Some Special Words - Pt 4

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 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!” (John 1:29-36 ESV).

Our fourth word is “substitutionary” as we speak of the atonement. “Substitute” is word we all know well and use often. We are all familiar with substitutes. Teachers substitute for others who are ill. Athletes substitute when others are injured or fatigued or just not playing well. A substitute is one who takes the place of another. We can never ignore the truth that there is a terrible death sentence hanging over the head of every human being. The phrase "substitutionary atonement" means that Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners as our substitute so that that death sentence could be nullified. Since all men are in sin (cf. Romans 3:23) and we deserve death because "the wages of sin is death" (cf. Romans 6:23), the only way we can escape is through “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." It is in his grace that God is making this substitute. We have seen this previously to some extent in the Old Testament. The Israelites could bring a bull, a goat, or a sheep and kill it, and God would accept its blood as a substitute death to pay for human sin. These animals were pictures of God’s ultimate substitute death, the death of his own Son. Thus, when John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” he was using a picture of the substitute sacrifice that God had created centuries before. Jesus is our atoning sacrifice, our substitute. There is another thought in this use of the word in our New Testament description of the work of Christ on the cross. Most substitutes are temporary. Soon the “starter” comes back and the substitute goes away. This is not the case with Jesus. His substitution was “once for all” (cf. 1 Peter 3:18). When Jesus cried out on the cross “It is finished!” he was talking about the work of atonement. It was done. We now have forgiveness, cleansing, and atonement for our sins. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Some Special Words - Pt 3

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).

Our third word is “cleansed”; it is the Greek word καθαρίζει. It only occurs once in the New Testament, here in our reading today. Strong’s defines it as making pure ("clean"), removing all admixture (intermingling of filth). There have been many illustrations of this word offered; and, it is a very common word in our vocabulary. However, as we typically think of terms of “clean” or “cleansed” the use of it by the Apostle John goes further than we typically think of in our normal use. I read a typical example of the prevailing belief of the cleansing of the New Testament. The author said, “Sin is like pounding nails into a board, and forgiveness is pulling out those nails. But you still see the holes.” That view seemed to give him the right to hold a grudge. This is not the picture the Bible uses to describe either God’s forgiveness or ours. They are related (cf. Matthew 6:12, 13-15). In the Bible’s picture, sin is like a repulsive, filthy garment (cf. Isaiah 64:6; Zechariah 3:3). In his forgiveness, God takes our garments and washes them clean. When you look at them after washday, you would never know they were ever dirty; they are spotless and sparkling white. Sins are “washed away” (cf. Acts 22:16). An amazing miracle takes place. In our world, nothing washed in blood comes out white; blood, after all, stains. But in God’s forgiveness, he washes us in the “blood of Jesus His Son” and so “cleanses us from all sin.” And, the Bible’s description of the saints around the heavenly throne in Revelation says that they “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (cf. Revelation 7:14). No wonder David asks for forgiveness in these terms after the conviction and repentance from his sin through the adultery and murder he committed. He cries out to God: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:7-10 ESV). Now, that’s clean! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Some Special Words - Pt 2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:1-6 ESV).

The second word for our consideration is “propitiation.” That’s really not a word we use in our normal daily vocabulary; yet, it is a concept we are very familiar with in our regular activity. The Greek word John uses in our reading is ἱλασμός. It is pronounced “hilasmos” and Strong’s Concordance defines it as an offering to appease or satisfy an angry, offended party. It is only used twice (1 John 2:2, 4:10) both times it is a reference to Christ’s atoning blood that appeases God's wrath, on all confessed sin. By the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus Christ provided the ultimate hilasmós ("propitiation"). Let’s see if I can illustrate with a common story. Johnny often got into trouble with his parents. He refused to stop picking on his sister. He delighted in throwing around his toys and then leaving the room. Sometimes he sassed back at his parents when they confronted him. On many days, by the time they finally got Johnny in bed they were exasperated and angry. Two things needed to be done. As well as finding a constructive way to reinforce positive behavior, Johnny’s parents had to find a way to appease their justifiable anger by consistently applying some means of punishment to their son. That is called propitiation, the process whereby anger is appeased through just punishment. We don’t use that word much anymore, but the concept is very much alive. We all get angry at wrong and need to find ways to deal with that anger. God is angry, too, at his incorrigible human race. Like Johnny, we simply do not behave as we ought, and God becomes angry (cf. Romans 1:18-21). He needed to find some means of punishment to appease his anger. The amazing thing about God’s decision is that he punished his Son as Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He is the propitiation for our sins. Look at it again. He redeemed us; bought us out of our slavery and set us free. Then, he made sure all our punishment was dealt with as Jesus stood in our place and died. Again, it becomes very easy to sing “Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

Some Special Words - Pt 1

Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:6-14 ESV).

There are some very important and unique words used in the New Testament to describe the condition we have been placed in through the grace of God. Some of them are a bit difficult to understand simply because they are not a part of our normal vocabulary. In the next few days we’ll look at some of these and see if we can’t make more sense of them. The first word we’ll consider is “redeemed.” I read the following little story not long ago illustrating this word: John didn’t expect his life to develop the way it had. He was owned by a wealthy man and he had no choice but to work for him, day in and day out. His slavery started because his farming parents had to borrow money to buy food during the winter. The next spring saw a severe drought, and they had no money to repay their creditor. So they had to give him their teenage son as payment; that’s how he became a slave. John tried hard to please his master, but sometimes he failed and was beaten. He felt under a curse. But one day an even wealthier man came and purchased John, not in order to make him his slave but to graciously set John free. What an exciting day; John was redeemed. The biblical term redemption comes from the slave market. In the ancient world many became slaves because of unpaid debts. Life as a slave was often painful and difficult. But people could be redeemed from slavery. We have all been slaves to sin. But Christ redeemed us from that curse and has set us free. The streets of heaven will be filled with former captives who, through no merit of their own, find themselves redeemed, forgiven, and free. No wonder we will sing a new song, a song of praise to the Redeemer who was slain (cf. Revelation 5:9). Jesus paid the price to redeem us, resulting in our freedom from slavery to sin and our rescue from the eternal consequences of that sin. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Our Prayer Agenda

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:1-8 ESV).

