Christian Hedonism - Pt 2

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:34-39 ESV).

There are some who have wrongly come to the conclusion that faith can be neatly separated from feelings. They see emotions, whether good or bad, like a caboose at the end of the train that can be disconnected with no great loss. That’s not the way the Scripture talks about the Christian faith. It is not as though this train could go on chugging down with no love for God burning in the engine. This is especially true in the cases of repeated pain and rejection. In our reading today, Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (v. 37). I think the effort to distinguish saving faith from feelings of glad dependence and thankful trust and heartfelt admiration and pleased submission and contented resting and earnest treasuring is futile and hopeless. You cannot strip all those adjectives — glad, thankful, heartfelt, pleased, contented, earnest — from faith and have any saving faith left. What you have left is what the devil can do, or mere oxymorons like unthankful saving trust. In fact, I think the effort to define faith as something devoid of feeling is driven by an ancient and very modern belief in the autonomy of the human will that must be in final control of its destiny. Everyone knows we can’t immediately control our feelings or emotions or affections. You can’t make yourself feel thankful. You can say the words thank you, but you can’t make yourself feel thankful. It’s either there or it’s not. You can’t make yourself feel pleased or glad. Therefore, that view of human nature that says we have to be able to control our own destiny, our own salvation, has to say that saving faith cannot include things I can’t control. “I have to be in control,” they insist. That is simply not what the Bible teaches. The Bible requires many things of us that we cannot immediately produce because we are so corrupt and rebellious. Yet we are responsible to produce them because a sinful condition is no excuse for disobedience. Happiness is not produced by disconnecting from painful circumstances. Happiness comes from connecting to the relationship offered to us through Christ with our heavenly Father!

Christian Hedonism - Pt 1

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:7-10 ESV).

My work in the area of counseling and life coaching has primarily been with people who are suffering as a result of some difficult circumstance, whether self-induced or not. I often remark that no one comes to me and asks for my help staying the same. Further I often begin the process of extricating ourselves from the pain of circumstance by going to our reading today. Jesus says, The thief comes in to steal and kill and destroy. I cam that they may have life and have it abundantly.” That brings me to this unalterable understanding that God’s will for me is to be happy. John Piper may be the most well-known reformed pastor who has made this claim of “Christian Hedonism.” He explains it in this way: Christian Hedonism is the conviction that God’s ultimate goal in the world (his glory) and our deepest desire (to be happy) are one and the same, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Not only is God the supreme source of satisfaction for the human soul, but God himself is glorified by our being satisfied in him. Therefore, our pursuit of joy in him is essential. Christian Hedonism claims that the Christian life should be the pursuit of maximum joy in God — joy both in quality and quantity. Fullness of joy and joy forevermore (Psalm 16:11) are found only in him. I certainly will acknowledge that the term “hedonism” attached to the word “Christian” is at least shocking; however, I believe that when we understand our calling into the grace of God through Christ’s atoning work, we must understand the truth that happiness is present, even in the most painful of circumstances. It cannot be minimized that emotions, the affections of the heart, matter just as much as the thoughts of our mind. And, of course, I am not an advocate of simply thinking happy thoughts as a means to happiness. So, over the next few days I hope to make the case that Christian faith, saving faith, is not merely intellectual assent to doctrines, but the entrance into a relationship of our heart with the heart of God. This is what will awaken us the truth that sets us free. This is what will allow someone to pursue satisfaction in God. This is what is truly rooted in glorifying God. That’s the real abundant life!

The Livin' is Easy

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:1-3 ESV).

After yesterday’s devotional, I had another thought. It took me down some historically older paths in the entertainment arena. "Summertime" is actually an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera, Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by Dubose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based. The song soon became a popular and much recorded jazz standard which was later recorded by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald (You may listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHAfhPrrKHA). The song declares, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy”. I am sure it was written when life was much different than what it is now. If you’re like most people, you are hoping that summer will be a time to kick back and relax a little, but maybe you’re afraid that it will end up like most other summers with lots to do and flying past far too quickly. But while we may bemoan the fast pace of summer with all of its chores, the packing and unpacking for vacations, and repeated trips to all the ball games for our children or grandchildren, it might be good to stop and think about “easy living.” So, let me give you some perspective from the Scripture about the importance of rest. Our reading notes that God Himself rested after six days of creating the universe. Knowing that time to rest was important for the people He created, God instituted the Sabbath so that we would get the point that no one can work without a break along the way. Tanks that run on “weary” all the time soon lack the stamina to do well spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and relationally. Even Jesus, with more sermons to preach, more people to heal, and more tasks to accomplish for His Father, often went apart to rest a while. I am not sure why it is that some of us feel guilty or unfulfilled if we are not busy all the time. It’s important to realize that not everything needs to be done, at least not done right now. It may be more important to sit back with a tall glass of iced tea and contemplate the beauty of nature and the greatness of our God who is as faithful to us as the dependability of the seasons. I hope you will carve out a little easy livin’ time this week and refresh your heart and spirit with blessedness instead of business. And don’t worry; the chores will still be there. They aren’t going anywhere!

Summertime

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Colossians 1:15-18 ESV).

As we near June, most of the schools are out for the summer and “vacation” officially begins. For me, since I’m always “on vacation,” the schedule doesn’t look much different. I have noticed that Texas summer weather is beginning to settle in. That means hot and dry in our area. While we have had a lot of rain this spring, we never seem to get enough. The rain is refreshing for our area. We depend on it for many reasons, not the least of which is replenishing our drinking water sources. It reminds me of our reading today. The apostle simply states the refreshing nature of Jesus. That brings me to offer a caution: Flight from him into Christ-less leisure will psrch the soul. At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the Word. But then we pay with the encroaching shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit. Don’t let summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. If you get a wonderful text from a loved one, you don’t fall in love with Sprint! That’s what summer is: God’s messenger with a sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening letter of love to show us what he is planning for us in the age to come. We should exercise additional caution so that we don’t find ourselves in a position to miss the Creator in view of the created. Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is pre-eminent in all things (v. 18). This certainly ought to include vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. Of course, his invitation is to enjoy all of the leisure possible this summer. It is designed to bring us “rest” (cf. Matthew 11:28). The real question is whether we want His kind of rest? Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). In the summer the earth is very much with us. And it is God’s earth! But, it is all prelude to the real joy of heaven. Summer is for seeing and showing that. I hope you will see the Light beyond the light! Seek that this summer!

Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 6

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 39:21-23 ESV).

Yesterday we saw the pattern that good often comes through suffering. Today we see a second truth: the story of Joseph and the terrible betrayal and evil of his brothers prepare us to see Jesus not just because of the general pattern that God’s saving victory for his people often comes through suffering and sin, but more specifically, in this case, because the very one who is suffering and being sinned against is so righteous. Joseph stands out in this story for his amazing constancy and faithfulness to every relationship. Even in undeserved exile, he’s faithful to Potiphar and he is faithful to the jailer. He is a righteous man, even when there seems to be no reason to be so. 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. And what was Joseph’s reward? He was lied about by Potiphar’s wife, and the cupbearer of Pharaoh, whose dream Joseph interpreted, thanklessly forgot about him in prison for two years after the dreams. So the point of all this is not just that there is sin and suffering and that God is at work in it to save his people. More specifically, the point is that the righteous one, even though mistreated for so long, is finally vindicated by God. Even though others have rejected this righteous stone, God makes him the cornerstone (cf. Matthew 21:42). His vindication becomes the very means of the salvation of his persecutors. Jesus Christ is the final and ultimate and perfect righteous one (cf. Acts 7:52). It looked to others as if his life was going so badly that he must be a sinner. But in the end, all the sin against him, and all the suffering he endured in perfect righteousness, led to his vindication and, because of it, to our salvation. If Joseph is amazing in his steadfastness, Jesus is exponentially more amazing, because he experienced exponentially more suffering and did not deserve it at all. He was perfectly steadfast, faithful, and righteous through it all. This offers us an incredible encouragement. He loved us so much that he willingly endured the rejection, pain, and death on our behalf. Will he withhold any good thing from us? Spurgeon had it right… kiss the waves that throw us against the Rock of Ages!

Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 5

His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:18-21 ESV).

56+This is what we have seen and will see over and over: What man designs — or the devil designs — for evil, God designs for some great good. The great good is “to preserve life” (cf. Genesis 45:5). And the great good mentioned in our reading is “to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”( v. 50). But in those words, and the whole story of how God saves his people, are pointers to the global purpose of this sin, this life-saving sin, in the glory of Jesus Christ. There are three specific things we will look at in the next few days in this regard. These things clearly mark the glory of Jesus and who he really is. First, we see the general pattern that turns up over and over in the Bible, namely, that God’s saving victory for his people often comes through sin and suffering. Joseph’s brothers sinned against him, and he suffered for it. And in all this, God is at work to save his people, including the very ones who are trying to destroy the savior. The fact that Jesus came this way should not have been as surprising to as many people as it was. That he was sinned against and suffered on the way to save his people is what we would expect from this pattern that turns up again and again. So in the story of Joseph and the terrible betrayal of his brothers, we are being prepared to see the glory of Christ, his patience and humility and servanthood, all the while saving the very ones who were trying to get rid of him. The great hymnist, Charles Wesley, wrote it best: And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain- For me, who Him to death pursued? Died he for me, who caused his pain — For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 4

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:4-5 ESV). The answer to how the people wound up in Egypt is clear at one level. They got there by means of the terrible betrayal. It was nothing less than attempted murder, greedy slave-dealing, and the heartless deceit of a broken-hearted old man. On the surface Joseph must have felt like his entire life had been shipwrecked and left derilect on the shore. But the Bible describes this as a fulfillment of God’s prophecy. First, in our reading today (v. 5), Joseph says to his brothers who are very afraid of him: “Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” He understood it was God’s way of sending Joseph to Egypt in order to save the very ones who were trying to kill him. And lest we think this was a side comment with little significance, we read the very same thing in Psalm 105:16-17, only there the stakes are raised even higher. Not only was God ruling the actions of these brothers to get Joseph to Egypt, but God was ruling the famine as well: When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. So put out of your mind the thought that God foresaw a famine happening on its own or happening by Satan. God summoned the famine. And God prepared the deliverance. So the first way the Bible describes the fulfillment of God’s prophecy that his people would come to Egypt is by saying God sent Joseph there ahead of them. The second way the Bible describes this prophecy is even more penetrating and sweeping. The brothers come before Joseph again, this time after the death of their father, and they are again afraid he will take vengeance on them. Joseph says: Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:19-20). The second way the Bible describes the way God fulfilled his prophecy is: The brothers meant the sale of Joseph for evil, but God meant it for good. Notice it does not say that God used their evil for good after they meant it for evil. It says that in the very act of evil, there were two different designs. In the sinful act, they were designing evil, and in the same sinful act, God was designing good. This is our God! Nothing surprises him; nothing overtakes Him in his relentless development of good in our lives!

Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 3

Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. (Genesis 39:1-4 ESV).

Well, after reading today’s portion of the story, we would expect that Joseph’s life was finally making a turn for the better. And, in God’s eyes it was; in fact, it was all going according to His plan. In Egypt, Joseph is bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (cf. Genesis 37:36). There Joseph submits to God’s strange providence and serves Potiphar faithfully. He rises with trust and influence over Potiphar’s household. And you would think that the righteous would prosper. But it seems to be otherwise. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Joseph. He flees adultery. And the spurned woman is vicious and lies about Joseph. And in spite of his righteousness, he is put in prison. In prison, again, totally unaware of what God is doing in all this misery, he again serves the jailer faithfully and is given trust and responsibility. Through the interpretation of two dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, Joseph is eventually brought out of prison to interpret one of Pharaoh’s dreams. His interpretation proves true and his wisdom seems compelling to Pharaoh, and Joseph is made commander in Egypt (cf. Genesis 41:40). Only Pharaoh was more powerful in all of Egypt. Seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine strike the land, just as Joseph said they would. Joseph preempts starvation in Egypt by gathering huge reserves of grain during the seven good years. Eventually, Joseph’s brothers hear that there is grain in Egypt, and they go for help. They don’t recognize their brother at first, but eventually, he reveals himself. He had been seventeen years old when they sold him into slavery and now when he tells them who he is he is thirty-nine years old. They are stunned. They tried to get rid of the dreamer, and in getting rid of him, they fulfilled his dreams. The brothers are bowing down at last to Joseph. Eventually, he invites them to live in Egypt to save their lives, and the fulfillment of the distant prophecy that Abraham’s seed would sojourn four hundred years in Egypt begins. As we shall see in subsequent devotionals, God is doing something grand in their lives. Even when it looks like all is lost, God’s plan is merely working toward good! That is clear in Joseph’s life and the life of the nation. It is clear in our lives as well. Trust in Him!

Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 2

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. (Genesis 37:5-8 ESV).

Remember the story yesterday? Joseph is the central character of our study, but the study is inspired by our dog, Teddy. Like the teddy bear in our picture today, I hope he didn’t feel forgotten while being boarded by our veterinarian. Let’s go back to Abram and make the progression to Joseph. Abram has a son Isaac. Isaac has a son Jacob (whose other name is Israel), and Jacob has twelve sons who become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. One of Jacob’s twelve sons, Joseph, has two dreams. In both of them, his eleven brothers and his parents bow down to him. His brothers hated him for these dreams. The day came when they could vent their rage against their brother. His father sends him to see if it is well with his brothers (cf. Genesis 37:14). They see him coming and the Scripture tells us: Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams (Genesis 37:19-20). Reuben tries to save Joseph, but his attempt is only partly successful when the brothers sell Joseph as a slave to a caravan of Ishmaelites heading for Egypt (verse 25). They keep his special coat, soak it in animal blood, and his father assumes he was eaten by wild animals. The brothers think that is the end of that. But they have no idea what is happening. They are utterly oblivious to God’s invisible hand in their action. They do not know that in the very effort to destroy this dreamer, they are fulfilling Joseph’s dreams. Oh, how often God works this way. He takes the very sins of the destroyers and makes them the means of the destroyers’ deliverance. Even though this is just the beginning of God’s plan, it is important to recognize two things. First, Joseph had no part of this terrible fate. This was not a consequence for his sin. It was not a judgment against him. It was God’s perfect plan for good in his life. Second, even with this first truth, it didn’t feel or appear good. God’s providence often looks strange and counter to our understanding. We will see that even more as the story continues. However, we will also see that God’s will cannot be changed by men, even men who mean us evil. Whatever you may be facing today, rest in that sure promise of God. He will work all things to your good (cf. Romans 8:28).

Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 1

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV).

Mary and I have just returned from an extended vacation. Some of it was necessitated by the need to pick up a car in Washington DC; and, the remainder of the trip was just for fun and relaxation. We were gone ten days. Because of the length of our absence and the need for various annual vaccinations for our dog, we decided to board him at our local vetinarian. When we picked him up he was simply elated to see us! We were glad to see him as well. I wondered if he was just glad to be out of his run, or he really missed us and was glad to see us again. I prefer to think the latter! At any rate it reminded me of a series of events that prompted the beginning of a new series for our devotionals, Enslaved and Forgotten. It will revolve around the life of Joseph. Joseph had plenty of opportunity to feel enslaved and forgotten. I hope you will be inspired and encouraged through it. However, before I begin the story of Joseph and the incredible betrayal of his brothers and its global purpose in the glory of Jesus Christ, we should begin with our reading today. God has chosen Abram from all the peoples of the world by free grace and owing to nothing in him. Then, God makes him a promise: I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. This is the beginning of the people of Israel through whom Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God will come into the world to save us from our sins. Later, in Genesis 15, God makes a formal covenant with Abram. He uses a remarkable symbolic act and some astonishing words. He tells him that his offspring would be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years, predicting the years of slavery in Egypt; and, he foretells the freedom that would come through Moses with the final establishment of the people in the Land of Promise. So there is God’s plan for his pilgrim people. Our lesson is that if God plans four hundred years of affliction for his people before the promised land, we should not be surprised that he says to us “through many tribulations you must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The question for us today is what does God want to teach about his ways and about his Son in this strange sojourn in Egypt? The answer is that God fulfills this prophecy through this terrible betrayal. And through this sin, he preserves alive not only his covenant people of Israel, but also the line from which the Lion of Judah would come to save and rule the peoples. Joseph becomes the clearest example of Jesus in the Old Testament to encourage us in our lives. Take that to heart today. He has not forgotten you!

Mountain Roads - Pt 6

[Jesus said] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5 ESV).

My days of “hiking” through the mountain trails are long since past. However, I have found that there are many “quiet walkways” along the mountain roads of the Smokies. Mary and I have taken a few of these through the years. Typically they are easy walks through the lush green landscape of the mountains. I’m always reminded of our reading when I think of these little jaunts. There are several reasons for that reminder. The most prominent of reminders is the beauty of the forest. When you understand the cycle of the forest it becomes even more meaningful. While some of the trees tower above us, seemingly reaching beyond the peaks of the mountains themselves, they could not survive without all the underbrush. It is the smaller plants that provide the continuous nutrients to these great trees. I’m also reminded that even though the path I’m walking seems leisurely, it is not aimless. It is designed to take me to a very specific end. God does that. We are not a part of the vine for ourselves. We have been grafted into the Vine of Christ so that we might be able to both receive what we need and give what we receive to others. We bear fruit. Last, I am also reminded that there are also some briars and poisonous vines along the side of this quiet walkway. I have been tempted to stray from the path from time to time. That never ends well. Being very allergic to poison ivy, oak, or sumac, all of which are very common in the mountains, I pay a steep price for straying off the path. I wonder how many times God has made my life path plainly marked and as easy to travel as possible, and I stray from the path only to find briars and poison ivy? Perhaps that is where you find yourself today. Get back on the path. Take a quiet stroll through the landscape of life. God will bring you through to the end of it!

Mountain Roads - Pt 3

Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.” (Ruth 4:11-12 ESV).

