautifully stuck with me: "The Lord is in His Holy Temple".  Although based on Habakkuk 2:20, it sounds similar to this verse from Zechariah: "Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord" is a call to man to contemplate an awesome and powerful God.  And if they do not keep silent; if they rage against Him or His people, then what?  He will be aroused from His holy habitation!!

To be aroused is to be evoked, awakened, or provoked.  Our anger is something in view here but our raging and fury is nothing compared to what will occur when the same is ignited with God.  You don't want God to be aroused from His holy habitation unless of course, like I said in the last post, you are the "apple of His eye."

And for this post today, while, yes, I thought of parents, the song, and the awesomeness of worshipful silence before a holy God, my major thought and the depth of emotion came from Acts when Stephen was stoned.  "He gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  Here was this wonderful example of godliness in the beauty of his compassion to his people as he boldly proclaimed the truth, arousing in them unholy fury and in turn, their unholy fury, aroused in our blessed Savior love beyond understanding as He stood from His holy habitation to receive this unforgettable saint saved by His own grace and welcomed him into his eternal dwelling.  Powerful, amazing, awesome word of God!!!

"The Apple of His Eye"

Have you ever been poked in the eye?  It's not something that you can easily ignore.  In my experience, even with the slightest poke, it can debilitate for at least a moment.  The eye is sensitive to touch, with even a speck of dust causing great discomfort.  As John MacArthur explains "apple of His eye" in Zechariah 2:8, he says that to touch God's own is like striking God in the pupil of His eye.  This is imagery I can comprehend given my experience with eye pain.

I realize this imagery could be carried to even greater understanding with medical knowledge but for my post today, I'll let my own base understanding suffice and rally to the wonderful knowledge of the protection of our loving Heavenly Father.  "For thus says the LORD of hosts, 'After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye."  Is this not comforting to you, "...he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye"?   He will know.  He will experience the impact of what impacts you.  He cares for you.   And if this doesn't stir you to utter excitement, listen to the words of verse 13 from the same chapter, which describes God's reaction to those who think they will get away with harming His people:  "Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused from His holy habitation."

"His Israel"

As I watched a portion of a movie about the Holocaust,  I became intensely overcome with despair.  I watched as husbands and wives, parents and children were separated by the Nazi soldiers.  I had all I could stand and I protested watching any more of this atrocity.  It's hard enough to know it happened, but to watch it performed was gut-wrenching.  Two days later (this morning) it came to me as I read Zechariah, that this was not the first time this has happened to the Jews.  The Bible is full of this kind of history for God's people.

Funny, that I don't remember thinking through this before.  Over and over, God tells His people to repent, return and obey.  They were stiff-necked, His word tells us.  But they are His people and He loves them and He will never forsake them.  I guess it's just that this holocaust happened closer to my own time, that it seems worse.

In the movie, an especially evil Nazi commander makes a speech about how the Jews have always come back and reproduced throughout history but not this time, he concludes.  And from that speech came the scene of separation described above.  But the Nazis were not the first to think they had power over God.  It was an act of evil nations hundreds of years before the forties that have tried this great feat.  But they found they fought against the God of Creation, something no one can do and win.

In the book of Zechariah, the angel of the LORD said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah...?  And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words... 'I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion...' Therefore, thus says the LORD, 'I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy, my house shall be built in it... My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'"  (Zechariah 1:12-17)

God will never allow the extermination of His people.  John MacArthur states in his study Bible for the introduction to verses 18-21, "The second of night visions adds details to the judgment of the nations who persecuted His Israel, building upon God's promise to comfort His people."  They are "His Israel" and His people, as are the Gentiles whom God has "opened a door of faith" (Acts 14:27).  Let us "enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise" for the compassion and comfort shown us by our great God.  (Psalm 100:3-4)

Self-Will or God's Will?

As I wind down on Haggai, it was appropriate that on the way to exercise this morning, I heard a song by Twila Paris that goes with the "I wills" of God in that book.  I have it on my favorites, have listened to it multiple times and today I heard it like never before.

