Luke 15:11-32
The Gospel reading for this week from the Book of Common Prayer’s lectionary is a passage that is familiar to many. It is the parable that Jesus told of the Prodigal Son. Jesus told many stories to the people that taught spiritual lessons. The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan are perhaps the most beloved. Let’s take a closer look at this parable today, and see if we can learn something new.
As the parable begins, we are introduced to a small, but very wealthy family consisting of a man and his two adult sons. The younger son comes to his father and demands his share of the inheritance (vs. 12). This son asking for his inheritance while his father was still alive was basically saying that he wished his father was dead, as he was not entitled to anything until then. The father divided the inheritance, though probably reluctantly, and gave this young man his share. The younger son took it and promptly left, going to a far country to live a “wild” life (vs. 13). The Greek word for “prodigal” means “dissolute”, conveying the idea of a totally debauched lifestyle.
After an unspecified length of time, the younger son had spent all of the large inheritance he had been given. About the same time a famine came, leaving him destitute (vs. 14-16). The only job he could find was as a farmhand, feeding the pigs. Feeding pigs would have been abhorrent to any Jew. He had fallen to the lowest rung, and was so destitute that he was willing to eat pig slop. “No one gave him anything” - all of his so-called friends were around when he had money, but left when he was broke!
Finally, in this lowly condition, the younger son started to think straight. He came to his right mind, his right senses (vs. 17). Destitute and hungry, he is a picture of one who is a candidate for salvation, knowing that he can do nothing to help himself. He now understood the gravity of his transgressions against his father (vs. 18-19).
In this parable the younger son is the picture of the penitent sinner who returns to God the Father. The father is a picture of God, who is eager to forgive, and longing for the return of the sinner. God has great joy, and there is celebrating in heaven when a sinner repents. However, the elder son illustrates the wickedness of the Pharisees’ self-righteousness, prejudice, and indifference toward repenting sinners, as we will shortly see.
The father had been waiting and looking for his son’s return (vs. 20). Daily he must have stood looking out across the fields towards the road, looking for his son’s familiar form. Every time he went into town he must have looked around, asking if anyone had news or knew about his boy. Finally he sees the son coming, and he gathers up his robes and runs to welcome him back! (vs. 20-21). God is not indifferent to sinful man, but is a Savior, longing to see sinners repent, and rejoices when they do.
God is always eager to forgive. As represented by the father, rather than take the son back as a servant, making him grovel because of his sins, he embraces him as a son. He would not take his son back as a hired hand, but only as a beloved son. The father gave him a robe to wear (vs. 22). This was traditionally reserved for guests of honor. The ring was a symbol of authority. The son got an honored position back. Sandals were not generally worn by slaves back then. The fatted calf (vs. 23) was reserved for the most special of occasions.
What about the elder son? How did he react when his brother returned home? (vs. 25-32) He represents the Pharisees, who were seemingly close to God in outward appearance, but who had no real, genuine love for Him. They had no joy, no interest in repentant sinners. This son was angry, just like the complaining scribes and Pharisees. He does not recognize or admit his own sins, acting very self-righteous, just like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11. He had deep contempt for his brother, not even calling him his brother, and also for his father, begrudging the love that the father had to his brother.
There are many people who have wandered away from God and have ended up in Satan’s pigpen, feeding off of his slop. How many people are out there, thinking they can never go back home, never go to God the Father, not after the life they have led? Leaving God’s will takes us into a far country, one ruled over by Satan, a place where we make foolish decisions and end up in trouble. However God is waiting with open and outstretched arms to receive you! Do not hesitate another day, but like the prodigal son, return to the Father. And for those who already dwell with the Father, we need to be sure to welcome the repentant sinners into the fold, not with any self-righteous, pharisaical attitudes.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Reconciled To God
II Corinthians 5:17-21
Every once in awhile I hear the sad story of people who have had some terrible argument, and are now hostile and estranged from each other. It might be an adult child who tells his parents he never wishes to see them again as he walks out. Perhaps it is the parent who kicks his teenage or adult child out, telling them to never darken the doorway again. Maybe two, once close friends are now not talking to each other. For whatever the reason, they need someone to step in the middle and attempt a reconciliation between them. Since the days of Adam and Eve, mankind has been estranged from God due to our sins. We have needed someone to bridge that gap for us, to come and bring reconciliation between man and God. In our passage today we read how that was accomplished.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote this second letter to the Corinthian church, starts off this passage by describing how when believers first come to faith in Christ, they become a new creature, we experience a new birth (vs. 17). Our sins are forgiven, paid for by Jesus’ substitutionary death. After the new birth, our old value systems, priorities, beliefs, and loves are replaced. Evil and sin are still present, but we view them in a new perspective, and they no longer control us. When someone comes to Christ and accepts Him as their Savior, they are not merely turning over a new leaf. They are beginning a new life with a new Master. This is all accomplished by God. He wants sinful men to be reconciled to Himself, and He calls believers to proclaim to others the Gospel of reconciliation (vs. 18).
One may ask how was this reconciliation accomplished? Paul goes on to explain in the next verses. God used His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the only acceptable and perfect sacrifice, as the means to reconcile sinners to Himself (vs. 19). God offers this reconciliation to everyone, regardless of race or status. However not everyone takes and accepts it. Those who accept will receive atonement. Those who don’t will pay the price.
