A Life Ordered by God's Word

Psalm 119:1-16

Our psalm selection for this week comes from a rather special and unique psalm.  Psalm 119 holds a special position in the Bible, as it is both the longest psalm in the Book of Psalms, and is also the longest chapter in the Bible, containing 176 verses.  In all but about five or six of these verses there is a synonym for God’s law, using words such as: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, ordinances, word, and ways. Psalm 119 is one of nine acrostic psalms.  The psalm is divided into segments of eight verses, each one beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Let’s take a look at the first two segments of this beautiful psalm which praises God’s Word.

The first segment of eight verses speak of how one is blessed by God when they order their life by God’s Word.  To be blessed is to be highly favored by God (vs. 1).  To be “undefiled in the way” refers to their manner of life.  They don’t have sinless perfection, as none but the Lord Jesus led such a life, but they try to live their life with integrity.  God’s Word governs their whole pattern of life.  Such a person is truly blessed by God.

Our unknown psalmist continues by declaring that God’s blessing is upon the one that not only keeps God’s testimonies, but also seeks Him with their whole heart (vs. 2).  They guard their life and heart, holding fast onto His Word.  They seek after God, having no divided loyalties between Him and the world.  The psalmist repeats that such a person will not commit iniquity or sin, but follow God’s ways (vs. 3).  Again, this is not referring to sinless perfection, but a consistent pattern of seeking to live a righteous life by following God’s ways, revealed in Scripture.  His Word should be what shapes our behavior, not our personal preferences.

God’s commands in His Word are binding, clear, and authoritative (vs. 4).  They are not an option, nor are we to pick and choose what we want to obey or not obey.  A faithful believer will diligently, carefully, and intentionally seek to follow them.  He will cry out to God, seeking His help to obey His Word (vs. 5).  We all know that even when we desire to faithfully follow God, we will occasionally fall, so we pray for His help. On the other hand, when we become lax in our obedience to the Lord, we should be filled with shame (vs. 6).  This includes just partial obedience.  Partial obedience is in truth, disobedience.  The psalmist continues to praise the Lord and resolve to obey Him (vs. 7-8).

The second segment of eight verses highlight the cleansing and transforming power of God’s Word and Law.  It begins with a question that every young person must answer, and that is how to keep oneself clean from the stain of sin in their life (vs. 9).  The psalmist answers this question for us.  Becoming clean from the stain of sin does not happen by self-help, but by taking heed, by careful obedience to God’s Word.  The Bible is sufficient for our moral purity.

The psalmist recognized his own tendency to drift away from committed devotion, so he prayed to seek Him with his whole heart (vs. 10). We need to spend time reading and meditating on Scripture, and most importantly, obeying it.  Spiritual vigilance is necessary to live a life pleasing to God.

One way to keep ourselves close to the Lord is by hiding His Word in our heart (vs. 11).  To do that we need to be reading, meditating, and even memorizing Scripture each day.  Memorization is an important weapon against sin.  When we memorize God’s Word, it is planted into our hearts. That way we can be prepared for temptation, as it becomes our spiritual sword. Even if we stray from Him, those words will play over and over in our mind.  His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:10-11).  Also, there may come a time when we cannot have a Bible with us.  However, if we have Scripture passages memorized, those verses will always be with us.

As we jump down to verse 14, we see that our psalmist values his Bible more than material wealth.  Given a choice between his Bible or great riches, he would choose his Bible.  Would you?  Many people dream of getting rich.  That is why places like Las Vegas exist.  What if we were more excited about following the Lord’s Word than about winning millions of dollars?  True riches belong to those who walk with Jesus.  True joy is found in God’s Word, not in material prosperity.

The psalmist closes by saying that his delight is God’s Word, and promises not to forget it (vs. 16).  To avoid forgetting something one needs to keep it forefront in one’s mind.  To not forget certain Bible verses, we need to keep repeating them over and over again.

Do you want to be blessed in your life?  I’m sure we all do.  God’s blessing is tied to obeying His Word.  Let’s follow this psalmist’s example with wholehearted devotion and submission to Scripture, and by meditation and memorization so that we can live a life of blessing, peace, and joy.

Are We Hypocrites?

Isaiah 58:1-12

No one really likes being called a hypocrite.  People outside of the church often use that as an excuse as to why they won’t attend.  They say that the church is filled with hypocrites.  Often then, some people in the church will get offended or become even more self-righteous.  And they certainly don’t like it if a fellow church member calls another a hypocrite.  However, what if it is the Lord God who is calling us hypocrites?  In our Scripture passage today, as we approach Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent later this week, we read from the prophet Isaiah when the Lord called out His people for their hypocrisy.

Many of the people of Judah during Isaiah’s day were very outwardly religious.  They kept all of the religious holy days and festivals.  They fasted when they should, and brought all of the required sacrifices to the Temple.  They prayed at the appointed times.  If someone were to observe them they would conclude that they were very religious.  However, most of them were just outwardly religious, but inwardly they were rebellious.  Despite their rituals, their hearts were far from God.

God gave Isaiah a message, and that was to proclaim to the people of Judah their sins (vs. 1).  The prophet does so without softening his message.  All of their religious activity was hypocrisy, masking a deep rebellion.  God told Isaiah to confront His people with the truth without any coddling or flattery.  He takes hypocrisy seriously, both back then and today.  From all outward appearance they seemed devoted to God, following His ways (vs. 2).  However, it was all external.  Their obedience to Him was only superficial.

The people couldn’t understand - they fasted and prayed, yet it seemed that God took no notice and didn’t see (vs. 3).  Their prayers seemed to go unanswered.  How often do we feel the same way?  We pray, we fast, we go through any number of religious rituals, and then get angry at God.  The problem was not with God, but with them.  Isaiah proceeded to tell them that they weren’t fasting in order to get closer to God and hear from Him.  They fasted while exploiting their workers, and while they were fighting among themselves (vs. 3-4).  Their fasting was self-centered, not God centered.  How about with us?  When we fast and pray, do we continue in our sinful ways, hoping that God will be proud of our fasting and answer our prayers?  Religious rituals cannot co-exist with unrighteous living.

The people were in the habit of making a big, outward show of their religiosity, such as wearing sackcloth and ashes so everyone knew they were fasting (vs. 5).  Though we don’t usually do that, we have our own ways of trying to appear pious.  However, God rejects ritual without righteousness.  All God saw was a hypocritical show of religiosity instead of true repentance.  True worship requires a heart aligned with God’s Word, not empty ceremony.  What God wants is that we show love, compassion, and caring for others in their needs, a practical righteousness flowing from a transformed heart (vs. 6-7).  True devotion to God always expresses itself in love, justice, and mercy.

When the people start truly practicing righteousness and following His ways, God’s blessings will follow.  His light and health will follow, and He will be our Rear Guard against our enemies (vs. 8).  He will be there with us and take care of us.  These blessings would come to the people when they started obeying His Word and caring for others (vs. 9-12).  God delights to answer prayer when His people walk in integrity.  Obedience brings a flourishing in our relationship with the Lord, and an outpouring of His blessings.

God promises to guide us continually (vs. 11).  Not a human, or even an angel, but the Lord.  We can notice the word “will”.  This makes it certain.  God will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  He also promised to guide us continually.  We are not led sometimes.  We have a perpetual Guide.

