The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

As we begin Holy Week, that week prior to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, a week where we remember the suffering that the Lord Jesus went through for our salvation, let us start off by looking at one of the clearest Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah which were clearly fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  This is a portion of prophecy given by God to the prophet Isaiah, and has been referred to as the Suffering Servant prophecy.

Our Scripture from Isaiah begins with the prophet introducing this Servant.  He is shown as someone who will act wisely, and be exalted and lifted up.  However, He is also shown as someone who is quite disfigured due to the suffering He is called upon to endure (52:13-15).  This Suffering Servant is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He showed wisdom all throughout His life and ministry, as He is Wisdom itself.  And He has been exalted and extolled, far above all, but first He had to suffer terribly in order to obtain our salvation.

We read that His “visage was marred” (52:14).  Have you ever seen someone who has been very badly beaten up?  Most of us haven’t in actual real life, unless one works in a hospital emergency room, however most of us have seen something like that on TV or in the movies.  Their face and looks are horribly disfigured.  When the Temple guards and officers of the chief priests and Pharisees arrested Jesus, He was terribly abused and beaten by the time He stood before Pilate.  But He endured that, knowing the joy that was set before Him at His resurrection and ascension (Hebrews 12:2).

The Servant was despised, rejected, and acquainted with grief (53:1-3).  As Jesus stood before the crowds when Pilate asked the people if they wanted either Jesus or Barabbas to be released, the crowd shouted back that they did not want Jesus.  They rejected Him (Matthew 27:15-25).  After having been beaten, flogged by soldiers, not having had anything to drink, “there was no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Isaiah continues by showing that this Servant was a subtitutionary sacrifice (53:4-6).  As we read, He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities, was chastised for our peace, and by His stripes (the wounds left by the flogging), we are healed.  We receive salvation if we personally accept this for ourselves.  This was all done for us.  Jesus had no transgressions or iniquities of His own.  Instead, God laid upon Him all of our iniquity.  Jesus died in place of sinners, in our place.  Because of that, we can be set free from Satan’s strongholds.

We continue to read how the Suffering Servant was silent and did not fight back throughout all the brutality He endured (53:7).  Isaiah compared Him to a lamb being led to the slaughter.  This is fitting, as one of the Names given to the Lord Jesus is “Lamb of God” (John 1:29).  Jesus didn’t try to escape from the agony and shame that faced Him when He was led to the cross.  Instead, He went willingly, silently, with no verbal retorts to those who mocked and jeered.  How many of us would be like the Savior?  Even someone who is naturally quiet, like myself, would likely yell out and try to fight or escape.

After the Servant’s unjust condemnation, He was led away to be executed with “the wicked” (53:8-9).  We see that fulfilled when Jesus was condemned to be crucified, which was the form of execution given to criminals in the Roman Empire.  At Calvary, Jesus was crucified between two thieves.  If it wasn’t for the love and kindness of St. Joseph of Arimathea, His dead body might have been buried in a common mass grave used for criminals.  However, Joseph, a wealthy man, allowed Jesus to be buried in the nice garden tomb he had planned for himself (Matthew 27:57-60).

As our Scripture ends, Isaiah describes how, despite His suffering, the Servant’s life is prolonged, and He sees His offspring, men and women who have come to salvation (53:10-12).  Jesus’ sacrifice justifies many, and He is rewarded.  Jesus thought of us when He was walking towards the cross.  He still thinks of us, now that His suffering, death, and resurrection are accomplished.  When He looks at a born-again Christian, Jesus sees His offspring, the child He has given His life for.  We are the result of the anguish of His soul, and He is satisfied.

The Wicked Vineyard Workers

Luke 20:9-19

Jesus told a lot of parables during His time on earth.  Many of those parables make us feel good when we hear them, parables such as the one we just looked into last week, the parable of The Prodigal Son, along with the parables of the Good Samaritan, and the Lost Sheep.  Some make us think, such as the parable of The Sower and the Seed.  However, a few of His parables make us uncomfortable.  Some people may not even like them at all, and would like to omit them from the Bible.  Today’s parable is one that does make some people uncomfortable.  It did back in Jesus’ day, and still does today for some.  Let’s see what Jesus was instructing the people that day.

Earlier in the week Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem upon a donkey, while the crowds cheered and waved palm branches.  The Pharisees and other religious leaders were at a fevered pitch, filled with hate towards Jesus, and they wanted to bring Him down.  Jesus has only a few days left to live, and on one of those final days He gave one of His last public teachings to the crowds.  As was frequently the case, there were plenty of Pharisees in the crowd making note of everything Jesus said.  He begins to tell the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers.

The parable tells of the owner of a vineyard who traveled to a far country after leasing the vineyard to workers.  At the appointed time, the owner sent a servant to collect the fruit.  Yet, instead of giving the servant what belonged to the owner, they beat the servant up (vs. 9-12).  This happened several times, with them beating up each servant that was sent, until the owner decided to send his son, who he thought they would respect.  However, they not only did not respect the owner’s son, they took him outside the vineyard and killed him (vs. 13-15).

At the close of the parable, Jesus asked the crowds what the owner should do to these workers.  When no one answered, Jesus told them that the owner would destroy those workers and lease the vineyard to other workers who would now work the vines. The Pharisees answered that should not happen, as they know that He told the parable referring to them (vs. 15-16).  Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22, and predicted what would happen to those who did not accept the Lord’s Messiah, the Cornerstone (vs. 17-18), the foundation upon which the Church is built.

In this parable, the owner of the vineyard was God, the workers were the people of Israel, and the servants were the many prophets God sent.  God had given the people of Israel His truth and His Word, which they were to believe themselves, and share with the world.  God repeatedly sent the prophets to try and get the people back on track, but instead they were rejected, badly treated, and some even killed.  The fact that God had repeatedly sent His messengers over and over again shows God’s patience with Israel, despite their disobedience and rejection of Him.  However, God’s authority is unshakeable, and His plan will ultimately prevail.

The son that the owner sent represents the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom He sent into the world to redeem mankind.  He is the Messiah that the workers, the Jewish leaders would reject and crucify.  Because of the workers' treatment of the owner, the servants he sent, and especially the son, the owner would destroy those workers, and lease the vineyard to new workers.  This pictured God’s judgment on unfaithful Israel, and His inclusion of the Gentiles into the plan of salvation.  Jesus told this parable as one last outreach to the people, yet within a few short days the religious leaders would reject Him and His authority, leading to their condemnation.

