Genesis 24:6-7b,12,19,63: "Make sure that you do not take my son back there . . . (God) will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there . . . . Then the servant prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today.' . . . . After she had given him drink, she said, 'I'll draw water for your camels too' . . . . He (Isaac) went out to the field one evening to meditate."
Do you really know how to date? So many times I encounter single adults who don't do the proper prep work BEFORE the dating process. Instead they jump into the first relationship that comes along without preparing their hearts to be attune to God's leading in their relational lives. This strategy of dating leads to marital disaster and emotional heartache. So, to avoid these pitfalls, let's look at how Abraham, his servant, and his son (Isaac) approached the pursuit of a marriage partner for Isaac.
1. First, we see an unwillingness to compromise convictions in the selection process. Abraham wanted someone who was from his home land, who would be a blesing to his son. He did not want for his son one of the local pagan women who would draw his son away from his relationship with God.
2. Secondly, we see that Abraham trusted in the Lord. Abraham knew that the Angel of the Lord would go before his servant to find the right person. This was not an overnight process, but Abraham knew that in God's timing, He would find the right person for his son.
3. Thirdly, we see a servant praying. As he was sent away to find a spouse for Isaac, he did not become overwhelmed with his responsibility, nor did he try to find this person through his efforts alone. Knowing that God was his best resource, the servant sought the help of the Lord.
4. Fourthly, we see the obedience of the servant. He had to travel approximately 900 miles back to Abraham's home land. There were opportunities for him to give up and go home, but he remained steadfast.
5. Fifthly, we see a servant of discernment. The servant was able to observe that the one to be chosen (Rebekah) was a person of goodness, going beyond what was expected of her to be a blessing to others.
6. Lastly, we find Isaac preparing his heart for the arrival of his bride. While the servant was away for months, we find Isaac going into the fields to meditate and pray. I'm sure that he was aware of the reason for the servant being away. He likely was praying for the success in finding THE woman to which God wanted him to be married.
Okay, so take an inventory of your dating pursuits, and answer these questions:
Am I unwilling to compromise my convictions as to whom I should date?
Am I trusting the Lord in the area of my dating life?
Am I praying . . . seeking God's guidance?
Am I being obedient, even though the journey may be long?
Am I using Godly discernment in the people that I date?
Am I even now preparing my heart to demonstrate faith and Godliness when I DO date?
If you practice these Biblical principles, you will be blessed in your relational pursuits. God's blessings to you as you glorify God in your dating life.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Thank You God For Life
Job 33:4;34:14-15: "The Spirit of God has made me; the Breath of the Almighty gives me life . . . . If it were His intention and He withdrew his Spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust."
We were made by God and for God (Colossians 1:16); thus, our purpose in life is to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). God loves us enough to sustain our lives with each passing heartbeat. If God chose to remove the Holy Spirit from us, we are dead. Thank you God for your Spirit of life that gives us life . . . and the time to give you glory!
We were made by God and for God (Colossians 1:16); thus, our purpose in life is to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). God loves us enough to sustain our lives with each passing heartbeat. If God chose to remove the Holy Spirit from us, we are dead. Thank you God for your Spirit of life that gives us life . . . and the time to give you glory!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Moses Denied Entrance
Numbers 20:7-8,11-12: "The LORD said to Moses, 'Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water' . . . . Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff . . . . But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'"
As I recently was reading Deuteronomy 34:6, I noticed that Moses was buried in Moab (just east of the Jordan River before entering the Promised Land), and I wondered to myself, "Why Moab? . . . Why not the Promised Land? Certainly Moses was a man who was very close to God and who faithfully led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness to the Promised Land." So, as I read through Numbers 20, where Moses in defiance to God's order struck the rock at Kadesh twice, I was perplexed at such judgment by God toward the man who had been so close to God that he once encountered the glory of the Lord (Exodus 33:22). In fact, when Moses pleaded with God to permit him to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land with his people, God responded by saying, "That is enough . . . do not speak to me anymore about this matter" (Deuteronomy 3:26). The punishment seemed a bit harsh.
Attempting to explain Moses physical judgment, I concluded that for one to treat the holiness of the Lord with contempt as Moses did was grounds for such a Divine response. Then I attempted to allegorize Moses as the embodiment of the law (Romans 10:5), which always comes up short in gaining entrance into the "promised land" of God's salvation. Still, I wasn't satisfied with my answers and wondered if there was more. Was there something even more significant here that would make such a violation even more egregious?
Then I noticed in I Corinthians 10:4 that the children of Israel from the Old Testament who wandered with Moses in the wilderness, "drank the same 'spiritual drink' from the rock that accompanied them and the rock was Christ." Is it possible that this "rock" mentioned in the Old Testament was a theophany of Christ ? That is, did Christ present Himself in this physical manifestation to typologically illustrate that he is the Rock that is the source of Living Water (i.e. salvation) for the sinner (Ephesians 2:20; I Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 16:18; John 4:10-14; Numbers 20)? Did Christ present Himself this way to provide for the physical needs of the Israelites, and at the same time use this theophany to teach a deeper spiritual truth? It is interesting in I Corinthians 10:4 that this Rock accompanied the Israelites. The Rock was always available to provide nourishment to the people if they would acknowledge its source and respond to it (which parallels our response to Christ's grace . . . acknowledgement and response [submission]).
Now, earlier in Exodus 17 when the Israelites were walking through the Desert of Sin, they cried out for water. The Rock was there; but in this episode, the command to Moses was to strike the Rock. Why strike it here and speak to it at Kadesh? Is it possible that the striking of the Rock at Horeb (Sinai) where God's law was given was done to foreshadow the coming Savior/Rock who would be struck (e.g. crucified) because man violated God's stipulations of the law, bringing judgment?
Notice too that Exodus 17 (at Horeb/Sinai) is the only time in which the command went forth from the Lord to strike the Rock. Could the significance of this one-time command of striking the rock be symbolic of the sole-sufficiency of Jesus Christ's death once and for all for the forgiveness of sins? Hebrews 9:28 says, "Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
It's an interesting conclusion, in view of the I Corinthians passage mentioned above, that the Rock that accompanied the Israelites during their pilgrimage through the wilderness to the Promised Land was the source of life for the Jewish people physically. If the Israelites' journey is paralleled to our spiritual journey and the rock from which the water came represents Christ, the Rock, then one can see the rationale for the severity of physical judgment upon Moses for the violation at Kadesh. Striking the Rock at Horeb for living water was necessary to depict the sacrifice for the sins of sinful man in view of the Law, and speaking to the Rock for living water just prior to entering the Promised Land at Kadesh was necessary to proclaim the sole sufficiency of Christ's death and resurrection for our salvation. To violate God's order to "speak to" the Rock in the latter episode is comparable today to one failing to profess by faith the sufficiency of Christ's death and resurrection alone for salvation. Striking the Rock at Kadesh seems to suggest the blasphemous opinion that we can gain entrance into God's Promised Land through our own efforts . . . . We declare through this obstinacy that we don't need Christ.
It is amazing when one reads Moses final Song to the people just before his death (Deuteronomy 32), for in the song Moses repeatedly praises the "Rock" (the symbol of God Almighty). Specifically, Moses heralds to the people that the Rock's ways are "perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He . . . . He nourished him (Jacob) with honey from the rock and with oil from the flinty crag . . . . How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?" Moses seems to have understood the significance of the sole sufficiency of Christ, the true Rock, for salvation into the Promised Land. For this reason, he praises the Rock for His willingness to deliver His people.
Without acknowledging Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as the remedy for our sin and without submitting to His Lordship, we like Moses' physical death will find ourselves dying a spiritual death and never gaining entrance into God's eternal presence. We must "speak to" the Rock, namely Christ, asking for His forgiveness, acknowledging His sacrifice, and surrendering our lives to Him.
As I recently was reading Deuteronomy 34:6, I noticed that Moses was buried in Moab (just east of the Jordan River before entering the Promised Land), and I wondered to myself, "Why Moab? . . . Why not the Promised Land? Certainly Moses was a man who was very close to God and who faithfully led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness to the Promised Land." So, as I read through Numbers 20, where Moses in defiance to God's order struck the rock at Kadesh twice, I was perplexed at such judgment by God toward the man who had been so close to God that he once encountered the glory of the Lord (Exodus 33:22). In fact, when Moses pleaded with God to permit him to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land with his people, God responded by saying, "That is enough . . . do not speak to me anymore about this matter" (Deuteronomy 3:26). The punishment seemed a bit harsh.
Attempting to explain Moses physical judgment, I concluded that for one to treat the holiness of the Lord with contempt as Moses did was grounds for such a Divine response. Then I attempted to allegorize Moses as the embodiment of the law (Romans 10:5), which always comes up short in gaining entrance into the "promised land" of God's salvation. Still, I wasn't satisfied with my answers and wondered if there was more. Was there something even more significant here that would make such a violation even more egregious?
