The 12th chapter contains loads of truth. Blogs could be written about every verse, but who has the time? Job has listened to his friends go on and on and on. His patience is wearing thin and he lets them have both barrels. (he is just like us) His wisdom shines in his words. In today's vernacular, Job has an awesome comeback!
He dresses them down and then gives them understanding...
"I’m sure you speak for all the experts, and when you die there’ll be no one left to tell us how to live." (The Message) That made me laugh! How many times have we wanted to say that to someone or how many times has someone wanted to say that to us? "Yep, you are a know-it-all and when you are gone, knowledge will pass with you". How we speak matters. What we say matter. When we are there to comfort the hurting, they don't need a lecture, they need love. Job had grown tired of the lectures and wasn't feeling the love.
We need to remember that the person we are speaking to is not stupid. They may actually have more insight into the matter than us; after all, they are the ones going through the hurt. So, the first lesson for us is to know when to speak and how to speak and what to speak. (no small feat) Sometimes it is wise to wait to deal with truth until a hurt is diminished. There will be time to deal with error after the suffering is over. Read verse 5 and do some soul searching. I sure did.
Once Job begins to speak about God, his wisdom and understanding shines through. "You want truth?" he asks. "you can't handle the truth". (ok, that wasn't Job) He delivers an amazing revelation of who God is and how he operates. Verses 7 -25 are some of the best words to give understanding I know of.
V 10 - In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. (ESV)
V 13 - With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. (ESV)
V 23 - He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. (ESV)
Job understands important things about God. He is Creator. He is Sustainer. He is Giver. He is Taker. In the midst of his suffering and pain, Job is clear about who God is and what God does. In the midst of all the tragedy, Job knows God. And he trusts Him. Maybe the second thing we get from chapter 12 is a better picture of God. (no small thing) He is in charge. Yes, He gives us free will and let's us make choices; but we must never forget... He is in charge! Finally, ultimately... God is the One.
I encourage you to meditate on the many wonderful truths that Job brings into the light in this chapter. Consider how we care for each other and how we can better serve one another in tough times. Listen to the beast, the bird, the bush and the fish... they proclaim the glory of God... shouldn't we do the same.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
My Best Friend Bildad (Job 8)
When you have things figured out, you have them figured out! You can't be wrong, when it seems so right. Right? I have been there and so have you. We reason things out and arrive at an understanding and there is no way we could be wrong. We will defend our position all day long. That is human and that is what we all are. We need to understand this.
Job's best friend Bildad has the situation figured out and he wants Job to understand. Job's children sinned and God punished them. Simple as that. Job sinned and is reaping the rewards of his conduct. He needs to hit his knees and repent and God will fix everything back up. Who knows, God might even make it better than it was before... if Job will only repent of his wickedness.
No doubt, we all need to repent. We all have things in our lives that are out of kilter with God's will and we need to confess that to Him and ask for forgiveness and then work to live rightly. That much is true! But let us not forget the first two chapters of Job. The situation that Job finds himself in is not due to his sinfulness. (in fact it is just the opposite) Job's righteousness is what put him in this place. The question at hand isn't his sinfulness, rather the question at hand is his faithfulness. In the heat of battle, when life is raging and things are going sideways, will Job remain faithful?
In fairness to Bildad, he didn't read the first two chapters of Job and he is seeing this through his human eye. His understanding is based on his life experience and what he has been taught. Job had been an example of faithfulness and God had given him great rewards. Undoubtedly, Bildad had also seen those that were unfaithful suffer the consequences of their actions. That is life. But sometimes, even the faithful suffer. And, sometimes even the sinful prosper... in human terms. God doesn't guarantee that His children will never suffer. In fact, He guarantees that His faithful follower will suffer.
So, you ask "Why follow a God that allows such as this?". He gives people free will. That is the kind of God we follow. He could have made us parrots to sit on his shoulder and repeat what He says. He could have built robots, but where is the glory in that? Instead, He placed us here with intellect and let's us decide whether we will follow him or seek our own interests. When we chose Him, that brings glory to Him. When we reject Him, He is disappointed, but He is not harmed. It is far greater for a Creator to make someone like Him (with reasoning abilities) and give them free will, than a creator that makes someone with no choice.