As we look back over this passage of Scripture, we learn that God rejects worship that is merely external.  True faith produces obedience, compassion, and holiness.  God is not impressed by ritual, but by righteousness that reflects His character.  We need to show Him genuine devotion, with compassion for others and integrity in our actions.  When we do, God promises to continually guide our ways.

Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16

How would you like to spend a period of time in a dimly lit room, eating nothing but some type of tasteless cooked cereal?  Most of us wouldn’t like that, as we prefer our food to be flavored, and we enjoy sunlight.  That is why one of the first things I do every day is open up the shades in my home to let the sunlight in.  I also flavor my food to a moderate amount.  Jesus likes light and flavoring, too.  However, rather than referring to the spice rack in the kitchen and sunlight through a window, He is referring to desiring His followers to be that in the world around them.  Let’s look into our short Scripture passage today from the Gospel of St. Matthew.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus was seated on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and was preaching a message, today known as the Sermon on the Mount.  He told His followers that they are the salt of the earth (vs. 13).   Salt enhances taste.  It flavors food which might otherwise be bland, which is why it is added to many recipes.  Salt was also used in the ancient world as a preservative.  Before refrigeration, salt was used to preserve meat and other foods, as it would prevent decay.

This is what Jesus wants us to be in the world.  Today the world is morally and spiritually decaying.  Jesus wants us to go out into the world and be salt.  As His disciples, our godly lives and Gospel witness can help to restrain corruption.  As we act as salt with our Christian living, we can show an alternative to the corrupting ways of the world, and point them to Jesus for salvation.  Our presence should bring moral clarity and a spiritual attractiveness that brings a desired flavor to the world’s decay.  The Apostle Paul tells us that our speech, the way we talk and act, should always be as seasoning to others (Colossians 4:6).  As we all know from experience, salt causes thirst.  When those who don’t know Jesus see how we handle problems, illnesses, or suffering, they will thirst to know how we do it, and then we can tell them about what Jesus can do in their lives

Salt in Jesus’ day was often mixed with impurities.  If the true salt leached out, what remained was useless.  If a professing believer loses their distinctiveness, their witness becomes ineffective.  Compromising one's beliefs and the truth of God’s Word will destroy one's testimony.  If we lose our flavor, if our beliefs become watered down, if our words and actions do not display true faith in Jesus Christ, then we lose our influence and we are of little value to the Kingdom of God.

The second thing Jesus told His followers is that they are light (vs. 14-16).  One thing that light does is that it reveals.  In a dark room you will stumble around, bumping into whatever is there that you can’t see.  When a light is turned on, then you can see and avoid the obstacles.  As light, believers reveal the truth about God, about sin, and about salvation.  We are to shine as lights in the middle of a crooked and perverse world (Philippians 2:15).  We are a light in the darkness.  We are watched.  The world may hate the light, but there will be some attracted to it.  We must let our light shine.

Light also reflects off of objects.  Jesus is the true Light (John 8:12).  We shine only because we reflect Him.  This is borrowed light, just like the moon reflecting the sun.  Jesus said that we are not to let our light be hidden, but rather be the light on a lampstand or a beacon from a city on a hill.  A genuine Christian is visible against the corrupt and perverse world.  Our lives are meant to be public testimonies.  No one lights a lamp to hide it.  Likewise, God saved us to shine, not to retreat.  Our testimony is meant to illuminate our sphere of influence.

Light shines most effectively when it is not hidden.  Light is brightest when the lamp is kept clean.  We need to eliminate sinful attitudes and practices which dims our testimony for Jesus.  Light reveals what is hidden in the darkness.  It serves to warn of danger and guides to safety.  This is what the Lord wants us to be for a lost world.

As believers, we represent the family of God.  The world will judge our Father based on our words, behavior, and our attitudes.  Jesus challenges His followers to let their light shine into the world’s spiritual darkness, and be the salt to flavor and preserve against an increasingly corrupt and perverse world.  Our deeds, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, will reflect an image of God that others will see.  Remember, this world is dark and decaying.  As Christians, we are not called to blend in but to stand out.

Preaching Christ Crucified

I Corinthians 2:1-11

Imagine, if you will, that you had been inviting a close friend or relative to come to church or Bible study with you.  They are not Christian, not a believer, and you are praying that they will come, hear the Word of God, and may soon accept Jesus.  Finally they accept and come with you.  However, that day there was a guest preacher, and his message was so intellectual, so highbrow.  He used so many ten-dollar words it would make a graduate student from Harvard or Oxford’s head spin!  There was very little mention of Jesus, and none of His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins, or salvation.  Your friend could barely follow along, and went home hearing nothing of the salvation they needed, and had no interest in returning.  This was something that the Apostle Paul did not want to see happen, and he speaks along this line in our Scripture for today.

Today’s Scripture continues on from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth.  Greek culture in that time highly prized intellectual speech and polished rhetoric.  They really loaded up on those ten-dollar words!  Paul was no intellectual light-weight.  He was extremely well-educated, and could easily hold his own in any intellectual conversation or discussion.  However, when it was time to bring a message or preach a sermon, Paul stuck strictly to the message of the Gospel, and spoke in a manner that anyone in the audience could understand (vs. 1).  His goal was to bring the Gospel of salvation to everyone in a manner and way that everyone could understand.  Paul’s goal was not to impress people, but to declare God’s truth plainly.  Like Paul, preachers today need to realize that the power of their message is not in their preaching skills, but is in the message of Christ.

Paul wanted to make sure that his messages were centered on Jesus and His death on the cross for everyone’s sins (vs 2).  It wasn’t that he felt that other doctrines were not of any importance, as his letters speak of other things, such as spiritual warfare and godly Christian living.  However, salvation is the governing center of all doctrines.  The cross is the dividing line between human wisdom and divine wisdom.  Every doctrine flows from Jesus and His sacrifice.  A Christ-centered ministry should be non-negotiable.  The cross is not one theme among many.  It is the foundation of all preaching.  Preaching that doesn’t exalt the Lord Jesus is empty preaching.

When he came to Corinth, Paul did not rely on making an impression with his eloquence and his human wisdom (vs. 3-5).  His preaching was not with persuasive words, but with demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power.  He didn’t want their faith to be built on personality, eloquence, or emotional manipulation, as that is false and unstable.  However, faith built on God’s power is unshakeable.  When people follow image-conscious leaders in the church, the leader is exalted.  He is placed on a pedestal, and ultimately takes the place of the head of the church.  However, when the people follow leaders who have a servant’s heart, the Lord Jesus is exalted.

Paul did speak with wisdom, but it was not worldly or philosophical (vs. 6-7).  It is God’s wisdom, which is revealed to believers.  Paul spoke of the “wisdom of God in a mystery”.  A “mystery” in Scripture is truth that was once hidden, but now revealed.  Paul was speaking of how God planned redemption from before creation (Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20).  The Gospel message that Paul sought to always preach was God’s divine plan from the start.  The leaders of the world did not understand God’s wisdom, as they took and crucified the Savior, God’s Son (vs. 8).  It is no different today, as the leaders of this world follow their own wisdom, not God’s, and oppose Jesus at every opportunity.

