The Humbling Of Mankind

Isaiah 2:10-17

Our Old Testament Passage today from this week’s Lectionary readings is a rather obscure passage in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  Let’s take a look and see what Isaiah is saying here.

Isaiah speaks of a day coming in the future when the Lord God will bring judgment on the pride of man and his arrogance against Him, and our pride and willfulness will be destroyed.  The term “day of the Lord”, which Isaiah uses in verse 12 and alludes to in verse 17, is a term used in Scripture to refer to a time when God will bring judgment.  Sometimes it referred to a specific time when He was chastening His people, like with the Babylonian invasion.  Often it referred to God’s final judgment of the world for their sins and rebellion against Him.  In this passage Isaiah is referring to a future end time day when God will judge the pride and rebellion of man against Himself.

Just about every sin can be traced back in some way to pride, and would have its roots in pride.  It was pride that caused the one-time archangel, Lucifer, to be cast out of heaven and become now known as Satan (Isaiah 14:12-17).  Pride is one of Satan’s key weapons to use on us to get us to sin like he did.

Verse 11 speaks of men’s lofty looks and haughtiness.  Look around today - don’t you see that everywhere?  In the political realm, regardless of whether they are left wing or right wing, you see arrogance and pride.  In the business world, as well, this is unbridled and widespread.  God sees this, and notes that mankind has set themselves against Him.  On that day, though, God has promised that He will bring them down and He, alone, shall be exalted (vs. 11-12).

In verse 13 we read about the cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan.  The wood from the cedars of Lebanon were used to panel the Temple in Jerusalem and the royal palaces.  It was beautiful wood.  Oak trees are big and strong.  In many cultures and ancient religions around the world trees have been worshipped, particularly oak trees.  God will bring down anything that exalts itself against Him.  Ancient pagan practices and worship often took place on top of hills, and these God is going to destroy as well (vs. 14).  He will destroy every religious belief and practice that is not of Him and through His Son, Jesus Christ.

In verse 15 we read of the high towers and fortified walls.  This spoke of a city’s defense, such as fortresses they built to protect themselves from the enemy.  Today nations don’t usually build walls around cities with fortresses like they did in times past, but we do build up our military strength.  Has that replaced our trust in the Lord God to protect us?  Has our pride been placed in that instead of Him?

We read in verse 16 of the ships of Tarshish and the sloops.  Ships from Tarshish, which would have been along the western end of the Mediterranean, would have been trading ships.  They would have brought goods from all around the known world to the shopping markets of Israel.  Buy, sell, gain wealth, and decorate their homes.  What did they need God for, they would have thought.  A sloop would be a recreational boat.  “Look what my wealth has gotten me?”  God condemns mankind's pride, the thinking that their wealth, their power is all they need, and not Him.  Are we depending on ourselves, and putting our trust in ourselves, and not in God?

God has promised that everything that exalts itself against Himself will be brought down (vs. 17).  The world will see and acknowledge Jesus Christ as God and King, and He will rule over all.  That day is coming soon.  We all need to be sure that we have a proper relationship with God through salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ.

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Hope And Encouragement In Times Of Persecution

Matthew 10:16-33

A life of ease and popularity, or a difficult life with opposition - which one would you choose?  Most of us would probably choose the first one, as no one wants others fighting against them, along with a lot of struggles.  This, though, is exactly what Jesus has said His followers would encounter as a result of being His disciples.  Some preachers today have promised a life of ease and wealth.  “Turn to Jesus and all your problems will disappear.”, they say.  Nowhere in Scripture is that ever said.  In our passage today we see what Jesus said His followers could expect for faithfully proclaiming His message.

As believers, we have been given a commission to go out and spread the Gospel message.  Jesus warns us in verse 16 that this could, and would often, be dangerous.  Wolves was a term that was used to describe those who would oppose His followers, whether political leaders or false religious leaders who would persecute true believers and destroy the true Church.  Paul and the apostles in the early church certainly experienced that, and it continues today.  There are plenty across the world in both the political and religious realms who persecute those who stand for Jesus and the truth of the Bible.  We can even expect opposition from our own families (vs 21).  We are God’s sheep, but when we are out among the wolves, Jesus tells us to not be like ignorant sheep, but be wise, sensible, and prudent, not gullible or naive.  We are under His protection and have been given His wisdom and power.