Then I noticed in I Corinthians 10:4 that the children of Israel from the Old Testament who wandered with Moses in the wilderness, "drank the same 'spiritual drink' from the rock that accompanied them and the rock was Christ." Is it possible that this "rock" mentioned in the Old Testament was a theophany of Christ ? That is, did Christ present Himself in this physical manifestation to typologically illustrate that he is the Rock that is the source of Living Water (i.e. salvation) for the sinner (Ephesians 2:20; I Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 16:18; John 4:10-14; Numbers 20)? Did Christ present Himself this way to provide for the physical needs of the Israelites, and at the same time use this theophany to teach a deeper spiritual truth? It is interesting in I Corinthians 10:4 that this Rock accompanied the Israelites. The Rock was always available to provide nourishment to the people if they would acknowledge its source and respond to it (which parallels our response to Christ's grace . . . acknowledgement and response [submission]).
Now, earlier in Exodus 17 when the Israelites were walking through the Desert of Sin, they cried out for water. The Rock was there; but in this episode, the command to Moses was to strike the Rock. Why strike it here and speak to it at Kadesh? Is it possible that the striking of the Rock at Horeb (Sinai) where God's law was given was done to foreshadow the coming Savior/Rock who would be struck (e.g. crucified) because man violated God's stipulations of the law, bringing judgment?
Notice too that Exodus 17 (at Horeb/Sinai) is the only time in which the command went forth from the Lord to strike the Rock. Could the significance of this one-time command of striking the rock be symbolic of the sole-sufficiency of Jesus Christ's death once and for all for the forgiveness of sins? Hebrews 9:28 says, "Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
It's an interesting conclusion, in view of the I Corinthians passage mentioned above, that the Rock that accompanied the Israelites during their pilgrimage through the wilderness to the Promised Land was the source of life for the Jewish people physically. If the Israelites' journey is paralleled to our spiritual journey and the rock from which the water came represents Christ, the Rock, then one can see the rationale for the severity of physical judgment upon Moses for the violation at Kadesh. Striking the Rock at Horeb for living water was necessary to depict the sacrifice for the sins of sinful man in view of the Law, and speaking to the Rock for living water just prior to entering the Promised Land at Kadesh was necessary to proclaim the sole sufficiency of Christ's death and resurrection for our salvation. To violate God's order to "speak to" the Rock in the latter episode is comparable today to one failing to profess by faith the sufficiency of Christ's death and resurrection alone for salvation. Striking the Rock at Kadesh seems to suggest the blasphemous opinion that we can gain entrance into God's Promised Land through our own efforts . . . . We declare through this obstinacy that we don't need Christ.
It is amazing when one reads Moses final Song to the people just before his death (Deuteronomy 32), for in the song Moses repeatedly praises the "Rock" (the symbol of God Almighty). Specifically, Moses heralds to the people that the Rock's ways are "perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He . . . . He nourished him (Jacob) with honey from the rock and with oil from the flinty crag . . . . How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?" Moses seems to have understood the significance of the sole sufficiency of Christ, the true Rock, for salvation into the Promised Land. For this reason, he praises the Rock for His willingness to deliver His people.
Without acknowledging Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as the remedy for our sin and without submitting to His Lordship, we like Moses' physical death will find ourselves dying a spiritual death and never gaining entrance into God's eternal presence. We must "speak to" the Rock, namely Christ, asking for His forgiveness, acknowledging His sacrifice, and surrendering our lives to Him.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Rainbows
Revelation 4:2-3: "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne."
Have you ever seen a rainbow? It is a spectacular sight, full of beautiful colors. Scientists have determined that a rainbow is made by the process of light refracting through water molecules, changing the light into the various colors that we see.
In reading Revelation 4, we see that heaven contains a rainbow, which encircles the throne of God. Knowing the process by which a rainbow is revealed, one wonders how the rainbow is produced in heaven. This is where the testimony from the book of Revelation is so significant. In Revelation 21:6, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." This water to which Jesus refers is seen in Revelation 22:1 as flowing as clear as crystal from his throne down the middle of the great street of the eternal city, with the trees of life for the healing of the nations perched on either side of its banks.
We also see Jesus in Revelation 1:16, 21:23, and 22:5 as one whose "face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance . . . . The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp . . . . They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light." So Jesus, the Light of the World and of Heaven, who chooses to provide the water of life to his chosen people for eternal life, uses these two ingredients to project beautiful light . . . the light of life!
And this rainbow will be unique in that it resembles an emerald. If the writer John was trying to describe the color of the rainbow here, then it would make perfect sense, for green is the color of the emerald. In a rainbow that we see in the sky today, the color green is the center color of the multi-colored rainbow. If the heavenly rainbow is green (emerald), then it may very well be that our Lord is revealing to us that He is the center of heaven (Revelation 4:6) to which all heavenly beings are directed to give praise, honor, and glory. Today, we should focus our lives upon Him and give Him glory, for He is the Sovereign One who is worthy of our lives, our praise, our all!
Have you ever seen a rainbow? It is a spectacular sight, full of beautiful colors. Scientists have determined that a rainbow is made by the process of light refracting through water molecules, changing the light into the various colors that we see.
In reading Revelation 4, we see that heaven contains a rainbow, which encircles the throne of God. Knowing the process by which a rainbow is revealed, one wonders how the rainbow is produced in heaven. This is where the testimony from the book of Revelation is so significant. In Revelation 21:6, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." This water to which Jesus refers is seen in Revelation 22:1 as flowing as clear as crystal from his throne down the middle of the great street of the eternal city, with the trees of life for the healing of the nations perched on either side of its banks.
We also see Jesus in Revelation 1:16, 21:23, and 22:5 as one whose "face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance . . . . The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp . . . . They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light." So Jesus, the Light of the World and of Heaven, who chooses to provide the water of life to his chosen people for eternal life, uses these two ingredients to project beautiful light . . . the light of life!
And this rainbow will be unique in that it resembles an emerald. If the writer John was trying to describe the color of the rainbow here, then it would make perfect sense, for green is the color of the emerald. In a rainbow that we see in the sky today, the color green is the center color of the multi-colored rainbow. If the heavenly rainbow is green (emerald), then it may very well be that our Lord is revealing to us that He is the center of heaven (Revelation 4:6) to which all heavenly beings are directed to give praise, honor, and glory. Today, we should focus our lives upon Him and give Him glory, for He is the Sovereign One who is worthy of our lives, our praise, our all!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Almond Blossom
Exodus 37:20: "And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms."
One wonders why the almond blossom would be the plant of choice by God to be crafted into the golden lampstand in the Holy Place. What truth was God wanting to teach His people by using this tree above all other trees?
First, I believe that we have to see that God used the golden lampstand in the Holy Place as a reminder to the people that the way to God must be by way of the Messiah, the "Light of the World." Just as the lampstand was placed in the area before the Holy of Holies (where the presence of God was found), so too Jesus Christ, who is the Light of Truth and Salvation, is the way by which one can experience eternal fellowship with God. Thus, the golden lampstand was a foreshadowing of the coming Light of the World, namely Jesus Christ (John 8:12), who would bring "spiritual light" in an otherwise darkened world.
Now, the almond tree was one of the earliest blossoms that would come forth in the spring. It had white blooms, signaling that the rebirth of nature was immanent. So we can see that the almond would be the most appropriate representative to be crafted into the golden lampstand. God determined that the almond blossom should be used, for Christ, our Light of Salvation, initiates rebirth for mankind through the initiatory work of His death and resurrection. His "bloom" signals that resurrection and renewal are possible for all of those who will submit to Him as Lord and Savior. The white color of the almond bloom is appropriate as it signals renewal in purity. When Christ ushers us to "rebirth" in Him, we are declared righteous because of His work of redemption, and we are infused with the blessedness of the Holy Spirit, through whom we are able to live lives of obedience and purity to the Lord.
One wonders why the almond blossom would be the plant of choice by God to be crafted into the golden lampstand in the Holy Place. What truth was God wanting to teach His people by using this tree above all other trees?
First, I believe that we have to see that God used the golden lampstand in the Holy Place as a reminder to the people that the way to God must be by way of the Messiah, the "Light of the World." Just as the lampstand was placed in the area before the Holy of Holies (where the presence of God was found), so too Jesus Christ, who is the Light of Truth and Salvation, is the way by which one can experience eternal fellowship with God. Thus, the golden lampstand was a foreshadowing of the coming Light of the World, namely Jesus Christ (John 8:12), who would bring "spiritual light" in an otherwise darkened world.
