Author: scott

Saving Prophet Jonah

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9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” – Jonah 1:9

Unfriendly Fire

When we think of the Prophets of God, we think of men we hold in high esteem such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.  Men who boldly proclaimed God’s Word under trying circumstances.  Men who often preached unpopular messages which were met with vehemence and violence.  Because of their obedience to God’s calling we like to put these men up on a pedestal.  Although we don’t venerate them to the extent of worship, we “exalt” them for their faithfulness to God.

And then there is Jonah, in a class perhaps by himself.  While we respect all of his peers, we riddle Jonah with bullet holes, shooting him up every time we reference him.  From the theologians in the classroom to the preachers behind the pulpits to the casual pew warmer, Jonah is fair game.  He is an easy target.  I must confess, I have taken my shots at him as well.

While it is easy to focus on Jonah’s obvious weaknesses, it might be wise to glean from some of his strengths.  Looking at the Book of Jonah in it’s historical context while setting aside our preconceived ideas might help.  In other words, we should stop shooting and lay down our weapons for a while.  Or as Jesus would remind us,  “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone…” – John 8:7b

Jonah Background

We do not know a lot about Jonah outside of the Book that bears his name, which means “dove”.  The first verse of the Book of Jonah tells us that he was the son of Amittai and nothing more.  Rather, it immediately records the commission of Jonah to go to Nineveh and “call out against it”.

We are told in Scriptures that Jonah was a prophet and servant in Israel during the reign of the evil King Jeroboam II, who reigned between 792-753 B.C..  Despite the wickedness of Jeroboam II, he did restore the borders of Israel because of the faithful ministry of Jonah.  In addition we are told he was from Gath-hepher, a small border town in Israel that is also referred to in Joshua chapter 19.

24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. – 2 Kings 14:24-25

Nineveh Background

We know from the Book of Genesis, that Nineveh was founded by the mighty hunter Nimrod shortly after the flood.

 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh… – Genesis 10:9-11a

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria and rose to power around 900 B.C., which in time would become the bitter enemy of Israel and begin a systematic process of conquering them.  The Assyrians were known to be extremely cruel and brutal with a reputation for skinning alive their enemies.  Perhaps this is what the Prophet Nahum was alluding to when he compared the Assyrians with lions tearing and feeding on the nations (Nahum 2:11-13).

Pick Your Poison

Imagine you are driving down a road with your child riding along.  As you are driving an oncoming car intentionally swerves at you.  While avoiding the oncoming car your vehicle rolls and your child is thrown out.  Able to exit your car under your own strength you see that the other vehicle has hit a tree.  Not pleasant I know but bear with me.

The first person to arrive on the scene of the accident happens to be a doctor.  Your injuries are not life threatening but after looking at your child and the person that ran you off the road, the doctor determines that neither will live without his immediate attention.  Who do you want the doctor to save, your child or your “enemy”?

I think this gives us a glimpse of Jonah’s decision process.  God’s judgment is looming over Nineveh.  If Jonah takes God’s warning to them and they repent, His beloved Israel may be destroyed by Assyria.  If he runs and Nineveh is not warned and therefore destroyed, his people may be saved.

I am not condoning disobeying God, but in fairness we might want to think twice before we shoot at Jonah for fleeing in the opposite direction of Nineveh.  The thought of seeing my loved one skinned alive might tend to be a powerful motivator.

Throw Me

While the ship that Jonah had boarded for Tarshish was being storm tossed, Jonah slept.  In contrast to Jonah, the mariners on board feared for their lives.  They were in a state of panic trying to appease their gods in hopes that the storm might subside.  While their gods were helpless, Jonah’s God revealed to them through lots, that Jonah himself was the cause of their “evil”.

When the mariners questioned Jonah as to his identity, he gave the response quoted above.  Specifically, he is a Hebrew who worships the True God who is sovereign over sea and land.  While the others on board feared for their lives, Jonah bravely told them to throw him into the troubled waters.  He was willing to die if necessary to save them.  He was willing to die to save his fellow Hebrews.  But he isn’t the only person in the Bible who loves his people so much.  Remember Paul’s shocking words?

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. – Romans 9:3

Perhaps we don’t understand Jonah because we don’t love so deeply and so selflessly.  Such a love could certainly influence our behavior.

Save Me

Once inside the belly of the fish, Jonah learned a valuable lesson, no one can escape the presence of the Lord.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me. – Psalm 139:7-10

Jonah’s attempt to save his people was foiled by his Sovereign God.  Humbled, Jonah offered a beautiful prayer of deliverance to his omnipresent God.

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,

    and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
    and you heard my voice.
3 For you cast me into the deep,
    into the heart of the seas,
    and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
    passed over me.
4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away
    from your sight;
yet I shall again look
    upon your holy temple.’
5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;
    the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head
6     at the roots of the mountains.
I went down to the land
    whose bars closed upon me forever;
yet you brought up my life from the pit,
    O Lord my God.
7 When my life was fainting away,
    I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
    into your holy temple.
8 Those who pay regard to vain idols
    forsake their hope of steadfast love.
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!” – Jonah 2:2-9

Jonah’s prayer for deliverance was answered.  Not only was Jonah’s life spared, but God gave him a second opportunity to take His Word of warning to Nineveh.  Although still torn by his patriotic love of Israel, Jonah obeyed.

A Jealous Love

Although unhappy about his task, Jonah walked among his enemies and warned them of God’s judgment.  Amazingly, these cruel people repented; en masse.  Much to Jonahs disappointment, but not to his surprise.

I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. – Jonah 4:2

The wrath of God against Nineveh would be stayed, and the threat of Assyria’s wrath against Israel would remain.  Jonah’s reaction, as I have mentioned is well documented, and often ridiculed.

Jonah was angry.  He was an unwilling tool wielded by a merciful God.  But as we learn from Habakkuk, God sometimes uses the most unlikely tools to carry out His will and reach His people.  Jonah and Paul are not the only ones harboring a jealous love.  As Habakkuk learned, God is willing to use a wicked people to “discipline” His chosen.  Despite Josiah’s efforts, Judah was still desperately wicked.  Unwilling to repent more than superficially, God warns Habakkuk that He is going to use the Babylonians to punish them.  God’s love for His children is so great that He cannot allow them to continue living in wickedness.

Jonah knew that God was merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love…  Jonah was heartbroken, because despite numerous prophets and and years of warnings, his people remained heard hearted and obstinate.  Unwilling to repent.  Their unresponsiveness to the pleas of God’s love and mercy would be shamed by the repentance of their heathen enemies.  And Jonah was an “accomplice”.

Unlimited Mercy

Like you and I, Jonah was far from perfect.  But despite his weaknesses, there are lessons we can learn from him.  More importantly, there are lessons we can learn from his experience with our sovereign God.  Our God who can extend His mercy to our loved ones and our enemies without exhausting His supply!

Despite his lip service to and experience with the mercy of God, he was ignorant of it’s infinite depth.  He wanted God’s mercy for himself and his people but not his enemies.  Because of his love for his people and his desire for their preservation he wanted to “limit” the mercy of God.  A danger Christ warned us about.

The mistake that Jonah made was also made by the older brother in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.  When the father extended his mercy to the returning prodigal, his older brother was indignant.  Why lavish such love on someone like him?