The Jews in Jesus’s day, and many people today believe that suffering is God’s punishment.  Why would one suffer for being obedient to God?  Jesus, the Son of God and 2nd Person of the Trinity suffered, and He was certainly obedient to God.  Just because we act good, holy, and decent doesn’t mean that people will like us or treat us well (vs. 25).  The Jewish leaders called Jesus “Beelzebub”, which is the name of the Prince of Demons.  Literally translated it is “Lord of the Flies”.  As His followers, we can expect similar accusations or names.  The unbelievers did not like Jesus, and they will not like us.  If we are faithfully following Him, we should not expect the world to sing our praises.

If this was all that Jesus told us in this passage it might be a bit discouraging, but He didn’t just tell us to go out and face persecution.  He gave us some encouraging words as well, to equip us for the opposition we will face.  One promise Jesus made was that if we are ever brought before court for our faith, if we rely on Him, He will give us the words to speak in response to their opposition (vs. 18-20).  Trusting in Jesus we don’t have to rely on our own abilities.

In addition, God reassures us, His beloved children, that we are infinitely precious to Him.  He watches over all of His creation.  Nothing is beyond His notice, including the death of even the smallest of sparrows.  If the almighty God is concerned about something as small and seemingly insignificant as a sparrow, don’t you think He is all the more concerned about His Blood-bought children?  We are so important to God that He has even counted the very numbers of our hair (vs. 29-31).  When someone deeply loves another, they like to know every detail of them.  The fact that God would keep track of something as unimportant as how many hairs we have shows just how much He loves us.  We can trust Him that He is sovereign and has all of our life under His control.

Jesus wasn’t afraid of Pilate or the Jewish religious leaders.  We do not need to fear any of our enemies.  What is the worst they can do?  Kill our bodies?  They can’t harm our souls.  God has that in His hands, and if we are saved, we have nothing to worry about there (vs. 28).  Our job is to continue on as His witnesses, never being ashamed of Jesus or His Word (vs. 33).

We can and should trust that God has a plan for all of the trials and sufferings we go through.  He has a plan, and will give us His comfort.  We need to keep our eyes on the goal, on the day when our trials are over and we will be rewarded.

Two Men With Opposite Impacts

Romans 5:15-19

In our passage from Romans today, Paul contrasts our first forefather, Adam, referred to in this passage as “one man” (small letter m), with our Savior, Jesus, referred to in this passage as “one Man” (large letter M).  In this brief passage Paul tells his readers and us that it was through the sin of one man, Adam, that sin entered into the world, and judgment has come upon all people.

We are all descendants of Adam.  Just as we inherit certain characteristics from our parents, we have all inherited one thing from Adam, and that is the stain of original sin and a sin nature, the tendency and desire to sin.  It was one act of sin against God that started that whole ugly ball rolling.  One act of sin, eating the forbidden fruit, that brought sin into the world, leading to more sins, and more.  Sin brings judgment from God.  That one act of sin, committed by Adam, which lead to more sins committed by everyone, brought God’s judgment upon us all.

This one man, Adam’s, one act of sin and disobedience in the Garden brought death into the world.  This was both physical death at the end of one’s life, and also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God in hell.  This, too, is something that we have inherited as descendants of Adam.

This would all be very dismal and depressing if left just like that.  Our forefather Adam sins, and we all inherit sin, disobedience, judgment, and death.  That’s a rather hopeless picture.  But that is only half of the picture Paul is presenting us here.  The other half is that there is another Man who has brought something much more glorious.  This Man is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  One man’s act brought sin, judgment and death.  This second Man’s one act of obedience by dying on the cross for our sins has brought grace, mercy and life to us.

Jesus’s act of obedience through His death brought us just the opposite of what Adam’s act of disobedience gave us.  Instead of condemnation we now have justification.  Instead of the spiritual death, we now have grace and righteousness.  Instead of being made sinners, we are now made righteous.

This is a gift from God.  A gift is free, you don’t have to pay for it.  If you did, it wouldn’t be a gift, would it?  It would be a purchase.  Why would anyone pay for something that they can get for free?  Where I live we have much good, clean, safe water.  Every house has several faucets, and there are plenty of drinking fountains, and yet people buy water.  Why pay for something you can get for free?  God has given us the gift of salvation.  We have His gift justification instead of His condemnation, grace and righteousness instead of spiritual death.  We don’t need to work for that.  It is His free gift.

A gift is no good to the person it is intended for unless that person accepts and takes that gift.  I can give a gift to one of my children, wrapping it up nice and setting it on the table.  If they don’t take it, and leave it there day after day, it does them no good.  Someone could give you money to pay a big bill you have, but if you don’t accept it, then the bill remains unpaid and you will suffer the consequences of that.  God has given us a gift through His Son, Jesus Christ, that one Man.  It is offered to everyone, but not everyone has accepted it.  Many are either trying to work for it themselves, or just blindly go on their way, oblivious to their condition inherited from Adam.  Have you accepted God’s free gift?  If you haven’t, will you accept it now?