In addition to this parable being a picture of what happened to both the people of Israel, the Gentiles, and the Church, there are some things we can learn for our own lives today.  Like the vineyard workers, believers today are entrusted with responsibilities to bear fruit for God.  Rejecting His authority, both back then and today, will lead to judgment.  Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, and He must be the foundation for our faith and our life.  If someone rejects Jesus, they reject salvation itself.

Forget The Past And Look Forward

Philippians 3:8-14

How many of us like to dwell on things that happened in our past?  We either like to crow about our past achievements, and how great they were, or we get down and discouraged about past mistakes and failures.  Either way, we are stuck in the past, not the present.  That could have been a problem for St. Paul, too, if he would have let himself.  However, he didn’t, as we see in our Scripture passage today from his letter to the Philippians.

The Apostle Paul had a past.  Some of his achievements people might feel he could be proud of, other things he did, perhaps not so much so.  As a youth, Paul studied with the greatest Jewish scholar of the day, Gamaliel.  He was undoubtedly a good student, and became a scholar in his own right.  Paul became a Pharisee, and zealously kept the Old Testament Law.  That was something that some might say he could be proud of.  However, after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, when the early Church was beginning to be established, Paul, in his zealotry for the Jewish faith, persecuted the new believers.  He went so far as to track them down, arrest them, and see that they would be put to death.  That was something that after he became a Christian, he could get really depressed and discouraged about.  What did Paul think about either one?  Let’s look at what he said.

As our Scripture begins, Paul told how, instead of bragging about his background, his excellent education, and his life as a devout Pharisee, he said that he counted this all as loss, something not worth keeping, something that he considered as rubbish (vs. 8).  What he did consider gain was his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  When eternity came, Paul wanted to be found in Jesus.  He knew that his salvation wouldn’t be gained through his own righteousness, any good works or adherence to the Law, but through his faith in the Lord Jesus and His righteousness (vs. 9).  What Paul will boast of is the power of Jesus’ resurrection, and what he has gained spiritually through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.  These, and not anything that Paul could have done himself, would lead him to gain the resurrection of the dead (vs. 10-11).

In addition to not bragging about some things that many people would have felt was justifiable, Paul also was not going to be brought low due to discouragement or depression for past deeds that he was ashamed of, namely his persecution of early Christians.  Paul knew that he wasn’t perfect or attained perfection  (vs. 12-13), however he would press on in his Christian life.

Like Paul, each of us have sins of our past that we may feel bad about, some more grievous than others.  Sometimes we feel so bad or ashamed of these sins, we have not told anyone about them.  However, in addition to God knowing about them, Satan knows, as well, and he will do everything he can to use those sins to bring us down into the depths of depression about them if he can.  If he can, the devil will try to get us so discouraged that we give up doing any type of work or ministry for the Lord.  He certainly tried to with the Apostle Paul.  The apostle, though, wasn’t going to fall into Satan’s trap.

Instead of getting depressed or discouraged over his sins, Paul knew that the Lord Jesus had forgiven him of all of his sins, and he was going to forget the things of his past, things that were behind him (vs. 13).  Instead, Paul was going to press forward to his goal of the calling that God had given him (vs. 14).  Like Paul, once we have come to the Lord for salvation, we need to remember that He has then forgiven our sins, and we should not listen to the devil or any other person tell us otherwise, or try to make us continually feel bad about our past.  We need to believe what God says about us over what everyone else says.  Stop listening to those who say that you cannot do anything for God because of something in your past.

While it is wise to learn from our past, we shouldn’t live in that past.  We cannot redo or undo our past mistakes, but by God’s grace we can press forward and serve God faithfully today and in the future.  Someone once said “Don’t stumble on something behind you.”  We usually stumble on things in front of us.  But we can get derailed by focusing too much on the past, which prevents us from living our lives fully as God intends.

In closing, we should take the example of two national animals native to Australia, the emu and kangaroo.  In addition to being two animals that are native to that country, they also share one other characteristic.  It is nearly physically impossible for either animal to move backward without turning around.  Us humans can easily walk backwards, and most other animals can be trained to walk backwards, as well.  Let’s not dwell on our past achievements or past sins, but instead, like the kangaroo and emu, let’s look forward, keeping our eyes on the Lord Jesus.

Joy In Our Deliverance

Psalm 126

In my last posting, looking into the Book of Isaiah we looked at going through extremely difficult times, times when we can’t find a way out, and the Lord bringing us deliverance.  Today’s Scripture, from the Book of Psalms, brings a song of praise following just such a deliverance.  Let’s take a quick look at this Scripture which in some ways could be a follow-up to our previous study.

Psalm 126 is one of the fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134) called the Songs of Ascent, short psalms that pilgrims and travelers to Jerusalem would recite as they made their way to the capital city and the Temple there.  They were called songs of ascent due to the topography of the land there, Jerusalem being built on a high hill.  Any traveler to the city, coming from any direction, would be making a steep climb in elevation.

Today’s psalm was most likely written to express the joy of the people of Israel following their return to the Promised Land following the years of the Babylonian captivity.  The people of Israel had spent approximately seventy years away from their homeland, brought as captives hundreds of miles east into Babylon.  Now the children and grandchildren, and perhaps some of the original captives, were returning to their homeland!  It was like a dream for them, something that they felt would never have happened! (vs. 1).  They are laughing and singing for joy (vs. 2).  They proclaim their praises that the Lord has done great things for them!

When something wonderful happens to us, we don’t just keep it to ourselves.  No, we tell our friends and neighbors.  We let everyone we can think of know the good news.  We tell everyone, especially if it is some blessing that the Lord bestowed upon us, a blessing that perhaps we didn’t even see coming.  The people, upon their return to their homeland, wanted to proclaim to all the surrounding nations what great and wonderful things Yahweh had done for them (vs. 2-3).  Their joy served as a witness to God’s glory and power.  It showed to all that He is a sovereign God, and that He will always keep His covenant promises to redeem His people.

As the psalm continues, the people pray to the Lord for continued restoration (vs. 4).  God had delivered them from the Babylonian captivity, but they acknowledge that it is only through His power and mercy that they will stay free.  There is physical captivity, and sometimes people are sadly, tragically caught in that.  There is also captivity to sin, to bad habits, to addictions, and any other thing.  We need the Lord to bring us out of that captivity.  We need His salvation.

The psalm concludes with the idea of going out in tears, but returning with joy (vs. 5-6).  The children of Israel had been taken captive into Babylon in tears of misery and sorrow, and spent the next seventy years there in wretchedness and anguish.  Their prayers for deliverance were mingled with their tears.  The Lord God heard their prayers, and He honored His promises.  The people returned home, reaping their blessings with joy.