Jesus taught a similar lesson in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard.  Although hired at different times of the day, each of the workers were paid the same amount.  Those that toiled the longest begrudged the owner for his generosity.  Despite receiving what they agreed to, they were upset with the employer for what he paid the other workers.  Like Jonah, they wanted to “limit” his mercy.  Which will never happen.

Jonah called out to the Lord in his distress, and in his abounding mercy God saved him.  Just like you and I.

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” – Romans 9:15

Grow Up

Posted on by scott

4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” – Jonah 4:4

Race

Yesterday, I wrote about my experience of getting “lost” in my recent race.  I don’t necessarily try to spiritualize everything, but I do think when trials come our way it is better to look for their “redeeming” value than to “stew” over them.  While my brief time off course reminded me of Demas, my emotions after the race reminded me more of Jonah.

Running a race is hard work.  At least it is for me.  A lot of time and energy goes into training.  Every morning I am up before sunrise to begin my exercise routine.  Before I pick up a weight or lace my shoes I step onto my scale in my weight room.  When it comes to health, ignorance is not bliss.  And besides, if I don’t know how much I weigh each morning how do I know how much I can eat each day?

Yes I know I am not normal.  However, if what I see in the media is, I think that it is a compliment.  I am not only a discipline freak, but I am also extremely competitive.  Too much so.  And as long as I am making confessions let me make one more: I am a poor loser.  I would like to say it is because I don’t lose very often, but the truth may be more that I lose too frequently.  Regardless, I wanted to play the “victim’ card after my race experience.  I wanted to let someone know that I was misguided.  I wanted “justice”.  Why?  Pride.

While I wanted to set the record straight, God asked me the same question he asked Jonah.  Do you do well to be angry?

Race Benefit

As soon as I finished the race I sat on the curb next to the individual who finished third.  MY THIRD!  The first question I heard was, “Did you get lost?”.  Despite the turmoil inside of me, I offered no excuse.  “Yes, I took a wrong turn.”  I congratulated my competitor on a good race and swallowed my pride.  I would rather kill my pride than swallow it but until then…

As I drove home I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry at my immaturity.  How long will I struggle with keeping things in a proper perspective?  An eternal one. The races on Sunday weren’t just about friendly competition.  They were being held to raise money for cancer research.  The runners weren’t the only ones with sweat equity in the race.  A lot of people put in a lot of hard work to pull off the two races.  To many of them, the event was very personal.  I don’t know how many of them have been personally affected by cancer, but I’m guessing the percentage would be high.

While I can’t speak on behalf of any of the race organizers or volunteers, I do know that since my mother was diagnosed over a year ago with stage four cancer, our world has been rocked.  Which should have helped me keep the race itself in perspective.  But unfortunately, pride has a way of blurring perspective.

Nursing Home

The day prior to my race, I helped move my ailing mother into a nursing home.  I picked up my father and we headed to the hospital where my mother had been admitted for the previous three days.  In her declining health, she is no longer able to stand on her own.  Roughly a month ago she was still walking with a walker and now she is in a wheelchair.

Because of her condition, the medical staff decided my mother should go into a nursing home instead of going home.  I don’t mean to overreact, but who knows if she will ever return home.  Only God.

Don’t miss the irony.  One day I am admitting my mother, who can no longer stand much less walk, into a nursing home, and the very next day I am upset because I “had to run” an extra four tenth of a mile!!  I had no excuse for my anger, and unfortunately, I have a lot of company.

Running Jonah

God has no problem seeing the big picture or keeping things in perspective.  He has a passion for lost souls.  He desires and deserves to be eternally worshiped.  Therefore, He chooses people to carry out His will in transforming sinners into worshipers.  The people He chooses are weak.  The people He chooses are a work in progress.  People like you and I.  People like Jonah.

I’m sure you are familiar with the story of Jonah.  God went to Jonah with a job; go to Nineveh and preach to the heathens.  Jonah had a problem with the job God gave him.  Jonah had a problem with pride, and it manifested itself in rebellion.  Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah fled to Tarshish.  Bad Idea.

God chased the wayward Jonah down with a storm.  The storm forced Jonah out of the fleeing boat and into the troubled water where God had a great fish waiting for Jonah.  For three days Jonah traveled “first class” in the belly of the great fish.  I’m not sure how comfortable the accommodations were but it gave Jonah time to think and pray.

Nineveh Repents

After three days, which should have been sufficient time for Jonah to put things in their proper perspective, the great fish “deposited” him on dry ground.  Before Jonah even had time to recover from his fish lag God again commanded him to go to Nineveh and preach.  This time Jonah acquiesced.

Jonah reluctantly proclaimed God’s call to repentance and Nineveh responded.  From the common people to the King, sackcloth became the fashion, ashes the floor covering, and fasting the diet plan.

Despite Jonah’s attitude, God blessed the preaching of His Word.  A good reminder that it is not the vessel but the message that is most important.  It is a good thing that it is the treasure that the clay jars hold that is efficacious because most of us are like Jonah.  Cracked!

 Hot Jonah

When God saw the sincere repentance of Nineveh, He withheld His impending wrath.  When Jonah did not see the terrible wrath of God, he released his emotions.  He was exceedingly displeased and angry (4:1).

While God was pleased to extend His mercy to Nineveh, Jonah was “hot” (literal translation).  Like a good blacksmith, God decided to strike while the metal was hot.

Jonah, do you do well to be angry?  Jonah, let’s look at this from an eternal perspective.  Let’s look at this my My perspective!

God Strikes

Perched outside the city of Nineveh, Jonah made himself a comfortable “nest” from which he could get a bird’s eye view of the city.  God provided a plant to make him more comfortable as he watched and waited from his perch.  Sitting in his ease, Jonah was “very happy about the plant.”  But his happiness would be short-lived.

Before sunrise the next day the plant was devoured by a worm that God provided.  Much like He provided the big fish.  In addition to having Jonah’s source of shade removed, God sent a scorching east wind and a blazing sun to beat down on Jonah.  Now Jonah was literally hot!!  So much so that he told God he wanted to die.  A blacksmith strikes when the metal is hot, and eternal lessons are often learned on the brink of death.

Jonah, look at your concern over this temporary plant.  Look at your concern for your creature comforts.  Look at your emotions.  You are angry over the loss of a simple plant that provided you temporary comfort.  Do I not have the right to be more concerned about the lost people of this great city who are so spiritually ignorant that they cannot discern their right hand from their left?

Jonah didn’t need a bird’s eye view of the city, he needed a Godly view of the souls of its citizens.

Point Taken

Someone gave me bad advice; I turned left when I should have turned right and it upset me.  I have confessed to you that for me, pride manifests itself in anger.  But obviously, this isn’t about my road race.  Nor is this even about me (or Jonah).  This is about you.  This is about us.  In the final analysis, this is about growing up; being conformed to the image of Christ.

Whether or not we are in a hospital or nursing home, we are all on the brink of eternity.  Check yourself.  Where are you at spiritually?  What are your struggles?  What makes you “hot” like Jonah?  We all have our triggers.  Those things in our lives that expose our weaknesses.

Be careful.  Your struggle may not be with anger, but anger, although perhaps the most “visible”, is not the only way pride manifests itself.  It has other ugly heads that it will rear.  None of which resembles Christ.

…we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… – Ephesians 4:15

Finish Well

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10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. – 2 Timothy 2:10a & 11b.

Race Time

Talk about a humbling experience.  I have been following a running schedule to prepare for a half-marathon to be run over Labor Day weekend.  Per my schedule I was to run a 5k race this weekend.  So, I decided to run a road race before church yesterday morning.