Paul proceeded in verse 9 to quote Isaiah 64:4.  Many people often apply this verse to heaven, but in this context it is referring to spiritual truths which are now revealed to believers.  It is true that we have no comprehension of how wonderful heaven will be, but at the same time, the spiritual truths which were once hidden mysteries are just as glorious when we see them revealed to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  God makes His truths known to us through the Holy Spirit (vs. 10), as He enables us to understand the Scriptures.  The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God, and what He wishes and allows, the Spirit reveals to us (vs. 11).  It is impossible to know God through human reasoning alone.

As we close this portion of Scripture, we see that the truth about God is not the product of human philosophy, but is revealed by the Holy Spirit.  The cross should always be the heart of Christian preaching, as it divides between true and false wisdom.  Human intellect cannot reach anyone for God.  Thus whether teaching, witnessing, or preaching, the message must be Jesus Christ and His cross, and not the self-help, feel good, or entertainment messages so many prefer to preach.  Remember, the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus is a central doctrine of our faith, and understanding it correctly is essential for eternal life.

Faith in God in the Face of Fear

Psalm 27

Our psalm for this week is one of my three all-time favorite psalms.  This psalm, along with Psalms 34 and 103, top my list of favorites.  Psalm 27 was one of the first chapters of the Bible that I memorized.  It is one of King David’s richest confessions of faith in the Lord, showing his confidence in Yahweh in the face of fear, enemies and uncertainty.  We all face times in our life when we also face fear, sometimes great fear where our whole world seems to come crashing down around us, or even when our very life is in danger.  Psalm 27 is a good one to latch onto in such times.

Though the Scriptures do not specify exactly when David wrote this psalm, it was likely either during the years when he was fleeing from King Saul, or later, after he was king, during the time when he had to flee Jerusalem when his son Absalom conducted a coup to dethrone him.  David spent several years as a young adult on the run from King Saul.  Saul wasn’t trying to just catch David and throw him in prison, or even to banish him from the country.  Saul wanted to kill David.  If someone is trying to hunt you down to kill you, that would certainly be a fearful time.  Absalom was also serious, and he knew that as long as his father was alive he couldn’t be king, so David’s life was in danger then, too.

As our psalm begins, David spoke of how all of his confidence, all of his trust during this desperate time, was in Yahweh.  God was his light, his source of truth, guidance, and hope (vs. 1).  There is no darkness in God.  Jesus said that He is the light of the world (John 8:12).  Even when darkness fills the world, our heart does not need to feel hopeless.  God shines a light on our inner being that no darkness can overcome.

David also called God his salvation (vs. 1).  God alone would deliver him from danger and the enemies who were attacking him.  He proclaimed that the Lord was the strength of his life.  He is our stability and protection.  Our courage is not just positive thinking. That will not defeat an enemy. Instead, it comes from God.  Courage is rooted in God’s character, not in human strength.   David speaks of real adversaries who were violent, malicious, and determined (vs. 2-3).  Faith is not a denial of danger.  It is trust in God despite danger.  In these times our trust should be in God’s character, not in changing circumstances.

If you could have any desire of yours granted, what would it be?  David had one wish, and that was to dwell in the house of the Lord his whole life, to behold God’s beauty, and inquire in His temple (vs. 4).  He wanted fellowship, worship, and communion with God.  Even though his life was in danger, David’s greatest desire was not deliverance, nor for money or fame, but deeper fellowship with God.  He didn’t close his eyes to the trouble and danger that he was in.  David trusted that God would hide him, set him upon a rock for protection, and give him victory over his enemies (vs. 5-6).  In gratitude, David responded with worship.

Our psalm continues with a prayer that David made to the Lord (vs. 7-12).  He wanted to seek God’s face, pursuing His presence, His will, and His approval in life, not that of his own.  David also prayed to God not to abandon him (vs. 9-10).  He knew that the Lord would always receive him, whether his earthly parents did or not.  No matter what happens in our relationship with our parents or any other human relationship, our God and Father will receive us with His arms wide open.  David continued to pray that the Lord would teach him, lead him, and protect him (vs. 11-12).  He trusted in God, not in himself.

David closed with a final declaration of faith (vs. 13-14).  He instructed all who would read this that we need to trust God, be of good courage, and wait for Him to respond.  Waiting is not passive.  It is active trust.  Courage grows as we wait on God, not on circumstances to change.  As we wait on the Lord, we should pray, giving thanks in our circumstances, thanking God that He has it all under control, and then release our situation into His hands to do what He will with it.  Then we wait on the Lord.  Waiting on God requires faith in Him, trusting Him even without knowing when or how He will resolve the situation.  Such expressions of trust enable God to pour out upon us the very blessing that He intends.

Although circumstances change, God’s promises do not change.  Stand on the rock of His promises and take shelter under His wings until the storms pass.  We should not spend all of our time looking down at our circumstances, otherwise we will forget to look up to God.  As the saying goes, don’t tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big our God is!

From Fear to Faith

Habakkuk 3:2-6, 17-19

What might trigger the greatest fear you would ever face?  Perhaps a complete economic collapse.  A war or enemy invasion would do that.  Also a great famine.  All of these were events that the Prophet Habakkuk and the people of Judah faced.  When faced with these, would you fall down in fear and panic, or perhaps be filled with anger at God?  Or would you move from fear to faith in God, as Habakkuk did?  Our Scripture today shows us a glimpse of some very dark and fearful times, and how the prophet went from fear into faith.

We have very little personal information about the prophet Habakkuk, other than that his ministry was shortly before the Babylonian Empire’s invasion of Judah.  His book was not written as messages to the people, but rather as a dialogue between himself and God.  One of the issues that he wrestled with, which many people today also wonder about, is why does God allow evil to prosper, and when will He act on this?  Our Scripture passage from the final chapter of this short book, contains a prayer to God, a song, and a declaration of faith.

As the prophet observed the conditions of his world and nation at the time, he knew that the invasion and destruction of his nation was imminent.  Thousands will be killed, and those who remained would be taken captive or starve.  As a believer, Habakkuk knew that this was God’s judgment on the people’s sins.  However, he prayed that God, in His judgment, would also have mercy (vs. 2).  He knew that God must judge sin, but prayed that He would also choose to show mercy on His people.

Habakkuk recalled, perhaps in a vision, God’s glory and His deliverance of His people in the past.  He recalled the Exodus, when God led the people from the south (vs. 3).  He also spoke of God’s radiant glory, the same glory that was seen at Sinai (vs. 4), along with His judgments, both against Egypt with the plagues and also His people when they sinned (vs. 5).  As Habakkuk continued, he also described how all of creation trembles before its Creator (vs. 6).  Mountains melt before Him.  When God rises to judge, nothing can stand.

Next we move to the last three verses of our Scripture passage, which are among the most beautiful declarations of trust in all of the Bible.  The prophet listed the loss of several major crops of that area, along with the loss of cattle (vs. 17).  In an agrarian society, which that was, this was a total economic collapse.  It would be the equivalent of losing your job, all of your savings, your home, basically all security all at once.  This was definitely what was going to happen when the Babylonians invaded, and perhaps it was already beginning.  There would be no escaping this devastation.

