Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Tone of Voice

07.31.13

John 2.16 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” (ESV)

John’s gospel takes on a very different slant than does the others; John focuses on conversations. The difficulty of this is we don’t get the opportunity to see the faces of the conversants or hear the tone of their voices. Jesus was mad – more at indignant (and certainly offended) – and the Pharisees and priests were defensive. When Jesus said, “…do not make my Father's house a house of trade…” what He was really saying was: DO NOT MAKE MY FATHERS HOUSE A HOUSE OF TRADE!!! DAMMIT! DO THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! Thunder would’ve been relatively quiet compared to this.

For sure, Jesus was always cool, calm, and collected (that’s the definition of meekness: power under strict control) but occasionally He let loose: GET THIS CRAP OUTTA HERE!!! The crowd was in utter turmoil as a result. Thunderstruck might be a good word here.

And the Priests and Pharisees were whiny and defensive: Jesus was raining (reigning) on their corrupt little trade: “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (V. 18) (What gives You the right to do what You just did – prove Your authority!) Who was this Guy who just chased all their sacrifices out? The Priests and Pharisees were peeved!

This was an angry exchange but it was a necessary exchange; this behavior is never mentioned in the narrative again. God’s will was done.

What does it take in our lives to get us to stop doing stupid things (and believing them to be good things)? What kind of tone in the voice gets out attention? I want to know that the one who rebukes me, cares for me. It makes a difference. I get defensive when I know otherwise. Of course my defensiveness reveals a weakness in me and a selectiveness that I really have no right to have. When I am rebuked, whether deservedly or otherwise I am to submit out of reverence for Christ. The bottom line is if I have offended someone I need to attempt to make it right – and do so with a good attitude.

And that goes for email and texting as well (or other written communication); it’s hard to hear the tone when you can’t hear the voice or see the face. AND – I need to remember the tone of voice in Scripture. When there is a heated exchange in the Bible, I should not gloss over it in a quiet interpretation of just words on a page: DO NOT MAKE MY FATHERS HOUSE A HOUSE OF TRADE!!! deserves my attention, respect, and compliance whether I like the sound of it or not…

Father, help me to deal with rebuke by learning from it and to pay attention to the situation and not just the punctuation. May I reflect Your values in communicating and also in serving the needs of others, especially when my actions have caused them to be offended or to become upset with me. And may I remember Jesus words to the religious: DO WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU KNOW GOD WOULD APPROVE; DON’T DO IT IF HE DOESN’T… amen.

Monday, July 29, 2013

A Placid Place

07.29.13

2 Peter 3.14 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (ESV)

I once stood in 2008 with the crowd at our Baker County courthouse and listened to former President Bill Clinton appeal for the presidency of his wife, Hillary. Bill rambled and bombast-ed a bit, but when he got down to the part of appealing for Hillary’s understanding of renewable energy and the jobs such an industry would create, he said, “Hillary gets it!” I thought, yeah, right… Politicians…

There are parts of the Bible I get: I get it that we are called the beloved; I get it that we will be found by Him, that is the Returning Lord, Jesus Christ; I get it we’re to be found by Him without spot or blemish. What I don’t get is the comment about peace.

I suppose I could speculate what Peter meant – I suppose I could concoct some massive theological statement about peace and its place in our relationship with God – I suppose I could, but I won’t.

I think the apostle was telling us to simply relax. We’re to be found by Jesus holy (other) that’s our spotlessness; and we’re to be found by Him at peace; not roiling about at every little (or big) issue on earth or in our private lives. We’re to be happily, confidently at peace with everything in life including our relationship with Jesus which bears peace.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 26.3: You [God] keep him [Your child] in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you [God], because he [Your child] trusts in you. There is nothing like the peaceful confidence a child has when his head hits the pillow at night knowing he is loved and he loves his mom and dad. Trusting in God takes away all fear and fret no matter the circumstances that would cause such things.

And in a world that is increasingly bizarre, troubled, and psychotic, peace is a wonderful resource to have in the midst of all that. God’s peace is the calm in the storm, the strength in the battle, and the best friend a guy could have when the world in all its madness raises its intimidating head and roars. Peace puts a sock in it.

I want Jesus to find me at peace. I want the Lord to see that I am focused upon Him and I trust that He is in complete control.

Lord God, I trust You. I know things aren’t always as I see them, or want them to be; but my focus is upon You and Your promise is perfect peace, a placid place, when I keep my mind stayed on You. Increase my vision Lord and if I’m to be concerned at all may it only be concerned about the thing of which You are concerned. Other than that, I am at peace. Amen.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

No Other

07.25.13

Isaiah 45.22 22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” – God

In the very next verse God says: "By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’" (V. 46) Here, God makes a statement that has been rejected by man since the moment of man’s fall.

There are different ways we can take God’s statement: we can accept it – that He is God and there is no other, and because He is, we must accept Him as He is. Or, we can reject it: no thanks, I’m not interested; and thus be like millions who attempt to be a-religious (no affiliation at all). Or, we can call God a liar and not only a liar but an arrogant liar: I have swornWho is this God who pushes Himself upon us? Many simply want a less pushy god...

For sure, it’s a big statement to say, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” What are we supposed to do with that? Well, wisdom would have us believe it; we, truly, have no real way (in view of our limited knowledge and experience) to refute it – it’s right there, in black and white. Take or leave it. 