Having done this (running races) a few times I thought I was well prepared.  My “racing” outfit was laid out the night before.  I was careful about what I ate the day prior to the race and made sure I was in bed at a decent time to allow for sufficient sleep.  When you’re old and slow such routines become more important.

Since I was unfamiliar with the course I made sure I arrived at the race sight early.  Although I had no misconceptions about winning the race I thought I should briefly review a copy of the course just because.  Unfortunately, either the copy machine was spilling toner or the aerial view was taken at night.  Even if I was wearing my glasses the map would have been difficult to read.  But I got the gist of the course.  It was a simple out and back.  Run out to a half way point and turn around.  How hard could that be?

Head Start?

The 5k race I was running was not the only race at this venue.  A half an hour before the start of the 5k race, a half-marathon began.  We would use the same start and finish line which is common.  Since I had arrived early I decided to watch the start of the first race and scan the runners for familiar faces.  Those that I have met and created bonds with through previous races.

As I approached the Start/Finish line I was carrying my bib number for the second race.  Innocently, one of the spectators mistook me for an entrant in the half-marathon.  Since the race was about to begin and the participants were already “toeing” the line this spectator asked if I was giving the rest of the field a head start.  Naturally, I informed the mistaken spectator that I would be running the second race.  But little did I know his question would be somewhat prophetic.

Whoops

Before the start of the race, we were informed that there would be no pace bike.  Again, even though I knew I wouldn’t be leading the pack, the thought of no “guide” made me a little uneasy.  But lead bike or not, the race started without a hitch.  Little did I know I was minutes away from my humbling experience.

With about a little over a quarter of a mile left in the race, I found myself in third place.  Which says more about the field than my talent, but at my age I was looking forward to a top three finish.  The finish of the race was in front of a school.  As I was running on the backside of the school a course guide instructed me that up ahead the half-marathoners were to make a right turn and the 5k runners were to go straight.  Unfortunately, at the end of the road, straight wasn’t an option.  I had to choose between left or right.  Which was really a choice between right or wrong.

Unfortunately I made two very quick and very wrong assumptions.  Number one, obviously the guide would know the course better than me.  Number two, although going straight wasn’t an option, the guide would not have made a distinction between the participants of the two races if everybody was to make the same turn.  Hence when she said straight, she must have meant left.

Wrong Way Demas

How could a person work alongside the Apostle Paul and then desert him for the love of the world?  As we see in today’s text, that is exactly what Demas did.  When Paul penned Colossians (4:14)  and Philemon (v. 24), Demas was listed as a fellow worker.  Now, shortly before his execution, Paul is lamenting to his protege the fact that Demas has left the course.  He has taken a wrong turn.

Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, was written roughly five years prior to his letter to Timothy.  At that time Paul was imprisoned just as he was when he wrote to Timothy.  Demas knew the importance of faithfully running the race.  He certainly knew the risks and rewards.  What went wrong?

A Costly Affair

Paul doesn’t articulate or expand on what happened with Demas.  He simply tells us that he was in love with the present world.  Did he look to make financial gain from the wealthy city of Thessalonica?  After the difficulties of “church” work did he crave the comfort and excitement a cultured city?  Was he looking for something else Thessalonica could offer or was he just seeking safety?

Regardless of the specifics, one thing is very clear.  The charge Paul was making against Demas was very serious.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:15-17

Separate Ways

After lamenting being deserted by Demas, Paul asks for Mark who he deems to be useful to his ministry.  This is ironic following his charge against Demas for deserting him, because as Luke records in Acts chapter 13, Mark was once guilty of doing the same thing.  In the midst of missionary campaign with Paul, Barnabas, and their companions, Mark left them at Pamphylia to return to Jerusalem.

Like Demas, we are not sure why Mark left Paul.  But we do know Paul was greatly upset.  As Luke records in Act chapter 15, when Paul and Barnabas decide to visit their church plants they have a sharp disagreement.  Barnabas wants to include Mark on the trip, whereas Paul does not.  He was stung once by Mark and didn’t want to be stung again.

The disagreement was so strong that Paul and Barnabas separated, with Paul now traveling with Silas and Barnabas traveling with Mark.

Welcome Back Mark

In time, Mark would prove his faithfulness, and God would bless the work of both sets of men.  Thankfully, despite their disagreements and disillusionment, they continued serving God.

Paul must have been proud as he penned these words about Mark.  But not only Paul.  Luke, who recorded the unpleasant history between Mark and Paul was with Paul as he wrote this letter to Timothy.  I am sure this reconciliation was a balm for the heart of this faithful physician.

And how about Barnabas?  When Paul was adamant that Mark had burned all bridges, Barnabas was willing to build a new one, even at the expense of opposing and offending the spiritual giant Paul.

“Get Mark…he is very useful to me.”

Finish Well

When I realized the error I had made I once again was faced with two options.  I could drop out of the race and avoid embarrassment, or I could turn around and finish what I had started.

To say I was not happy would be an understatement.  Although it wasn’t technically a head start, despite my training and race preparation, I am not talented enough to spot the field such an advantage.  A top three finish and a respectable time were now out of the question.  But such is life.  Mistakes happen.  But as we learn from Mark, there is always hope.

After Demas started well, he finished poorly.  At least from the last that is recorded of him.  To the contrary, Mark finished well after starting poorly.  Me, on the other hand; after I started well…well I finished.

Things will not always go our way.  Many if not most things that we confront are out of our control.  But stay the course.  Beware of the love of the world and keep your eyes on Christ.  As long as we follow Christ we will be in the Father’s will.  As long as we remain in the Father’s will we will never get lost.  

Jesus is the way (John 14:6), and there is no other.

If you are going to run a race, it is always comforting to have a guide.  

Good News & The Poor

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22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” – Luke 7:22

Evidence

As we looked at in the last devotion, at the end of his life, John the Baptist wanted assurance that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.  John, in a moment of doubt, wanted to make sure he had not labored in vain, preparing the way for the “wrong’ deliverer.  When we consider what John “sacrificed”, we can appreciate his concern.

When we look at the response of Jesus, one of the signs He gives as evidence that He is the One that was promised seems out of place.  After listing five miracles in the physical realm, Jesus concludes His list by shifting to the Spiritual realm.  “The poor have good news preached to them.” 

In this list, is preaching good news to the poor anticlimactic or is it the crescendo?  While preaching to the poor may not be as “glamorous” as restoring the sight of a blind man or raising the dead, it is the climax of Jesus’ work.

What Poor?

Living in our Western culture of affluence, it is difficult for us to relate to “the poor”.  Sure Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us (Matthew 26:11), but what impact does that have on the way we live out our faith?  Is the fact that the poor will always be with us a source of discouragement or motivation?  Certainly Jesus modeled and taught the Church to care for the poor and needy, but their spiritual needs were always His top priority.

If we keep our focus on spiritual poverty we gain a better appreciation for the fact that the Suffering Servant would preach good news to the poor.  We must never diminish the Good news.  We must never replace it with any other gospel (Galatians 1:8), including a social gospel.  A look at the passage from Isaiah that Jesus was alluding to as evidence that He was the Christ reveals the emphasis of his preaching.

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord‘s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;  – Isaiah 61:1-2

The Poor!

When we think of the poor it is easy to think of those like the widow whom Jesus commended for offering her last two mites.  But as desperate as she was, she does not represent the poor Isaiah was referring to .