I basked in the security of  God's sovereignty throughout the prophets.  I take the comfort afforded me by the love shown us through the "I wills" of our gracious Creator.  But what about us??  What will we do with this knowledge?  Will we nod in agreement and go on our merry way?  Or will we stop and consider (as He also tells His people to do in that book) the magnitude of the knowledge of God?   Even a little knowledge should keep us amazed.  Will we continue to feel justified in our bad attitudes, whiny "first world problems" and casual spirituality?  Listen to these words and be moved with humble adoration of what we as believers have a part!

"My lips will praise You, for You are holy!  My voice will ever rise before Your throne.  My heart will love You for You are lovely.  And You have called me to become Your own.  I am Your own!  And I will worship You alone!  I am Your own!  I am Your child.  I am Your own!  And I will worship at Your throne.  I am Your own and I will love you."

God is holy, lovely, and has called me to become His own!  What should be my response?  My lips will praise You.  My voice will ever rise before Your throne!  My heart will love You.  I will worship You alone!

Do not be self-willed!  "Set your minds on things above.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3)  As we consider God's wonderful "I wills", let us be moved to the adoring "I wills" of obedience toward Him.   I will praise You, Father, for the conviction of Your Spirit Who continues to sanctify me through Your word.

Shake, Take & Make

In Haggai, God in His mercy warns Zerubbabel of the coming disaster but also of the hope in which he can rest.  "I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.  I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power the kingdoms of the nations...  On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel...and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you."

I could really get on a soapbox about the personableness of our Creator!!  Here in this one little snippet of scripture lies a storehouse of hope and encouragement of how much He loves His creatures!!  Fills me full !  Praise His Holy Name !!

Life's Arena

The following was written by Maltbie Davenport Babcock, D.D. and is from a book of his writings published in 1901 called Thoughts for Everyday Living.  This particular writing is a good lesson for all Christians to remind them their duty for this life: NOT making heaven on earth but making disciples from earth!

"How utterly opposed to the thought of Jesus Christ is all asceticism, all religious isolation and retreat from the world.  His aim was not to get His followers out of the world, but to get them into the world.  Society, not solitude, is the natural home of Christianity.  The Christian is not to flee from the contagion of evil, but to meet it with the contact of health and holiness.  The church is not to be built on glass posts for moral insulation, but among the homes of common men for moral transformation.  What use is a light under a bushel?  It must shine where there is darkness.  The place of need is the field of duty, though we are not to be of the world, we are to be first and last in the world and for the world."

Consider

I have gleaned profit from the prophets.  (Good, huh?)  I know I have only skimmed the surface, yet what I have found in these very books I’ve slighted for years, is amazing.  I have erred in my thinking they were the most boring books in the Bible.  I knew there were wonderful verses and passages in them but what I’ve learned from each of these books, both major and minor, as a whole, has shed new light for me into the personality of God.

Zephaniah, chapter three, alone speaks loudly of the rebellion of man and the patience and kindness of God toward man.  Consider parts of the last four verses:  “God is in your midst”, “exults over you with joy”, “rejoices over you with shouts of joy”.  And then it goes into some glorious, “I wills”:  “I will gather those who grieve”, “I am going to deal with all your oppressors”, “I will save the lame”, “I will gather the outcast”, “I will turn their shame into praise”, “I will bring you in”, “I will give you renown and praise”, “I will restore your fortunes”.  And this is just a portion of a three-chapter book.

And I’ve just begun Haggai.  The key word in this book is “consider”.  What patience and mercy God shows His flower of creation: man!  He want us to think, watch out, beware, behold – consider!  He says, “Consider your ways”, “take courage”, “do consider”.  Why?  “I am with you.” “My Spirit is abiding in your midst.”  “Do not fear”.  “I will give you peace.” “I will bless you.”

If this is just skimming off the surface of these two short minor prophets, what a storehouse of hope and health lie in the Word as a whole.  God has truly given us “everything we need for life and godliness.”  (2 Peter 1:3)

 Listen people, this is our God, our Father.  Revel in that!  Rejoice!