So what do we do with an ancient saying in an ancient book written by an ancient author proclaiming an ancient God? I think this is really where we (as Henley sang) get down to the heart of the matter. Forgiveness.

I must stand accountable for my life and all the things I've done and said. The same goes for every person on the planet. The point of Isaiah’s writings was the people of God return to God and live the way He’d prescribed so that they may be saved. Saved from what!? Saved, from an eternity of existence without Him. To reject God (the only God as He claims) is to pull the plug on the hereafter. The problem with pulling the plug on that is we really don’t know what we’re losing.

God gave Himself to the ancient Jews and called them His people and called Himself their God. But then He calls Himself the ONLY God and says stuff like, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” His call goes out not just to the Jews, but to everyone else. (And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like, I love you.)

God does love us. He loves all of us but He’s firm in His commitment that those who remain unaffiliated will remain doomed. And those who reject His invitation and seek some other relief will come up empty-handed…and ultimately remain doomed. Doomed from the consequences of One who said twenty-five centuries or so ago: “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

If there is no other, then I am a fool for not taking Him at His word and  accepting His offer…

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Entrusting

07.23.13

1 Peter 2.23 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (ESV)

Of the Lord Jesus Peter said: But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2.20b-23 ESV)

What I keyed on this morning was the last phrase of verse 23: “…but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” I thought about this and thought about how many times I’ve decided to not entrust myself to Him who judges justly; I’ve fought my own battles. And that’s the way we’re raised: to fight our own fights and stand up for ourselves. But that’s not the example that’s been left for us to follow.

I call myself a Christ-follower; that means I follow the teachings of the Lord and the example of the Lord. Jesus didn’t defend Himself, He defended God. For sure Jesus picked fights, but He picked the fights the Father told Him to pick and there was always a divine reason for such confrontation: God promised Israel everything and they threw it back in His face. And in His grace God continued to attempt to correct them and redirect them. It ended in a crucifixion.

In this world the people of God are called to be good and do good. That doesn’t mean they’re going to be appreciated for it. More likely they’ll pay a price by doing good and suffer for it. The world doesn’t want good…according to God’s measure of good. But following in Jesus’ example we’re to do good anyway despite how we’re treated. And we’re to put up with it when reviled and suffer for it; that’s the way God planned it; that’s the way He wants it to be

It’s part of being holy; it’s part of being other (see my blog from 7-22-13). And it’s different than what we see around us and what most of us have been taught about living life: you fight your fights and defend your rights. The culture of Christ is different. It’s other. It’s our example.

The difficulty of our example is our push-back; our example goes against the grain of who we think we are. The world expects us to do as they do and gets offended when we don’t. The world expects us to act as they do and sees weakness and cowardice when we don’t. When push comes to shove, we’re to take shove.

It all comes down to keeping our life focus on Jesus. We can’t always do what Jesus did but we can emulate Him: When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. Jesus kept His eyes on God and we’re expected to do the same.

Father, it takes a certain kind of courage to allow oneself to take the abuse and keep one’s eyes focused on Him who bore it all so that we might follow in His footsteps. But that is what You’ve called us to – called me to. I ask for help to do it and to keep my focus where it needs to be: on the Living Christ who gave it all for me… amen.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Be Other

07.22.13

1 Peter 1.15 15 “…but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (ESV)

Once upon a time I was an avid reader of R.C. Sproul. I learned a lot from his writing and from the audio messages I heard. In his book, “The Holiness of God” (which I just reordered) Sproul explains that the concept of holiness is best described (or depicted) in the word: other. Holiness is not conduct although conduct is a large part of it. But conduct is not  defined by our family name, it’s who our family is: we are other. We are the Others.

In this world there are the those, and then there are the others. The others have not made this world their home – to them it’s only a part of the journey toward home. Others are not contented with the trends and trinkets of modern life (at whatever point modern was to them, or is to us). The crisis of man is their main concern: and that is man is lost without God and is only found in the fathomless ocean of His grace (another mostly misunderstood word which simply means: favor).

Peter’s admonishment sounds different when we say it like this: “…but as he who called you is other, you also be other in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be other, for I am other.” We are other as God is other. God isn’t like other “gods”; He is the only true and living God. All the rest are not gods who call themselves gods (but insist upon calling themselves “God”).

It is interesting as well that Abraham in the earliest days was called the Hebrew (Genesis 14.13) – Hebrew: which in its literal translation means: "one from the other side". Abraham was other because he was from the other side. Well, the other side of what? Abraham was called one from the other side because he was from the other side he was an outsider; but he also belonged to the other side: the side of God. In the earliest days of antiquity Abraham was the only other there was…

And so it is fitting that Peter reminds his readers (and us) to be other as God is other. Our temptation is to lose our identity and forget who we are and Whose we are. We are God’s own and because we are, we’re to conduct ourselves in this world according to the family Name: OTHER. We are the others in Christ Jesus, the chosen, the beloved, the graced.

Today, I am reminded of my name and my heritage in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who saved me to become one of His own from the other side: an Other. 