In his commentary on Isaiah, John N. Oswalt said this, “Who are the poor?  Those who are so broken by life that they have no more heart to try; those who are so bound up in their various addictions that liberty and release are a cruel mirage; those who think that they will never again experience the favor of the Lord, or see his just vengeance meted out against those who have misused them; those who think that their lives hold  nothing more than ashes, sackcloth, and the fainting heaviness of despair.  These are they to whom the Servant/Messiah shouts ‘Good news!’.“

Good News

What is the good news?  God is victorious.  Who is the good news?  Jesus.  Jesus not only preaches the good news, He fulfills it.  He brings it to fruition.  In the modern vernacular, He delivers!

Have no doubt John; your cousin is The One.  The tomb is empty.  Jesus is at the Father’s right hand.  Sin will not have the last word.

Jesus, the great Physician, will bind (bandage) the brokenhearted.  Jesus, the King, will proclaim liberty to the captives.  He has the authority and power to do so.  Freedom from sin and addictions are not a mirage, but reality!  Sin’s prison bars cannot hold those whom Christ has set free with the Truth (John 8:32).

Want good news?  Jesus will comfort those who mourn.  Ashes, sackcloths, and despair, will give way to beautiful headdresses, oil of gladness and garments of praise.  Fainting heaviness will give way to joyous praise.

For the spiritually poor, Jesus is Good News.  In Jesus, there is spiritual peace. In Jesus, there is spiritual prosperity.

36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),… 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” – Acts 10:36 & 43

Preaching

In addition to Jesus, Elijah, Elisha, Peter, and Paul also raised people from the dead.  In addition to Jesus, Elisha also healed a leper.  Other than Jesus, I am not aware of any other case where the blind were restored their sight or the deaf their hearing.  Regardless, these occurrences are rare.  They are unique signs.  But like Simon the Sorcerer observing Philip, we are amazed by these signs and miracles (Acts 8:13).  Many of us, perhaps, also desire to do such works.  But Philips greatest work wasn’t his miracles, but his preaching.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. – Acts 8:12

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was unleashed and the Church began to boldly preach the resurrected Christ.  Read the Book of Acts and beginning with Peter’s sermon in chapter two, watch how God blesses the preaching of the Good News.  As formerly fearful men, now empowered by the Holy Spirit, were faithfully preaching the Good News, sinners were being saved.  The spiritually poor were transformed into heirs of God.  What could be better News?

 

Look Around

When we reflect on the parables of Jesus, we see Him constantly emphasizing the fact that God has extended His grace to the outcasts.  Those that society had deemed inadequate or undeserving found favor with God.  With Jesus none are despised or alienated.  Grace doesn’t discriminate against the insecure.  It doesn’t turn a blind eye to the underprivileged.  Raising the dead to life may garner you a lot of attention, if you could do it, but extending God’s grace to the poor is more important.  And you are expected to do it!

When Jesus ministered on earth, he was condemned for associating with sinners and tax collectors.  While the self-righteous of His day avoided the “sick”, Jesus recognized their need for a doctor.  Jesus was indifferent to being labeled a “glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of sinners and tax collectors” (Luke 7:34).  He recognized them as the poor, and preached the good news to them.

While you and I may not be Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, Jesus has promised us that once He sent the Holy Spirit, His disciples would be able, and expected, to do greater works than He had done (John 14:12).  Ours is the privilege of preaching good news to the poor so Jesus can bandage their broken hearts and set them free from their bondage; turning their mourning into joy and their despair into praise.

Western affluence aside, if we take a look around us we will find that we are surrounded by the poor.  Those whom Jesus would befriend.  Those whom He died for.  Who cares if the world calls us friends of the sinners and tax collectors of our day, as long as God deems our feet beautiful.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” – Romans 10:15b

The One

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18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John,19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” – Luke 7:18-19

Foretold Cousins

If you want to ruin a revealing party, invite an angel of God.  Before conception even occurs, they arrive with the news of birth.  When they announce the forthcoming birth, they also supply a name for the baby.  At least that is what occurred in the case of John the Baptist and Jesus.

Imagine the joy of Elizabeth.  In her old age, she would miraculously give birth to John.  Imagine the shock of Mary.  Although a young virgin, she would give birth to Jesus.  Both John and Jesus would be “filled” with the Spirit of God before their birth.  Both would have their futures ordained for them.  John would “make ready”.  Jesus “will reign”.  Forever.

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” – Luke 1:16-17

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” – Luke 1:30-33

Making Ready

John first “experienced” the presence of Jesus when they were both in the womb of their respective mothers.  When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, the yet unborn John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:45).  The Holy Spirit enabled John to experience joy in the presence of His Savior before these special cousins were even born.

In life, John the Baptist faithfully and boldly fulfilled his calling, turning hard Jewish hearts to the Lord their God.  John was a voice in the wilderness, preaching a message of repentance in the spirit and power of Elijah.  Those that heeded his message he would baptize.  Those that remained hardened he rebuked.  The road was rough, but John knew it was his task to make it level before his cousin arrived.

When Jesus’ time had come, John had the privilege of baptizing Him with heaven smiling down on them.  The Father was pleased and the angels were witnessing the fulfillment of their announcements.  “Ready” was about to give way to “reign”.

With Jesus’ ministry under way, it was time for John to decrease while Jesus increased.  The joy that John first experienced in the presence of Jesus as an unborn would now be made full.  The road was prepared.  The Bridegroom had arrived.

John’s Question

As the miracles and teachings of Jesus dominated the local scene, John humbly walked off the stage.  His time in the spotlight was over.  John had no misconceptions about competing with Jesus.  The stakes were too high.

After removing himself from the stage, John was cast into prison.  His bold preaching had made him enemies.  Enemies in positions of power.  Enemies who wielded Caesar’s sword.  Enemies who were subject to lust, anger and violence.  Enemies who wanted to silence his voice and end his ministry.

Time in prison afforded John time to reflect.  As he pondered the works of Jesus something seemed to be missing.  Vengeance.  Where was the wrath John warned of (Luke 3:7)?  Where was the axe (Luke 3:9)?  Where were the winnowing fork and the unquenchable fire (Luke 3:17)?  With death’s shadow darkening his cell a doubt took root.  Was his work in vain? Was his cousin Jesus The One?

So John sent his messengers to Jesus with the all important question.

 ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” – Luke 7:20b

Jesus’ Answer

The response of Jesus to John’s doubt was simple and assuring.  Tell John what you have seen.  Tell John what you have heard.  Do my actions not line up with prophecy?  Turn from the prison’s shadow John and ponder My works in the proper light.  Sin will be judged in time, but but first there must be a time of healing and teaching.

Undoubtedly, John had heard of the raising of the widow’s dead son in Nairn.  Certainly he was aware of the blind having their sight restored and the deaf their hearing.  How could he not know of the lepers whom Jesus healed?  Combine these miracles with the teachings of Jesus and consider the Prophet Isaiah and his predictions of the suffering servant.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. – Isaiah 35:5-6

    The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor – Isaiah 61:1

Seeing Clearly

The acts of Jesus are consistent with prophecy.  A day of punishment and destruction will come.  But it must wait for the second coming of Jesus.  Be patient John.  See clearly.  Don’t interpret the present through the lens of the future.  Jesus’ white horse and the armies of heaven will be ready for battle, but now is not the time.

