Everything "Divinely Possible"

I received the following comment to yesterday’s pondering on expectations:

“I sometimes wonder if the disciples EVER REALLY got it that Jesus was God incarnate. It would be hard for their basic fisherman mentality to grasp this concept, when they are living, eating, sleeping and traveling with Jesus.”

You know what; I think it’s true. Even though Jesus did everything humanly possible to help them understand, I don’t think they began to get it until after the resurrection. Perhaps I should say “divinely possible;” take a look at this.

• [1] And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
  [2] After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. [3] His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them . . . [7] Then a cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
  Mark 9:1-3, 7 (NIV)

Peter, James and John saw Jesus in all the glory of heaven on the mount of transfiguration as Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah. They heard the voice of the Father God say, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him,” but they just didn’t get it.

On the way down the mountain Jesus told these three disciples not to tell anyone about what they had just happened until after he had risen from the dead. God had just told them to listen to Jesus, but they didn’t really hear what God had said. They kept the matter to themselves, but secretly talked among themselves as to what it meant to rise from the dead.

God had also just told them that Jesus was His beloved Son; would anything be too hard for God? They had been witnesses when Jesus had miraculously raised others from the dead. Jesus had told the disciples that he would suffer and die. Couldn’t they just take Jesus at his word and believe that he really would die and then be raised back to life? Jesus was too human and their expectations of a victorious Messiah were just too big for them to even imagine that Jesus would have to really die. Yet that’s exactly what Jesus did, and He rose from the dead just like He said.

Now how will we respond the next time the Lord speaks to our hearts about something? Will we be quick to respond in faith and obedience? Or will we be like the disciples and wonder if it was really God who spoke to us. We have our own struggles taking Jesus at His word too. What do you think?

Expectations

Expectations are hard to overcome. As a mom Susie is very close to her kids; lots of hugs, kisses, cuddle time on the couch to talk and more are just some of the ways she and the kids express their love to each other. When we brought my sister’s kids into our home she had the expectation that Sam, Courtney and Jacob would all come to make the same kind of connection with her but that hasn’t happened. We are not sure of all the reasons why it’s this way, but the one thing we do know is that unmet expectations have led to disappointment.

Jesus has been with his disciples now for sometime. They have listened to him teach about the Kingdom of God and have witnessed the power of God in all kinds of miracles. As they were together Jesus asked them who people said that He was. They answered that others thought he might be John the Baptist, Elijah or other prophets. Then Jesus made it personal.

• [29] "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
  Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
  [30] Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
  [31] He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
  Mark 8:29-31 (NIV)

We all know that Peter got this question right. In Matthew Jesus tells Peter that this was not revealed by man but by the Father in heaven. Yet Jesus warns Peter and the other disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Christ, the Messiah. Why?

I believe it was their expectations. The Jews, including Jesus’ disciples were all looking for the coming Messiah but their expectations were for the Messiah to be a conquering king and reestablish the kingdom within Israel. But Jesus immediately began teaching his disciples that he must suffer and die. This didn’t fit with their idea of the Messiah; no wonder they couldn’t understand what Jesus meant by rising again after three days.

While Jesus told the disciples many times that He would go to Jerusalem and die, when it happened they just couldn’t believe it. Their expectations of the Messiah were shattered; at the cross we know of only John being present. The others were all scattered. Three days latter they were still hiding for fear of the Jews and not anticipating the triumphal resurrection of Jesus.

Unmet expectations; is it any wonder Jesus did not want the disciples to begin to spread the news that He was in fact the Messiah. Jesus not only had to teach them what it meant to be the Messiah; He had to show them too. Only after the resurrection did the disciples begin to understand Jesus as a suffering Messiah who died to forgive their sins. That’s the message that they would soon begin to share everywhere they would go. What do you think?

He Did It Again!

I heard the other day that a complete stranger given just 15 minutes to observe a person and his/her environment will have a better chance of predicting behavior than a close friend or family member. Sounds hard to believe, but I guess our familiarity or prejudice blinds us to other possibilities that a stranger will see. Let’s face it; family and friends can surprise us. Just about the time you think you’ve got them figured out they will go and do or say something completely unexpected.

Jesus went again into the area of the Decapolis; this is where the man delivered from the legion of demons went to tell his family and friends about all that Jesus had done for him. Apparently the word that Jesus was in the area had gotten around and people brought a man who was both deaf and mute, and they begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus took the man aside and in a most unusual way opened the man’s ears and mouth so that he could hear and speak. But that’s not the end of the story.

• [36] Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. [37] People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
  Mark 7:36-37 (NIV)

This is the second time Jesus gave orders for people not to say anything about what He had done. Why would Jesus tell these people not to talk about this miracle when he had previously told the man delivered from demons to go back to his family and friends and tell everyone what the Lord had done for him?

Does Jesus really want to keep His identity as the Messiah a secret as some claim?[1] That seems unlikely to me because most of the people in this area would have been Gentiles and not Jews looking for the Messiah. Does Jesus not want people to know that the Kingdom of God has come like I thought He did in Mark 5?[2] Why does Jesus tell everyone to not say anything about this truly amazing miracle?

Could it be that Jesus did not want people to just focus on the signs and wonders that demonstrated God’s Kingdom had really come to be among them? Do you think Jesus wanted them to talk more about the MESSAGE of the Kingdom rather than the MIRACLE? Let’s face it, people have not change much in 2,000 years; folks will still get all excited about miracles. The message of the Kingdom, a message of repentance and living a changed life, doesn’t sell as well as miracles. But which is more important, the message or the miracle? What do you think?
______________________
[1] See Mark 8:30 – Jesus instruct His disciple not to say anything about being the Christ.
[2] See Monday’s Pondering: Schizophrenic or Following a Plan

Familiarity

Familiarity breeds contempt, or so the saying goes. Such was the case for Jesus in His hometown.

• [1] Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. [2] When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! [3] Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
  Mark 6:1-3 (NIV)

It’s interesting; the hometown folks’ response to Jesus was both to be amazed and incredulous at the same time. While they were awestruck by Jesus’ teaching and the miracles He preformed, they also carried the memories of Jesus together with His mother and siblings that just made it all too hard to believe. Jesus was the carpenter; what right does He have to say such things. Their familiarity if not a seedbed of contempt, it was certainly a roadblock to faith.

I wonder if familiarity breeds anything else too. What I mean is, has the life story of Jesus and our Christian faith become too familiar or too common for many of us within the Church? None of us who believe in Jesus would ever disdain or look with condescension upon our Lord (that’s contempt means). But is it possible that we ‘take offense’ and look that way at other believers within the body of Christ?

I’m on dangerous ground now, but before you start casting stones lets think about it. What is your attitude towards those who may not be as spiritually “mature” as you are and struggle with sin? Or how about those who take a different doctrinal stand on various teachings that we hold to? In other words, could familiarity also breed self-absorbed pride? Perhaps pride is too strong, so could it be that familiarity breeds a spiritual comfort zone that makes us lazy in our relationships with other believers and our personal study of God’s Word?

When was the last time we let God really speak to us through His word that opened our eyes in a new way to the truth about ourselves forced us out of our religious boxes? Could it also be that our familiarity keeps us from hearing the ‘still small voice’ of the Spirit?

Have we become too familiar with Jesus? And if so what has it bred within our hearts? These are some tough questions that don’t have easy answers. What do you think?

Schizophrenic or Following a Plan?