Most of us would probably be filled with fear, panic, and anxiety at such a time.  During the Great Depression many people felt they couldn’t handle such a time, even considering suicide, which increased during those years.  Fear and panic was not the response of Habakkuk, nor should it be of any true Christian.  The prophet rejoiced in the Lord (vs. 18).  It was a conscious choice that he made, as he stated I will twice in that verse.  Fear may seem to be a natural reaction to an economic collapse, but we can choose to live in the joy of the Lord.  Habakkuk realized he had no control over certain things, so he chose to control his response.  He rejoiced in the Lord regardless of what happened.  He drew from God the strength to go on.

This is not a denial of extremely difficult times, nor naive optimism.  What Habakkuk had, and we also should have, is a faith rooted in God’s character, not in our circumstances.  The prophet found his joy, not in what God gives, but in who God is.

As his song of praise to God continued, Habakkuk did not say that his circumstances, his nation, nor his resources were his strength.  He said that God himself was his strength (vs. 19).  He knew that God would give him stability in an unstable time.  He would give him sure footing like a deer in dangerous times, and would lift him above the chaos.  As we see, faith is not always getting what we want, nor in always understanding everything that God does.  Faith is trusting in God’s character, rejoicing in Him, and standing firm even when everything else falls apart.

When we face sudden tragedy and loss, we may wonder where God is, and be tempted to give up.  But in such times we must remember that God is with us.  He will show us kindness in the midst of tragedy and loss.  God is all-powerful and sovereign.  There is no way He will fail.  His promises are as good as kept.  Failure and success are not about us or circumstances.  We stand on a mountain with feet like a deer.  With God we are secure and victorious.

Habakkuk began with a complaint and ended with a song.  He started in confusion and ended in confidence.  He moved from “Why, Lord?” to “I will rejoice in the Lord.”  That journey is the journey of every believer who learns to trust God’s character more than in their circumstances.

Blessed are the Persecuted

Matthew 5:10-12

The Beatitudes are some of the most beloved parts of Scripture for many people.  We enjoy reading that if we are merciful, meek, pure in heart, seeking righteousness, and are peacemakers, that the Lord will bless us.  Those are all attributes that a Christian should seek to incorporate into their lives.  However, there is one Beatitude, that when reading in Matthew 5, we might wish that Jesus would have just left off, and that is what we will focus on today.

Early in His ministry, Jesus sat on a high hillside and taught the crowds a very important sermon, which today we call the Sermon on the Mount.  Right at the start of this teaching was the Beatitudes.  The first seven of these Beatitudes focus on our inward character.  When we get to our Scripture verses, the Beatitudes turn to outward opposition that believers will face if they are closely following the Lord and His Word.  Let’s take a look at how if we choose to live a godly life, it will inevitably collide with a hostile world.

As mentioned, the Beatitudes describe the character of believers and followers of the Lord Jesus.  As He continued His teaching, Jesus described what the world’s reaction to His followers would be.  He doesn’t try to hide or even soften this reality from us, but tells us plainly that there will be persecution.  We will be reviled, spoken evil about, and lied about.  This persecution is not hypothetical.  It is guaranteed for those who live godly lives.  But like the other Beatitudes, we are blessed when this happens, and our reward will be great.

There are many Christians around the world who suffer some type of persecution today.  Persecution can include pressure, harassment, mistreatment, exclusion, or violence, and covers both verbal and physical hostility.  One important thing to notice is that Jesus is speaking about persecution for righteousness’ sake (vs. 10).  This is strictly being persecuted because you are a Christian, for following Jesus and obeying His Word.  The blessing is not for any hardship or persecution one might receive for being a difficult or obnoxious person, or for anything political, but is for living in obedience to God.

We shouldn’t be surprised when persecution of any sort occurs because of our faith.  Jesus told us here that it would, and the Apostle Paul, when writing to Timothy, told that all who live godly lives will suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:12).  Persecution is evidence of belonging to Christ, not a sign of God’s displeasure.  The world opposes righteousness because it exposes its darkness (John 3:19-20).

In our Scripture passage Jesus lists three forms of attacks (vs. 11).  There is reviling, which is insults, mockery, and verbal abuse.  Then there is persecution, which would include stronger hostility, including social or physical harm.  He also mentions false accusations, which are slander, misrepresentation, and lies.  Jesus acknowledges that we will be lied about.  The world often attacks character when it cannot refute the truth.  Again, this is persecution that is done because of our association to the Lord Jesus, as the verse says “for My sake”.

This is not something that should discourage us, or make us want to hide our light.  Jesus tells us that we can rejoice (vs. 12).  To do so when faced with attacks is not natural, but shows supernatural grace.  Such persecution will bring great rewards in heaven, as God keeps perfect accounts.  Many of His faithful servants in the past also suffered persecution.  We are following a trail of blood that has been laid out in every century, from the time of Abel until today.

As we meditate upon these verses we realize that faithfully following the Lord Jesus and His Word will not generally be accepted in any culture.  A godly life exposes sin, and the world resents that exposure.  We should not lose heart, though.  There is a great reward stored up in heaven for those who are insulted and persecuted for Jesus’ sake.  God sees every insult, every loss, and every sacrifice.  Nothing done for Jesus is ever wasted.

God's Wisdom vs. Man's Wisdom

I Corinthians 1:18-31

We have all heard the phrase that one should never bring up religion or politics with other people, mainly because those can be very hot topics.  People can quickly become angry, or at the very least, offended by those discussions.  The discussion of Jesus and His death on the cross for our sins makes many people angry, and it also quite often brings scoffing and scorn.  This is nothing new.  This is not something that has only occurred in the last fifty or so years.  As we read in our Scripture today, this was also the reaction that the Apostle Paul received on a regular basis.

Have you ever tried talking about Jesus, and His sacrificial death on the cross for mankind’s sins, with unsaved people?  If you don’t get the angry response mentioned above, sometimes you might be told that “you’re a fool for believing such nonsense!”  Retorts like that were frequently thrown at Paul, but that didn’t surprise him, nor stop him (vs. 18).  As he wrote in this epistle, the cross is “foolishness” to the lost.  The natural man rejects the idea that salvation comes through a crucified Savior.  They don’t like to think that they can’t save themself.  And the idea that a bloody form of execution is what brings salvation is repulsive to many.  The message of the cross makes no sense to the unbeliever because Satan has blinded their eyes to the truth.

However, to the saved the cross is the power of God.  Salvation is not some intellectual achievement, but divine intervention.  The cross is God’s means of displaying His power in redemption.  The Gospel message of Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation, and rising again on the third day, is the power of God. Salvation is supernatural.  Human wisdom cannot produce it.  Only God’s power can.

Paul proceeded to quote Isaiah 29:14, where he showed that God has always opposed proud human reasoning (vs. 19-21).  Many churches today want preaching that is intellectual, sounding like a message from a PhD candidate.  Other churches today want their service to be more of a rock concert and the sermons to be more like a motivational talk.  Preaching about Jesus’ death on the cross, His shed Blood paying the price for our salvation, seems foolish, even offensive to them.  Philosophy, education, and intellect cannot bridge the gap between sinful man and a holy God.  He chose preaching as His method of getting His message to people to save sinners, not entertainment, philosophical debate, or human eloquence.  Instead, He uses the clear proclamation of Christ crucified.