Rest assured John.  Your life has been well spent.  You did not clear the way for a fraud.  The religious leaders may not clearly see Jesus.  But rest assured He is no impostor.  He is the promised Messiah.  He is the Lamb of God just as you introduced him at His baptism.  He is The One who will reign forever, just as the angel foretold.

The One

Today, we would refer to John as a “man’s man”.  John called the religious leaders (sadducees and pharisees) of his day a brood of vipers.  He rebuked Herod for unlawfully taking his brother’s wife.  He boldly warned his peers of their need to repent.  He selflessly devoted his life to the service of God, pleading with the disobedient children of Israel.  But despite his life of boldness, John entertained doubt.  At least momentarily.

With his work behind him and his end before him, John came to a crisis.  What if Jesus isn’t the One after all?  Have I wasted my time?  Will I die with regrets?  Have I failed my people and my God?  Should we have been looking for someone else to put our faith in?  Not at all John.  Jesus is the promised Messiah, and no life lived for him is wasted.

One Life

No angel announced our births.  At least not mine.  No angel told my parents what to name me.  At least not that they have ever related to me.  My birth wasn’t miraculous.  No angels appeared in the sky when I was born.  I’m guessing the same is true of you.  But angelic fanfare or not, one thing is true.  Our lives are important to God, in whose image we are created and for whose glory we are to live.

At the end of the day, we are all living for someone.  Most for self.  But not so for John.  While John’s ministry as a forerunner was unique, we can glean from his passion and take encouragement from his service.  Like John, we have the power of the Holy Spirit.  Like John, we can point others to the Savior.

After all, Jesus is The One, and He will come back in wrath and judgment.  Until then, lets make sure we are not wasting our lives.  Let’s devote ourselves to Christ’s kingdom.  He is going to reign over it forever.  Is there a better way to invest our lives?  When death casts it’s shadow over me I don’t want to be haunted by any doubts.

Jesus is The One.  Surrender your life to Him.  All of it.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. – 1 Corinthian 15:58

Rainbows and Rings

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16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” – Genesis 9:16-17

Golden Anniversary

Today we joined in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of my wife’s maternal aunt (Mary Ann) and uncle (Jim).  The celebration was special on many accounts.  First of all, fifty years of marriage represents some degree of  longevity.  With couples increasingly choosing to delay marriage, reaching the golden anniversary may become more difficult.  Secondly, with skyrocketing divorce rates, witnessing fifty years of commitment to one spouse may become more and more rare.  I recognize that with a population that is growing exponentially statistics will dictate that we will continue to see more golden anniversaries, but they will always be special.  Marriage between a man and a woman was God’s idea.  And so is being true to our word.

Perhaps the thing that made today’s celebration the most special, is that the wedding almost did not take place.  While Jim and Mary Ann were deeply in love and committed to one another, Mary Ann had to share Jim with Uncle Sam and the Vietnam war.  Not wanting to risk making Mary Ann a young widow, the two decided to wait until Uncle Sam was done with Jim before they would get married.  On May 22nd 1967, Jim departed for Vietnam.  As he said his good-byes to Mary Ann and the others, he did not know if he would see them again on this side of eternity.  With tears in her eyes, Mary Ann watched and waved until Jim’s plane was enveloped by clouds.  Little could they have known what storms were hiding behind the clouds.

Missing Letters

As sweethearts, Jim and Mary Ann were prolific letter writers.  In fact, as soon as Jim landed in San Francisco he wrote Mary Ann a letter promising he would return from the war and make her his wife.  The task before him had to be done, so it might as well be done with a positive outlook.  They agreed that they would get through each day by looking forward to their wedding.  Until that day, letters would have to suffice.

Jim wrote Mary Ann a letter dated June 18th, 1967.  It was written a day after a patrol in the Rung Sat region.  In the letter Jim told Mary Ann that the following day would begin a six day mission.  The letter also mentioned the casualties Jim had witnessed on his first mission, as well as his aspirations for a “formal” engagement.  As he had mentioned previously, it would be the hope of the future bliss of marriage that would help them to endure the current realities of war.  In his postscript Jim affirmed his love for Mary Ann and promised to shower her with it when he returned.  It was the last letter Mary Ann would receive until July 2nd, her 21th birthday.

Bullets & A Chaplain

On the first day of the mentioned six day mission, Jim’s division (Charlie Company) took heavy casualties.  Crossing a rice field, they came under heavy fire from well entrenched Viet Cong’s.  While crawling on his stomach seeking cover from a fallen comrade, a bullet hit Jim’s left hand and ricocheted up entering his chest and exiting above his right hip.  Was Jim going to be another casualty?  He was completely exposed to the intense fire of the enemy.  As his lifeblood was mixing with the Vietnam mud his future plans seemed to be nothing more than a fading hope.  But Jim had a cover his eyes could not behold.

By “chance”, Charlie Company had a special guest in the field, Chaplain Windmiller.  Bernard Windmiller was a civilian minister called up to active duty in 1966.  As a chaplain, he carried no other weapon than his faith.  His job was to look after the moral and religious needs of “the boys”.  As Jim lay bleeding in the middle of the rice field, Chaplain Windmiller, under heavy gunfire, made his way to Jim.  For an hour he lay next to him, bandaged him, and encouraged him by reminding him of the presence of God.  The entire time the enemy was sending bullets over them.

Medals & Rings

Chaplain Windmiller would stay by Jim’s side until a Med Evac chopper was finally able to take him out of the battlefield.  For Jim, the war was over.  Many more would be killed on Vietnamese soil, but Jim would not be numbered with them.  Instead, he was safely flown to Saigon and attended to.  When he was well enough he wrote to his future bride and detailed the events of his mission and the extent of his injuries.

From a Viet Cong bullet, Jim’s body was scarred from his war experience.  From his Government, Jim would receive a Purple Heart for his scars.  Reminders of the realities of war and the consequences of sin.  But Mary Ann was back home awaiting his arrival.  He promised he would return and marry her, and God allowed him to fulfill his promise.  While the purple heart would be displayed on a shelf, Jim was finally able to place a ring on Mary Ann’s finger.  The rainbow followed the storm.

Arks & Rain

In Genesis chapter six, we see the first Biblical record of the word Covenant.  The Bible tells us that God has seen enough violence.  Sin is out of control.  God goes to righteous Noah and instructs him to make an ark.  God is going to flood the earth and destroy the evil that is corrupting it.  Everything that is not safely in the ark will be killed, but God promises Noah He will establish a covenant with him.

After one hundred and twenty years of construction, the ark is finished and filled with “clean” animals.  After God closed the doors of the ark, the flood waters came.  The wrath of God was meted out against sin.  As Genesis records, God blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the earth, except for Noah and those that were with him.  Without the refuge of an ark, one can only tread water for so long.  But for the righteous, God will always provide an ark.

Rainbows & Covenants

In time the floodwaters would subside, and Noah, his family, and the clean animals would exit the ark.  Noah built an altar to the Lord and offered a burnt offering to God.  The offering was pleasing to God and God established the promised covenant with Noah and every living creature.  Despite man’s sinfulness, God promised Noah he would never again destroy the earth with a flood.  As a sign of His covenant, God set His bow in the cloud.  Whenever the rainbow is in the sky, we are reminded of God’s covenant promise.  He will not go back on His Word.  He cannot go back on His Word.

