The Message of Grace

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:10-14 ESV). Seems strange to be talking about grace on Halloween; however, one of the most important declarations of grace took place almost 500 years ago today. With a hammer in one hand and a large scroll under his arm, Martin Luther approached the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He paused to take a couple of nails from a pouch hidden in the folds of his dark woolen habit then began pounding his 95 theses to the church’s heavy wooden doors. The date was October 31, 1517 and the event changed the course of human history. Luther’s protest was not against ghosts and goblins or children dressing up to trick-or-treat. He chose All Hallow’s Eve because it was the night before All Saints’ Day, a day when most of Wittenberg’s inhabitants would be in church. Remember, this was not America where freedom of speech is protected as a Constitutional right. The Catholic Church was the supreme authority in the land; and those who went against the Church did so at the peril of their lives. It was an incredible act of courage and defiance on Luther’s part. As Luther studied Scripture, his eyes were opened to a new concept of the real meaning of God’s grace. Passion burned inside him as he read verses like Ephesians 2:8-9. The established church in Luther’s day misled people into thinking they could be saved by their own works through pilgrimages, confessions and by purchasing indulgences, which were basically “get out of hell free” cards. It became clear to Luther that men could not purchase God’s grace. It was freely given. This conviction led him to write out 95 main points of contention with the Catholic Church, his “theses,” which he ended up nailing to the door of the church in Wittenberg. Today many Christians debate the proper stance to take toward Halloween. Some believe that the holiday glorifies witchcraft and evil, while others see it simply as innocent fun. One of Satan’s most successful tactics is to incite Christians to fight each other on matters of doctrine. Perhaps we would do better today to focus on what is most important to God, just like Martin Luther did on that fateful day in history. Luther was determined. He was passionate. He was willing to sacrifice his credentials, social status, even his life for the sake of sharing the news about God’s saving grace.

Boo!

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. (Genesis 15:12-15 ESV). There are all kinds of celebrations at this time of the year. Some folks do “spooktaculars,” others will use the theme of a “fall festival.” One thing is certain, this is the time of the year, whether you "celebrate" Halloween or not, everyone's attention tends towards the spooky, creepy, and downright scary. I've heard some people say they like a good scare every now and then. Not so with me. I can do just fine without having being scared by the fictional creeps or the real ones! With this in mind, I see an interesting story in our reading today. This is a powerful chapter telling a key part of the story of Abraham. The chapter begins with the Lord telling Abram not to be afraid. In his heartbreak, Abram pours out his soul reminding the Lord of the promise to give Abram an heir. A promise as yet unfulfilled as Abram and his wife, Sarah, continue to grow old. God renews His promise to Abram, telling him that his descendants will be a numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham believed God and it struck the balance between faith and fear. The Lord goes on to instruct Abram to prepare a sacrifice. The offering on Abram's part and acceptance of the offering on God's part would be the ratifying moment of a great covenant between Abram and God. The Lord would forever be the God of Abram and his descendants, and Abram and his descendants would forever be God's people. In this powerful moment, this ratifying and recognizing of this great covenant of friendship, grace, and love, an interesting thing happens: As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. God Himself showed up to validate the covenant, and with Him came … terror? It reminds me of the scene where Isaiah received his call (cf. Isaiah 6). The wonderful, glorious, loving, living God shows up and the first thing out of Isaiah's mouth is, "Woe is me, for I am ruined." So what can we make of all this? Certainly, God does not want us to be "afraid" of Him. He does not want us to cower before Him. However, we should never take for granted His deity. He is powerful. He is mighty. Stars fall from His fingertips. He creates worlds with the words from His mouth. He alone holds all of life in His hands. It makes me reflect on the phrase "a good scare." Maybe we all need to have that kind of scare that calls our attention to who God is and His grace toward us! That would indeed be a good scare.

A New Name

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:35-42 ESV). I can always tell when I receive a telephone call whether or not the other person knows me. If they ask for “Donald” they don’t know me at all. While that is my legal name, I have never been called by that name. Some folks still call me “Donnie,” though they would be from my very distant past, adolescence or young teens. My name is simply “Don.” Sometimes I’m asked if I prefer a title to be used with my name. I’ve always felt like titles are somewhat misleading. While there is a place for the formality of titles, usually they are only used to try and impress others. Our reading today uses a change of name as a focal point. When Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, He looked at him and gave him a new name. Jesus didn't do that with other people. He didn't give out new names to all his disciples. But Jesus looked at Simon Peter and gave him a new name, Rock (see John 1:42). I wonder if the others thought, Rock? Is this a joke? What does He mean, "Rock?" When you think of the word "rock," you think of something that is solid and dependable and trustworthy. Peter was hotheaded and impulsive and too quick to speak. Yet when the Bible tells us Jesus looked at Peter, it could be translated to read that Jesus looked right through him. Jesus knew what He was getting with Simon. He knew that Peter would one day let Him down. He knew that Peter would one day deny Him. But He also knew that one day Peter would grow into that new name. He knew that one day Peter would preach the gospel on the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people would believe. When God looks at you, He sees potential. Maybe when you look in the mirror, you see only flaws. You see failure. You see problems. But God looks at you a whole lot differently. He sees what He will make you into. And you have great value because He has taken residence in your heart. The Bible tells us, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Your value does not come from who you are, in and of yourself. It comes from who has taken residence in you. The value in us is because God himself has put His signature on our lives.

Check It Out

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:35-42 ESV). I always enjoy someone telling me about something new. Usually it will end with the jubilant endorsement of “Check it out!” I’m almost always enthusiastic about going to do so; and, some of the time I am a little disappointed that it didn’t live up to the endorsement I was given. Our reading today has that kind of background. You would think the endorsement of Jesus by John the Baptist would be enough; but, not for Andrew. Andrew was the cautious type. He didn't do something just because someone else did it. He had to know for himself. I can almost see the humor of the situation developing when Andrew began following Jesus. He was physically following Jesus. Perhaps it was even a bit too close for the requirements of personal space of that culture and day. We’ve all had that experience. It might have been as if he was in Jesus’ shadow. There was Jesus, walking along with Andrew right behind him, along with another disciple of John's. Finally Jesus stopped, turned, and said to them, "What do you seek?" Andrew didn't know what to say, so he asked Jesus where He lived. Jesus invited them to come and see. Andrew went and saw, and from that time on, he never stopped following Jesus. The thing about Andrew is that once he knew something was true, he wanted to tell others. So he went and told his brother, Simon Peter. We all will meet people like Andrew. You tell them about Jesus, and they will say, "I don't know." So we will say, "Well, you need to know. You need to decide." But be patient with people. Don't try to rush the conversion process. The Bible says, "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient" (2 Timothy 2:24). Sometimes we want to put the pressure on. We want to get a result. But if a person can be pressured into a decision, they can be pressured out. If they can be argued in, they can be argued out. Let God convert them. Let's just live the life and be the example. They will follow Jesus when it is time for them to follow.