Such preaching, though, does not please everyone, as Paul indicated in our Scripture (vs. 22-25).  The apostle indicated two typical responses that he received, and which are also often responses today, as well.  First, Paul spoke how the Jewish people who heard his message wanted to see signs that Jesus was the Messiah, who Paul claimed He was.  They wanted miraculous displays of power.  A Messiah who was crucified looked like weakness to them.  The Greek Gentiles wanted philosophical wisdom in the message.  They wanted to listen to something sophisticated.  A crucified Savior looked intellectually absurd to them.

I have seen both responses today, especially the scoffing intellectual response.   However, the cross upon which Jesus died shows both the power of God, along with His wisdom.  What they consider “foolish” is actually wiser than man, and what they consider “weakness” is stronger than they are.  What the world despises is actually God’s greatest revelation.

Paul reminded the Corinthians that there weren’t many in their congregation that were wise by the world’s standards (vs. 26-29).  There weren’t many who were mighty or noble.  However, God deliberately chose those whom the world considered foolish, weak, base, and despised.  He did this so that no one would be able to walk around bragging that God chose them because of how smart they were, or how good looking, athletic, or wealthy.  He does not want anyone to glory in His presence.  Salvation is designed so that God, alone, receives the glory.

Paul ends this Scripture passage with a magnificent summary (vs. 30-31).  He instructed us how Jesus Christ is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  Jesus is God’s perfect revelation.  He is our justification, our holiness, and our deliverance.  Everything we have spiritually is in Christ, not in ourselves.

As we look back at this passage, we see that human wisdom cannot produce our salvation, only the power of God can.  He also intentionally chooses the lowly, which would include most of us, to display His grace.  God’s ordained method for saving sinners is not through some spectacular entertainment display or through a motivational or philosophical message, but through the preaching of the cross.  Everything is structured so that God will receive all of the glory.

Trusting God When the Wicked Prosper

Psalm 37:1-8

There you are, standing on your front steps looking out at the neighborhood, and you see a fellow from down the road drive by in a brand new, extremely expensive car, while your car barely makes it around the block.  That neighbor is a real scoundrel, abusive to his wife and children, and nasty to everyone else.  At work, the co-worker who cheats and also takes home supplies gets a great job promotion, while you linger with your poor salary.  You wonder, why do those wicked people get all the luck while you, a godly believer, struggle from day to day.  Our psalm for this week reflects on that, and gives us God’s answer.

Psalm 37 was written by King David, likely in his old age, as later in the psalm he says that he is old.  He had seen much in his lifetime, including many times when it seemed like the wicked were prospering.  However, he knew that the day would come when they would get what they deserved.  David tells us that we must trust in the Lord and wait patiently, refusing to be consumed by the apparent success of the wicked.  In each verse of this opening section of the psalm, God directs our heart away from anxiety and towards Himself.

As our passage opens, we are told not to fret (vs. 1).  The word “fret” in Hebrew is “hara”, which means to burn, to get heated, to be kindled with anger.  God is telling us not to let the success of the wicked provoke us to agitation, envy, or resentment.  We shouldn’t be boiling over like a pot of hot water over what we see with the wicked.  Doing so reveals a lack of trust in the Lord’s justice.  He will deal with them.

One thing that we need to remember is that the prosperity of the wicked is only temporary (vs. 2).  David described them as being like grass or some other plants that are there one day, but withered and cut down the next.  When he said the word “soon”, David didn’t necessarily mean that in every instance their downfall would be immediate.  Instead, he meant that their downfall was certain.  God will ultimately judge them.

In the meantime we have two things we should be doing, and that is trust and do good (vs. 3).  We should have active confidence in God’s character, trusting that He will not allow the wicked to continue without His judgment.  We also need to obey Him.  Our obedience is not suspended because the wicked prosper.

We are told to delight ourselves in the Lord, and doing so will bring our heart’s desire (vs. 4).  This is not a blank check for our selfish wants.  Delight means to take pleasure in discovering more about God, following His will, spending time with Him, learning what pleases Him, and praying for discernment to make wise decisions.  We take pleasure in God Himself, not just in His gifts.  If we are pursuing God in this manner, our desires will be shaped to align with His will, so our desires will actually be His desires.

When we “commit” our way to the Lord, we are to roll our burdens onto Him (vs. 5).  We cast or throw all our cares onto Him because He cares for us (I Peter 5:7).  We can entrust every path we take and all of our decisions, along with the outcome, to God. When we commit our way to God, we allow His will and His Word to shape our thoughts, lifestyle, and goals.  When we trust Him, God will accomplish His purposes for us.

Even though we see the wicked prospering despite their sin, if we are living a righteous life, God will vindicate us and will reveal the truth in His time (vs. 6).   Knowing this, we can rest in the Lord (vs. 7).  We can be still and quiet our soul, not obsessing over the wicked.  Patience is an act of faith in God’s timing.

Our portion of this psalm ends with David instructing us to stop becoming angry and fretting over how the wicked are prospering (vs. 8).  Worry and anger can sometimes push us towards a sinful response to the situation, and we don’t want that.  God forbids responding to evil with evil!

In closing, even though we often look out at the world and see the wicked appearing to prosper in all the evil that they do, God governs their rise and fall.  He will vindicate the righteous and judge the wicked.  In the meantime, we must guard our hearts and delight ourselves in the Lord, waiting for His perfect timing.  He will bring it to pass.

What Does God Want From Us?

Micah 6:1-8

Going into a courtroom can often be an intimidating and nerve-wracking experience, especially if one is involved in a legal case.  Thankfully my experiences with any courtrooms have only been watching legal dramas on TV!  There have been a few times in Scripture where God has summoned His people into His divine courtroom, as He has a case against them.  Today’s Scripture from the Book of Micah is one of those passages.  Let’s see what the prophet Micah has to say.

Micah was a prophet in the southern Kingdom of Judah, and his ministry was from approximately 740 - 698 BC, and he was a contemporary of fellow prophets Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea.  Like his fellow prophets, he sought to call them back into a faithful relationship with Yahweh before irreversible judgment would fall.  In our passage today Micah gives a clear statement of what God truly desires from His people.

As our Scripture opens, we find ourselves in a courtroom as God is summoning His people to court.  God is not the one on trial.  Israel is.  But He graciously invited them to hear His case.  God is both judge and prosecutor.  He accused the people of being unfaithful to the covenant that they had made with Him.  Then the Lord called upon the mountains and hills as both an audience and as witnesses, waiting to hear the Lord’s accusations (vs. 1-2).  These ancient, immovable elements have “seen” Israel’s history.  They have been silent witnesses over the centuries of the many times that the people have turned aside and worshiped the pagan idols of the neighboring people.  They have seen how they have repeatedly broken His laws.  Furthermore, the mountains and foundations of the earth cannot be bribed or swayed as human witnesses often were.  The people's rebellion against Yahweh was not hidden.  Creation itself would testify against them.

God then asked the people a question - what have I done to you, that you have turned against Me?  (vs. 3).  He has been nothing but a kind, loving, generous, and forgiving God to them!  He reminded the people of how He had redeemed them from slavery in Egypt, gave them good, strong leaders, turned curses into blessings, and led them to the Promised Land (vs. 4-5).  God has only done good for them.  The fact that they turned away to paganism was not because of God’s failure to be a good God to them, but because of their own unfaithfulness.