The covenant God made after the flood would be followed by others.  Covenants that are accompanied with signs, and guaranteed with seals.  Covenants that we can place our faith in because of God’s character.  Covenants we can bank on because God keeps His Word.  Covenants that remind us of the sanctity of the marriage covenant and the weight of our words when we say “I do”!

 Storms

I have never crawled across a rice field in a foreign land.  I have never been shot at much less shot in the chest.  I don’t know what it is like to be confined in an ark while the rest of civilization is literally drowning around me.  While I can’t relate to these specific experiences, I do know one thing, there will always be battles to fight, and there will always be storms on the horizon.  But as Jim learned as he was bleeding in the rice field, God never abandons us.  In Christ, we always have cover.

In his book, The Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw interviewed numerous World War II vets.  When asked about his concerns regarding the current generation, one wise vet made this comment, ” The problem today is people don’t know how to fight”.  We are a generation of quitters!  We are a generation of runners!  We don’t understand the true value of the things we should be fighting for.  Marriage can be difficult, but it is worth the fight!!  The storms will come, but the rainbow will follow.  You have God’s Word on it.

Rings

“For better of for worse.”  “Till death do us part.”  That ring on your finger is a sign of a covenant you have made before witnesses.  A sign of a covenant you have made before God.   You may feel stranded in an open field under enemy fire, but don’t give up.  God wants you to fulfill your vows.  God has enabled you to do so.  As a Child of God you are covered by the blood of Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  As a child of the New Covenant, your Faith is the only weapon you need.

I don’t know if my wife and I will see our Golden Anniversary, only God does.  But I do know that we are each committed to the covenant we made when we exchanged rings nearly thirty four years ago.  We have been through our storms together, and I am sure we will encounter more, but we have resolved to honor our marriage covenant no matter what comes our way.  The rainbow is our reminder that God will never go back on His Word.  Our rings on our fingers remind us that we never should either.

I believe we will never truly appreciate weddings and anniversaries until we grasp the significance of Covenants and our Covenant keeping God.  Which made today such a special day.

God willing, I hope my wife and I can celebrate our Golden Anniversary some day.  Celebrating not just our love and commitment to one another, but giving glory to our faithful God who puts the rainbow in the clouds after a storm.

Healing Wings

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2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. – Malachi 4:2

Malachi’s Task

Like many of his predecessors, Malachi had the unenviable task of rebuking and warning God’s chosen people.  Jeremiah had recorded the deep sorrow of the Jewish people when they were taken captive and removed from their homeland.  Daniel could not conceal his excitement when he realized the impending return of his people after years of captivity.  The Prophets Ezra and Nehemiah record the return of many Jews from Babylon captivity back to Jerusalem.  One would hope that years of exile would “reform” God’s people, but such was not the case.  As Nehemiah concludes his writing he gives us a list of final reforms he had to make because the Priests and people were not living in accordance with God’s commands (Nehemiah 13).  I am not sure how long Nehemiah’s reforms had any impact, but thirty years later Malachi shows us Israel’s propensity for wandering from God.

Despising God’s Name

Despite God’s love for Israel (Malachi 1:2), the love has not been reciprocated.  Rather than the fear and honor He deserves as Father and Master, God charges the Priests with despising His name.  Specifically, Malachi rebukes the Priests for offering polluted sacrifices on the altar (1:6-2:9).  The Priests were offering animals that God had specifically forbidden.  Instead of exalting God’s name, the Priests were guilty of profaning it by polluting the Lord’s table (1:12).  To the Priests, serving in the Temple has become a burden they don’t want to bear.  The sacrifices they offer are a reflection of the condition of their hearts.

Unfaithful

As Father and Master, God charged the Priests with despising His name.  As Father and Creator, He charges the people with being unfaithful (2:10-16).  By putting aside their Jewish wives and marrying foreign women, the people have been unfaithful to their covenant.  God had specifically forbidden intermarrying with foreigners warning them of the dangers of mixing with them and being tempted to worship their gods.  Sadly, Malachi is now rebuking them for breaking their commitments.

Where is God?

Malachi further condemns the people for wearying God with their words.  They are guilty of attributing good to those who do evil.  Although they commit their sins in the presence of God, they doubt His presence asking,“Where is the God of justice” (2:17)?  Malachi warns that a messenger is coming to prepare the way of the Lord.  When the Lord draws near for judgment (3:5), who will be able to doubt His presence?

Robbing God

What is the worth of a God who is not present?  If God is not our Father, Master, and Creator why would we offer Him our best?  Such is the charge of Malachi.  The Prophet of God continues his rebuke by charging the people with turning aside from God’s statutes and failing to keep them (3:7).  In addition, he says they are also guilty of robbing God (3:8).  Like the Priests who were sacrificing “second-hand” animals, the people were not showing respect to God with the tithes and offerings He commanded and deserved.  Instead of giving back to God with gratitude for His blessings, they are stingy.  God challenges the people to give saying that His storehouses are full of blessings (3:10), but their greed is not the key to open them.  So the blessings are withheld.  Instead of recognizing their guilt, the people complain that it is vain to serve God (3:14).

Denial

With each charge brought against them, God’s people deny the charges or imply ignorance.  ‘How have we despised your name?’ (1:6), ‘How have we polluted you?’ (1:7),“How have we wearied him?” (2:17), “Where is the God of justice?” (2:17), ‘How shall we return?’ (3:7), Will man rob God?…‘How have we robbed you?’ (3:8), ‘How have we spoken against you?’ (3:14).  This list condemns not only God’s chosen people but all of mankind.  God showers men with His love, but too often we fail Him.  The most telling question His people asked was the first Malachi recorded:

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” – (1:2)

Healing Needed

Malachi, as he concludes the Old Testament writings, exposes a sad truth.  Throughout history, God has revealed His grace to His people.  He has chosen them.  He has multiplied them.  He has given them a land.  He has given them Prophets.  He has given them leaders.  He has given them His Word.  And He has accompanied them.  Sadly, over and over again the people have “failed” Him.  Malachi’s rebukes are not an exception, they are an exclamation; reformation doesn’t work.  Transformation is necessary.  We cannot save ourselves, we need a Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings.  Who would know that it would be more than four hundred years after Malachi penned his inspired Words that the Sun of righteousness would rise?

Sun of Righteousness

Malachi, like so many of the Prophets before him, paints a dark picture.  With each dip of his brush, he brings up black paint to cover the canvas.  While it is not pretty to look at, it is an exact representation of the heart of man.  Desperately wicked and totally depraved.  Like the Israelites, we deny the portrait the Bible paints of us.  “Use white paint”, we scream.  Men are inherently good not evil.  But as Malachi reminds us, history fleshes out the Truth.  Apart from God, we are helpless.  Apart from God, we are hopeless.  But after holding up the black portrait, Malachi gives us hope.  Look to the horizon, the Sun is going to rise, and He will bring light to darkness.  His righteousness will transform the canvas.  He has healing in His wings.

Healing

Who doesn’t need healing?  We are surrounded by so much pain and sorrow.  Cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, etc. are more than prevalent, they are epidemic.  We are all affected by them directly or indirectly.  In addition to these, we have mental health issues, addictions, and handicaps of various natures impacting our lives.  We hear of healing and we think of a cure or remedy for these calamities, but our hope is much greater.  As real and as troubling as these things are, they do not represent our greatest need.  Rather they are symptoms of the one disease that plagues every man.  Sin.  When Malachi writes that the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings, he is obviously talking about spiritual healing.  A healing to remedy the symptoms he has diagnosed previously.