A Preview

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ESV). The newest installment of Star Wars is set for release in December. I have been a fan since the beginning and it seems this new episode will be as good as ever. The previews are spectacular. I must admit that you cannot always be guaranteed to have a good film from the preview. Sometimes the previews for a film are better than the film itself. But people don't go to the movie theater to see a preview; they go to see the movie. That truth began my thinking about our reading today. In many ways, life on earth is like the preview, and the film is like eternity. The big event is the afterlife, because eternity is eternal, needless to say. It has been said that eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset, but eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise. Everyone will live eternally, Christians and non-Christians alike. So that is not the biggest issue. The biggest issue is where we will spend eternity. As a believer, I know that I will be with Christ in heaven. And I know that one day Jesus will come back to Earth and establish His kingdom. I have put my faith and my hope in Christ. And this hope is not wishful thinking or blind optimism; it is a quiet confidence, a supernatural certainty. From the moment we are born, we are on a quest, prewired to long for something more. The reason is because God has made us in His image. Deep in our hearts, we have a longing to be with God. And until that day, we are essentially living between two worlds. There is an inscription on a tombstone in Wetumpka, Alabama that reads: Here lies Solomon Peas Under the lilies and under the trees Peas is not here, only the pod Peas has shelled out and gone home to God Don’t laugh it not only rhymes, it is true. There is a time coming when all of us who have been born again will simply go home to God. That will be a home beyond anything we have even imagined in its goodness. As much as we may enjoy our homes on earth, they are nothing but a weak preview for the feature yet to come!

Harvest Time

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:1-12 ESV). An interesting story is told about a notorious 19th-century criminal named Charles Peace, who was arrested and sentenced to the gallows for his crimes. On the morning of his death, as he made his way to his execution in Leeds, England, a prison chaplain who had been assigned to him walked along nearby, casually reading out loud. When Peace asked the chaplain what he was reading, he answered, "The consolations of religion." Outraged that this chaplain could give so heartless a presentation, Peace reportedly turned to the chaplain and told him, "Sir, if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worthwhile living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!" I wonder whether we really believe the things that we say we believe? Our reading today is a directive from Jesus that we pray for laborers to be sent into the harvest that is ready. In my experience the more I pray for laborers, the more I become one. It is not the act of preaching that makes me a laborer. It starts with caring. When we care about the welfare of others, it ought to take us to a place where we get involved in their lives through works of encouragement and support. This will always bring us to a point where we can share the motivation for our caring. I hope you will be encouraged to do much more than merely read the “consolations of religion” to those you meet in your journey through life. See every person in their journey. They all have a point of need that God has already equipped you to meet. There really are no “casual” meetings with others. They are planned in the mind and heart of Christ. Let’s get into the harvest!

Forever Words

A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8 ESV). This past week was the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the film, Back to the Future. Movies seem to always present us with an unforgettable moment. Sometimes it is with “forever words.” Perhaps you remember some of the following quotes:  "ET phone home" was the line from Gertie (Drew Barrymore) in ET the Extra-terrestrial (1982).  "Go ahead, make my day" was said by Inspector Harry Callaghan (Clint Eastwood) in Sudden Impact (1983).  "Here's looking at you, kid" was the famous line from Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca (1942).  "If you build it, he will come" is from Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) in Field of Dreams (1989).  "I'll be back" was first said by Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator (1984).  "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" is one of my all-time favorites; and, it was a line delivered by Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) in The Godfather (1972). As memorable as these words are, they certainly won’t last for thousands of years. We do have some genuine “forever words.” In our reading today the prophet Isaiah simply declares that “the word of our God will stand forever.” Of course we could see this as a reference to the Bible. No serious scholar would deny the ancient origins of this compilation of books. However, the prophet is making a reference to the specific promises of God to his people. Those promises all come to a sharp relief in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of God’s ultimate promise of redemption. Here’s how John Gill explains this passage: Concerning “the word of our God shall stand for ever,” the Apostle Peter adds, by way of explanation, and this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you; who seems to distinguish the word from the Gospel, by which it is preached, and to intend Christ the essential Word; who stands or abides for ever as a divine Person; in his office as Mediator, being Prophet, Priest, and King for ever; in the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; and in the fullness of his grace: it is true of the written word or Gospel, which remains, is everlasting, and will stand and continue, notwithstanding the persecutions of tyrants, the craft of false teachers, the reproach of ungodly men, and the death of the best of men, even of ministers; though all flesh is grass, fading and withering, the word of God is fresh and lively, firm and durable; and so it is as transcribed into the hearts of men, where it becomes the engrafted word, and issues in everlasting life. It may be applied to God's word of promise, which is forever settled in heaven, and is always fulfilled. That’s a real forever word… Jesus is our hope for eternity!

Listen Up!

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:1-9 ESV). There have been many times in the past forty five years that I have been preaching to a “rowdy crowd.” There are always small children who cannot be expected to be silent throughout the service, much less a thirty minute sermon! There have been times when I have been coaching a young team of soccer players and while teaching a particular technique or play, their exuberance overflows and they do more talking than listening. It is those times when I want to simply shout, “Listen up!” God must feel that way from time to time. Our reading today is one of these times when Jesus tells a very important truth to the disciples and ends by saying, “Listen up!” Mark records the Lord saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This has more to do with spiritual listening. It is possible to hear God's Word with our ears, but not with our hearts. Jesus knew that we can often hear without understanding. That is why He would so often say, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" It is attention with intention. I’ve done some air travel in my life thus far. Some were short hops while others were long transatlantic trips. When I get on a plane and take my seat, I really don't listen carefully to the safety message that the flight attendants give before every single flight. They have a long list of information to give out, pointing out the exits and the location of the oxygen masks and life vests. But often I don't pay attention. I have heard it so many times, so I think I don't need to listen. But what if a few minutes after takeoff the pilot came on the intercom again and said something like this? "We are currently experiencing some technical difficulties, and the flight attendant is going to go through that safety message for you one more time," I can guarantee you that I would be listening. Then it would make a difference to me; my life would depend on it. I would really want to know where those exits are, how to use my seat as a flotation device, and what steps I might need to take to survive an emergency. When you think about it, that's how we need to be reading the Word of God. Not as a ho-hum morning routine where we're skimming a passage and not really even thinking about it. No, we need to listen carefully. I encourage you to Listen Up!

