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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Jeremiah, Reluctant Prophet

Today's reading takes us to Jeremiah 1:1-8 and through Jeremiah 3:5. I want to focus on the first 8 verses as I think we will see ourselves in this scripture. Often when we are confronted with the opportunity to speak up for God, we find ourselves somewhat reluctant to do so. Jeremiah's example should offer us comfort in our feelings and encouragement to speak up.

People are not puppets that God pulls strings and they lose control and do His will. Rather, God made us in His image, with the ability to choose whether to be obedient to His will or refuse His direction. This is often evident in my life as I study His word, see things that I should be doing or not doing and I continue on my merry way. (surely you are not like that also) Jeremiah did not want to follow God's call to be a prophet. Maybe he had seen the way they were treated or maybe he didn't think he was righteous enough. Whatever the reason, when God called, Jeremiah made excuses.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Then said I: “Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”


But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:4-8)

Jeremiah's excuse... I don't know what to say... I am too young. God speaks directly to Jeremiah and Jeremiah makes excuses. Reminds me of a few other men that God talked to... Moses and Jonah for example... oh, and me! God tells him that He knew him in the womb, that he had set him apart for service to Him before he was born. He tells Jeremiah that He selected him to be a prophet to the nations.... and Jeremiah says... "um, I don't think so". He didn't want to do it! But after hearing God's encouragement and His promises, he chose to be obedient.

God promised that He would be with him and that He would deliver him. In the face of persecution and trials, God says, "you will not be alone and I will take care of you". "I will give you the words to speak to those that I send you". Surely by now you are making the connection. You and I are Jeremiah! God knew us before we were born, His desire for us was that we would follow Him and that we would go and teach the nations. Some of us are still saying, "I am too young" or "I don't know what to say". God's call on the Christian's life is pretty clear...

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28: 16-20)

Just like Jeremiah, some of the apostles "doubted", but Jesus reassured them that He had all power and authority. Then He told them to go to the nations and speak the words that He had given them. They were to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey His words. And He told them that they need not be afraid because He was with them. Same God, same story, different people, different time. That is our story... God calls us to speak to the nations on His behalf, some will do it, while others will make excuses. But God says that we have no excuses, that He is with us and all of our reasons for not obeying are without merit.

What's it going to be? Are we going to recognize His work in our lives? He calls us from our "new birth" to be obedient to His will and carry out His mission. He knew you before your "new birth" and He has appointed you for good works. (Eph 2:20) Jeremiah made the right decision and obeyed God. God placed His word in his mouth and Jeremiah couldn't help but speak. God told Moses, "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." If God was in the business of giving His spokespersons the right words to say back then, is He different now? He has given us His word, we just have to take it in and then let it out. "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)


Monday, July 23, 2012

Josiah, Example of Obedience

We have been taking a hard look at what it means to keep the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-39) I will be the first to admit that it is a daunting task to attempt to fully comply with what God is asking of us. Some days, it just doesn't seem possible. However, sometimes we get  a peek at the life of someone who is commended for their effort. Today's reading includes the story of Josiah, who became king over Judah after the assassination of Amon. (take the time to read 2 Kings 22 and 23)

Our introduction...Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.  And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (2 Kings 22:1,2)

Take a moment to think about what the LORD chose to record about this young man. He came to the throne at eight years of age. Maybe this is part of what made him the man he would become. He was too young to have wisdom of his own and too young to have accumulate power or prestige. Maybe he had great parents, (we are introduced to his mother) who taught him about the one true God in the midst of national idolatry. We know he ruled for thirty-one years and he did what was right in the sight of the LORD. Whatever it was that made him the man he was, we read that he cleaned house in Judah.

It would appear that God's word had been "lost" for some time. This is hard for me to understand. How do you lose God's word in the temple? (we would never lose His word, would we) The "book" was found in the house of God, yet in some way it had been lost. The high priest, Hilkiah stumbled onto the "book" and passed it on to the kings assistant, who in turn took it to the king and read it to him. The king's reaction reveals a lot about the kind of man he had become. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. (v 11) “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (v 13)

His reaction was immediate and forceful. He didn't wait, he didn't question... he repented on the spot at the hearing of God's word and moved to make changes in his life and those around him. God rewarded him for his "tender heart" and his "humble" spirit. He promised Josiah that even though he was going to punish those that had rejected Him, those that had been unfaithful, he would be spared the wrath that was to come on Judah.

What about you? How do you respond when you discover the truth of God's word? Do you respond immediately and with forcefulness? Does God see a tender and humble heart ready to obey His words? Am I ready to do and say whatever God desires of me? What is being written about you, about me in His book now? How will our stories read?

Josiah's story ended with these words: Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. (2 Kings 23:25) I pray that our stories will end with just such praise from our Father in Heaven and that we will hear Him say..."Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21)

Friday, July 13, 2012

The Cost of Discipleship

Books have been written, sermons have been preached, lectures have been given and yet most of us still miss the point of discipleship. Jesus call for disciples is not a call that many will respond to. He tells us that to follow Him we must... hate our families, quit our jobs, sell all we have, be ready to die and on and on. For most of us in the USA, following Jesus is an easy lifestyle with few, if any sacrifices. We show up for "church", drop a few bucks in the basket and we try not to commit the really big sins. What we call Christianity today is not found in the Bible... anywhere.

As a matter of fact, what we call Christianity today is condemned everywhere in the Word. (Check out Amos 6:4-6 and Ezekiel 16:49) To be a disciple during the time that Jesus lived meant that you did all you could to be just like your teacher. You were with him day in and day out; your talk became like his, your walk became like his, your thoughts became like his and your life became like his. For Paul, being like Jesus was the most important thing. Those he taught he gave this encouragement, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Cor 11:1) As their teacher, Paul was leading them to a life that looked like Jesus. He put it this way..."My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you". (Galatians 4:19) The goal of your faith is certainly the salvation of your souls, but Paul says that we are to become like Jesus along the way. (1 Peter 1:9)

My lesson last week at the Wilkesboro church of Christ was on sin and our responsibility to change. I know we will continue to sin, we are human; but we cannot let that deter us form striving for a life that reflects Jesus' righteousness. We are called to growth and change. We are called to have Christ formed in us. In other words, the longer we are Christians, the more like Jesus we are to become.

That takes us back to His radical call. Jesus knew that if we continued to hold onto the things that were important to us before we met Him, we would never make it as His disciples. So He calls us to love our families less than Him. He tells us that if our possessions possess us, get ride of them and help the poor. He tells us that we must be ready to give up everything, even our lives for the kingdom. That is radical and few will accept His call.

A successful church today (in the world's eyes) is one that is big and has huge facilities and lots of programs that meet the "needs" of its' members. In other words, church today is about us and what we want. Unfortunately, our culture has invaded our churches and the worldly definition of success has woven it's way into the fabric of Christianity. The early church had a completely different outlook on life. Read Acts 2, all of it.

 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:42-45)

Does that sound like the church you attend? Does that sound like the church I attend? A total focus on God's Word, a vital and caring fellowship, continual remembrance of Jesus through communion and everyone petitioning the Father. No one in need! the church had no members in need. People sold what they had to make sure that their brothers and sisters had what they needed.

This Sunday morning, I will be examining Jesus' radical call to love our fellow man. Jesus' call to love is one that many of us struggle to deal with. His life demonstrated the kind of love that we are called to live out. It is not an easy call, but it is a call that we are to answer.

John put it this way..."By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." (1 John 3:16-19)