To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

Philippians 1:21-27

Have you ever been torn between wanting to be in two different places at one time?  You want to be in one place because a loved one is there, but the second location is an infinitely nicer place.  So which one do you choose - being with a loved one or being in a better place?  In our Scripture today from St. Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, the Apostle describes being torn between two desires - to go on to heaven and be with the Savior, or remain here and continue ministering to believers and telling the lost about Jesus.

The Book of Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome for the faith.  At any moment he could have been dragged out of his prison cell and be taken to his execution.  During this time, Paul did not focus on his circumstances or his physical comfort.  Instead, he focused on the Lord.  He did not fear death, as he knew that was the doorway which would bring him into the presence of Jesus, which was naturally something he greatly desired.  However, he knew that there was still work to be done here upon earth.  The Philippian church, along with other churches he founded, needed his teaching and encouragement, and all around the world were people who needed to hear about Jesus.  His attitude is an example to us how to have joy, purpose, and steadfastness despite our circumstances.

As we begin this portion of Scripture we see Paul’s philosophy of life (vs. 21).  It wasn’t money, success, or pleasure.  Instead, Paul said “To me to live is Christ.”  Everything in his life revolved around Jesus.  He then finished the verse with “To die is gain.”  Death for the believer is not loss, but is a gain because it brings freedom from sin, suffering, temptation, and brings us immediately into the presence of Christ (II Corinthians 5:8; Romans 14:8).

Paul is torn between two good desires (vs. 22-24).  One is to depart this life and be with the Lord Jesus.  Death for the Christian is not extinction, it is a departure from one location to another (II Corinthians 5:6-8; John 14:1-3).  Paul’s second desire was to remain and minister to believers, and continue to spread the Gospel message of salvation.  Though heaven was far better, remaining alive was more beneficial for the believers he served.  This demonstrates genuine Christian love, as Paul was willing to postpone his greater blessing in order to help others spiritually.

Though Paul knew that his death could come at any moment, not just from an execution in prison, but also from the many enemies of the faith that he encountered every day, he believed that God would allow him to continue preaching the Gospel for a time (vs. 25-26).  God had given him a mandate, an order to bring the Gospel message to the lost, and to instruct and teach believers.  Until God felt that this order was finished, Paul believed he would remain and continue in obedience to that command.

Paul concluded this passage with a word of instruction for the Philippians (vs. 27).  He instructed them, and us today as well, to live a life worthy of the Gospel.  Our conduct should match the message of the Gospel that Paul proclaimed.  The Gospel is holy, therefore God’s people should live holy lives.  Here on earth we won’t achieve sinless perfection, but we can strive for consistent godliness in our life.

He instructed the believers to stand fast in unity with each other, being of one mind.  This speaks of doctrinal stability.  A mature church is not constantly blown about by false teachings.  Biblical unity is not unity at the expense of truth, it is unity around the truth.  Believers are to strive together for the Gospel, like athletes competing side-by-side on the same team.  We each have a role in advancing the message of Jesus.

As we close this passage of Scripture from Philippians, we see that Jesus was the center of Paul’s life, and should be for all of us, as well.  He did not fear death because Christ had conquered it.  His desire to be with the Savior in heaven was stronger than that of remaining on earth.  However, Paul knew that God had further work for him to do.  God leaves believers here for a purpose.  As long as you are still alive here on earth, God has work for you to do.  Our supreme purpose should be Jesus Christ.  Life is an opportunity to serve Him, death is a doorway into His presence, and until He calls us home, we are to stand firm, live worthy of the Gospel, and labor together for the advancement of the faith.

When Enemies Surround the House

Psalm 59

A common theme in action movies is when the protagonist is surrounded by his enemies, and there isn’t any safe way to escape.  The suspense grows as we wonder how he will get out of this tense situation.  Sometimes in life we might find ourselves in a similar predicament.  It might not be literal enemies who surround us, though that can happen.  It can be all sorts of immense and serious problems that surround us, with no visible way of escape.  What do we do when this happens?  In our psalm for this week we take a look at one event in the life of David, when he had enemies surrounding him, just waiting for a chance to catch and probably kill him.  Let’s see what his plan was to get out of a desperate situation.

Psalm 59 begins with an introductory heading which mentions the occasion that this psalm was written about.  After his great victory over the Philistine Goliath, King Saul took David into his royal court, both as a musician and also as an important soldier.  There he became best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan, and also married one of the king’s daughters, Michal.  Following several more victories over the Philistines, David became very popular among the people.  Saul had seriously drifted quite far away from the Lord since becoming king, and one sign from this was his jealousy of David, resulting in his multiple attempts upon David’s life.  One such time was when King Saul sent some of his men to surround the house where David and his wife, Michal, lived (I Samuel 19:11-17).  She had to help him escape out of a window in the dark of night, and he would spend the next several years living on the run from attacks and attempts on his life from Saul.

As we see when we read through this psalm is that Yahweh is the Defender of His people against wicked men, and like David knew, we see how to respond when we are surrounded by enemies, are falsely accused, and under attack.  When his wife Michal told David that Saul’s men had surrounded the house, what was the first thing he did?  Did he panic and fill with despair, or did he strap on his sword and go out to fight them on his own, since he was a skilled warrior?  No, he did none of those.  David immediately turned to God in prayer (vs. 1-2).  He did not first seek revenge.  He turned to God for His deliverance.  Our first response when we are surrounded with opposition should be prayer, not retaliation.

David knew that he hadn’t done anything to deserve this from King Saul, that he was innocent regarding the accusations (vs. 3-4).  This does not mean that David was sinless.  However, he was innocent of the specific charges being used against him.  Saul unjustly hated David, so he prayed to God for help.  David saw these enemies like vicious predators, like ferocious wild dogs circling their prey (vs. 5-7).  The world often mocks, opposes, and attacks God’s people.  He never tells us to pretend that evil does not exist.  Instead, we are to see it clearly, and trust God completely for deliverance.

What is God’s response to these enemies of David?  He tells us that God laughs at the wicked (vs. 8).  This is not an amused laugh, but instead is showing divine contempt.  God is never threatened by the schemes of wicked men.  They think that they have control, but God remains on the throne.  David later repeats this thought in another of his psalms, of God laughing in contempt of the wicked (Psalm 2:4).