Turning To God In Times Of Pain

Psalm 69

Our psalm for today is one that was written by King David during a very difficult and trying time.  It is a psalm filled with crying out to the Lord in emotional pain.  It is also one psalm that has several verses of prophecy that was fulfilled centuries later by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture is not specific as to what circumstances led to King David crying out so to God.  There were numerous occasions in his life when things were very difficult, even life-threateningly dangerous for him, such as when King Saul kept him on the run for his life, or when several of his sons attempted a coup against his throne.  We don’t know what led to this occasion, but things got so bad that David was worn out with his crying and despair (vs. 3).  Even members of his family had rejected him (vs. 8).  But through it all he did not fail to wait upon the Lord for deliverance.

David knew that during this deeply trying time people were watching his reactions.  He was concerned that how he would respond to the circumstances in his life might bring reproach on the Name of the Lord, that his enemies and the unbelievers might mock the Lord (vs. 6).  Our actions have an affect on those around us, both for good and for bad.  Try to be a good influence, and not a stumbling block.  People are always watching us as Christians.  We should strive to represent the Lord well.

Verse 9 is one verse that is quoted with reference to Jesus in the New Testament in John 2:13-17.  David wanted the people’s behavior to match their claim of following God.  It hurt him when people didn’t follow or obey God, as they claimed to as His children.  This brought down anger upon David from many people.  Later John cites this verse as he and the other disciples observed Jesus when He entered the Temple in Jerusalem and drove out the money-changers and those who bought and sold the sacrificial animals right in the halls of the Temple.

Verse 21 is a verse that was very prophetic and which was fulfilled by Jesus.  This was fulfilled while Jesus hung upon the cross.  David says that he was given gall to eat and vinegar to drink.  Later in the New Testament, Jesus, as He is dying upon the cross, was given by the soldiers vinegar mixed with gall to drink.  Why would the soldiers do that?  The vinegar most probably was old, cheap wine that had started turning sour.  No one would give dying criminals any good wine.  Gall was a type of plant, probably similar to the opium poppy, that was used as a narcotic.  Mixed with the cheap wine, it would drug the dying criminals to relieve some of the pain.  Jesus, though, when He realized that the drink He was being offered contained pain-killing drugs, refused (Matthew 27:34).  He would endure the pain for our salvation.  Later, when offered the plain vinegar or cheap wine, He took that (John 19:29-30).

Some people have accused Jesus of deliberately trying to fulfill all of the prophecies that concerned the Messiah.  How could Jesus have done that with this prophecy?  While being executed and dying on the cross as a condemned prisoner He could not have made a centurion give Him a sponge dipped in vinegar, especially one that had been laced with a narcotic.  These prophetic verses, fulfilled by Jesus, are just some of the proofs that He was, indeed, the Messiah.

In verse 28, David mentions the Book of the Living, or the Book of Life.  This is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, including several times in the New Testament (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; and Revelation 20:15).  This is a list of the names of those who are in a right relationship with God, who are saved, and who remain faithful to Him.  In David’s circumstance here, with the attack on him being so strong and ungodly, he does not believe that their names could ever be in the Book of Life.

When we feel beaten up and trampled down in life by others or difficult circumstances, don’t give up hope (vs. 13).  David never did.  Keep your faith and trust in God.  He won’t forsake us, even if others do.  Even when crying out to God in emotional pain, remember to give God praise and thanksgiving (vs. 30).  And above all, be sure that you are in a right relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, so that your name will be written down in the Book of Life.

God's Message Is Not Always Popular

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Our Old Testament reading for this week comes from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah.  First let’s take a moment to get a little bit of a background as to what is happening, both with Jeremiah, and also with the country at this time.   Jeremiah was a prophet who ministered and preached exclusively to the southern Kingdom of Judah, starting sometime around 627 BC, and going into the 570’s BC or later.  He particularly preached to the people prior to and during the years that the Kingdom of Babylon besieged and overran the Kingdom of Judah, which occurred over a period of about 20 years from 605 BC - 681 BC.  The people went into captivity for approximately 70 years.

Jeremiah was not a popular figure during the years that he brought God’s message to the people.  He spoke the truth of what God wanted the people to know, which was that their nation was going to be overrun by the Babylonians because of their sins.  The people had strayed from their faithfulness to Yahweh, and were actively worshipping other false gods.  They were not keeping the laws of God that He had given them, either.  They were faithless, and God was going to punish them, just as He had done approximately 100 years earlier to the northern Kingdom of Israel with their Assyrian captivity.