Some believe that God's authority is harmed by this. I believe that His power is on full display! A Creator that gives up some of His power to let His creation make the decision is all powerful. That in no way diminishes His authority! That is a Creator that I can serve, willfully and lovingly. Every person gets to choose and every person will answer for their choice. That is God's plan and He is in charge. Bildad had a wrong view of God and so can we. In the midst of our suffering, we can become discouraged and blame God. That is human too. Our friend or family member, who is faithful to God suffers physical or financially and we want an answer. Why God, why? That is Human too. The answer isn't simple, but knowing that there is a difference between God allowing and God causing is critical to our understanding of God.
God loves us and promises that living a faithful life here will bring a life eternal without suffering. Without loss. Without pain. Good news? Great news! Bildad got it wrong! May we grow in our knowledge of Him and His love for us. Repent... for sure. But repentance doesn't relieve us of all of our earthly suffering. Only God can do that... in the next life, the eternal one.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Friends (Job 3-6)
Friends. Sometimes they are wonderful, other times... not so much. After the calamity, Job's friends show up and sit with him for seven days. Not a word is spoken. Sometimes just having a friend to sit with you is all that is needed. In those moments, words fix nothing. In those moments, a friend's shoulder and their presence gives great comfort. He has lost nearly everything, his wife is giving him bad advice and friends show up to sit with him. Seven days of silence.
Job finally opens up to them and lets his hurt out. That is needed. We need someone to listen when we are hurting and Job had his friends. His suffering spilled out onto them and they listened and gave him their attention. All that is so good. Then they couldn't help but speak. Not always good. Listening never harms anyone that is hurting, sometimes our words can. So..
Then they opened their mouths. Then they decided it was time to give Job their insight and wisdom. It went something like this... Job, you are a good man. You have taught others and given help to the helpless. You have comforted the hurting and strengthened the weak. But you are still a man and man was made for trouble. You are not perfect and God brings reproof to everyone. He punishes us when we deserve it. So, Job you must have done something to deserve this punishment that has come into your life.
No doubt, that made Job feel better about his situation! I know when bad stuff happens in my life, I need my friends to tell me that I deserve it. (I probably do) After such great comforting, they actually do offer some good advice... turn this over to God. He can handle it. "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number". First part, God did this to you because of your own evil deeds... wrong! Second part, seek His help in your time of need... right!
Sometimes our view of God can get distorted by our own thoughts or the opinions of our friends. Our Theology can get messed up. We think when bad things happen, God is punishing us and when good things happen, He is rewarding us. That gets us into to trouble. The drug dealer with the big house and fancy car makes no sense when we have this concept. The suffering Christian who lives a righteous life begins to look like a hypocrite. This gets us into all kinds of trouble in our thinking of our Father in Heaven.
God is certainly the giver of blessings. He is certainly the rewarder of those who are faithful. The rub comes when we chose to interpret His actions through our human understanding. We are not God... He is! He sends rain on the just and the unjust. We get the idea that this life, our human life is the place all this occurs. He warns us to pile up our treasures in Heaven! He knows that in our physical lives, bad things are going to happen. Thieves break in, rust destroys... life happens.
Back to friends... God made us for community. He made us to need each other. We need friends and we need to be friends. We will give good advice and we will give bad advice. We will receive good advice and will receive bad advice. We are all just humans! Here's the thing... we need to have a right view of our Father and let that frame what we do and say in our relationships. He is good! But this earth is a sin-filled fallen place. He does bless! But good and bad will come our way. But in the end, He settles all scores. He gives the final judgment and does so in a perfect, fair way.
May we all go when we are needed. Listen to those that hurt when needed. Be with those that are suffering when needed. And, may we offer a right view of their situation framed by a loving God who will set things right eternally.
Peace.
Job finally opens up to them and lets his hurt out. That is needed. We need someone to listen when we are hurting and Job had his friends. His suffering spilled out onto them and they listened and gave him their attention. All that is so good. Then they couldn't help but speak. Not always good. Listening never harms anyone that is hurting, sometimes our words can. So..