The heart of the Gospel is explained in verse 21, and tells how sinners can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the sinless Son of God. However, God the Father treated Jesus, while on the cross, as if He was a sinner, though He was not. He had Jesus die as a substitute to pay the penalty for the sins of those who believe in Him. God will not allow sin in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13). The penalty of sin is death and separation from God for eternity (Romans 6:23). Jesus did not become a sinner. He remained as holy as He ever was. Jesus was treated as if He were guilty of all the sins committed by all who would believe, though He committed none. The wrath of God fell on Jesus, and the just requirement of God was met for those for whom He died. Thus, sinners who believe are made righteous. Jesus bore our sins so that we can bear His righteousness. God treated Jesus as if He had committed the sins, and those who accept Him as Savior as if we did Jesus’ righteous deeds.
When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are no longer God’s enemies, strangers, or foreigners to Him. We have been reconciled, and now we have the task of telling others to be likewise reconciled. We have been given the job of an ambassador (vs 20). An ambassador is a representative of the ruler and government of one country to the ruler and government of another. We are to represent the King of heaven to those on earth, bringing the Gospel, and pleading with them to be reconciled to God.
Have you been reconciled to God? If not, as an ambassador of the King of heaven, I come to you today to urge you to admit your sins, and to accept the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf. Ask Him into your heart and accept Him as your Savior. Be reconciled to God today!
Every once in awhile I hear the sad story of people who have had some terrible argument, and are now hostile and estranged from each other. It might be an adult child who tells his parents he never wishes to see them again as he walks out. Perhaps it is the parent who kicks his teenage or adult child out, telling them to never darken the doorway again. Maybe two, once close friends are now not talking to each other. For whatever the reason, they need someone to step in the middle and attempt a reconciliation between them. Since the days of Adam and Eve, mankind has been estranged from God due to our sins. We have needed someone to bridge that gap for us, to come and bring reconciliation between man and God. In our passage today we read how that was accomplished.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote this second letter to the Corinthian church, starts off this passage by describing how when believers first come to faith in Christ, they become a new creature, we experience a new birth (vs. 17). Our sins are forgiven, paid for by Jesus’ substitutionary death. After the new birth, our old value systems, priorities, beliefs, and loves are replaced. Evil and sin are still present, but we view them in a new perspective, and they no longer control us. When someone comes to Christ and accepts Him as their Savior, they are not merely turning over a new leaf. They are beginning a new life with a new Master. This is all accomplished by God. He wants sinful men to be reconciled to Himself, and He calls believers to proclaim to others the Gospel of reconciliation (vs. 18).
One may ask how was this reconciliation accomplished? Paul goes on to explain in the next verses. God used His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the only acceptable and perfect sacrifice, as the means to reconcile sinners to Himself (vs. 19). God offers this reconciliation to everyone, regardless of race or status. However not everyone takes and accepts it. Those who accept will receive atonement. Those who don’t will pay the price.
The heart of the Gospel is explained in verse 21, and tells how sinners can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the sinless Son of God. However, God the Father treated Jesus, while on the cross, as if He was a sinner, though He was not. He had Jesus die as a substitute to pay the penalty for the sins of those who believe in Him. God will not allow sin in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13). The penalty of sin is death and separation from God for eternity (Romans 6:23). Jesus did not become a sinner. He remained as holy as He ever was. Jesus was treated as if He were guilty of all the sins committed by all who would believe, though He committed none. The wrath of God fell on Jesus, and the just requirement of God was met for those for whom He died. Thus, sinners who believe are made righteous. Jesus bore our sins so that we can bear His righteousness. God treated Jesus as if He had committed the sins, and those who accept Him as Savior as if we did Jesus’ righteous deeds.
When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are no longer God’s enemies, strangers, or foreigners to Him. We have been reconciled, and now we have the task of telling others to be likewise reconciled. We have been given the job of an ambassador (vs 20). An ambassador is a representative of the ruler and government of one country to the ruler and government of another. We are to represent the King of heaven to those on earth, bringing the Gospel, and pleading with them to be reconciled to God.
Have you been reconciled to God? If not, as an ambassador of the King of heaven, I come to you today to urge you to admit your sins, and to accept the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf. Ask Him into your heart and accept Him as your Savior. Be reconciled to God today!
Monday, April 1, 2019
David's Inspired Rescue
Psalm 34
Our psalm for this week is a psalm of praise and testimony to the Lord that David wrote when he found himself in a dangerous situation and the Lord gave him a rather unique and ingenious idea of how to get out alive. David spent many years while a young adult on the run from King Saul, who unjustly sought his life. On one occasion he thought that he would hide out in the land of the Philistines with King Achish of the royal house of Abimelech. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? Not necessarily! In I Samuel 21:10-15 we read what happened. King Achish’s counselors warned him that David was the one that the Israelites wrote songs about, telling of all the Philistines he had killed, and that he couldn’t be trusted. David heard this and knew then that his life was in danger here. How could he escape without them coming after him? God planted a thought in his mind that he should pretend to be stark-raving crazy, and hopefully Achish wouldn’t kill him, but rather kick him out of the country. So David crawled around on hands and knees, drooling, and acting crazy, and as David had wished, he was safely let go. He was sure to give all praise and thanks to the Lord for this deliverance!