Good Cop, Bad Cop

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?” (Jonah 4:1-4 ESV). Some of the crime drama on television features a cross examination technique we have come to know as “good cop, bad cop.” This is where two investigators question a suspect and one is nice and the other is mean. The way some people talk about God you would come to believe they think God has that kind of split personality. In fact, sometimes people will say they believe in the God of the New Testament, but not in the God of the Old Testament. In their perception, the God of the New Testament is gracious and loving and merciful, while the God of the Old Testament is unforgiving, mean, and angry. We must never forget that the God of the Old and New Testament is one and the same. He is the true and living God, and we see Him demonstrating love and forgiveness in the Old Testament as well as the New. Take, for example, the story of Pharaoh when he was confronted by Moses. Moses told Pharaoh to let God's people go, and if he didn't, then a series of plagues would come his way. And that is what happened. A plague would come, Pharaoh would beg for mercy, mercy would be extended, and Pharaoh would harden his heart. This went on and on and on, and Pharaoh hardened his heart again and again. Thus he experienced the repercussions. But God gave him chance after chance. When Noah built the ark, the flood did not come straightaway. There was a lot of time for the people to repent and turn to God. The Bible says, to the point, that Noah was a preacher of righteousness (cf. 2 Peter 2:5). That means Noah told people what was true. He told them how to get right with God. But they laughed at Noah. It became a form of entertainment to watch crazy Noah build his boat. That is, until the first drops of rain began to fall. Our reading today shows us the case of Nineveh. It was one of the most wicked cities that ever existed; yet the people repented and turned to God, and God forgave them. God not only is presented to us in Scripture as good and loving and merciful, but also as righteous and just. We should remember that God is full of love and mercy; and, he always just with his mercy and grace.

Abandoning a Previous Loyalty

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV). I’m always amazed when people tell me that they “really aren’t into organized religion.” In fact, when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound very good, does it? Usually such a statement is accompanied by other statements like, “I’m into spirituality.” I still get the occasional “I like to worship the God of nature. I can find God anywhere, not just in a building.” Truthfully that’s usually an indicator that they really don’t have a Scriptural understanding of worship or religion. In our reading today, the apostle tells Timothy that one of the signs of the end of times is an apostasy, or falling away. Apostasy is an interesting word. According to Merriam-Webster, it may be defined as “a renunciation of a religious faith; or an abandonment of a previous loyalty. The apostasy that is coming (and is now present) in the church certainly fits that definition in some cases. What we find in some churches today are people who say, "Give me a Christianity that caters to me. Don't bore me with Bible doctrine. Keep it lively. Keep it interesting. Keep it exciting. Keep it motivating. Don't judge me. Don't tell me to change my lifestyle. That is the kind of religion I want." Timothy is the pastor in Ephesus as Paul's tells him to "preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." When we go forward in history about thirty years from this letter, we see a different church has evolved at Ephesus. The Apostle John writes: To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:1-4 ESV). They had certainly “abandoned a previous loyalty.” There is only one God, and that is the God who is revealed in the Bible. He is the God who loved us so much that He sent us His Son Jesus Christ. So we should not focus on being the largest; we should focus on being strong; and more importantly, on being a people that honor God.

Fig Leaves or Fur Coats?

The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. (Genesis 3:20-21 ESV). There are many “firsts” in the Book of Genesis. The story of creation and the placing of Adam and Eve in the garden are both fascinating and wonderful. The ending of that story turns to sorrow and judgment after they sin. I have read the account many times, studying the intricacies of the message often. It is one of the great revelations of God’s grace. One of the stark contrasts for me is that between the clothes Adam and Eve made for themselves after they realized their “nakedness” and those which God fashioned for them as they were driven outside the garden. They went from fig leaves to fur coats! It must have been eye-opening to see the animals God had to kill in order to make their garments. Remember that Adam had seen them all; he had named them. Their diversity and grandeur must have been striking. And, nothing had died up to that point. Everything was living. The story is well known. Adam and Eve sinned and they covered themselves with fig leaves; however, God essentially said, "It is not going to be the same anymore. Here are some skins. Those skins came from animals—these animals died for you. Something had to happen because of your sin." We don't think much about the repercussions of sin. That couple who decides to get a divorce because they aren't getting along anymore often doesn't think about their children. They don't think about the long-term effects. The person who steals something doesn't think about the effect on the person they stole from. They don't think about the way it is going to hurt others and hurt them. God had warned Adam that if he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he would die (cf. Genesis 2:17). And that death came through Adam to permeate every human after him (cf. Romans 5:12). First, there was the death of animals, and then came the death of human beings, all because of their sin entering the world. There is such a simple message here. Man's religion is fig leaves, attempting to cover things up. God's religion is one that ultimately points to the sacrifice of Jesus, because He was the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. In the aftermath of Adam and Eve's sin, the first Messianic prophesy was given (cf. Genesis 3:15). God would right this wrong because only He was capable of doing so. It is the message of the atonement for our sins and the granting of eternal life through Christ. Are you still wearing your fig leaves? God has better for you!

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Yep… thirty-two years ago, our youngest son, Aaron made his debut. Happy Birthday! Since I have been writing birthday devotionals for all of my family there have been many changes. Aaron is now a professor at Georgetown University. Living in Washington D.C. has its own set of challenges, but certainly it is different from the days when he was a student at Weatherford High School when I first started these devotionals. I saw the alternative birthday wish of “Happy 24 Hours of Constant Facebook Notifications Day” recently and it reminded me how many changes have taken place over the days since his birth. These have been changes in his life and ours. Time will do that. I was reminded of a particular passage of Scripture as I thought through these things. Jesus makes an incredible declaration about His eternal nature. Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 ESV). Of course we know that Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet; but this statement carries with it far more significance than that. God isn't speaking about alphabets. He is speaking of reality. God is absolutely the beginning and absolutely the end. Everything that is originates ultimately in him. And everything will somehow end with him. When I think of my family and the special days of their lives, it gives me great comfort that not one moment, much less a day has been squandered or wasted. God has purposed each of them for the working of good in our lives. We won’t get to see Aaron today. He won’t be flying down until Thanksgiving. We will talk to him and I’m sure I’ll be one of those that blows up his phone with a Facebook Notification. And I will use this day to remind myself of all the incredible things God has worked in my life with the great gift of our son. Thirty-two years ago we began this incredible journey. While we don’t know each individual step we shall take in it, we know the end of it. It began in Christ and will end in him as well. With that wonderful thought anchored in my mind, Happy 32nd Birthday, Aaron. May it be a day filled with peace, power, and joy in all that you do! Hope your steps today are easy and your time filled with pleasant interruptions!