Just prior to this passage both the religious and political leaders of the country had apprehended Jeremiah.  They didn’t like the messages he was preaching to the people, so they took him into custody, beating him up and putting him into stocks.  Throughout all the years of his ministry Jeremiah would suffer abuse at the hands of both the religious leaders and political ones, including being thrown into a pit filled with muck mire to his chest.  They wanted someone who would preach messages that they liked to hear, positive ones, that everything was going to be fine, God would never punish them, and they were His favorite children.  They didn’t want to hear that they were sinners and God was going to send punishment on the country.

As Jeremiah is bent over in the stocks, having been beaten up, he prays to God in our passage.  He felt let down by God due to the abuse he was suffering because of the message the Lord gave him to tell the people (vs. 7 - 8).  Jeremiah decided that it would be best for himself if he just kept his mouth shut, refrain from speaking God’s Word, and not speak anything (vs. 9).  God’s Word burns in his heart, though, if he didn’t speak it out to the people.  He must preach the Word of God!

Jeremiah’s enemies watch him, hoping, believing that he will fall (vs. 10).  He knows, though, that the Lord is with him, and his enemies will be the ones who will fall because of their sin (vs. 11-12).   Jeremiah concludes the passage with praise to the Lord God (vs. 13).

It is easy to get discouraged from speaking forth the Word of God when persecution comes.  In many countries that persecution might just be ridicule, mocking, or the loss of a friend.  In other countries the persecution might be more severe, such as losing one’s job, beatings, imprisonment, or even death.  So we might think it safe to keep quiet.  Jeremiah tried that, but God’s Word just burned in his heart until he knew he couldn’t keep quiet any longer.  No matter what happened to him, though he suffered terribly, Jeremiah did not stop speaking what God told him to.

Today there are some who will only preach popular messages that please their audiences, only messages of God’s love, their prosperity, only messages that will make them feel good.  They scoff, mock, and publicly ridicule any preacher who speaks the whole truth of God and calls sin what it is, sin.  They did the same to Jeremiah, and he stayed true to Yahweh, though it cost him terrible abuse.  He did not alter his message to please his audience.  We need to follow Jeremiah’s example and stay true to God and His Word, no matter the cost.

Working In God's Harvest

Matthew 9:36-10:15

In our passage today from the Gospel of Matthew, we have Jesus sending forth the twelve disciples to go on what is like a short missions trip, to bring His message to some of the Jewish villages He had or would be traveling to.  In verses 2 - 4 we have the list of Jesus’s chosen apostles.  Jesus chose ordinary men to be the apostles.  They were from all different walks of life and life’s professions, among them were fishermen, a tax collector, and a political zealot.  There were some with more education, some with less, some with more money, some with less.  That is just like what makes up the Church.  There are all different types of people, different races, different backgrounds, jobs, education, and financial level.  He has called us all.  It is not necessary to have a strong of degrees.  God uses ordinary people.  We can all do God’s work.

Verses 5 through 15 are instructions that Jesus gave to the disciples before they headed out.  Whatever we possess has been given to us by God.  The reason that we have been blessed is so that we can bless others (vs. 8).  Don’t hoard what God has given us.  It’s not ours, so we should use it to help others and further God’s kingdom.

Jesus gave direction to the apostles that they were not to take money, extra clothes or shoes, or staffs (vs. 9-10).  They were not to go out to do God’s work encumbered with excessive material goods.  When the Lord sends us out to do His work in the world we need to trust Him to supply all of our needs.  Just as the famous missionary and founder of China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.”

The verses that I would like to focus on the most, though, are at the beginning of this passage, verses 36-38 of chapter 9.  Here Jesus looked at the crowds and saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd, and then told His disciples that the harvest was plentiful (souls ready to be reached), but laborers were few.  They were to pray that the Lord would send out laborers to bring the harvest of souls in.

Verse 36 is another reminder that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He looked out over the crowds and was filled with compassion for them.  Jesus ministered to both their physical and spiritual needs.  Looking out over the people in the world today they seem very much like sheep without a shepherd.  They are wandering around lost without any direction, following any false path leading them into danger.  Jesus sees them, too, and has compassion on them.  So what is to be done?

As Jesus said in verse 37, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”  Here He was speaking of a harvest of people’s souls.  This is even more true today.  People are lost and without the Savior, without hope in their lives.  With the conditions in this world today, they are scared and without peace.  Where and to what are they turning to?  Some turn to political leaders for hope, but as we can see, that does not give any hope or peace.  Others are turning to drugs, and we all know how that ends.  Many thousands turn to the occult or to false religions.  They are seeking some peace for their souls, but are wandering around just as lost sheep.  The Lord needs workers to go and reach them, but He has said that the laborers are few.  There are few who are willing to go and help bring the lost in.