David could have boasted to himself and others that he was rather smart to come up with such an ingenious plan. Don’t we often do that? We like to pat ourselves on the back, boasting about how smart we are when we think up this or that. David knew that wasn’t right, and instead was going to boast in God (vs. 2). If we are going to boast in anything, the only thing fitting is to boast in what God has done for us. The prophet Jeremiah also echos this in Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Because of King Saul’s erratic and frightening behavior, David had countless occasions when he was afraid, even for his life. Rather than getting overwhelmed he did the only sensible thing, and that was seek the Lord for help and deliverance (vs. 4). In times of trouble, no one is closer than Jesus. Every day, and at all times we need to praise the Lord that we are His people and He is our Deliverer (vs. 1). One thing that David mentions which he was thankful for was that the Lord sends His angels to surround and protect him when in danger, just like when he was in danger in the courts of King Achish (vs 7). When we are in danger, as well, the Lord and His angels surround and protect us.
Has anyone ever invited you to take a bite of some delicious food? “Try it! You’ll like it!” That is what David is inviting us to do with the Lord in verse 8. He is telling those who do not know the Lord yet to come to Him. See what a good, kind, and loving God He is. He could have abandoned David to the Philistines when he made a blunder by going there to begin with, but He didn’t. The Lord was loving and gracious, and rescued him. The Lord is not stingy, but lavishly pours His love and grace upon us. Don’t partake of His Word with meager bites. He wants us to devour whole meals each day.
To “fear” the Lord is to show deep respect and honor to Him, not acting flippant, trifling, or frivolous (vs. 9). We should show true reverence by a humble attitude and genuine worship. David also promises us that God will provide for the needs of His children (vs. 10). He will provide all we need, not necessarily all we want. God knows our needs. Many good and faithful Christians face deep poverty and terrible hardships. To have God is to have all we really need. God is enough. Sometimes God allows us to go without so that we grow more dependant on Him, but He will always provide all we need.
If we truly love and fear God then we will obey Him (vs. 11-14). Jesus was very clear about this when speaking to His disciples (John 14:23). God’s obedient children won’t lie or do evil. They will do good and promote peace. As David closes this psalm he renews the promises of God to deliver us when in trouble (vs. 17-22), and uphold and comfort those who are brokenhearted and cast down. We all, to some degree or another, see times of trouble, and David’s words from the Lord are here to encourage us.
Our psalm for this week is a psalm of praise and testimony to the Lord that David wrote when he found himself in a dangerous situation and the Lord gave him a rather unique and ingenious idea of how to get out alive. David spent many years while a young adult on the run from King Saul, who unjustly sought his life. On one occasion he thought that he would hide out in the land of the Philistines with King Achish of the royal house of Abimelech. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? Not necessarily! In I Samuel 21:10-15 we read what happened. King Achish’s counselors warned him that David was the one that the Israelites wrote songs about, telling of all the Philistines he had killed, and that he couldn’t be trusted. David heard this and knew then that his life was in danger here. How could he escape without them coming after him? God planted a thought in his mind that he should pretend to be stark-raving crazy, and hopefully Achish wouldn’t kill him, but rather kick him out of the country. So David crawled around on hands and knees, drooling, and acting crazy, and as David had wished, he was safely let go. He was sure to give all praise and thanks to the Lord for this deliverance!
David could have boasted to himself and others that he was rather smart to come up with such an ingenious plan. Don’t we often do that? We like to pat ourselves on the back, boasting about how smart we are when we think up this or that. David knew that wasn’t right, and instead was going to boast in God (vs. 2). If we are going to boast in anything, the only thing fitting is to boast in what God has done for us. The prophet Jeremiah also echos this in Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Because of King Saul’s erratic and frightening behavior, David had countless occasions when he was afraid, even for his life. Rather than getting overwhelmed he did the only sensible thing, and that was seek the Lord for help and deliverance (vs. 4). In times of trouble, no one is closer than Jesus. Every day, and at all times we need to praise the Lord that we are His people and He is our Deliverer (vs. 1). One thing that David mentions which he was thankful for was that the Lord sends His angels to surround and protect him when in danger, just like when he was in danger in the courts of King Achish (vs 7). When we are in danger, as well, the Lord and His angels surround and protect us.
Has anyone ever invited you to take a bite of some delicious food? “Try it! You’ll like it!” That is what David is inviting us to do with the Lord in verse 8. He is telling those who do not know the Lord yet to come to Him. See what a good, kind, and loving God He is. He could have abandoned David to the Philistines when he made a blunder by going there to begin with, but He didn’t. The Lord was loving and gracious, and rescued him. The Lord is not stingy, but lavishly pours His love and grace upon us. Don’t partake of His Word with meager bites. He wants us to devour whole meals each day.