Father God, You are other and because I belong to You, I am other. May I daily live the rest of my life aware of this identity and thereby live the life You’ve given me according to this identity in Him, in You. Amen.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

A Sennacherib of My Own

07.21.13

2 Chronicles 32.1 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. (ESV)

2 Chronicles 31 ends with these words: Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered. It sounds like Hezekiah lived such a life that there was never a ripple on the pond. He was blessed. He prospered (succeeded). He was strong in his faith.

I find it so predictable that right on the heels of 2 Chronicles 31 are the toes of 2 Chronicles 32: After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Hezekiah gets sucker-punched by the King of Assyria who came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. Things were going so well – so well in fact, the King of Assyria (a much larger and stronger nation than Judah) decided he wanted in on the act; he decided he was going to take all of Hezekiah’s toys and kick Hezekiah out of the game…

Isn’t life like that? We barrel along: God is good, church is good, giving is good, and everything seems splendid… when all of a sudden, something upsets the whole apple-cart: the car massively breaks down, the kid vigorously gets expelled from school, somebody gets terminally sick, the paycheck bounces (eewww!). After living so right, things quickly go so wrong.

Hezekiah wasn’t surprised by the invasion of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. He probably thought it wouldn’t be in his lifetime. But the tendency to think we’re being punished when ‘bad’ things happen is so common. We often build our little fantasy-lands on a foundation of works, Americanism, and good(ish) behavior. Everybody wants to rule the world.

I think it’s why it’s called a fight of faith – because we have to fight through the temptation of thinking God is somehow punishing us for something we’ve done wrong: After all the good stuff I’ve done, this is the thanks I get!? C’mon God!

Faith is not built when the times are good but it sure can get lost when times are good. Maybe it’s why Peter said in his first epistle: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.(1 Peter 1.6-7 ESV)

Maybe God wanted Hezekiah to see the genuineness of his faith. Maybe God wants you and me to see the genuineness of our own. Maybe bad stuff happens to good people so the rest of the world can see why they’re called good people: good people trust God unswervingly no matter the circumstances. Hezekiah was a good king who faithfully served the Lord all of his life.

Will we be counted and remembered as faithful when we face the “Sennacherib’s” of our own in the midst of living a good and godly life? Lord, may I be faithful!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Let’s Make a Deal

07.20.13

2 Chronicles 29.10 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. (ESV)

Who makes a deal with God? Isn’t it the other way round – doesn’t God make deals with us? It seems only the desperate risk taker would come to the Lord and say: let’s make a deal!

Hezekiah was a risk taker. At the age of twenty-five he ascended the throne of David and began to try to lead his countrymen into repentance before the Lord. He knew how bad they’d been and how far they’d drifted from God and he made it his agenda to bring them back – that is what leaders do.

Hezekiah knew that repentance started with the Lord so that is the First Place he went: to God’s presence and he told his people: Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. And when one makes a deal with God one offers a plan to God and then one keeps that plan with all of his heart. And it says in 2 Chronicles 31.21: And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Was Hezekiah perfect? No. He had his share of troubles. Did Hezekiah screw up? Yes, later in life he fell victim to his own ego. But he is remembered as a good king and one who: did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

The problem with making a deal with God is keeping the deal. The deal-breaker is often our own apathy or the fact that we sometimes second guess ourselves into believing the original deal wasn’t really a deal after all. Making the deal is one thing. Keeping it is another. The deal that starts in the heart of one connected to God is one that has a higher degree of success. Trying to impress others on the other hand stands to ultimately fail: they might be impressed but God might see it as an idol in our own minds.

And the problem with deals is sometimes we’re sold out to something that no one else is; and buy-in is important. It isn’t the deal-maker, but when it comes to spiritual matters and kingdom things, buy-in is important: Hezekiah couldn’t have done what he did without the support of the Levites who seemed to understand the gravity of his deal with God (See 2 Chronicles 29.34).

Deal-making is partly belief and partly desperation: God if You don’t come through, we’re (I’m) toast! King Hezekiah was desperate: Assyria was standing at his door. And the king knew, without God, there would be no more Jewish nation.

The other side of deal-making is not doing anything at all. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25.14-30 about a master (a king) making deals with three of his servants and giving them the seed resources to get the deals done. The first two kept the bargain but the third took the seed money and buried it in the ground. When it came time to settle accounts the third said, "I just couldn’t believe you were serious, or that I could do anything." No risk, no desperation; not even a sense of duty or of obligation.

The question I have about my own life is: am I desperate enough to seek God for a deal or do I believe that the seed faith He has given me is enough to get something done for His good and glory?

Lord, help me to keep the deal that is already made and make good use of what You’ve already given me – I pray in Your Name! Amen.

Friday, July 19, 2013

To This Day

07.19.13

2 Kings 17.13; 23b 13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”
23b So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day. (ESV)

I’m not sure who the writer of 2 Kings was: whoever it was seemed to have a dim view of the shenanigans of God’s people and their insistence on ignoring God’s prophets and seers. It’s like the writer was saying: “I told you and told you, but you kept ignoring and ignoring…and now there is no remedy for what you’re going to go through. I (God) cannot save you from the choices you’ve made.” God’s people were called and held accountable to His law. It required faith, but it also required obedience as well. I’m not sure which is harder: walking in faith according to the Law, or walking in faith according to grace. They both require relationship.

