Deuteronomy 8:2-3: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."
When we look back at the wilderness journey of the Israelites during the time of Moses, we can see that God tested them to see if their hearts were inclined to Him and would trust Him as their Lord. In fact, it was not long after they had experienced the supernatural deliverance from the Egyptians and had crossed the Red Sea in miraculous fashion that their first test was introduced. They had traveled just three day's journey into the desert when they began to thirst for water. Instead of remembering that the Lord recently had intervened in Egypt and rescued them, they now looked to their circumstances and lacked faith that God would meet their present needs. These Israelites began to grumble against the Lord, and this complaining spirit would be a pattern for many years to come. In fact, Exodus 15-17, which records the Israelite's experiences during this period, is one of the most concentrated sections of complaining in all of Scripture. God placed the presumed obstacle in their way to see if they would trust Him (see Exodus 15:25); sadly, these Israelites would be more inclined to take their eyes off the Lord and look rather at their abysmal circumstances. Complaining was a necessary product of such a lack of faith. Not only did this displease the Lord (Hebrews 11:6), but it also resulted in a loss of blessing that accompanies one's trust in Him.
What is particularly telling is the way that the Israelites responded a few months later when they were hungry and had no bread to eat. The newness of the freedom that they had enjoyed had now worn off and the hardships of wilderness life had set in. Now the covenant people complained against Moses, wishing that they had died in captivity in Egypt. They even conjured up false memories that they had enjoyed the choicest of food while in bondage . . . something that was not true (they were lucky to get the scraps from the Egyptians). Despite the Israelite's grumbling, God promised to provide supernatural bread from heaven, again to teach His people that man must put his trust in the promises of the Lord in order to live. By performing this miraculous act, the Lord would show His people His glory; He would proclaim to the Israelites that He could intervene and bring deliverance no matter what the circumstances seemed to show. Whereas by all physical observations the Israelites should have died of starvation in the desert, by God's Divine intervention they would be saved. God desired that His people put their faith in Him and praise Him for His triumph over their deplorable circumstances. God tested them in this situation so that in fully trusting Him, they would be able to "know that (He is) the Lord (their) God" (Exodus 16:12).
Whereas the Israelites were only to collect enough manna to provide for their necessities and trust that each day the Lord would provide again for their needs, some of the people collected more and tried to store up the excess provision just in case God did not come through for them. What they would find the next morning was that the heavenly food had rotted to the point that it smelled profusely and was full of maggots. God would not allow His people to think themselves self-sufficient and thus not be in need of the Lord's daily provision. He forced them to trust His Providential care so that they continually would be reminded that only by faith in the Lord can a people be saved from otherwise hopeless circumstances.
Years later, Jesus would be tempted by Satan to use supernatural powers to satisfy His physical needs. Satan wanted Jesus to think that God would not meet his needs while he wandered for 40 days in the wilderness, and He wanted to get Jesus to take matters into his own hands to provide for himself. Satan wanted Jesus to lose faith in God and look to His own abilities for personal rescue. Jesus quoted the passage from Deuteronomy above to remind Satan that man ultimately must put His trust in God, no matter what situation he sees before him. When a man takes his eyes off the Lord and starts to be consumed with himself, he loses the faith that is needed to experience the blessedness of the Lord.
There is a tremendous word for each of us in this passage. We are presented with tests to see if we truly will trust that the Lord will provide, even though our circumstances would tell us otherwise. We must remember that our purpose for existence is not to become self-sufficient but to fully rely on God as our Provider, Redeemer, and Sustainer. When we take our eyes off of the Lord, we begin to consume ourselves in selfish introspection and we permit our circumstances to dictate our motivations. In fear and self-centered consumption, we fall prey to the notion that the purpose in life is to get all that we can to consume all that we can to satisfy ourselves. What we must do is renounce such sinful pursuits and permit the tests of the Lord to reaffirm to us that God is in control and will intervene in our behalf if we would simply trust Him. In the end, our trust and obedience in the Lord will result in our blessedness. We will be able to see that the Lord has been maturing us in our faith in Him as our Sovereign Provider.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Worship the God of Gods
Deuteronomy 10:12f: "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes . . . . He is your praise; he is your God."
Here in this passage is the summation of all Scripture, namely that God is Majestic in His Holiness and awesome in His Glory; He is due all praise and obedience simply for who He is. Still, what is truly amazing is that this Supreme God lovingly has set His affection upon His chosen people, desiring to commune with them for all eternity. This is an incredible privilege! Therefore, we in response to such a blessing should desire to love, respect, and obey Him as our personal Lord.
First, we are called to love God. As Christ said in Matthew 10:37, God must be first priority above all other things . . . Husband/wife, children, and even life itself. Our love for God should saturate our souls, for He has first loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and has demonstrated His love through His offering of Himself as the atoning (and only sufficient) sacrifice for our sins. Whereas God rightfully could have abandoned us to eternal punishment, a fate deserving of a people who have rebelled against His Sovereign Lordship through their sin, He offered His very self to pay for our sin penalty in order that we might be rejoined to Him for all eternity.