Learning to Weep

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44 ESV). The scene is a sad one. Jesus comes near the city of Jerusalem, and weeps over it. He was weeping over the tragedy of a lost opportunity. The Israelites that assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover missed the opportunity to be saved from both earthly and eternal destruction. They were visited by their Savior, but they did not know it. Instead of receiving Him, they killed Him. I wonder if we really understand how often this scene is repeated today. It may not be in Jerusalem; instead it may take place as Jesus looks over your town. It certainly happens. Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep. The story is told that one day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps. Of course, Rogers had everybody laughing, even patients in really bad condition; but then he suddenly left the platform and went to the rest room. Milton Berry followed him to give him a towel; and when he opened the door, he saw Will Rogers leaning against the wall, sobbing like a child. He closed the door, and in a few minutes, Rogers appeared back on the platform, as jovial as before. If you want to learn what a person is really like, ask three questions: What makes him laugh? What makes him angry? What makes him weep? These are fairly good tests of character that are especially appropriate for Christian leaders. I hear people saying, "We need angry leaders today!" or "The time has come to practice militant Christianity!" Perhaps, but "the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (cf. James 1:20). What we need today is not anger but anguish, the kind of anguish that Moses displayed when he broke the two tablets of the law and then climbed the mountain to intercede for his people, or that Jesus displayed when He cleansed the temple and then wept over the city. The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart. It's easy to get angry, especially at somebody else's sins; but it's not easy to look at sin, our own included, and weep over it. Perhaps you would join me in learning how to weep. I am convinced if we acquire that skill, we will see a mighty movement of God in our nation and our world.

Marking Time

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (Philemon 1:8-16 ESV). Sometimes it is so easy to feel as though our lives don’t matter. We catch ourselves just marking off another day in the calendar. These can be miserable days for sure. I don’t know if Philemon felt that way; however, I know that the Apostle Paul makes it very clear that he should go back to his former master and continue in service to Onesimus. Surely he must have felt that his service to the apostle was much more important than going back and facing the drudgery of his former life. That old familiar routine may have been more than he wanted to experience again. It’s easy for us to think the same. We find ourselves at a place believing that our careers are at a dead end, or we simply get caught marking time. We are in such a period of transition. It would be easy to put up a calendar and watch the days slip by without recognizing the great gift of God for today. Regardless of what tomorrow might promise, today’s gift is sure. God has placed us here and now to bring glory to him. I love the story told of King Henry III of Bavaria in the eleventh century. He had grown tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at as local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. "Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king." "I understand," said Henry, "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you." "Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you." When King Henry died, a statement was written: "The King learned to rule by being obedient." When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we'll rule together with him.

Good News and Bad News

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11 ESV). There have been so many stories about good news/bad news situations. I almost hesitate to tell you one more; but, I found this one recently and it gave me a little chuckle. It seems a farmer went into his banker and announced that he had bad news and good news. "First, the bad news... Well," said the farmer, "I can't make my mortgage payments. And that crop loan I've taken out for the past 10 years -- I can't pay that off, either. Not only that, I won't be able to pay you the couple of hundred thousand I still have outstanding on my tractors and other equipment. So I'm going to have to give up the farm and turn it all over to you for whatever you can salvage out of it.” Silence prevailed for a minute and then the banker said, "What's the good news?" "The good news is that I'm going to keep on banking with you," said the farmer. There is a very real sense in which we have been given a good news/bad news understanding in our reading today. Paul is very clear that we were lost. It was during this time, when we didn’t even know we needed to be saved that Christ died for us. A recent novel by Madeleine L'Engle is entitled A Severed Wasp. The title, which comes from one of George Orwell's essays, offers a graphic image of human lostness. Orwell describes a wasp that "was sucking jam on my plate and I cut him in half. He paid no attention, merely went on with his meal, while a tiny stream of jam trickled out of his severed esophagus. Only when he tried to fly away did he grasp the dreadful thing that had happened to him." The wasp and people without Christ have much in common. Severed from their souls, but greedy and unaware, people continue to consume life's sweetness. Only when it's time to fly away will they gasp their dreadful condition. There simply is no hope without Christ; and, there is nothing but hope with Christ. Today we spend so much time trying to convince people that God is good. Perhaps we ought to spend a little more time helping people understand how bad we are and then the goodness of God becomes very apparent!

He Jumped Over the Wall

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV). Baseball is in the midst of the playoffs and “the Boys of October” return to our minds. You may have read, or remembered the fall of 1975 when the Boston Red Sox, a ragtag team facing the far superior team of Cincinnati led the nation in a renewal of spirit and a respite from the difficult times we faced. Another time in the annuls of baseball involved one of the all time great home run hitters the sport has ever known. Babe Ruth had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves versus the Reds in Cincinnati. But he was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly, and in one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears. Just then a boy jumped over the wall onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero. Ruth didn't hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently. The noise from the stands came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly there was no more booing. In fact, hush fell over the entire park. In those brief moments, the fans saw two heroes: Ruth, who in spite of his dismal day on the field could still care about a little boy; and the small lad, who cared about the feelings of another human being. Both had melted the hearts of the crowd. When I recalled this story I was drawn to our reading today. The Apostle Paul is encouraging his readers in the face of his imminent death. He has come to the end of his journey without regret. He reasserts the incredible gift of God through Christ that has given him such resolve and hope. Remember earlier in his life he had written to the Romans that it was while we were still in our sin that Christ died for us (cf. Romans 5). Jesus saw our plight and “jumped over the wall” to our rescue. I stagger at the thought of where we would be had he not been obedient to that death on our behalf. He, like the little boy, came to us. I wonder what our response has been as he wrapped his arms around us.