Jesus told His followers that they need to pray to God, the “Lord of the harvest”, to send out laborers into the fields to bring that harvest in (vs. 38).  There are millions of people out there who need to hear about Jesus.  He said the harvest is plenteous, but there aren’t enough workers willing to go out and bring the harvest in.  It would be sad to see a whole farmer’s crop to die and go to waste because there was no one to bring in the harvest.  How much exceedingly worse is it that people die and go to hell because there was no one to tell them about Jesus and salvation in His Name!

Will you go and work in the Lord’s harvest?  Will you tell others about Jesus, how He loves us and died to pay for our sins?  Will you pray to the Lord that He will speak to more of His children’s hearts to go and bring His message to those wandering sheep, and bring them into His fold?  We need to bring the wandering ones to Jesus.

Who Would You Die For?

Romans 5:6-11

Our New Testament Scripture passage this week is from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.  I will put forth a hypothetical question that Paul alluded to in this passage, and that is, would there be anyone that you would willingly die for?  Many of us might quickly answer with our spouse, our children, parents, other close relatives, or very dear, close friends.  Now, aside from a close relative, is there any other person you would willingly die for?  How about that elderly gentleman down the street, the one who is a model neighbor and church-goer?  Perhaps the doctor or teacher in the neighborhood who is always giving of their time and service to help those in need in the community?  Would you die for them?  Paul suggests that someone dying for these types of people - the righteous, the good, people who are upright and virtuous, would be rare, but perhaps someone might consider it (vs. 7).

How about for those other people, the ones who are just the opposite?  Would you consider dying for the people who hurt you?  Maybe for the spouse that abuses you?  Or how about for that person who lied about you and damaged your reputation, or the co-workers who don’t treat you right either?  Or what about for the drunk down the street, or the homeless drug addict who sleeps in the alley?  Would you willingly die for them?  That’s not likely!

That is exactly what Jesus did when He died for us, as we read in verses 6 and 8.  None of us were good people before we accepted Christ, just as God’s Word says in Romans 3:10.  No matter what the specific sins in our life might be, we each of us were sinners before Christ came into our life.  Yet, it was while we were sinners, that Christ died for each of us.  That shows the depth of God’s love for each of us.  As I mentioned above, we might possibly be willing to die for someone we loved.   God loved us so much that He died for us, even though we were effectively His enemies, sinners who had hated God, who had treated Him shamefully.  All through history, going back to the Garden of Eden, men have turned their back on God, fighting Him and disobeying Him.  Throughout the Bible we read how men worshipped other false gods, broke His laws.  And still, God was willing to send His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.  What wondrous love is that?

Paul goes on to say that since God’s love for us is so strong that He would die for us while we were still His enemies, we are now justified or declared righteous in God’s sight.  Now we are saved or kept safe from God’s wrath, His anger, and punishment (vs. 9).   Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, our punishment and God’s wrath was put upon Him.  If we have accepted Him as our Savior, then we are spared the penalty of God’s wrath and damnation.  If I committed a crime worthy of the death penalty, would you take that punishment for me?  That is what Jesus did, and I had done nothing good, nothing righteous to deserve that.  It was His love that led Him to do this for us, and those who believe in Him are spared just punishment.

We were God’s enemies, but the cross, and the Blood Jesus shed upon it, brought a reconciliation between us (vs. 10).  It is always good to see two people, often family members or friends, who are angry and no longer speaking to each other, be brought back together and reconciled.  This is what the Lord Jesus did for us and God.  His death paid the due penalty.  When we’ve admitted that, accepted His payment, and taken Him as our Savior, then now we are reconciled to God.  We are no longer His enemies, but now part of His family!  How much better could that be!

Naturally such good news should bring us joy (vs. 11)!  We were enemies of God because of our sins, and had a terrible punishment to pay.  But God’s love to us through the Lord Jesus paid that penalty, which was death.  Now we are reconciled!  That is something to bring glory to God for, and bring us joy!

Do you know that Jesus died for you?  Have you realized that your sins make you God’s enemy, and the penalty is His eternal wrath?  Jesus paid that penalty, your penalty, with His own Blood on the cross.  If you accept that, and call upon Him to be your personal Savior, then you will be reconciled to God, and have His joy, both now and in eternity.  Don’t wait another day to be reconciled to God!