In Mark 5 we find three miracles. The first was when Jesus delivered the demon possessed man in the area of the Gerasenes. The second occurred when a woman reaches out to touch the hem of Jesus garment believing that she would be healed and she was. The third miracle began as a request to heal a man’s daughter, but when the report came that the little girl had died, Jesus told the man to not lose faith. Jesus went with the man to his house and raised his daughter back to life. Notice how each of these miracles ends:

• Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
• He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
• He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
  Mark 5: 19, 34, 43 (NIV)

Now I can’t help but wonder why Jesus responded so differently in each of these miracles. The first and third are exact opposites; the man freed from demons is told to go home and tell everyone what Jesus did for him, but the parents whose daughter was raised from the dead are instructed to keep quite about the miracle. No one would have known about the second miracle except Jesus and the woman, but Jesus who draws attention to what had happened seeking out the woman to find out why she had touched Him and then sent her away in peace.

On the surface it might seem like Jesus is acting a little schizophrenic, but I think I see a common thread in how Jesus concludes each of these miracles. In each case Jesus wanted the miracle made known as an announcement that the Kingdom of God had indeed come.

For the demoniac the real proof of the miracle was for this man who had been “out of his mind” to go home and live his life in front of family and friends so they could all know that Jesus truly had delivered him (this too announced the coming of God’s kingdom among the Gentiles and that’s a whole other topic). In the second it was because the miracle happened unexpectedly and without anyone else’s knowledge that Jesus made it known. In the final miracle, the little girl’s life would speak for itself. People had already gathered to mourn her death so everyone would know that it was Jesus who brought her back to life; the parents didn’t need to say anything.

Jesus brought God’s Kingdom into being and it is among us today. Sometimes we proclaim the good things God has done for us. At other times we need to point out what God has done for others. And then there are the times that all we need to do is live our life for everyone to see that it is Jesus who has made us alive in Him. In each of these ways we verify the reality of God’s Kingdom in the here and now interacting in our lives and the lives of others. What do you think?

A Surprising Mystery

Several months ago we were eating dinner at a Cracker Barrel when to our complete surprise our daughter Chrysta walk in. She decided she wanted to come home from college for the weekend and had secretly arranged to pop-in out of the blue with her aunt. I sometimes wonder if she had just come in and had a seat at a table like anyone else having dinner that night rather than seeking us out if we would have even recognized her. Could we have even walked right past her and not noticed if she had wanted to keep her presence there a secret?

I wonder if the way in which Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom of God came as a surprise to people too. What did people expect “the Day of the Lord” and the Kingdom to look like? Jews at the time of Christ were expecting a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, to overthrow the Romans and take his place as king over Israel. Jesus didn’t do bring in the Kingdom the way people expected.

• Jesus asked, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?
  Mark 4:30 (NLT)

Jesus uses two very interesting parables to specifically describe the Kingdom of God. In the first it is likened to a man who sows seed. This man has no idea how the seed grows, but when the grain is ripe he puts a sickle to it and brings in the harvest. The second pictures the Kingdom to be like a mustard seed that is only a small seed, but then grows into a large tree in which birds can make their home.

Is that really what the Kingdom of God is like? Shouldn’t the Kingdom come with a great victory over its enemies and be announced with fanfare and celebration? Does Jesus really understand the Kingdom? I think if anyone understands the Kingdom of God it is Jesus; we are the ones who are still struggling to understand it.

Jesus announced the coming of a Kingdom that people did not recognize, but that does not mean the Kingdom had not come. In the same way Chrysta could have hidden her presence in the restaurant from us, God’s Kingdom is among us today just as it was with the disciples then, but the Kingdom is concealed. God’s Kingdom is not present as we would expect it to be, thus the reality of the reign of God can be misunderstood or even missed all together.

Jesus told his disciples, “I’m letting you in on the secret of God’s Kingdom” (Mark 4:11 my paraphrase). Maybe we need to ask Jesus to show us the mystery of God’s Kingdom instead of trying to make it what we think it is supposed to be. I don’t want to be like the religious leaders who completely missed the coming of the Kingdom because it didn’t match their expectations. I want to be ready when the sickle is put to the wheat. What do you think?

Kingdom Conflict

If you have ever lived with ten people under one roof then you know how important it is to cooperate with each other. Even little things, like getting into the bathroom, have the potential to be explosive. Fortunately we have been blessed with the presence of an eleventh “Person” around our house; God helps us to all live together in peace.

Jesus came preaching the message that the Kingdom of God had come. Jesus said “At last the time has come” or as the KJV says “The time is fulfilled” (see Mark 1:15 NLT). In other words Jesus was making it clear that what the Old Testament prophets had prophesied was now taking place; God’s word was coming to pass. The Kingdom had come.

The religious leaders knew that if what Jesus said was true then Jesus must be God’s promised Messiah. But Jesus didn’t look like the Messiah they were expecting; they were looking for a Messiah to come and forcibly kick out the Romans and make the kingdom of Israel great again. Their problem was all the miracles that Jesus had done; how could Jesus cast out demons and perform signs and wonders? Their solution: Jesus did not do these things with God’s power but with Satan’s power.

• [23] Jesus called them over and said to them by way of illustration, “How can Satan cast out Satan? [24] A kingdom at war with itself will collapse.”
  Mark 3:23-24 (NLT)

Jesus pointed out the flaw in their logic. If Jesus was casting out demons by Satan’s power then the devil was shooting himself in the foot and it was only a matter of time until Satan would destroy his entire kingdom. The only other option was that Jesus had in fact announced the coming of God’s Kingdom and proved the arrival of the Kingdom with signs and wonders through the power of God.

What Jesus said and did makes it clear that the Kingdom of God stands in opposition to the dominion of Satan. God’s kingdom would not be established through an earthly kingdom in Israel or anyplace else. The Kingdom of God was a spiritual reality that had come to destroy Satan’s rule in this world and the evidence pointed to the reality that Jesus was triumphing over the devil; demons were cast out, the sick recovered.

Jesus continues to show that the Kingdom of God has come and Satan is defeated. Jesus still heals the sick; He still has authority over demons. No kingdom is divided against itself. If we want to stand with Jesus, then lets discover ways to oppose the works of evil that are evident around us. Jesus has established the Kingdom of God with power and authority.

Authority

We are bound by time, but Jesus is eternal and not bound by the limitations of time. Thus the Lord is always active in the present in the same way He was in the past (and God will continue to do tomorrow what He does today). That’s why the right question to ask ourselves is “What is Jesus doing” and not “What would Jesus do?” And that’s why I think it is important to look carefully at what Jesus did when He was here on earth because it will show us what He is doing today.

Jesus preached the good news, a message about the kingdom of God. Now if Jesus had in fact brought the kingdom of God into the present reality of man then the authority of God’s kingdom should be evident in what Jesus says and does. A king without authority is at best an icon representing something he is not; at the least such a king is only a peasant or a slave.

An interesting thing happened when Jesus returned to Capernaum. A crowd gathered at the house he was in; the place was packed. Four men brought their friend who was a cripple to Jesus, but they couldn’t get in. These guys didn’t give up; they went up on the roof, opened a whole in it and with ropes lowered their crippled friend on a stretcher right in front of Jesus. Jesus was impressed, so impressed in fact that he told the crippled man that his sins were forgiven (not what his friends on the roof were hoping for). When Jesus said this, the religious leaders there were upset to say the least. What Jesus had done was blasphemous; only God can forgive sins.

• [8] Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so skeptical? [9] Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? [10] Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both..." (he looked now at the paraplegic), [11] "Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." [12] And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, "We've never seen anything like this!"
  Mark 2:8-12 (MsgB)

The kingdom of God Jesus had announced had in fact come. Jesus proved his authority. Jesus maintains the same authority today; nothing has changed. He not only has authority to heal the sick, but more importantly Jesus has authority to forgive us of our sins.

Forgiveness seems to be His priority; that’s what he gave the crippled man first. Maybe we need to look for Jesus where forgiveness is needed today and then we’ll see the evidence of His authority through miracles. What do you think?