Snickers

I haven’t seen all the Snickers’ commercials that feature someone who has a complete personality change and then is told to “Eat a Snickers. You’re not you when you’re hungry”; but, I’ve seen many. Well, I really like Snickers; but, eating a candy bar is not going to make me better. In fact, there are many who would say it will make me worse. It can’t possibly be good for my overall health, can it? Probably not. Yet it seems the ad capitalizes on a prevailing thought of our culture. Many today have come to believe that whatever problems we cause or experience must come from external sources. You’re cranky because you’re hungry. That’s not usually my problem. When I’m cranky, it’s because I am acting selfishly. A Snicker’s won’t help that! Here’s what the Apostle Paul says: For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7:15-17 ESV). I don’t know about you, but the way that reads, I’m in a mess! And, there’s more. Psalm 51:5 states that we all come into the world as sinners: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Ephesians 2:2 says that all people who are not in Christ are “sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:3 also establishes this, saying that we are all “by nature children of wrath.” If we are all “by nature children of wrath,” it can only be because we are all by nature sinners for God does not direct His wrath towards those who are not guilty. God did not create the human race sinful, but upright. But we fell into sin and became sinful due to the sin of Adam. Sin is our very nature. The Snickers won’t help with that nature; only the Savior can do that. We can never be fully changed by our efforts. D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!" So, let me offer this simple encouragement. You are not you when you refuse Jesus. Have the Savior; you’ll be everything God intended you to be. You will experience a life that is designed and ordained by God to bring you good.

Ghost Riders in the Sky

The song, Ghost Riders in the Sky, tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies". Jones said that he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old cowboy friend. More than 50 performers have recorded versions of the song. My favorite is by the Highwaymen, who are Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. (If you have a “hankerin’” to see the video follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjkJqHUYr5w). I found it not long ago and as I was listening the following reading came to mind: When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8 ESV). You may be familiar with this passage. Just before the coming of the rider on this pale horse, John has seen the coming of three others. There was a rider on a white horse who would conquer; followed by another rider on a red horse who would take peace from the earth, then would come a third horse which was black and its rider who brought famine to the earth. There are many interpretations of these visions John was given. Virtually all of them deal with the calamity and destruction during the end times. Certainly, no one can deny the description given in these verses as being dire and dark. However, when we continue to read a bit further we find that God has made provision for all of his children. They were told to “rest a little while longer” (cf. Revelation 6:11). I find it almost too difficult to believe. God is saying to the saints who have already been taken to their heavenly home that there are yet others who will suffer greatly as he finishes redeeming all those he has set aside from the foundation of the world. The message is that God will save them. In the song, Ghost Riders in the Sky, the lyrics would lead us to believe that the only way that lone, tormented rider can escape forever joining that fruitless eternal quest for the devil’s cattle is to live right. It is such a common message today we give it little more than a passing thought. Perhaps we need to do more than that! The truth is that without the work of Christ we all will end up on one of those red-eyed, fire-breathing horses. There is a judgment coming. History is gathering itself together for the writing of the final chapter. Find yourself safe in Christ by trusting in his work on your behalf.

Teddy's Treat

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:10-15 ESV). Teddy is our little rescue terrier. He has quite a personality. The vet tells us that he has the physical attributes of a Norfolk Terrier which means he has a gregarious personality and enjoys playing and interaction with people and other animals. I can certainly tell you that he has made our lives richer with his antics. He can be so funny with some of the simplest of things. Just the other day we had come in from a walk and I asked him a standard question: “Would you like a treat?” I’m not sure he really understands any of those words except “treat;” but he does know that one. He ran to the cabinet where the box of treats are kept and sat up as he has been trained; I got him a treat and handed it to him. He dashed off to enjoy the beef flavored Milk Bone. I sat down to do a little writing and I hear him whining. He is pacing back and forth in our little apartment with the treat in his mouth with a look that tells me he doesn’t know what to do with it. My suggestion is that he simply lay down and enjoy it! That certainly wasn’t met with any acceptance. He begins to look for a place to “bury” it. He looks in his bed, in the couch, and even under the bed. I’m amazed. He does finally come back into the living area and eat the treat; but, he went through a lot of angst unnecessarily. It struck me that we are a lot like Teddy in our Christian lives. Jesus is telling us in our reading today that he is our Shepherd; and, he is not merely a shepherd, he is the Good Shepherd. It is important to know that the word used here for "good" doesn't just mean morally good, though it includes that. It also could be translated "beautiful" or "winsome" or "lovely," even "attractive." Jesus is the beautiful, attractive, winsome Shepherd, and the Shepherd's plan for His flock, more specifically, the Lord's plan for us is that our lives would flourish. It is His absolute joy to bless us. He likes to give us treats! Sometimes we have a false concept of God in which we see Him as stingy with His blessings. But nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that God wants to bless us even more than we want to be blessed. He wants us to have life, and that abundantly. This abundant life is not necessarily a long life, though it may be, but it certainly is a full one. Medical science seeks to add years to our lives, but only Jesus can add life to our years. So, run to the cabinet, sit down and get your treat. Then, go and enjoy it. Jesus earned it for you!

Wisps of Smoke

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13:8-14 ESV). There are so many wonderful memories I can call on in my sixty-six years! Some of them involve family and friends, while others are taken from some of the places I have seen and the things I have done. They are all a wonderful reminder of the grace of God in my life. However, they are merely a glimpse of what is yet to be. That “city” is coming. C. S. Lewis described earth as "the shadowlands." You see, we tend to think of heaven as something surreal, while earth is real. But heaven isn't a reflection of earth. Earth, at least the best moments of it, is an incomplete version of heaven. Earth is like a copy of heaven, not the other way around. Referring to the priests who would offer sacrifices according to the Law, Hebrews 8:5 says, "They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: 'Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.' " Our problem is that we start with earth and reason up toward heaven when we ought to instead start with heaven and reason down toward earth. This little span of time on earth is what the Bible describes as a "vapor" or "a morning fog"; it is merely a wisp of smoke (cf. James 4:14). It is a story that has already been told. Life isn't just a date of birth to a date of death. Life goes on. God's plans toward you are good, and the ultimate plan is heaven. When you get there, everything will come into focus for you. When you get to the other side, you will see things clearly. We know very little about heaven, but it has been described it as "an unknown region with a well-know inhabitant." Richard Baxter expresses the thought in these lines: My knowledge of that life is small, The eye of faith is dim, But it's enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with him. To those who have learned to love and trust Jesus, the prospect of meeting him face to face and being with him forever is the hope that keeps us going, no matter what life may throw at us. God knows where you are at this very moment, and God has a future for you. And it is going to be beyond your wildest dreams.