Following turning to the Lord in prayer, David then shifted from fear to faith (vs. 9-10).  Instead of focusing on the enemy’s strength, he focused on God’s strength.  Faith grows when we focus on God’s character rather than on our circumstances.  Sometimes we spend more time dwelling on the problem rather than the One who can bring us out of that problem.  David shows us here what we ought to be doing.

David then prayed for God’s righteous judgment on those who were wrongly attacking him (vs. 11-13).  He didn’t ask for their immediate destruction, but for God to make them examples, which would serve as a warning to others.  These weren’t just his enemies, they were rebellious enemies of God.  He didn’t seek his own vengeance, but left the judgment in God’s hands.  Then again David depicts them as restless dogs (vs. 14-15).  Without God there is continual dissatisfaction, and no peace.

Our psalm began with danger, but ends with worship (vs. 16-17).  David had confidence.  His circumstances have not necessarily changed, but his perspective has.  He knew that God was his answer.  David didn’t hide his fear, but instead prayed to God.  He knew that He was strong, faithful, and would protect him, and he did not wait for the answer to begin his praise.  David praised God while the danger still existed.

In closing, as followers of the Lord Jesus, we must trust in His protection and justice even in times when opposition seems strong and the answers seem delayed.  David’s enemies watched his house to destroy him, however David watched his God to deliver him.  The enemy may surround our house, but remember, God surrounds His child!

An Angry Prophet

Jonah 3:10 - 4:11

Several weeks ago we had a study on a Scripture passage from the Book of Jonah where we looked at his prayer while within the belly of the giant fish or whale which had swallowed him.  Today the Lectionary for this week takes us back to the Book of Jonah where we’ll see the rest of the story.  Let’s see what happened with the prophet’s ministry.

Prior to the start of our Scripture passage, the giant fish had spat Jonah out onto the beach.  Having a giant fish swallow him whole sure got his attention, and he knew that he had better obey what God had told him to do, which was go and preach His message to the city of Nineveh.  In the third chapter of Jonah we are told that the prophet went throughout the city, preaching that the people needed to repent and turn to the Lord or else He would destroy them.  Jonah’s message reached into their hearts. The city, from the highest to the lowest, turned to Yahweh in repentance.  This is where our Scripture picks up.

Jonah’s message to the people had been a warning from God, that if they didn’t repent and turn from their wickedness, God would bring His judgment upon them.  The people did repent, and God saw this (vs. 3:10).  Because the people changed their attitude towards the Lord, He changed His dealings with Nineveh.  He spared them, and did not destroy the city.  When sinners repent, God may withhold threatened judgment.  He responds with mercy, according to His holy character.  This repentance was genuine.  Their actions demonstrated that their hearts had changed.  True repentance is not merely feeling sorry.  It involves having sorrow over our sins, turning from those sins, and turning towards God, which is what the Ninevites did.

What do you think was Jonah’s response to the repentance of the Ninevites?  Was he happy?  Did he praise the Lord for their conversion?  I’m sorry to say he did not.  The fact that the Lord saw their repentance and spared them His righteous judgment displeased Jonah (vs. 1).  Jonah had so much hate in his heart for the Assyrians. The Assyrian empire was a violent and cruel nation, and one who had attacked the northern kingdom of Israel numerous times.  They were enemies of his people, and he had allowed great hatred of them to grow in his heart, which was why he had initially refused to go and preach to them.

Jonah wanted justice, but God showed mercy which angered the prophet (vs. 2-3)  He wanted to see them destroyed!  Jonah knew God’s mercy, His patience, and loving kindness.  He knew the Scriptures, and even quoted Exodus 34:6 back to God.  Jonah’s doctrine was excellent, but his heart was not.  People may have correct theology and orthodox belief, but fail to love others.  God wants us to have both, correct doctrine and love for others.  Jonah’s bitterness and hatred had gripped his heart so deeply that he actually would rather die than see Nineveh spared!

God responded by asking Jonah if he was right in being so angry (vs. 4).  He wanted the prophet to examine his heart, and see if his anger was justified.  Jonah felt it was, and actually went and sat on a hillside outside of the city (vs. 5).  He wanted a ringside seat to watch the city go up in smoke.  He didn’t want to miss a bit of what his heart so desired.

As Jonah sat in the sun waiting for the destruction of Nineveh, God prepared a plant to quickly grow and bring shade for him (vs. 6).  That made Jonah happy.  A city’s salvation did not make him happy, but the shade of a plant did.  This reveals a misplaced value system.  However, God was not through.  The plant and what was to follow was to be an object lesson for Jonah.  God prepared a worm to eat away at the plant so that it died (vs. 7).  The God who gave the blessing removed the blessing.  Sometimes God removes comforts to expose our hearts.  Then God sent a scorching wind to make Jonah hot and miserable and he wanted to die again (vs. 8).  The loss of temporary comfort completely overwhelmed him, revealing his spiritual immaturity.

Again, God asked Jonah if he was right in being angry, and again the prophet said he was (vs. 9).  How easy it is to recognize the sins of Nineveh while excusing our own sinful attitudes.  Jonah could see Nineveh’s wickedness, but would not see his own.  Jonah cared deeply about a plant he did not create and which lasted only a day, yet he had little concern for the souls of people he hated.  Jonah valued a plant, but God values people (vs. 10).

Verse 11 is one of the greatest statements of God’s compassion in the Old Testament.  God is not indifferent towards sinners.  He takes no pleasure in judgment.  Though God is holy and must judge sin, He delights in mercy when sinners repent.  Jonah wanted judgment, but God wanted repentance.  As believers, we are called to reflect God’s compassion.  We should never desire the destruction of those whom God desires to save.  No sinner is beyond God’s grace.  Who is God calling you to love and bring His saving message to that you don’t want to love?

The Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:21-35

Most of us have had some type of debt at some point in our life. We may have had a house mortgage, or perhaps a car loan to pay off, and any other debt was hopefully small and manageable.   Imagine if you owed an astronomical amount of money to someone, and you had no way to pay it back.  You would be so grateful if that amount was forgiven.  It would be a tremendous blessing!  In our Scripture today, the Lord Jesus tells His followers a parable about such an instance.  Let’s see what He has to say.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus had just finished instructing His disciples on how the Church was to deal with fellow brethren who had fallen into sin.  Peter then came to Him asking how often he had to forgive someone who sinned against him, and whether seven times was sufficient (vs. 21-22).  In Jewish tradition, forgiving three times was considered generous.  By saying seven times, Peter thought he was being extremely generous.  Jesus then bursts that little bubble by telling him it should be seventy times seven.  He didn’t mean a literal 490 times, and then on the 491st time you could clobber them.  Jesus was teaching that forgiveness should be limitless.  Just like God’s forgiveness, it should be abundant, undeserved, and continual.

Jesus then told the crowd the parable of the unforgiving servant (vs. 23-34).  A king’s servant owed him 10,000 talents.  When he couldn’t pay, the king ordered him and his family to be sold until payment was made.  When that servant begged for mercy, the king had compassion and forgave the debt.  Then that servant went and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii and demanded payment.  When that servant asked for mercy and promised he would get it paid, the first servant refused, and had him thrown into debtors' prison.  When the king found out, he was furious, and had that first servant delivered to the tormentors.

To understand this, we need to be familiar with the two amounts that were owed, what a talent and what a denarius was.  A talent was a weight of precious metal, usually silver.  One talent equaled 75 pounds of silver.  In Biblical times one talent would have been about 20 years salary for a laborer.  So 10,000 talents would have been way more than a lifetime’s salary, billions of dollars in today’s money.  A denarius was approximately a day’s wage for a common laborer.  100 denarii would be several month’s salary.  A goodly sum, but something manageable, and one that should have been able to be worked out between the two servants.

In this parable, the king represents God.  The first servant is a sinner forgiven by God, and the other servant is someone who has sinned against us.  The massive debt owed the king symbolizes our sin against God, which is infinite in moral weight.  The smaller debt symbolizes what others do to us, which is real, but comparatively small.  The king forgave the servant completely - total grace, no conditions.  This shows a picture of salvation.  We cannot repay our sin debt, but God forgives freely those who come to Him through Jesus Christ.  Forgiveness is undeserved and complete.

What did that forgiven servant go and do?  Despite being forgiven an impossible debt, the servant violently demanded repayment of a tiny one.  Unforgiveness in a believer is morally outrageous because it contradicts the grace they have received.  We have been recipients of maximum mercy.  Who are we to suddenly demand justice from others?  We are to show the same compassion to others that God showed us.

When the king hears of that servant’s behavior, he then orders him delivered to the tormentors.  This is not teaching a loss of salvation.  Instead it illustrates that fellowship with God is broken because unrepentant attitudes get in the way of our prayers.  It shows what bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness will produce in our spirit.

Jesus expects us to be able to forgive just as fully and completely as He has.  Forgiveness doesn’t negate the wrong done to us.  It doesn’t deny the offense or the pain.  However, it lets go of the right to get even. Vengeance is God’s responsibility, not ours (Romans 12:19).  It doesn’t mean that we have to immediately trust the one who wronged us.  We may never trust them again, but we surrender the matter to God, choosing grace over bitterness.

This parable calls us to live out the Gospel by extending the same grace that we have received.  God’s forgiveness of us is immeasurably greater than any forgiveness we must extend, and Jesus calls us to forgive others from our heart continually and without keeping score.  Unforgiveness is a serious sin that contradicts the Gospel.  A forgiving spirit is evidence of genuine salvation and spiritual maturity.  

Convictions

Romans 14:5-12

As believers and followers of the Lord Jesus, most of us have some convictions on various matters.  There are things that we choose to do or not do, things that we avoid, because we feel that as a Christian we should or should not be doing them.  Some of these convictions come straight from God’s Word, the Bible.  Others do not.  They are just a matter of our own conscience.  This is where St. Paul warns us in our Scripture today to be careful that we do not judge others or impose our own personal convictions upon others.  Let’s look into our Scripture from the Book of Romans.

As the Apostle Paul wrote his letters to various newly established Christian churches throughout the Roman Empire, not only did he expound upon doctrine and practical Christian living, he also occasionally sought to resolve problems that had arisen.  One such conflict was when some Christians were becoming judgmental and condemning their fellow believers over personal convictions that one or the other had or didn’t have, such as observing certain days, or what to eat or not eat.  Such conflicts were causing division, even hostility among believers, and were a disruption in the church.  Paul wanted to see such conflicts settled.

The issues that Paul addressed here were not moral absolutes, such as adultery, murder, or idolatry, but instead were matters of Christian liberty, such as observing a holiday, eating meat or not, and other personal scruples.  Some believers at that time, likely Jewish Christians, felt compelled to honor certain days, like the Sabbath, feast days, fast days, etc. (vs. 5-6).  Others, likely Gentile Christians, saw all days alike.  These are non-moral issues that have no bearing on salvation.  There were also some in the church who were very strict about what they would eat or not eat, while others felt free to eat whatever their tastes desired.  The two groups were becoming judgmental and condemning of each other.

Paul responded to this conflict by instructing believers that when they formed their convictions they must be fully convinced in their own mind, they must act from a conscience informed by Scripture, not from peer pressure or tradition.  With our personal convictions, things that are not Scriptural absolutes or doctrines, these should be personal, thoughtful, and God-honoring, not imposed upon us by others.

We occasionally find conflicts like this in some churches today.  There are some who will harshly judge others for what they wear, their hair styles, what they eat or not eat, and whether they watch TV or movies.  Some will even judge the other’s salvation based on these personal convictions.  Paul rebukes both sides in this matter, as both groups looked down on and condemned the other (vs. 10).  He rebuked the “strong” for despising the “weak”, and the “weak” for judging the “strong”.  We are not to condemn someone for a conviction that Scripture does not condemn, nor to look down on someone for being more cautious.  We also need to be careful that we do not elevate some personal convictions we have to the level of Christ’s commands.

Whether we are vegetarian, vegan, or enjoy a good steak, whether we enjoy an action movie, or abstain from those, we must do it unto the Lord, not because it is tradition or imposed upon us by someone else.  The Christian life is not autonomous.  Believers belong to Jesus, and He alone should govern our choices (vs. 7-8).  Each conviction that we have should be decided by the question “Does this honor my Lord?”  Our choices in gray areas, such as entertainment, holidays, or food, should reflect our desire to live for Jesus.