The directions were “Just walk down the alleyway and look for the roses around our door. You can’t miss it.” Well, they were right! God’s markers pointing us to His grace are like that. Ruth was written to help us see the markers of the grace of God in our lives, and to help us trust his grace even when the clouds are so thick that we can't see the road let alone the signs on the side. Let's go back and remind ourselves that it was God who acted to turn each setback into a stepping stone to joy, and that it is God in all of our bitter providences who is plotting for our good.  First, when Naomi's whole life seemed to cave in while in Moab, it was God who gave Ruth to Naomi. We know this from two verses. At the root of Ruth's commitment to Naomi is Ruth's commitment to Naomi's God: "Your God shall be my God" (Ruth 1:16). God had won Ruth's allegiance in Moab and so it was to God that Naomi owed the amazing love of her daughter-in-law. And, when Ruth came to Judah with Naomi, she was coming to take refuge under the wings of God (Ruth 2:11). All along it was God turning Naomi's setback into joy, even when she was oblivious to his grace.  Second, Naomi gives the impression that there is no hope that Ruth could marry and raise up children to continue the family line (Ruth 1:12). But all the while God is preserving a wealthy and godly man named Boaz to do just that. She recognizes that behind the "accidental" meeting of Ruth and Boaz was the "kindness of God who has not forsaken the living or the dead." In every loss that the godly endure God is already plotting for their gain.  Third, who was it that gave to the barren womb of Ruth the child so that the neighborhood women could say, "A son has been born to Naomi"? God gave the child (v. 11-13). The townspeople pray for Boaz and Ruth. They know that Ruth was married for ten years without a child. So they remember Rachel whose womb the Lord had opened long before. And they pray that God will make Ruth like Rachel and Leah. So again and again in this book it was God who was at work in the bitter setbacks of Naomi. When she lost her husband and sons, God gave her Ruth. When she could think of no kinsman to raise up offspring for the family name, God gave her Boaz. When barren Ruth married Boaz, God gave the child. The point of the story is made in the life of Naomi. The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but God sees that they get there. His call to us remains the same, “Trust me.” He will never leave us. He will not abandon us to the perils of this life. Follow the clear markers left by Jesus.

Mountain Roads - Pt 2

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17 ESV).

We return to the end of Ruth today as we began this little journey yesterday. The story of Ruth is a series of setbacks. In the first chapter Naomi and her husband and two sons were forced to leave their homeland in Judah on account of famine. Then Naomi's husband dies. Her sons marry Moabite women and for ten years the women prove to be barren. And then her sons die leaving two widows in the house of Naomi. Even though Ruth cleaves to Naomi, chapter 1 ends with Naomi's bitter complaint: "I went away full and the Lord has brought me back empty. Then (chapter 2) Boaz appears on the scene as a possible husband for Ruth. She is hopeful but filled with great suspense and uncertainty about how all this might work out. After the midnight rendezvous in chapter 3, Boaz goes to the city gate where the official business was done. The nearer kinsman comes by, and Boaz lays the situation before him. Naomi is giving up what little property she has, and the duty of the nearer kinsman is to buy it so that the inheritance stays in the family. To our dismay the kinsman says at the end of verse 4, "I will redeem it." We don't want him to redeem it. We want Boaz to do it. So again there seems to be a setback. Just when we are about to say, "O no! Stop the story! Don't let this other fellow take Ruth!" Boaz says to the nearer kinsman, "You know, don't you, that Naomi has a daughter-in-law. So when you do the part of the kinsman redeemer, you must also take her as your wife and raise up offspring in the name of her husband Mahlon?" Then, to our great relief, the kinsman says in verse 6 he can't do it. But there is a cloud overhead. Ruth is barren. So even now the suspense is not over. Life is one curve after another. And we never know what's coming. But the point of the story is that the best is yet to come. No matter where you are, if you love God, the best is yet to come. The cloud over the head of Ruth and Boaz is big with mercy, and breaks with blessing on their head: "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son" (v. 13). But notice how the focus in verses 14–17 is not on Ruth at all, nor on Boaz. The focus is on Naomi and the child. The story began with Naomi's loss. It ends with Naomi's gain. It began with death and ends with birth. And if we could just learn to wait and trust in God, all our complaints against God would prove untrue.

Mountain Roads - Pt 1

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:13-17 ESV).

One of the wonders of the Smoky Mountains is the beautiful landscape along the roads. The picture I’ve chosen was taken on Highway 441 near the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee. It is near Newfound Gap for those who are familiar with the area. Coming from the east you rise in elevation about 6,000 feet in a very short distance, “as the crow flies.” The road is rarely more than two lanes and the shoulder is typically a steep fall off the side of the mountain. When we recently drove it, I was reminded of a very important lesson found in the Book of Ruth. The main lesson from this wonderful book can be states as: The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but they do get there. Simply put the life of the believer is not an Interstate through Nebraska, but a state road through the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. There are rock slides and precipices and dark mists and bears and slippery curves and hairpin turns that make you go backwards in order to go forwards. But all along this hazardous, twisted road that doesn't let you see very far ahead there are frequent signs that say, "The best is yet to come." And at the bottom right corner written with an unmistakable hand are the words, "As I live, says the Lord!" The book of Ruth is one of those signs for you to read. It was written to give us some encouragement and hope that all the perplexing turns in your life are not dead-end streets. In all the setbacks of your life as a believer God is plotting for your joy. There is so much in the brief paragraph of our reading today. Goel (the Go'el HaDahm) is a Hebrew term which comes from the word lig'ol ("to redeem"), hence meaning "redeemer", which in the Hebrew Bible and the rabbinical tradition denotes a person who as the nearest relative of another is charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs. This word is different than the Hebrew word translated “messiah.” The literal translation of the Hebrew word mashiach (messiah) is "anointed", which refers to a ritual of consecrating someone or something by putting holy oil upon it. Following the line in this reading we see reference to both. Naomi’s “redemption” came through the strange twist of events that led her to her home where Ruth, her daughter-in-law, meets Boaz and ultimately bears a son who is the grandfather of King David! This is the lineage of the Meshiach, who is Yeshua, Jesus! We’ll look more in the coming days… for now, hang on, the best is coming around the curve in the road!

God's Mercies, Our Joys

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV).