Abandoned and Desolate

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7 ESV). When Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, the park's own drainage pumps failed and the berm protecting the area from Lake Pontchartrain burst, flooding the facility with brackish floodwater four to seven feet deep. The water was not drained for a month. At one point officials had debated turning the area into an outlet mall, though that proposal eventually fell through and the park remains a decaying version of its former self. Tracks that used to hold roller coasters speeding along are now cluttered with trash and vegetation as Six Flags New Orleans slowly decays ten years after Hurricane Katrina. Everything is still intact. Thomas Lawless says in an article for the New York Times, “You can see where the people would wait in long lines; the rollercoasters; the snow-cone stands; the souvenir shops and even the Ferris Wheel is still there, which was decaying in some parts. However, while the hurricane sent most people away from the abandoned park, it also brought in new inhabitants. Film crews using the site have to hire animal wranglers to keep actors safe from snakes and wild hogs. Flood waters also brought in alligators that reach up to 12-feet long, and can be seen lounging in some of the water still standing in parts of the park.” It must be an astonishing sight. Something that was so full of “life” now lies abandoned and desolate. In our reading today the Apostle Paul expresses his astonishment that some of the Galatians had endured some “storms of faith” and been swept away to abandon the Gospel of Christ. I find the same astonishment today as I see others who have exchanged their faith in the completed work of Christ for other things. It is as if they have decided it is not really worth the trouble to rebuild their lives and have walked away leaving a shell of their former lives. It’s not difficult to imagine why some might have opted to do this. Some storms are indeed devastating. They swamp even the most prepared. However, none of these are a final disposition of the work God has begun in our lives. If this is where you find yourself today, please turn your attention to the Gospel you came to know in the beginning. This is the message that Christ has done everything necessary for you to have life in abundance. God has not forgotten you. He is using every experience of your life to produce good even if you can’t see it now. Trust his work in your life and no other. You won’t be disappointed!

The Gordian Knot

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25 ESV). Phrygia was an ancient kingdom in what is now central Turkey. According to legend, when Phrygia was without a king, a pagan oracle declared that the next man to drive an ox-cart into Phrygia’s capital city, Telmissus, would be the new king. That man was a farmer named Gordias. His son, Midas (who later became the king with the golden touch), decided to honor his newly exalted father by dedicating the ox-cart to the Phrygian god, Sabazios, and he tied it to a pole using a knot so complex that it was considered impossible to untie, the Gordian Knot. Another oracle pronounced that the one who would solve the riddle of the knot would rule Asia. Centuries went by and the ox-cart remained securely tied to the pole. Then Alexander the Great came, conquered, and happened upon the knot. Being the decisive warrior-leader he was, he “unraveled” the knot by simply slicing through it with his sword. And he went on to conquer Asia. Today, the “Gordian Knot” has become the symbol of complex problems and Alexander’s sword has been a symbol for decisive, out-of-the box leadership solutions. The Apostle Paul comes to such a problem in our reading today. We are such sinners, how can we ever find a solution to our failure. The answer is not within ourselves; it is found in the person and work of Christ! We know these painful knots are the complex spiritual, emotional, and psychological entanglements of indwelling sin or the temperamental weakness, disability, circumstantial adversity, and traumatic past experiences. We try to untangle them. We try to figure them out. But the more we work at them, the more complex we find the knots to be. Counseling and certain kinds of therapies can certainly help us the same way teachers, discussions, and books can help with intellectual struggles. However, all of these things fail to unravel the knot. And we cry out with Paul, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The most gifted human pastor, counselor, or psychological expert is unable to fully untie the knots that entangle us. Nor can any of us make a sword ourselves that will cut through them. The answer to our cry is the same answer Paul declares: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” He is the one who can solve the riddle of our Gordian Knots. He is the conqueror. On Cavalry, Jesus dealt the decisive blow upon every sinful knot of every saint who would ever belong to him. The words of Christ are living and active and the sharpest sword (cf. Hebrews 4:12) and in him we may be set free (cf. John 8:32).

Clingman's Dome

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (Psalm 147:5 ESV). At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Our family has made the trek to the observatory at Clingman’s Dome on several occasions. The views are reward enough for the hike. It is one of the many vistas that give reason to call this area the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Sunset in the park is always a special sight. To see the way God paints a unique portrait with His creation is a special blessing. Great is very flexible word in our culture and language. It is used in five different ways; it can describe size, number, intensity, goodness, or degree. It’s become an easy word to overuse. Perhaps we should reclaim the word in reference to our God. The Bible tells us again and again, especially in the Psalms, that our God is great. It is in the Scripture that we are able to glimpse the true greatness of God. Let me make a few suggestions of this description of God.  First is the greatness of his majesty and glory. He is not just the king of a single tribe or nation, but the king of all the earth. He is sovereign over all the nations, arrayed in unparalleled regal glory. He is great in royal majesty.  Second is the greatness of his character. He is not just great in his majesty, but in his holiness. He is not just in charge and exalted, but he has perfect integrity; he is the standard of truth and character and moral uprightness. When he speaks, the darkness flees. He is great in his holiness.  Third is the greatness of his being. He never had a beginning, and he will never have an end. He is Alpha and Omega, he is the beginning and the end; nothing came before him and nothing will come after him. He stands unmoved from age to age, and time is in his hands.  Fourth, he is great in His mercy. As great as he is in his majesty, holiness, and eternal nature, he is also great in his compassion for the plight of humanity. Really, it is the greatness of his mercy that truly leaves us in awe. It is this compassion that sent Jesus to make the atonement for us that we might find ourselves restored to relationship with him. Truly we can say, GREAT is our God! You don’t need to climb to the highest peak of any mountain; you can find the greatness of God all around you. Turn to Him today!