Paul then quoted Isaiah 45:23 to remind us that God alone is Judge (vs. 11-12).  His authority, and not our own, is ultimate.  We have no right to sit in God’s judgment seat over another’s conscience.  Each of us will personally answer to God, not to other Christians, for how we lived out our convictions.  Accountability is individual, and we should not impose our conscience in non-doctrinal or moral matters onto others, such as diet, whether we watch TV, or other such convictions.

Just as in the days of the Apostles, Christians today must allow for differences in non-essential matters without division.  We should not elevate personal standards to Biblical commands.  Nor should we mock or belittle others who have stricter convictions.  Instead, study the Bible and form thoughtful, God-honoring positions, making every choice, whether in food, entertainment, or personal standards, an act of worship.  We will answer to God, not to other Christians, in the end.

A Favorite Psalm

Psalm 103

Most Christians have a favorite psalm among the 150 psalms in the Bible.  For many that is the very familiar Psalm 23.  Though I do like that psalm, that one is not in my top three favorites.  Our psalm today, Psalm 103 ranks as second place in my list of favorite psalms, with Psalm 34 beating it out in first place.  My third favorite is Psalm 139.  Psalm 103 is one of the richest and most worship-filled psalms in Scripture.  It is David’s full-hearted call for God’s people to remember His benefits, to magnify His mercy, and to humble themselves under His fatherly compassion.  The theme could be said to bless the Lord by remembering His benefits, His mercy, and His covenant faithfulness.  Let’s take a look at this very beautiful and spiritually moving psalm.

As mentioned, this psalm was written by King David.  Unlike many of his other psalms, or the psalms of others, it contains no requests, no complaints, and mentions no enemies.  Instead, it calls us to remember who God is and what He has done for us.  It affirms the reality of God’s forgiveness, His healing, and His redemption.  It reminds us of God’s unchanging character and His faithfulness to His covenant.  All of this should stir our hearts to worship the Lord.

David begins his psalm by calling upon his soul to bless the Lord (vs. 1-2).  To bless the Lord means to speak well of Him, praising Him, and exalting His Name.  David reminds himself, and us too, not to forget all that God has done for us.  Forgetting the Lord’s blessings can lead us to drift away from Him, and thus into spiritual danger.  We need to actively recall all that He has blessed us with.

Next, David continues by listing five specific benefits that God has blessed His children with (vs. 3-5).  The first is that God has forgiven all of our sins.  After one has accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, we have total forgiveness of our sins because of His substitutionary atonement upon the cross for us.  This is not just some of our sins, but all of them.  God also heals all of our diseases.  This is not a blanket promise of immediate physical healing.  Rather, it acknowledges God as the ultimate healer, as healing is part of His mercy.  We receive spiritual healing from sin’s corruption, and final physical healing in resurrection glory.

Another benefit is that God redeems our life from destruction.  When one personally accepts Jesus, we are then rescued from eternal ruin.  God also crowns us with loving-kindness and tender mercies.  His mercy is not cold.  It is tender, fatherly, and affectionate, and based on His covenant love.  The last one that David listed is that God satisfies us with good things.  He doesn’t merely sustain, He satisfies us.  He renews our strength like that of an eagle, a picture of energy and renewed youthfulness.

David then moves from personal benefits to some of God’s divine attributes (vs. 6-10).  He is righteous, and will show justice to those who are oppressed.  He is slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  His wrath is real, but His mercy is also abundant.  They both coexist perfectly.  We see grace and mercy here - grace in that God gives us what we do not deserve, and mercy in that He withholds what we do deserve.

Now we come to some of the most tender verses in the Bible that describe God and His dealings with His children (vs. 11-14).  Can you measure the height of the heavens?  No, as scientists say that there is no known end to the universe.  That is how great God’s mercy is to us.  He also separates our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.  North and south have set points at both poles where you start to go in the other direction.  Not so with east and west. They never meet.  This is a picture of infinite separation.  Our sins are truly gone.  If God removes our sins, and forgets them, we should, as well.

The Lord also is the perfect father who has compassion on us, knowing that we are frail humans.  As humans, we are frail - brief, fragile, and fading like grass (vs. 15-18).  However, God is eternally faithful and His mercy is everlasting.  Knowing all of this, we should join in with the angels and heavenly hosts in giving universal praise (vs. 19-22).

In closing, one of the reasons that this is one of my favorite psalms is that it reminds me of God’s forgiveness and unconditional love for His children.  To love conditionally is against God’s nature.  It is against His nature to remember forgiven sins.  Grace forgets.  He who is perfect love cannot hold grudges.  Knowing this, let us not forget to give Him all the praise and blessing.  As Blood-bought children of God, we have a lot more reasons to rejoice than to complain.

A Bowl of Stew

Genesis 25:28-34

Do you have something important in your life, something of honor or privilege, that you have taken for granted?  Then one day comes, you don’t have it anymore, and now you have deep regret.  The choices and decisions that you made have caused you to lose this important thing because at the time it didn’t seem so important, you failed to see the value and honor.  In our Scripture today we read of someone who had a position of honor and privilege, and who gave it up for something extremely trivial, and then later would deeply regret it.

Our Scripture tells of one event in the lives of two brothers, Jacob and Esau.  These brothers were the sons of Isaac, and grandsons of Abraham.  They were fraternal twins, but couldn’t have been more different from each other.  Esau, the older of the twins, was a rugged outdoorsman type, who loved hunting, and if he had lived today, would have been an all-around athlete.  Jacob was the opposite, a more bookish type.  As the firstborn, Esau had the birthright.  As we read in verse 28, Isaac’s favorite of the two was Esau because he loved the venison that his son brought back from hunting.  Their mother Rebekah loved Jacob best.