After reading yesterday’s devotional you may want to ask me the question in our picture for today. I promise, I have not been too high in the mountains and suffering from lack of oxygen to the brain. The truth of Scripture is that God’s mercies are to be our joys. Our dissatisfaction with life will inevitably lead us into a cycle of discontentment, sin, guilt, and depression if left unchecked. Discontentment will eventually lead to sin, sin to guilt, guilt to depression, and depression back to discontentment. This cycle slowly destroys everything we encounter and touch, leaving us joyless and empty. In order to break this deadly cycle, the pursuit of joy is essential. This is the impact of our reading today. If we joyfully interpret everything that happens, sickness, death, loss, poverty, as actions of mercy rather than judgment, it will transform the way we live as Christians. We must look to Scripture to find comfort that he indeed loves us and does good toward us at all times: God is the one who helps; therefore, we have nothing to fear. (Isaiah 41:13) God’s love is displayed and proven when he sent his Son to die for our sins. (1 John 4:10) Nothing can separate us from God’s love — absolutely nothing. (Romans 8:35-39) God loves us with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) Jesus loves us with the same love that the Father loves him. (John 15:9) These are merely a few of the references we might go to. Please don’t miss this truth. Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, was a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3). He was despised and rejected by men, suffered and died for crimes he was innocent of, and soaked up the wrath of God for sins he never committed. God ordained all this because He loves us (John 3:16). And since he loves us, we should expect to suffer in this life just as Christ suffered, because “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 5:3-5). But thank God that, even “as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinthians 1:5). Our ability to interpret God’s actions towards us as good is inevitably tied to our contentment and joy. If we’re unable to see his providence as good, we will never be content, and without contentment, we will never fully know the joy he has for us. I’m not crazy! God really has our best working from every circumstance.

It's Not Fair!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:19 ESV).

I have often listened to the long litany of things that people are not happy about. It comes with the territory. However, the root of these discussions is always in our discontentment. It leads to wishful but hopeless thinking. Often people attempt to replace and eliminate anything that they perceive is linked to this discontentment. They identify the problem as circumstantial, or external. However, the problem is not with where we are or what is happening. Listen to the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs: It is a common saying that there are many people who are neither well when they are full nor when they are fasting. . . . There are some people who are of such irritable and unpleasant dispositions that no matter what condition they are put in, they are obnoxious. There are some who have unpleasant hearts, and they are unpleasant in every circumstance they encounter. Sick or healthy, single or married, rich or poor, fruitful or barren, hungry or stuffed — regardless of the circumstance — we can find a way to be discontent regardless of our plight in life. The human heart is impossible to satisfy with temporal conditions or earthly goods. We always want more. Life could always be better. The Christian’s unhappiness, discontentment, and view of God are directly linked. Discontentment screams, “You deserve better!” and whispers, “God is not giving you what you deserve.” The former screams are blatantly false, but the latter whispers are profoundly true. Satan is the master of mixing lies with truths. It’s a lie that you deserve better. The statement also assumes that you know what’s best and that God’s gifts aren’t best for you. The lie leads you to believe that you’re wiser than God and interprets his direction for your life as an attack rather than a mercy and gift. It’s true that God is not giving you what you deserve. We deserve God’s wrath, yet daily we receive new mercies. However, we are forced to ask how can sickness, suffering, and other tragedies be considered mercy? It is begun by realizing that every morning we don’t wake up in hell is an example of God’s mercy toward us. Even when we’re feeling our worst, God is showing us more mercy than we deserve. There is no calamity or tragedy that we can face that is worse than the holy wrath of God. At the same time, there is no earthly pleasure that can compare to the glory that is to be revealed. With this in mind, on our worst day, he’s worthy of thanksgiving and praise for all he’s done. Or, as we used to say in church growing up, “If God never does another thing for us, he’s already done enough.” That is the first step toward contentment. The Apostle Paul certainly knew what “unfair” looked like. Yet, in our reading he points us to the great gift of God in Jesus, who has secured the atonement and our eternal life. Now that’s something worth being very content with!

Mother's Day, 2019

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” (Proverbs 31:28 ESV). Today Mary and I are in Washington DC visiting with our youngest son, Aaron. It also happens to be Mother’s Day! I have written s devotional on special days many times before; however, today I want us to look into the heart and mind of the Apostle Paul as he writes something of a farewell letter to Timothy. Timothy is his beloved son in the faith and loyal companion in ministry. As Paul faces death, contemplates the end of his ministry, and wrestles with abandonment by many of his friends we are able to see some of his last impressions of life. It is a beautifully picture of motherhood.

In a dark and destitute prison cell, Paul’s heart is warmed by the memories of Timothy’s affectionate spirit and his sincere faith, a faith that was instilled in him by two godly women, his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice cf. 2 Timothy 1:3-5). These two women of virtue were spiritual pillars in Timothy’s life. They grounded him in his service for the Lord, a service that refreshed Paul time and time again. Paul encouraged Timothy to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14). A godly heritage is a wonderful gift to be treasured. It isn’t to be lightly esteemed or taken for granted. Lois and Eunice gave the world an infectious servant-leader in their rearing of Timothy, a homegrown disciple. They didn’t outsource Timothy’s discipleship; they took ownership of his spiritual cultivation. In essence Paul said: “Timothy, I know your grandmother, and her faith is authentic. I know your mother, and her faith is the real deal, and after watching you all this time I am convinced of the sincerity of your faith also.” To describe that faith, Paul used a word, which literally means, “without hypocrisy.” In word and deed, Lois and Eunice showed Timothy what it looks like to flesh out a living faith. Washington Irving, writing about mothers, said: “A father may turn his back on his child; brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies; husbands may desert their wives and wives their husbands. But a mother’s love endures through all; in good repute, in bad repute, in the face of the world’s condemnation, a mother still loves on, and still hopes that her child may turn from his evil ways, and repent; still she remembers the infant smiles that once filled her bosom with rapture, the merry laugh, the joyful shout of … childhood, the opening promise of youth; and she can never be brought to think (her child) all unworthy.” It’s been said that when a man succeeds, he does so by climbing a ladder steadied by a woman who believes in him. On this Mother’s Day, take time to honor those women who have nurtured our lives and held steady the ladder of our success. Who believed in you when others didn’t? Who stuck with you when others gave up on you? More than likely this is a she. I know Mary has been such a woman in the life of our children and grandchildren. Take some time to thank her as you abide in His grace this week. Happy Mother’s Day!

Risk and Reward

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38 ESV).