Verse 23 above leads us to believe that the reproach was so great that it persisted: “…to this day.” In other words, for the reader then it was ongoing and for the reader today (centuries later) it still hasn’t been fixed – there’s still a problem. It’s not like God didn’t tell them.

It makes me ask the question: what has God been asking us about in our own lives – that we should deal with – that we’ve been ignoring? What issues might we have that persist to this day? Are there secret sins? Is there unforgiveness and bitterness? Are there attitudes that affect our gratitude, or altitude? How about poor choices; persistent petulance?

If someone had an inside view into my life and chronicled that view, of what, would they say, has persisted in me…to this day? How much of me is talk, and how much is walk? Do the two match up?

God is still in the warning business. For Israel, to this day, it is still an issue of their keeping His law; and for the rest of us, to this day, it’s walking in loving, trusting response to His grace. Either way, there is reward for right relationship, and consequences going our own way.

God is a God of love there is no denying that, but there is a way of mistaking that: we try to blame God for not coming through in circumstances that are painful or don’t provide for us the kind of response we feel we deserve from Him. God is God and, fortunately, we are not.

The only way for me to deal with the persistent stuff I battle is to draw closer to God and to seek His help. Without either I’m toast. I’m learning and reeling in the present day that much of what I have held dear and espoused over the years was just misguided hogwash and it is time for me to remember: humbly with God, saying what He tells me to say is much better, infinitely so than going my own way. I want the persistent stuff (at least the bad persistent) to die and to live free from the thoughts, words, and deeds that have held me back –

O Father, may it be so! Amen

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Pretty Sure is Pretty Simple

07.17.13

James 1.26-27 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

I’m pretty sure this is pretty simple: to visit orphans and widows in the affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world…

I’m pretty sure we complicate our relationship with God and His church beyond this. A pastor friend of mine complains: can’t we just do church!? The gist of which: why does church-life have to be so complicated? Why do there have to be so many meetings, agendas, and stuff that goes beyond simple: religion that is pure and undefiled in caring for the hopeless and helpless in their affliction and keeping one’s self unstained from the world?

We’ve complicated things because for the most part Church ceasing being about people and became about institution. Caring has ceased being personal and has become corporate…for the most part. One-on-one discipleship is few and far between.

A great indicator of what we’ve become these days is what is in our hearts – and what comes out of our mouths: if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. The overflow of the heart is the source of what is on the tongue. James’ instructions to us I’m pretty sure are pretty simple: bridle our tongue, and take care of the hopeless (widows) and the helpless (orphans).

Our gatherings should be more about what we’re doing to keep it simple, and less about what we’re doing to uphold the institution. Simple religion is simply staying focused on God and caring for the needs of those who can’t care for themselves.

Well, Paul, what about Christian Education? What about healing the sick? What about benevolence and payroll? Build a school, charge tuition, pay the teachers; open a hospital and hire doctors and nurses but don’t forget to pray prayers for the sick, (and according to James, those prayers offered in faith will make the sick ones well); but keep what fits in the mold of godly care as godly care and let the other things be done to bring glory to the Name of God.

Simple Church is not what we think it is: it isn’t American and it isn’t democratic – it’s keeping the focus where it needs to be and making sure the ones who need cared for are cared for – pretty sure this is pretty simple…

Father, move upon Your people to remember what this is all about: You, and others. It isn’t about buildings (although they’re nice); it isn’t about payrolls (although a serving pastor ought to be paid); it’s about the hopeless and the helpless and keeping our hearts pure. Help us to do that. Help me to do that. And may we return to what I’m pretty sure is pretty simple… Amen.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

I Need You God

07.14.13

Hebrews 11.32-34 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (ESV)

The apostle Paul said: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV) And whoever wrote Hebrews said the members of the Hall of Faith were made strong out of weakness.

David, Gideon, Samson, Jepthah, Samuel and the prophets all had not only their moments of weakness but also had their moments of finding courage and strength in those moments. They stood up when it counted and they were counted for doing so.

Weakness is the truth: we are capable of little on our own. We try to fool ourselves that we are so skilled and clever and the truth is we’re weak. We’re weak, and fallen, and faulty, and frail…and that is precisely the kind of people God is looking for: the weak are the ones He can use – they got nothin’ to offer except what He really values: faith.

And weakness is the birthing ground of faith. When we are weak and powerless is when we have no other place to turn and no other self-strength to draw from. And God uses the weak and powerless because the strong and powerful simply lean upon their own resources. The problem with mankind is he stubbornly thinks he has something to offer; something to bring to the table; and he usually won’t take “no” for an answer; he simply takes his ball and goes home.

But the weak are those who’ve no place to go except to the throne of grace where they cry out over and over, “God if You don’t intervene, I’m done, I’m toast, I’m going to die.” And then they cry out the greatest words in human existence: God, help me! God doesn’t help those who help themselves, He helps those who’ve no help to offer. He helps those who cry out to Him for salvation from real-time enemies and real-life issues that are greater than they are and are going to wipe them out if He doesn’t come to their aid.

After an all-nighter at my church, this morning, I’m weak but I still have all day to go. I’m mosquito bitten, stiff from lying wrong, my ears are wringing, and I need some sleep. But I need God to intervene into my life today because if He doesn’t, I’m done, I’m toast, I’m dead.