How often do we bring our prayers for so many things to God with tears of sadness and distress?  We may sow those prayers in tears, but there will come a day when we will reap a harvest with joy!  We can trust in the sovereignty of God.  Just as He restored Israel, He will remain faithful to His promises today.  Because of that, we should share with others the joy of His salvation, and testify to them of God’s goodness.

We should not always dwell on the dark side of everything, and the bad things we have gone through. Instead, praise God for bringing us out of the horrible pit and miry clay, and setting us on a Rock (Psalm 40:2).  The Lord has brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:12).  The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God should be, who has led us through them all, and preserved us to today.

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:16-21

Have you ever found yourself in a terrible predicament, one where it looked like there was no way out, where you were caught by whatever the problem was, and you were likely to go down?  Many of us have faced such a situation.  What does one do?  Where do you turn?  There doesn’t seem to be an answer, or anyone who can help.  In our Scripture today, the Lord God gives an answer through one of his prophets, the mighty prophet Isaiah, where He reminds us of His sovereign power, and His ability to make a way even in impossible circumstances.  Let’s take a quick look at what He has to say to us today.

As Isaiah begins this passage of Scripture, he looks back to one time in the nation of Israel’s history, a time when their backs were up against a wall.  Isaiah spoke of the day when Moses had led the people of Israel, enslaved by Egypt, out of that country.  However as they left, they came up to the shore of a branch of the Red Sea, and the army of Pharaoh on their chariots were right behind them.  What were they going to do?  The water before them, and Pharaoh and his chariots behind them.

God didn’t leave them in that hopeless and helpless situation (vs. 16-17).  As the prophet reminded the people, and reminds us today, God made a way in the sea, and a path through the water.  Moses couldn’t do that on his own.  None of the people could, either.  God stopped the army of Pharaoh.  Pharaoh ruled the most powerful kingdom in the world at the time.  His armies were the best equipped, and his chariots with soldiers riding them were rightly feared, yet they were as nothing to Yahweh.  He brought them down so that His people could escape.  God has unmatched authority over nature and nations, and is faithful and capable of delivering His people.

The people that Isaiah was ministering to were facing more challenging situations, just as many of us are today, situations that look exceptionally grim.  As Isaiah continued his message from the Lord, he told them not to focus solely on what was done in the past (vs. 18).  It is good to remember what happened in the past, to learn the lessons it can teach and the encouragement it can bring, however we need to focus on what God can and is doing today.  We cannot live in the past, with both its triumphs and mistakes.  If we’ve repented, God has forgiven those sins. We need to trust His promises for today.

God promises us that He has something new for us today, that He will do a new thing, and that it will spring forth (vs. 19).  We may feel that we are in a wilderness or a desert with our problems, and there’s no way out.  However Yahweh has promised that He will make a way in that wilderness for us, and bring a river of water into that desert.  He has control of all creation, and it will honor Him (vs. 20-21).

Though we might not see it right away, or understand it, God can bring good out of a bad situation.  Just like the heat of forest fires releases the seeds of some pines from their pine cones, bringing new life, we often feel God’s love and healing most powerfully in difficult situations.

One “new thing” that the Lord God did for us, something that had never been done before, was through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior.  He became a human, spent His life here, and died for our sins, even for the sins of His enemies.  Who would have ever thought that the Creator and God of the whole universe would stoop to do that for mankind?  And now He is with us through the Holy Spirit, and promises to share everlasting life with us.  No other “god” or deity has ever done such a thing, and none have ever made such promises to their people.

When faced with our own personal Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, instead of worrying that what God did in the past could not possibly happen again today or in the future, we need to keep our eyes open for the new things that He will do for us today.  When our eyes are focused in the wrong direction, we could miss what blessings God has for us now, and what He has in store for our future.  We should remember the past deliverances God has done for us and others, and now trust Him with the current challenges we have today and in the future.  His nature and ability is unchanging, and He can transform our life and bring us hope.

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

A former, now deceased, pastor of mine used to tell the story of how a number of years ago he witnessed a few times to a well-known Chicago area baseball announcer.  However, that person could not get past the fact that he was a terrible sinner, and believed God could/would never accept him, despite assurances from my late pastor.  Perhaps some of you out there have the same feeling, that you have been too long in the pit of sin for God to forgive and save you.  If so, then today’s Scripture is for you.  It is one of the most famous and favorite of the parables that the Lord Jesus told.

In response to the Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for eating and associating with sinners, the Lord told three parables.  The first two were short ones - the parable of the lost sheep, and the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:1-10).  The third one, was much longer, and is the parable told in our Scripture, that of the lost son.  The parable begins with a man and his two adult sons.  The younger son went to his father and demanded his portion of the inheritance right then.  He didn’t want to wait until his father died.  He wanted it right then!  The father gave him his portion, and then the younger son left to go live in a far country (vs. 11-13).  While there the young man lived a wild and sinful lifestyle.  The Scriptures say that he wasted all of his money on “prodigal” living, a wanton and sinful lifestyle.  It is quite possible he spent all of his time partying, with alcohol, drugs, and orgies.  He is representative of all unsaved people.

When his money ran out, a famine also hit, and the rich boy who never worked, was now reduced to pouring slop to pigs (vs. 14-16).  This young man was hungry, he did not have a nice, comfortable bed, and when his money was gone, so were his “friends”.  He had hit rock bottom.  This, though, was where he needed to be, as in this wretched state he was able to come to his senses, and see exactly where his sinful life had led him (vs. 17).  He began to think the truth about himself, and the situation he had created.  We all need to see and believe the truth about ourselves, that we are sinners in need of a Savior.  We need to repent and agree that our wrongdoing is sin, and to decide to turn away from it.  The young man wanted to go home.  He wanted to return, even if it meant being a servant in his father’s household (vs. 18-19).  He didn’t know what kind of reception he would get, but he repented of what he had done, and decided to go back home where he belonged.

Little did he know, though, that his father was earnestly waiting for him to return! (vs. 20).  The father had been looking, watching the horizon every day for the sight of his son to return.  Then one day the father’s hopes and prayers were realized, his son had come home.  He wasted no time, but hitched up his robes and ran to welcome him home.  It didn’t matter that his son was filthy and smelly from the life he had been living.  It didn’t matter how sinful he had been, once the son had repented and decided to return, the father welcomed him.  Our Father in heaven is like the father here. We stray away from Him and are lost, but God loves us, and never gives up searching for us until found.  We are never tossed away or forgotten about, even when we lose our way or turn our backs on Him.  There is great delight and joy in the Father when one of His children turns around from their sinful ways and heads home.  He ran to meet his son!