God could ask the same question to us today.  “What have I done to you to make you turn away from Me?”  He could list countless blessings that He has bestowed upon us - life, health, daily provisions, etc. etc.  And yet we have strayed away from the Lord.  We don’t read our Bibles or worship Him as we should.  We disobey His Word, and instead choose to follow what the world says is right.

Israel responded to God’s accusations by bringing more and more offerings and sacrifices to the Temple (vs. 6-7).  They brought burnt offerings and sacrifices of thousands of rams and calves, and gallons upon gallons of oil.  They even considered offering something that the Lord actually forbade, that of the sacrifice of their firstborn.  They assumed that God wanted more “religion”, more ritual, and more sacrifices.  However God is not interested in external performances, or empty ceremonies, or lavish offerings without our obedience.  This is exactly what God said to King Saul when he brought sacrifices to the Lord, but continued to repeatedly disobey His commands (I Samuel 15:22).  To obey is better than sacrifice.

So what does God want from us?  The correct answer would be that He wants your heart (vs. 8).  God’s requirements are not hidden or mysterious.  He wants us to do justly.  We need to live our lives with integrity and to treat others fairly.  When we uphold righteousness in our daily life we reflect God’s own justice.

He also wants us to be merciful to others.  A Christian should delight in being kind, forgiving, and compassionate to others.  I know that I need all of the mercy I can get.  So if I want mercy for myself, I had better give mercy to others, as well (Matthew 5:7).  Lastly Micah said that God wants us to walk humbly with Him.  We should live in continual dependence on Him, rejecting pride and self-sufficiency, and having a personal relationship with Jesus.  This is not a verse that points to salvation by works.  Instead it describes the fruit of a heart that already has a saving relationship with Jesus, a natural outflow of a redeemed life.

In closing, let us examine our hearts to see if we are solely basing our relationship with God on empty rituals.  Attending church, giving, and acts of service do not please God if our heart is cold.  We should be treating our family, co-workers, and neighbors with fairness and honesty.  We also should look for opportunities to forgive, encourage others, and show kindness to those who may not deserve it.  Also, a humble walk with God keeps everything in balance.  Israel had forgotten about God’s goodness.  Let’s remember each day God’s faithfulness to us.

Jesus Preached Repentance

Matthew 4:12-23

Repent!  That is one of two subjects covered in our Scripture today.  Repent?  You might say to yourself that you thought today’s Scripture was from the Gospels, not the Old Testament, where that word is a much more common subject.  Or you might think that this is another message about John the Baptist, who frequently preached on that subject.  This is instead a message about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  But if this is a message about Jesus, people today think that it should then be all about love, mercy, and warm, fuzzy feelings.  At least that is what so many preachers today solely equate Jesus with, not telling people to repent.  Let’s look into the Bible and see what God’s Word has to say.

Our Scripture begins shortly after Jesus’ baptism, as He begins His ministry.  John the Baptist was recently arrested and put in prison (vs. 12).  He was arrested because he spoke out against some sinful behavior that King Herod was involved in, and then he was later executed.  Jesus departed from Judea, where John the Baptist had been, and He traveled north into Galilee (vs. 13-16).  He didn’t leave Judea out of fear of also being arrested.  His movements were in accordance with God’s timetable.  This was in fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 9:1-2).  Isaiah had foretold that light would dawn in “Galilee of the Gentiles”.  Jesus’ ministry began precisely where God said the Messianic light would shine.

Galilee was the territory in the north of Israel, and it was considered spiritually dark, as when the kingdom of Israel split shortly after the death of King Solomon, the northern kingdom descended into deep idolatry almost immediately, and never really turned from that.  Now at this time it was heavily influenced by Gentiles.   The people of Judea looked down on them for that, and also because they felt intellectually superior, as well.  However, those were exactly the people that Jesus wanted to minister to first, not in Jerusalem’s religious center, but in a region considered spiritually insignificant.  God chose a spiritually neglected region as the first to receive the Messiah’s ministry, bringing revelation, truth, and salvation to those sitting in darkness.

And what was Jesus’ first message?  It wasn’t some “feel good about yourself” message like many today preach about.  It was a subject that too many preachers actively avoid, it was a message of repentance (vs. 17).  Repentance is not optional.  It is the necessary response to God’s rule.  Repentance is turning from sin and one’s sinful lifestyle towards God.  Jesus felt that the message of repentance was so important that it was the first one that He preached to the people.

Sin and repentance are essential elements of the Gospel.  Not only did Jesus preach repentance at the start of His ministry, He also instructed His disciples, which also includes us, to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:46-47).  The Gospel message is not to feel good about yourself because God loves you.  It is realizing that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, to repent, and turn to Him.  Repentance is a non-negotiable step in salvation.  Some teach a false doctrine that Jesus forgives and saves everyone whether they repent or not.  However this is a false and ultimately damning teaching.

As Jesus proceeded with His ministry in Galilee, which we see emphasized repentance, He began to call men to join Him as His disciples (vs. 18-22).  The first two He called were Peter and his brother Andrew, and then James and his brother John.  These were ordinary men.  They were fishermen, not scholars who had advanced degrees in theology from universities.  They each responded immediately.  They didn’t tell Jesus that they would think about it and get back to Him.  They immediately dropped what they were doing to go and follow Him.  Discipleship often involves us forsaking some things in our life in order to follow Jesus.  It involves obedience, sacrifice, and prioritizing Jesus above all else.  Are we willing to leave some things behind and follow Jesus?

As we look at the last verse of our Scripture, we see that Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing (vs. 23).  He explained the Scriptures, proclaimed the Gospel, and called for a response from those who heard.  The healings Jesus performed authenticated His identity as the Messiah.

As we close this study, we must remember that any teaching that someone gives, any preaching we hear that minimizes repentance is not the Gospel that Jesus preached.  This is not something that we can overlook because it makes us uncomfortable.  As we saw, God chose Galilee to begin Jesus’ ministry because He delights in using the overlooked and ordinary.  He also chose ordinary men to join Him, and they obeyed immediately, wholeheartedly, and sacrificially.  When we respond to Jesus’ call in our life, we should respond in a like manner as we join others in being fishers of men.

Jesus Christ, Not Men

I Corinthians 1:10-17

Last week the Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer had us look at the opening verses of St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church.  We saw that though they were a large and flourishing church, blessed with many spiritual gifts, they still had some sinful behaviors that they needed to deal with.  Today’s Scripture continues in the first chapter of I Corinthians, and we’ll take a look at one of those sins, that of lack of unity among these believers, and also the danger of elevating any human leader above the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul first came to the city of Corinth around 50-52 AD, and he remained there about eighteen months, establishing a church while there.  However, after he left, factions or opposing groups arose among the believers, leading to division.  One thing that caused some division was that various church members divided themselves into separate groups based on their loyalty to various teachers.  When Paul heard about this, he wrote this letter.  He knew that unity in doctrine and devotion to Christ is essential for a good and godly church.