Finding "It"

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Sounds simple doesn’t it? If we are going to successfully complete “the main thing,” then we need to know what it is and stick to it.

As a busy pastor I must confess my need to rediscover the main thing. I laugh to myself whenever someone says something like, “Oh you’re a pastor; it must be nice to only have to work one day a week.” Most people don’t understand the work of the ministry; to be honest I don’t think I really got it until after I began to serve as a lead-pastor nearly thirteen years ago now. I’m thankful for the six years I served as an assistant pastor in Kent; I learned a lot from my mentor and friend Pastor Dave, but something changes that I don’t know if I can put into words when you transition from just being a member of the church staff. Pastoring really is hard work.

Please understand, I don’t just want to complain or sound like a cry baby. My purpose is to somehow help ordinary folks understand my need to rediscover “the main thing.” You might think working at the church, preaching each Sunday, preparing lessons to teach, writing devotionals, praying, counseling and a laundry list of other things I do from week to week would keep the main thing easily in sight. It must be easy for the pastor to keep his/her spiritual priorities in right alignment because unlike church folks the pastor is immersed in the life of the church. Not many pastors have to work in the secular market place so it must be nice to just focus on Jesus 24/7 right? (I’m not knocking the by-vocational pastor—been there done that too).

The fact of the matter is that the main thing can be lost among the clutter of activity. If pastors can lose it then ordinary church folks can too. I know only one way to rediscover the main thing: LOOK AT JESUS.

• [14] After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God. [15] He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."
  Mark 1:14-15 (GW)

Jesus’ very first words proclaimed the gospel, the good news. And what was this message? “The kingdom of God is near.” I think that there in is a key to finding the main thing.

God’s kingdom is still near today. The question is not “What would Jesus do?” but “What is Jesus doing?” You see its not what I can do or say, but what Jesus will do in and through me (and you too). When we better understand what Jesus did when He walked this earth we will better be able to see what He is doing today. Then we can join Him in His work. I think that’s the main thing. How about you?

Surprise

In our Sunday morning service yesterday the Lord spoke to us with a personal invitation to come to him with our needs, that God was by our side just waiting for us to reach out and take hold of His hand. Susie and I had prayer together that morning and hours later we were again at the altar at the conclusion of our combined rally. God was about to meet with us in a very special way.

People were making their way to the front for prayer. I looked up and there in front of me stood a dear friend from the CLC where I had served as a youth pastor nearly twelve years ago. After giving her a hug she said, “I would really like to have you pray for me again.”

My mind raced back through the years with a flood of memories. I was overwhelmed. We were there to minister to others but I began to weep because the Lord was doing something in my heart as well through her simple request for prayer. We all wiped the tears from our eyes after our prayer together. She then said that the Lord had blessed her with Matthew 11:28 from the Message Bible and that it might be an encouragement to us as well.

• [28] "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. [29] Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
  Matthew 11:28-29 (MsgB)

Two weeks ago at district council another friend prayed with me and simply said, “You are not alone.” The message of these verses and the love I felt from our friend last night confirmed those words in my heart. I am not alone.

God knows our need for spiritual rest and renewal and is ready to meet us right were we are. Honestly God surprised me last night, but I’m so grateful for the “real rest” that the Lord provided in those moments of prayer. I was the beneficiary of the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

So how are you doing today? Jesus is right there with you at this very moment. Reach out and take His hand and let Him refresh your heart in a way that only He can.

Take-a-ways

Eye Opening – 62nd Ohio District Council

I’ve spent the last few days in Columbus for District Council. It has been a great time just being in the Lord’s presence and renewing friendships with other pastors from across the state. I thought I would share with you a few of my personal ‘take-a-ways’ from the last 60 hours or so.

CONNECT THE DOTS
Dr. Byron Klaus shared Monday night how God is able to pull together all the diverse experiences of our lives to accomplish His purpose in our lives. In much the same way a childe will connect the dots in a picture book to draw a picture, God sees the picture that He is making of our lives and is working to complete it. We don’t always see the picture God is drawing, for that matter we don’t even see how God has connected some of the dots! However you can rest assured that God knows what He is doing. Wherever you are today is right where God wants you as He continues to work in and through your life to connect the dots.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Business sessions began Tuesday. After about 4 hours we were preparing to adjourn for the afternoon. Pastor Doug Clay (our district superintendent) called for a time of prayer around the altar. I responded to this invitation for prayer and the Lord met me there. I wept as the Lord lifted the load I was carrying. A dear missionary friend began to pray with me; prompted of the Lord he said, “You are not alone.” These words were so healing to my spirit. I not only have others who will stand with me, but more importantly God is with me.

THE ANOINTING
Pastor Doug preached the ordination service and shared about the importance of the anointing within our lives. He shared that among other things the anointing brings: transformation, connection, intuition, and protection. We were taking lessons from the life of Saul who unfortunately did not continue to live under the anointing of God. Here’s the bottom line: The anointing will take us where we could never go without it; character and integrity will keep us there.

ONE MORE FOR JESUS
Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost; that was (and still is) His mission. As a pastor do I want to just manage a religious enterprise or do I want to participate in the mission of Jesus? As an individual you could ask yourself if you just want to be a faithful member of the church or a missional partner with Jesus. Are we willing to let step out of our comfort zone within our churches and begin to reach out to people around us who need Jesus?

Pastor Doug had taken some walks on a golf course and rescued golf balls from the lake; he had found hundreds of them. These golf balls were all used. Some were stained; others had nicks and scratches. But having been pulled from the water they were all cleaned up and ready to be used again for their designed purpose. Can we see that the people around us are like those golf balls? Some are literally drowning in the circumstances of life; they are dirty and scuffed up. Yet God wants to rescue them, clean them up and empower them to fulfill the purpose He designed them for. Will we reach one more for Jesus?

A place in the shade . . .

Several years ago I cut down a large bush that was growing in the center of our back yard. To my surprise I found that a maple tree was growing up right in the middle of that bush. The trunk of the maple was curved and misshapen from growing up entangled among the many branches of the bush. I decided to give the tree a chance and see how it would develop now that it had been set free. Today that maple tree stands about eighteen feet tall and the trunk is almost perfectly straight. It has become a beautiful tree.

I can only imagine what might have happened to that tree if it had continued to grow up with the bush that held it captive. By now it may have outgrown the bush, which stood about ten feet tall when I cut it down, but would the maple tree have develop the strong and hearty branches that is has today? Would the trunk have straightened itself as it has? Most likely the bush would have continued to restrict the maple further deforming its shape by choking the life out of it.

Isaiah 61 opens with words that are familiar to many of us. Jesus read from this passage in the synagogue; “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor . . .” When Jesus finished reading, He told those present that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled that very day (see Luke 4:18-21). Jesus made it clear as He read Isaiah’s prophecy that He had come to release those held captive, to give sight to the blind, to bring freedom to the oppressed, to make known the year of God’s favor and grace.

Jesus did not read Isaiah’s entire prophecy, just the first two verses of chapter 61. I find it interesting to see what the Lord spoke through Isaiah revealing what God would do with those who were set free during this time of the Lord’s favor.

• . . . For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.
  Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

God has set us free to stand tall and strong. This is not so people will be impressed with us, but with the Lord who has planted us; God gets all the glory. How does that happen? Well one thing I know about oak trees is they grow tall providing a great place of shade from the heat of the sun. Like my maple tree, as we grow strong in the Lord others will take notice of the change. God has set you free; now grow tall and straight for all to see and find a cool place to rest in the favor of the Lord.

Deformed or Reformed?

Let me be myself for a moment—ornery that is! My dad is the “perfect Christian;” he has followed Jesus’ word to the letter. In Mark 9:47 Jesus said, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” Dad had his left eye removed to make him a holy person. Perhaps someday I hope to some day have that kind of obedience too; I debating to have a hand or foot cut off. I could really use a word of encouragement; any suggestions as to what would be best and make me a truly holy person?