Secondly, we are called to fear God as the One True Transcendent Lord. He is not conjoined with His creation but is separate and above His creation and thus is worthy of our worship. God is not just the man upstairs, but the Supreme Sovereign of Everything. His greatness extends beyond the highest heavens and beyond the deepest depths. He is outside of space and time; He knows all things . . . even the thoughts of man. In Revelation 4:11, we find the 24 elders falling down before the throne of God in Heaven, crying out to the Sovereign Lord, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Our very purpose and existence were brought to life by the Lord; and for His mighty power, we should respond with awe and reverential respect. John Davis in his Handbook of Basic Bible Texts provides a wonderful perspective on our response to God's aseity (independence [and thus His transcendence]), "In every breath, in every heartbeat, we are dependent upon God for our very life and being. This realization leads not only to humility on the part of the creature, but rightfully is a cause of praise and worship to the Creator."
Thirdly, we are called to obey Him. To obey is to submit to the authority of the One who deserves our surrender, and obedience is the way that we demonstrate our true love for our Lord (see I John 5:3). Our call to obedience is the evidential fruit of a life truly submitted to His Lordship (Romans 6; Matthew 7:15ff; John 8:47).
Lastly, we are called to service. Never are we called to be passive in our profession of Christ. Through word and deed, we are called to be light reflectors of His glorious Light to a darkened world. Proverbs 4:18 tells us that the "path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." The closer we walk with the Savior, the more we have the ability to reflect His glory to a world that have no connection with Him. Our service to our Master, when done in a spirit of love and gratitude for His amazing grace, will accomplish His purpose to introduce Himself to others. Therefore, "let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
Again, why do we do all this? Because God is the God of gods, the awesome and loving Lord, who not only has the ability to rule over all things but initiated our eternal communion with Him through His sacrificial death and resurrection. To truly worship the God of gods is to make Him the object of our total praise.
Here in this passage is the summation of all Scripture, namely that God is Majestic in His Holiness and awesome in His Glory; He is due all praise and obedience simply for who He is. Still, what is truly amazing is that this Supreme God lovingly has set His affection upon His chosen people, desiring to commune with them for all eternity. This is an incredible privilege! Therefore, we in response to such a blessing should desire to love, respect, and obey Him as our personal Lord.
First, we are called to love God. As Christ said in Matthew 10:37, God must be first priority above all other things . . . Husband/wife, children, and even life itself. Our love for God should saturate our souls, for He has first loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and has demonstrated His love through His offering of Himself as the atoning (and only sufficient) sacrifice for our sins. Whereas God rightfully could have abandoned us to eternal punishment, a fate deserving of a people who have rebelled against His Sovereign Lordship through their sin, He offered His very self to pay for our sin penalty in order that we might be rejoined to Him for all eternity.
Secondly, we are called to fear God as the One True Transcendent Lord. He is not conjoined with His creation but is separate and above His creation and thus is worthy of our worship. God is not just the man upstairs, but the Supreme Sovereign of Everything. His greatness extends beyond the highest heavens and beyond the deepest depths. He is outside of space and time; He knows all things . . . even the thoughts of man. In Revelation 4:11, we find the 24 elders falling down before the throne of God in Heaven, crying out to the Sovereign Lord, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Our very purpose and existence were brought to life by the Lord; and for His mighty power, we should respond with awe and reverential respect. John Davis in his Handbook of Basic Bible Texts provides a wonderful perspective on our response to God's aseity (independence [and thus His transcendence]), "In every breath, in every heartbeat, we are dependent upon God for our very life and being. This realization leads not only to humility on the part of the creature, but rightfully is a cause of praise and worship to the Creator."
Thirdly, we are called to obey Him. To obey is to submit to the authority of the One who deserves our surrender, and obedience is the way that we demonstrate our true love for our Lord (see I John 5:3). Our call to obedience is the evidential fruit of a life truly submitted to His Lordship (Romans 6; Matthew 7:15ff; John 8:47).
Lastly, we are called to service. Never are we called to be passive in our profession of Christ. Through word and deed, we are called to be light reflectors of His glorious Light to a darkened world. Proverbs 4:18 tells us that the "path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." The closer we walk with the Savior, the more we have the ability to reflect His glory to a world that have no connection with Him. Our service to our Master, when done in a spirit of love and gratitude for His amazing grace, will accomplish His purpose to introduce Himself to others. Therefore, "let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
Again, why do we do all this? Because God is the God of gods, the awesome and loving Lord, who not only has the ability to rule over all things but initiated our eternal communion with Him through His sacrificial death and resurrection. To truly worship the God of gods is to make Him the object of our total praise.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Cure For the Sour Economy
I Peter 1:3-9; 13; 2:11: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls . . . . Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed . . . . Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."