Not everyone was so delighted to see the prodigal son return home.  The older son was angry when he saw the way their father welcomed him back home (vs. 25-30).  He is like the Pharisees, the self-righteous religious hypocrites. He was angry that his brother was welcomed, and probably believed he should have been punished for his sins, not received blessings.  He was jealous of what his brother received.  When we notice God blessing someone’s life, it doesn’t mean He has forgotten us.  There was enough to go around for not just the prodigal son, but the older one, as well (vs. 31).  God won’t hold back from blessing us, too, if we will just come to Him and ask.

When we reject God’s will in our life, we enter a “far country”.  Satan beckons us there with promises of excitement.  But the reality of the “far country” never fulfills those empty promises.  Sin distorts our thinking, and we lose our sense of what is right and good.  When we don’t follow God’s will, we make foolish decisions and end up in trouble.  The end of that journey will be our own personal pig-pen.  When we have been lost and are found again, there is great rejoicing in heaven.  It is never too late to repent and be found by God.  Our sin will never out-distance the reach of God’s grace.  If we turn around and come home to the Father, He will receive, forgive, and restore us with rejoicing.  He is calling!  He is waiting!

A New Creation In Christ

II Corinthians 5:17-21

Have you ever run across someone you once knew, but hadn’t seen in a number of years, and you notice a big change in them?  Perhaps they have lost a lot of weight, or have had a change in their finances and are now in a whole different type of wardrobe and car.  We can change our hairstyle, wear different style clothes, get a new car or house, but that doesn’t change our personality or what type of person we are.  Our outside may change, but our inside is the same.  There is one thing, though, that changes us on the inside, which is described in our New Testament Scripture this week.

In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, he instructs us that if we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and are thus “in Christ”, we are now a new creation (vs. 17).  When we are saved and become a believer, we are spiritually reborn, our old sinful nature is replaced with a new life in Christ.  This change is not merely superficial, but is a complete renewal of our heart and mind.  This is because we now have the Holy Spirit indwelling us.  Our eyes and mind are opened to understand the Scriptures, which the unsaved have no ability to do.  The more we walk with the Lord, the more we have His mind and discernment.

When a sinner turns to God for salvation, He cleanses the heart of iniquity, and gives that person a new nature.  Occasionally the believer will return to following the old flesh patterns, so the Lord calls us to confess and repent when we miss the mark (I John 1:9).  Because of the substitution that Jesus made, where He took upon Himself our sins, and instead gave us His righteousness, we have been adopted into His family and our sins have been forgiven and nailed to the cross.  The debt demanded by the Old Testament Law has been paid in full.  We have been welcomed into a new life, a life filled with forgiveness and hope.  Now, we need to be committed to putting off of the old worldly way of life, and putting on our new life in Christ.  We need to move from death into life, and grow from immaturity to maturity in the Holy Spirit.  This putting off of the old and putting on the new indicates a decisive choice and action.  An entirely transformed way of life is needed.

Paul continues as he highlights the concept of reconciliation, showing how God, through Christ, bridged the gap caused by sin (vs. 18-19).  Reconciliation means to mend a broken relationship.  It takes us from being someone’s enemy to now being considered their friends. This reconciliation with God is a work of His grace alone, and cannot come through our own human effort.  Reconciliation is God moving towards us through the cross of Jesus Christ.  When we place our faith in the Savior, we immediately take part in that reconciliation.

Now that we are reconciled to God, and are a new creation with a new life, God has commissioned us with an important assignment. We have been commissioned to be His ambassadors to the world (vs. 20).  An ambassador is an important position.  He or she represents their country to the government and people of another country.  As believers, we are called to represent Christ on earth as His official agents, and are commissioned to bring God’s message of reconciliation to the world.

The Apostle Paul closes out this segment of Scripture with one cornerstone of Christian belief, that of the substitutionary atonement (vs. 21).  This verse encapsulates the doctrine of imputation, that Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, took on our sin so that we might receive His righteousness.  This shows the depth of both God’s love and His righteousness.

In closing, let’s remember that we represent the family of God to the world.  The world will judge our Heavenly Father based on our words, our behavior, and our attitude.  The deeds that we do, whether good or bad, will reflect an image of the Father that others will see.  When others look at us, do they see someone who is attempting to live for the Lord Jesus, or do they see someone who is no different than a worldly person?  Let’s take seriously the role of being an ambassador for Christ, and faithfully share the Gospel message, both with our words and our actions.

Deliverance From Fear

Psalm 34:1-8

Think, if you will, of your greatest fear.  You might have some very serious financial fears, or perhaps of not surviving a serious illness you or someone you love has.  Perhaps it is a fear of getting seriously sick in the future, or of aging and being alone.  Some people have a fear of actual physical enemies, or fears of certain types of animals.  There are so many different types of fears that disturb our life, sometimes dramatically.  What do you do when your fears become overwhelming?  Some may try to overcome their fears by seeking counseling.  Others think they can drown their fears in alcohol and/or drugs.  Some people just allow their fears to overwhelm them.  Our psalm selection this week gives us another option with what we can do when faced with fear.  Let’s see what God’s Word says.

Psalm 34 was written by David following a rather fearful event in his life.  David had defeated Goliath, then was court musician, and later son-in-law to King Saul.  However, Saul grew jealous of David’s success and popularity, and tried on numerous occasions to kill him, so he had to spend many years fleeing Saul.  At one time David sought refuge with the King of Gath, however when other courtiers reminded the king that David was the one who killed their champion Goliath, he feigned madness and fled for his life (I Samuel 21:10-15).

Having to flee from Saul all across his homeland of Israel, and now one of his places of refuge was also now a threat to his life, this would be discouraging and even fearful to many people.  What do we see David do, though?  He wrote this psalm to celebrate his deliverance from the king of Gath, and the first thing David did was to give praise to God, blessing His Name (vs. 1).  We may feel overwhelmed by our fears, all of those terrible things in our life that keep knocking us down, and we might not feel like praising God.  We can, though, always praise Him, whether we “feel” like it or not.  We can schedule praise breaks into our day, like devoted people in the Old Testament did (Psalm 119:164).  Praise is not conditional, but is an act of faith and obedience, as Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 and I Thessalonians 5:18.

Satan is the instigator of fear and discouragement.  He will do anything he can to dishearten us, and keep our focus on negative things instead of on God.  Irrational fears, or even legitimate ones don’t need to terrify us.  David found true solace and comfort only in his relationship with God.  When he sought help from human sources, they often failed, as with the king of Gath, or when circumstances separated him from his good friend Jonathan.  God, though, was always there.  He could turn to Him in prayer, and He would hear and answer him (vs 4-6).  God hears and delivers those who earnestly seek him.  He is all-wise and all-loving.  When fear starts to overwhelm us, we need to stop and remember that God is our God, and He will always hold us up.  When we trust in Him, we can face our trials with confidence (II Timothy 1:7).