I am often with people who have chosen high risk behavior. For the most part these behaviors end with destructive results. It is always true that the risk versus the reward (or return) determines the action. For the most part that is a relatively easy formula; however, in regard to the Christian life, that is not the case. This is especially true since taking risks does not come naturally to most of us. I must admit I am somewhat daring, though as I age my desire to take risks has significantly decreased. I have become more cautious and careful with most behaviors. In fact, I may be the only person you know who has been giving a warning from a highway patrol officer for going too slow on the Interstate Highway! I thought 45mph was a good speed, after all, I was in the far right lane. Well, it seems I was wrong. Being too cautious, when it comes to the gospel, is not the direction Jesus expects from us. He wants us to be “all in.” Jesus was a risk-taker. What a risk he took in leaving heaven and coming to earth where “he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (cf. Isaiah 53:3). Jesus risked everything, and he desires that we do the same for him and the gospel. That is a huge task and one not to be taken lightly. For those of us who would follow Jesus and be willing to “lose our lives,” it takes courage, commitment, and trust in a God who will always be with us. Actually, if we believe Jesus, taking risks is the only way to live. It is the only way to “save our lives.” It’s all or nothing, but the reward is greater than anything we could imagine. As Jesus says elsewhere, “there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30). I’m not sure what “risk” you may be contemplating. If it will accurately and plainly declare the truth of God’s grace to another, go ahead and take the leap. It may seem foolish; it may seem unwarranted or extravagant. Do it! Do not delay hoping for a better circumstance or time to share Christ with another. That risk of rejection is nothing compared to the reward of service in His name.

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 15

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” (Acts 23:1-6 ESV).

Paul had just begun to speak to the Sanhedrin council, when the high priest unlawfully ordered him to be struck (it was unlawful to strike a man who had not yet been condemned). Paul correctly predicts Ananias’ demise in verse 3, as he will be killed by his own people at the start of the Jewish war. There are a lot of theories (total speculation, of course) about verses 4-5 and Paul’s disrespect for Ananias, but whatever the case, we should take Paul at his word that he did not know who he was addressing. It is noteworthy, however, how quick they were to point out that fact, yet ignore the willful violation made against Paul. At that point, he would have no question about whether he would receive a fair hearing from them. Paul then uses the fact that the Sanhedrin council was made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees to his advantage. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, but the Pharisees did, and the division between them because of it was great. Paul’s statement makes that division so sharp that it became violent (v. 6). The Roman tribune then feared that Paul would be torn to pieces, and had the soldiers remove him and take him to the barracks. Paul’s statement that set it in motion was “brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial;” and every word of it was true. Paul had been raised a Pharisee (cf. Philippians 3:5-9), and it was indeed because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the hope, that he was on trial. The Jews then sensed that Paul’s fate was slipping away, so more than forty of them conspired to kill him, taking an oath not to eat or drink until they had done so. Such an oath was a serious matter. But Paul’s sister learned of the plot and sent her son to warn him. Paul then sends his nephew to tell the tribune, Lysias. He then composed a letter to Felix the governor (verse 26-30), putting himself, of course, in a favorable light. At his orders, Paul gets an escort of two hundred soldiers to deliver him and the letter to Antipatris by the dark of night. Upon reading the letter and questioning Paul as to his birthplace, he ordered Paul held in Herod’s praetorium as he awaits his accusers for a hearing. This was to be the beginning of the greatest missionary work known. For Paul, the great news was that God was with him at every turn! He will be with us as well!

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 14

[Paul said], “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. (Acts 22:1-2 ESV).

This sermon from the Apostle Paul takes place in Jerusalem. Luke, the writer of Acts, was concerned with Paul as a credible witness for the gospel both before Jews and Gentile political figures. The sermons we’ll see in the next few days afford us an opportunity to learn something of Paul’s background and how he spoke to different audiences. Today’s reading begins simply enough. He delivers it from the steps of the Antonia fortress and deal with the personal charge against him, that he had acted like a Jewish apostate (cf. Acts 21:28). As he spoke, Paul locates his missionary work in a Jewish context, and stresses that his teaching is based on a revelation from God. Note how he begins by speaking in Aramaic (v. 1). By speaking Aramaic, Paul was putting himself on the side of the crowd. When he referred to his listeners in a personal way, Paul was trying to make himself one with the group. Here in Jerusalem, before this angry Jewish crowd, Paul wanted to emphasize that his former life demonstrated his zeal for God. His Jewishness could not be disputed by any of his hearers, and so they continued to listen to him. Paul continued setting out his “credentials.” Paul could cite his earlier persecution as overwhelming evidence for his zeal toward God and Judaism. He made the same claim in several of his epistles. The real impact for us today might just be in this truth that he was concerned that his audience be able to understand what he was telling them. When he uses his personal conversion story as the heart of his message, he is not discounting the importance of the Scripture. He is merely giving his audience a means to understand this new work of grace in a personal context. Luke finds this story so important that he records it three times. It is true there are slight differences in each of the accounts. However, this only emphasizes the varying circumstances of each setting. It was not a canned story that Luke “plugged” in for verbal color. The important thing that comes out in each account is that God worked a reversal in Paul’s life on the Damascus road. Paul’s conversion was the result of a dramatic confrontation with Jesus. He hadn’t casually adopted a new religion, he hadn’t sought out a new spiritual experience, and his new beliefs had not been imposed on him by any peer group. I would offer the principle that our individual stories of conversion are just as important. These are the words of a true “eye-witness.” What we know best is that which is our story. Those are the words of life. Give them to others that they might truly see Jesus!

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 13

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:17-24 ESV).

Our reading comes in the midst of a greater context. The story is a continuation following a situation of civil unrest. Paul spoke to his disciples and gave them words of encouragement before he left for Macedonia. He preached to the people there and then traveled onwards to Greece. After discovering plots against him in there, he decided to travel back to Macedonia. It is encouragement to the “ministry.” In this context we should understand the apostle to be speaking of what all Christians do (cf. Ephesians 4:11-12). What ministry looks like is as varied as Christians are varied. It’s not an office like elder or deacon; it’s a lifestyle devoted to making much of Christ and meeting the needs of others. It is “running our race.” It means that we “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Whether we are bankers or bricklayers, it means that we aim at advancing other people’s faith and holiness to the glory of God. Fulfilling your ministry is more important than staying alive. This conviction is what makes the lives of radically devoted people so inspiring to watch. Most of them speak the way Paul did about his ministry here: “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus.” Doing the ministry that God gives us to do is more important than life. You may think you need to save your life in order to do your ministry. On the contrary, how you lose your life may be the capstone of your ministry. We need not fret about keeping ourselves alive in order to finish our ministry. God alone knows the appointed time of our lives. He will decide when our death is not an interruption of our ministry, but the last act of our ministry. Henry Martyn was right when he said, “If [God] has work for me to do, I cannot die.” In other words, I am immortal until my work is done. Therefore, ministry is more important than life. How are you running your race?