In recent days, we have seen incredible volatility in our economic markets, and many in our nation are fearful for their financial future. People are asking questions like, "Will we have enough money to retire?"; "Will we lose equity in our homes?"; "Will we have jobs to provide income for our families?"; et al. Whereas these are important questions to ask during these turbulent times, Scripture provides the true follower of Jesus Christ with the antidote to the fear that comes during such economic chaos.
Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter tells true followers of Jesus Christ that we are "strangers" in a foreign land and therefore we should be fixing our minds upon the blessedness of our true home: heaven. Peter begins with a word of praise to our loving Lord, because God has provided to us His great mercy . . . which has given to us the hope of our resurrection into an inheritance "that can never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for (us)" (1:3-4). Notice that we have an eternal inheritance that is being kept in heaven for us by our Loving Father. This gift is not subject to the turbulence of the current stock markets; rather, it is guaranteed by God to those who surrender themselves to Him as their Lord. And of course, the blessing of this inheritance is so much beyond the paltry wealth that this earth provides us; so we should not fall prey to the misconception that earthly treasures are of comparable value to the blessedness that awaits us in heaven. The luster and permanence of these treasures should encourage us to keep our minds fixed on eternity.
Therefore, we are called to live lives of joy here on earth, trusting that God will protect us by His mighty power until the day of our union with Him in glory. This does not mean that we will not suffer through this life, but it does mean that God will provide us the strength to endure whatever trials may come our way. Joy is a disposition that is not responsive to our circumstances; rather, it is a peace and contentment in God, irrespective of our circumstances.
Scripture tells us that tribulations come our way to test our faith so that we will respond to the difficulties of life in the assurance that God is in control and will deliver us in the end. This type of faith brings praise, glory, and honor to our Lord, and He is well pleased when we trust Him in the midst of our difficulties (see Hebrews 11:6). Scripture also tells us that our faith is of greater worth than gold, because it will usher us into the presence of our Almighty King and His eternal blessedness. No amount of earthly treasure can even come close to such privilege.
We therefore are called to "prepare our minds for action; be self-controlled, and set our hope fully on the grace to be given when Jesus Christ is revealed." This means that we need to fix our hearts continuously on the coming of our Lord and Savior who will redeem us from the misery and uncertainty of this world. When we orient our minds and hearts toward Jesus Christ, we are able to weather the turbulent storms of this life, no matter what form that they may take. We need to have a regular attitude of thanksgiving to the Lord for His redeeming us from the "empty (vain) way of life handed down to us by our forefathers" (1:18), and this redemption is not with "perishable things like gold and silver . . . but by the precious blood of Christ (1:18-19). What privilege! What joy!
Since we have been given this great eternal gift from the King of kings, we need to not fall prey to the entrapment of this world, namely that earthly treasures are the standard for measuring our personal fulfillment. Peter tells us to "abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (2:11). We can only break free from the enticements of the world by renewing our minds on Christ and His glorious place He has prepared for us. Let's not permit the global economic gloom to bring fear and dread to our souls; rather, let us by faith in the glorious hope of our redemption through Christ's death and resurrection celebrate our future, no matter what earthly situation may befall us.
In recent days, we have seen incredible volatility in our economic markets, and many in our nation are fearful for their financial future. People are asking questions like, "Will we have enough money to retire?"; "Will we lose equity in our homes?"; "Will we have jobs to provide income for our families?"; et al. Whereas these are important questions to ask during these turbulent times, Scripture provides the true follower of Jesus Christ with the antidote to the fear that comes during such economic chaos.
Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter tells true followers of Jesus Christ that we are "strangers" in a foreign land and therefore we should be fixing our minds upon the blessedness of our true home: heaven. Peter begins with a word of praise to our loving Lord, because God has provided to us His great mercy . . . which has given to us the hope of our resurrection into an inheritance "that can never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for (us)" (1:3-4). Notice that we have an eternal inheritance that is being kept in heaven for us by our Loving Father. This gift is not subject to the turbulence of the current stock markets; rather, it is guaranteed by God to those who surrender themselves to Him as their Lord. And of course, the blessing of this inheritance is so much beyond the paltry wealth that this earth provides us; so we should not fall prey to the misconception that earthly treasures are of comparable value to the blessedness that awaits us in heaven. The luster and permanence of these treasures should encourage us to keep our minds fixed on eternity.
Therefore, we are called to live lives of joy here on earth, trusting that God will protect us by His mighty power until the day of our union with Him in glory. This does not mean that we will not suffer through this life, but it does mean that God will provide us the strength to endure whatever trials may come our way. Joy is a disposition that is not responsive to our circumstances; rather, it is a peace and contentment in God, irrespective of our circumstances.
Scripture tells us that tribulations come our way to test our faith so that we will respond to the difficulties of life in the assurance that God is in control and will deliver us in the end. This type of faith brings praise, glory, and honor to our Lord, and He is well pleased when we trust Him in the midst of our difficulties (see Hebrews 11:6). Scripture also tells us that our faith is of greater worth than gold, because it will usher us into the presence of our Almighty King and His eternal blessedness. No amount of earthly treasure can even come close to such privilege.