In His Wings

We measure time based on the birth of Christ.  His birth divides history in half (B.C. & A.D.)  The followers of Christ have completely transformed the world acting as salt and light and sharing His love.  The wings of Christ have not only changed the course of history, they expand over all of eternity.  Nothing escapes their shadow.  Nothing escapes their reach.  For those who “fear His name”, they represent healing.

When Jesus walked the earth, He raised the dead, healed the lame and gave sight to the blind.  One day as He was passing through the crowd he felt His power go out from Him.  Questioning the crowd, a lady came trembling at His feet.  She had an infirmity for twelve years and had spent all of her money on doctors.  To no avail.  Now she was not only suffering from her infirmity, but she was financially broke.  Like all of us, she was completely desperate.  She desired to be healed but her money and her fellow man were unable to bring her a cure.  She was without help or hope; until she touched the fringe of Jesus’ robe.

I Have Loved You

When she touched his robe, the suffering lady was immediately healed.  Not only of her physical infirmity, but more importantly of her spiritual.  Jesus commends her for her faith and tells her to go in peace.  She has been made whole.  So it is with His children.  When we put our faith in the Sun of righteousness, He heals us with His righteousness.  The black canvas is covered by his crimson blood and is now made as white as snow.  Christ has come with healing in His wings.  A healing that saves us from sin and its consequences.  When Jesus carries us over the river of death there will be no more symptoms of sin.  Cancer, dementia, and diabetes will have to stay on the other shore along with all of the addictions and diseases.  There will be no sin in heaven.  There will be no denial either.  The reach of sin cannot compare with the reach of Christ’s healing wings.  The wings that will wipe away our tears once and for all.

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. 

May we never question how!

Holiday Update

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Thought I should take a moment to let you know why there has been a little break in writings.  For roughly the last month I have been “cleaning” up the posts.  I have been giving them a facelift trying to make them more “readable”.  Scripture quotes and references are now in red.  Headings have been added to make for easier reading and adding some clarity.  Many posts now have pictures added.  With 160 posts this has been time consuming but I feel much better about the site.  This has certainly been a learning process in more than one way.  Hopefully, I will get the hang of it.

As I continue cleaning up the old posts I want to encourage you to go back and look at them.  Please let me know what you think.  Your feedback will be helpful in giving me direction going forward.  If you are not being encouraged, convicted or challenged perhaps I am wasting my time.  My desire is for God to be glorified as His saints grow in Christlikeness and sinners are exposed to the Truth.  Which brings me to another topic.

One of the headings I now have is FAQ’s.  Others have looked for answers online for Biblical questions that are often asked and for which there are not many “satisfactory” answers.  In fact, for one of the questions I addressed, Does God Punish Us For The Sins Of Others, the top response on Google is written by a skeptic.  As I have stated before I am not and do not want to be a “Bible Answer Man”, but it bothers me that the top answer people will find when searching for Truth is written by an atheist.  From time to time I will be writing posts that address such questions.  If they do not interest you please be patient with me.  Speaking of which…

If there is something you would like to discuss please feel free to let me know.  As I have stated, I welcome your responses.  They are not only feedback for me, but they may encourage or challenge others as well.  In other words, don’t be afraid of taking “ownership” in this site.  Having responses to responses is not uncommon.  Just keep them respectful!!  This is not politics.

If you have a favorite post let me know.  I am thinking about a top ten list for people who may find this site doing an organic search.  Such a listing may be helpful to them.

Hope you have a great 4th of July.  Thanks to all of our vets who have sacrificed for our freedom.  Your service is appreciated.  This nation owes you so much.  And speaking of sacrifice and freedom…

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-325 

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1

Not so Fast

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3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
    Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ – Isaiah 58:3

Fast

Quite a few years ago I had to do a medical fast.  For at least a week every meal, including breakfast, consisted of the same soup.  With each passing day this bland broth became more difficult to stomach.  But I had no choice.  It was the soup or nothing.  With the first few days of fasting I craved fudged striped shortbread cookies; I ended my fast with scrambled eggs and green beans.  Amazing how things change as you experience hunger pangs.  I’m talking more about perspective than diet.  Too often our minds live in a fudged striped shortbread world when they belong in a scrambled eggs and green beans one.  If only we could maintain a proper perspective.

Not So

In today’s passage from Isaiah, we hear the Israelite’s lamenting that God is ignoring their fast.  They complain that despite their humility, God is not cognizant of their self-denial.  But God sees much more clearly than the complaining Israelites do.  While they profess humility, God charges them with arrogance and presumption.

The charges God brings against the “fasting” Israelites are quite condemning.  While they claim to be denying themselves, God says that they are in actuality seeking their own pleasure.  At the same time they are oppressing all of their workers.  Humble?

In addition, they are guilty of “fighting and quarreling and hitting with a wicked fist”.  Does this sound like humility?  Not to God.  He tells the Israelites that this behavior will not make their voices heard.  At least not by Him.

God then tells the Israelites that no amount of show can cover such an attitude.  He warns them that bowing their heads like a reed and spreading sackcloth and ashes under them will not make their actions acceptable.  This is no fast!

Humble Beginnings

In Leviticus chapter 16 God decrees the Day of Atonement.  It is a day in which the Israelites are to afflict (deny) themselves and do no work.  It is a special day to meditate on the seriousness of one’s sins and, by way of contrast, the greatness of God in making a way of atonement for them.  When the Day of Atonement was initially decreed, I don’t think the seriousness of sin would have been easily overlooked.  Certainly not by Aaron.

Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, had put incense in their censers and offered “unauthorized” fire before the Lord.  They tried to approach God in a manner contrary to His command and were immediately consumed from a fire that came out of the presence of the Lord.  Upon the death of his two son, Moses reminded Aaron of the words of God.

“‘Among those who approach me
    I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
    I will be honored.’” – Leviticus 10:3

Specific Instructions

Now, as He decrees the Day of Atonement, God gives very specific instructions in regards to how the anointed and consecrated priest is to enter the Holy Place behind the veil.  Great caution was to be taken by the priest as he came before the mercy seat over which the presence of God was manifested in a cloud.  God specified to Aaron what he was to wear, the fact that he was to bathe, what and how he was to sacrifice, etc.

Further, included in what Aaron was to offer on the Day of Atonement were instructions on what he was to put into the censer.  I am sure that as he received these instructions his heart was heavy as he was reminded of the death of his two sons who offered the unauthorized fire before the Lord.  Aaron must have been greatly humbled as he was reminded of the sins of his sons.  Precisely the effect the Day of Atonement was to have on the Israelites.

Fast Lessons

I am all for discipline.  I certainly recommend the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation, etc.  But I believe we can learn a lesson from Isaiah chapter fifty-eight in which God condemns the Israelites for their hypocritical fasting.  I believe it is in many ways an Old Testament parallel of Matthew chapter 23 in which Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their hypocrisy.  What good was their tithes of mint, dill and cumin when they were neglecting the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faithfulness.  Unfortunately, tithing dill is much easier than showing mercy.  But as I mentioned earlier, we often have a difficult time with perspective.  To our shame we need to be reminded that justice, mercy and faithfulness are “weightier” matters than mint, dill and cumin.