Knowing how important unity is within a church, the apostle pleaded with them to listen to and heed his message (vs. 10).  He reminded the church here that he spoke in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with Christ’s authority.  There are three important aspects of unity that Paul brings out here, which hold not only for the ancient Corinthian church, but also for the Christian church today.  First, the church should speak the same thing, there should be doctrinal agreement among the members.   There should be no divisions, no schisms, factions, or partisan spirit.  And Paul stresses that church members should be perfectly joined together, with restored and aligned thinking.

What is very important to remember is that unity must be based upon truth, and not upon compromise.  Too often today those in the church speak about wanting unity, and they are willing to compromise doctrine and Biblical truth in order to have that unity.  That is not the type of unity Paul was speaking about, nor what the Lord wants.  The Bible tells us to separate from those who do not hold to the truth.  Biblical unity is doctrinal unity.

Another problem in the early Corinthian church was various members dividing themselves into groups, one following this leader and another following a different leader.  Paul listed four different groups who were each following after a different church leader (vs. 12).  There were some who said they followed Paul, who were loyal to the founder of the church.  There were some who followed Apollos, who was an early pastor there after Paul left, and a very eloquent teacher.  There were some who said they followed Cephas (Peter), loyal to the apostolic Jewish leader.  Lastly Paul mentions that some said they followed Christ, which is what all believers should be doing.  We should never become so attached to a pastor, a teacher, a televangelist, or Christian author that we raise them to an almost worshipful status.  Even good leaders can become idols when they are elevated above Jesus.  And if they start getting too full of themselves, then it is so easy for them to fall into other sins or false teachings.

Paul continued by asking the Corinthians three rhetorical questions that when thought about should show them that their divisions were wrong (vs. 13).  First was “Is Christ divided?”  That is impossible.  Christ is One.  His Body, the Church, must reflect that unity.  Next “Was Paul crucified for you?”  Only Jesus died for sinners, not Paul or any other favorite leader, past or present.  Then “Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”  Baptism identifies believers with Jesus, not any human leader.

The apostle then was thankful to God that he only baptized a few new Christians (vs. 14-16).  This wasn’t because he felt that baptism was unimportant, but because it prevented anyone from claiming special status.  It also would help in keeping the focus solely on Christ, and not on Paul.  He had a mission from God, and that was not to be baptizing, but to preach the Gospel (vs. 17).  And his preaching was not with fancy Greek rhetoric or philosophical flourishes, but strictly preaching the Gospel message that Jesus was crucified for our sins.  The power is in the message of the cross, not in the skill of the messenger.

As we look back over these verses, we can see what still holds importance for today, and that is that Jesus Christ, alone, is the Head of the Church.  Any elevation of human leaders undermines His rightful place.  No matter how beloved your pastor or priest may be, or how great you find some particular Christian author, they are not to take Jesus’ place.  Also, when seeking for unity among churches and denominations, we must never compromise on Biblical truth and doctrine.

Finally, we must always remember to keep the cross of Christ central in our church, in our ministry, our evangelism, and our teaching.  Some may like to listen to very intellectual and sophisticated preaching, but human eloquence can obscure the Cross.  The Gospel’s power is in its truth, not in rhetorical polish.

Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent

Psalm 139

Does the thought of someone knowing everything there is about you, and always being with you something that you don’t want to hear or know about, or does it bring you peace?  Today’s psalm is one of several favorites that I have from the Book of Psalms, and one that should bring comfort and peace to believers, but is also one that might bring discomfort to those who do not have or want God in their lives.  Let’s take a look at this beautiful psalm of David, where we see God’s omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, and His righteous judgment.

Psalm 139 can be broken up into about five segments, each one highlighting a different aspect of God.  The first segment, in verses 1-6, shows us God’s omniscience.  He knows everything about each one of us completely.  He knows our actions, our thoughts, the motives behind everything we do, the words we speak, and even our unspoken intentions.  God knows us better than we know ourselves.  When David says that God knows our thoughts “afar off” (vs. 2), it means that He knows our thoughts before they even form.  He knows every word we will speak before it is even spoken (vs. 4).  God surrounds us with His protective presence.

His omniscience, His knowledge of us, is absolute (Hebrews 4:13).  This knowledge should be comforting to all those who have put their trust in Jesus.  Knowing that God knows everything about us should bring the believer peace, as He understands us when others don’t.  However, this can be terrifying to the unrepentant sinner.  We cannot hide anything from God.  Knowing that, we should walk in honesty and have a quick confession when we fall into sin.

The second segment shows us God’s omnipresence  He is with us everywhere we go (vs. 7-12).  There is no escaping from God’s presence.  There is nowhere we can hide from Him.  He is everywhere (Jeremiah 23:23-24).  The highest place on earth is Mt. Everest at 29,032’.  The deepest spot in the ocean is the Mariana Trench at 36,200’.  The remote island on earth is Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,750 miles from South Africa and over 2,000 miles from South America.  Yet if we went to any of these places, God would be there with us.  Even in the deepest darkness we cannot hide from Him (vs. 11-12).  We cannot run away from God, as Jonah found out.  This should bring comfort to the Christian, knowing that God is with us in all of our trials.  Whenever we feel lonely or we feel afraid, we can know that He is there.  We can also trust that God is with our loved ones when we are apart.

We next look at the third segment, which shows God’s creative power, and how He made each of us with a purpose (vs. 13-16).  God formed every part of us - body, soul, and personality.  He created each of us unique, with distinct fingerprints, voice patterns, retinal prints, and DNA.  No one has or ever will be exactly like another.  He knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:29-30), and our name is engraved on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).  We are “fearfully and wonderfully made (vs. 14).

This passage is foundational for the sanctity of life.  Human life begins in the womb and is sacred because God is the Creator.  It is not just a blob of cells, but is human life that God knit or wove together as delicate and intentional craftsmanship.  He ordained our days before we lived a single one (vs. 16).  Our life has purpose because God designed it, and we can trust Him with our future.

Next we see God’s righteous judgment, and how He opposes the wicked (vs. 17-22).  A believer in the Lord Jesus should always align themselves with God’s holiness, and also oppose what He opposes.  David expressed his righteous indignation towards those who hate God.  This is not personal vengeance.  Instead, it is loyalty to God’s holiness.  Hatred of evil is part of loving God (Romans 12:9).  Christians should guard their hearts from compromise with wickedness.

The final segment shows us God’s sanctifying work (vs. 23-24).  The psalm ends where it began - with God searching the heart.  David wants God to expose any sin in his life and to lead him in holiness, on the path of obedience and eternal life.  We should regularly ask God to reveal any hidden sin we might have.  His goal is not condemnation but transformation.

As we close this beautiful psalm, we see that God knows us perfectly, is with us constantly, and who made us intentionally.  We also see that God judges wickedness righteously and when we come to Him, He will sanctify us lovingly.  Let this knowledge be a comfort and a blessing to you today.

When the Lion Roars

Amos 3:1-8

When somebody important or official speaks, it is always wise to listen to what they have to say.  When the meteorologist gives an important weather warning, we really ought to listen and take heed.  If the Highway Patrol gives us a warning about road conditions ahead, it is wise to listen to that, too.  And we know that we need to pay attention to any doctor or medical warnings.  What about messages and warnings from God?  How often do we pay attention to them?  Or do we think that because we are already saved, we don’t need to be too concerned with them?   The prophet Amos has an answer to that in our Scripture today, one that teaches us how seriously God takes sin, especially among those who bear His Name.