Then they opened their mouths. Then they decided it was time to give Job their insight and wisdom. It went something like this... Job, you are a good man. You have taught others and given help to the helpless. You have comforted the hurting and strengthened the weak. But you are still a man and man was made for trouble. You are not perfect and God brings reproof to everyone. He punishes us when we deserve it. So, Job you must have done something to deserve this punishment that has come into your life.
No doubt, that made Job feel better about his situation! I know when bad stuff happens in my life, I need my friends to tell me that I deserve it. (I probably do) After such great comforting, they actually do offer some good advice... turn this over to God. He can handle it. "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number". First part, God did this to you because of your own evil deeds... wrong! Second part, seek His help in your time of need... right!
Sometimes our view of God can get distorted by our own thoughts or the opinions of our friends. Our Theology can get messed up. We think when bad things happen, God is punishing us and when good things happen, He is rewarding us. That gets us into to trouble. The drug dealer with the big house and fancy car makes no sense when we have this concept. The suffering Christian who lives a righteous life begins to look like a hypocrite. This gets us into all kinds of trouble in our thinking of our Father in Heaven.
God is certainly the giver of blessings. He is certainly the rewarder of those who are faithful. The rub comes when we chose to interpret His actions through our human understanding. We are not God... He is! He sends rain on the just and the unjust. We get the idea that this life, our human life is the place all this occurs. He warns us to pile up our treasures in Heaven! He knows that in our physical lives, bad things are going to happen. Thieves break in, rust destroys... life happens.
Back to friends... God made us for community. He made us to need each other. We need friends and we need to be friends. We will give good advice and we will give bad advice. We will receive good advice and will receive bad advice. We are all just humans! Here's the thing... we need to have a right view of our Father and let that frame what we do and say in our relationships. He is good! But this earth is a sin-filled fallen place. He does bless! But good and bad will come our way. But in the end, He settles all scores. He gives the final judgment and does so in a perfect, fair way.
May we all go when we are needed. Listen to those that hurt when needed. Be with those that are suffering when needed. And, may we offer a right view of their situation framed by a loving God who will set things right eternally.
Peace.
Friday, January 2, 2015
A Test of Faith - Job 1
Let's get one thing out of the way early... I struggle with the Book of Job. It is a difficult read with many things that I don't understand. My view of God is challenged by His actions towards Job (or lack of action). But, let's put my struggles aside and see what we can learn about God and His servant Job and see if we can make applications to our lives.
In Chapter 1, we are introduced to Job. He is a great man of faith and has received Gods' blessings in all areas of his life. He is husband, father, businessman, leader, servant, teacher and faithful follower of God. To quote the text, "He was the greatest man among all the people of the East". He is presented to us as the nearly perfect man. Of course we know he had his faults, but they are not in view in the introduction.
After a short introduction to the man, we are taken on a quick trip to the throne room of God. His angels are assembling for a meeting and Satan shows up. Seems like an odd assembly. Satan tells God that he has been checking out the earth and God says, "Did you notice Job? He is a nearly perfect servant of Mine".
Satan gives an interesting response... "Do you think he does all that out of the goodness of his heart? He does that because you pamper him!".
A couple of things worth noting. First, Satan recognizes that blessings are from God. Job has received God's provision and protection. Secondly, Satan questions whether Job is a righteous man because of the blessings. Two things to ponder as you move forward in Job... is Job good because of what God has done for him or is God blessing Job because he is good?
God turns Satan loose to remove the blessings to examine the character of Job. Without the stuff, is Job going to lose faith? When the wealth is gone, when the family is gone does faith leave him? And so it begins, one messenger after another bringing him the bad news of catastrophe. His possessions gone, his children dead and his life changed in ways that we have seen at times around the world. Earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, tornado; events that forever alter the lives of those involved.
When these events happen, those of great character rise to the occasion. I am always amazed when the woman who stands among the ruins of her life with only the cloths on her back and talks about starting over and how thankful she is to have survived. Or, the man digging through the rubble of his home looking for the bodies of his loved ones, yet remains hopeful that life will still bring good things.