Bucky Rowland, one of my best friends, is the Sheriff of Maury County, Tennessee. When I first met him he was the K-9 Drug Enforcement Officer. After his election to sheriff of the county he remarked how many more meetings he was required to have in that position. He also said that a clear agenda was essential to accomplishing the goals for the department. As I was reading today’s passage again I was reminded of how often our prayer agenda is either wrong, or just absent. I found the picture above and thought maybe the best way to have a meeting is with guns drawn. That certainly would settle any disagreements! When we pray, we have no weapons to equal the power of our God. That should help us to recognize that the agenda is God’s, not mine. The pouring out of our hearts in prayer is an emptying of ourselves to be open to receive what God wants of us. This is the mind of Christ, who did not pursue equality with God but “emptied himself” to be a humble servant, obedient to God (Philippians 2:5-8). The attitude of prayer is surrender. Rather than grasping what I want, I should yield to God’s will. In the prayer of surrender I become an clear reflection of God’s image. I open myself to experience what God desires, surrendering my agenda in love to God. The prayer of surrender will sometimes use words that express praise and thanksgiving, confession and intercession. Sometimes it will be a wordless silence, waiting upon God’s Spirit to speak. Sometimes it will let go of every thought of our own, to simply consent to the loving presence and healing action of God within. Our relationship of love with God is beyond words. Neither our imagination nor our analytical thinking can truly fathom God. We come to know God by receiving the love of Christ. We take the humble position of a recipient, emptied of selfishness, ready to be transformed by the grace and love of Christ. Check your agenda today. Pray selflessly.

The "Us" of Prayer

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:1-7 ESV).

Our reading today emphasizes the “us” of prayer. Prayer has never been a purely a private affair. To a superficial observer it may look as though we are closing in on ourselves when we pray in solitude. But the truth is just the opposite. Prayer brings us into contact with God. Far from being alone, we enter communion with the One who is the Source of all. We communicate with the One in whose love we have been created. Communion with God also brings us into oneness with all that the Creator has made. Prayer brings us into community. In prayer we enter a close relationship with God, drawing us into communion with all people and all creation. Like Jesus, we need times of solitude—just being with our heavenly Father. Out of that relationship we enter into corporate prayer as a community of faith. We are members of the body of Christ. Our prayers, as Jesus taught, are addressed to our Father. We pray for our daily bread and we ask God to forgive us. When we pray we are interceding for all of God’s people. I must confess that I have looked when told to “close your eyes and bow your heads.” I suppose I have been motivated by curiosity more than anything else in doing so. However, this little quirk has led to a few observations. I have noticed that children look around too. We have not really understood fully how much we teach in non-verbal ways in our churches. The things we do are noticed. I have also noticed that much of the time the prayers done in public are really not communal prayer. Most of the time it is one person who is talking to a lot of other people; it is often just an extension of the sermon. That is especially true when people quote Scripture when they pray publicly. I wonder if they really think God needs to be reminded of what He wrote. Perhaps John Calvin helps us most with the “us in prayer. He said that in solitary prayer we are formed for expression of prayer with others. Prayer in secret equips us for prayer in community.

More and Faster

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. (Isaiah 30:15-17 ESV).

It is believed that the first computer was the ENIAC. In was developed in 1946 at Princeton University. It cost about $6,000,000. It was about 8 feet high, 3 feet deep, and 80 feet long. It weighed 30 tons. It used a lot of power and it was very hot. And, it was down half the time to replace vacuum tubes that had gone bad. The cell phone is the most common computer that most of us carry around. It cost 17,000 times less; it is 40,000,000 times smaller; it uses 400,000 times less power; and, it is 120,000 times lighter. It is also 1,300 times more powerful. And, this is the “old” turn-of-the-century cell phone with texting, MP3, and 0.3 mega-pixel picture capabilities. This is the one that was once used on the Verizon network commercial as the technician walked and said, “Can you hear me now?” The technology we possess now allows us to do something we could never have done as efficiently. We call it “multitasking.” With a telephone headset I can be doing other things as I am talking on the phone. I can be writing on my computer, planning an event, drinking a cup of coffee, checking my schedule on my IPhone, and conversing with someone, all at the same time. It has become a way of life in our 21st century society. We have achieved “more and faster”; and, it seems to never be enough. Our reading today encourages us: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Prayer really cannot be done while we multitask. It should be a time when we let go of all cares except one; it is then that we are consumed in a loving relationship with God. Our whole being becomes centered in the One who is the Center of all. We take time out to be with God and be aware that God is with us. We close down our other tasks simply to receive the transforming love of Christ. Of course we can pray while engaged in other tasks. We may feel that our busy schedule demands such multitasking. But we also need to build into our schedule time when we give our undivided attention to God, time when we are fully receptive to the presence of God and responsive to the action of God. Prayerful resting in God’s love is what enables us to meet the many responsibilities to which we are called. Slow down today and really find your Father beside you.

The Forks in the Road

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24 ESV).

I know that the genealogies of the Bible are often overlooked; however, in our reading today there is a wonderful phrase used of Enoch. Moses says, “Enoch walked with God.” I have tried to imagine what it would be like to “walk with God.” It is a wonderful simile. We say we are on a “spiritual journey.” I have found that the difficulty is always in making the decision at the forks in the road. This is especially true when I can’t quite see the end of the path. I often think that if I could just see over the rise ahead I might be able to make a better decision. The truth is that we would only be further confused if we could see ahead of the path. The whole of faith in Christ is that we only need to see as far as the length of our arm to our hand. It is there that we find His hand and can know that we are on the right path. He knows the way because he is the way. Regardless of the many choices we are faced with in our lives, walking hand in hand with Jesus will never lead us off the right path. Knowing that, there are some things that we can concentrate on that will help us through all the twists and turns of life. 1. First, we should seek to live with a constant grateful awareness of God. One of the great things about living in Texas now is the ability to sit on the porch at night and watch the sunset. I am always amazed how wonderful God is in giving us such simple pleasures. 2. Secondly, it means to live with a heart continually open to the indwelling presence of Christ. I often find myself pondering the great miracle of the Creator God living within me. As mysterious as that is, it is undeniable in its truth. Living with that knowledge helps me make decisions that lead to success. 3. Third, it means to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit consistently. Enoch was certainly not perfect; however, he was consistent in following God’s direction. Even when it didn’t seem logical, he followed God. And, of course, the whole idea of daily life as walking with God depends upon prayer. When we are walking with God it must mean not running on ahead because of our impatience. It means not lagging behind because of my fears. It means immediate and constant discernment of God’s will. There are times when we will offer our efforts to God and times when we simply rest in the divine love given to us. In both work and rest we are with God and God with us. And it all happens through prayer. Talk to your Father in heaven. Just talk to Him. It will be a pleasant surprise how you will find you way so much better.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV).