Dynamite

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17 ESV). One of the “oxymorons” of our world is that Alfred Nobel, the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, also was the man who created dynamite. There are many stories surrounding the discovery and development of this compound that has been used for both good and bad in our world. It is said that when he discovered the compound and its effects when ignited, he needed a name for it. According to sources, he spoke with a friend who knew the Greek language well and asked him what the Greek word for "explosion" was. That word was dunamis, and so Nobel named his invention "dynamite." When the Apostle Paul wrote our paragraph today he used the word we translate as “power.” So think of dynamite, think of something dynamic, think of an explosion, and you will have an idea of what Paul was saying. There is explosive power in the simple message of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is an explosion when the gospel goes out. The apostle will go on later in the letter to explain how this power will be disseminated into the world. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14-15 ESV). Those of you who know me also know that I believe no one is born again without the express work of God in their lives. However, that is facilitated through the preaching of the Gospel. That’s why I share the grace of God as often as I have opportunity. Now there are those who would say that since I am a pastor, then obviously I have been gifted and called to do just that. Often they add, “And, we’ll be praying for you too.” Well, that’s good, but it is not what God has in mind. We are all commanded to share the Gospel. That may not look the same as when I “preach,” but it is the same principle of power that goes out when we use our individual gifts and callings to make people aware of this great gift of God through Jesus Christ. So, I would ask you, what are you doing with your “dynamite”? Are you constructing great roads and bridges? It is that kind of power.

Glass Houses

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:7-11 ESV). The saying goes, “people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” It is a relatively new urban proverb that has come to mean “one should not criticize others for faults that they have themselves. Our reading today is an incredibly plain declaration that points us to the kinds of lives we are to have in our relationships to fellow believers. Contrary to this encouragement from the apostle, some of the most hurtful experiences in our lives come from the least likely of people and places. We would think that the safest place for us to be is in our family or faith community; and yet, it is those two places we are most often wounded. This is especially true in the church. Nearly every week I talk with someone who tells me they have been "hurt by the Church." Every time I hear these words, my heart breaks because I know exactly what they mean. The real question is what can we do to heal those hurts and return to healthy relationships? Here are some suggestions that have helped others in the past: First, stay connected to the Lord. It is always a great temptation to withdraw. That is the easiest path to follow; it is also the most likely to slowly erode your ability to experience the healing love that comes from a community that is connected to the power of the Holy Spirit. There is a caution I would give you at this point. Jumping from one church to another is rarely the answer. It may be that you will need to find another community of faith; however, you should leave with humility and blessing, not pride and anger. Second, pursue personal purity in your faith and practice. If your disagreements are based in your interpretation of Scripture, take the high road and realize that while it is your responsibility to share your beliefs with others, it is not your responsibility to chasten them. That is God’s prerogative alone. Third, trust in the promise that God will bring His love to prevail. In your life, love regardless. To love someone is to seek his best. I can love someone without even liking him. I can find someone frustrating, but still genuinely and truly want what is best for them. Love does not mean avoiding tough conversations or life-on-life accountability, but doing those sorts of things from a loving, humble, gracious, and patient position which is from a mind and heart like Christ’s. Remember, we all live in a glass house. Live like it; love one another in all things!

Bedtime Prayers

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:12-14 ESV). The classic bedtime prayer is: “Now I lay me down to sleep; if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” I never really had that ritual with my children, even though I do now have a bedtime prayer. Mine is pretty simple and straightforward. I “call the role” as the last thing I say to the Lord each evening before I drift off to sleep: “Dear Lord, take care of Mary, Kyle, Brandy, Faith and Logan, David, Becca, Maggie, and Aaron.” It’s not fancy or very deep theologically, but it is the last thing I want to tell my heavenly Father each day. I suppose one of the most difficult tasks any of us have is in regard to praying for our families. So, let me suggest two simple prayers. Of course, its fine to do your role call; but, let me go a little bit further for your development of another bedtime ritual. First, pray that God would forgive you. It all begins here. John tells us that God forgives us of every unrighteousness and cleanses us from every sin, if we simply confess (cf. 1 John 1:9). That passage is unique in that it really means that we simply agree with God that we are need of his forgiveness. The wonder of that truth is that God has already done all that is necessary to forgive us. When Jesus died on the cross, he finished the work of atonement on our behalf. There is no one and nothing that yet remains to secure our complete forgiveness. No matter what your day may have consisted of, no matter how great your failure may have been, Jesus has done everything to make our restoration a reality. Ask! Second, pray that God would forgive others, especially your family. My sons are all adults. They have done well. But they sin, just like I do. My daughters-in-law can do no wrong in my eyes. I love them as my own; but, they too sin. My grandchildren are “Mary Poppins” children (you know… “practically perfect in every way), but they sin. They were born in sin. So, I pray on their behalf and for their hearts to be made pliable to the work of the Holy Spirit in their life. I like to pray for others in the same way. I creates a depth of compassion in my heart just as it was in the heart of Jesus when he looked over the city of Jerusalem and wept for them as they wandered about as sheep without a shepherd. At the end of the day, we are all in God’s hands and heart. Knowing I can come to him and ask for our safety in his hands brings me great comfort. It is a prayer he will answer. Make it your prayer too.

It Is Well With My Soul

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:21-26 ESV). I love some of the old hymns of the faith. This is not to say that I don’t love some of the more contemporary hymns and choruses of today’s church. I do. I simply don’t know the back stories of those as well. One of my favorites is “It Is Well With My Soul.” In 1873, a man received a message from his wife, who had sailed with their four daughters to Europe, where he had planned to meet them soon. The note read, “Saved alone…” She and the girls had been in a terrible collision at sea and their ship had gone down. All four daughters died. It was just the latest awful news in three horrifying years for the family. They had lost their son in 1870. Soon after that tragedy a massive fire ruined them financially. Then the horrors of the accident at sea befell them. The man was Horatio Spafford. As he crossed the sea to meet his grieving wife, he penned the words of this wonderful old hymn: When peace, like a river, attendeth my way When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul. Really? It is well? What could anchor the mind and heart of a man in tragedies like these and free him to sing these words? The answer is always found in our relationship with Jesus. Paul certainly understood this. In the midst of all the difficulties in his life, he knew that it would be well. To live and continue to suffer for the Gospel, or to die and go to heaven, either was “well.” I know that’s a lot easier to say than to do; but, the truth does not change with the difficulty of the practice. The rest of Spafford’s story is interesting. Following the sinking of the Ville du Havre, Anna gave birth to three more children. On February 11, 1880, their son, Horatio Goertner Spafford, died at the age of four, of scarlet fever. Their Presbyterian church regarded their tragedy as divine punishment. In response, the Spaffords formed their own church, dubbed "the Overcomers" by American press. In August 1881, the Spaffords set out for Jerusalem as a party of thirteen adults and three children and set up the American Colony. Colony members, later joined by Swedish Christians, engaged in philanthropic work amongst the people of Jerusalem regardless of their religious affiliation. During and immediately after World War 1, the American Colony played a critical role in supporting these communities through the great suffering and deprivations of the eastern front by running soup kitchens, hospitals, orphanages and other charitable ventures. Four days shy of his 60th birthday, Spafford died on October 16, 1888, of malaria, and was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Jerusalem. It sure was “well with his soul”!