True Security

“Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel.  Jericho’s walls fell flat!!  Rahab’s house was on the wall, yet it stood unmoved!  My nature is built into the wall of humanity and yet when destruction smites the race, I shall be secure.”  These words from Charles Haddon Spurgeon were the start of my day along with refreshment and hope from the Word of God.

Christian, do no think you are too busy for God’s Word on a daily basis.  It must be as important as your food, your clothes, your very breath!  Without it, you will find yourself in the very throes of enemy tainted thinking wrought with despair, fretfulness and depression.  “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.”  “I will hide Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119: 11 & 105)  These verses and a multiplicity of others are there for your need.  Francis Schaeffer, a man now with the Lord, has been an encourager of mine since the beginning of my walk with Christ.  He says, “…though we do not have exhaustive truth, we have from the Bible what I term “true truth”.  God’s Word continues to be for me a treasure house to which I continually find jewels that are used to supply every need I have for right thinking.   It is true!  “TRUE TRUTH!”

Let us run first to that rich Word to supply our day with the needed strength and true security.  Without it our place in the “wall of humanity” will be continually shaken.   Where are you right now in the midst of all the wretched news that bombards us every week?  Let us be instruments of righteous and hope for His name sake.  The world must see a difference in us:  “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”  Psalm 112:7  His Word is true.  Let us dig deep continually all the days of our life.

Seven Bark Theology

Recently a Christian friend told me about a new believer saved out of a difficult and complicated lifestyle.  Even though saved, things don't change overnight and many of the complications still exist as this new believer marches onward.  It's very important for those who are strong believers to come along side these new babes and encourage them.  They must be made to know they are loved.  (There's IS a verse about that:  "know they are Christians by their love".)

Well, a couple of days later, I'm helping my husband clear off some of our property.  There were a few Seven Bark (or Oak-leaf Hydrangea as some call it) that I wanted spared from the destruction my husband was doling out to most of the overgrown area.  Toward the end, he told me that the Seven Bark needed to be freed from some life-zapping vines and I began working toward that goal.

As I worked, I found it not as easy as I had thought.  The vines were many and different sizes.  They literally had to be snipped piece by piece in order not to damage the plant I was trying to save.  Some of the new growth on the Seven Bark was very tender which added another element of caution to the effort.   As I worked, I thought about what my friend had said about the new believer.  It was much like my efforts to save this plant from the overgrown weeds that threatened its life.  The new believer has been saved from sin just like anyone else.  However, sometimes there is much baggage.  Like the vines, the baggage comes in different sizes.    We do not want to damage these new believers.  We cannot rush the process nor are we to be their Holy Spirit.   We must pray and exhibit patience.  We must accept them just as Christ has and encourage them.  They are God's child, His work, and His transformation just like we were.  It will be a process just like we have been and continue to be.  Let us remember our former days and rejoice in His life-changing work in man.

"Fear NO Evil"

I guess I could have entitled this one "Preppers, Part III" but really, I don't want to beat a dead horse.  And, also, they are not the only ones who give into fear.  For the most part, many of them are probably not believers.  And believers definitely, and I would say overall, give into worry and fear when we know what God's word says about both.  Today's post is from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, evening of April 8th.  It is a beautiful writing of the believer's great privilege to shine in the midst of bad circumstances.  (I share only parts of it.)

"I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me."--Psalm 23:4
"Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can make the Christian!  What a bright light may shine within us when it is all dark without!  How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the pillars of the earth are removed!  Even death itself, with all its terrible influences, has no power to suspend the music of a Christian's heart, but rather makes that music become more sweet, more clear, more heavenly...!  Are you conscious of a growing failure of your bodily powers?  Do you expect to suffer long nights of languishing and days of pain?  O be not sad!  That bed may become a throne to you.  You little know how every pang that shoots through your body may be a refining fire to consume your dross--a beam of glory to light up the secret parts of your soul.  By thy power, O blessed Spirit, my heart shall be exceeding glad, though all things should fail me here below."

Battle Scars

Received a letter from a missionary to Mali yesterday.  Want to share a portion that ministers beautifully to the believer!