Job responds to the lose of family and wealth this way, Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God’s name be ever blessed. Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God. He worships God. (silence for a moment of thought) He worships God!
In his response, Job forces us to remember that what we have here, on Earth is not all there is. When the stock market tanks and we lose our savings. When burglars break in and steal our possessions. When death visits our loved ones. Whatever the circumstances are in our lives that make us question God... may we remember Job. His perspective is the right one! Will it hurt? Sure. Will we cry? Probably. Will we continue to trust our Creator? I hope so!
Sometimes our lives are running smoothly, everything is good...the hedge of protection is strong. At other times, we are faced with tragedy and the bumps of life are big... the hedge of protection is still strong! We live in a broken world. Sin has had it's effect and our lives show the scars. But, in all of the struggles, in all of the lose, in all of the pain... God is still there. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake. (Deut 31:6) He will never leave nor forsake you!
May we choose to worship in the storms of life! There is a great little song that comes to mind while I contemplate these verses. Casting Crowns gives their take on our response when tragedy comes our way... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjZBZv_771o
In Chapter 1, we are introduced to Job. He is a great man of faith and has received Gods' blessings in all areas of his life. He is husband, father, businessman, leader, servant, teacher and faithful follower of God. To quote the text, "He was the greatest man among all the people of the East". He is presented to us as the nearly perfect man. Of course we know he had his faults, but they are not in view in the introduction.
After a short introduction to the man, we are taken on a quick trip to the throne room of God. His angels are assembling for a meeting and Satan shows up. Seems like an odd assembly. Satan tells God that he has been checking out the earth and God says, "Did you notice Job? He is a nearly perfect servant of Mine".
Satan gives an interesting response... "Do you think he does all that out of the goodness of his heart? He does that because you pamper him!".
A couple of things worth noting. First, Satan recognizes that blessings are from God. Job has received God's provision and protection. Secondly, Satan questions whether Job is a righteous man because of the blessings. Two things to ponder as you move forward in Job... is Job good because of what God has done for him or is God blessing Job because he is good?
God turns Satan loose to remove the blessings to examine the character of Job. Without the stuff, is Job going to lose faith? When the wealth is gone, when the family is gone does faith leave him? And so it begins, one messenger after another bringing him the bad news of catastrophe. His possessions gone, his children dead and his life changed in ways that we have seen at times around the world. Earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, tornado; events that forever alter the lives of those involved.
When these events happen, those of great character rise to the occasion. I am always amazed when the woman who stands among the ruins of her life with only the cloths on her back and talks about starting over and how thankful she is to have survived. Or, the man digging through the rubble of his home looking for the bodies of his loved ones, yet remains hopeful that life will still bring good things.
Job responds to the lose of family and wealth this way, Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God’s name be ever blessed. Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God. He worships God. (silence for a moment of thought) He worships God!
In his response, Job forces us to remember that what we have here, on Earth is not all there is. When the stock market tanks and we lose our savings. When burglars break in and steal our possessions. When death visits our loved ones. Whatever the circumstances are in our lives that make us question God... may we remember Job. His perspective is the right one! Will it hurt? Sure. Will we cry? Probably. Will we continue to trust our Creator? I hope so!
Sometimes our lives are running smoothly, everything is good...the hedge of protection is strong. At other times, we are faced with tragedy and the bumps of life are big... the hedge of protection is still strong! We live in a broken world. Sin has had it's effect and our lives show the scars. But, in all of the struggles, in all of the lose, in all of the pain... God is still there. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake. (Deut 31:6) He will never leave nor forsake you!