Recently I was reading some material dealing with the “pace of grace.” I came across a phrase from Susan Muto, who said there is always the danger of wanting to “push ourselves beyond the pace of grace.” It reminded me a great deal of Aesop’s fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” You remember the story and the moral. It speaks to our culture and how both hurried and harried we are. All of us can so easily be driven by our fast-paced, achievement-oriented, technology-dependent society and its pressure to get ahead. But when we move at the pace of grace, the gifts of God that are given in the moment determine both what we are to do and the speed of doing them. When we are attentive to what God is doing we will want to join in His active work. I have often been asked how to maintain this pace. After all, there are some times when the circumstance demands quick and decisive action. For me it comes to achieving a balance in life through prayer. That kind of attentiveness to relationship and communication with the Lord maintains a proper pace. I like to use the biblical metaphor of walking with God. It’s strange how easily I find myself running through life. The danger is that I run ahead, not letting God set the pace. Sometimes the tempo can be fast, sometimes slow, demanding much patience. The important thing is that I am learning to move with God. Sometimes a quiet walk is just what we need. It is through prayer that we get tuned to the providence of God. Through the personal practice of prayer Christ becomes our companion. Then we walk with him, not running ahead or lagging behind. Prayerfully, we live at the “pace of grace.” Let me suggest a few things you can do to help with that pace: 1. Do less. It's hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. 2. Be present. It's not enough to just slow down; you need to actually be mindful of whatever you're doing at the moment. 3. Focus on people. Things will always disappoint; our best life is found in relationship. 4. Appreciate nature. It is God’s great gift to amaze and set us in awe of his power. 5. Find pleasure in anything. Even if it is a small thing, find pleasure in it.

My Final Home

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-7 ESV).

Well, we are getting closer each day to finishing our house in Texas! We’re doing work on the inside and out. This week we should see the electrical finished up and the painting done on the inside; and, brick goes up in the next few days. While building a home can often be frustrating and difficult, we have been very fortunate that there have been very few problems. We are actually a little ahead of schedule! To say we are excited about getting moved in is certainly an understatement. However, if I have learned anything through all of our years of moving from one place to another in ministry, it is that this home too is temporary. The home the Lord is building for me is my permanent residence. That is the incredible message of our reading today. The disciples were shaken and unsure of the future. They had left everything they knew or had in order to follow Jesus. Now they were looking at what they believed to be the end of their grand adventure. As far as they knew nothing had been accomplished and their efforts were all for nothing. They had done some good in some individual situations. They had fed thousands, healed many, and brought peace to people who knew no peace. However, that was all going to end with the death of their leader. To their fears and uncertainty Jesus simply says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” He wanted his followers and friends to understand his death signaled the beginning not the end. He was going to die in order to give them a real home, one that would last forever. And, he wanted them to know he would be the one to lead us all the way back to our perfectly prepared home. Never again will we face the elements, the enemies that harass, or the fears that intimidate. We shall forevermore be treated by our great God and Father as his sons and daughters. When our faith gives way to sight, the trust that lies at the heart of faith will be complete. Don’t lose sight of that great day. We are only struggling momentarily here and now; we will forever be free then and there. That’s some good news!

Jittery Sheep

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV).

Texas is not a state known for its sheep. We are cattle and horse country for the most part. However, I have known some folks who raise sheep. They are jittery little critters! They look calm and relaxed grazing or laying in the pasture until some sound or movement out of the ordinary awakens their suspicious nature. Up they get and off they trot, bleating as they go. It’s their natural protective response of fear. No amount of coaxing seems to persuade them otherwise. But then, I’m not their shepherd. The relationship between the shepherd and his sheep is what’s crucial. He knows them and they recognize his voice. His very presence challenges their many fears: tension within the flock, the “bully boy” sheep, irritating flies and insects, not to mention plain old hunger. In the company of the shepherd, sheep can do what they find so difficult: they can relax and lie down, and do so in the luscious pastures to which he’s led them. David knew this relationship first hand. It is no wonder that he uses it in our reading today. We are much like the sheep. We claim to be fine even though inside we may be anything but that. Someone has suggested that “FINE” is really just an acronym for “Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional.” Perhaps there is more truth to that than we might want to admit. Yesterday we talked a bit about never wanting for anything. David does say in our reading that “The Lord is our shepherd; I shall not want.” Unfortunately, that has led to some misunderstanding among the prosperity theology of our day. There are those who would say that there is nothing outside of our grasp if we just believe. Further, they would say that if you are living the kind of life God wants for you, you will never suffer anything. Well, we know that’s not true. The Apostle Paul was just one of the many faithful who suffered much; yet, he would be the first to say that he was fully satisfied and lacked nothing (cf. Philippians 4:10-13). David understands that real satisfaction means the absence of fear in the face of all circumstances. Let’s commit our every fear to our shepherd, whether big or small. He delights to calm our frantic natures and to feed us on his promises. When you think you have reached the end of your resources and have nowhere to turn, remember you have not been left defenseless. Your Shepherd is watching over you. He will never fail you!

Chasing the Dream

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV).