"spiritual salvation for so many of us is only the beginning of a hard battle.  While we are forgiven and in right standing with God we still have to work out how to live for Christ daily.  For those of us with deep scars, this involves intentionally releasing ourselves to God fully, jettisoning the bad patterns of behavior from our past, and renewing our minds with truth.  Doing this allows us to live free from the bondage to our past sinful thinking and be able to fully participate in God's work for us today.  Our prayer is that you will continue to pursue this incredible freedom and not be stalled by believing the enemy's lies that your past, and sometimes even your present, prevents your from living life fully for Christ."

Praise God for His unchanging Word that renews us daily for the battle, both with our own bodies and the darkness that surrounds us.  What hope we have in Christ for motivation to move forward--onward and upward!!

Preppers, Part II

I don’t mean to harp.  But everything I hear about “preppers’ is so contrary to the word of God.  Actually, I don’t think about them at all UNTIL I’m in the middle of words like the following:

“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility.  Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’S anger.”  Now God is talking through the prophet, Zephaniah.  (Zephaniah 2:3)  Bottom line is that the “day of the LORD’S anger IS coming upon them”.  Nothing they can do but seek the Lord, seek righteousness, and seek humility.  I see nothing there about seeking to stockpile, build bunkers, or buy guns. 

And I close this post with a verse that is becoming my personal favorite in regard to worrying:  “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”  Psalm 112:7

The Jesus Banner

Francis Schaeffer, great prophet of God of the twentieth century, speaks lasting truth applicable today as much as his own day.  It never ceases to amaze me as I read his works, to the point I find myself looking over again at the copyright shaking my head.   I share today one such excerpt from Escape From Reason, chapter six subtitled, “Jesus The Undefined Banner”.

“I have come to the point where, when I hear the word “Jesus”—which means so much to me because of the Person of the historic Jesus and His work—I listen carefully because I have with sorrow become more afraid of the word “Jesus” than almost any other word in the modern world.  The word is used as a contentless banner, and our generation is invited to follow it…We have come to this fearsome place where the word “Jesus” has become the enemy of the Person Jesus and the enemy of what Jesus taught.  We must fear this contentless banner of the word “Jesus” not because we do not love Jesus but because we DO love Him.”

Reflect on this, Christian, for as believers by faith in Christ and loving the Word of Truth, we must do battle against spiritual lethargy.  We must, by God’s strength and direction, be vigilant against the sickening, spiritual, feel good stupor we find our church involved today.  However, we must fly a banner and “His banner over us is love”. 

Let me add to this, with sadness and joy, that Edith Schaeffer, wife of Francis, died on Easter Sunday and will have a funeral in Switzerland and memorial service in Minnesota this month.  What a testimony and an impact those two left on Christians all over the world.  Praise God for faithful servants.  Let us work as working for the Lord in all we do.  And let us fly the Banner of Truth and not a “form of godliness” which is a “fearsome place”.

Preppers

I’m fairly new to this description and though this particular movement is rather new, the premise is old:  Fear-produced over-diversion from normal life function.  (This is my definition before I looked up what the Internet had to offer.)  Here’s the definition from prepper.org: “an individual or group that prepares or makes preparations in advance of, or prior to, any change in normal circumstances or lifestyle without significant reliance on other persons or without substantial assistance from outside resources in order to minimize the effects of that change on their current lifestyle.”  I did pretty well in defining considering I just heard of them toward the end of 2012.  (Excuse the brag)

Ok, now you know, in case you hadn’t heard of them.  So here’s the real reason for the post today.  Yesterday in reading my new favorite minor prophet, Habakkuk, I immediately thought of these “preppers",  some of who claim to be believers.  Habakkuk has just been told BY GOD that imminent disaster is coming, which is the subject of most of His prophet discussions.  Well, I need to cut out this preparatory talk (excuse the pun) and let you chew on this yourself.  If you don’t come up with the same wonderful conclusion, read it again!  (References will be listed at the end but just go ahead and read the whole book).

“Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.  For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will not delay.  Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.”   Habakkuk talking: “I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered, decay entered my bones, and in my place I tremble.  Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us.  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, though the flock should be cut off from the fold 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 like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” 

Preppers, take note, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea…the LORD is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth be silent before Him.”  Rely on a SURE foundation and not one of your own making!!!