To fully understand this passage of Scripture, we must understand exactly what the birthright was, as this is something unfamiliar with many cultures today.  In the Old Testament, the birthright was given to the firstborn son of the family.  It consisted of several important privileges.  One was that the eldest son would get twice as much inheritance when the father died than any of his other siblings, twice as much property and twice as much material wealth.  He would become the patriarch or head of the clan when the father died.  The birthright also held spiritual leadership responsibilities, as he would lead the extended family in worship and sacrifices (until the sacrificial responsibility was given to the Levites).  As we can see, this was a special blessing and privilege to hold.  Why would anyone just toss that away?

As our Scripture recounts, one day Esau had gone out hunting.  Shortly before his brother returned Jacob decided to make dinner.  He seems to have been a good cook, and had a bubbling pot of delicious stew cooking outdoors at the fire pit when Esau returned.  The older brother was quite hungry following his day out hunting, and asked for a bowl.  Jacob was a devious and cunning man, and he wasn’t going to freely give a bowl of his stew without getting something in return (vs. 29-31).

The birthright was something that Jacob really wanted, and he knew that his brother didn’t care about the privilege that it was.  As his mother’s favorite, Jacob had probably been told by her of the message of God to her shortly before they were born, how the older of the two would serve the younger, how Jacob would eventually have the preeminence (Genesis 25:21-23).   Jacob did not want to wait on the Lord for this, so he took this opportunity to get the birthright.  Esau was ruled by impulse, and was dominated by the moment.  He was uninterested in spiritual things and was governed by his bodily desires.  Jacob’s methods were flawed, but he valued the birthright.

Esau was certainly not about to die of hunger as he claimed! (vs. 32).  However, he valued a bowl of food over the spiritual blessings that were his, counting them worthless.  He consciously chose the temporal over the eternal.  He would rather have a full belly than the things of God, as he held this in contempt (vs. 33-34).  He was spiritually bankrupt.

Esau’s hunger became a doorway to spiritual disaster.  The flesh always undervalues spiritual truth.  Jacob’s desire for the birthright, though obtained in a less than godly way, showed that spiritual blessings must be pursued, not neglected.  Esau’s decision led to great loss.  There are always great consequences to despising God’s gifts.

Is there a bowl of stew in your life right now?  Are temporary pleasures threatening eternal priorities?  Or do you value spiritual blessings more than physical comfort?  We must resist the temptation to sacrifice long-term spiritual health for short-term gratification, like Esau did.  “What good is the birthright to me right now?” is the essence of modern secular thinking.  Don’t trade your eternal blessings for a bowl of stew!

Restoring a Fallen Christian

Matthew 18:15-20

In many areas of our life we run across rules that we have to follow, most of them for our own good.  There are traffic rules.  We have safety rules at many places of employment, sports venues, and nature preserves.  We even have rules to ensure fair play for all sorts of games.   In our Scripture passage today from the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord set out some rules for how the Church was to deal with a member who had fallen into sin.  Let’s take a look at what the steps are and see how well our churches, and ourselves, are following our Lord’s instructions.

Immediately prior to our Scripture passage, Jesus had told His disciples the very brief parable about the one sheep who had gone astray and gotten lost, and how the shepherd set out to find the missing sheep.  Now He instructs His followers about what to do when a fellow believer goes astray, does something wrong and falls into sin.  Jesus gives us here a clear, step-by-step process for confronting sin among believers, grounded in truth, and aiming at restoration.

The first step is to be a private confrontation (vs. 15).  Jesus stated that if a fellow Christian brother, not an unbeliever, sins against us or we see that they have fallen into some type of sinful behavior, we are to go to him alone and try to talk it out.  This is to be about an actual sin, something that the Scriptures identify as wrong, not just a difference of opinion, or being super-sensitive about something.  As soon as we realize this, we are to go to them, taking the initiative.  We shouldn’t sit and stew about this.  Nor are we to go and gossip with other people about the matter.  It is to be between yourself and him alone.  This way we protect their dignity and avoid public shame.

What if the person who has fallen into some sin, and to whom you have tried talking to, won’t listen to you?  Not everyone is willing to admit they are in sin, or at fault in a matter.  Jesus then said that if this person refuses to receive correction then you are to bring one or two other witnesses with you (vs. 16).  This would typically be your priest or pastor and possibly a deacon or elder of the church.  Just one or two others, as you don’t want a mob, where the person feels like everyone is ganging up on them.  They should be godly believers and no one who would be spreading rumors around.  This follows the principle of Deuteronomy 19:15. Having witnesses ensures fairness, accuracy, and accountability.  It protects against false accusations and emotional reactions, keeping the process Biblical and not personal.

There is always the possibility that this person will not forsake the sin that he or she has fallen into, despite your godly concern, and that of the one or two that have come with you.  If the believer still refuses repentance, then Jesus instructed that the matter should then be brought before the whole congregation of the local church, where they collectively call the person to repentance (vs. 17).  If they refuse to listen to the whole congregation and get right with the Lord, then he is to be treated as an unbeliever.  He is to be excommunicated, not with hatred but with concern that they forsake the sin that they have gotten into, turn their life around, and be restored.

There are some Christians, even whole congregations, that refuse to follow these instructions that Jesus gave.  They do not want to “judge” other believers, even when they fall into sin.  However, avoiding confrontation is disobedience to God’s Word.  Church discipline is not optional.  It is commanded by Jesus for the purity of the church.  Paul spoke of this in I Corinthians 5.  A church that refuses to discipline members who have fallen into persistent sin are refusing to obey what God has instructed them to be doing.  God demands holiness among His people (I Peter 1:15-16).  He has given the church the authority to act in matters of discipline.  Jesus Himself is present when the church obeys His commands in discipline (vs. 19-20).  He stands with the church when it confronts sin.

This is Jesus’ authoritative steps for confronting sin within the local church.  It is a command, not a suggestion, nor something we should ignore because it doesn’t fit in with today’s idea of refraining from all judgment.  This protects the purity of the church, promotes unity, and reflects the Father’s heart for wandering sheep.  When a church follows this pattern, Jesus Himself stands in the midst of His people, validating their obedience and guiding their decisions.

A Christ-Like Life

Romans 12:9-21

Have you ever walked through a field or prairie and when you returned home you found several cockleburs attached to your slacks or socks?  Those can sometimes be difficult to remove without making a snag.  They also can get caught in the fur of a dog, and if he brings home a lot of them he might need an unexpected trip to the groomer.  The most notable characteristic of a cocklebur, their ability to tightly cling on to what brushes up against them.  Clinging is just one of several things that St. Paul instructs believers to do in our portion of Scripture today.  Let’s look at God’s Word for today.