The question around birthdays or other gift-giving occasions is usually, “What do you want?” My typical response is that “I don’t need anything.” As I thought about that it occurred to me that I have never really “needed” anything. I’ve often wanted things, but never needed them. There are many people in America who cannot say that. The official poverty rate in our country is 14.5%; that means that 45.3 million people in the US live in poverty; an additional 97.3 million (33%) of people living in the United States are low-income, defined as incomes below twice the federal poverty line. Taken together, this means that 48% of our country is poor or low income. I also found out through my research measuring "economic insecurity" that 4 out of 5 (79%) of people in the US live in danger of poverty or unemployment at some point in their lifetime (defined as a year or more of periodic joblessness, reliance on government aid such as food stamps or income below 150 percent of the poverty line). Only 48% of people could handle a $400 emergency expense without selling something or borrowing money. I am aware that real want comes in many shapes and sizes. Yesterday’s luxuries have become today’s necessities, such that the subsistence existence of many in poorer parts of the world is alien to us. However, for many of us our walk by faith has turned into a trot by sight. That brings me to our reading today. Whether writing as a king or as a king-in-the-making, David knew want first-hand. He experienced want financially as a poor shepherd boy, emotionally and spiritually when fighting wild animals, and physically when taking on Goliath. His claim he’d lack for nothing had been forged by experience and was penned in hope. Doubtless he also remembered Moses’ assurance to Israel that in the Promised Land God’s people would not want. If the Lord is our shepherd we too may have this confidence. He will not only supply our every last need, but provide the desires of our hearts. Given this, we can sing with David of the Lord’s providence. Insurance policies, investment accounts, family, friends, and church have their place, but the Lord wants us to lean our full weight ultimately on him. His grace is sufficient, even if it’s made perfect in our weakness. We’re going to look further at this truth tomorrow.

Everyman

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” (John 9:1-12 ESV). Few of the people in our present series of readings are dealt with at such length as the man who was born blind. Nearly two chapters, 89 verses, center on him. Yet he is never named. Perhaps it’s because he represents “Everyman.” He is the Everyman to whom Christ comes as “the light of the world.” The disciples’ question is universal too. “Why this man’s affliction?” opens up the whole problem of evil. Do you notice that whereas they asked the cause of the man’s blindness, Jesus redirected their thinking with an answer about the purpose of it? Your suffering may be your own fault, or your parents’, or your enemy’s, or your neighbor’s, or your ancestors’, or, in the last analysis, the effect of what Milton called “Man’s First Disobedience” in the Garden of Eden. But questions about the “why of cause“ are always academic and not very helpful. Think rather of the “why of purpose.” Jesus said the man had been born blind so that in due course “God’s works might be revealed in him.” That purpose would still include things hard to bear; he was later thrown out of the fellowship of the synagogue. But that was more than compensated by his having found his sight, and his Savior. I have mentioned before the differences between generations that I have noticed as I have grown older. We have now seen the millennials take their place as they reach adulthood in much of our culture; soon we shall see the dawning of what is now being called Generation Z rise to that status. What surprises me most is the high levels of anxiety in both of these groups. The endless choices millennials face have also proven paralyzing. They’re the constantly-swiping-right generation. It’s always on to the next thing. Carol Beaton, in Psychology Today, says an abundance of choices is stressing young people out. Perhaps this is the reason why it is so difficult to simply trust in the goodness of God, especially in the face of what seems to be so bad. For every generation the answer is in the purpose of those bad things. The victory requires trusting in the grace of God. That is the challenge for all of us regardless of age. I can say, as I have gotten older that trust has gotten easier. My prayer and hope for you is that you will trust more and ask why less! Life becomes much more fun that way.

An Uncommon Experience

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:1-13 ESV). Just as everybody in Capernaum knew the centurion, so everybody in Gerasa, facing Capernaum on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, knew the demon-possessed man. For the opposite reason, of course: the soldier inspired admiration, the maniac inspired terror. The gospel writers have not named either of these two men for us. But of all our gallery of anonymous people, today’s character is the one who most nearly wasn’t anonymous at all. Jesus actually asked his name, and perhaps, in a lucid interval, he was beginning to answer, “My name is…” when the demons in his mind took over, shouting “Legion! There are crowds of us!” As Christian converts from other religions have often adopted Christian names in place of their old pagan names, we are also seeing an increase in the number of people converting to Islam and abandoning their English “Christian names” for Muslim ones. For better or worse, what people call themselves sometimes speaks volumes about what they truly are. “Legion,” once he was healed, presumably reverted to whatever his parents had named him. It might have been a very common name for the day. The key was not in the common nature of his name but the uncommon experience he had with Jesus. Everyone in the town must have known of him. After all, he was chained to a tree in the cemetery just on the edge of town. You couldn’t get in or out of town without seeing and hearing him. His wailing must have haunted the townspeople day and night. Yet, when Jesus had finished his conversation with him, he was completely changed. The people had to have wondered who had such power. Thankfully the man had the courage to tell them. In many ways we are just like that man. I hope we have that same courage! We have had that same uncommon experience!

He Will Raise You Up

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (Luke 7:1-10 ESV). I love this story. It is such a contrast to our modern culture and the present generation who questions everything with an all-encompassing and challenging “why?” The centurion almost sounds like a dictator in the way he gives orders and had them obeyed immediately. But that was not how he came across. On the contrary, he is portrayed as a thoroughly nice man. We may not know his name, but everyone in Capernaum would have. A Roman officer, true; to the locals, though, this man was much more than just a representative of a hated foreign army of occupation. He was a respected and generous member of the community, very sympathetic to the Jewish religion and way of life. What Jesus saw in him was something even more laudable. To the centurion the whole command-structure of the military was second nature. Experience told him that when he gave orders, things happened, because the whole authority of Rome stood behind him. But faith told him that Jesus too must have behind him just such an authority, indeed, an even greater one. He simply believed that Jesus’ authority was unquestionably supreme. There couldn’t be another any higher or greater. Jesus had proven his authority even more so that Rome. What many Jews found hard to grasp was obvious to this gentile. Since Jesus was repeatedly doing miracles of healing, he clearly had behind him the full weight of the “Supreme Command.” That was why he could even forgive sins in the name of God. I have so many people who simply failed to make the connection that this soldier made. We find ourselves in the midst of a crisis and question whether God’s good will could possibly be done. Our first inclination is to question why such a calamity should befall us instead of simply trusting the almighty sovereign Creator and Savior. Take a few minutes and listen to this song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT0rhVhXnNA) by the Celtic Women at Shane Castle. He will raise you up!