Habakkuk 2:2-4; 14 & 20; 3: 16-19

Bask or Ask

I began Habakkuk this week.  As usual, I read what John MacArthur has to say on the subject before I dive into the book.   Historical background is so important to a book and adds so much to the study.  As I read the background for this book, I immediately associated with this great man.  (A personal note here: I know that with many of the minor prophets, nothing much is known about the actual man.  But I wonder why they are called “minor”.  I mean they talked to God.  He told them what to say and they said it and it has been included in a book on which we base our life walk.  Nothing “minor” about that!)  And back to the great man…he is questioning God, much like David, much like Job, much like us.  I relate and wait to see how God answers.  (I’ve only read Chapter one so far but I already enjoy his style much more than Nahum.)

Back to John Mac’s notes:  Josiah had instituted significant spiritual reforms in Judah abolishing many idolatrous practices of his father and grandfather.  Upon his death, however, the nation quickly reverted to her evil ways.  Habakkuk lived at this time period, sad over the death of a Godly king and the quick falling away of God’s people.  He questioned God’s silence and apparent lack of punitive action to purge His covenant people.  In Habakkuk’s mind is the issue of the vindication of God’s character and covenant with His people.  As did Job, the prophet argued with God, and through that experience he achieved a deeper understanding of God’s sovereign character and a firmer faith in Him.  (And here’s the part I really love) Ultimately, Habakkuk realized that God was not to be worshipped merely because of the temporal blessings He bestowed, but for His own sake. 

Did we get that?!!  We worship God because He is worthy of our worship.   He is “I Am”. (Ex. 3:14)  Do we enjoy that kind of fellowship with God?  Do we go to Him just to bask in Who He Is?  Or do we just go to ask what He can do for us?  Much to learn, Lord!  Forgive my slowness!!

Protected Hearts

Everyday I hear of women who have been abused, left or not sought at all by men who have ceased to be men.  I’ve blogged this before perhaps, or something similar.  But it ever becomes a source of distress as daily I lift names to God of just such situations.

One list of names includes women who covenanted with the man they loved and trusted.  These men, however, chose to fall to their weakness, a weakness they look at as manliness.  I’ve said before, the true strength of manliness lie in what he is strong enough to avoid by way of enticements.  They leave those wives of their youth for one reason or other.  And these wives now have hearts broken by the very ones who should have been their protectors. 

The other list of women, and it’s an ever-growing list, are women who are finding themselves unsought as a helpmate.  These women are beautiful inside and out.  What keeps a man in desperate need of a helpmate (God said it, not me) from pursuing these women?

 I’m afraid we’ve raised a generation of wimps and worthless worms.  Some of them are pursuing each other, not submitting to their Godly design.  Some are pursuing Internet gratification which gives temporary pleasure without the demands of responsibility.  And some are just plain scared to be a man in charge. 

Wake-up, you guys!!  “Quit ye like men and be strong.”  (1 Corinthians 16:13: means to "behave like a man" "act like a man")  The God of creation designed and created you the crowning glory of creation.  He gave you everything you need to be the man you need to be.  Be strong!!  Be courageous!!  Love God!  Seek a wife!   Be the protector of her heart and life just as God has been to you!  Live a life pleasing Him all your days!  Where are you, Guys?  You are not complete!

(I would add that if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, this is the first place to start for a pleasing life.  We are ALL worthless worms apart from Christ.  That is our problem before a perfect God.  Yet, Christ, while we were sinners died for that sin and completed the work required to bring us to God.  Seek Christ first!  Then seek a wife.  Unless of course, God has called you in another direction.  He will lead.  You are to follow.)