We therefore are called to "prepare our minds for action; be self-controlled, and set our hope fully on the grace to be given when Jesus Christ is revealed." This means that we need to fix our hearts continuously on the coming of our Lord and Savior who will redeem us from the misery and uncertainty of this world. When we orient our minds and hearts toward Jesus Christ, we are able to weather the turbulent storms of this life, no matter what form that they may take. We need to have a regular attitude of thanksgiving to the Lord for His redeeming us from the "empty (vain) way of life handed down to us by our forefathers" (1:18), and this redemption is not with "perishable things like gold and silver . . . but by the precious blood of Christ (1:18-19). What privilege! What joy!
Since we have been given this great eternal gift from the King of kings, we need to not fall prey to the entrapment of this world, namely that earthly treasures are the standard for measuring our personal fulfillment. Peter tells us to "abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (2:11). We can only break free from the enticements of the world by renewing our minds on Christ and His glorious place He has prepared for us. Let's not permit the global economic gloom to bring fear and dread to our souls; rather, let us by faith in the glorious hope of our redemption through Christ's death and resurrection celebrate our future, no matter what earthly situation may befall us.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sanctity of LIfe
Job 10:8-12: "Your hands (O Lord) shaped me and made me . . . . Remember that you molded me like clay . . . . (you) clothed me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews. You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit."
In the politically charged environment in which we live today, one of the hot topics vehemently debated is the sanctity of life. Pro-abortion rights activists propagate the woman's right to exclusive domain over any actions involving her body; and they brazenly proclaim that the child growing in the womb is not a person per se, but a tangled mass of organic material without identity and person hood. These activists use the topics of rape and incest as platforms to inculcate the need for the "victim" (in this case the woman abused) to have self-determination as to how the painful consequences of sexual abuse are remedied. From rallies and marches to hearings before the Supreme Court, these advocates of abortion rights (what they would call "women's rights") are strongly resolved to keep abortion not only legal but culturally acceptable (even desirable).
Rather than catering to our cultural opinions, what we as a nation must do is look to the Scriptures to see the opinion of the Sovereign Lord. In the above mentioned passage, we find that Job, in appealing to God's mercy to deliver him from his physical pain, reaffirmed that the Lord had "shaped (Job) [i.e. his body] . . . molding him like clay . . . clothing him with skin and flesh . . . (and thus) giving to him life." There is no doubt that Job believed that God was directly involved in the physical development of his body while it was being formed in the womb; thus, we find in the divinely inspired Scriptures that God's participation in the development of one's life begins at conception . The fetus developing in the womb is not merely an organic mass without person hood, but as Job states in 10:12, the fetus has a spirit that God watches over while He crafts the body to be introduced into the world.
King David concurs with Job's summation of the status of the unborn child, for in Psalm 139:13, the psalmist says, "For you (O Lord) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful . . . . My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my uniformed body." There is no doubt that the unborn child is in fact a person, ordained by the One True God with life, identity, and purpose. To take the life of one who was made in the image of the Lord is to invite the wrath of the Almighty, for He tells us in Genesis 9:6: "And from each man I (God) will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man."
As utterly detestable as rape and incest are, bringing great violation to the person being abused, these extreme instances do not provide license to excuse the further violation of life by terminating the life of the one who has not had any verbal say in the matter. God does not condone the further degradation of the situation by permitting the conceived child to be destroyed. Tragically, these scenarios are the ones most propagated by abortion rights activists; however, the more prevalent cases of abortion involve women who do not want to live with the consequences of their consensual sexual behavior. Their decision to abort their child is to avoid the added responsibility that the child would bring into their lives; for many, the child represents an added "inconvenience" that must be eliminated.
Job tells us that God watches over all of mankind and will "not let (the) offense (of sin) go unpunished" (Job 10:14). Those contemplating abortion need to examine not their personal preference in the matter, but what God's ultimate will is . . . and we know from Scripture that God desires that the child LIVE! Preservation of life is a non-negotiable to the Lord, for He has a purpose for each life created; and that purpose is to see him rise up and praise the Lord for His "glorious splendor and meditate on His wonderful works" (see Malachi 2:15 & Psalm 145:5).
Be warned! Job tells us how to identify the "wicked" in the world. They "shake (their) fists at God and vaunt (themselves) against the Almighty" (Job 15:25). If you are seeking your "rights" or personal preferences rather than surrendering to the Lord, you are in danger of His eternal judgment. For Scripture tells us that the wicked "will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away." Don't demand your will over the One True God; rather, submit to His will and follow Him as Lord.