The Paralytic

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:1-12 ESV). Did you catch that last sentence? Mark says, “They were all amazed.” They had never seen anything like that before. But surely they had. It was by no means the first miracle of healing that Jesus had done in Capernaum. Agreed, it was probably the first, and so far as we know the only time that a roof was broken through to get a sufferer to him; but though that may have been rather surprising, you could scarcely say it was amazing. I think the thing they had not seen before was Jesus dealing with sin as well as suffering. The response of the hard-hearted was, “He says the man’s forgiven, but how do we know, and how does he know, and what right has he to say so?” A more positive response would be, “Since he has the power to heal, he must also have the power to forgive.” Though everybody had seen the man walk away, nobody had actually seen his sins disappear, had they? What they had seen was one who could do nothing, a mere man, completely restored by one who seemingly could do anything, one claiming to be the Son of Man, True Man, the Man with divine power and authority. That was what amazed everyone. It was Jesus’ claim to be able to do what only God could do. You remember that yesterday I quoted Jesus as saying to the woman at the well, “I who speak to you am he.” There is so much assurance in those words. It is the foundation of Jesus’ miraculous work in our reading today. There were many prophets who had healed the infirmities of people before Jesus; however, no one had ever claimed to forgive a man of his sins. And, isn’t that the real healing we need today? I think I’ll be fine if I get into heaven with my infirmities. However, if I don’t get there, I won’t be fine at all. The great miracle of Jesus is that through his work of grace we are forgiven. Perhaps we should focus on that truth today. Go ahead, rise, pick up your bed of affliction, and walk!

I Who Speak to You Am He

Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. (John 4:16-30 ESV). I just can’t seem to find a good stopping place when it comes to focusing on the unnamed characters of the Biel who played such an incredible role in the life and ministry of Jesus. Today we look at the Samaritan woman Jesus met at Jacob’s well. We do need to remember that some our nameless but memorable Bible characters in these readings are outsiders who with a variety of motives. Many of them really came just to see this “new” prophet of Israel; however, this woman is someone who went a step further. Having met this representative of Israel’s God and listened to words so intriguing, so searching, the woman went off to persuade her friends and neighbors in their turn to “come and see.” She who had come and seen then went and told. She left her water jar there with Jesus, but she would soon be back, bringing others. Perhaps the most significant exchange that Jesus had with her was not in the convicting declaration of her past failures. Surely everyone in the town knew of those. That would have been the reason she came to the well at such a late hour. Undoubtedly she wanted to avoid all of those who would have caused her any further emotional pain. I believe that when she declared her belief that a messiah was coming and Jesus simply said, “I who speak am he” that she must have been filled with all sorts of wonderful emotion. For her this was a moment of great victory. Her fear was turned to ease. She found such joy and courage she could not care what anyone in her hometown thought of her any longer. She had been set free from her shame and guilt. No wonder she invited them to come and see such a man. Perhaps we need to hear those words again. Walk in that freedom that Jesus is indeed who he claims to be!

The Wise Men

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:7-12 ESV). Like so many other unnamed individuals God uses in His purpose, the Wise Men were outsiders, drawn to God’s land and God’s people by the news of something worth finding there. They came “from the ends of the earth” to find the One God had sent as His chosen King. It is interesting that we assume there were three men, or that they were kings. Actually the Bible doesn’t give us that information. There were three gifts presented; and, the gifts were extravagant, but we don’t know how many or what station they occupied in their culture. Yet they are there in Scripture as representatives of a vast multitude, with neither roots in Israel nor claims on Israel’s God, who are nonetheless drawn into Israel’s blessings. They have not even been the objects of anyone’s deliberate evangelistic efforts. It is interesting to consider why they came to Jesus. It should not be overlooked that though the Wise Men seem such colorful, exotic characters, it was simply in the course of their regular work that something had caught their attention and moved them to seek it out. They were astronomers. They made their life’s work to study certain phenomena in the stars and their alignment. One evening they saw something very unique and knew it would require their traveling to fully investigate its meaning. That quest led them to the savior. I find it of particular interest that this story can be repeated often both in the church and in our individual lives. Sometimes people turn up uninvited and unexpectedly in our lives. They may end up asking about Jesus. I wonder if we are always prepared to answer their questions. I have found those questions to be challenging at times. They challenge my ideas of what should or shouldn’t be considered “right.” Perhaps these guests may even threaten the status quo of our comfortable lifestyle. Herod certainly was uncomfortable in our reading today when these men came to him. His reaction denied the work of God completely. I fear we do the same at times. Our call is to be prepared to be caught up in God’s evangelistic plans, even if we have not been involved in making them. The Magi knew that. Maybe that’s why we call them “wise men.”

Frazzled

The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judges 13:21-25 ESV). Our reading today comes at the end of a wonderful passage that details the prophecy of the birth of Samson. It is also another example of another unnamed individual who played a prominent role in the purpose of God. Samson’s mother is simply called “the woman.” We know his name, which is Manoah, but not hers. Some might say this is simply a reflection of the culture of the time when women were regarded as inferior. We do know this is true in Jesus’ day. In fact, he spoke to this in several passages. Not only were there female disciples in Jesus’ following, there are other references that point to the equality of women in Jesus’ mind (cf. Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28). It is easy to dismiss the notion that Samson’s mother is left unnamed because of some prejudice toward women. The truth is that it simply was not important to the central truth of the story. Neither she, nor her husband, was important to the story’s truth. It is God who does the work to bring a deliverer to the nation. The terror of the moment scatters Manoah’s wits, while his wife rises above it with bracing commonsense. “Use your head,” says Samson’s mother to Samson’s father. They are not yet Samson’s parents. They believe they are not able to have children. But a mysterious stranger has just told them that they are, after all, going to have a son. Then before their astonished eyes the “man of God” rises into the air and disappears! “It’s the Lord himself,” squeaks the husband in terror. “We shall be struck dead. No one can survive seeing God face to face.” “Don’t be stupid,” says the wife. “If we die, how are we going to produce the child he’s promised?” Well, that’s about right!

Isn’t it our common experience how easily we panic when faced with a particularly difficult experience? It is so much better when we are able to keep our wits about us when emotion threatens to blow away clear thinking. Getting frazzled at the circumstance of life denies the sufficiency of our God. The best way to face anything life may have for us is to remember that our God has “got it”! turn your frustrations toward Him and trust that His promise to work good is unfailing!

Pharaoh

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:18-21 ESV). Another unnamed character of the Bible is the pharaoh of the Exodus. A pharaoh actually figured in the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. “Pharaoh” is mentioned even in the story of Solomon. At first we might think this individual must have lived a very long time, though it becomes clear that there must be several of him. It is somewhat like the eighteen kings of France who were all called Louis. Further, history tells us that “Pharaoh” was not in fact a name, but simply the Egyptian word for “King.” In one way the Pharaohs were all alike, and we don’t need to know the names that distinguish them from one another. All of them stood for a famous, historic, powerful empire, organized without any concern for God. Old Testament Egypt shows us what many New Testament Scriptures mean by the expression “the world.” It is uncanny how Egypt is so like the world we live in today. “Pharaoh” will admire and use men of God like Joseph when it suits him. But usually he ignores them, or suppresses them, or even persecutes them. There is an important message embedded in these stories. We shouldn’t be surprised when the pharaohs of our world ignore and work toward abolishing all of our Christian principles. Ravi Zacharias says: “The shift that is taking place is very calculated. Eastern religions are protected in today’s society because to critique Eastern religions is seen as culturally insensitive and prejudicial. But the Christian faith, which is the target of Western culture (but people have forgotten that it came from the East), is now the dartboard. Society can attack any aspect of Christianity.” This shouldn’t take us by surprise. Jesus said, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” There’s the real answer. Remember. There is a reason why we don’t know any of the pharaoh’s names from the Bible. They are of no consequence. They may be a part of the story, but only so far as they further the message that God is in control and working toward the deliverance of His people. Of course, we should be equipped to give a good answer to the charges against our faith; but, our faith is stronger than any charge leveled against it. Trust the character and work of God. He knows your name!

Potiphar's Wife

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed. (Genesis 39:6-23 ESV). The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife came to mind as I was writing yesterday’s devotional. I talked a bit about the unnamed people of the Bible. In our reading today we know some of the characters names. We know the young handsome man. That was Joseph. We know the older man. He was obviously important, a person of standing in the royal court, a man of influence and integrity, and Joseph’s master and owner. His name is Potiphar. But who’s the woman? She knows how to use everyone else for her own ends; she is forceful, manipulative, lustful, and vengeful. Surely the story records her name too; after all, she dominates the scene in this story. She is determined either to seduce or to destroy Joseph, browbeating his fellow-slaves, both betraying and deceiving her own husband Potiphar. Well, we really don’t need to trouble ourselves over a name for her, says the Lord. It’s of no significance in my scheme of things. From my point of view, as I tell the story, all she is there for is to forward my plans, in order to get my servant Joseph into the place from which he will rise to be Grand Vizier of Egypt, and the savior of nations. That’s how our God works. Again the message is clear. Trust in Him. He always has our good working!

Ole What's-His-Name

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. (Psalm 147:1-6 ESV). Sometimes I am not very good with remembering names. Inevitably I will ask my wife about “ole what’s-his-name” in reference to someone we have met in the course of our activities. I know there are various memory courses that can be done to improve that, but I have never done one. The results certainly show my not having improved through the years as well. As I read from the psalms recently, it occurred to me that God’s memory is far different than mine. The psalmist declares that God not only knows how many stars there are but also has a name for every single one of them. The verses surrounding this are not about stars but about the Lord’s people, who are just as numerous and whom he knows in the same sort of way. In fact, the particulars of every person who has ever lived, including his or her name, are all in God’s mind. With that thought in mind, it is intriguing to find some “anonymous” people mentioned here and there in Scripture. In fact, there are a number of well-known characters who remain anonymous. We hear the declaration of the queen of Sheba as she confirms the incredible wealth and power of Solomon, but we really don’t know her name. You certainly recall the story of the rich young ruler called, yet we don’t know his name. The paralytic that was lowered to Jesus through the roof is nameless; the demoniac Jesus healed at the Gadarenes is nameless. And, there are many more. We’re simply not told, so we don’t know. But God does. And perhaps that is the point. There are any number of things that for a variety of good reasons, not just curiosity, we should like to know, but that God doesn’t tell us. It’s as if to say, “Provided you know me, you can leave to me all the stuff you don’t know.” That is called trust. One day, of course, we shall know. That is called hope. Today, however, I simply don’t need all that knowledge. I merely need the One who possesses it. No wonder the psalmist begins by declaring “Praise the Lord!” there is so much to praise him for and about. I am always amazed and standing in awe of the glorious character and grace of our God. It is easy for me to begin every day with that thought. When I do, it makes every other part of the day go much better. Try it and see if I’m correct.

The Fear of God

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:20-33 ESV). I am afraid that we have often misunderstood the concept of “the fear of the Lord.” There is a dichotomy in the Scripture concerning this principle; however, to ignore it in favor of a concept that does not include the awful consequences of ignoring God’s direction will bring nothing but destruction. It makes us vulnerable to the world without God’s strength and power. William D. Eisenhower puts it this way in his article 'Fearing God" in Christianity Today: Unfortunately, many of us presume that the world is the ultimate threat and that God's function is to offset it. How different this is from the biblical position that God is far scarier than the world …. When we assume that the world is the ultimate threat, we give it unwarranted power, for in truth, the world's threats are temporary. When we expect God to balance the stress of the world, we reduce him to the world's equal …. As I walk with the Lord, I discover that God poses an ominous threat to my ego, but not to me. He rescues me from my delusions, so he may reveal the truth that sets me free. He casts me down, only to lift me up again. He sits in judgment of my sin, but forgives me nevertheless. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but love from the Lord is its completion. I think we begin by understanding to fear God is not to be afraid of him. God’s first word to us is always, “Do not be afraid.” Though facing God can be terrifying. Fear is the proper human response in the presence of God. Fear means we understand who we are and who we aren’t, as well as who God is. The fear of the Lord means living in a proper relationship to God. Eugene Peterson says fools “thumb their noses at wisdom.” Fools don’t get it; they don’t realize there is more to life than what they can see, taste, smell, touch, and hear. It is foolish not to know we ought to tremble and be on our knees when we come into the presence of God. This is the first step to Jesus’ grace. Have you taken that step? Solomon says that’s the beginning.

Wisdom

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:1-7 ESV).

In the movie, The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda says to Luke, “That is why you fail.” Yoda, the master of the Force, is merely being brutally honest with Luke, who breathlessly says, “I don’t believe it,” after his Master raises an X-wing from the Dagobah swamp. It’s a definitive statement that comes from Yoda’s years and years of experience as a Jedi and a teacher, and it cuts through both to Luke and the audience. As I have begun to read the Proverbs again, I was reminded of this scene from our reading today. Solomon, the wisest man to live, begins to write the collection of his years of practicing the wisdom of God and simply states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” All of them are predicated on faith. Knowledge is just a beginning. In the next few days we’ll look at some of these practices. Proverbs was intended to help the reader learn how to live a meaningful, godly life. A few years ago there was a best-seller called “Life’s Little Instruction Book.” A few thousand years before that, Solomon had already compiled “Life’s Big Instruction Book” in the proverbs. The proverbial key to a good life is wisdom. Remember, wisdom is not the same thing as intelligence. Wisdom is practical, not theoretical. Wisdom is shown by a godly life. Such wisdom, Paul reminds us, may look foolish in the world’s eyes. But remember, “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.” So, let’s get started. The entire theme of Proverbs is stated explicitly early in this very verse about the “beginning of knowledge.” He introduces the fear of the Lord as a reference to our viewing God with the respect He deserves. It means living our lives in light of what we know of Him, holding Him in the highest estimation, and depending on Him with humble trust. Only then, Solomon teaches, will we discover knowledge and wisdom. It simply harkens back to the beginning of faith. Through faith we are able to reckon that God is separate and beyond anything we can even imagine. Yet, he has made himself accessible to each of his children through the sacrificial work of Christ. It is belief in that work of grace that opens the door to wisdom. And it is through wisdom that we are able to live the kind of life Jesus would consider “abundant.” It is an audacious undertaking, but completely within our grasp. Begin today by believing.

There's No Place Like Home

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:7-13 ESV).

Almost everyone is aware of the story of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. When we visited the National Museum of Natural History located within the complex of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, we were able to see the Ruby Slippers that sixteen year-old Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in the 1939 film classic. In the original book by L. Frank Baum, Dorothy’s magic slippers are silver; for the Technicolor movie, they were changed to ruby red to show up more vividly against the yellow-brick road. The ones in the Smithsonian are one of several pairs used during filming, these size-five shoes are well-worn, suggesting they were Garland’s primary pair for dancing scenes. The key to the importance of the shoes was that when she clicked the heels together and said “I want to go home” she would be instantly transported back to her home in Kansas. I have nothing against Kansas, but that’s not my home. My home is in heaven. When Jesus instructed the disciples in prayer, he emphasized the need to focus on that kingdom. For as long as God gives us breath, we can worship him, grow as believers, and impact his kingdom on earth. As we do so, we must remember that there are really two aspects to the kingdom of God. There is the kingdom here and now, and the fullness of God’s kingdom that will only come when Christ returns. John helps us understand that kingdom. He describes the wonder of this new heaven and earth, the end of pain, sorrow, and death, and the glory of the Holy City (cf. Revelation 21). As we follow Christ in this world, we do so never forgetting what is to come. The kingdom here and now, and the glory that awaits, motivate us to thank, praise, serve, follow, and depend upon our great God and King. As a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of his body, this is our encouragement. Worship him in the fellowship of the church. Strengthen and build up the body of Christ. Look outward in ministry, proclaiming and living out the good news of the gospel for the world to see. Let the Father’s will be done in your life until that glorious day when you see him face to face. Oh, by the way, you need not worry about getting any red slippers to click together. Jesus has already taken care of providing the way home. It is through Him. He is preparing it for each of us. When he is done, he will come and get us.

The Keys to the Kingdom

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20 ESV).

I was browsing vacation spots and I came across an ad for a special tour of the Disney Magic Kingdom. It was built around “unlocking” the history and “magic” of Disney. The ad went on to say: “This 5-hour walking tour explores the creation and remarkable growth of one of the most beloved parks at Walt Disney World Resort! Explore secret locations you’ve always wondered about and get the inside scoop on some of your favorite attractions. During your tour you will uncover the hidden secrets of classic attractions at Magic Kingdom park; access the famed underground “Utilidor” tunnels that allow people and supplies to travel beneath the park unseen; discover little-known facts, trivia and other exciting tidbits about the park; enjoy a delicious lunch; and, take home an exclusive keepsake key.” Well, Mary and I probably won’t be taking that tour, but it did remind me of our reading today. It focuses on the third fundamental of the faith. We are to be ministry focused in the church. Remember that when Jesus spoke about building his church to Peter and the disciples, he was speaking about a movement, not a facility. He was referring to the body of Christ, the living Christian church that has spread throughout the world. Methods of ministry may change, but nothing can defeat the church that Jesus Christ calls us to be a part of. We are to be people of God empowered by God to reach out with the gospel. When this happens, not even the gates of Hades can prevail against the work of God. The church will always be relevant because the message that we are called to proclaim is always relevant. These are the “keys” we have been given. They unlock the power and strength of our Source, the Holy Spirit. As we come to a close of this little series, it is important to remember we have not been left without power or authority. Jesus has given all that we need to continue the spread of His message of grace. It is not our power and resourcefulness that will win over death and hell; it is the power of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Stand on that foundation.

The Pit Crew

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-20 ESV).

My grandson, Logan, loves NASCAR. He and I follow Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the chase. It is always exciting to watch a race. Of course, most of the action is typically followed on the track. There is a lot of excitement when they get four-wide on a track going nearly 200 mph. Everyone agrees that the most powerful tool a NASCAR driver has is his car; however, their car wouldn't surv¬ive one race without the care it gets from the pit crew. NASCAR pit crews are sometimes called the unsung heroes of the sport. That's because they keep the car and the driver going, but they often get very little credit. However, those who are in the know recognize that NASCAR crew members are an integral part of every NASCAR victory and are superb athletes in their own right. Imagine the frustration a race car driver would feel if he pulled in for a pit stop only to see half of the pit crew remain on the other side of the wall. What if the tire changer sat sulking because he wasn’t allowed to fill the gas tank? Silly isn’t it? As crazy as that sounds, it happens all too often in churches where members find themselves merely sitting on the sidelines. They have been created by God, redeemed by Christ, and equipped with gifts through the Holy Spirit, but they are not using the gifts God has entrusted to them. This not only hurts the joy and fruitfulness of the believer but it is also harmful for the overall ministry of the church. The apostle speaks to that in our reading today. When we neglect to identify or use our spiritual gifts, the whole body suffers. A part of the fundamental of personal and corporate growth is identifying and developing the unique talents and gifts that God has given us for service in the church and beyond. My encouragement to you today is to do that. Even if you have been hurt along the way, don’t quit. Find that place where you best fit and persevere within that gift. If you have somehow fallen into the trap of believing your gifts and talents are not as important as others, remember the pit crew. Every one of them is essential to win the race!

How Do We Get There?

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19 ESV).

Today we continue to look at the fundamental principle of personal growth. As I have often said, I am one of those folks best described as “directionally challenged.” That description calls to mind someone who has difficulty in figuring out where they parked their car, or which way to turn to get to a specific location. You may also be one of those folks. Believe me, I am not attempting to either criticize or make light of this characteristic. Sometimes it is a very real disability. At other times it is just a matter of not paying attention to where I am or where I am going. The truth is that every one of us is directionally challenged, spiritually. Left to our own imaginations, feelings, emotions we are like someone walking around in life with no sense of direction or guidance. I’ve seen enough of man’s wisdom and where it leads to know that it can’t be trusted. We all need truth. We need God’s ‘yes’ and God’s ‘no.’ The only reliable authority on earth is the Scripture. It gives us our direction. It is our compass. It is the foundation for our lives. To build on any other foundation is dangerous and unwise. Whether we are looking for direction about how to worship God, grow and build up one another, or minister to others, our motives and methods must be biblical. The Word must be our guide. In order for that to be true, we must regularly read, hear, apply, memorize, and study God’s Word. Kyle recently showed me a wonderful application that might be of interest to you in reading and memorizing Scripture. It is called Scripture Typer (https://scripturetyper.com/). I have downloaded it and it is far better than the old “flip cards” I used to use. Give it a try. Make Scripture your only compass!

The Fundamental of Growth

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20 ESV).

The second fundamental of the faith we are looking at in this little mini-series is personal and communal growth. The Gospels remind us that we are to do more than worship God on Sunday. We are to build up and encourage one another as we serve God together. The fellowship of believers in the early church, as described in Acts 2:42-47, reveals a communal atmosphere of worship, growth, and ministry. So, today, we turn from worship to thinking about discipleship. The church is meant to be a body, a group of committed followers of Jesus Christ. The paths of each of our individual journeys often appear to be long and lonely. However, Jesus never intended us to walk alone; we are to walk together, just as Jesus sent the disciples out to minister in pairs. Together is better. Together we pray for one another, share one another’s burdens, visit the sick, comfort the oppressed, teach and encourage, maintain accountability, and combine our God-given gifts in ministry. Perhaps one of the most critical principles for us to understand is expressed by A.W. Tozer: “If we truly want to follow God we must seek to be other-worldly. This I say knowing well that that word has been used with scorn and applied to the Christian as a badge of reproach. So be it. Every man must choose his world.” The Apostle John helps us in the Gospel he wrote, as he quotes Jesus: 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). In God’s kingdom, there must be an attitude of humility, teamwork, unity, and a servant’s heart. We ought to seek teamwork and unity in your fellowship of believers. This will allow us to minister effectively with others. The Lord did not send people out alone. He sent them ahead in pairs to do his work, proclaim the good news, and minister to those in need. Find your partnership in faith.

Why Worship?

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100 ESV). The motivation to worship God is a key principle in developing the fundamentals of the faith. For some, worship is motivated by guilt, duty, what others will think, or an effort to earn God’s blessing. Tragically in recent decades church leaders have developed a motivational strategy of guilt. It has worked. Unfortunately it only worked in building crowds of people who attend church gatherings. With the dawning of the cultural and societal changes in the decades of 1960-1980, the organization of the church began to shift. In fact, by 1960 our nation was on the verge of a total social change. American society had been dominated primarily by old-stock, white males. During the 1960s, groups that previously had been submerged or subordinate began more forcefully and successfully to assert themselves. Much of the support they received came from a young population larger than ever, making its way through a college and university system that was expanding at an unprecedented pace. Frequently embracing “countercultural” life styles and radical politics, many of the offspring of the World War II generation emerged as advocates of a new America characterized by a cultural and ethnic pluralism that their parents often viewed with unease. The real motivation for worship was lost in the change as more control was used to build and maintain the church programs. As time passed more and more people simply lost both the motivation and felt need for worship. Our reading helps us with that. They teach us that our fundamental motivation for worship is gratitude. We can all enter into worship with thanksgiving because we have all been blessed by God. I know that it may seem that God has not blessed you at times, especially when you are walking through a challenging time. Israel provides us with an example in that regard. It always strikes me how ungrateful the Israelites were despite the tremendous deliverance God provided. In the book of Exodus, we find God punishing the Egyptians while sparing the Israelites. He brought his people out of slavery, only to hear them grumble, complain, and even express a desire to return to slavery. He led them into the Promised Land, only to watch them worship other gods. They had so much to be thankful for, yet often neglected to show gratitude to God. In light of God’s rich grace, most powerfully revealed through the gift of Jesus Christ, we ought to be people who live with gratitude. Given what God has done for us, we can turn our attention to the ultimate blessing of our secured hope in heaven. It is not guilt that motivates; it is the release from guilt that sends us to worship.