Sweetest Frame

What is it in this life that means the most to you?  What is your “sweetest frame”?  As I rehearsed the words of “Solid Rock” in my head this morning, I meditated on those words.  In fact, I didn’t get any further in the rehearsal than “but wholly lean on Jesus name.”  Do I really do this?  I made my mental list of the sweetest frames in my life.  When I think, “frame”, my first thought is frame of a house and in the past I’ve even thought of what is that special picture that you hang framed in your house.  Looking it up in the dictionary, there are a multitude of meanings: rigid structure, universe-regarded as an embracing structure, nature of someone or something, basic structure that supports a system or concept,  a particular mood that influences one’s attitude or behavior.  There were many more and I would think the song is referring to the last one I’ve listed.

However, there was one more that I personally refer to when I think about the song.  It was also listed in the dictionary: a person’s body with reference to size or build.  However, in my thinking, I would just say it is the person himself.  Because I would say that my family is my greatest love in this life.  Nothing I lose would compare to the loss of family especially that relationship with my husband that I’ve been blessed by God to have.  But whatever you think of when singing the song, do not trust it no matter how sweet it feels or what pleasure it gives.  Our lean, our foundation, our strength comes securely promised and complete from Jesus Christ and Him alone.

In the book of Micah 7: 5-7, a passage Jesus quotes in Matthew 10:35-37, it says: “Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend.  Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.  For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.  But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

“Do not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.”

THINK

John Piper, in his book, Think, challenges both believer and unbeliever to do just that.   I’d like to share an excerpt from the chapter, “The Immorality of Relativism”, page 114:  “Relativism leads people away from a love of the truth and so enslaves them and destroys them.  The formula is simple:  when relativism holds sway long enough, everyone begins to do what is right in his own eyes without any regard for submission to truth.  In this atmosphere, a society begins to break down.  Virtually every structure in a free society depends on a measure of integrity—that is, submission to the truth.”  He quotes Michael Novak: “Vulgar relativism is an invisible gas, odorless, deadly, that is now polluting every free society on earth.  It is a gas that attacks the central nervous system of moral striving.  The most perilous threat to the free society today is, therefore, neither political nor economic.  It is the poisonous, corrupting culture of relativism.”

John goes on to talk about the poisonous effect of relativism on personal integrity.  Consider the following…THINK: “it [relativism] erodes the sacred duty to tell the truth and keep one’s word.”  As Jesus dealt with the chief priests and elders in Matthew 21:23-27 in regard to the their question, “By what authority are you doing these things?”, He asked them a question: “from where did the baptism of John come?  From heaven or from man?”  You know the scripture, if not, read it, but the bottom line is they “made up a truth": We don’t know.”  What bondage!!  They cannot own the truth because they are enslaved to the fear of shame and harm.  And what a prostitution of the gift of thinking!” (page 115)  

 “Jesus came into the world and died for our sins to set us free from this slavery.  When God is for us in Christ, we do not need the praise of man.  When God promises to be with us and work all things for our good, the power of fear is broken.  This is why the gospel makes us rational, not rationalistic, simply free to see and speak the truth.”   Good Stuff!!  I highly recommend this book.

Right Thinking

How does one combat thinking wrong?  Think right!  How does one know what is right?  Go to a source that you know is true and seek to know that truth.  What is truth?  Jesus had just told Pilate that He was born and came into the world to testify to the truth.  He said, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.”  Thus Pilate’s famous question that still lingers in the pseudo intellectual mind today, “What is truth?”

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except by Me.”  Yesterday our guest pastor preached his evangelist message, “Why I Believe in God in an Age of Skepticism”.  He said that people, in regard to a belief system must do three things:  Know – Believe – Trust.  He was addressing his sermon to the skeptic, both agnostic and atheist.  However, as I prayed this morning over a mentally tormenting issue in my head, I began to apply this principle.  As I ended my prayer, the issue became less intense and the “truth set me free” from wrong thinking.  Thus, thinking right won over wrong thinking.   Because of Christ, I have access to God during these times.  I must run as though my life depended on my communication with Him.  And it does!

Right thinking for a believer is that we are saved by grace from our sin that separated us from the Creator, God.  We are here to honor and glorify Him.  Let’s not lose that perspective.  Trials will come; God’s Word stands true and powerful through them all.  We must persevere and as we combat our own sinful thinking, we gain strength through that victory to teach other saints and bless unbelievers with the good news.

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.