In the politically charged environment in which we live today, one of the hot topics vehemently debated is the sanctity of life. Pro-abortion rights activists propagate the woman's right to exclusive domain over any actions involving her body; and they brazenly proclaim that the child growing in the womb is not a person per se, but a tangled mass of organic material without identity and person hood. These activists use the topics of rape and incest as platforms to inculcate the need for the "victim" (in this case the woman abused) to have self-determination as to how the painful consequences of sexual abuse are remedied. From rallies and marches to hearings before the Supreme Court, these advocates of abortion rights (what they would call "women's rights") are strongly resolved to keep abortion not only legal but culturally acceptable (even desirable).
Rather than catering to our cultural opinions, what we as a nation must do is look to the Scriptures to see the opinion of the Sovereign Lord. In the above mentioned passage, we find that Job, in appealing to God's mercy to deliver him from his physical pain, reaffirmed that the Lord had "shaped (Job) [i.e. his body] . . . molding him like clay . . . clothing him with skin and flesh . . . (and thus) giving to him life." There is no doubt that Job believed that God was directly involved in the physical development of his body while it was being formed in the womb; thus, we find in the divinely inspired Scriptures that God's participation in the development of one's life begins at conception . The fetus developing in the womb is not merely an organic mass without person hood, but as Job states in 10:12, the fetus has a spirit that God watches over while He crafts the body to be introduced into the world.
King David concurs with Job's summation of the status of the unborn child, for in Psalm 139:13, the psalmist says, "For you (O Lord) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful . . . . My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my uniformed body." There is no doubt that the unborn child is in fact a person, ordained by the One True God with life, identity, and purpose. To take the life of one who was made in the image of the Lord is to invite the wrath of the Almighty, for He tells us in Genesis 9:6: "And from each man I (God) will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man."
As utterly detestable as rape and incest are, bringing great violation to the person being abused, these extreme instances do not provide license to excuse the further violation of life by terminating the life of the one who has not had any verbal say in the matter. God does not condone the further degradation of the situation by permitting the conceived child to be destroyed. Tragically, these scenarios are the ones most propagated by abortion rights activists; however, the more prevalent cases of abortion involve women who do not want to live with the consequences of their consensual sexual behavior. Their decision to abort their child is to avoid the added responsibility that the child would bring into their lives; for many, the child represents an added "inconvenience" that must be eliminated.
Job tells us that God watches over all of mankind and will "not let (the) offense (of sin) go unpunished" (Job 10:14). Those contemplating abortion need to examine not their personal preference in the matter, but what God's ultimate will is . . . and we know from Scripture that God desires that the child LIVE! Preservation of life is a non-negotiable to the Lord, for He has a purpose for each life created; and that purpose is to see him rise up and praise the Lord for His "glorious splendor and meditate on His wonderful works" (see Malachi 2:15 & Psalm 145:5).
Be warned! Job tells us how to identify the "wicked" in the world. They "shake (their) fists at God and vaunt (themselves) against the Almighty" (Job 15:25). If you are seeking your "rights" or personal preferences rather than surrendering to the Lord, you are in danger of His eternal judgment. For Scripture tells us that the wicked "will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God's mouth will carry him away." Don't demand your will over the One True God; rather, submit to His will and follow Him as Lord.
Monday, October 6, 2008
God Sees Everything
2 Chronicles 16:9: "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
The context of this passage in the book of 2 Chronicles is the pronounced Divine judgment upon King Asa of Judah for his lack of faith in the LORD. For thirty-five years, this king was faithful to the LORD; he removed all of the detestable idols that his people had been worshipping, and he commanded that his kingdom serve the One True God exclusively. Earlier in this king's reign, his realm was attacked by the nations of Cush (Ethiopia) and Libya. Although the circumstances looked abysmal, Asa immediately went to the Lord in prayer, asking that God deliver His people from the hands of these invaders. In response to such faith by the king, God brought victory to the Judeans by striking down the Cushites; so impressive was God's intervention that the Cushites were "crushed beyond recovery" (2 Chron 14:13). It truly was a time of celebration in Judah as the people marveled God's goodness to them.
King Asa now was even more determined to follow the laws of the Lord, and for Asa's obedience, the LORD brought 20 more years of peace to the kingdom. Tragically in the thirty-sixth year of Asa's rule, the king forgot that the Lord could provide deliverance for his kingdom; for when the northern tribes threatened war against Judah, Asa quickly formed an alliance with a pagan nation for security. In fact, the Judean king "took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD's temple and his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus" (2 Chron. 16:2). God sent a seer by the name of Hanani to Asa and rebuked him for such a lack of faith. Hanani reminded the king that God had been his protector against the Cushites and would have been against the northern tribes as well had Asa sought the Lord first and not relied upon his own "ingenuity" to solve his perceived problem. Asa had reached a low point in his rebellion against the Lord, for instead of repenting of his sins, the king had the seer imprisoned for speaking against his royal decisions.