When we are afraid, it is good to remember those occasions in the past when God has heard and answered yours and your loved one’s prayers, and delivered you all from your fears.  Are you afraid of physical danger?  Remember times in the past when he protected you.  Remember all of the times the Lord brought healing to you and your loved ones when you fear for your health.  When financial fears stalk you, remember the times in the past when He has provided for your needs.

David continued in his psalm by reminding us that believers have another reason not to be overwhelmed with fear.  As we read in verse 7, the Lord surrounds us with His angels.  These mighty warriors of the Lord provide us with their protective presence as we also read in Psalm 91:11-12.  David closed this portion of the psalm with an invitation and challenge for all to try the Lord, just as one would recommend a good meal.  This was a call for all, both then and now, to have a personal experience with God, one beyond just an intellectual knowledge to a tangible relationship with Him.

Even in the darkest hours, when our fears seem the strongest, Psalm 34 reminds us that we can turn to the Lord, calling upon Him for help and deliverance.  Worshiping God fills the heart with joy and the mind with peace.  The joy and deliverance from our fears that David described in his psalm should motivate us to share the Gospel so that others, too, may also “taste and see.”

Rahab

Joshua 2

It is quite common for someone to be, sometimes unfairly, judged because of their past.  Perhaps during a period of their life they were involved in some sinful and/or illegal business, whether with drugs, alcohol, or any manner of carnal business.  Maybe they were associated with some disreputable people or held a questionable job.  They may be unfairly judged by others, and they also may judge themselves harshly, thinking that even God would never accept them, as they are too sinful.  Is anyone just too sinful to come to God for salvation?  And if they do, is anyone’s past too bad to ever be used by God for any ministry?  To those who judge others, or who judge themselves as being too sinful for God’s use, I would recommend that they read today’s Scripture and take a look at the life of this Biblical character.

Our Scripture opens with the children of Israel about to enter the land of Canaan, the land that the Lord God had promised their fathers.  They were preparing to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land.  The first target would be the city of Jericho, just opposite their position along the river.  Joshua decided to send two spies to check the city out and bring back a report (vs. 1).

Shortly after entering Jericho the two men met with a woman named Rahab, a woman who the Scripture says was a harlot or prostitute.  Let’s take a closer look at this woman.  The 1st century Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, along with some other early Rabbinic teachers and other Biblical scholars have said that Rahab or her family ran an inn in Jericho, and that likely Rahab offered other “services” for an additional fee.  This would make sense, as spies at that time would likely go to an inn with a tavern, as that would be a good place to gather information.

Word got out to the king of Jericho that there were Jewish spies in the city.  He figured they might be staying at Rahab’s, and wanted her to give them up (vs. 2-3).  However, Rahab has seed-sized faith in the God of Israel, and she decided to hide the spies.  She took them to the roof and hid them with the grain stalks on her roof (vs. 4-7).  After the king’s men left Rahab told the two Hebrew spies how the city has heard all about the Israelites from the day they came out of Egypt until then, and how Yahweh had taken care of them and fought for them.  She shared how they were terrified of their people, and then shared with them her faith in Yahweh, acknowledging that He is God of heaven and earth (vs. 11).   As Rahab lets them safely escape she asks that her life, and that of her family, be spared when they conquer Jericho (vs. 12-13).  They made that promise and later kept it.

Despite her background, Rahab demonstrated remarkable faith in the God of Israel.  She acknowledged Yahweh’s sovereignty, giving a powerful testimony of faith, a faith that moved her to act by hiding the spies and helping them safely escape.  Those actions demonstrated that her faith was real, not just empty words.  Centuries later in the New Testament James referenced her as an example of faith in action (James 2:25), and she is mentioned in “Faith’s Hall of Fame” (Hebrews 11:31).

Through the grace and mercy of God, Rahab, who was a prostitute and a Gentile Canaanite, served as a witness to the truth, and a role model of faith.  We are not accepted because we are great, but because of God’s compassion and mercy.  God accepted Rahab when she heard of Him and responded in faith.

Rahab’s inclusion in God’s plan, despite her sinful past, underscores the theme of redemption.  It showcases God’s grace and willingness to save anyone who turns to Him in faith.  Rahab’s scarlet cord (vs. 17-21) was symbolic of her commitment to repent of her sins, and turn from her pagan lifestyle to become one of God’s children.

The Lord God honored Rahab’s faith in a very special way by allowing her to be the ancestress of the royal line of David, and even greater, the ancestress of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).  God’s grace extends to all who come to Him in faith.  He can use anyone for His purposes, no matter what their past is like, just like He did with Rahab!

Are Tragedies A Punishment?

Luke 13:1-9

When something bad happens to someone, does the thought that perhaps they must have done something to deserve what happened come to your mind?  Or maybe the opposite, when something good happens, you think that this is their reward for being a good person?  Some people use the saying “what goes around, comes around”, or have a belief in a type of karma, that if you do good, you’ll get good, or if you do bad, you’ll get bad back.  Our Gospel reading today gives Jesus’ answer to that.  Let’s see what He has to say.

As our Scripture opens, some people had told the Lord Jesus about something that had probably just happened in Jerusalem.  A group of Galilean pilgrims had traveled to Jerusalem to make sacrifices at the Temple, and while there, something must have happened involving this group that angered Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea (vs. 1).  The Gospel does not elaborate as to what this was.  Perhaps they got mixed up in some zealot anti-Rome uprising.  However, whatever it was, Pilate crushed it, and had them put to death.   Another tragic incident also recently happened when a tower in the village of Siloam fell, killing eighteen people (vs. 4).

Whispers were going through the crowd as people said that these unfortunate people must have done something to merit these tragedies to happen in their life (vs. 2, 4).  It was a popular belief then, and is still among some today, that these victims suffered because they were greater sinners.  Jesus told the crowds that this thinking was not correct (vs. 3, 5).  Sometimes bad things happen to good people.  Joseph the son of Jacob, and St. Paul are examples.  Jesus specifically corrected His disciples when they questioned whether the man born blind was so afflicted because of his sins or the sins of his parents (John 9:2-3).

Galatians 6:7-8 says that we reap what we so, but unlike karma, God doesn’t promise justice here on earth (II Thessalonians 1:6-7), and He doesn’t promise an easy life for believers (John 16:33).  Jesus refuted the notion of karma, and emphasized that all individuals are sinful and equal in need of repentance.  He told the crowds there that day that it was imperative that everyone repent and turn to God, because judgment is coming, and if they don’t they “will all likewise perish.”  This underscores the urgency of spiritual repentance for salvation, and reminds us that judgment can come unexpectedly.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow, as both of these groups found out.  None of those who died in these verses expected when they woke up that death would meet them before the end of the day.