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 12

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. (Acts 17:22-27 ESV).

The whole of this chapter should be read even though I’ve selected just a part of Paul’s sermon at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece. It is obvious that Paul was not impressed with the spirituality of the Atheneans. It seemed like every family had their own god who they serve. All the area was filled with different shrines with the name of various gods written on the altars. Observant enough for Paul, he was able to see a shrine on which altar "To an unknown god" was the inscription. It was fair enough for the people of Athens to have forgotten the names of some gods in that generation, since it was the citadel of several many Greek gods at that time. But it was funny that some of them still worshipped and dedicated a shrine to an unknown god. Paul immediately gathered the Jews and Gentiles he could meet within the short moment of his arrival to discourage them from the act of idol worshipping. Some market women joined him to hear about the "new God" he was introducing to them. Some of the councilors (the Epicureans) of Areopagus where Religion and Education matters are being discussed saw Paul talking about a strange God and brought him to the council to hear more about the god he brought; but they were disillusioned when they were told of the God who doesn't dwell in manmade sanctuaries. Just as the people of Athens were engrossed and in love with their many small gods, our culture seems to be in love with ours. We have turned to money, science, or technology for answers to our quests. We've failed to bear in mind that there is a God who was not created by humans, but Himself is the creator of all things. We run after these things in pursuit of happiness and peace which only Jesus can give. The same message of Paul should be applied today. The Lord is searching for us through this same Gospel. Perhaps it is time for us to retrace our steps to Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 11

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (Acts 16:25-33 ESV).

Becoming a Christian means recognizing that there is a great God who created all things and all persons for his glory—to display the greatness and beauty and power of who he is. Becoming a Christian means recognizing that this is why every person exists. This is our reason for being. This is the meaning of human life—to reflect back to God and to reflect to each other the glory of our Maker and all his attributes, by loving him and trusting him and thanking him and obeying him. Becoming a Christian means recognizing that we have all failed to do this. We have fallen short of living for his glory. We have exchanged it for other values we preferred, and so we have scorned his glory. This is what the Bible calls sin. And we are all guilty. Becoming a Christian means recognizing that we are all therefore condemned justly by God to eternal punishment for the infinite guilt of dishonoring an infinitely glorious God. And becoming a Christian means recognizing that the love of God moved him to send his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to provide eternal life for helpless sinners. When Jesus died for sinners, he became our ransom, our substitute, and the vindication of God's glory on our behalf. However, these are not works to be “done.” All of that which was required for our atonement has been done in the work of Christ. So, the Bible is jealous not to let salvation be by works because that would rob God of glory in the work of salvation. If we try to work our way to salvation, it draws attention to our strength and our value and our contribution. But faith on the other hand throws all attention on the value and the sufficiency of who Christ is and what Christ did. Faith glorifies God. Works glorify us. The root reason God will not let salvation be by works—why he will not let salvation be earned by our efforts—is because this would rob Jesus of his glory. God began by creating the world for his glory, and he is now saving the world in a way that restores that great purpose. So anything that diminishes his glory in the work of salvation will not be accepted. Thanks be to that great God!

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 10

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’ Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.”(Acts 15:12-18 ESV).

It's now about 15 years since Jesus died and rose again. Some zealous Jewish Christians from Jerusalem make a trip to Antioch and begin to preach among the Gentile Christians: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). This does not go over well with Paul and Barnabas. In fact, if we can judge from Paul's attitude in his letter to the Galatians, the controversy was red hot. The church decides to send Paul and Barnabas to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to see if some doctrinal unity can be achieved. Our text is the response of James to the declaration of Paul and Barnabas. He quotes from Amos (cf. Amos 9). What the prophet recounts from God is that the time is coming when his anger will be turned away and that the ruined people will be restored. It's PEOPLE that he has been talking about in the preceding verses: "All the sinners of my PEOPLE shall die by the sword" (v. 10). And, it is people that he has in mind in verse 12: "That THEY may possess the remnant of Edom." We must conclude that the repairing of the booth or the tent of David (v. 11) is a graphic way of speaking of the restoration of his people to spiritual wholeness. It is the people who have fallen into the ruin of sin and judgment. Now it is the people who will be repaired and rebuilt. Then the purpose of that rebuilding is that Edom, the typical hostile Gentile nation, might be possessed by the new, rebuilt people of God. At first that might sound merely like defeat and subjugation of Israel's enemies. But, the purpose of repairing and rebuilding the sinful people is not merely to possess the remnant of Edom, but to possess "all the nations who are called by my name, says the Lord" (cf. Amos 9:12). If defeat and subjugation were in view, he would not say that the target is the nations called by God's name. These are not enemies. People called by God's name are God's people. So the point in this text is not defeat and enslavement, but conversion and ingathering. This is world missions, not world domination. This was the purpose of God in the mission to the gentiles. We would do well to remember that is our calling as well.

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 9

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel. (Acts 14:1-7 ESV).

Again I can only introduce the sermon for today’s devotional. I hope you will take the time to read the full context of our reading today. It will give you some depth in regard to the thought I’ve singled out today. It is always difficult to measure success in sharing the Gospel. In fact, sometimes the reaction of our audience would indicate anything but success For that reason we need to exercise caution not to be concerned with what people think about us. Paul and Barnabas prove that in today’s example. We do hunger for human approval. By nature, we think more about what people think of us than about what they think of Jesus. We crave acceptance and dread rejection. The apostle Paul lived differently. Apparently he had been liberated from the need to be liked, or even respected. He moved from town to town, in and out of crowds, anchored in the safety and satisfaction of knowing Jesus. Many adored him, even to the point of worshiping him, and others hated him, even to the point of trying to murder him. But he lived and served above approval ratings. Everywhere Paul went, he met dramatically mixed reviews. We see that in our text today. In a town called Lystra they came to a man crippled from birth. Paul saw through the man’s disability into his heart and he saw faith. So Paul healed the man’s legs (v. 10). The crowds saw the man walking, after sitting for so many years, and they rushed Paul and Barnabas. They treated them like gods (v. 11). They even brought oxen to sacrifice to them (v. 13). Their reaction is instructive. They did not bask in the attention, building their million dollar mansions and bulging bank accounts. They did not change their monikers to @Zeus and @Hermes, and retweet a few lines of the people’s praise. They ran from their raving fans as fast as possible (v. 15). To Paul and Barnabas, the allure of human approval, acceptance, esteem, and intense admiration seemed more dangerous than enticing, more threatening than tempting. And they knew the roots of the crowd’s flattering idolatry would eventually kill each and every one of them. So they confronted them, risking their skyrocketing social statuses, with a brave call to worship the living God and live. We would do well to mimic them in our ministry!