To “fear” the Lord is to show deep respect and honor to Him, not acting flippant, trifling, or frivolous (vs. 9). We should show true reverence by a humble attitude and genuine worship. David also promises us that God will provide for the needs of His children (vs. 10). He will provide all we need, not necessarily all we want. God knows our needs. Many good and faithful Christians face deep poverty and terrible hardships. To have God is to have all we really need. God is enough. Sometimes God allows us to go without so that we grow more dependant on Him, but He will always provide all we need.
If we truly love and fear God then we will obey Him (vs. 11-14). Jesus was very clear about this when speaking to His disciples (John 14:23). God’s obedient children won’t lie or do evil. They will do good and promote peace. As David closes this psalm he renews the promises of God to deliver us when in trouble (vs. 17-22), and uphold and comfort those who are brokenhearted and cast down. We all, to some degree or another, see times of trouble, and David’s words from the Lord are here to encourage us.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
What Are These Stones?
Joshua 4:19-24
Most countries have various memorials in places throughout their country. I have visited my nation’s capital, Washington D.C., several times, and seen the many memorials and monuments there to remind us of people and events in the past. Gettysburg and other Civil War battlefields have memorials to remind us of historic events. Families have various ways to remind themselves of important events in their past, as well. In our Old Testament reading from this week’s Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer we read of a memorial that the people set up to remind them of what God had done for them.
As our passage opens, the people of Israel are ready to enter into the land of Canaan, the land that the Lord God had promised them. God had rescued them, bringing them out of captivity in Egypt, and they had spent many years journeying through the wilderness. When they had left Egypt, and the whole Egyptian army was in pursuit of them, the Lord God provided a great miracle of deliverance for them by parting the waters of the Red Sea for them to pass safely over (Exodus 14:13-31). Throughout the years of wandering in the wilderness, the Lord provided for their every need. Now they had arrived on the west side of the River Jordan, preparing to cross and enter the Promised Land.
The Jordan River is approximately 156 miles long, starting in the north near the border of Lebanon, and ending in the Dead Sea in the south. It is not generally a big river, varying in depth from 3 to 10 feet deep, and about 100 feet wide. However, when the Israelites were to cross the river it was during the spring flooding season. What were the people to do? They were just opposite the river from the city of Jericho. They couldn’t journey many miles north to a smaller crossing. Nor did they want to wait until the flood stage passed, as the Lord wanted them to celebrate the Passover in the Promised Land. It was here that the Lord God provided them with another miracle, similar to the one He provided them at the Red Sea. He parted the Jordan River for the people to pass over to the other side (Joshua 3:14-17).
How quickly we forget the blessings, answers to prayer, and even miracles from the Lord. Joshua did not want the people to forget exactly how God brought them into the land of Canaan, so he instructed one man from each of the twelve tribes to retrieve a large rock from the river. They were to set the rocks in a tower-like monument to remind the people exactly what had happened here, when the Lord stopped the waters of the Jordan River in order for the people to cross on dry ground. Years later, when their children and grandchildren would ask what was the meaning of the tower of rocks, they would be told how God provided a miracle for the people to cross the river and enter the Promised Land.
How do we remember special blessings from the Lord in our lives? Many people keep a prayer journal where they write down things they have been praying for, and then the answers to these prayers, along with the date. Perhaps it would be good to have something even more concrete to remind us of some special answer to prayer, one that people could even look at and ask what it means. That way we could say, just like the Israelites of old did, that this is here to remind me of how God answered this or that certain prayer, or remind me of how God provided this or that for me when I had a real need.
It is so easy to forget the Lord’s blessings. The people of Israel so quickly forget, even with various monuments there to remind them. They forgot and quickly fell into idolatry, bringing judgment upon themselves. We, too, quickly forget when God answers our prayers, and start into grumbling and moaning our situation in life or fall into worldly living. God wants the whole world to know Him. If they hear us tell of His mighty deeds, then they will be drawn to want to know this great God we have. God will glorify Himself, and make His activities known through us. Let’s be sure to remember what God has done in our life, and then tell the generations to come about Him.
Most countries have various memorials in places throughout their country. I have visited my nation’s capital, Washington D.C., several times, and seen the many memorials and monuments there to remind us of people and events in the past. Gettysburg and other Civil War battlefields have memorials to remind us of historic events. Families have various ways to remind themselves of important events in their past, as well. In our Old Testament reading from this week’s Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer we read of a memorial that the people set up to remind them of what God had done for them.
As our passage opens, the people of Israel are ready to enter into the land of Canaan, the land that the Lord God had promised them. God had rescued them, bringing them out of captivity in Egypt, and they had spent many years journeying through the wilderness. When they had left Egypt, and the whole Egyptian army was in pursuit of them, the Lord God provided a great miracle of deliverance for them by parting the waters of the Red Sea for them to pass safely over (Exodus 14:13-31). Throughout the years of wandering in the wilderness, the Lord provided for their every need. Now they had arrived on the west side of the River Jordan, preparing to cross and enter the Promised Land.
The Jordan River is approximately 156 miles long, starting in the north near the border of Lebanon, and ending in the Dead Sea in the south. It is not generally a big river, varying in depth from 3 to 10 feet deep, and about 100 feet wide. However, when the Israelites were to cross the river it was during the spring flooding season. What were the people to do? They were just opposite the river from the city of Jericho. They couldn’t journey many miles north to a smaller crossing. Nor did they want to wait until the flood stage passed, as the Lord wanted them to celebrate the Passover in the Promised Land. It was here that the Lord God provided them with another miracle, similar to the one He provided them at the Red Sea. He parted the Jordan River for the people to pass over to the other side (Joshua 3:14-17).