Jesus then proceeded to tell the parable of the barren fig tree (vs. 6-9).  A man had a fig tree in his vineyard, and for three years it was not producing any fruit.  He told the gardener that he wanted it cut down, but the gardener asked to give the tree one more chance.  He would give it special care and fertilize it.  If that didn’t work, then he would cut it down.  Fig trees had long been a symbol of the nation of Israel, and in Jesus’ parable, it represents them, and more broadly, anyone who fails to bear spiritual fruit despite God’s blessings.  Cutting it down shows God’s righteous judgment, but the gardener’s plea for another year shows God’s patience and mercy.  God’s mercy is abundant, but it is not limitless.  Without repentance and fruitfulness, judgment is inevitable.

Our fruitfulness matters greatly to God, but only when it is the genuine article, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  That fruit is produced as we abide in the Vine, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:5).  No matter how impressive, works achieved solely through human effort have zero value in God’s eyes.

In closing, let us realize that each of us is personally accountable to God.  We need to examine our life for spiritual fruit.  Are we bearing fruit for the Lord Jesus, or are we a barren tree, not truly saved, and just taking up space?  We need to heed the call to repent, recognizing God's mercy, but not taking it for granted.  We need to be careful not to judge others, that somehow their misfortune was brought on by their behavior.  Don’t mix Christianity with karma or any Eastern religion (Colossians 2:8).  It is important, though, that we heed Jesus’ warning to repent and accept Him as Savior, for we never know what will happen before the end of any day.

Learn From the Past

I Corinthians 10:1-13

There is a famous saying that goes something like this - “Those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”  This is true, not only in society in general, but also in our personal lives, as well.   Military generals will study military history to hopefully not make the same critical mistakes other generals of the past did.  Politicians would do well if they learned from both the good and bad actions of their predecessors.  The examples of our parents, grandparents, and older siblings can guide us either for the good or the bad. Our Scripture for today instructs us to look at the examples of those in the past and learn from their mistakes so that we won’t fall into the sins and problems that they did.

St. Paul was writing to the believers at the church in Corinth, which he had established several years earlier.  He wanted them to learn from the example of the Israelites from the years of their wandering in the wilderness.  The Israelites had made many mistakes in their walk with the Lord, and Paul was concerned that the Corinthians would not make these same mistakes, and end up in a sinful pitfall that would be difficult to get out of.

He begins by reminding his readers that the Israelites had experienced many blessings and miracles from the hand of God (vs. 1-5).  The Lord had parted the Red Sea for them to cross, had led them with a pillar of cloud through the desert, and had provided them with food and drink.  All of this had shown His great love and care for His people.  However, that did not mean that they were immune from His judgment if and when they fell into sin.  The same could happen to the Corinthians if they didn't learn from the past.  They may be saved, and thus God’s children, but they could still be punished for their sins, as we can, too.

Paul continues, and reminds the Corinthian church of some of the sins that the Israelites fell into while in the wilderness.  The first was lust and idolatry (vs. 6-7).  The Israelites fell into these sins when they created the Golden Calf, which they proceeded to worship, and then fell into sexual sin (Exodus 32:1-6).   The second was even more occurrences of sexual immorality (vs. 8).  This occurred when some of the Israelite men got involved with Moabite women who led them into sinful immorality and idolatry (Numbers 25:1-9).  Another sin that the Israelites fell into was testing God and then grumbling against Him (vs. 9-10).  There were several examples of when God needed to bring judgment on those who continually grumbled, murmured, and complained against Him (Numbers 21:4-9; Numbers 14:26-30).  Are you a whining, grumbling, and complaining type of person?  God is not happy with that.  He brought punishment to the children of Israel for such behavior.  The warning here in God’s Word shows how serious these sins are, and how important our need for holiness and obedience is.

Paul concludes this Scripture passage with some words of hope (vs. 11-13).  He reminds us that temptations are common to everyone, and they are not insurmountable.  God will provide His children with a way of escape when faced with temptation, either to endure it or overcome them (vs. 13).  He provided these examples all throughout the Bible in order to teach us not to follow their example, and so as not to fall into similar sin (vs. 11).

Temptation’s power lies in the desire to have what is being offered.  However, it doesn’t actually deliver the promised goods.  It deceives us.  It offers one thing, but delivers another.  The bait on the hook looks good until you take it.  Giving in to temptation only increases the sinful desires.  It is important not to think that we could never fall.  Everyone has the potential to give in to temptation over and over again.  However, as Christians, we are free to say “no” to those temptations.

There is some misunderstanding among some Christians about verse 13.  The saying that is common among some Christians, that “God won’t give you more than you can handle”, is a mistaken misinterpretation of this verse.  That saying is not Scriptural or in the Bible.  Verse 13 is referring to temptations.  God often gives us more stress, pressures, trials, and difficulties than we can handle, if we are trying to handle them on our own (II Corinthians 1:8-9).  God does that so that we learn not to rely on ourselves, but instead on Him.

In closing, let’s be sure to examine our lives for any sins that mirror those of the Israelites.  We also should remember to trust in God, especially during times of temptation, while we actively seek a way of escape from that temptation.  As believers, we are called to be vigilant, faithful, and depending on God, while we live lives that reflect His holiness, and avoid taking His grace for granted.

Be Careful Little Eyes

Psalm 101

There is a song that is often sung in children’s Sunday School classes, or in children’s church settings.  It goes “O be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes what you see.”  Other verses speak of the ears and hearing, the mouth and speaking, and the feet in where they go.  The lesson in that song is appropriate for adults, as well.  King David would agree with the sentiments of that children’s song.  One psalm that he wrote, our psalm for this week, touches on that theme.

David began this psalm, like he did with most of his psalms, with words of praise to the Lord (vs. 1).  David praised God’s lovingkindness and mercy, along with His justice.  They are guiding values by which God wants us to operate (Micah 6:8).

As we read through this psalm we see that David had some very strong convictions about many things.  Our convictions should, just like David’s did, give our beliefs a backbone.  David wanted to be a man of integrity, being totally honest and thoroughly sound (vs. 2).  He wanted to be authentic, and not change his convictions or standards just in order to please anyone.  All too often we see that today, including with many pastors who will alter their sermon messages in order to please popular opinion, his audience, or the venue.  David wasn’t looking to please people when he wrote this psalm, either at that time or today, as there are some today who would say he is being too strong or judgmental against others.