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 8

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.” (Acts 13:13-16 ESV).

This is the first sermon in the book of Acts that we hear from the apostle Paul. And one way to understand it is to see two main points. One point is that everything in the history of Israel was leading up to the coming of Jesus and the great salvation for sinners that he would accomplish when he died and rose again. The other point in this sermon is that the story behind Jesus is God's story. This text is utterly saturated with God. Sixteen times Paul presses home the truth that God is the central Actor in history (vv. 17-30). I would encourage you to read those verses and note how Paul’s sermon undeniably declares God is responsible for all of history, both collectively and individually. Now think about all this for a moment. Don't take this kind of narration of history for granted. Let it strike you as strange as it really is. We don’t usually tell our stories from this perspective. When we tell somebody about the past, do you say, "God did this and God did that and God did that and God did that."? Do you say that God did virtually everything? I know I fall woefully short in that regard. So, Paul didn't have to either. He chose to preach this way. He consciously chose to narrate history this way. He was making a statement. It is a point we need to listen to again and again today. He was saying, There is a great and glorious God. Know him. Reckon with him. Think about him. He was saying that God is really working in history. He is the main Worker in history. He is the explanation for, the meaning of, everything. We live in an age where this is not believed. We assign responsibility for outcomes based on what we do. While it is true that there is a consequence for every choice, we are not the basis for that consequence. That is simply way above our pay grade! We live in a superficial and naïve age. It is superficial and naïve to discuss events and never deal with their most important connections; namely, their connections are with God and his purposes. Dealing with this truth and being intentional in our message to ourselves and others is the only means to contentment. We cannot be overcomers until we are in touch with the One who has already overcome! The message of Paul was joyfully accepted by some and violently opposed by others. The outcome of the truth is never our responsibility. It is our responsibility to declare it. That is the path to freedom for all men. Indeed, if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it!

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 7

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them. (Acts 11:1-4 ESV).

The whole of Peter’s sermon introduced in our reading today goes beyond these few verses. And, there is much more to explore than we will have time to do so in this format. However, I want to minimally begin to draw our attention to a central truth that is essential in the mission of the Gospel. Simply put, it is a work of grace for all men who are called to be the children of God. Having pastored churches through the tumultuous times of the seventies and eighties I can identify with Peter in this text. He has been “called on to the carpet” for his “shameful” behavior with the gentiles (uncircumcised men). Why, he even ate with them… my, my! I could tell the stories of similar experiences whether it was baptizing the first black in our First Baptist Church of the “county seat” town in East Texas, or starting missions to other racially different peoples in our building in North Texas. I must confess I was not nearly as subtle as Peter. My approach was to simply declare the truth that the Gospel was for all men. That was not as well received; however, it has stood the test of time as these efforts have produced great ministries these decades later. It should be noted elsewhere in the book of Acts even those who are the most God-fearing and ethical, namely, the Jews, are told that they must repent and believe in order to be saved. The Jews at Pentecost were called "devout men" (cf. Acts 2:5) like Cornelius was called a devout man (cf. Acts 10:2). But Peter ended his first sermon (cf. Acts 2) by calling even devout Jews to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins (v. 38). So Luke is not trying to tell us in this book that devout, God-fearing people who practice what's right as best they know how are already saved and without any need of the gospel. The gospel got its start among the most devout people in the world, namely, the Jews. They had more advantages in knowing God than any of the other peoples of the earth. Yet they were told again and again: devoutness and works of righteousness and religious sincerity does not solve the problem of sin. There is no place, nor people, who do not need the truth of the Gospel. We must separate ourselves from every human barrier to this mission. We must believe the only hope is to believe on Jesus. It was true then, it is true today; and, it is true for all men everywhere!

Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 6

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (Acts 10:34-35, 44 ESV).

It never ceases to surprise me that the Bible is so candid in the expression of the Gospel. From Genesis to the Revelation we are able to see clearly God’s work of grace in Christ. Further, our reading today is one of those key passages, particularly for we who are classified as “Gentiles.” By the way, if you are not quite sure what a gentile is, you probably are one. It’s everyone else; if you are not Jewish by birth, you are a gentile. Up to this point in the story of the early church, the Jewish people thought that salvation was limited to them. At the very least the path to salvation had to travel through Judaism. Peter’s vision would change all of that. It would bring a balance to the people of God. The truth is that the Gospel began in the beginning and centered in Abraham; however, it was never intended to be a work solely for the direct descendants of Abraham (cf. Genesis 22:18). It is indeed one gospel for all people. In the book of Acts the first three individually documented stories of salvation are a sorcerer (cf. Acts 8:9-24), an Ethiopian eunuch (cf. Acts 8:26-40), and an accomplished member of the Jewish high court, Saul (cf. Acts 9:1-19). There is no doubt this would not be the “ideal” start-up for a church. So, we see now Peter introducing the Gospel to a Roman Soldier. He was not doing this because he wanted to but because he was led to by the Holy Spirit. At this point you can clearly see that the Gospel is not limited to a social class, a race, or those that we like the most. As believers we are called to listen to the Holy Spirit for whom he wishes us to share the Gospel with or at least invite to church. We should not miss the truth that the human condition is the same regardless of race. Whether people are in the United States or scattered to the four corners of our globe, they all want to be loved. They all want safety and security for their families. They all want hope in this world and for eternity. The answer to their needs is only found in Jesus. When you share the truth of Jesus Christ, it transcends culture, it transcends people, it transcends gender, and it transcends needs. The Gospel is for everyone and I thank God that He made that clear from the get go. My call is to act on that truth!