How quickly we forget the blessings, answers to prayer, and even miracles from the Lord. Joshua did not want the people to forget exactly how God brought them into the land of Canaan, so he instructed one man from each of the twelve tribes to retrieve a large rock from the river. They were to set the rocks in a tower-like monument to remind the people exactly what had happened here, when the Lord stopped the waters of the Jordan River in order for the people to cross on dry ground. Years later, when their children and grandchildren would ask what was the meaning of the tower of rocks, they would be told how God provided a miracle for the people to cross the river and enter the Promised Land.
How do we remember special blessings from the Lord in our lives? Many people keep a prayer journal where they write down things they have been praying for, and then the answers to these prayers, along with the date. Perhaps it would be good to have something even more concrete to remind us of some special answer to prayer, one that people could even look at and ask what it means. That way we could say, just like the Israelites of old did, that this is here to remind me of how God answered this or that certain prayer, or remind me of how God provided this or that for me when I had a real need.
It is so easy to forget the Lord’s blessings. The people of Israel so quickly forget, even with various monuments there to remind them. They forgot and quickly fell into idolatry, bringing judgment upon themselves. We, too, quickly forget when God answers our prayers, and start into grumbling and moaning our situation in life or fall into worldly living. God wants the whole world to know Him. If they hear us tell of His mighty deeds, then they will be drawn to want to know this great God we have. God will glorify Himself, and make His activities known through us. Let’s be sure to remember what God has done in our life, and then tell the generations to come about Him.
Friday, March 29, 2019
Tragedy And Judgment
Luke 13:1-9
When we see or hear about a person that had a tragic accident or illness, what’s the first thing that comes to our mind? For some people, the first thing that they think is “what did they do in their life to deserve this punishment?” Many people equate tragedies with God’s punishment or some sort of negative cosmic karma, and good things with God’s pleasure. In today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke we read what Jesus had to say about this matter. Let’s take a look and see what we can learn today.
Jesus was with His disciples and some people told Him about a current news item at the time. Pontius Pilate, the Roman appointed governor of Judea, had some Galileans executed while they were in Jerusalem (vs. 1). There is no further reference to this incident in either Scripture or other historical records. The occupying Roman army would frequently execute people for infractions of the law, so this was not unusual. They also mentioned another incident that had recently happened, that of the collapse of the tower of Siloam, killing 18 people (vs. 4). The disciples questioned why these events happened. The Galileans had gone to Jerusalem to worship God and offer sacrifices, and for some unmentioned reason, they were executed. Then a tragic accident happens, killing a number of people.
As is common among many people, the disciples must have started to speculate what these people must have done or not done for God to allow this to happen. The disciples had asked the same thing when they had come across a man who had been born blind, and they questioned who had sinned to allow this to happen (John 9:1-3). It has been the assumption for ages, that bad things only happen when someone has grievously sinned. Jesus immediately set that thinking straight by saying this is not always the case (vs. 2-3). Sometimes a person’s sinful or wrong behavior will bring about a tragic event. A person gets drunk and then drives, causing a tragic accident. A hot temper can cause a fight with bad results. A gambler can gamble away his finances and lose his house. However Jesus says here that tragedies happen, and we should never judge and say that the people were sinners and getting God’s judgment. Victims of tragedies are not necessarily recipients of divine judgment.
Jesus proceeds to give His listeners, and us today, a warning (vs. 3, 5). We need to be focussing on our own souls. Accidents happen. Death can come unexpectedly to anyone. Are we ready to meet God at any moment? It can happen. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next hour. Jesus said we all need to repent and be prepared for eternity. We are not guaranteed time to prepare for death, thinking that death won’t happen until some time after age 90, so we can wait and take care of our souls then. Now is the time for repentance. This is a dangerous world, where tragedies occur without warning. We need to always be ready to meet God.
Jesus then tells His listeners a parable, which at first glance seems to be a change of subject (vs. 6-9). However it does have a connection to what He was telling the disciples. Jesus talks about an unfruitful tree and how the owner wished to have it cut down. The gardener says to wait, as he will give it special attention, and then if it doesn’t produce fruit, it can be cut down. In the Old Testament a fruitful tree was often used as a symbol of godly living (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8). While we are here on earth, our life is to be fruitful to God. Believers are to be bearing much fruit. Jesus showed what happens to the other kind of tree - a worthless life which produces nothing of value for God’s kingdom. God will not tolerate forever those who do nothing for Him.
Our passage today is not necessarily a soft and comforting one. Not everything that Jesus said and taught was warm and fuzzy. Sometimes His lessons were strong ones. Time here on earth is not guaranteed and tragedies happen every day. Are you ready to meet the Lord? Jesus tells us to repent and turn to Him. Do not wait another day to do that. Jesus also tells His followers to be sure that we are making our lives count for Him. He wants us all to be a fruitful tree, bearing fruit for His kingdom.