In this second half of the 12th chapter of Romans, Paul gives a series of instructions of what Spirit-filled love looks like in real life.  Genuine Christian love must govern every relationship, every reaction, and every circumstance in life.  This passage is an outline for practical holiness and Christlike conduct in a world that today is very hostile to the message of Jesus.

The Apostle begins with the instruction that our love for one another must be real, not fake, not sentimental, nor self-serving (vs. 9).  Biblical love is rooted in truth, not in emotion.  True Christian love is a holy love.  Genuine love will hate what is evil.  It will cling to God’s standards of righteousness.  As believers, we need to hold on tightly to what is good and godly, holding on and clinging to God’s Word just like a tenacious cocklebur!

The next several verses describe how we should love our fellow Christians (vs. 10-13).  A Spirit-filled believer will put others first, resisting pride and self-promotion.  We will show diligence in our service for others, with energetic obedience to God, boiling over with zeal, as all of our work is ultimately for the Lord Jesus.  This is possible when we stay connected to the Lord through prayer (vs. 12).  As Paul stated a similar sentiment in I Thessalonians 5:17, maintain an attitude of prayer throughout the day, keeping a mindset that God is always there with us.  With our joy anchored in future glory, we can endure troubles through constant dependence on God.  Our love for other believers will show itself in meeting their needs and pursuing opportunities to bless others.

Paul continues with several verses showing how we show love towards the hostile world (vs. 14-16).  He instructs us to bless those who persecute or hurt us.  This is supernatural.  Only a Spirit-filled believer can respond to hostility with blessing.  We will also show empathy to others with what they are going through.  The world will see harmony in our church, where we welcome the humble and reject self-importance.

Next we come to an often difficult instruction, and that is to show no retaliation, but leave the vengeance to God (vs. 17-20).  Jesus does not want us to repay evil treatment to those who treat us with evil.  Vengeance belongs to God alone.  Instead He wants us to live peaceably with others if it is possible, though unfortunately sometimes their attitude will not allow it.  Our response to hostility must reflect Jesus, not the flesh.

Has someone mistreated you?  Bless them by praying for them.  We can also help them with a need or doing an act of kindness.  God will give us the strength to overcome evil with good.  We may never overcome the evil in their heart, but we can surely overcome the evil feelings we have for them in our own heart.  We must remember, vengeance belongs to God, and the Day of the Lord’s vengeance is coming.  He will repay perfectly.

Paul quotes in verse 20 from Proverbs 25:21-22.  We are to feed our enemy and give him something to drink. “Heaping coals of fire” refers to producing conviction, shame, and repentance.  It is not a type of personal revenge.

Our Scripture concludes with the instruction to not be overcome by evil, but instead to overcome evil with good (vs. 21).  Evil wins when it provokes a sinful reaction from us.  However good wins when believers respond with Christ-like righteousness.  Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.  We conquer evil not by force, but by Spirit-empowered goodness.

These instructions from God’s Word are not suggestions.  They are divine mandates for godly Christian living.  We can’t do this on our own, though.  We need God’s power through the Holy Spirit to follow this in our life.  Let us, through the Holy Spirit, show our love for Jesus by rejecting evil and refusing worldly retaliation.

Loving God and His Word

Psalm 119:33-48

Our psalm reading for this week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer brings us back to Psalm 119, which we looked at a few weeks back.  As noted, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.  It is divided into 22 sections, each eight verses long and beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  And nearly every one of the 176 verses of this psalm refers to some aspect of God’s Word.  Today we look at two sections of the psalm, those beginning with the fifth and sixth letters of the Hebrew alphabet, He and Waw, and reveals the heart-cry of a believer who longs to walk in holiness, to cling to God’s Word, and stand boldly for truth.  The psalmist prays for divine instruction and empowerment to obey God’s Word, to separate himself from worthless and worldly vanity, and proclaim God’s truth without shame.

Our psalmist begins this segment of the psalm with a prayer to God for His help in understanding and obeying the Scriptures (vs. 33-35).  Obedience begins with God’s instruction.  No amount of our own effort will suffice.  We are dependent upon God’s help.  We need the illumination from the Holy Spirit to be able to understand the Bible, and then to obey it.  The Holy Spirit opens the believer’s understanding of Scripture (I Corinthians 2:12-14), and He will shape our Christian walk when we yield ourselves to Him (John 17:17).  That is why we should always pray for God to open His Word to us before we read from the Bible.

Next the psalmist prays that God will turn his desires towards His Word (vs. 36-38).  He does not want to be caught up in the empty worldly distractions that we encounter every day.  He does not want them to pull his heart away from holiness.  As Christians that should be our desire, as well.  Like the psalmist, we need to reject anything that pulls us from God, that could bring moral compromise, and cause spiritual apathy.  Instead, we must replace anything that steals our spiritual focus with meditating upon God’s Word.  All of our earthly possessions will prove to be worthless on Judgment Day.  We should rather see value from God’s perspective.

The psalmist does not want to be a reproach, to fail, or be a disappointment to God (vs. 39-40).  He has a holy fear, a reverence and awe of God, more so than any fear of man.  He longs for God’s Word, showing that he has developed a genuine spiritual hunger.  Having a hunger, a desire for spending time in the Bible is evidence of being a true child of God.  Like the psalmist, we should also cultivate a holy fear of displeasing God.  Seeking to live a holy life is not resorting to legalism.  Instead it is a longing to follow God’s way for one’s life.

As we continue on in the psalm, we see that genuine liberty comes through obedience to God’s Word (vs. 41-45).  Many people feel that obeying the Bible is like wearing shackles and is a life of oppression.  But following God’s ways produces true liberty, not bondage.  Liberty is freedom from sin, not a freedom to sin.  Obedience is not restrictive.  It liberates the believer from the tyranny of the flesh.  We should reject the modern idea that living a godly and holy life is oppressive, and instead embrace obedience to the Lord as the path to spiritual freedom.