May we choose to worship in the storms of life! There is a great little song that comes to mind while I contemplate these verses. Casting Crowns gives their take on our response when tragedy comes our way... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjZBZv_771o
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year! (early)
During the New Year season, it is a tradition of many to reflect on the past year, consider successes and failures and then renew determinations for the New Year. If you are one of those that uses this time of year to make resolutions, I have an encouragement for you... this year make your resolutions Christ-Centered! Whatever the area of your life that you want to do better in, frame it around Jesus! Make Him the reason and the results will surely be better! This doesn't mean that you will not struggle, but what it does mean is that you are not in the struggle alone and the purpose is higher than self.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Paul tells us that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices. He is saying that what we do, how we live, what we spend our time on and what we do with our bodies is to be an ongoing sacrifice offered to God. Additionally, he calls on us to live holy lives, set apart for His service and in doing this, our sacrificial lives are found to be "acceptable" to Him. he calls this our "spiritual worship". When our lives of aligned with His will, when we make Him the purpose in what we do... we are worshipping Him!
Then Paul answers our question, "how do I live such a sacrificial life that is acceptable to Him?". Transformation! Renewal! New resolutions! Change! The word that is translated "transformed" is the word from which we get "metamorhposis". The caterpillar goes in, the butterfly comes out! This is a total transformation... it is not a caterpillar with wings! How does this kind of change take place in our lives? Mind renewal! How do we renew our minds? Our old minds were formed by what we put into them. Garbage in, garbage out! If we begin to feed our minds good stuff... "set your minds on things above" (Col 3:2), then mind renewal occurs.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
So, let's keep it simple this New Year! If we truly want change in our lives, then change what we feed our minds. When we see our bodies as instruments of worship, then what we do and how we live will change also. As the New Year begins, spend time thinking about excellent things! Think about commendable things! Think about lovely things! Think about pure things! When we do this, our goals change. What we want changes!
Instead of "I will to lose weight so I will look better", I decide "I will to lose weight so I can serve Him and others better". Instead of "I will exercise each day so I can play basketball better", I decide "I will exercise each day so I can help others." Instead of "I will live by a budget so I can have more money for things I want", I decide "I will live by a budget so I can have more money to help meet the needs of others". Our entire perspective changes when our minds are renewed!
So, make your resolutions, but make them with Him in mind. Pray, study and talk with other Christians and begin again. God is surely the God of second chances (and third, and forth). Renew your mind and renew your life! Think about it.
During the New Year season, it is a tradition of many to reflect on the past year, consider successes and failures and then renew determinations for the New Year. If you are one of those that uses this time of year to make resolutions, I have an encouragement for you... this year make your resolutions Christ-Centered! Whatever the area of your life that you want to do better in, frame it around Jesus! Make Him the reason and the results will surely be better! This doesn't mean that you will not struggle, but what it does mean is that you are not in the struggle alone and the purpose is higher than self.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Paul tells us that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices. He is saying that what we do, how we live, what we spend our time on and what we do with our bodies is to be an ongoing sacrifice offered to God. Additionally, he calls on us to live holy lives, set apart for His service and in doing this, our sacrificial lives are found to be "acceptable" to Him. he calls this our "spiritual worship". When our lives of aligned with His will, when we make Him the purpose in what we do... we are worshipping Him!
Then Paul answers our question, "how do I live such a sacrificial life that is acceptable to Him?". Transformation! Renewal! New resolutions! Change! The word that is translated "transformed" is the word from which we get "metamorhposis". The caterpillar goes in, the butterfly comes out! This is a total transformation... it is not a caterpillar with wings! How does this kind of change take place in our lives? Mind renewal! How do we renew our minds? Our old minds were formed by what we put into them. Garbage in, garbage out! If we begin to feed our minds good stuff... "set your minds on things above" (Col 3:2), then mind renewal occurs.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
So, let's keep it simple this New Year! If we truly want change in our lives, then change what we feed our minds. When we see our bodies as instruments of worship, then what we do and how we live will change also. As the New Year begins, spend time thinking about excellent things! Think about commendable things! Think about lovely things! Think about pure things! When we do this, our goals change. What we want changes!
Instead of "I will to lose weight so I will look better", I decide "I will to lose weight so I can serve Him and others better". Instead of "I will exercise each day so I can play basketball better", I decide "I will exercise each day so I can help others." Instead of "I will live by a budget so I can have more money for things I want", I decide "I will live by a budget so I can have more money to help meet the needs of others". Our entire perspective changes when our minds are renewed!