When we see or hear about a person that had a tragic accident or illness, what’s the first thing that comes to our mind? For some people, the first thing that they think is “what did they do in their life to deserve this punishment?” Many people equate tragedies with God’s punishment or some sort of negative cosmic karma, and good things with God’s pleasure. In today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke we read what Jesus had to say about this matter. Let’s take a look and see what we can learn today.
Jesus was with His disciples and some people told Him about a current news item at the time. Pontius Pilate, the Roman appointed governor of Judea, had some Galileans executed while they were in Jerusalem (vs. 1). There is no further reference to this incident in either Scripture or other historical records. The occupying Roman army would frequently execute people for infractions of the law, so this was not unusual. They also mentioned another incident that had recently happened, that of the collapse of the tower of Siloam, killing 18 people (vs. 4). The disciples questioned why these events happened. The Galileans had gone to Jerusalem to worship God and offer sacrifices, and for some unmentioned reason, they were executed. Then a tragic accident happens, killing a number of people.
As is common among many people, the disciples must have started to speculate what these people must have done or not done for God to allow this to happen. The disciples had asked the same thing when they had come across a man who had been born blind, and they questioned who had sinned to allow this to happen (John 9:1-3). It has been the assumption for ages, that bad things only happen when someone has grievously sinned. Jesus immediately set that thinking straight by saying this is not always the case (vs. 2-3). Sometimes a person’s sinful or wrong behavior will bring about a tragic event. A person gets drunk and then drives, causing a tragic accident. A hot temper can cause a fight with bad results. A gambler can gamble away his finances and lose his house. However Jesus says here that tragedies happen, and we should never judge and say that the people were sinners and getting God’s judgment. Victims of tragedies are not necessarily recipients of divine judgment.
Jesus proceeds to give His listeners, and us today, a warning (vs. 3, 5). We need to be focussing on our own souls. Accidents happen. Death can come unexpectedly to anyone. Are we ready to meet God at any moment? It can happen. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next hour. Jesus said we all need to repent and be prepared for eternity. We are not guaranteed time to prepare for death, thinking that death won’t happen until some time after age 90, so we can wait and take care of our souls then. Now is the time for repentance. This is a dangerous world, where tragedies occur without warning. We need to always be ready to meet God.
Jesus then tells His listeners a parable, which at first glance seems to be a change of subject (vs. 6-9). However it does have a connection to what He was telling the disciples. Jesus talks about an unfruitful tree and how the owner wished to have it cut down. The gardener says to wait, as he will give it special attention, and then if it doesn’t produce fruit, it can be cut down. In the Old Testament a fruitful tree was often used as a symbol of godly living (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8). While we are here on earth, our life is to be fruitful to God. Believers are to be bearing much fruit. Jesus showed what happens to the other kind of tree - a worthless life which produces nothing of value for God’s kingdom. God will not tolerate forever those who do nothing for Him.
Our passage today is not necessarily a soft and comforting one. Not everything that Jesus said and taught was warm and fuzzy. Sometimes His lessons were strong ones. Time here on earth is not guaranteed and tragedies happen every day. Are you ready to meet the Lord? Jesus tells us to repent and turn to Him. Do not wait another day to do that. Jesus also tells His followers to be sure that we are making our lives count for Him. He wants us all to be a fruitful tree, bearing fruit for His kingdom.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Heed The Warnings
I Corinthians 10:1-13
It is always wise to pay attention to warnings. It’s the beginning of tornado season around where I live, and when one hears the tornado sirens going off, it is important to pay attention and get to a safe part of the house. Warnings on railroad crossings, on medications, and on power tools are important to heed for one’s own safety. As children we are often taught to follow the good examples of others, and taking warning from their bad examples. In today’s Scripture passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he instructs us to take warning from the examples of the people in Israel’s past.
As our passage begins, Paul reminds the readers of how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, parting the Red Sea for them to escape, leading them through the wilderness by the pillar of cloud, and miraculously providing them with both food and water (vs. 1-4). Every day they had food to eat and water to drink. Their clothes did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5), and the Lord protected them from all of their enemies. However, as Paul warns, the Israelites actions and behavior displeased God (vs. 5). After being freed from several centuries of slavery, being led to the promised land, and having all of their needs provided for, the people immediately fell into rebellion against God. They began worshipping idols, engaged in immoral practices, and were extremely ungrateful. Other than Joshua and Caleb, everyone who was an adult when they left Egypt would not enter the Promised Land, but died in the wilderness.
What were these sins that the Israelites so quickly fell into after they left Egypt, and ones we need to be careful to avoid? There were four major ones that Paul highlights in this passage: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and complaining. The people were barely out of Egypt when they started worshipping idols (vs. 7-8). They provoked Aaron into making the golden calf to worship (Exodus 32:1-28), and throughout the wilderness wanderings there was much sexual immorality (Numbers 25:1-9). God’s judgment fell upon them for these sins.
A short while later the people of Israel started complaining against God and testing Him, questioning His goodness (vs. 9). As a result the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people as a punishment (Numbers 21:5-9). When a group of people complained against the leadership of Moses (vs. 10), God opened the earth up beneath them and swallowed them down alive (Numbers 16:1-32). Then immediately afterwards, rather than taking warning, many more people complained against Moses about what had just happened, and the wrath of God fell upon them, as well (Numbers 16:41-50).