Father, all of these of whom we’ve had no time to speak, other than to mention their names were made strong out of weakness. In weakness their faith was born. Some of their stories are downright embarrassing, but my story is just like theirs, and my faith is just like theirs, because my need is just like theirs: I need You God and without You, I’m done, I’m toast, I’m dead. Use me in weakness and use me often for weakness is where I live and Your strength to succeed is what I need. I need You God – amen…

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Tall and Smooth Feared Near and Far

07.13.13

Isaiah 18.7 7 At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of hosts

from a people tall and smooth,
from a people feared near and far,
a nation mighty and conquering,
whose land the rivers divide,
to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts.

Things are not always as they seem. Often we jump to conclusions based upon what we think is going to happen and then, in the seeming twinkling of an eye, we find our conclusions were wrong and our assumptions were merely that: assumptions; what we feared never happens.

In the oracles of the prophets, specifically Isaiah’s, there are conclusions we can jump to based upon what they thought was going to happen. Isaiah’s oracle against Cush says they are going bring a tribute to the Lord instead of a feared invasion against the land. Cush, was a people who were feared because of their size, number, and ferocity – but God said He would bring them to a place where they would become subservient to His rule; they would bring tribute to Zion.

What happens when we fear the worst? Often our fear renders us ineffective in worship of the Living God, with Whom, the Cushites had not factored into their reality. Cushites and most others don’t factor God into their reality. God’s people, unfortunately, sometimes render God’s presence a small thing when faced with other big realities: sickness, poverty, relationships, war, etc.

When we fear the worst, our faith becomes small and useless. When we fear the worst, God’s arm becomes short – our joy flees, and our hope diminishes. But what happens when all of our imagined fears come to naught and the worst we feared never happens? Gotcha! We left ripped off with our cowardice and making excuses for small faith.

The tall and smooth feared near and far Cushites, would be tamed and bring, not war, but tribute to God’s people. When we moderns think the worst is about to happen and all our freedoms are going to fly away, God has a way of using what is formed against us to stymie the plans of those we see as tall and smooth, feared near and far who would intend to do us harm. Whatever we are facing today is not as tall and smooth and feared near and far as it (they, he, them) boasts, especially when compared to our God and His Name.

Today, I am learning not to jump to conclusions and my reminder is not to label someone or something tall and smooth feared near and far unless God gives me permission to do so – and when He does, then either I’m in real trouble or He will provide a way of escape. God controls the tall and smooth, those feared near and far…

I’m grateful for that!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

To Us

07.11.13

Isaiah 9.6 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (ESV)

Unto us – every stinking last one of us with all of our issues, baggage, sin, and misery – unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given.

Sometimes words just cannot express the magnificence and majesty of the Lord our God! Unto us a Savior is born. What wonderful words in the middle of a mundane Thursday work day.

It’s not like God left us alone to self-destruct – He sent us a Son. It’s not like God made us follow some prearranged plan of perfection – while we were still sinners, He sent His only begotten Son! He didn’t wait for us to get better, He intervened and sent us a Son.

It is good news; it is great tidings! God has given to us a way out of the unbelievable quagmire in which we find ourselves.

One of the biggest things wrong in our world is we mostly don’t trust many people. There are some with which we’ll share some of who we are but for most it remains a mystery because we instinctively know just how bad the other guys are – we know instinctively how bad we are. We look for a savior in government somehow believing that though we cannot trust others, we’ll believe we can trust our elected representatives to do the right thing. If we can’t trust our neighbor whom we do know who says we can trust elected officials whom we don’t’? You can’t have it both ways. And their trust issues are the same…cain’t trust anybody…

So God gave us a Son – unto us a Son is given. If we can’t trust our fellow man maybe at least we can trust God’s Son. That the intent. Maybe we can trust God. If we want big government we need a big God who is more interested in people’s hearts than He is their take home pay. If we all want to be employed by the government, let’s be employed by the best government – a government that cares about people and their problems at the deepest levels and a government that understands and provides for our deepest needs.

With God there is no Social Security – there’s just security. Security in God is enough.

I needed this word today. I am frustrated and concerned with the march toward globalism by people who don’t trust anybody – God included. Unto to me – even if I was the only person ever born ever, a Child is born, a Son is given.

Father God, thank You! Thank You for the Gift of Your Son and that He is mine forever and the government will rest on His shoulders, and every need will be me and every wrong will be righted. Thank You – Amen.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Invincible Confidence

07.10.13

Micah 5.4-5a 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great     to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace.

You cannot do what you do unless you know who you are; and you cannot know who you are unless you know who He is. It’s called invincible confidence. It’s based in faith and it relies solely on the Name of the Lord our God. We have no strength, skill, ability, cleverness, or wisdom apart from His Great Name. And nothing can stand against it. Ever.

I have a friend who’s written a book called Beautiful Battlefields. Her book describes the invincible confidence needed in life when we face the difficulties we face; and face them we will…and face them we must. Her husband has been diagnosed with ALS and I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a fearful thing, and I can’t imagine what a spouse goes through when the other spouse is afflicted like that. Haven’t ever experienced anything quite like that…

However, my wife and I raised a boy who was severely retarded from birth (to use a term to help you understand) and it changed our lives. Forever. Unfortunately, we didn’t at the time completely understand invincible confidence as well as we should’ve. We’ve three other children since then and none of them (as yet) have caused us to have to care for them on the level of our disabled son, but we now have a grand-child and our life has taken on a whole new vista. And, this world is an increasingly evil and foolish place – we need invincible confidence to stand in it in the strength of the Name of the Lord our God.