So, make your resolutions, but make them with Him in mind. Pray, study and talk with other Christians and begin again. God is surely the God of second chances (and third, and forth). Renew your mind and renew your life! Think about it.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
You Are A Chosen Race
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2: 9-10)
Two verses so full of awesome information that many blog posts could be written about any one of them! If we are not careful we will think we are reading the Old Testament and the nation of Israel will come to mind... and I think that is God's intention. He knows that we have knowledge of His selection of the Abraham's descendants as His chosen people to tell the world about Him and so he uses our understanding of that to communicate His relationship with us.
The Christian "race" is different than the world view. The world view is about the color of the skin and the nation of one's origin. God's view is about the nation that we belong to after we make Jesus our king. Is the Christian race black? Sure! Is it white? Absolutely! Yellow? You bet! Red? No doubt! Now you are thinking back to VBS and the songs you sang as a child. Amazing isn't it? Truth was being poured out into your life and you didn't even know it. Red and yellow, black and white... they are precious in His sight! (right here is a great time to read 2 Cor 5: 11-21)
When we come to Him, we renounce our former citizenship and we are granted membership in a new nation, a holy nation, a nation set apart for His possession. That sounds pretty special! (great place to read Col 1:13) The Christian is no longer an American or a Canadian... now they are part of the Kingdom of His dear Son. That's what I want on my passport!
Citizenship brings responsibility. If you are a citizen of the United States, you are expected to obey the laws of the land and pay your taxes. (at a minimum) As citizens of God's kingdom, you have responsibilities as well. Peter tells us that we are to be busy proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are to tell others about this wonderful new place we live and about our amazing King. Why? Because once we were not a people. Once we had not received mercy. But now in His kingdom, we are a people and we have received mercy. He made us His nation, His people and He has granted us forgiveness.
That is something to talk about! Americans spend a lot of time telling the rest of the world about what a great nation we live in. What if Christians started doing the same? What if we told everyone about Him? What if we told everyone that we are part of a nation that belongs to Him? What if we told everyone that our citizenship last forever, that our nation will never fall? That's worth telling!
...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light...
The second chapter of 1 Peter is filled with great news for the Christian. Try to find a few minutes to read and meditate on the truths that the apostle Peter, through the Holy Spirit has given to us. I spent a few minutes reading and thinking on these things before I went to sleep last night and woke us refreshed and ready to work in His kingdom. That is what His word will do for you. (great place to read Hebrews 4:12) Have a blessed day and remember your "re-birth" certificate has His nation as your place of citizenship.
Two verses so full of awesome information that many blog posts could be written about any one of them! If we are not careful we will think we are reading the Old Testament and the nation of Israel will come to mind... and I think that is God's intention. He knows that we have knowledge of His selection of the Abraham's descendants as His chosen people to tell the world about Him and so he uses our understanding of that to communicate His relationship with us.
The Christian "race" is different than the world view. The world view is about the color of the skin and the nation of one's origin. God's view is about the nation that we belong to after we make Jesus our king. Is the Christian race black? Sure! Is it white? Absolutely! Yellow? You bet! Red? No doubt! Now you are thinking back to VBS and the songs you sang as a child. Amazing isn't it? Truth was being poured out into your life and you didn't even know it. Red and yellow, black and white... they are precious in His sight! (right here is a great time to read 2 Cor 5: 11-21)
When we come to Him, we renounce our former citizenship and we are granted membership in a new nation, a holy nation, a nation set apart for His possession. That sounds pretty special! (great place to read Col 1:13) The Christian is no longer an American or a Canadian... now they are part of the Kingdom of His dear Son. That's what I want on my passport!
Citizenship brings responsibility. If you are a citizen of the United States, you are expected to obey the laws of the land and pay your taxes. (at a minimum) As citizens of God's kingdom, you have responsibilities as well. Peter tells us that we are to be busy proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are to tell others about this wonderful new place we live and about our amazing King. Why? Because once we were not a people. Once we had not received mercy. But now in His kingdom, we are a people and we have received mercy. He made us His nation, His people and He has granted us forgiveness.