Paul told his readers, and to us today, that these weren’t just written down to be a history lesson. They were written down to be a warning to us on how to live, and to not follow their bad example (vs. 11). Do not forget the lessons of the past. We need to remember them so we can avoid repeating their errors. Everything in God’s Word exists for our example, warning, and admonition (Romans 15:4). Paul warns that we need to be careful to not think this could never happen to us. He knew that anyone can easily fall (vs. 12). Paul knew he could, and we certainly can, as well, so we need to heed the warnings of the past.
Wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone (vs. 13). No one is singled out with extra-strong temptations. Others have resisted temptation, so we can, too. God will help us resist them, so turn to Him for help. If we have asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we have the Holy Spirit living in us. He will give us power and wisdom to overcome our sinful impulses so we can obey Him. God will help us when we’re tempted to keep running back to the mud puddles of life.
The power of sin was defeated at the Cross. As we pray to God for His help, He will help us run from what we know is sin (II Timothy 2:22). As we study the Bible regularly, we remember the lessons of the past and are reminded of how God wants us to live. Worship only the Lord God. Keep ourselves pure. Be grateful to God for His blessings. Don’t make the same mistakes that the Israelites did!
It is always wise to pay attention to warnings. It’s the beginning of tornado season around where I live, and when one hears the tornado sirens going off, it is important to pay attention and get to a safe part of the house. Warnings on railroad crossings, on medications, and on power tools are important to heed for one’s own safety. As children we are often taught to follow the good examples of others, and taking warning from their bad examples. In today’s Scripture passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he instructs us to take warning from the examples of the people in Israel’s past.
As our passage begins, Paul reminds the readers of how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, parting the Red Sea for them to escape, leading them through the wilderness by the pillar of cloud, and miraculously providing them with both food and water (vs. 1-4). Every day they had food to eat and water to drink. Their clothes did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5), and the Lord protected them from all of their enemies. However, as Paul warns, the Israelites actions and behavior displeased God (vs. 5). After being freed from several centuries of slavery, being led to the promised land, and having all of their needs provided for, the people immediately fell into rebellion against God. They began worshipping idols, engaged in immoral practices, and were extremely ungrateful. Other than Joshua and Caleb, everyone who was an adult when they left Egypt would not enter the Promised Land, but died in the wilderness.
What were these sins that the Israelites so quickly fell into after they left Egypt, and ones we need to be careful to avoid? There were four major ones that Paul highlights in this passage: idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, and complaining. The people were barely out of Egypt when they started worshipping idols (vs. 7-8). They provoked Aaron into making the golden calf to worship (Exodus 32:1-28), and throughout the wilderness wanderings there was much sexual immorality (Numbers 25:1-9). God’s judgment fell upon them for these sins.
A short while later the people of Israel started complaining against God and testing Him, questioning His goodness (vs. 9). As a result the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people as a punishment (Numbers 21:5-9). When a group of people complained against the leadership of Moses (vs. 10), God opened the earth up beneath them and swallowed them down alive (Numbers 16:1-32). Then immediately afterwards, rather than taking warning, many more people complained against Moses about what had just happened, and the wrath of God fell upon them, as well (Numbers 16:41-50).
Paul told his readers, and to us today, that these weren’t just written down to be a history lesson. They were written down to be a warning to us on how to live, and to not follow their bad example (vs. 11). Do not forget the lessons of the past. We need to remember them so we can avoid repeating their errors. Everything in God’s Word exists for our example, warning, and admonition (Romans 15:4). Paul warns that we need to be careful to not think this could never happen to us. He knew that anyone can easily fall (vs. 12). Paul knew he could, and we certainly can, as well, so we need to heed the warnings of the past.
Wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone (vs. 13). No one is singled out with extra-strong temptations. Others have resisted temptation, so we can, too. God will help us resist them, so turn to Him for help. If we have asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we have the Holy Spirit living in us. He will give us power and wisdom to overcome our sinful impulses so we can obey Him. God will help us when we’re tempted to keep running back to the mud puddles of life.
The power of sin was defeated at the Cross. As we pray to God for His help, He will help us run from what we know is sin (II Timothy 2:22). As we study the Bible regularly, we remember the lessons of the past and are reminded of how God wants us to live. Worship only the Lord God. Keep ourselves pure. Be grateful to God for His blessings. Don’t make the same mistakes that the Israelites did!
Monday, March 25, 2019
Why Do The Ungodly Prosper?
Psalm 73
Most of us, at one time or another, have looked around at the world and wondered why those who live wicked lives seem to sail through life without a problem. They never seem to have many problems, and when they do, they always have the money to fix them, or the right connections to other scoundrels who can “fix” the problem for them. We look at ourselves, trying to live righteously, and we struggle day by day to get by. This is the theme of the psalm that Asaph wrote, which we will look into today.