The battles will come. The enemies will threaten. And the only way to stand against them is in the strength that comes from knowing the Name of our Great God. I have no strength…but He does. I can’t win the battle – but He has. It’s my invincible confidence in Who He is and the majesty of His great Name that makes the difference in what I do from this day forth. (It’s good to carefully read the Minor Prophets because they explain Major Things.)

So, invincible confidence – what is it? It’s knowing God is God, and nothing or no one can stand against Him. It’s operating in this life in the steadfast assurance that He is completely in control of every battle, and is with us every step of the way as we confidently trust in Him. No weapon formed against us will prosper because no weapon (of whatever we could imagine) can stand against Him.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8.31-39 ESV)

Invincible confidence - thank You Lord! Amen.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Respect

07.09.13

Micah 4.2b “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (ESV)

It’s hard to read the prophets and not get caught up in it all: the fall of Samaria, the fall of Jerusalem, the coming disaster that was to overtake the peoples of Israel and Judah where their cities would be laid waste and their lands become desolate. The temptation is to read and simply conclude: they had it coming; they got what they deserved.

I think many people see God only as a God of retribution and judgment. I think many are so unhappy with their current sitch that they want someone to come in and change it (as long as the change is for their good and the detriment of those they perceive are causing them angst.) We humans are big on justice as long as we get our way. The rain falls on the just and the unjust and so long as we get rain, so long as we win, what more is there?

Yes, Israel and Judah got what was coming to them and got what they deserved. They had a covenant with God and they broke it and they concluded that all of God’s promises were too good to be true. And they compared their circumstances with the nations around them and concluded their gods were better at delivering than God was. They forsook the Lord and got what they deserved in return.

God gets a bad rap in judgment as if He is simply paying back those who ignore Him because they don’t know any better. Nothing could be more untrue. God promised to bless them if they followed Him and curse them if they didn’t – and, it was all written down. They had no excuse except their own fickle and faulty reasoning. But God told the truth all along and His promises stand regardless of what men may do with them.

The proof is what was prophesied about the latter days: It shall come to pass in the latter days that ... many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (Micah 4.1-4) God is only ever looking for respect… And one day, respect there will be.

There is hope that man will tire of his own schemes and will one day realize his plans and dreams and desires are totally worthless without God’s presence and partnership. There is hope man will one day let go and let God. There is a truth that one day many will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”

Father, in these turbulent days, may the hearts of people see past the schemes of men and big governments, and hand-outs, and what they claim are their rights. May the whole thing come crashing down so that we can see just how destitute we are without You, and encourage one another to say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” Father, we need You! Father, may it be. Amen.

Monday, July 8, 2013

The Mercy of God

07.08.13
Hosea 14.3c In you the orphan finds mercy. (ESV)

For some reason my heart has been softened this weekend. My usual sarcastic, cynicism has ebbed and I find myself wiping away little tears. It started out Friday night when our son went off bike riding with some friends, and my wife informed me that one of the friends had epilepsy and had been saved by another mutual friend of our son’s from drowning in a pool where he’d had a seizure in the pool. I teared up at the thought of that.

And then this past Sunday was our 20th annual God and Country Rally in our city park. Several of the churches get together for a time of worship and (okay) rah-rah for the old red, white, and blue. Usually it’s a fun event with lots of singing (National Anthem, America the Beautiful, and such) but this time I felt a profound sense of the presence of God, and again, wiped away the tears.

It might be because I’ve been reading in Hosea for the past few days. Hosea is a poignant prophecy from the get-go and it just doesn’t let up. For instance, today was a reading in chapters 13 and 14 where God has simply washed His hands of their idolatry and spiritual adultery. It’s sad watching God watch His people go. It’s like watching your own kids go off into their dreams and disappear under the surface; it can get weepy.

And so today, it was no surprise that I ran across this little phrase in Hosea: In [You] the orphan finds mercy. Across the world orphans are a dime a dozen. Across the world orphans are the refuse of adult society. Orphans are the dregs of apathy: I may have brought you into this world but you’re gonna have to find your own way out

A friend of mine was an orphan and was raised in the usual manner of orphans: multiple foster care situations and frequent physical beatings. I sometimes think orphans are the punching bags for frustrated adults: It rolls downhill little buddy and it stop with you!  So, when I ran across these six little words in the midst of the vastness of the Bible and at the sad ending of Hosea’s prophecy, I teared up. Orphans for the most part don’t mean crap to others – they’re just another mouth to feed.

But today I saw a ray of hope: In [You] the orphan finds mercy. Orphans need mercy and they need it from Someone who’ll really deliver. It doesn’t pay to burden others with whining about the things only God can fix. God has mercy on orphans. And maybe the ones who receive His mercy are the ones who’ll, like my friend, grow up into merciful adults. This world cries out for mercy.

Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy. (Matthew 5.7) Tears or not, this world is a merciless place unless someone is merciful – and Hosea said, “In You (in God) the orphan, the refuse, the forgotten, the ignored, the beaten, the fearful, the sick, the lame, the infirm, the abused find mercy.