Now seriously, for those who don’t know my dad, he is a man of faith that I respect a great deal; he has shown me what it really means to be a man of God. Several years ago he lost his left eye due to cancer, and he would tell you that being without that eye has done nothing to make him a more holy person. Yes, through that time in lives of our family God streached our faith, but the physical loss of an eye in and of itself does not make you a righteous person (and for that matter if God had done a miracle and spared dad’s eye that wouldn’t have caused any of us to necessarily live righteously either).

The fact of the matter is that it is just as easy to lust with one eye as it is two. I mean if missing one eye makes you holy then how much holier will you be if you gouge out an eye and cut off a hand? You can still steal with only one hand or find your way into trouble on just one foot. Jesus is not telling his followers to deform their bodies.

When it comes to sin we always seem to get caught up in the externals. We cannot do anything to earn God’s favor. All the good things we do, together with all the hands and feet we cut off or eyes we pluck out, will do nothing to impress God. Our self-made righteousness is useless.

• [6] All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away . . . [8] Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
  Isaiah 64:6, 8 (NIV)

We can’t make ourselves holy because living a righteous life free from the entanglement of sin is a heart issue. Only God can reshape our hearts. Only God can cut out our sinful desires and replace them with the desire to live a life pleasing to Him. So let’s stop trying to make it with man-made acts of righteousness. Let’s allow God to transform us from the inside out.

Did you hear that?

It happened again yesterday. Susie asked if I heard the phone ringing; I didn’t. A few seconds later I heard it ring. The same thing has happened with the kids. She will ask if I hear someone calling, or worse crying; I don’t. Then after straining to hear it turns out that she is right. I can’t be getting old can I? I think it’s just a case of selective hearing; I’m just tuned into to something else and have to change channels to hear what Susie heard. That’s it isn’t it; I mean I do eventually hear it too?

Did you know that God has ‘selective hearing’ too? Amazing as it may sound to us, the fact is that God does not listen to every prayer. Think about this. God is omniscient; He is all knowing. Therefore, God knows the words of every prayer even before we say the first word; nothing is hidden from God’s knowledge. Nevertheless the Lord chooses not to hear some prayers because of something else He knows about us.

• [1] Listen! The Lord is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. [2] But there is a problem—your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
  Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT)

God also knows about our sin; He knows the condition of our heart that stands up with selfish pride and secretly says, “I can do it myself.” God knows all about our rebellion and secret sin that we try to hide from others. Because of our sin God turns a deaf ear to our prayers.

Notice Isaiah is not talking about the ‘prayers’ of the heathen; it is not the prayers of those who have never confessed God as Savior that He does not hear. Rather it is the prayer of God’s people that God turns His back on. In other words it is those who should know better but have turned their backs on God through willful disobedience and then blame God for not coming to their rescue when they cry out for help.

God’s people have experience the wonder of His salvation; God has come to their rescue. Unfortunately we sometimes get caught up in sin again. In those times God has not become weak and unable to save us. God holds back His hand of salvation because of our secret sin that we are unwilling to let go of.

God knows all about your situation, but is He listening to your prayer? Could it be that before the Lord again reaches out His hand to come to our rescue that He is waiting to hear an honest prayer, a humble prayer of repentance? That is a prayer God will hear every time, but are we ready to pray it?

Death ain't no big deal

According to the Centers for Disease Control nearly 2.4 million people died in the US in 2004; an average of 6,571 people died each and every day of the year. The leading cause of death was heart disease ending about 1,792 lives daily followed by cancer at about 1,508 deaths per day. Next on the list was stroke and then respiratory disease. Number five surprised me; unintentional accidents ended the lives of 298 people everyday (on average 117 of those deaths were auto accidents).[1]

Tragic deaths make the headlines like those killed at Virginia Tech and other such ‘newsworthy’ events, but for the most part death happens everyday and few of us give it any thought. That is unless death visits our family or friends. More than likely you know at least one of those who died in 2004; others of us may be grieving a more recent death. Regardless of when they may have died life goes on; time has a way of separating us from the pain of death and our wounds heal.

Each day has its own unique births and deaths. How much do we really think about those who die? Yes, we miss loved ones who have died and reminisce of fond memories about them, but few of us live in the past. Most of us move on with our lives and leave the dead in the cemetery with the hope that they will rest in peace.

• [1] The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. [2] For the godly who die will rest in peace.
  Isaiah 57:1-2 (NLT)

This is our hope! Whenever anyone dies in Christ, even if we think it is ‘before their time,’ they really do rest in peace. As Paul said to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So stop for a moment and think with me about death.

The bible teaches us that it is appointed for each of us to die; God knows the day of our birth and the day of our death—in advance! Thus no death is an accident with God, so even the so called ‘premature death’ is God’s way of protecting the righteous from days of evil. As the old gospel song says, “Death ain’t no big deal” because God is in control.[2]

Let’s learn to trust God in life and death. If you are grieving today remember you can believe God did what is best for your loved one.

______________________
[1] Deaths/Mortality, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm, also http://www.weitzlux.com/motorvehicleaccident/trends/incidencethroughoutthe_2390.html
[2] See: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Hebrews 9:7; Job 14:5; Psalms 39: 4; 68:20; 90:12; Ecclesiastes 8:8

How big is your tent?

Mikey set up his new tent last night; he wanted to practice before his first campout of the season this weekend. It’s a one/two man tent and measures 8’ by 9’. Once the tent was up, the little kids all wanted into it to play. The five of them could all fit in the tent, but it wasn’t long before I heard Mikey giving instructions, “Okay you two can be in the tent for five minutes and then switch and let the other two in for a while.” It didn’t take long before Mikey decided the tent wasn’t big enough for all of them to play in at the same time.

While Isaiah prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming exile, he also saw God’s promised Messiah. God showed Isaiah that not only would he rescue His people from their captivity in Babylon, but He would also send a Savior to redeem them. This promised Messiah would restore God’s people once again.

• Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
  Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)

God wanted His people to have hope, to be certain that God would bring about a preferable future, one better than they could imagine. Isaiah prophesied that not only would they return to their homeland, but that they would also strip nations of their lands and inhabit their cities. Good things were on the way and they needed to make room for all that God had in store for them.

I have often said that faith is never passive; faith is always active. When we “wait upon the Lord” it doesn’t mean we sit and just twiddle our thumbs until God does something. Active faith anticipates what God will do; living faith will act upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit even when we don’t see or understand what God may be doing.

God told Israel to open wide their tents and get ready for more of His blessings. And don’t forget, God told them this even as they were about to go into exile and lose everything. Would they have faith to believe God even when everything happening around them seemed to contradict His promises?

And how about us, will we only believe what we see today, or will we believe God’s promises and act by faith even when it doesn’t make sense? Even if your tent is empty it isn’t big enough to contain all of God’s blessings. Enlarge your tent today with a certain hope of God preferable future.

Stop the 'snitch'

A new movement is gaining momentum within the urban culture: “Stop Snitching.” Put simply its not cool to point your finger and say, “He (or she) did it.” It is the new code of the street; the cool rapper knows when to zip it and just keep quiet. From drugs to all kinds of violence the quickest way to lose friends is to help the police by telling them what you know.

One example is Busta Rhymes. This hip-hop star has refused to help the police solve the February 2006 murder of his body guard Israel Ramirez. Rhymes is not alone; as many as 50 other people may have witnessed the shooting and their silence has echoed throughout the New York police departments investigation. No one is willing to talk.[1]

Police and prosecutors have their theories as to why the “Stop Snitching” movement is growing. I have one that I doubt they have thought of: They want to silent the ‘snitch’ that continually points an accusing finger at them and says, “You’re guilty.”