Sometimes, even when we have tried to do what is right and help others, life is unfair. Sinful behavior gets rewarded, and godliness goes unnoticed, it seems. However, God does pay attention. Though it took a little while, Asaph came to see this. Initially Asaph looked around and all he could see was the prosperity of the rich and ungodly (vs. 1-9). They seem to go through life with few problems, with good health and good jobs, and then they die a peaceful death. People seem to drink in every wicked thing they say (vs. 8-10). They live and act as if God doesn’t see their behavior and life. Sometimes we feel as if He doesn’t, either (vs. 11).
Sometimes, when we see how easy the wicked have it, we wonder if it’s worth it to live righteously. Asaph was beginning to feel this way (vs. 13). However, as Asaph came to God in prayer and meditation, when he came to worship Him, it was then that he began to understand God’s perspective on the fate of the wicked (vs. 17). Our obedience to God is never in vain. We will reap a harvest in eternity. Do not grow weary of trying to do good for the Lord. He will provide a harvest. We reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow (Galatians 6:9).
While he pondered this distressing dilemma Asaph knew that he would always remain with the Lord, and that the Lord would be there by him, holding his hand (vs. 23). If we are a believer, we are always with God. He is never far from us. If we give our hand to God, He will reach out and take it. His eye is always on us, and we are continually on His mind.
The rich may have their thick bank accounts, fine houses, and shiny cars, but Asaph knew he had the Lord (vs. 25-26). The Lord is our portion (Lamentations 3:24). He is not just a part of our portion, but He is all of it, our all-sufficient portion. He, alone, can truly satisfy our needs and desires. When everything in life is falling apart, God is our strength and our portion. When we find our strength in God, His power is perfected in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9-10).
Asaph made several observations in this psalm he wrote. He saw how the wicked prospered, and that the godly wonder why that would be. The wealth of wicked seems so inviting that the godly might want to change places. But the Lord let Asaph know that the smooth life and wealth of the wicked will suddenly come to an end. The rewards of the godly will come. Their wealth was a waste, and the life of the godly will get eternal rewards. Those who abandon God to live like they choose, and worship who and what they choose, will face eternal death and damnation.
When things confuse us, like they did Asaph, we need to look at life from God’s perspective. Unbelief is a sin, but honest questioning, like Asaph had, is accepted by God. Sometimes when we don’t get an answer to our “whys” it is because we don’t have the capacity to understand the answer. Let us be reassured by the Lord, as Asaph was, to keep sowing seeds of righteousness, because one day the harvest will come.
Most of us, at one time or another, have looked around at the world and wondered why those who live wicked lives seem to sail through life without a problem. They never seem to have many problems, and when they do, they always have the money to fix them, or the right connections to other scoundrels who can “fix” the problem for them. We look at ourselves, trying to live righteously, and we struggle day by day to get by. This is the theme of the psalm that Asaph wrote, which we will look into today.
Sometimes, even when we have tried to do what is right and help others, life is unfair. Sinful behavior gets rewarded, and godliness goes unnoticed, it seems. However, God does pay attention. Though it took a little while, Asaph came to see this. Initially Asaph looked around and all he could see was the prosperity of the rich and ungodly (vs. 1-9). They seem to go through life with few problems, with good health and good jobs, and then they die a peaceful death. People seem to drink in every wicked thing they say (vs. 8-10). They live and act as if God doesn’t see their behavior and life. Sometimes we feel as if He doesn’t, either (vs. 11).
Sometimes, when we see how easy the wicked have it, we wonder if it’s worth it to live righteously. Asaph was beginning to feel this way (vs. 13). However, as Asaph came to God in prayer and meditation, when he came to worship Him, it was then that he began to understand God’s perspective on the fate of the wicked (vs. 17). Our obedience to God is never in vain. We will reap a harvest in eternity. Do not grow weary of trying to do good for the Lord. He will provide a harvest. We reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow (Galatians 6:9).
While he pondered this distressing dilemma Asaph knew that he would always remain with the Lord, and that the Lord would be there by him, holding his hand (vs. 23). If we are a believer, we are always with God. He is never far from us. If we give our hand to God, He will reach out and take it. His eye is always on us, and we are continually on His mind.
The rich may have their thick bank accounts, fine houses, and shiny cars, but Asaph knew he had the Lord (vs. 25-26). The Lord is our portion (Lamentations 3:24). He is not just a part of our portion, but He is all of it, our all-sufficient portion. He, alone, can truly satisfy our needs and desires. When everything in life is falling apart, God is our strength and our portion. When we find our strength in God, His power is perfected in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9-10).
Asaph made several observations in this psalm he wrote. He saw how the wicked prospered, and that the godly wonder why that would be. The wealth of wicked seems so inviting that the godly might want to change places. But the Lord let Asaph know that the smooth life and wealth of the wicked will suddenly come to an end. The rewards of the godly will come. Their wealth was a waste, and the life of the godly will get eternal rewards. Those who abandon God to live like they choose, and worship who and what they choose, will face eternal death and damnation.
When things confuse us, like they did Asaph, we need to look at life from God’s perspective. Unbelief is a sin, but honest questioning, like Asaph had, is accepted by God. Sometimes when we don’t get an answer to our “whys” it is because we don’t have the capacity to understand the answer. Let us be reassured by the Lord, as Asaph was, to keep sowing seeds of righteousness, because one day the harvest will come.
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