As our psalm continues we read that David made some vows in line with the convictions he had.  One was that he would set nothing wicked or vile before his eyes, he would not spend time looking at anything evil (vs. 3).  In David’s day that might include some sinful artwork, erotic dancers, or sinful literature.  Today we have an even greater array of wicked things that we can be looking at, such as shows on TV, the movies, and especially on the internet, which can so easily bring sinful things to our sight.  Living a transformed life means being careful about what we see, say, and hear.  As Christians we need to make sure that the influences in our life are uplifting, which includes all forms of entertainment.  When we guard our eyes, ears, and mouth, we ultimately guard our heart, which is so important (Proverbs 4:23).

As we continue, we read where David was careful about what type of people he kept company with.  Some might feel that this was being judgmental, however all throughout Scripture we read how important it is for believers to be careful about who their friends and associates are, as sinful companions can so quickly lead us into sin (Proverbs 1:10-16).  David said that he would not keep anyone whose heart was wicked, perverse, or twisted around him, nor would he abide with anyone who slandered or spoke evil against others, or who was proud, haughty, or arrogant (vs. 4-5).  David wanted to stop the slanderer from carrying out his smear-campaign against other people.  He would not tolerate back-stabbing in his presence.  We should never try to advance our position by tearing someone else down.

He continued by saying he would not keep company with deceivers and liars (vs. 7).  As king, it was his duty to see that his royal court and the nobility of the land lived good and moral lives by removing sinful people who would drag the moral standards of the country down (vs. 8).  When the head is morally healthy the rest of the body is more likely to follow suit.  Instead of sinful people, David chose to keep company with other godly believers (vs. 6).  Even though it is very hard to find faithfulness in people, and strength of character is rare, those were the ones David chose for companions.

This psalm explains David’s philosophy of life, and is a statement of his faith.  Throughout the psalm we read of his resolution to do what is right, and get rid of the evil.  He continually stated “I will” and “I shall”.  He was determined and showed strong strength of character.  In closing, we see that David made the choice that Joshua challenged the people of Israel to make centuries earlier (Joshua 24:15), and that is to choose to serve and follow the Lord.  Will we do the same?

Don't Miss God's Call

Exodus 3:1-12

What can happen on an ordinary day?  What event can happen that will change that ordinary day into one that changes our life forever?  We can start our day in the usual, standard way, and then something extraordinary, something either catastrophic or wonderful happens, and we are never the same afterwards.  We can be driving to work as usual, and a careless driver slams into our car, leaving us crippled for life.  It can be a nice clear day in the morning, but by the afternoon a tornado can come, leaving our house flattened to the ground.  An ordinary day can end with us having met the man or woman of our dreams, or we can be offered the job we always wished for.  Our Old Testament Scripture for this week tells of how one ordinary day brought an event that changed the life of someone forever, and with him, the lives of countless other people.

As our Scripture opens, Moses had started his day like he had for so many years before.  He was a shepherd who tended the flocks of sheep for his father-in-law Jethro.  At this time he had the flocks grazing at the foot of Mt. Horeb, which is also known as Mt. Sinai (vs. 1).   If we recall, Moses was one of the children of Israel, born as a slave in Egypt.  However he was placed into a water-tight basket which was put into the Nile to save him from death by Pharaoh’s orders.  Pharaoh’s daughter found him and brought him up as her own child in the royal palaces.  Fast-forward forty years, and Moses discovers his heritage, and kills an overseer of the slaves, and ends up fleeing into the deserts of Midian.  There he met Jethro and married one of his daughters (Exodus 2:1-21).  Now another forty years has passed, Moses is 80 and tending the sheep.

As Moses kept an eye on the flock, just as he had for the past forty years, he noticed something curious.  Off in the distance he noticed a small bush or shrub on fire.  The odd thing was that though it was on fire, the bush wasn’t being consumed by the fire (vs. 2-3).  Moses had a curious mind, so he went to check this out.  It is always good to keep a curious mind.  If Moses had just ignored this, he would have missed out on God’s calling. Don’t miss out on what God has for you because you have let your mind become dull.

As Moses approached, God called out to him, warning him that the ground he was on was holy ground (vs. 4-5).  What made it holy ground?  Was it because of the burning bush or something special about the mountain?  A place is holy ground because it is a place where God’s presence is intimately experienced and deeply felt.  God can come to us in a special way at any time and any place, and that place will be holy ground.  Moses removed his shoes in reverence to God who met him there.

As God continued to speak to Moses, He reminded him that He was aware of what was happening to the people of Israel, that they were slaves and cruelly treated in Egypt (vs. 6-9).  Though they might not realize it, as they were going through terrible difficulties, God had not forgotten them, and He still remembered His promises.  Our trials may be heavy, and it seems as if God has forgotten us, but He hasn’t.  God waits for the opportune time.

God continued talking to Moses, and proceeded to tell him the assignment He had for him (vs. 10).  God wished for Moses to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go free, and he was to lead them to the land that God had promised them.  Moses was stunned.  Who was he to go and do something like that? (vs. 11).  He was just a humble shepherd, a nobody.  He may have been an adopted member of the royal family years ago, but that counted for nothing today.  He told God that he couldn’t do anything like that, that he wanted to pass on this assignment, and to find someone else.  Moses continued to give excuses, including that he did not have the ability to, but God would not take no for an answer.  He reminded Moses that He would be with him, and give him all power and ability to do what He asked.

To hold back from doing something that God has called us to do by saying we aren’t able to, or we don’t have the skills, is a form of rebellion.  It is saying that God is not powerful enough to equip us, and that His will being done on earth depends upon our natural ability.  God is more than able to equip us.  He will accomplish His purposes with or without us.  So don’t you want to be a part of it?

Whether it is ourselves that say that we don’t have the ability, or it is someone else that is saying we don’t have the skill or the education to do what we know God has called us to do, we need to stop listening to those voices, and obey God’s Voice.  He has promised that if we believe Him, and move forward in obedience, He’ll show us what He wants us to do, and then give us the ability to get it done.  We never have to take on God’s work in our own strength.  He won’t ask us to do anything that He will not enable us to carry out.  God is committed to equipping us to do whatever He asks.  Let’s say yes, and join in His work.

Inside or Outside the Door

Luke 13:22-30

When you are invited to a big party, do you wonder who else was invited?  It would seem natural, along with also wondering who wasn’t invited.  When in school we wonder which of our classmates passed their exams, and who will be promoted to the next grade.  In our Scripture today we read of a similar inquiry that someone asked Jesus, asking about how many there will be in heaven.  Let’s take a look at this fellow’s question, and what Jesus’ response was.