Whereas Jesus shamed the pharisees for making a mockery of tithing, Isaiah shamed the Israelites for making a mockery of fasting.  Read Isaiah chapter fifty-eight and look at how God describes the fast He would choose.  Instead of false humility evidenced by a bowed head and the spreading of sackcloth and ashes, God desires that His people deprive themselves for the benefit of the needy.  They are to do such things as “loose the bonds of wickedness”, “share their bread with the hungry”, “bring the homeless poor into their homes”, “cover the naked”, etc. (vs. 6 & 7).

So What?

How easy it is to be serious about “religion” and miss what is most important.  While the Israelites and the Pharisees may have been sincere about their fasting and their tithing, their actions were met not with Divine pleasure but Divine disgust.  They misunderstood the heart of God.  His heart that wants to be loved and worshiped for His greatness in making a way of atonement for us.

The Israelites complained that God was ignoring their fast.  God responded by showing them that they weren’t truly fasting.  To them fasting had become a tool of manipulation.  If only they would deprive themselves, God would owe them; much like putting money into a vending machine.  This is not only far from the humility God wanted displayed when He instituted fasting; it is paganism.  It is idolatry; worshiping our desires instead of conceding to God’s.

God doesn’t need our tithes.  He certainly doesn’t want the false fasting condemned in Isaiah chapter fifty-eight.  Why do we think we need to manipulate God for gifts when He has given us everything in Christ?

Fragrant Incense

Nadab and Abihu were killed because of the unauthorized fired they brought before God in their censers.  The Israelites and Pharisees were condemned for putting religion and ritual before relationship(s).  I realize that we will not be condemned because we are covered by the blood of Christ, but I can’t help but wonder how much of our “religion” is nothing more than a stench before the face of God.

I am thankful that we live in an age of grace, but the real question is this:  Does the grace of God flow out of us and onto those around us?  After all, isn’t that why the Israelites and Pharisees were being condemned?  God’s concern is with relationships and not formal religion.  As Christians we have experienced the grace and mercy of God and are expected to extend the same to others.  God not only tells us such in Isaiah chapter fifty-eight, but Jesus tells us the same in Matthew chapter twenty-five, shortly after He condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy.

We need the spiritual disciplines.  We need to pray, fast, meditate, serve, etc. in true humility.  We need to remember the purpose of the Day of Atonement; reflecting on our sins and God’s infinite grace.  When we practice the spiritual disciplines may we do so not to manipulate God but to be conformed to the image of Christ.  When His nature is so much a part of ours that it overflows from us in the form of sincere love and service for our fellow man, especially those that are weaker than us, our sacrifice will be a pleasing aroma to God.  Such is worship, the most important Christian discipline.

15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 2:15-17

Casting Our Burdens

Posted on by scott

 

22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved. – Psalm 55:22

Burdens

Burdens.  Who doesn’t have them?  Who likes to carry them?  It seems like the older we get the more we accumulate.  The more we accumulate the older they make us feel.  They fatigue our backs and weary our souls.  They remind us of our limitations.  They magnify our weaknesses.  They remind us of our dependency, which is why God gives them to us.

Have you ever thought of your burdens as a test from God?  Not to test our strength or our resolve but our faith.  God already knows our weaknesses and limitations.  God doesn’t give us burdens to see if we can carry them, rather He wants to know if we can let go of them.

Are we willing to surrender our burdens to God?

Cast

The word translated cast can either mean to throw violently or cast softly.  In this context, it is the latter.  However, whether we are throwing a stone or casting seeds, one thing is consistent.  Releasing.  Letting go.  It is easier said than done.

Why do we cling to our burdens?  Why are they so hard to let go of?  Perhaps it is pride.  No one can handle my burden as I can.  Perhaps it is lack of faith.  We say we are going to hand them over to God but we do so with a tether.  If God can’t quickly take care of them we’re pulling them back.  Maybe it is immaturity.  Infected with a martyr complex we’ve become addicted to complaining and dependent upon sympathy.  But we need relief, not sympathy.

Regardless of our motivation for holding on, the solution is the same.  We need to cast not clutch.  We need to recognize that although we are limited, God is not.  That is why He tells us to cast our burdens on Him.

Sustainment

It is often said that God will not give us more than we can handle, but that is not true.  In fact, He will always give us more than we can handle.  Alone.  God has made us dependent upon Him.  When we cast our burdens upon Him it is He that will sustain us.

The word translated sustain (kuwl) literally means “to measure” or “calculate“.  The picture is one of a vessel being “sized up”.  What can it hold or contain?  God knows our needs.  He knows our “duties and trials”.  God is going to give the measure of strength and grace sufficient for the task.  We can rest assured that the Potter knows, and is sufficient to meet, the needs of his earthen vessels.

Reinforcement

Although the literal meaning of sustain (kuwl) is “to measure“, it suggests much more.  While it is true that God knows our limitations, it is also true that He shares His unlimited nature with us.  As part of His sustenance, God acts as a “nurse” towards us.  This goes beyond the comfort a contemporary nurse may bring a patient.  This is more like the tenderness and solace a mother shows to her infant child.  We can take our burdens to God knowing that His love is most intimate.

In addition to the tenderness associated with our sustainment, nourishment is also implied.  God not only comforts us but He feeds us spiritual manna from Heaven.  God will strengthen us with the Bread of Life.  When we are faint and weak God will empower us and give us new vitality.

But God doesn’t stop with comforting and nourishing us.  Not by a long shot.  When we need Him most He lifts us up and carries us.  He gets on His knees and looks us in the face.  Our emotions betray us.  We cannot hide the stress.  He sees the strain in our veins.  He sees the desire to quit in our eyes.  He does more than sympathize with our tears.  He gives us relief.  He supports us.  Is there a greater picture of condescension than the Creator of the universe bearing our burdens?  Such is what Christ did when He carried our cross.

Unmoveable

Life’s burdens may seem overwhelming at times.  We may become discouraged and question how we can carry on.  But God has promised to sustain us.  He has also promised He will never permit us to be moved.  Whatever trials may come our way, we will ultimately be safe.  Burdens may bend our backs and test the limits of our hearts but they will not touch our souls.

Storms may rage and the tempest may cause our branches to dance, but our roots remain unmoved, anchored to the promises of God.  He will sustain you and He will never permit you to be moved.  When we cast our burdens on God our roots will grow deeper.

Do you trust His promises or are you blinded by your burdens?

Casting Gifts

What are our burdens?  In the Hebrew, the word translated burden literally means “gift, that which is given, that which is allotted.”  It is important to recognize that the burdens that come our way are not by chance.  They are not determined by fate.  Instead, they are measured out by God and providently and lovingly laid upon us.  You are not a victim.  Don’t be blinded by your burdens.   Don’t carry them anxiously, hand them over to God in humility.

Let go of your burdens.  Take them to your Father in prayer.  Be specific.  Pour out your heart.  The load is too much for you to bear.  By design.

After you have poured out your prayers, rest on God’s promises.  God cannot fail.  Don’t worry about the swaying branches, the roots are secure.  No storm will move the cross.  Your soul is eternally secured.  The Holy Spirit is your guarantee and Christ is your anchor.

Be patient.  No farmer retrieves his seeds after he has cast them into the wind.  In faith, he gives the soil and the elements time to produce a harvest.  God’s timing may not be ours, but it is perfect.  Cast your burdens and leave them with God.

Seek the face of God.  When our burdens seem overwhelming His image keeps things in perspective.  If you don’t know where to begin looking, run to the cross.  Jesus is not only the exact representation of our loving Father, He has already born our greatest burden.  After He carried it for us He was nailed to it.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 1 Corinthians 12:9-10