It’s not a case of an over active conscience; I believe it is the condemnation of Satan that these people want to hush by their new code of silence. Who knows it just might work . . . for now.

The Bible describes the devil as “the accuser;” it is Satan who wants to make us feel guilty, to make us feel so bad that we believe even God will turn His back on us because of our sin. Nothing could be further from the truth.

• [8] The one who pronounces me innocent is near. Who will bring a case against me? Let us confront each other! Who accuses me? Let him confront me! [9] The Almighty Lord helps me. Who will find me guilty? They will all wear out like a garment. Moths will eat them.
  Isaiah 50:8-9 (GW)

God’s love for me will never fail! His forgiveness and mercy covers all my sin; I’m free! The charges brought against me have been dropped; through Jesus I’m declared innocent.

The ‘snitch’ Satan can point his finger at me all he wants. His accusations will wear out like old clothes. God has clothed me with His robes of righteousness. God is by my side to defend me from all Satan’s accusations. That’s something no one should keep quiet!

[1] USA Today; Anti-snitch campaign riles police, prosecutors. By Rick Hampson; http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-03-28-stop-snitching_x.htm

Who hurts more?

“This hurts me more than it is going to hurt you.” How often has a parent said something like that when they are about to punish a son or daughter? If you’re a parent you have probably said it yourself.

As a child I for one can remember thinking to myself, “Well gee dad if it’s going to hurt you that much then lets just forget about the whole thing!” Yet now that I’m older and wiser with kids of my own I must confess that I have said and thought this many times. Why? It’s not because a spanking or any other form of discipline hurts me more than my kids; it’s because I am hurt by their disobedience.

Did you know that God has said as much to us as His children?

• [10] See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. [11] For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.
  Isaiah 48:10-11 (NIV)

Think about what God is really saying here. The first thing God tells us is that He knows punishment hurts us. God doesn’t just give us a spanking; God refines us in the fire. I know from experience that the furnace of affliction is hot and very uncomfortable, and God knows it too. “Child, I know this hurts.”

But God doesn’t stop there; the Lord goes on to say that it hurts Him more than it hurts us. Do you see it in what God said through Isaiah? Look at it again: “For my own sake, for my own sake I do this.” God disciplines us to teach us how to live a righteous and holy life, but His discipline is not just to teach us right from wrong. God said He takes us through the furnace of affliction for His benefit!

Notice what God said next: “How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.” In other words, “It hurts me more than it does you.” God asks, “How can I continue to let you drag me through the mud; why should I continue to let you stab me in the back?”

Our sin hurts God, and the amazing thing is that His pain is greater than our spanking. Our willful disobedience is an attempt to rob God of His glory, to profane His holiness and make Him like us, and God won’t stand for it. His pain motivates Him to action and He disciplines us.

I don’t know what affliction or suffering you may be facing today, but have you asked yourself if it is because of your personal sin and disobedience? Is it God’s discipline to instruct you in righteousness? Can you hear God saying, “This hurts me more than it does you?”

Seeking Truth

Pilate questioned Jesus about the charges brought the religious leaders had made against Him. Pilate could find no reason for Jesus to be sentenced to death; nevertheless he knew that outside an angry mob was on the verge of rioting because of Jesus. Pilate finished his questioning of Jesus by asking, “What is truth?” Pilate never gave Jesus the chance to answer that question. Instead it seems Pilate made his own truth. Trying to set Jesus free he finally washed his hands of the whole situation and turned Jesus over to be crucified. At least Pilate could say he was innocent of his death.

It seems that Pilate is not the only politician who invents his own truth. Democrats and Republicans both claim to support our troops and justify their votes in speeches while our soldiers are still waiting for funding for the supplies they so desperately need. Who is right? What is truth? I guess it all depends upon which side of the political isle you favor.

Now before you tune me out because you think I’m only pondering politics understand that we all do the same thing with truth in one way or another. How often have you or I invented ‘truth’ that causes others to scratch their head and wonder what we were thinking?

Our culture claims that truth is relative, that we all can have our own personal truth, but by definition truth is absolute. A truth cannot be both true for me and false for you. It is like believing that 2+2=5 (or any other number besides 4) and then justifying your answer as being valid!

Is there a way that we can know the truth? Or is the truth a mystery that cannot be solved? I think Isaiah offers an answer.

• This lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he can't even look at what he's doing, can't even look at the no-god stick of wood in his hand and say, "This is crazy."
  Isaiah 44:20 (MsgB)

Isaiah describes the idolatry of those who worship false gods; those who cut down a tree and use some of the wood for a fire but take one log and carve it into the shape of a god, overlay it with gold and then worship it. And when they are in trouble they come to their carved firewood and pray for help. Such a person “feeds on ashes” deluded and unable to even ask themselves “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

If we are going to discover the truth I think it begins by asking some honest questions. Lies and fabricated truth will crumble under examination, but genuine truth will withstand the onslaught of testing and inquiry. Truth can be validated.

So is what you believe true? Do your actions line up with what you say you believe? Ask yourself some tough questions and uncover the truth. The good news is that God stands ready to forgive all those who will expose the lie they have believed.

• I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."
  Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

An Umbrella Day

Do you ever find yourself just floundering, to lack purpose and motivation? We all do from time to time.

Today was kind of like that for me; maybe it was the rain. Susie had asked me to take a half day of my vacation to clean the carpets; today was the day I set aside for this purpose. The job got done, but I wasn’t as glad to do it because all I could see was mud getting tracked in once it was done. On top of that I would have liked to have done some other things around the house but couldn’t because of the weather; bummer. I guess it was a good thing Susie thanked the Lord this morning for today’s rain that holds the promise of May flowers because I certainly needed the reminder to look beyond myself.

Maybe, just maybe that’s the real cause of our struggle to get moving in a purposeful direction. Perhaps we lose sight of our purpose when we focus on ourselves and what we want. I’m thankful that the Lord has given us a reason for being that is greater than ourselves, and I’m glad He is faithful to remind me of His purpose for my life even on rainy days.

• [6] I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will guard and support you, for I have given you to my people as the personal confirmation of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide all nations to me. [7] You will open the eyes of the blind and free the captives from prison. You will release those who sit in dark dungeons.
  Isaiah 42:6-7 (NLT)

Put simply God let’s me share in His divine purpose and plan. God wants to show the world His righteousness through my life; He wants to prove His unfailing promise of love and mercy. The Lord wants my life to be a light shining in the darkness to offer hope and direction to those who are lost. Through me God wants to give sight to the blind and freedom to those in bondage. No doubt about it; God’s purpose for my life is bigger than I am (and His purpose is the same for you too).

God not only gives us a purpose, but He has also promised to be our ‘umbrella on a rainy day.’ The Lord will protect and sustain us as we fulfill His desire for our lives. Even when the day is dreary God will lift our spirits to bring His love and life to those around us. So let the rain keep on falling and I’ll keep smiling with God’s love overflowing from my heart.

Lay it on the line.

King Hezekiah and the people of Judah had a problem and everyone knew it. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, camped with his army with hundreds of thousand of soldiers just outside the walls of Jerusalem. Sennacherib and the Assyrians were an unstoppable force; they had destroyed many other nations. Now they were poised to do the same to the nation of Judah.

Sennacherib boasted of his victories and stated his intention to overthrow Hezekiah in the hearing of all the people at the wall; he bragged that none of the other gods of any of the nations that had opposed the kings of Assyria were able to stop them from being victorious. What then could the God of Israel do to help Hezekiah and his people? Sennacherib sent a letter to Hezekiah with the same boastful threat.

Sennacherib was confident of his military strength to bring the people of Jerusalem to their knees leaving their city as well as their God nothing more than a pile of rubble. Fear gripped the hearts of all those living in Jerusalem. Would their God do anything to help them in the face of certain defeat?

• [14] Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. [15] And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.
  Isaiah 37:14-15 (NIV)

Hezekiah did not prepare for battle. He did not plan his escape from the city; nor did Hezekiah sit and worry or become paralyzed by fear. Hezekiah prayed. But more than just a prayer; Hezekiah laid it all out before the Lord.

Sometimes I think our prayers make a quick request for help but we never even let God have a chance to answer our prayer because we immediately try to solve our problem by ourselves. Maybe I’m the only one with that problem? With an arrogant pride we never stop and just get real with God. When was the last time any of us prayed something like this?

“Lord here is my problem and it is bigger than I am; I don’t know which way to turn. God without your help I’m as good as beaten before the fight even starts.”

I notice something else though about Hezekiah’s prayer. It’s not just a helpless cry for help. Hezekiah’s request is not just for God to come to his rescue, but that God will prove Himself as the Living God, the Almighty. Hezekiah’s request wasn’t so much about his need as God being glorified. God would get all the credit for the victory not Hezekiah.

I think those are the kind of prayers God likes to answer; it’s an honest prayer with a pure motive. For me I think it is time to get real with God and stop pretending that I can make it on my own; I think it is time to lay it all on the line and let God be the one who not only handles it but gets the credit too. How about you?

Everything

A father stood at his seventeen year old daughter’s side and never opened his mouth. She stood before the judge who read the charge on the traffic ticket and then asked, “How do you plead.”

“Guilty,” was all she said.

The judge proceeded to access the fine and the two walked side by side out of the courtroom. At the clerks window the father surprised his daughter and pulled out his checkbook and paid her fine. “I’ll take care of this one for you because I love you; just don’t let it happen again.” For the father the $100 fine was a day’s work, but for his daughter it was all she had. I can just imagine how this girl must have felt giving her daddy a big hug. Her fine was paid, a gift from a loving father.

Some may argue that this father kept his daughter from experiencing the consequences of her actions. While we may debate his actions I see not only a picture of our heavenly Father’s love for us, but also our response to the Lord for the great gift He has given to us.

• [4] Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you” . . . [10] Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness.
  Isaiah 35:4, 10 (NLT)

God stands beside us in the courtroom of heaven. The charges of a lifetime of sin are read; we hang our head in shame. All we can say is, “Guilty.”

But then the Father says, “Guilty yes, but you have accepted my gift; I sent my Son to pay the penalty for you. You are free.”

I’m thankful that God was willing to pay my “fine” and didn’t just stand there and make me pay it. It truly would have cost me EVERYTHING. But God has rescued me; He paid the ransom so I can be free. Hallelujah! Everlasting joy will break forth in song.

I think that’s the thing about genuine repentance; it knows the price that was paid; just like the daughter knew what it cost for her to be free. She hasn’t done it again; maybe it’s gratitude.

The Teacher

My heart goes out to so many in our church family. Right now it seems that so many are facing difficulties of one kind or another. Some are dealing with a variety of health issues; others are dealing with financial troubles of one size or another. Death is looming around the corner for a loved one; for another it appears that death may be knocking soon on their door. Some families are dealing with relational conflicts. Our family is still taking one day at a time as we have been entrusted with the guardianship of my sister’s kids.

Crisis and difficulty do not come ‘one size fits all.’ Problems come in all shapes and sizes, but when it is ours it is always bigger than we are. What one person may overlook or think is trivial is a real heartache for another. The truth of the matter is that there are no small predicaments; every uncertainty grows seeking to overwhelm us. Yes, molehills really do become mountains we are incapable of climbing.

Many of us may already feel as though we are teetering on the edge of a cliff, so what are we to do when we face our growing mountains of trouble? Could it be that we just need to stop looking at our problems long enough to see that God is with us?

• [20] The Lord may give you troubles and hardships. But your teacher will no longer be hidden from you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. [21] You will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left."
  Isaiah 30:20-21 (GW)

Every moment of every day, the good and the bad, comes to us with God’s full knowledge of it. God is never surprised by a crisis. What Satan intends to use to tear you down, God uses to teach you. The Lord is our teacher and is revealed to us through hardships. God is not hiding or away on vacation leaving us to try to figure things out on our own. God is right there with us. The Lord is our Teacher; He not only points out the problem, but will also show us the solution.

Whatever you may be facing today trust the Teacher. God will direct you; He will show you which way to turn, when to stop and when to go. So take your eyes off the problem for a moment and look around the classroom. God is right there with you to help you take the next step.

Fallen Branches

Winter has tied to keep it’s hold on Northeastern Ohio, but I think the winds of spring have blown old man winter into next October or November. The winds the last few days have been gusting; I’ve felt the wind want to blow me over or push our van off the road. Yesterday I noticed two trees that could not withstand the force of the wind; uprooted they were lying on the ground where they had once offered shade.

The trees in my yard and neighborhood are all still standing, but I’ve noticed that scattered all around are twigs and even some branches that have broken off the tree. I find this to be true throughout the summer; each time I mow the yard there are always sticks to be picked up. The trees live on, but the fallen twigs and branches are only good for the fire.

• When its twigs are dry, they are broken off and women come and make fires with them. For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
  Isaiah 27:11 (NIV)

The word of the Lord to Isaiah compares the spiritual condition of some people to that of twigs that are only good for kindling a fire. With no life in them they are broken from the tree and burned. Jesus used much the same imagery calling Himself the vine and his disciples as the branches; dead braches would be cut off and thrown into the fire while others would be trimmed to be even more fruitful (see John 15: 1-6).

Throughout the Bible the tree is often used as a symbol of spiritual life. The trunk can be thought of as the strength and stability God provides; from the roots the tree receives all the nourishment needed for life through the trunk. The branches often represent God’s people. Blown by the wind the branches can move back and forth; those that have rotted and dried up within often break off and fall to the ground.

As branches what is our spiritual condition today? God provides us with everything we need for spiritual health; God’s supply is not limited or cut off. Through His Holy Spirit, the scriptures, prayer and other believers there is nothing we lack unless we have shut ourselves off from the source.

Take time today to examine yourself as a branch. Are there healthy signs of life; is there evidence of God’s grace living within you? Or are you becoming a dried out branch in danger of dying and being broken off by the winds of adversity? Drink deeply today from the Lord before it is too late.

Fear or Peace

Violence can erupt suddenly and without warning like a volcano. Brutality can shake us unexpectedly like an earthquake. The destruction of human lives amidst the shootings at Virginia Tec is devastating for both the victims and survivors.

The ripple effect of these senseless murders is felt across our nation. When I heard about these events my mind immediately flashed to my girls attending college hundreds of miles from home. While they are at a Christian college, they are just miles from downtown Philadelphia; the city of brotherly love has its own dark shadows. What stops someone from coming onto their campus with the intent to kill? What is to prevent such a heinous act from happening where we live? How can we have any assurance that we or those we love are safe?

The fact of the matter is that we cannot have any guarantee of peace and safety in our world. Without warning the evil in our world can spill out upon us. Just this past Sunday at the community service Susie and I sat behind a woman whose daughter had been murdered. Just when you think such violence won’t come near your family, you find it dangerously close.

If my thoughts or yours were to be fixated upon the terror that fills the evening newscast, then I’m sure we would be paralyzed with fear. And with our 24/7 news media we don’t have to wait; we can watch as the bad news happens with increasing regularity. What are we to do?

• [3] You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! [4] Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
  Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)

God wants us to have a change of thinking. It’s not that we stick our heads in the sand and ignore what is happening around us. Instead the things that cause us fear are kept in our peripheral vision and we focus our attention upon the Lord. Our confidence and hope is in God who will never fail us and will keep us in perfect peace even through the worst storms.