Finally, the psalmist proclaims that he will boldly witness for the Lord without any shame (vs. 46-48).  He promises that he will speak God’s truth with courage and without fear, even before world leaders.  He refuses to be ashamed of the Bible.  Christians should not be afraid to proclaim the truth of God, even in a hostile world.  Likewise, we should not be ashamed to stand loyally for the Bible when today’s culture rejects it, nor yield to cultural pressure to soften or hide Scripture’s teachings.

As we look back over this portion of Psalm 119, we see a believer who wants to be taught by God, desiring to understand and obey the Bible.  He rejects all worldly allurements, and instead seeks to live a holy life while proclaiming God’s Word without shame.  When we look in the mirror, is that the type of Christian that we see?  Let’s invite God to build a guard for our mind through Bible reading and prayer, rather than passively hoping that the world won’t pollute our mind.  Following God’s wise instructions allows us to escape the consequences that come from choices we later wish we could undo.

The Watchman's Warnings

Ezekiel 33:1-11

The siren sounds out through the neighborhood.  Everyone who hears it knows that they need to seek shelter in a basement or an enclosed inner closet or other safe space because a tornado is heading towards the neighborhood.  In the part of the U.S. where I live we hear the tornado sirens a handful of times each spring and summer, and we know we had better heed the warning!  There are other warnings that are important to heed, such as the railroad crossing gate, the sign that says that the bridge is out ahead, the warnings on bottles of medication, etc.  Sometimes when we know of a danger, and see that someone else is oblivious to it, as a decent person it is our responsibility to warn that other person.  What kind of person would we be if we didn’t?!  In our Scripture today from the Book of Ezekiel we read of God calling the prophet, and us today as well, to be His watchmen to warn others of their actions, the consequences, and what is to come.

The prophet Ezekiel was one of God’s messengers at the time of the conquest of Babylon over the Kingdom of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the people going into captivity.  God sent His prophet Ezekiel to the people to warn them, not of Babylon, but of their own spiritual condition.  God holds His messengers accountable for faithfully delivering His warnings.  Ezekiel had a message from God at that time, and we have one to bring to people today.

God gave the example to Ezekiel of a city’s watchman (vs. 1-6).  It was the watchman’s responsibility to walk along the top of the city’s wall, looking out in all directions for any sign of an approaching enemy or any other type of danger.  If he saw something he would blow his trumpet to sound an alarm.  Then it was up to each individual to respond or not.  If the watchman was faithful in giving the warning, and someone didn’t respond, and they were hurt or worse, their life was in their own hands.  But if the watchman didn’t give a warning, then he had the blood of the people on his hands.

Ezekiel was responsible to proclaim God’s Word whether people listened or not.  The principle still applies today.  Believers have a duty to warn the lost of sin, judgment, and the need for repentance.  Failure to speak God’s truth is not just being neutral.  It is disobedience.  When we give the warning, those people are accountable for their response to God’s Word.  God requires faithfulness from His servants, not for them to try and be popular.

God then directly applied the watchman analogy to Ezekiel (vs. 7-9).  Ezekiel’s authority came from God, not from public approval.  His task was to hear the Word from God and then deliver it without alteration.  If he warned the wicked and they refused to repent, Ezekiel was innocent.  But if he failed to warn them, he was guilty.  The same holds true to us today.  Silence in the face of sin is sin itself.  God’s Word must be declared plainly, including truths about judgment, hell, and repentance.

God does not delight in bringing judgment upon people (vs. 10-11).  And as long as someone still has breath in them, then repentance is always possible.  Judgment in this life is meant to awaken the person to repentance.  The wicked must turn from their ways.  Repentance is a change of direction.  God’s mercy is extended to all, but salvation requires turning from sin.

As believers, we are the watchmen appointed by God.  We must speak the truth, His warnings, lovingly but boldly.  Silence is not compassion, it is negligence.  If we do not warn our families, friends, and neighbors, we will have their blood on our hands!  We have a duty to warn others!

However, everyone who has heard the warning is responsible before God.  No one can blame the watchman if they ignore the warning.  Just like that tornado siren - when I hear that and I decide to ignore it, then I have no one to blame but myself if I get blown away and die.  If I ignore the “bridge out ahead” sign, it is my own fault if my car goes down the cliff and into the river.  Don’t ignore the watchmen that God has sent your way to warn you of your eternal destiny.  Heed their warning, turn to Jesus in repentance, and call upon Him as your Savior before it is too late!

The Cost of Discipleship

Matthew 16:21-27

Do you have what it takes?  Are you willing to pay the price to obtain what you desire?  A young person may watch the Olympics on TV and wish they could get that gold medal, but are they willing to put in the many, many grueling hours of hard practice?  Sitting in the concert hall listening to a piano or violin recital, we may wish we could play like that, but are we also willing to put in the hours of practice for that?  Or the hard work at our job to earn the corner office?  In our Gospel Scripture passage for this week we read of something that Jesus said to His disciples, that if they wanted to follow Him there would be a price to pay.  Let’s look into what He said that would be.

Immediately prior to when our Scripture begins, Peter had just confessed in front of Jesus and the other disciples that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  Now as they were headed towards Jerusalem, Jesus began to speak plainly about His coming suffering and death, resurrection, and the cost of true discipleship (vs. 21).  However, this was not what the disciples wanted to hear.  If Jesus was the Messiah like Peter said, wouldn’t He lead the people of Israel to throw off the yoke of bondage to the Roman Empire and bring Israel freedom?  What was this talk of His being killed?  That didn’t fit into their plan!

Peter had just confessed that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Son of God.  How could He then be put to death?  Peter went up to Jesus and told Him that this couldn’t happen (vs. 22).  Peter was looking at the situation through carnal, worldly eyes.  He wanted a crown without a cross.  He desired a political Messiah, not a suffering Savior.  How quickly human thinking can oppose God’s purposes, even if it has good intentions.  Even sincere believers can oppose God’s will when they are thinking carnally.

Jesus then immediately rebuked Peter (vs. 23)  His response was severe because Peter’s words echoed Satan’s temptation in the wilderness - a kingdom without suffering.  Satanic opposition often comes through human voices.  Anything that diverts Christ from the cross, along with today anything that removes the cross and Jesus’ shed Blood from the salvation message is demonic in origin.  Peter was not possessed here, however he was thinking not of “the things of God, but the things of men.”  The cross is central to God’s plan and cannot be negotiated.  Christ’s death was not accidental or tragic - it was the ordained plan of God.