Even though Asa had 35 years of successful rule in Judah, when he started down the path of rebellion against the Lord, the Lord in turn would begin the process of removing the king from his position of authority. Within 6 years, the king would be dead from an illness that might have been recoverable had the king sought the Lord during his illness. In any event, the king died and was kingdom was given to his son, Jehoshaphat. Whereas Asa could have gone down in the annals of Biblical history as one of the greatest kings of Judah, his lack of faith in the Lord during his latter years of rule brought disdain to his legacy. No matter what Asa thought he could get away with behind the scenes in defiance to the Lord, God would not be fooled. God sent the seer, Hanani, to remind the king that God sees everything, and He "strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (as Lord)" (2 Chron. 16:9).
This is a great word for each of us. God sees those who faithfully seek Him first in their lives, and He showers His Divine blessings upon them. Conversely, those who follow a path of personal desire above the Lord and choose not to trust the Lord with their lives (and circumstances), God removes His hand of blessing. May we not seek our selves above the One True God, and may we not lose heart when our circumstances test our faith in the Lord. As King Asa did early in his reign, may we seek the Lord through prayer and ask for His hand of protection when our circumstances look rather bleak. And may we continually recommit ourselves fully to His rule in our lives so that He will strengthen us with His presence and His blessing. We will never regret the decision to trust the Lord and follow Him in obedience.
The context of this passage in the book of 2 Chronicles is the pronounced Divine judgment upon King Asa of Judah for his lack of faith in the LORD. For thirty-five years, this king was faithful to the LORD; he removed all of the detestable idols that his people had been worshipping, and he commanded that his kingdom serve the One True God exclusively. Earlier in this king's reign, his realm was attacked by the nations of Cush (Ethiopia) and Libya. Although the circumstances looked abysmal, Asa immediately went to the Lord in prayer, asking that God deliver His people from the hands of these invaders. In response to such faith by the king, God brought victory to the Judeans by striking down the Cushites; so impressive was God's intervention that the Cushites were "crushed beyond recovery" (2 Chron 14:13). It truly was a time of celebration in Judah as the people marveled God's goodness to them.
King Asa now was even more determined to follow the laws of the Lord, and for Asa's obedience, the LORD brought 20 more years of peace to the kingdom. Tragically in the thirty-sixth year of Asa's rule, the king forgot that the Lord could provide deliverance for his kingdom; for when the northern tribes threatened war against Judah, Asa quickly formed an alliance with a pagan nation for security. In fact, the Judean king "took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD's temple and his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus" (2 Chron. 16:2). God sent a seer by the name of Hanani to Asa and rebuked him for such a lack of faith. Hanani reminded the king that God had been his protector against the Cushites and would have been against the northern tribes as well had Asa sought the Lord first and not relied upon his own "ingenuity" to solve his perceived problem. Asa had reached a low point in his rebellion against the Lord, for instead of repenting of his sins, the king had the seer imprisoned for speaking against his royal decisions.
Even though Asa had 35 years of successful rule in Judah, when he started down the path of rebellion against the Lord, the Lord in turn would begin the process of removing the king from his position of authority. Within 6 years, the king would be dead from an illness that might have been recoverable had the king sought the Lord during his illness. In any event, the king died and was kingdom was given to his son, Jehoshaphat. Whereas Asa could have gone down in the annals of Biblical history as one of the greatest kings of Judah, his lack of faith in the Lord during his latter years of rule brought disdain to his legacy. No matter what Asa thought he could get away with behind the scenes in defiance to the Lord, God would not be fooled. God sent the seer, Hanani, to remind the king that God sees everything, and He "strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (as Lord)" (2 Chron. 16:9).
This is a great word for each of us. God sees those who faithfully seek Him first in their lives, and He showers His Divine blessings upon them. Conversely, those who follow a path of personal desire above the Lord and choose not to trust the Lord with their lives (and circumstances), God removes His hand of blessing. May we not seek our selves above the One True God, and may we not lose heart when our circumstances test our faith in the Lord. As King Asa did early in his reign, may we seek the Lord through prayer and ask for His hand of protection when our circumstances look rather bleak. And may we continually recommit ourselves fully to His rule in our lives so that He will strengthen us with His presence and His blessing. We will never regret the decision to trust the Lord and follow Him in obedience.
Friday, October 3, 2008
We Have An Obligation
Romans 8:12-14,16: "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . . The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Romans 8 begins with a wonderful celebration of God's gift of His very own Son as a sacrificial offering for the sin of man. Of course, this gift was demonstrated by Jesus Christ on a cross, where the very Son of God subjected Himself to a most horrific death in order that the righteous requirements of God's law might be FULLY met through Him. There was no way in which humanity was able to satisfy these requirements because each of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Thus it was only by God's death and resurrection that full atonement for our sin could be offered. We were not able to merit our own favor before the One True Holy Righteous God, and this necessitated God's intervention.