Lord, You are merciful, may I be merciful as You are merciful and I ask to be used by You to impart mercy to ones who don’t (or can’t because of their circumstances) believe it exists… Amen.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

The Way Out

07.07.13

Psalm 73. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. (ESV)

The honesty of the Bible is staggering. I heard this quote the other day: Church is a lot like Halloween; people dress up and pretend to be someone else… Not Asaph, the author of this psalm, he flatly admitted it: But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Vv. 2-3)

Sometimes, it’s easy to wish we had more money, more time, and more freedom to do whatever in the heck we want to do. Of course, we’d live upright and godly lives if we did, but man, it sure would be nice to have money left over at the end of the bills (or a stinkin trip to the grocery store!).

Asaph made the comparison of the well-to-do and said, They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. And it’s true, at least in part. Many in this world don’t have enough (however much that is). Many are sick. Most have never heard of such a thing as health insurance (let alone Obamacare). Disease, poverty, and oppression are the only choices on the menu for billions of people on this planet. And yet in the midst of all of this there are the rich, the uber-rich and the unbelievably rich.

Money cannot and will not pay one’s way into heaven; God isn’t interested in money. Money, more often than not, causes more problems than it resolves. Hosea said, “Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.” (Hosea 10.1) Money and riches drove Israel away from God. And that is Asaph’s point: “…I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…” He was tempted to see wealth, affluence, and riches, not God, as a way out.

For the faithful, the way out is whichever way God leads, and the truth is the have-nots of this world are troubled and stricken. Trouble and strife, although seemingly unpleasant, have marvelous redemptive qualities. Affluence on the other hand insulates one from dependence. God’s way out is simply this: trust only in Him, never in money.

It used to be I would say something like this in response to what I just wrote: there is nothing wrong with money, or having money. I would say that to assuage my own conscience and to lessen the risk of offending the have’s. Today, I don’t give a crap about what you think – I think much of the problem of the past world and the present is money, and the pursuit thereof. I think the have’s are in trouble and the have not’s are as well if they think money is the way out.

Our world tells us that more money is the answer for everything and our experience shows us that isn’t true; more affluence, most always, leads to a pursuit of more affluence. More God, said Asaph, leads to a life of contentment and peace.

Asaph was sorely tempted to believe there was another way. It was only in the presence of God he came to his senses and saw the horrific folly of such belief. My prayer is that I honor God with what I have; and please Him with a life offered in pursuit of Him – He is the Only Way… 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Without a Plan

07.06.13

Hosea 8.7 7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it. (ESV)

Israel and Judah were in times of great turbulence but instead of seeking God and humbling themselves under His law, they did it their way. From the earliest days of their existence God had called them over and over to stick with Him; but they tired of the sticking and went their own way. And now, in Hosea’s day they were on the cusp of complete humiliation and impending exile among the pagan nations they sought to emulate.

Following God is a two-way venture. God is God and He will lead us but we must trust His leadership. God is Lord, but we must submit to His Lordship. That is, if we call Him Leader and Lord. And so we must have a plan to do so. Israel lived without a plan that included God. Most of the time, so do I…

The harvest of sowing the seeds of flying-by-the-seat-of-the-pants will be the same chaos of flying by the seat of one’s pants; chaos only begets seeds of more chaos. If you always do what you’ve always done; you’ll always be where you’ve always been. To move beyond that, one must have a plan.

I am facing two things in my (current) schedule that demand much of my attention and a willingness on my part to do something about them. One is imminent and the other is about a year away. The closer one looks to be at best, a mediocre effort on my part for lack of my plan: if you sow the wind, you reap a whirlwind. The one further off is going to require significantly more effort and energy (as well as prayer) but to continue on the way I’ve been going will only mean more whirlwind.

Israel and Judah’s plan didn’t include an unshakable devotion to God and didn’t include much thought about the consequences of their sowing. They were active in much but they we inactive in what was important: depending upon God.

Our lives (yours and mine), if we’re going to be successful must include more than wind-sowing. Our daily comings and goings are measurable indicators of our future success based upon what kind of seed we sow. If we take for granted what we take for granted we shouldn’t be surprised if we come up surprised one day that it (whatever it is) was never meant to be quick, easy, or effortless.

The answer lies in what seed we’re presently sowing. Today is the day to keep in mind tomorrow’s harvest. If today, the seed sown is inaction and procrastination, then we shouldn’t be befuddled or miffed if tomorrow all we get is regret over today’s sowing.

Father God, I am sorry, humbled, and convicted over my present choice of seeds sown and I repent. To do what I think You’ve called me to do can’t get done without a plan and I need You to help me come up with a change of course or at least better seeds to sow… I believe Your word helped me today… Amen.

Friday, July 5, 2013

What We Want

07.05.13

Hosea 3.4,5 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. ESV

Yesterday was our US national day of remembering our nation’s declaration of independence from the British monarchy in 1776. It wasn’t a very popular concept with the English king: his colonies deciding to become their own nation. And so a war ensued and the colonists prevailed and a country was born and here we are 237 years later…supposedly remembering that declaration.

In Hosea’s day the nation of Israel had declared not so much with words as with actions their independence from King God; they’d decided that God wasn’t enough (or enough fun) and they went after other ‘gods’, like Baal, Ashtoreh, Molech, etc. They wanted gods who’d get the job done and because God seemed to God-like they decided to go with the gods of the surrounding super-power nations which seemed to be the reason they were super-powers.