That is something to talk about! Americans spend a lot of time telling the rest of the world about what a great nation we live in. What if Christians started doing the same? What if we told everyone about Him? What if we told everyone that we are part of a nation that belongs to Him? What if we told everyone that our citizenship last forever, that our nation will never fall? That's worth telling!
...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light...
The second chapter of 1 Peter is filled with great news for the Christian. Try to find a few minutes to read and meditate on the truths that the apostle Peter, through the Holy Spirit has given to us. I spent a few minutes reading and thinking on these things before I went to sleep last night and woke us refreshed and ready to work in His kingdom. That is what His word will do for you. (great place to read Hebrews 4:12) Have a blessed day and remember your "re-birth" certificate has His nation as your place of citizenship.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Hebrews 13 - Final Thougths
The writer of Hebrews closes his thoughts in chapter 13 with lots of encouragement for the disciple. God knows we need it! Life has a way of beating us down, even when we are in the body of Christ. Christians are not immune to the pitfalls of this life. We will be rude. We will mistreat our neighbors. We will not treat our mates as we ought. We will get enamored with the things of this world. We will malign those that lead us. And... we will forget that Jesus made everything we have possible. We will do that and much more.
So God sends us this message of encouragement to help us stay on the right path. I need it. Boy, do I need it! In our current Sunday morning Bible study, we have been discussing sanctification. Certainly we all know that God's work in us is an ongoing process. Yes, when we come out of the waters of baptism, we have been sanctified, that is "set apart". God views us differently. Our position has changed, but our nature is still the same. Our thoughts and actions don't suddenly change... miraculously. Thankfully, He sends His Spirit to dwell in us to help us change as we mature as His children. Through His word, His family and His work... we change.
Let brotherly love continue... There will be times when you don't love your brothers and sisters in Christ. They say things that hurt your feelings. They do things that get on your nerves... but, we are to keep on loving them. That love drives us to be people of hospitality. Our homes and our hearts are open. We will hurt with those that hurt. We feel the pain when our family is mistreated. No matter what is said or done... let love continue!
Let marriage be held in honor among all... Our personal conduct in relationships is to be honorable. We are to be faithful to our spouse. The things that pull us away, the stuff that others have that we want are to be seen as what they are... temporary and unimportant. Instead we are to live lives of contentment... in all areas! The reason we can do that... His promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you". He is faithful to us. He will meet our needs. (see Matthew 6:33)
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God... God calls on us to look to our church leaders, to examine their lives and to imitate their faith. That is a huge responsibility for the leader and a challenge for the follower. We are rebellious by nature. If left to our own desires, we will turn on those that lead us. They will make a decision that we don't like; they will say something that steps a little too hard on our toes. Whatever the reason, leaders are easy targets. God calls on us to be different. We are to give honor and respect to those that lead us in our churches. Are they perfect, not hardly. But they take on this role as servants to the church and we are called on to respect them and follow their examples.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Leaders need followers. Shepherds need sheep. Sounds simple doesn't it, but I have found this to be challenging at times, both as a leader and a follower. God understands us and so He sends us this message to help us deal with our independent nature. Obey, submit... not words that we particularly like to hear, but this is what we are called on to do. Whether we like it or not, our church leaders have authority over the church and God calls on His people to submit to that authority.
Being an elder has been a joy for me. The support that I have received has been wonderful. I can't imagine leading a congregation that is rebellious. I am thankful for every kind word and the ready positive response that exists in the members of the body in Wilkesboro. This December marks my eighth year as a shepherd to the Wilkesboro church of Christ. I have failed in many ways to be the leader that you have needed. (you know that, I just wanted to be sure you knew that I know it as well) Just as I did after the first four years, I will ask that you reaffirm that you desire for me to have this authority over you. William and I will do this during the month of December as we did four years ago. Further details will follow.
Regardless of the outcome of this time of reexamination, I am thankful for the time you have allowed me to serve. Please know that I have been blessed by being your shepherd. May God bless us as we serve and follow Him... together.
Read the entire chapter... it is filled with great words that will lift your spirits and put you back on the path following Him all the closer.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (13: 20-21)
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