The Book of Amos was written between 760 - 750 BC, during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel.  He had been a farmer and sheep herder in the southern Kingdom of Judah before the Lord called him to bring His message to the people of the northern Kingdom of Israel.  This was a time of great material prosperity in Israel, but also of great spiritual corruption, as their hearts were far from God.

As our Scripture begins, the Lord spoke His message to the people, reminding them of how He had brought them out of Egypt and made a covenant with them (vs. 1-2). They were a redeemed people, but because of that, they were accountable to Him.  God had chosen them and set them apart from others.  However, having that unique relationship with Him meant greater responsibility, not immunity to do as they chose.  How many times do people today think the same thing?  They feel that they are saved, and that God loves them no matter what, so they can live as they choose.  God’s holiness demands that His people walk in obedience to His Word.  Privilege without obedience invites His discipline, as both Israel and Judah would come to see.

Next, Amos asked the readers seven rhetorical questions in order to show that effects have causes (vs. 3-6).  There is nothing that happens just randomly.  The first question he asked is whether two people can walk together unless they are agreed (vs. 3).   If one is going to have a good and harmonious relationship with another, there must be shared belief and purpose.  They must be in agreement with each other.  Israel, and today with Christians, they cannot claim fellowship with God while they are walking in rebellion to Him.

Amos next spoke of lions, as they will roar when prey is near, and the young lion cubs will growl with satisfaction when they have their food (vs. 4).  The prophet is letting us know that God’s warnings (His roar) indicate that real judgment is coming.

A trap doesn’t spring without a reason (vs. 5).  It will snap when an animal or bird sets it off.  Israel’s calamities are not accidents.  They are God’s response to sin.  In ancient times a trumpet was blown on the city walls to warn of impending danger (vs 6).  Today we use loud sirens in our cities.  When we hear them we know it is some type of warning, sometimes weather related, or in some countries a warning of enemy attack.  Amos warned the people that if disaster comes to a city, it is because the Lord has allowed it.

God does not act in judgment without first giving us clear warning (vs. 7).  The prophets were God’s messengers.  They didn’t just make up what they said for fun.  God always sent His prophets before judgment, so Israel could not claim ignorance.  God’s Word, the Bible, is complete, it is sufficient, and it is inerrant.  It warns us plainly, and we are responsible to listen to and heed it.

Have you ever heard a lion roar?  I haven’t in real life, but I’ve seen videos of lions roaring.  God’s voice is like a lion’s roar (vs. 8). It is terrifying, authoritative, and unavoidable.  When God speaks, His prophets must speak.  Amos did not preach because he wanted to.  He was compelled by the Spirit of God.  When God warns, His people need to respond.

God graciously warns before He judges. His Word is both merciful and authoritative.  The lion’s roar means judgment is not hypothetical, it is imminent.  Believers today must not take God’s grace lightly.  We cannot walk with Him while clinging to sin, to compromise, or worldliness.  God still warns us through His Word.  Every warning passage in Scripture is an act of His mercy.

Behold the Lamb of God

John 1:29-41

Many young children love to go to petting zoos, where they can get up close to the animals there.  When my children, who are now both adults, were younger we would often go.  A favorite animal were the little lambs, with their white curly coats and cute faces.  Who couldn’t love a little lamb!  When we think of lambs in the Bible, we often think of one being protected and cared for by a shepherd.  However, there is another picture of a lamb that is not as pleasant, certainly not for the lamb.  Our Scripture today from the second half of the first chapter of the Gospel of John will touch on this.  Let’s see what God’s Word has to say.

As our Scripture opens, we meet John the Baptist.  He had just recently baptized Jesus, and now he pointed Him out to his own disciples as the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world (vs. 29).  Many people today like to call Jesus a good teacher, or even a prophet.  Though He is those things, He is much, much more.  He is the Lamb of God.  What, you might ask, does that mean?  This is a title that is loaded with Old Testament meaning.  Going back to the earliest chapters of the Bible, God required a substitutionary sin sacrifice.  God required that man bring a blood sacrifice, usually a lamb or young goat, to be an atonement for sins.  That animal was sacrificed, his blood in payment for our sins.  This was what John the Baptist called the Lord Jesus.  His Blood was the substitutionary atonement for our sin, the once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10-14).

As John spoke, he said “takes away”, which is the present tense.  Jesus’ work is effective, ongoing, and sufficient.  This opening verse affirms the heart of the Gospel - salvation is through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ alone, not through any human merit.  Every believer’s hope rests on Jesus, the Lamb of God.

John continued to bear witness to the Lord Jesus as God’s Messiah, and our substitutionary Lamb.  He stated that Jesus was before him (vs. 30).  This might seem puzzling, as John the Baptist was about six months older than Jesus.  Yet Jesus was before him, as He existed eternally (John 1:1-3).  This is a clear affirmation of Jesus Christ’s deity.  John’s testimony is unambiguous - Jesus is the divine Son, the promised Messiah (vs. 34).

After this, John the Baptist willingly directed his own followers to now follow Jesus (vs. 35-37).  Like John, Christians today are called to point others to Jesus, not to themselves.  A true and faithful servant of the Lord wants others to look towards Jesus, not towards themselves.  Their ministry will exalt the Son.  Immediately two of John’s disciples left to follow Jesus, which was only right and proper.  One was Andrew, and the other was unnamed, but possibly the apostle John.

As these two joined up with Jesus, He asked them what they were seeking, what they were looking for (vs. 38).  Jesus then invited them into personal fellowship with Himself (vs. 39).  Christianity is not a bunch of rituals to follow, but is instead a relationship with God.  It is rooted in truth, grounded in Scripture, and centered on Jesus Christ.

As our Scripture passage ends, we see that Andrew brings his brother Peter to the Lord (vs. 40-41).  That is so important.  As soon as he knew that Jesus was the Messiah, Andrew wasn’t content to keep that information to himself.  Instead, he “first” found his brother Peter and told him about Jesus.  He wasn’t worried about being “proper”, about not talking about religion to others, as many people say one shouldn’t do.  No, Andrew’s all excited about what he has found, and wants others to share it too.  He knows that salvation is so eternally important that one cannot keep that to oneself.  Throughout the Gospel of John we see Andrew bringing others to Jesus.  He brought the young boy who had some fish and bread to Jesus (John 6:8-9), and later he brought some Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus, and he brought them to Him, as well (John 12:20-22).

What important messages does God have in this Scripture passage?   First, that Jesus is the Lamb of God.  It’s not the picture of the cute and cuddly wooly lamb, but instead the Lamb sacrificed in substitutionary atonement for the sins of the world.  He is also the eternal, divine Son of God.  As we seek the truth, Jesus invites us into personal fellowship with Himself.  And once we have come to know the truth, and have found salvation through the Blood of the Lamb, we need to be sure and tell others about Jesus, just as Andrew did.

Keep your eyes fixed on the Lamb.  Your assurance, identity, and hope rest in His finished work, not in your performance.  We should also follow the example of two believers here.  We should be like John the Baptist, and point others to Jesus, not to ourselves.  We should also follow the example of the Apostle Andrew, and bring others, our family, our friends, and our neighbors, to Jesus.