These words of hope come from Isaiah’s apocalypse; in chapters 24-27 Isaiah saw the days before us, the end of the world as we know it. It’s true; things will only go from bad to worse. But we do not need to fear! When we see the increase of evil and violence we can know that we remain safe in the hands of God who knows the end from the beginning. God is in control; He has ordered the events of our lives and will give us peace regardless of what happens around us.

The Daily Grind

Sometimes life can seem like a grind. Day after day the millstone rolls on churning out more of the same. Unfortunately the circumstances of life sometimes run us through the mill and we feel crushed. We feel forsaken and alone. Does anyone notice or care? Is God even there to hear our cry?

Has life been pounding you lately? Are you doing your best to ‘keep your nose to the grindstone’ while all the while you feel it pressing down upon you?

It’s not just the grindstone that is rubbing you the wrong way. Your patience is cut short by people with short fuses and seemingly no compassion. Everyone’s attitude can be summed up in the phrase, “Look out for number one,” and it shows.

Everyone has their own problems whether big or small, so we are all alone to face the challenges of each new day. Is it any wonder we refer to our work week as “the daily grind?”

If that sounds like you today then I’ve got good news. God has not abandoned you. The Lord wants to renew your hope—no more than that, God wants to renew your joy.

• You, my people, have been threshed and winnowed. I make known to you what I heard from the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel.
  Isaiah 21:10 (GW)

The nation of Israel was an agricultural society so they understood the imagery of being threshed and winnowed, but most of us don’t get it. When grain is harvested it goes through a two step process. First it is threshed, beaten on the ground, trampled or put through the mill; this opens the seed to expose the valuable grain inside. Second the grain is winnowed, thrown up into the air separating the grain from the chaff that is blown away in the wind. Both of these steps happen in the modern combines; the grain is kept within the combine and the chaff is blown out the back.

When we go through the grind we experience the same thing. As a nation Israel was being crushed, but afterward the righteous would be separated from the wicked. Likewise God works the same way within us as individuals; we are threshed and winnowed to separate our evil desires from the righteous life God wants us to live.

Perhaps now we can face the daily grind with a new attitude. The process isn’t easy, but God knows how to bring a harvest of righteousness from our lives. That’s why Isaiah makes known the good news God has spoken, and that’s why I want you to know God will renew your joy as He separates the wheat from the chaff of your life. You are not alone.

Sleepless and Godless

Many of us go through our day like a rocket; we blast through our day and never have enough time to slow down. At the end of the day we crash. All of our gadgets and gizmos that are supposed to save us time and make our lives easier end up only quickening our pace and forcing us to squeeze one more thing into an already busy day. Surely I’m not the only one.

Our busy lives and 24/7 culture keeps us busy doing more and more things. One hundred years ago the average American got 9 hours of sleep each night (that means for everyone who only slept 8, someone slept 10). Today we are skimping even more on our sleep averaging only 6 ½ to 7 hours each nigh (an hour less than 20 to 30 years ago).1

So do you go through your day tired? Are you always racing to finish one more project at the end of the day? We are doing more but being less (we are human beings, not human doings). With all of out activity we pile up more and more stuff until we finally don’t have enough room in the house for anything else, so we go out and rent storage space for the overflow.

• [7] Yes, the Day is coming when people will notice The One Who Made Them, take a long hard look at The Holy of Israel. [8] They'll lose interest in all the stuff they've made . . . however impressive it is.
  Isaiah 17:7-8 (MsgB)

You may have notice I left part of the eighth verse out. I did that intentionally because I want us to think about all the stuff we have made and accumulated with all the time we spend doing stuff. Could it be that our ‘stuff’ has become our gods, the Asherah poles and “altars and monuments and rituals” of our “homemade, handmade religion” that Isaiah mentioned?

The day is coming when all our stuff will come to nothing. On that day will we know our Creator? Or will God be a stranger to us because we never took the time to get to know the Lord in our rush to accumulate more stuff?

The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Isn’t it time that we slow down and stop worrying about all the things that we have accumulated and get acquainted with our Creator, who by the way has invited us to come to Him for rest? Who knows if you take the time to know God you may even have more time to sleep at night. But don’t take my word for it, sleep on it and see what you think. (See Psalm 46:10; Matthew 11:28)

1 http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/2005/04/fibromyalgia-eight-hours.htm

Water in the Desert

I remember reading a story about a man lost in the desert. The sun was beating down upon him as he forced himself to keep walking; he was tired and thirsty. Just when he was about to give up and die he thought he saw something in the distance. While he feared it may only be a mirage manufactured by his weary mind he forced himself to keep walking. Finally he arrived at a small oasis in which he found an old hand pump. Next to the pump was a crate with a jug of water that had a worn leather pouch with a note in it.

The note read, “Pour the water down the hole at the base of the pump priming it to supply you with gallons of fresh water. Drink all you like; then refill the jug, seal it and leave it for the next traveler. Warning you must not drink any of the water in the jug as it contains just enough water to prime the pump.”

As the note promised the jug was full of water. If you were this man what would you do? Would you be willing to pour the water into what looks like an empty whole in the dry desert ground believing that the pump would draw up water from the well below? Or would you drink the water in the jug to save your life only to leave the jug empty with nothing to prime the pump for the next traveler?

• [2] Look! God is my Savior. I am confident and unafraid, because the Lord is my strength and my song. He is my Savior. [3] With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation.
  Isaiah 12:2-3 (GW)

Trusting God for salvation is a lot like pouring the water from the jug into the well believing that the pump will draw up more water than you could ever hope for. We come to God with weighed down by guilt; our burden of sin that promised us happiness has left us empty and dry. Could God save us?

The jug filled with water assures us that others have found life giving water from this well. The promise of water was not empty for them, but it is so hot and dry. Will the well still provide the cool clear water to satisfy our thirst?

Faith believes in the unseen and is willing to step out and do what God says. With faith we pour the water into the dry hole. With faith we trust God for salvation. God never leaves us high and dry; Jesus Christ has opened the way for us freely drink from the water of life. With joy our thirst is satisfied with eternal life through Him. (See Revelation 21:6)

Trapped

Have you ever felt utterly trapped with no way of escape? Circumstances of life can sometimes hem us in from every side. We may have lost our job, face the uncertainty of sickness and disease, stand beside the casket of someone we love, feel the betrayal of love turned to hate or fear for tomorrow in so many other ways. Where will we turn when we find ourselves ensnared and held captive?

I remember a time in college when I had painted myself into a corner with no way out. I was panicked and didn’t know what to do. I thought I could escape by going home, but mine was a trap of my own making, so I could not free myself by running away. I had to face God with my sin and in turn those whom I had wronged; that was the only way to break out of my prison.

• [3] What will you do when I send desolation upon you from a distant land? To whom will you turn for help? Where will your treasures be safe? [4] I will not help you. You will stumble along as prisoners or lie among the dead. But even then the Lord's anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.
  Isaiah 10:3-4 (NLT)

Isaiah prophesied of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, that God would judge His people for their sin and rebellion. When the time comes for God to unleash His anger there will be no place to hide. All will be taken captive by their enemies or be piled among the dead—no escape.

God has set a day of reckoning, a day of judgment for all of us. When that day comes upon us where will we turn for help? On that day we will find no way of escape and no relief from our pain and grief. When the wrath of God is poured out upon us for our sin it will be too late to seek His help for it will be His hand of judgment upon us.

I’m glad to know that before the coming of that day God has made a way of escape, that we can find the favor of the Lord and experience His love instead of His wrath.

• [2] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned . . . [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
  Isaiah 9:2, 6 (NIV)

Today is the day of salvation; today is that day that we can come to God through Jesus and find peace. Jesus is the only way of escape from a trap made by our sin and rebellion. Tomorrow it may be too late.