How Much Do You Have?

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9 ESV). Please do not stop reading this devotional yet! I know it appears from the title and the chosen reading that I am going to get around to asking you for money. Well, I’m not. And, further, it has nothing to do with what you have, as much as it has to do with what you perceive you lack. Jon Bloom recently wrote: “Nothing will deplete your faith like looking at what you lack. I find that the more I fixate on my lack of resources, the strengths I don’t have, the weaknesses I do have, the heavier the weight of unbelief becomes and the harder the race of faith becomes. Looking at a deficit fuels our fear and drains our hope. A deficit says we don’t have enough to make the payment, meet the need, make the deadline, preach the sermon, fix the marriage, instruct the child, counsel that hard case, defeat the sin, or overcome the weakness. We don’t take risks with a deficit in view.” Listen to the apostle again: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. God’s desire is that we lack nothing, so he pours out his grace into us so that we will have “sufficiency” in everything. Here’s what the dictionary says about that word: Sufficiency is the state or fact of being sufficient; adequacy. It is a sufficient number or amount; enough. It is an adequate provision or supply, especially of wealth. I don’t know about you, but for me, there are times when I wonder if I have enough. Usually my concern is whether I have enough physically to accomplish some task. I am always reminded when I begin to question whether I have enough that my God has more than enough; and, his resource is at my complete disposal. So, why then do I find myself inadequate for some projects or tasks? Perhaps it is the task that is the problem. Maybe it’s not something God is interested in me doing. Perhaps the doing of that task would bring me harm and God desires to protect me from it by directing me to things that are more realistically achievable with my resources. Perhaps it’s just not the right time for me to do it. Whatever the reasons, I know that God withholds no good thing from his children. I have everything that I could possibly need. So, when I ask, “How much do I have?” The answer is always “enough.” That’s encouraging!

Revolution

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12 ESV). Very few people will recognize today as a significant day in the fight for independence between Texas and Mexico. However, it is the beginning of the revolution that ultimately led to the establishment of Texas as an independent nation. There were already growing tensions between Mexico and the people living in what would become Texas; and, in 1835, violence erupted when Mexican soldiers attempt to disarm the people of Gonzales, ultimately sparking the Texan war for independence. Texas, or Tejas as the Mexicans called it, had technically been a part of the Spanish empire since the 17th century. However, even as late as the 1820s, there were only about 3,000 Spanish-Mexican settlers in Texas, and Mexico City’s hold on the territory was tenuous at best. After winning its own independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico welcomed large numbers of Anglo-American immigrants into Texas in the hopes they would become loyal Mexican citizens and keep the territory from falling into the hands of the United States. During the next decade men like Stephen F. Austin brought more than 25,000 people to Texas, most of them Americans. But while these emigrants legally became Mexican citizens, they continued to speak English, formed their own schools, and had closer trading ties to the United States than to Mexico. In 1835, the president of Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, overthrew the constitution and appointed himself dictator. Recognizing that the “American” Texans were likely to use his rise to power as an excuse to secede, Santa Anna ordered the Mexican military to begin disarming the Texans whenever possible. This proved more difficult than expected, and on October 2, 1835, Mexican soldiers attempting to take a small cannon from the village of Gonzales encountered stiff resistance from a hastily assembled militia of Texans. After a brief fight, the Mexicans retreated and the Texans kept their cannon. The determined Texans would continue to battle Santa Ana and his army for another year and a half before winning their independence and establishing the Republic of Texas. In our reading today we see the apostle remind his readers that they continued to suffer for the cause of their freedom from sin and death. They understood the incredible freedom that Christ had provided through his work of grace. They could not contain this message, hiding it secretly. It was a treasure to be shared with the world, even in the face of great persecution. That “revolution” ultimately brought freedom to every corner of the world so that today Christianity is represented in virtually every nation of the earth. It must have seemed a prudent thing to disarm those early missionaries through that persecution, when, in fact, it merely drove them more to preach the gospel. I wonder if we have that kind of passion for maintaining our hard won freedom in Christ. We should.

The Thrilla in Manilla

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV). On October 1, 1975, one of the great championship boxing matches was fought in the Philippines. It has come to be known as the “Thrilla in Manilla.” Mohammed Ali fought Joe Frazier for the third time. It was everything it was billed to be. Ali once was quoted as saying, "Of all the men I fought, Sonny Liston was the scariest, George Foreman was the most powerful, Floyd Patterson was the most skilled as a boxer, but the roughest and toughest was Joe Frazier. He brought out the best in me, and the best fight we fought was in Manila." Frazier had won their first bout and Ali their second. It was 10:45 a.m. in the Philippines when their rubber match started, and the "The Thrilla in Manila" lived up to the hype. The bout turned out to be three fights in one: The first had Ali, the champion, outboxing and outscoring Frazier, nailing him with clean, sharp shots. The second fight, from the fifth through the 11th, had Frazier giving a terrible pounding to Ali. The third fight began in the 12th round and somehow Ali, with the will of a champion, tore into Frazier for the next three rounds. When the bell rang for the 15th round, Frazier, with his eyes almost completely shut, remained in his corner as his trainer, Eddie Futch, threw in the towel. "Man, I hit him with punches that'd bring down the walls of a city," Frazier said. "Lawdy, lawdy, he's a great champion." Ali said, "It was like death. Closest thing to dying that I know of." I remember watching that fight on television. I was indeed a heavyweight match unlike any I have ever seen! There is a greater fight to be fought than that one though. The Apostle Paul speaks of it in our reading today. He talks about his training and relentless pursuit of excellence. He pushes himself to such lengths because he knows at the end of this life there is a crown waiting for him that is incomparable to any title of championship anywhere in any area. It is the crown of eternal life that will only be given to those who have overcome death through the work of Christ in their life. While the grace of God is secured through Christ, we cannot make the mistake of thinking that it requires nothing of us. It requires everything from us. We give our lives to him, not as an exchange for eternal life; but, we give it as an act of gratitude for what he has already done. It is as if, at the end of the match between Ali and Frazier, Ali were to have given his title to his trainer. I wonder, how are you training and fighting in this contest of life today? Our enemy can throw some devastating punches, but none of them can beat us. Christ has already taken care of that. Let’s get back in the fight!