Now, the attitude of king George of England in 1776 was: Well, when these unruly colonists come to their senses and see they have no tea, and no protection from the power of the English Empire, they’ll come around. They’ll come a-begging to be taken back.

God on the other hand said, “…the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God…” They would realize what they’d lost. The difference between King God and king George was King God knew what He was talking about; king George didn’t.

I’ve heard it said that God has four answers to our prayers: Yes, No, Wait, and, If you insist.
For God so loved His people that He gave them what they wanted so that they could remember what they lost. (Paul Turk 3.16) Israel needed to fix their memory; they couldn’t remember.

We, in this great land, must somehow remember; but not all know Who started it: we need to remember Him. King God will let those who want their own way to have their own way; and it seems He will allow them their own way until they remember (or realize) what they have isn’t what they wanted. King God is only about the Best and offering the Best to everyone who’ll take Him at His royal word.

The mission of those who know His Best is to help those who don’t to come to King God and accept His offer. And the proof is those who know will live knowing; it’ll be believable – or at least visible.

Father, take from me whatever You must in order to help me to see. Help me to help others see and help us all to accept You’ll give us what we insist until we realize it isn’t what we want…

Thursday, July 4, 2013

God Among the Crowd

07.04.13

Hosea 1.6 6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all.” (ESV)

Sometimes, I raise my eyebrows at the names people give their children. I know that sounds a bit harsh: whose dang business is it anyway that I call my kid: ________!? It sure ain’t mine. I didn’t get to choose my name and you didn’t get to choose yours; they were given to us by our parents (or parent) and the bottom line is: they are all known by God. They are all known by God from eternity past and in that sense He allowed them to be named whatever they are named before any of us were born.

Hosea is told (by God) to marry a whore named Gomer (whose name means: complete; vanishing), because His people (Israel) had prostituted themselves by going after other gods, and calling them real, and forsaking Him; or at best, including Him among the crowd. There is no crowd. God says there are no other Gods; He doesn’t know one. (“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”  Isaiah 45.22)

The pinnacle of mankind’s sin is simply: to un-God God. That is, either lump Him in with other “deities”, or to write Him off altogether” “The fool says in his heart,“There is no God.”” (Psalm 14.1) The one who writes off God is himself written off. And then God says things like: “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all.” The nation of Israel wrote off God, and He returned their favor.

Why does God seem so petulant at times? I think it’s because we are so petulant all the time. We write stuff off all the time – we write off people as unworthy, beyond help, not-worth-the-effort. Why would it seem so strange that God would write-off His own people? It’s called wrath. Wrath is that point at which God will go no further; He’s said all He’s going to say. He’s done.

Men’s gods are petulant. God is not. Men’s gods are capricious and untrustworthy; God is not. Men’s gods are like themselves; God is not. Men’s gods are just gods in the crowd; God is not. God names a little girl, No Mercy, because He is told His people they’d reached a point where He would no longer deal with them; they’d hit the point of no return – He cut His losses and moved on. That ought to make one think…

I am so grateful for grace yet I need to remember that grace is not cheap nor is it a hall-pass. I am accountable for my thoughts and my motives and for everything I do because if I’m not careful, I’ll lump God in with “the gods in the crowd” and forget what He’s done for me. Personally, I can’t afford that. I’m grateful for once saved, always saved, but I can’t use that as an excuse to excuse my behavior. The thing for which I want to be known by God and by men is: faithfulness. May I be faithful to the one and ONLY God there is, and help others to be as well…

Father God, that is my prayer – amen.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Faithful Frustration

07.03.13

Isaiah 6.11-12 11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
12 and the Lord removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.”

Isaiah’s ministry was to be a ministry of faithful frustration; he would prophecy and the people would ignore him.

How much is enough? That is a question a friend posed to me one day along with three others: 1. Who is God? 2. Who am I? 3. What really matters? How much is enough? How much profit does a business man have to make? How many and how long are wars? Who is really in charge here? How much is enough?

How long do you preach to an apathetic crowd? How many blogs does one write (in what seems like an endless ocean of blogs) to impart whatever it is one wants to impart? How much feedback does one need on said blogs?

Isaiah was told to preach, “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.” How long do you preach when no one wants to listen?

I think God understands faithful frustration. I think He is the Original faithfully frustrated. He knows what men need and gives them the grace to figure it out for themselves and continually works in their lives to help them get it – and day after day after day He watches as men ignore Him and run headlong into death and destruction.

The nation of Judah was God’s special child and Judah became too secular for their own good. They became more impressed and political with the peoples around them and God’s servants watched as promise after promise was broken or fell upon deaf ears. They then, were like us today: no thought for the present and no thought for the future.

My heart goes out to the faithfully frustrated. It’s not like it’s not an important message – it’s huge – but people seem to be caught up in whatever else that distracts them from Who God is, who they are, what really matters, and how much is enough.

Father, Your love is higher than the heavens and Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, and Your justice flows like the ocean’s tide. Help the faithfully frustrated to keep at it despite the overwhelming feelings that enough is enough, and what really matters no longer really matters. Strengthen the faithful to be faithful and to continue to preach to the crowd which doesn’t want to hear. Amen.