Father knows best

A father asked me, “I just don’t understand my son; he can be so stubborn. He has an opinion about everything and in his mind he is never wrong and will argue with anyone who disagrees. What am I to do with him?” Perhaps you know someone like that, or maybe you might admit that this father’s son sounds a lot like you. I wish I knew what to say to this father; the fact is I’m still learning how to raise a teenage son myself. Sometimes parenting requires on the job training; we do our best and when necessary ask for forgiveness.

One thing I have learned over the years is that I can learn a lot as a parent from watching how God deals with His children. Our heavenly Father is the perfect parent, but His kids are anything but perfect (I’m one so I should know). I may not always understand why God disciplines us as He does, or why the Lord responds in certain ways, but if I look to God for wisdom then He will help me to be a better parent.

When God called Isaiah as a prophet, Isaiah saw the Lord seated upon His throne in heaven. Amidst the perfection that Isaiah saw, he became aware of his own sin and confesses it to the Lord. God then cleanses Isaiah and gives him a message for the people of Israel. In this message I see how our heavenly Father responds to His children who are stubborn know-it-alls.

• [9] And he said, "Yes, go. But tell my people this: 'You will hear my words, but you will not understand. You will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning.' [10] Harden the hearts of these people. Close their ears, and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to me for healing."
  Isaiah 6:9-10 (NLT)

God, the perfect parent, knows that He can’t force His children to listen to His instruction. With hardened hearts God kids will sometimes ignore their heavenly Father in much the same way that our kids seem to have every word we say go in one ear and out the other. How does God respond to their stubbornness? He doesn’t shout louder; He doesn’t argue with them or try to prove that He knows what He is talking about.

God does something I don’t fully understand; God hardens their hearts and blinds their eyes. In other words God makes stubborn children even more obstinate!

Perhaps God knows the best teacher is experience; that only as He releases His children to go their own stubborn way will they ever have the chance to repent. That’s what the father did for the prodigal son. It’s a hard thing to do, but maybe our heavenly Father knows best.

A Spoonful of Sugar

How many times have you heard someone say, “Alright, I’ve got some good news and some bad news; what do you want to hear first?” It seems that we are always trying to find the good with the bad. As Mary Poppins says, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Often the prophets of the Old Testament are thought of as the bearers of ‘bad news.’ Ahab referred to Elijah as “the troubler of Israel.” I guess it goes to show just how predisposed we are to sin that when someone speaks out for the Lord against our sin and His judgment we see that as something bad. Let’s face it the human race is comfortable in the muck and mire of sin. Yet God’s message of judgment often also brings the promise of salvation for those who repent of their sin.

The prophet Isaiah would be for some the bearer of bad news. Isaiah prophesied the coming destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel which he lived to see fulfilled; he also spoke of God’s wrath that would come against the southern kingdom of Judah who was following in the evil footsteps of their brothers. But interwoven throughout Isaiah’s message is the promised hope of God’s salvation for all who trust in Him.

Isaiah’s name means “the salvation of the Lord.” God calls upon His people to come and reason together with Him about their sin. God does not want to destroy His people; the Lord wants to lovingly restore them as a righteous and holy people. Unfortunately, many were unwilling to sit down and have a heart to heart talk with God (see Isaiah 1:18-20).

Right from the beginning Isaiah brings the good news that God wants to cleanse His people from their sins and restore them to a right relationship with God. And that’s not all. Before the judgment and wrath of God is revealed, the prophet Isaiah is shown the fulfillment of God’s salvation, not in a picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God, but of the ultimate triumph for all who repent and return to the Lord.

• In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
  Isaiah 2:2 (NIV)

Before God shows Isaiah the cross He shows him the New Jerusalem where God’s presence will fill the city and people from all nations will come to Him. We who believe in Christ are among those who have been cleansed of our sin and will enter into that city.

One of the best ways to live today in a way that is pleasing to God and not succumb to temptation and the evil that surrounds us is to remember the future. God will dwell with His people. That’s a spoonful of sugar that will help us take the medicine of God’s judgment upon sin. We can escape His wrath and be welcomed into His presence. That’s good news!

Just a Man

Like so many young men Greg is into being physically fit. For his birthday he got a weight set, and he has been working out regularly. I remember going through the same thing at his age. Yet I’ve notice over time that even the strongest men grow old and weak; I mean have you looked at ‘Mr. Universe’ now Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lately? What happened to all his muscle?

I don’t dispute that we should try to be healthy and keep our bodies in good shape. However, of greater importance is that we be spiritually fit, that our faith not only grows strong, but remains strong throughout our lives. The problem most of us have is that we think such faith is impossible to have.

• [17] Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. [18] Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
  James 5:17-18 (NIV)

I’ll be honest I sometimes have a hard time thinking of Elijah as “a man just like us.” I mean think about some of the things Elijah did for God! He was one of the best known prophets in all Israel. And Elijah at times was seems invincible as he would stand before kings and proclaim God’s word, and Elijah didn’t bring a message of encouragement or comfort; Elijah confronted them with God’s judgment for their sin.

But it wasn’t just the word he spoke; the power of God was evident because things happened as a result of what Elijah said. God revealed to Elijah that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t until Elijah spoke the word to open the skies again three years later. Elijah was given power over death as he restored a young child’s life and gave him back to his mother. And who can forget the showdown on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal? With a short prayer Elijah called fire from heaven! Then years later Elijah is seen standing together with Moses at Jesus’ side on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Still Elijah was only a man. Like us he struggled at times to trust God and even became depressed (that I can identify with). But Elijah began where we all must begin. As a man Elijah had to choose to believe God had created him, and more that this same God wanted a relationship with him. As a man Elijah learned to listen to the voice of the Lord and in faith obey. The incredible reality God wants to make Himself known to us.

We all come to know God by faith, but God will continually work to strengthen our faith like a muscle through consistent use and testing. As a man Elijah’s faith grew strong in the Lord and was able to do the impossible. Our faith can likewise grow strong and withstand every trial taking us from victory to victory.

Resisting

Most of us have been on a diet at one time or another; it is then that we must say, “Yes” to eating healthy and “No” to junk food. Yet our challenge is to really mean it. Many Americans lose weight only to put the lost weight plus more back on. Their desire for junk food remains and they are never really free from the struggle of guilt and associated health problems that come from being over weight.

Now my purpose isn’t to talk about dieting; I just want to use it as an illustration, because many of us approach our relationship with God in the same way. You see most of us diet with one eye on the scale and the other on all the things we want so badly to eat; once we’re satisfied with the number on the scale we go right back to eating the way we used to.

Likewise as Christians many of us have one eye on God and the other on the world, and we continue to struggle with the same ‘secret sins.’ How can we break free and live the righteous life God desires?

• Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  James 4:7 (NIV)

I think many of us don’t understand what it means to resist the devil. For many it’s like pushing away the dessert when we are dieting; we don’t eat it, but our mouth is watering. (Or for us tough guys, we resist the devil in a hand to hand combat; we may give in to sin and be beaten from time to time, but we somehow convince ourselves that we are getting stronger.)

That’s not what it means to resist the devil. When we resist Satan flees, but how does that happen?

Many of us overlook what James says first: “Submit to God.” We have to turn our backs to the devil, together with the temptation to sin, and put both eyes on God and His will for our lives. When we do all the devil sees is what we are looking at; when Satan sees God he runs away.

I like how the Message Bible puts it: “So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.” We resist the devil when we learn to let God fight our battles and keep Jesus as the center of our heart’s desires. Paul told Timothy, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.”* In other words run away from the devil and temptation; run to God. Let’s keep both eyes on Jesus and shout a loud “No” at the devil.
*2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)