Still, we have an obligation in response to this incredible offering by the Lord. Scripture tells us that we are to renounce any allegiance to the old ways that we once followed in our dark days of of following our sinful nature. Through the power of the Holy Spirit that resides within the believer, we are to live in obedience to the will of the Lord, as we are surrendered to Him as our King. This "surrender" is counter of the sinful mind that is "hostile to God . . . not submitting to Him" (8:7). Still, the blessedness of this submission is life in the eternal presence of the One True God of all Splendor and Majesty (8:11).
For the one who would believe that he can be a Christian in name only and yet still live a life of sinful rebellion against the Lord is sadly mistaken in his understanding of true conversion. Scripture tells us that those who continue to worship the sinful nature through surrender to it do not have the Holy Spirit and thus do not have a personal relationship with Christ (8:9). These people, though they believe that they are redeemed, are destined for eternal death in hell.
Still there is hope for those who are still alive; they have the opportunity to yield themselves to the Lordship of Christ, receive His forgiveness for sin, and through the power of the Holy Spirit live lives of obedience to Him.
Romans 8 begins with a wonderful celebration of God's gift of His very own Son as a sacrificial offering for the sin of man. Of course, this gift was demonstrated by Jesus Christ on a cross, where the very Son of God subjected Himself to a most horrific death in order that the righteous requirements of God's law might be FULLY met through Him. There was no way in which humanity was able to satisfy these requirements because each of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Thus it was only by God's death and resurrection that full atonement for our sin could be offered. We were not able to merit our own favor before the One True Holy Righteous God, and this necessitated God's intervention.
Still, we have an obligation in response to this incredible offering by the Lord. Scripture tells us that we are to renounce any allegiance to the old ways that we once followed in our dark days of of following our sinful nature. Through the power of the Holy Spirit that resides within the believer, we are to live in obedience to the will of the Lord, as we are surrendered to Him as our King. This "surrender" is counter of the sinful mind that is "hostile to God . . . not submitting to Him" (8:7). Still, the blessedness of this submission is life in the eternal presence of the One True God of all Splendor and Majesty (8:11).
For the one who would believe that he can be a Christian in name only and yet still live a life of sinful rebellion against the Lord is sadly mistaken in his understanding of true conversion. Scripture tells us that those who continue to worship the sinful nature through surrender to it do not have the Holy Spirit and thus do not have a personal relationship with Christ (8:9). These people, though they believe that they are redeemed, are destined for eternal death in hell.
Still there is hope for those who are still alive; they have the opportunity to yield themselves to the Lordship of Christ, receive His forgiveness for sin, and through the power of the Holy Spirit live lives of obedience to Him.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Settling for Second Best
2 Chronicles 12:1-2,9: "After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD. Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam . . . . When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields Solomon had made."
In order that we might better appreciate the magnitude of the losses to Rehoboam, the royal heir to King Solomon, we need only to look at what Solomon had amassed during his forty year reign. God was faithful to His promise to Solomon that He would give him riches and honor so that in his lifetime he would "have no equal among kings" (1 Kings 3:13). Solomon's accumulated wealth was quite vast; each year, the king would receive 25 tons of gold, not including over revenues from merchants, traders, and conquered nations. So impressive was the royal display that the Queen of Sheba, upon her visit to the King of Israel, was quite overwhelmed and exclaimed, "in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard." What is sobering in examining the degree of royal affluence is that Solomon had no use for silver, for it was considered of little value to the king (I Kings 10:21). Only the finest gold, cedar, and ivory in the region were used in the construction of the king's palace and his decorative furniture. Of particular note were the 200 large golden shields and 300 smaller golden shields that adorned the halls of the King's Place at the Forest of Lebanon. Each of these shields were made of 7.5 pounds and 3.75 pounds of hammered gold respectively. At the end of the hall, Solomon constructed a throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. Lions were crafted at either side of the armrests and on either side of each of the six steps leading to the throne. Even the footstool was made of pure gold. It is safe to say that the king's palace was quite an impressive sight. In 24 years since the original promise from the LORD that Solomon would prosper, the king would find himself with "greater riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth" (1 Kings 10:23).
After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam was crowned king, and he ruled over Judah for 17 years. Early in his reign, Rehoboam committed himself to strengthening his kingdom by fortifying his defenses. The king placed weapons in all of his cities, and he dispersed his sons throughout his kingdom, in order that he might assure faithful commitment from his subjects. Within 5 years, Rehoboam seemingly had secured his kingdom to the point that he believed himself self-sufficient and no longer in need of the One True God. Quickly and rather flagrantly he and his subjects began to defy the law of the Lord. So brazen did the people become, that they would worship false gods and goddesses on mountaintops and would participate in grossly immoral practices in public. The people of Judah had reached a point that they were not ashamed of their rebellion against the Lord; they were willing to flaunt their wickedness openly as an act of open defiance against the Lord who had blessed them under Solomon's reign.