Now, the almond tree was one of the earliest blossoms that would come forth in the spring. It had white blooms, signaling that the rebirth of nature was immanent. So we can see that the almond would be the most appropriate representative to be crafted into the golden lampstand. God determined that the almond blossom should be used, for Christ, our Light of Salvation, initiates rebirth for mankind through the initiatory work of His death and resurrection. His "bloom" signals that resurrection and renewal are possible for all of those who will submit to Him as Lord and Savior. The white color of the almond bloom is appropriate as it signals renewal in purity. When Christ ushers us to "rebirth" in Him, we are declared righteous because of His work of redemption, and we are infused with the blessedness of the Holy Spirit, through whom we are able to live lives of obedience and purity to the Lord.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Are You Giving God Your Best?
Proverbs 3:9-10: "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."
What we do with our time, our money, and our abilities says much about our priorities and to whom we give ultimate allegiance. I love the passage in Exodus 23:16,20 for in it God essentially is saying, "Look, I am the giver of all things and I will protect you along the way of your future to my blessed Promised Land; now celebrate my blessing of life and material abundance by offering back to me the firstfruits of what I have given you." Did God need those things then, and does He need them now? I think that we all know the answer is a resounding, "NO!" God is the Creator of all things, and He is not in need of anything. What God knows in His infinite wisdom, is that our giving reflects our attitude about Him and our Faith in Him. If we recognize that (1) His love is better than anything life has to offer [Psalm 63:3]; (2) that He is the source of all blessings; and (3) that we can trust Him as our Protector and Sustainer in the future, then we will give back our very best to Him.
God is not interested in our leftovers. Leftovers suggest that we don't trust God or even worse that we expect that our desires be satisfied first. The first is a lack of faith, and the second is a statement of lordship. The former suggests that we're not certain that God is as Sovereign as He professes; the latter states that we want to be God ourselves.
Our purpose in life is not to attain vast amounts of wealth for ourselves or to expect that the world should revolve around us; rather, our purpose ultimately is to glorify God. We would do well to start this very day by giving back to God the firstfruits of our time and our wealth. Here are some practical questions that you might want to ask yourself to find out where you are in your commitment to the Lord: "Am I giving to the Lord the first of my day in prayer and study of His Word . . . or does He get a few minutes at the end of the day (if at all) when I'm physically spent from the events of the day? Am I tithing my material blessings back to the Lord as a celebration of His goodness to me, or am I holding out so that I can acquire more?"
You will never experience the blessedness of God's abundant life if you're holding out on Him. God knows best. Submit to Him and give to Him your very best.
What we do with our time, our money, and our abilities says much about our priorities and to whom we give ultimate allegiance. I love the passage in Exodus 23:16,20 for in it God essentially is saying, "Look, I am the giver of all things and I will protect you along the way of your future to my blessed Promised Land; now celebrate my blessing of life and material abundance by offering back to me the firstfruits of what I have given you." Did God need those things then, and does He need them now? I think that we all know the answer is a resounding, "NO!" God is the Creator of all things, and He is not in need of anything. What God knows in His infinite wisdom, is that our giving reflects our attitude about Him and our Faith in Him. If we recognize that (1) His love is better than anything life has to offer [Psalm 63:3]; (2) that He is the source of all blessings; and (3) that we can trust Him as our Protector and Sustainer in the future, then we will give back our very best to Him.
God is not interested in our leftovers. Leftovers suggest that we don't trust God or even worse that we expect that our desires be satisfied first. The first is a lack of faith, and the second is a statement of lordship. The former suggests that we're not certain that God is as Sovereign as He professes; the latter states that we want to be God ourselves.
Our purpose in life is not to attain vast amounts of wealth for ourselves or to expect that the world should revolve around us; rather, our purpose ultimately is to glorify God. We would do well to start this very day by giving back to God the firstfruits of our time and our wealth. Here are some practical questions that you might want to ask yourself to find out where you are in your commitment to the Lord: "Am I giving to the Lord the first of my day in prayer and study of His Word . . . or does He get a few minutes at the end of the day (if at all) when I'm physically spent from the events of the day? Am I tithing my material blessings back to the Lord as a celebration of His goodness to me, or am I holding out so that I can acquire more?"
You will never experience the blessedness of God's abundant life if you're holding out on Him. God knows best. Submit to Him and give to Him your very best.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hiding the Truth
Luke 10:21-22: "Then Jesus was filled with joy of the Holy Spirit and said, 'O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and cleaver, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.'"
Wow! What an incredible statement. God was actually pleased to withhold truth from those too arrogant to receive such revelation. Here's the context. Jesus had been in Capernaum, teaching in the synagogue (4:31) and healing a demon-possessed boy (4:35). He continued to the villages around the Sea of Galilee performing a number of miracles and preaching, but then He pronounced a woe against the sea cities of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their haughtiness and lack of response to His proclamation of truth. Now it seems in the above passage that Jesus has joy from the Spirit in hiding the truth from the boastful. In fact, He intentionally chooses to disclose himself to some and not others. At first glance this response of Jesus seems troubling, but the issue here is the outright challenge to God's Divine Authority. In effect, the people to which the woe was pronounced had become completely resistant to Christ's message of salvation. They refused to yield their wills to His Divine Will. Their pride prevented them from submitting to the Lord, so Christ refused to present the gospel to them.
I Corinthians 1:26-31 says that God chooses the least likely things to confuse the proud so that ultimately only those who capitulate to Him can receive His salvation.
Where are you in this story? Are you so resistent to God's Lordship in your life that you detest the truth of His gospel of salvation? Do you find yourself enraged at the thought of having to submit to Jesus Christ? Be warned! Your continuous disavowance of the truth of the gospel blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Of this sin, one will never be forgiven and is "guilty of eternal sin (Mark 3:29)." Only when you repent of such arrogance and yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will you be freed from God's wrath for your sin. Humble yourself and seek the forgiveness of the Lord, affirming the sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as payment for your sin. Become a "new creation" through the power of Jesus Christ today (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Wow! What an incredible statement. God was actually pleased to withhold truth from those too arrogant to receive such revelation. Here's the context. Jesus had been in Capernaum, teaching in the synagogue (4:31) and healing a demon-possessed boy (4:35). He continued to the villages around the Sea of Galilee performing a number of miracles and preaching, but then He pronounced a woe against the sea cities of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their haughtiness and lack of response to His proclamation of truth. Now it seems in the above passage that Jesus has joy from the Spirit in hiding the truth from the boastful. In fact, He intentionally chooses to disclose himself to some and not others. At first glance this response of Jesus seems troubling, but the issue here is the outright challenge to God's Divine Authority. In effect, the people to which the woe was pronounced had become completely resistant to Christ's message of salvation. They refused to yield their wills to His Divine Will. Their pride prevented them from submitting to the Lord, so Christ refused to present the gospel to them.
I Corinthians 1:26-31 says that God chooses the least likely things to confuse the proud so that ultimately only those who capitulate to Him can receive His salvation.
Where are you in this story? Are you so resistent to God's Lordship in your life that you detest the truth of His gospel of salvation? Do you find yourself enraged at the thought of having to submit to Jesus Christ? Be warned! Your continuous disavowance of the truth of the gospel blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Of this sin, one will never be forgiven and is "guilty of eternal sin (Mark 3:29)." Only when you repent of such arrogance and yield to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will you be freed from God's wrath for your sin. Humble yourself and seek the forgiveness of the Lord, affirming the sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as payment for your sin. Become a "new creation" through the power of Jesus Christ today (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Encouragement
Psalm 84:1-2,5-7,10: "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God . . . . Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere . . . . Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they will make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion."
What a great word of encouragement is found here for those who travel down the road of discouragement. Here we find that those who passionately long for the presence and intimacy of God are able to tie together His offerings of strength with each perilous experience that comes their way. As they encounter the deep valleys of despair, they through the power of God's presence make it a "place of springs."
The hope to which we profess in the power of God and His coming day of salvation must be our strength because this temporal life is perilous, filled with the pain of loss, sickness, and death. We must remember that we are on a pilgrimage through this life to our true home, in the presence of the Lord. We look forward to His eternal protection from all that hurts us now. We long for His dwelling place, for one day there is better than a thousand elsewhere.
What a great word of encouragement is found here for those who travel down the road of discouragement. Here we find that those who passionately long for the presence and intimacy of God are able to tie together His offerings of strength with each perilous experience that comes their way. As they encounter the deep valleys of despair, they through the power of God's presence make it a "place of springs."
The hope to which we profess in the power of God and His coming day of salvation must be our strength because this temporal life is perilous, filled with the pain of loss, sickness, and death. We must remember that we are on a pilgrimage through this life to our true home, in the presence of the Lord. We look forward to His eternal protection from all that hurts us now. We long for His dwelling place, for one day there is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Offering Unacceptable Sacrifices
Leviticus 10:1-4: "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, 'This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: 'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of the people I will be honored.'' Aaron remained silent. Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel, and said to them, 'Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.' So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp."
At first glance, this story of God's destruction of those who would offer a sacrifice to Him is troubling. Why would God want to take the lives of those who would want to offer a gift to Him? Yet when we start to look at the story in greater depth, we are able to see why God would enact such judgment upon these priests. In Leviticus 9, we find that Aaron, the priest, and his sons (Nadab and Abihu) began their ministries by offering divinely prescribed burnt offerings to the Lord, as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. God had promised that if they were obedient to His instructions of sacrifice, He would appear to them (9:4). God was true to His Word, for we find in 9:24, that "fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering." When the people saw this amazing theophany of God, they "shouted for joy and fell face down."
This is where the story takes a dramatic turn, for we find that the sons of Aaron collected fire in their censers and "offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command (10:1)." Although the priests were to keep the fires of the altar for burnt offerings going continuously (8:9), nowhere do we find that God prescribed that they were to offer fire back to the Lord as an offering. God had used fire in chapter 9 to consume the sacrificial animal, which had been offered as a substitute for the sins of the priests and the people (1:4f).
One can see the significance of the sacrifice of an animal "without blemish" as a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, who would be the ultimate sacrifice once for all for our sins (Hebrews 10:10). Through the death of Jesus Christ, the Lord would lay upon Him our sins (Isaiah 53:6), so that we might receive His gift of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). No other sacrifice for sin is acceptable to the Lord.
Therefore, we see the significance of the fire coming from God in Leviticus 10 as the enactment of God's judgment upon sin, and we see how contemptible it was for the priests to attempt to offer up something other than the atonement sacrifice back to God. I guess the questions that arise for me are, "What were the priests thinking that they would offer a sacrifice which was prohibited by the Lord? . . . Were they caught up in the demonstration of God's power through fire and the people's response to it? With the people responding with such joy and submission, did the priests want to "cash in" on the moment and participate in such a demonstration of glory by God? Did Nadab and Abihu think that they had the right to challenge what God had expressly communicated concerning offerings to Him? Did they want to harness the power of God by collecting the fire that had consumed the sacrifice?
Although we don't know the motivation for these priests' offering, we do know from God's responsive judgment upon them and His verbal declaration, that He wanted the people of Israel to know something very important. Specifically, God said, "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored." The Sovereign Lord used the episode to teach the people that He is transcendent in his holiness, and He is due honor and obedience simply for who He is.
Okay, so how should we use this passage in our lives today? First, I believe that we must respect the Lord! He is not simply the "man upstairs" who is only needed when we have a request for something. He is Holy . . . Set Apart . . . and worthy of our praise, our lives, our best, our "all." And when it comes to our salvation, we should not think that we can offer up anything other than what he has prescribed for the remission of sins. That is, we can not bypass what He has determined to be the only acceptable remedy for our trespasses, and He has declared that only Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross is worthy(Romans 5:9-11). Tragically, religions today attempt to dictate that we must present something to God so that we can prove ourselves worthy of salvation. The Bible states that only Jesus Christ's death and resurrection provide satisfaction to God for our sins. Resist the temptation to try to offer something else to God; rather, receive his gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ and submit to Him as your Worthy Lord and Savior!
At first glance, this story of God's destruction of those who would offer a sacrifice to Him is troubling. Why would God want to take the lives of those who would want to offer a gift to Him? Yet when we start to look at the story in greater depth, we are able to see why God would enact such judgment upon these priests. In Leviticus 9, we find that Aaron, the priest, and his sons (Nadab and Abihu) began their ministries by offering divinely prescribed burnt offerings to the Lord, as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. God had promised that if they were obedient to His instructions of sacrifice, He would appear to them (9:4). God was true to His Word, for we find in 9:24, that "fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering." When the people saw this amazing theophany of God, they "shouted for joy and fell face down."
This is where the story takes a dramatic turn, for we find that the sons of Aaron collected fire in their censers and "offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command (10:1)." Although the priests were to keep the fires of the altar for burnt offerings going continuously (8:9), nowhere do we find that God prescribed that they were to offer fire back to the Lord as an offering. God had used fire in chapter 9 to consume the sacrificial animal, which had been offered as a substitute for the sins of the priests and the people (1:4f).
One can see the significance of the sacrifice of an animal "without blemish" as a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, who would be the ultimate sacrifice once for all for our sins (Hebrews 10:10). Through the death of Jesus Christ, the Lord would lay upon Him our sins (Isaiah 53:6), so that we might receive His gift of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). No other sacrifice for sin is acceptable to the Lord.
Therefore, we see the significance of the fire coming from God in Leviticus 10 as the enactment of God's judgment upon sin, and we see how contemptible it was for the priests to attempt to offer up something other than the atonement sacrifice back to God. I guess the questions that arise for me are, "What were the priests thinking that they would offer a sacrifice which was prohibited by the Lord? . . . Were they caught up in the demonstration of God's power through fire and the people's response to it? With the people responding with such joy and submission, did the priests want to "cash in" on the moment and participate in such a demonstration of glory by God? Did Nadab and Abihu think that they had the right to challenge what God had expressly communicated concerning offerings to Him? Did they want to harness the power of God by collecting the fire that had consumed the sacrifice?
Although we don't know the motivation for these priests' offering, we do know from God's responsive judgment upon them and His verbal declaration, that He wanted the people of Israel to know something very important. Specifically, God said, "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored." The Sovereign Lord used the episode to teach the people that He is transcendent in his holiness, and He is due honor and obedience simply for who He is.
Okay, so how should we use this passage in our lives today? First, I believe that we must respect the Lord! He is not simply the "man upstairs" who is only needed when we have a request for something. He is Holy . . . Set Apart . . . and worthy of our praise, our lives, our best, our "all." And when it comes to our salvation, we should not think that we can offer up anything other than what he has prescribed for the remission of sins. That is, we can not bypass what He has determined to be the only acceptable remedy for our trespasses, and He has declared that only Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross is worthy(Romans 5:9-11). Tragically, religions today attempt to dictate that we must present something to God so that we can prove ourselves worthy of salvation. The Bible states that only Jesus Christ's death and resurrection provide satisfaction to God for our sins. Resist the temptation to try to offer something else to God; rather, receive his gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ and submit to Him as your Worthy Lord and Savior!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Adultery
Genesis 39:6b-7; 9b-10: "Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'come to bed with me!' But he refused (saying) . . . 'how could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?' And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."
In this passage, we find that Joseph was a man of purity of heart, for he identified that infidelity with another man's wife was (1) a wicked thing and (2) a sin against God directly. The sin of adultery against one's spouse and ultimately God Himself is accomplished because God has instituted the earthly marriage covenant as sacred and a covenant of exclusive devotion to one's marriage partner. God created marriage so that man might tangibly appreciate God's own faithful fidelity with His bride, the Church. When a man or woman enters into an adulterous relationship, he or she treats with contempt the covenantal relationship that helps us appreciate God's character of faithfulness and purity as well as the Church's response in kind.
Joseph has illustrated to us the principle of integrity mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:22: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Because Joseph did not yield to such immoral enticements and because he fled any attempts that came his way, the Lord was with Joseph and blessed him immeasurably.
In this passage, we find that Joseph was a man of purity of heart, for he identified that infidelity with another man's wife was (1) a wicked thing and (2) a sin against God directly. The sin of adultery against one's spouse and ultimately God Himself is accomplished because God has instituted the earthly marriage covenant as sacred and a covenant of exclusive devotion to one's marriage partner. God created marriage so that man might tangibly appreciate God's own faithful fidelity with His bride, the Church. When a man or woman enters into an adulterous relationship, he or she treats with contempt the covenantal relationship that helps us appreciate God's character of faithfulness and purity as well as the Church's response in kind.
Joseph has illustrated to us the principle of integrity mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:22: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Because Joseph did not yield to such immoral enticements and because he fled any attempts that came his way, the Lord was with Joseph and blessed him immeasurably.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Leadership
John 10:41-42: "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true. And in that place many believed in Jesus."
This is a great passage for leaders today. In John 3:30, John the Baptist had a very successful ministry; however, when Jesus arrived on the scene, John did not take offense to Jesus being on his turf. Instead, John said that Jesus must "increase" while he must "decrease." This revealed a spirit of humility and respect for the true Lord. John recognized that his ministry and his leadership was not about his attainment of personal power; rather, John's purpose was to bring glory to the coming Messiah. John recognized that God the Father had "placed everything into Jesus' hands (John 3:35)," and therefore John was called to surrender himself and his ministry to the Lord.
Since John's focus was not upon his own aggrandizement but Jesus' glory, Jesus Himself applauded John's attitude toward leadership. Specifically, Jesus said about John that "among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist . . . . For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come (Matt. 11:11-14)."
The irony with the high regard that Jesus had for John is found in John 10:41, where of John it is said that he "never performed a miraculous sign." John was effective because the Spirit of God worked though him. He was not a flashy, miracle-ladened preacher, but simply preached repentance so that the hearts of men might be prepared for the coming Savior. He didn't need to be the center of attention and receive praise and honor for his accomplishments; for John knew that everything that he said and everything that he did was done to praise the Lord. This humility of John and the subsequent honor given to Him by Jesus reminds me of the passage found in James 4:10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
This is a great passage for leaders today. In John 3:30, John the Baptist had a very successful ministry; however, when Jesus arrived on the scene, John did not take offense to Jesus being on his turf. Instead, John said that Jesus must "increase" while he must "decrease." This revealed a spirit of humility and respect for the true Lord. John recognized that his ministry and his leadership was not about his attainment of personal power; rather, John's purpose was to bring glory to the coming Messiah. John recognized that God the Father had "placed everything into Jesus' hands (John 3:35)," and therefore John was called to surrender himself and his ministry to the Lord.
Since John's focus was not upon his own aggrandizement but Jesus' glory, Jesus Himself applauded John's attitude toward leadership. Specifically, Jesus said about John that "among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist . . . . For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come (Matt. 11:11-14)."
The irony with the high regard that Jesus had for John is found in John 10:41, where of John it is said that he "never performed a miraculous sign." John was effective because the Spirit of God worked though him. He was not a flashy, miracle-ladened preacher, but simply preached repentance so that the hearts of men might be prepared for the coming Savior. He didn't need to be the center of attention and receive praise and honor for his accomplishments; for John knew that everything that he said and everything that he did was done to praise the Lord. This humility of John and the subsequent honor given to Him by Jesus reminds me of the passage found in James 4:10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Rejection
John 6:60,66-67: "On hearing it, many of his disciples said, 'This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?' . . . . From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve."
John 6 is one of the most telling stories of true discipleship in the Bible. In the first part of the chapter, thousands of people were following Jesus because he was performing miraculous signs and feeding them. I'm sure that after Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish to feed 5000, the recipients were pumping their hands in the air, saying in today's vernacular, "Go Jesus! Go Jesus!" The masses were ready to follow Jesus because He was meeting their needs (filling their stomachs [John 6:26]). As long as they were able to get something out of Jesus, people were determined to pursue Him. When Jesus and his disciples quietly left to go across the lake to a city called Capernaum, the people jumped into their boats to search for the great miracle worker.
Later in the chapter, Jesus used the setting to teach the people that he was the bread that would provide eternal life to those who would consume Him. At first, the people wanted to see a sign from Jesus to validate His claims, but they quickly began to grumble among themselves because Jesus had said that He had come from heaven to provide salvation and because He claimed that He would raise His followers from the grave.
The pivotal point arrived when Jesus proclaimed that the people would have to consume His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. What Jesus was communicating to the people was their need of "partaking" His sacrifice on the Cross by submitting to Him as Lord and Savior. The masses became frustrated with Jesus' words because they thought He was talking about some form of cannibalism. Even more so, Jesus' words required that they capitulate their supposed claim to the throne of their own lives. Jesus, knowing beforehand that many of them would reject Him, asked them if His words offended them. Then He shocked the crowd with His declaration that He alone gives life and would ascend back to heaven from where He had come.
The response was severe. Many of these "disciples" that had once been willing to pursue Jesus wherever He went, now were turning away in droves. At this massive demonstration of rejection, Jesus then looked to the twelve and asked, "do you want to leave too?"
I believe that we find in these verses the disposition of many in our churches today. People will proclaim an allegiance to Jesus Christ for what they can get out of Him (purpose, eternal security, material blessings, emotional comfort, etc.). But when the cost of discipleship is mentioned, which foundationally includes submitting oneself to His Lordship, many will turn away. This is why so many professing Christians do not demonstrate the fruit of spiritually transformed lives. They come to church with the purpose of leeching what will ultimately benefit them personally, but they are unwilling to accept the terms of God. These terms suggest that for one to experience the blessedness of God's forgiveness and fulfillment, one must start with acquiescing one's quest for lordship to the rightful Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.
John 6 is one of the most telling stories of true discipleship in the Bible. In the first part of the chapter, thousands of people were following Jesus because he was performing miraculous signs and feeding them. I'm sure that after Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish to feed 5000, the recipients were pumping their hands in the air, saying in today's vernacular, "Go Jesus! Go Jesus!" The masses were ready to follow Jesus because He was meeting their needs (filling their stomachs [John 6:26]). As long as they were able to get something out of Jesus, people were determined to pursue Him. When Jesus and his disciples quietly left to go across the lake to a city called Capernaum, the people jumped into their boats to search for the great miracle worker.
Later in the chapter, Jesus used the setting to teach the people that he was the bread that would provide eternal life to those who would consume Him. At first, the people wanted to see a sign from Jesus to validate His claims, but they quickly began to grumble among themselves because Jesus had said that He had come from heaven to provide salvation and because He claimed that He would raise His followers from the grave.
The pivotal point arrived when Jesus proclaimed that the people would have to consume His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. What Jesus was communicating to the people was their need of "partaking" His sacrifice on the Cross by submitting to Him as Lord and Savior. The masses became frustrated with Jesus' words because they thought He was talking about some form of cannibalism. Even more so, Jesus' words required that they capitulate their supposed claim to the throne of their own lives. Jesus, knowing beforehand that many of them would reject Him, asked them if His words offended them. Then He shocked the crowd with His declaration that He alone gives life and would ascend back to heaven from where He had come.
The response was severe. Many of these "disciples" that had once been willing to pursue Jesus wherever He went, now were turning away in droves. At this massive demonstration of rejection, Jesus then looked to the twelve and asked, "do you want to leave too?"
I believe that we find in these verses the disposition of many in our churches today. People will proclaim an allegiance to Jesus Christ for what they can get out of Him (purpose, eternal security, material blessings, emotional comfort, etc.). But when the cost of discipleship is mentioned, which foundationally includes submitting oneself to His Lordship, many will turn away. This is why so many professing Christians do not demonstrate the fruit of spiritually transformed lives. They come to church with the purpose of leeching what will ultimately benefit them personally, but they are unwilling to accept the terms of God. These terms suggest that for one to experience the blessedness of God's forgiveness and fulfillment, one must start with acquiescing one's quest for lordship to the rightful Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Coming to God
Leviticus 1:3-5: "If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the young bull before the LORD."
As I was reading through this passage recently, I could not help but think about the significance of the burnt offering. In the Old Testament, a man would take an animal to the Tent of Meeting (a place of worship where the glory of God resided) to be a vicarious sacrifice for his sins. I've probably read through this passage a dozen times; but this time, the details intrigued me.
First, I noticed that the sacrifice had to be an animal without defect. It had to be the best that one had to offer. Of course, one cannot help but see the imagery of Jesus Christ in the offering; just as the animal had no defect, so too Jesus Christ was the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sins of those who would receive His gift of salvation (I Corinthians 5:7).
Still, I noticed that the one who was to approach God for mercy had to prepare himself for the event. First, he had to be willing to give God his very best. God was not interested in one presenting the undesirable animals from his flock. Secondly, the man had to go to God at the Tent of Meeting; he couldn't just say, "God, come to me and I'll give you what you want." Thirdly, he actually had to make the sacrifice; he had to yield his choicest animal to God in faith that God would provide his grace.
When I think about our salvation through Jesus Christ, I am reminded that we cannot come to the cross with the attitude that says, "OK Jesus, I want your salvation; but you're not getting all of me. I want to get the benefits of grace (like a "get out of hell free card"), but I'm not willing to submit myself to your Lordship. We know from Ephesians 2 that God's grace is totally a work of God through the atoning sacrifice and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ. Still, the individual today must be willing to prepare himself. This decision involves a crisis point of sacrifice, in which the individual makes the choice to come to God (repentence) and sacrifices himself to God (submission).
As I was reading through this passage recently, I could not help but think about the significance of the burnt offering. In the Old Testament, a man would take an animal to the Tent of Meeting (a place of worship where the glory of God resided) to be a vicarious sacrifice for his sins. I've probably read through this passage a dozen times; but this time, the details intrigued me.
First, I noticed that the sacrifice had to be an animal without defect. It had to be the best that one had to offer. Of course, one cannot help but see the imagery of Jesus Christ in the offering; just as the animal had no defect, so too Jesus Christ was the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sins of those who would receive His gift of salvation (I Corinthians 5:7).
Still, I noticed that the one who was to approach God for mercy had to prepare himself for the event. First, he had to be willing to give God his very best. God was not interested in one presenting the undesirable animals from his flock. Secondly, the man had to go to God at the Tent of Meeting; he couldn't just say, "God, come to me and I'll give you what you want." Thirdly, he actually had to make the sacrifice; he had to yield his choicest animal to God in faith that God would provide his grace.
When I think about our salvation through Jesus Christ, I am reminded that we cannot come to the cross with the attitude that says, "OK Jesus, I want your salvation; but you're not getting all of me. I want to get the benefits of grace (like a "get out of hell free card"), but I'm not willing to submit myself to your Lordship. We know from Ephesians 2 that God's grace is totally a work of God through the atoning sacrifice and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ. Still, the individual today must be willing to prepare himself. This decision involves a crisis point of sacrifice, in which the individual makes the choice to come to God (repentence) and sacrifices himself to God (submission).
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Rebellion
Revelation 16:9-11,21: "They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done . . . . From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible."
The 16th chapter of the book of Revelation chronicles the events that befall those who do not submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As part of His Divine, eschatological judgment, God will pour out His wrath upon those who have spurned His offering of grace through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. This sad episode is a perfect attestation to the recalcitrance of people, who even in the face of God's wrath, will hurl insults at God and not repent. In their defiance, they will hate that they are not able to destroy God and take His throne for themselves.
This rebellious attitude is not unlike the response of the chief priest and his cohorts in Jerusalem during Jesus Christ's time on earth. Two thousand years ago, all in Jewish culture recognized that only God could raise the dead; but when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders did not celebrate this victory over death. Rather, they plotted ways to kill Jesus and kill Lazarus to get rid of the evidence (John 11:50-53; 12:10). Sadly, they saw Jesus as a threat to their power that they had amassed in their society, and they detested that those who once paid homage to them were now "going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him."
God's Word tells us that "every knee will bow before me (God); every tongue will confess to God . So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:11-12)." Therefore, isn't today the perfect time to recognize God as Lord, and submit to Him (Christ) as your personal Lord and Savior? By doing so, you will not have to face His ultimate wrath to come, but will be grafted into His holy family for all eternity (John 1:12). Take advantage of this opportunity to hear the convicting Word from God Himself, and surrender yourself to Him.
The 16th chapter of the book of Revelation chronicles the events that befall those who do not submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As part of His Divine, eschatological judgment, God will pour out His wrath upon those who have spurned His offering of grace through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. This sad episode is a perfect attestation to the recalcitrance of people, who even in the face of God's wrath, will hurl insults at God and not repent. In their defiance, they will hate that they are not able to destroy God and take His throne for themselves.
This rebellious attitude is not unlike the response of the chief priest and his cohorts in Jerusalem during Jesus Christ's time on earth. Two thousand years ago, all in Jewish culture recognized that only God could raise the dead; but when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders did not celebrate this victory over death. Rather, they plotted ways to kill Jesus and kill Lazarus to get rid of the evidence (John 11:50-53; 12:10). Sadly, they saw Jesus as a threat to their power that they had amassed in their society, and they detested that those who once paid homage to them were now "going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him."
God's Word tells us that "every knee will bow before me (God); every tongue will confess to God . So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:11-12)." Therefore, isn't today the perfect time to recognize God as Lord, and submit to Him (Christ) as your personal Lord and Savior? By doing so, you will not have to face His ultimate wrath to come, but will be grafted into His holy family for all eternity (John 1:12). Take advantage of this opportunity to hear the convicting Word from God Himself, and surrender yourself to Him.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
God's Word is Precious
Psalm 19:7-11:
God's Word is Perfect
It revives the soul
Are you feeling spiritual lethargy? Why not go here.
God's Word is trustworthy
It makes wise the simple
Do you know that God is completely reliable. You'll never regret trusting in Him.
God's Word is Right
It gives joy to the heart
Are you experencing the joy of the Lord?
God's Word is Radiant
Shining Godly light into a darkened world
Are you basking in the light of God?
God's Word is more precious than fine gold
Are you seeking God's Word like you would look for treasure?
God's Word provides warning
Are you listening?
God's Word provides great reward
Are you experiencing God's divine blessings that come from obeying His Word?
Sounds like we all need to consume God's Word regularly.
God's Word is Perfect
It revives the soul
Are you feeling spiritual lethargy? Why not go here.
God's Word is trustworthy
It makes wise the simple
Do you know that God is completely reliable. You'll never regret trusting in Him.
God's Word is Right
It gives joy to the heart
Are you experencing the joy of the Lord?
God's Word is Radiant
Shining Godly light into a darkened world
Are you basking in the light of God?
God's Word is more precious than fine gold
Are you seeking God's Word like you would look for treasure?
God's Word provides warning
Are you listening?
God's Word provides great reward
Are you experiencing God's divine blessings that come from obeying His Word?
Sounds like we all need to consume God's Word regularly.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Obedience
Psalm 66:13-14; 17-20: "I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you - vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble . . . . I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!"
What incredible words of wisdom we find in Psalm 66. First, we see that the author had made vows to God during a very difficult time in his life. We don’t know what precipitated these painful experiences, but we do know that these trials were used by God to refine the author and his people. I can just see the author in agony, crying out to God with cries of allegiance, giving vows of obedience and submission to the Lord. What I find noteworthy is the author’s willingness to follow through with his vows to the Lord, when God’s hand of blessing later came upon him. This honored commitment reveals the character of the author; he truly was a man of his word.
Many times we attempt to "bargain" with God and make numerous promises to Him during painful trials, hoping that His divine favor will befall us and change our existing plot. More often than not, we seem to disregard those vows when the tide of our misfortune changes and God bestows blessing to us. A lack of follow through on our part is representative of a life that treats with contempt our Sovereign Lord and His divine blessings. Matthew 5 tells us that our "Yes" should be "Yes" otherwise it originates from the evil one.
We also find in this passage of scripture that God's responsiveness to us is predicated upon our willingness to repent from sin in our lives. If we cherish sin in our hearts, we should not expect God to honor the requests that we offer to Him, for these requests are likely to perpetuate the thing that we ultimately cherish . . . ourselves. We may even be apt to cry out to God for deliverance from the painful consequences of our sins, so that we can continue in them. God will never honor such requests, knowing that consequences often are His methods to gain our attention leading to repentance.
Conversely, God does hear the penitent heart, and is willing to minister to him or her in such a way that the individual matures in the faith and is conformed more into the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean necessarily that we receive everything of which we ask; it does mean that God wants us to be all we can be for Him. For we know that "all things DO work together for good to those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose. (Romans 8:28).
What incredible words of wisdom we find in Psalm 66. First, we see that the author had made vows to God during a very difficult time in his life. We don’t know what precipitated these painful experiences, but we do know that these trials were used by God to refine the author and his people. I can just see the author in agony, crying out to God with cries of allegiance, giving vows of obedience and submission to the Lord. What I find noteworthy is the author’s willingness to follow through with his vows to the Lord, when God’s hand of blessing later came upon him. This honored commitment reveals the character of the author; he truly was a man of his word.
Many times we attempt to "bargain" with God and make numerous promises to Him during painful trials, hoping that His divine favor will befall us and change our existing plot. More often than not, we seem to disregard those vows when the tide of our misfortune changes and God bestows blessing to us. A lack of follow through on our part is representative of a life that treats with contempt our Sovereign Lord and His divine blessings. Matthew 5 tells us that our "Yes" should be "Yes" otherwise it originates from the evil one.
We also find in this passage of scripture that God's responsiveness to us is predicated upon our willingness to repent from sin in our lives. If we cherish sin in our hearts, we should not expect God to honor the requests that we offer to Him, for these requests are likely to perpetuate the thing that we ultimately cherish . . . ourselves. We may even be apt to cry out to God for deliverance from the painful consequences of our sins, so that we can continue in them. God will never honor such requests, knowing that consequences often are His methods to gain our attention leading to repentance.
Conversely, God does hear the penitent heart, and is willing to minister to him or her in such a way that the individual matures in the faith and is conformed more into the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean necessarily that we receive everything of which we ask; it does mean that God wants us to be all we can be for Him. For we know that "all things DO work together for good to those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose. (Romans 8:28).
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Nothing Is Impossible With God
Luke 1:36-37: "Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who is said to be barren is in her 6th month. For nothing is impossible with God."
As one reads the first chapter of the gospel of Luke, one finds two older characters mentioned who were upright and blameless (vs 6) and were obedient to all of God's commandments. Still, they were saddened by their inability to have children. In that day and culture, barrenness was stigmatized, for children were seen as confirmation of God's blessing upon a husband and wife. Also in an agrarian society, children were important in helping the family attend to domestic responsibilities, particularly when the husband and wife entered their senior years.