Jesus then gave His call to discipleship (vs. 24).  This call has three parts - deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.  To be a true disciple one must renounce any self-will and self-centeredness.  One must embrace death to self and accept suffering for Jesus, and also walk in obedience, loyalty, and submission.  These three commands are not optional.  It is the definition of Christianity.

If we want to follow Jesus we must willingly do the things God calls us to do without resentment.  We must desire to carry the cross He gives us to bear.  Rather than focusing on self-esteem we are commanded to deny ourselves and treat others better than ourselves.  Jesus doesn’t ask everyone to leave home and family, but following Him means denying our selfish goals in life.  To give God top priority in life, we must love Him whole-heartedly, deny ourselves, and follow Him.

Trying to save your life with comforts and self-preservation leads to spiritual ruin (vs. 25).  Losing your life for Jesus Christ will lead to eternal life.  Discipleship is costly, but the cost of rejecting Jesus is infinitely greater.  Your eternal soul is worth more than wealth, fame, power, pleasure, really the entire world (vs. 26).  It is eternal and priceless.  However, once it is lost, it cannot be bought back.

Jesus concluded this Scripture with the promise that He will return in glory with His angels to reward everyone according to their works (vs. 27).  This is a clear affirmation of His deity, and also of future judgment.  When we stand before God, He won’t consult man-made rules and standards.  He will have the final word when He judges our lives.

Many believers often want a comfortable Christianity.  Most of us will happily follow Jesus as long as He’s going where we want.  But what happens if He leads us down a road of sacrifice, self-denial, suffering, or death?  Will we still trust Him and keep going?  Jesus calls us to embrace His plan, even when it includes suffering.  Are we following Jesus on His terms or our own?  The world only offers temporary gain.  Jesus offers eternal rewards.

This Scripture passage is a call to abandon ourselves and embrace Jesus as a true disciple of His.  Jesus did not merely teach self-denial, He embodied it.  He did not merely command cross-bearing, He carried His own.  And He did not merely warn of judgment, He will personally execute it as the returning King.  Remember - the cross comes before the crown.  Obedience comes before reward.  Suffering comes before glory, and faithfulness comes before vindication.  This was the pattern of Jesus’ life, and therefore should be the pattern of every true disciple.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-8

After spending time in training for a career or some skill, your teacher or instructor then wants you to go out and practice that skill, to put it to use.  The medical student is sent out to be an intern and then a medical resident.  The young attorney goes out to practice under a more experienced one.  The cook heads into the kitchen to begin baking.  None of them just take their diploma and go home and sit on it!  That is the same idea that St. Paul gives us today in our Scripture.

In Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, the first eleven chapters were focused on teaching doctrine.  Now as we begin chapter 12, Paul will start focusing on practical Christian living.  The word “therefore” in verse 1 points back to everything that has been said before in the previous chapters, the doctrines of human sin, justification by faith, union with Jesus Christ, life in the Spirit, and God’s mercy.  Now Paul will instruct his readers to respond, and to put all that into practice in their lives.

The first thing that the Apostle tells us to do is to present ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice (vs. 1).  This pictures in our mind the sheep and oxen that God’s people would bring to the altars, where the priests would then sacrifice them to God.  However, unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, this is not for atonement, as Jesus has already accomplished that with His death on the cross.  Instead, we present ourselves completely to the Lord as an act of grateful devotion.

Paul then gives us an important instruction, that we must not be conformed to this world, but instead be transformed by renewing our mind in the Lord (vs. 2).  Our lives are to be set apart for God.  We set ourselves apart by renewing our minds with God’s Word and cleansing our minds from the filth of this world.  To follow God’s plan we need to surrender our rights to Him, and embrace His way.  Our minds can be changed from being worldly to godly only with a steady application of Scripture.  We can find ourselves out of God’s will when we put other things or people ahead of Him.

It is a lie that we have to be like the world in order to win them to Christ.  Jesus never compromised His beliefs or moral standards in order to win people to the Father.  When Christians compromise, everyone loses.  Stop allowing the world to shape you into its mold.  Stop giving the outward appearance and lifestyle that is inconsistent with your inner being.  Replace old erroneous thought patterns with the truth of God’s Word.

Paul continued by instructing that as we put the faith that we learned into practice, we must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (vs. 3).  Pride destroys unity and usefulness in the church.  When people think more highly of themselves than they should, they stop relying upon divine guidance in making decisions.  Terrible consequences can often result from such wrong thinking.  Pride always drives a person away from God’s path.

The Apostle Paul then, in verses 4-5, used the human body as a metaphor of Christians being part of the body of Christ, something that he did several times in his other Epistles, particularly in I Corinthians 12:12-27.  Just as a human body has many different parts, each with its own specific function, the Church has many different members making up the body of Christ, and we each have our God-assigned function of service in the Church.

Paul then concluded this segment of Scripture with listing some of the different gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to believers (vs. 6-8).  One is that of prophecy, which is speaking God’s truth with clarity and boldness.  This Spirit-empowered proclamation is consistent with Scripture, not any new revelation.  Another gift is ministry or service, which meets the needs within the church.  A third gift is teaching, which in this instance would be explaining the Scriptures accurately and systematically.  Then there is exhortation, which is encouraging, admonishing, and urging believers towards obedience.  Paul mentions the gift of giving, which is sharing one’s resources with simplicity and sincerely, without an ulterior motive.  There is the gift of leadership, leading the flock with diligence, responsibility, and faithfulness.  The last one he mentions is showing mercy, demonstrating compassion with cheerfulness, reflecting Jesus’ heart.

In closing, this Scripture from Romans shows that genuine salvation will lead to a transformed life.  Renewing our mind requires the Bible as the final authority for faith and for practice.  Surrendering ourselves to God is the most reasonable response to His mercy.  As believers, we need to present ourselves to God each day in prayer and obedience, rejecting worldly thinking by saturating our mind with Scripture, and then identifying our spiritual gift and using it for the Lord.