Of course, God would not be mocked by such recalcitrance. He raised up a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, to invade the Judean territory, just 5 years after Solomon passed on his magnificent realm to his son. When the Egyptian armies entered the Palestinian region, they took everything of value from the Israelites, including the golden shields that adorned the king's palace. When the dust settled from the invasion, and the enemy returned to Egypt with the spoils of war, Rehoboam was left with none of the ornate regalia that his father had amassed. The king tried to salvage some respect from his subjects by re-crafting shields for his palace, but this time they were made of bronze instead of gold. Whereas it may have been an impressive display, it was nothing compared to the once great palace of gold. The tragedy in this story was that the king thought himself so great that he did not need the Lord; and as a result of Rehoboam's rebellion, the Lord removed His blessing so that the king would have to settle for second best.
There is a good word for us in this passage, namely that we should never think ourselves above the Lord. When we start to act in a way that defies the Sovereignty of God, we can expect that He will withdraw any blessing that He may have afforded to us in the days of our obedience to Him. Anytime we begin to worship our sinful appetites over the One True God, our idolatry will be judged by His Righteous Right as King of Kings. In the end, we will see that our rebellion will bring the loss of God's best for our lives; and we may find ourselves staring at second best as a result of such sin. What we must do is determine in our hearts to renounce any sin of rebellion against God's Sovereignty and follow Him obediently as Lord. When we do so, we can expect that the showers of blessing from the Lord will be poured upon us.
In order that we might better appreciate the magnitude of the losses to Rehoboam, the royal heir to King Solomon, we need only to look at what Solomon had amassed during his forty year reign. God was faithful to His promise to Solomon that He would give him riches and honor so that in his lifetime he would "have no equal among kings" (1 Kings 3:13). Solomon's accumulated wealth was quite vast; each year, the king would receive 25 tons of gold, not including over revenues from merchants, traders, and conquered nations. So impressive was the royal display that the Queen of Sheba, upon her visit to the King of Israel, was quite overwhelmed and exclaimed, "in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard." What is sobering in examining the degree of royal affluence is that Solomon had no use for silver, for it was considered of little value to the king (I Kings 10:21). Only the finest gold, cedar, and ivory in the region were used in the construction of the king's palace and his decorative furniture. Of particular note were the 200 large golden shields and 300 smaller golden shields that adorned the halls of the King's Place at the Forest of Lebanon. Each of these shields were made of 7.5 pounds and 3.75 pounds of hammered gold respectively. At the end of the hall, Solomon constructed a throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. Lions were crafted at either side of the armrests and on either side of each of the six steps leading to the throne. Even the footstool was made of pure gold. It is safe to say that the king's palace was quite an impressive sight. In 24 years since the original promise from the LORD that Solomon would prosper, the king would find himself with "greater riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth" (1 Kings 10:23).
After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam was crowned king, and he ruled over Judah for 17 years. Early in his reign, Rehoboam committed himself to strengthening his kingdom by fortifying his defenses. The king placed weapons in all of his cities, and he dispersed his sons throughout his kingdom, in order that he might assure faithful commitment from his subjects. Within 5 years, Rehoboam seemingly had secured his kingdom to the point that he believed himself self-sufficient and no longer in need of the One True God. Quickly and rather flagrantly he and his subjects began to defy the law of the Lord. So brazen did the people become, that they would worship false gods and goddesses on mountaintops and would participate in grossly immoral practices in public. The people of Judah had reached a point that they were not ashamed of their rebellion against the Lord; they were willing to flaunt their wickedness openly as an act of open defiance against the Lord who had blessed them under Solomon's reign.
Of course, God would not be mocked by such recalcitrance. He raised up a pagan king, Shishak of Egypt, to invade the Judean territory, just 5 years after Solomon passed on his magnificent realm to his son. When the Egyptian armies entered the Palestinian region, they took everything of value from the Israelites, including the golden shields that adorned the king's palace. When the dust settled from the invasion, and the enemy returned to Egypt with the spoils of war, Rehoboam was left with none of the ornate regalia that his father had amassed. The king tried to salvage some respect from his subjects by re-crafting shields for his palace, but this time they were made of bronze instead of gold. Whereas it may have been an impressive display, it was nothing compared to the once great palace of gold. The tragedy in this story was that the king thought himself so great that he did not need the Lord; and as a result of Rehoboam's rebellion, the Lord removed His blessing so that the king would have to settle for second best.
There is a good word for us in this passage, namely that we should never think ourselves above the Lord. When we start to act in a way that defies the Sovereignty of God, we can expect that He will withdraw any blessing that He may have afforded to us in the days of our obedience to Him. Anytime we begin to worship our sinful appetites over the One True God, our idolatry will be judged by His Righteous Right as King of Kings. In the end, we will see that our rebellion will bring the loss of God's best for our lives; and we may find ourselves staring at second best as a result of such sin. What we must do is determine in our hearts to renounce any sin of rebellion against God's Sovereignty and follow Him obediently as Lord. When we do so, we can expect that the showers of blessing from the Lord will be poured upon us.
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