It is telling that Zechariah and Elizabeth were "upright and blameless" despite their circumstances. So many would have given up on God; however, this couple was able to rise above the pain of their circumstances by having their focus upon God.
What is beautiful in this story is God's doing the seemingly impossible. Here we have two very old people who biologically should not have been able to have children. God waited to bestow this blessing upon Zechariah and Elizabeth so that in the miraculously unexpected, He could demonstrate His power, glory, and holiness. The result of God's divine interaction was praise from Zechariah (vs. 64) and an awareness in the community that God alone was working (vs 65-66). Isn't this just like our God? Praise be to Him!
As one reads the first chapter of the gospel of Luke, one finds two older characters mentioned who were upright and blameless (vs 6) and were obedient to all of God's commandments. Still, they were saddened by their inability to have children. In that day and culture, barrenness was stigmatized, for children were seen as confirmation of God's blessing upon a husband and wife. Also in an agrarian society, children were important in helping the family attend to domestic responsibilities, particularly when the husband and wife entered their senior years.
It is telling that Zechariah and Elizabeth were "upright and blameless" despite their circumstances. So many would have given up on God; however, this couple was able to rise above the pain of their circumstances by having their focus upon God.
What is beautiful in this story is God's doing the seemingly impossible. Here we have two very old people who biologically should not have been able to have children. God waited to bestow this blessing upon Zechariah and Elizabeth so that in the miraculously unexpected, He could demonstrate His power, glory, and holiness. The result of God's divine interaction was praise from Zechariah (vs. 64) and an awareness in the community that God alone was working (vs 65-66). Isn't this just like our God? Praise be to Him!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Finding the Will of God
Proverbs 2:3-9: "And if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright. He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path."
What would you do if someone told you that you had a treasure chest full of precious gems in your back yard? I believe that most of us would find ourselves immediately rushing to the nearest home improvement store to gather up whatever tools we could find to help dig the treasure up. I'm sure that we would be passionate and persistent about this pursuit.
I believe that this is why God used this imagery in these verses to reveal to us how we are able to find the knowledge of God and understand what it means to "fear the Lord." When we seek the Lord above all other persons and things . . . when we seek the Lord passionately and fervently . . . when we give to the Lord the firstfruits of our time in seeking His will, then we will find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 is one of my favorite verses, for it tells me that if I seek the Lord with my whole heart, I will find Him. The verse does not say with half of my heart or a quarter of my heart; it says with everything I am and everything that I have . . . all of me.
Many in the church today do not know the will of God for their lives, simply because they're really not looking. They're frustrated with God because they don't believe that He's open to sharing with us. God is not a cosmic bellhop who will jump at our requests whenever it is convenient for us. We should not expect God to reveal His will to us if we're not willing to invest in pursuing Him.
You might ask, "how then can I passionately pursue God this way?" Well, I'm glad you asked. One tangible way that I have seen the Lord working in my life was when I surrendered the firstfruits of my day to Him. In the past, I would attempt to have a devotional time at the end of the day; however, I found myself worn out and ready to get some sleep. In effect, I was saying to God, "Okay God, you get the leftovers of my time . . . after work, exercise, family, some television and e-mail stuff. Now give me some great revelation."
The scriptures that I would read at night didn't seem to penetrate my heart like I knew that they could through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I determined to commit myself to seeking the Lord early in the morning (and I'm not a morning person by nature), when I was fresh and receptive to a good word from God. At first it was quite a challenge, but as days passed, the drudgery became a delight. Now I can't wait to have my personal devotional time with the Lord in the morning, because He was revealed so much of His will to me; and these revelations have strengthened me to press on even further in my intimacy with the Lord.
Blessings to you today and in days to come as you strive to seek the will of God. Remember that when you give your best to the Lord, He will respond with clarity of purpose for your life.
What would you do if someone told you that you had a treasure chest full of precious gems in your back yard? I believe that most of us would find ourselves immediately rushing to the nearest home improvement store to gather up whatever tools we could find to help dig the treasure up. I'm sure that we would be passionate and persistent about this pursuit.
I believe that this is why God used this imagery in these verses to reveal to us how we are able to find the knowledge of God and understand what it means to "fear the Lord." When we seek the Lord above all other persons and things . . . when we seek the Lord passionately and fervently . . . when we give to the Lord the firstfruits of our time in seeking His will, then we will find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 is one of my favorite verses, for it tells me that if I seek the Lord with my whole heart, I will find Him. The verse does not say with half of my heart or a quarter of my heart; it says with everything I am and everything that I have . . . all of me.
Many in the church today do not know the will of God for their lives, simply because they're really not looking. They're frustrated with God because they don't believe that He's open to sharing with us. God is not a cosmic bellhop who will jump at our requests whenever it is convenient for us. We should not expect God to reveal His will to us if we're not willing to invest in pursuing Him.
You might ask, "how then can I passionately pursue God this way?" Well, I'm glad you asked. One tangible way that I have seen the Lord working in my life was when I surrendered the firstfruits of my day to Him. In the past, I would attempt to have a devotional time at the end of the day; however, I found myself worn out and ready to get some sleep. In effect, I was saying to God, "Okay God, you get the leftovers of my time . . . after work, exercise, family, some television and e-mail stuff. Now give me some great revelation."
The scriptures that I would read at night didn't seem to penetrate my heart like I knew that they could through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I determined to commit myself to seeking the Lord early in the morning (and I'm not a morning person by nature), when I was fresh and receptive to a good word from God. At first it was quite a challenge, but as days passed, the drudgery became a delight. Now I can't wait to have my personal devotional time with the Lord in the morning, because He was revealed so much of His will to me; and these revelations have strengthened me to press on even further in my intimacy with the Lord.
Blessings to you today and in days to come as you strive to seek the will of God. Remember that when you give your best to the Lord, He will respond with clarity of purpose for your life.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Agony is Spiritually Invigorating
Psalm 119:66-68,71-72,75,92: "Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees . . . .The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold . . . . I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me . . . . If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction."
Did you know that agony is spiritually invigorating? The Psalmist looks back upon his past and sees that he had gone astray from God; but God, in His Divine wisdom introduced hardship and affliction into the rebellious life of the writer to bring him to a point of crisis. Either the Psalmist could become angry at God and others for his misfortunes, or he could remember that peace, contentment, fulfillment, and blessing come through intimacy with the Lord. Of course, this intimacy necessitates confession of sin and submission to God.
In hindsight, the writer sees that it actually was good for him to experience the "affliction" so that he could come to his senses. It brought him to a point of reckoning, that transformed him into one desirous of knowing God and appreciating the fact that submission to our good and loving Lord is ultimately the best path in life.
Have you experienced pain from decisions that you now know were the result of your going astray from God and His expectations for you? My hope for you is that you can see these trials as an opportunity for you to come to the awareness that obedience to the Lord is the road to His divine blessing. James MacDonald in his book, Downpour, supports this thought when he writes, “that circumstance . . . that situation you would plead with God to change, that thing you hate that He allowed because He loves you-will you let Him call your heart back and more deeply into Him? . . . . God has a purpose for the pain . . . . God is relentless in His pursuit of us. His love is not a pampering love; it’s a perfecting love. The pathway to revival is through pain. God calls you back through pain, further and deeper into Him (pg. 33-34).”
Did you know that agony is spiritually invigorating? The Psalmist looks back upon his past and sees that he had gone astray from God; but God, in His Divine wisdom introduced hardship and affliction into the rebellious life of the writer to bring him to a point of crisis. Either the Psalmist could become angry at God and others for his misfortunes, or he could remember that peace, contentment, fulfillment, and blessing come through intimacy with the Lord. Of course, this intimacy necessitates confession of sin and submission to God.
In hindsight, the writer sees that it actually was good for him to experience the "affliction" so that he could come to his senses. It brought him to a point of reckoning, that transformed him into one desirous of knowing God and appreciating the fact that submission to our good and loving Lord is ultimately the best path in life.
Have you experienced pain from decisions that you now know were the result of your going astray from God and His expectations for you? My hope for you is that you can see these trials as an opportunity for you to come to the awareness that obedience to the Lord is the road to His divine blessing. James MacDonald in his book, Downpour, supports this thought when he writes, “that circumstance . . . that situation you would plead with God to change, that thing you hate that He allowed because He loves you-will you let Him call your heart back and more deeply into Him? . . . . God has a purpose for the pain . . . . God is relentless in His pursuit of us. His love is not a pampering love; it’s a perfecting love. The pathway to revival is through pain. God calls you back through pain, further and deeper into Him (pg. 33-34).”
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Thinking About Marriage?
Proverbs 19:22; 20:6,18,25: "What a man desires is unfailing love . . . . Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? . . . . Make plans by seeking advice . . . . It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows."
The desire of our hearts is to find someone who will love us unconditionally and unfailingly; the irony is that finding faithful love is like finding a needle in a haystack. We know that ultimately God can only provide this level of love perfectly; still, those who are contemplating marriage should take time to make certain that the person whom they are dating will love them, despite "the good, the bad, and the ugly" that may come their way years later. I'm a firm believer that true character is revealed in times of temptation and tribulation. Time is your biggest advocate, for it gives you the opportunity of observing the potential marriage partner when things aren't going so well. If you see "red flags" during the difficult times, be assured that these red flags are heaven sent. Try to take a step back and look at the relationship objectively. Many times, these red flags are warning signs to alert you that this person may have some character traits that could be painful to your marriage and even destructive of your marriage.
If you are making plans toward marriage, seek advice of those mature followers of Christ, who can give you Godly counsel about the relationship. Notice that I said "mature followers of Christ." Seeking the counsel of immature people leads one down the road to misery, for these types of people will tell you what you want to hear, not what ultimately is best for you.
Then once you have had sufficient time to observe the relationship and consider Godly counsel, proceed accordingly. Don't forget that hasty relational decisions are "ticking time bombs." For the Word of God tells us, "it is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows."
The desire of our hearts is to find someone who will love us unconditionally and unfailingly; the irony is that finding faithful love is like finding a needle in a haystack. We know that ultimately God can only provide this level of love perfectly; still, those who are contemplating marriage should take time to make certain that the person whom they are dating will love them, despite "the good, the bad, and the ugly" that may come their way years later. I'm a firm believer that true character is revealed in times of temptation and tribulation. Time is your biggest advocate, for it gives you the opportunity of observing the potential marriage partner when things aren't going so well. If you see "red flags" during the difficult times, be assured that these red flags are heaven sent. Try to take a step back and look at the relationship objectively. Many times, these red flags are warning signs to alert you that this person may have some character traits that could be painful to your marriage and even destructive of your marriage.
If you are making plans toward marriage, seek advice of those mature followers of Christ, who can give you Godly counsel about the relationship. Notice that I said "mature followers of Christ." Seeking the counsel of immature people leads one down the road to misery, for these types of people will tell you what you want to hear, not what ultimately is best for you.
Then once you have had sufficient time to observe the relationship and consider Godly counsel, proceed accordingly. Don't forget that hasty relational decisions are "ticking time bombs." For the Word of God tells us, "it is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows."
Thursday, August 2, 2007
The "Know-It-All"
Proverbs 18:2,13,15,21: "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions . . . . He who answers before listening-that is his folly and shame . . . . The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out . . . . The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Have you ever met a "know-it-all?" You know, the one who has all the answers. This is the person who never listens to others, but who is looking for an opportunity to break in with his own opinion. His mouth is a constant flow of pride and self-centeredness. When one attempts to share a word of admonition, he quickly prepares for a verbal defense and chides the one who would dare challenge him.
The scriptures tell us that the heart of the discerning is willing to seek knowledge by listening to the wisdom of others. He acquires knowledge because he is humble enough to know that he doesn't know it all. His heart is unlocked to any directive that God or others would share with him.
The tragedy of the prideful, "know-it-all" is that he never comes to the awareness of his arrogance. He continues to spill his verbal venom at others, bringing about his own disdain. People will choose to avoid being around him; and in the end he finds himself without friends, purpose, and fulfillment. Even worse, his pride prevents him from hearing the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
If you stopped and completed a self-diagnosis of yourself, whom would you find? Would you see a person who is averse to the words of admonition from others? Do you thrive in interrupting others to share your "vast knowledge" of everything under the sun? Maybe it's time to seek the Lord with a repentant heart and ask that He break down the walls of pride in your life. Remember, God has given you two ears and only one mouth. Sounds to me like you need to be listening twice as much as you are talking. Learn to control your tongue so that you may enjoy the choice fruit of a blessed life.
Have you ever met a "know-it-all?" You know, the one who has all the answers. This is the person who never listens to others, but who is looking for an opportunity to break in with his own opinion. His mouth is a constant flow of pride and self-centeredness. When one attempts to share a word of admonition, he quickly prepares for a verbal defense and chides the one who would dare challenge him.
The scriptures tell us that the heart of the discerning is willing to seek knowledge by listening to the wisdom of others. He acquires knowledge because he is humble enough to know that he doesn't know it all. His heart is unlocked to any directive that God or others would share with him.
The tragedy of the prideful, "know-it-all" is that he never comes to the awareness of his arrogance. He continues to spill his verbal venom at others, bringing about his own disdain. People will choose to avoid being around him; and in the end he finds himself without friends, purpose, and fulfillment. Even worse, his pride prevents him from hearing the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
If you stopped and completed a self-diagnosis of yourself, whom would you find? Would you see a person who is averse to the words of admonition from others? Do you thrive in interrupting others to share your "vast knowledge" of everything under the sun? Maybe it's time to seek the Lord with a repentant heart and ask that He break down the walls of pride in your life. Remember, God has given you two ears and only one mouth. Sounds to me like you need to be listening twice as much as you are talking. Learn to control your tongue so that you may enjoy the choice fruit of a blessed life.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Can you persevere during life's painful experiences?
Genesis 41:16: "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharoah, "but God will give Pharoah the answer He desires."
Joseph is a great story of perseverance for one who experienced a long period of heartache and disappointment. Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers at the age of 17, and he was carried away from his home land against his will to Egypt. For 13 years he experienced rejection, persecution, defamation, and ultimately imprisonment. He remained for years in jail, but he never gave up his hope in the goodness of the Lord. I'm sure that Joseph thought after being many years in prison that he had a chance to get out of jail when he interpreted the dream of the cupbearer; but when the cupbearer was restored to his position in Pharoah's palace, Joseph was again forgotten. Two additional years would pass before Joseph would be given a chance to be freed from prison. Based upon the name of his firstborn child, Manasseh (which means "forgetting trouble"), Joseph did have incredible suffering and pain during those many years; still, he remained true to the course of obedience to God and did not allow his circumstances to create a hardened heart toward God. God knew that Joseph would traverse this path, and God wanted to bless Joseph. Had Joseph turned against the Lord, the blessings that eventually came to him most likely would not have occurred. That Joseph eventually was appointed to the position of ruler just under Pharoah was a testament to God's goodness and deliverance for his faithful servant.
Would we have had a similar disposition after so many years of pain and frustration? Or would we have given up on God and lived a life of perpetual misery and bitterness toward God and our circumstances. I've heard it said that true character is revealed in times of tribulation and temptation. Who do you become when painful trials come your way? Does your faith in God sustain you through these perilous times? Or do you tend to let your circumstances dictate your attitudes toward life and even God Himself? In the verse that I quoted above, Joseph was still giving honor and credit to God, even after years of misery. Life is full of painful trials, and we will all experience them in different ways. My prayer for you is that you can rise above the pain through the power of the Holy Spirit and your response of commitment to Him.
Joseph is a great story of perseverance for one who experienced a long period of heartache and disappointment. Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers at the age of 17, and he was carried away from his home land against his will to Egypt. For 13 years he experienced rejection, persecution, defamation, and ultimately imprisonment. He remained for years in jail, but he never gave up his hope in the goodness of the Lord. I'm sure that Joseph thought after being many years in prison that he had a chance to get out of jail when he interpreted the dream of the cupbearer; but when the cupbearer was restored to his position in Pharoah's palace, Joseph was again forgotten. Two additional years would pass before Joseph would be given a chance to be freed from prison. Based upon the name of his firstborn child, Manasseh (which means "forgetting trouble"), Joseph did have incredible suffering and pain during those many years; still, he remained true to the course of obedience to God and did not allow his circumstances to create a hardened heart toward God. God knew that Joseph would traverse this path, and God wanted to bless Joseph. Had Joseph turned against the Lord, the blessings that eventually came to him most likely would not have occurred. That Joseph eventually was appointed to the position of ruler just under Pharoah was a testament to God's goodness and deliverance for his faithful servant.
Would we have had a similar disposition after so many years of pain and frustration? Or would we have given up on God and lived a life of perpetual misery and bitterness toward God and our circumstances. I've heard it said that true character is revealed in times of tribulation and temptation. Who do you become when painful trials come your way? Does your faith in God sustain you through these perilous times? Or do you tend to let your circumstances dictate your attitudes toward life and even God Himself? In the verse that I quoted above, Joseph was still giving honor and credit to God, even after years of misery. Life is full of painful trials, and we will all experience them in different ways. My prayer for you is that you can rise above the pain through the power of the Holy Spirit and your response of commitment to Him.
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