As Jesus was journeying across the country, He continued His ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing.  Out of the crowd that had gathered, a man called out a question, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” (vs. 23).  He wanted to know how many people would be in heaven, and possibly wondering if some of his friends would be there, and if those he disliked would not be.  Jesus does not give him a direct answer with any number or names, but warns him to be concerned with whether he will be part of the number that will be saved.

As we look deeper into Jesus’ response, we see that entering the kingdom is not easy.  Jesus speaks of it being a “narrow gate”, not a big, wide, broad road.  It isn’t allowing everyone in, as many may want to get in, but will not be allowed (vs. 24).   This is contrary to what many preachers and teachers today say, when they preach that everyone will be in heaven, and no one is excluded.  Entering into the kingdom of heaven requires an effort of specifically turning to and accepting the Lord Jesus.

Though we know that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), when Jesus said to “strive” He implies an earnestness, self-denial, and a submission to God’s will.  The call to “strive’ isn’t about a works-based salvation, but about responding wholeheartedly to God’s grace.  True faith will produce fruit (James 2:26).

As Jesus continued, He told His audience that there would be people who stood outside the door, once it was closed, knocking and wanting entry.  However, they will not be allowed in (vs. 25-27).  It is interesting to look closely at what these people say to the Lord as they are frantically knocking at the door which is closed to them.  They said that they “ate and drank in Your presence”, not that they ate and drank with Him.  They didn’t share a table and a meal with Jesus, rather they ate “in His presence”, as if Jesus is just standing by.  In addition, they stated that Jesus “taught in our streets”, not in their homes or to their families.  This implies that Jesus was just in the periphery, not in the center of their lives.  They knew of Him, but didn’t know Him in their hearts.  The Master shutting the door represents the finality of judgment.  Knowing about Jesus without a personal relationship with Him is insufficient.   One needs to repent and be born again. They don’t know Jesus, so He doesn’t know them!

There will be great despair by these people when they see the prophets and patriarchs in heaven, and when they see people from all around the world there, but they are cast out (vs. 28-30).  Jesus repeated something He said often, that the first will be last, and the last first.  Those who presumed they were first, such as the self-righteous, will find themselves last.  Jesus welcomes people from all nations who truly believe in Him.

This Scripture is both a warning and an encouragement.  We are warned that salvation is urgent.  No one knows how long they have here on earth.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  We need to have made a decision for the Lord Jesus before we take our final breath.  Once the “door” is closed, there will be no second chance.  If we have not accepted Jesus as our Savior, God will tell us to depart from Him, as He does not know us.

This passage is also an encouragement, as we see that no one is excluded based on either background or past sin (vs. 29-30).  Jesus accepts all who come to Him whether they are Jewish or Gentile, and regardless of nationality.  It also does not matter how terrible a sinner one is, if one repents and calls upon Jesus as Savior, they can enter.  Salvation is open to all who genuinely repent and trust Christ as Savior.

What about you?  Are you going to be among the saved?  Will you be included?  You need to respond now before the Owner of the house closes the door.  The door is narrow, but it is open to all who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Follow The Leader

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Young children often like to play follow-the-leader, where they try to imitate the leader of the group.  Teenagers and adults also practice a form of follow-the-leader, as well.  Those who want to excel in a sport will closely follow and try to imitate one who is a great athlete.  Adults who perhaps want to learn to cook well or make fashionable clothes might take a course taught by one who claims to have been an intimate pupil of a great French chef or Italian clothing designer.  However, it is very important to be sure that the one we are following is genuine, and is teaching us correctly, and not just something they made up.  This is especially important in our spiritual life, as well.  In our New Testament Scripture for this week we read St. Paul’s warning to believers in the Philippian church to be careful of whom they are following the example of.  Let’s look at what he had to say.

The church in Philippi was still a rather young church when the Apostle Paul wrote his epistle to them, as only approximately ten years had passed from when he first established the church there.  So most of the believers there were spiritually young.  Many of them, as they wanted to mature in their faith, wanted to follow the example of older believers. Some Christians today do the same thing, seeking a more spiritually mature person to help mentor or disciple them in the faith.  Paul warned them, though, to be very careful who they choose to follow the example of (vs. 1).  Some may seem spiritually mature, but they may be filled with false doctrine and heresy (vs. 17).  Paul exhorted them that they could follow his example.  He wasn’t trying to brag or be full of himself, as he made a strong point in his life to strictly follow the Lord Jesus in every area of his life, and walk faithfully with Him.  When we might choose to follow the example of another Christian, or be discipled by another believer, it is important that they are living out biblical principles in their life and that they are grounded in the Scriptures.

Paul warned that there are some who pose themselves as Christians, but who are actually enemies of the cross (vs. 18-19).  These enemies of the cross exist today, as well.  They pose themselves as Christians, calling themselves such, but who pick and choose what they want to believe in the Bible.  They say that some parts are not relevant in today’s world, being careful that they fit in with the world’s philosophies today.  They choose to offend God rather than offend the world and society.  We need to beware of the dangers of the philosophies of the world today, of false teachings, and compromising with secular values.  It is important to keep ourselves separate from such influences

Jesus’ cross exposes us for who we really are: hopeless, helpless sinners in need of a Savior.  The cross shows us that we can do nothing to help ourselves.  On His cross, Jesus did something that we could not.  He paid the price for our sins.  Those who refuse to accept what Jesus did on the cross are an enemy of the cross.

The Apostle then reminded the Philippian church that their true home is in heaven, and they needed to be earnestly awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus, Who will transform their earthly bodies into glorified ones (vs 20-21).  This is, of course, something that we need to be concerned with in our own lives today.  Having a heavenly focus encourages living with an eternal perspective, where we prioritize spiritual over temporal matters.

All too many people, including Christians, are getting stressed over political, economic, and social occurrences in the world.  While others worry themselves sick over concerns with this world, we need to remember that our citizenship is in heaven. We have a wealth that cannot be deposited in financial accounts, nor depleted by the economy.  Our loyalty should be Jesus, not some human leader, and our social guide should be God’s Word, not worldly society.

In chapter 4 verse 1, Paul speaks of the Philippians being his joy and crown.  The crown is one that will be given to those who win souls to Christ, a soul-winner's crown.  It is for those who are faithful to declare the Gospel, leading souls to the Lord Jesus, and build them up in Him.

As our Scripture closes, Paul urges the believers to remain steadfast in their faith, and rooted in Christ (vs. 1).  We need to persevere in the face of all trials that will come our way, and stand unwavering in our commitment to biblical truth.  It is also important to surround ourselves with mature believers who model a Christ-centered life, and be vigilant against any influences that distract us from our walk with Him.  How well are we following a good and godly leader here on earth, and our true heavenly Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ?