MAN OF NO REPUTATION
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Philippians 2:5-7
This morning I was thinking back to my mission’s trip experiences. So many good memories. There was the first mission where I smuggled Bibles into China. On the second mission trip I visited Slovakia and Poland where I taught at a pantomime school. My third mission trip found me witnessing first hand God’s power in my own life while in Peru. And my fourth trip to Mexico gave new meaning to the words ‘suffering for Jesus’ as I received stitches in the back of an ambulance…with no numbing agents. Each trip had a highlight, but each trip also had a challenge fully unique of the trips before and after. However, each trip also forced me to come face to face with humility.
I think back specifically to my trip to Peru. This is the trip where I am sure God did the most through me because I allowed and prayed that He would do the most to me. As I have shared in the past concerning this trip, I prayed often that God would give me compassion for these people. There was the excitement of seeing another new country, but my best memories are the recollections of how I was able to help the people.
I remember painting the church building in Huaral, but the paint was like water. There was the time we visited the park to hand out bread and share Jesus in Lima. What about the many schools we visited, or the times we were able to serve with the church while in Arequipa? The children in Nazca who wanted to share their culture through dance with us are another great memory, and a chance to serve them through loving on them. And I still remember how in jungle of Pucallpa we were able to serve not only the Peruvians, but also serve the Wycliffe Bible translators who lived there and worked alongside the people.
Each one of these memories is based on a time of serving. At times I think I am good at it still, only to realize that my serving of others still ebbs and flows and I still have to pray that God will give me the compassion I need to see others as He does. We read that Jesus came not to be served but rather to serve. The King, the true King, came down from Heaven with a mission of serving. He served through acts, words, emotions, but most recognized, through death. He gave us the ability to cheat eternal death by giving us eternal life if we believe in Him and make Him the Lord of our life. He was a man of no reputation.
I have been tossing this around for a few days now, but here is the challenge for today. The holidays are upon us and shoppers are out bustling around in the stores. Many are becoming consumed with ‘the perfect gift’. But here is my thought. Christ drew others to Him because He served. So what if this season we served someone else in the hopes that they would see Christ is us and be drawn to Him. What do I mean? Next time you’re standing in line at Starbucks, buy the coffee of the person behind you. Rake the leaves or shovel the snow of a neighbor for no cost. Offer to babysit a friend’s kids so the couple can be alone for a night. Serving is endless. And don’t do it for what you will get out of it, but rather for God’s blessing on that person. This season, let us become also people who serve, people of no reputation.
https://www.onthevanguard.com/
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
COVENANT OF THE EYES
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.”
Job 31:1
For today’s devotional, I want to take the time to do a little Hebrew lesson. I realize that to some degree it may be slightly boring, but as God has been showing me, I cannot understand the New Testament without first understanding the words and culture of the Old Testament. With that said, let us dive into the words found in Job 31:1.
In the NIV version, the verse reads, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” This verse was first pointed out to me by a chaplain friend in college. As we pondered this verse together it was clear that God was speaking to us to not look at another person in lust. Simple, right? I recall that my youth pastor while growing up stated that it is not sinful to look at a woman and find her attractive. However, it is the second look, the one done in lust, which becomes sin. I equate this to those old cartoons where a scantily dressed cartoon female would come out and the men watching her sing her jazz tune would turn into wolves and start to act crazy with whistling and drooling. It is a funny relation, but is it not true? I know from my own days of battling this that the spirit of lust is real, and when I am weak it is able to come over me and drive me to do things I look back on and question. It is for this reason alone that Job says, “I made a covenant…”
But let us also take a moment to read this verse in the KJV, which reads, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Do you see the difference? The beginning segment is the same as they both read a covenant was made with the eyes. If we break this portion down we understand that Job made a BARIYTH, an alliance or pledge, with his ‘AYIN, eyes. That seems straight forward.
Now look at the word for made, KARATH. It means to cut off, as in the cutting off of a body part, to eliminate. If we read this in the Hebrew language, we read, “I cut off (as cutting a body part) as an act of the alliance I made with my eyes…” It takes on a deeper meaning, I think. It is no longer words, but actions…strong actions at that. This is not self-mutilation, but rather a strong visual decree that others see as an agreement we made with God. And it makes more sense when we view it in relation to Jesus’ words concerning adultery in Matthew 5:28-29. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
The verse continues, though, and states, “…why then should I think upon a maid?” These two translations differ at this point, but the message is the same. While the NIV uses the word ‘look’, KJV uses the word ‘think’. Thinking is translated as BIYN, and is defined as an understanding, consideration, regard, discernment, or instruction. So then, Job tells us his stance taken by letting us know he has “…cut off this temptation as if it were a body part, as an act of the alliance he made with his eyes to not lustfully concern himself with a female”
Our temptation may not be the lustful looking at a person, but rather the lustful looking at anything. We can lust after money, drugs, or possessions. The end is limitless. But here, right now, is the time in which we need to draw the line in the sand. We need to make a covenant with our eyes that we will choose to make an alliance with God that our eyes will not hunger for anything that God does not allow. It is in this time that we must cut off our relationship with the enemy once and for all, as if cutting off our finger or gouging out our eye. It is time we take such a stance against the devil that he knows we are no longer easy bait for him to prey on. It is time that Job 31:1 becomes our battle cry against the shiny, glitter covered, temptations we daily face.
Who will join me in this battle?
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.”
Job 31:1
For today’s devotional, I want to take the time to do a little Hebrew lesson. I realize that to some degree it may be slightly boring, but as God has been showing me, I cannot understand the New Testament without first understanding the words and culture of the Old Testament. With that said, let us dive into the words found in Job 31:1.
In the NIV version, the verse reads, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” This verse was first pointed out to me by a chaplain friend in college. As we pondered this verse together it was clear that God was speaking to us to not look at another person in lust. Simple, right? I recall that my youth pastor while growing up stated that it is not sinful to look at a woman and find her attractive. However, it is the second look, the one done in lust, which becomes sin. I equate this to those old cartoons where a scantily dressed cartoon female would come out and the men watching her sing her jazz tune would turn into wolves and start to act crazy with whistling and drooling. It is a funny relation, but is it not true? I know from my own days of battling this that the spirit of lust is real, and when I am weak it is able to come over me and drive me to do things I look back on and question. It is for this reason alone that Job says, “I made a covenant…”
But let us also take a moment to read this verse in the KJV, which reads, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Do you see the difference? The beginning segment is the same as they both read a covenant was made with the eyes. If we break this portion down we understand that Job made a BARIYTH, an alliance or pledge, with his ‘AYIN, eyes. That seems straight forward.
Now look at the word for made, KARATH. It means to cut off, as in the cutting off of a body part, to eliminate. If we read this in the Hebrew language, we read, “I cut off (as cutting a body part) as an act of the alliance I made with my eyes…” It takes on a deeper meaning, I think. It is no longer words, but actions…strong actions at that. This is not self-mutilation, but rather a strong visual decree that others see as an agreement we made with God. And it makes more sense when we view it in relation to Jesus’ words concerning adultery in Matthew 5:28-29. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
The verse continues, though, and states, “…why then should I think upon a maid?” These two translations differ at this point, but the message is the same. While the NIV uses the word ‘look’, KJV uses the word ‘think’. Thinking is translated as BIYN, and is defined as an understanding, consideration, regard, discernment, or instruction. So then, Job tells us his stance taken by letting us know he has “…cut off this temptation as if it were a body part, as an act of the alliance he made with his eyes to not lustfully concern himself with a female”
Our temptation may not be the lustful looking at a person, but rather the lustful looking at anything. We can lust after money, drugs, or possessions. The end is limitless. But here, right now, is the time in which we need to draw the line in the sand. We need to make a covenant with our eyes that we will choose to make an alliance with God that our eyes will not hunger for anything that God does not allow. It is in this time that we must cut off our relationship with the enemy once and for all, as if cutting off our finger or gouging out our eye. It is time we take such a stance against the devil that he knows we are no longer easy bait for him to prey on. It is time that Job 31:1 becomes our battle cry against the shiny, glitter covered, temptations we daily face.
Who will join me in this battle?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
LEECHES
“One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”
Genesis 39:11-12
I have a crazy hobby; one that most despise. I love to research. Maybe it makes sense as it goes hand in hand with all the writing I do. To me, there is something enjoyable about learning for the first time. Researching new topics and knowing new things not only helps me in Trivial Pursuit, but also feeds my constant desire to be a student. With that in mind, when my son brought home a book about leeches, I had to read it. Ever since watching the African Queen as a child I have been scared by the thought of leeches, so I wanted to get a new and true perspective on these parasites.
When I was reading this book, I found something very interesting. A leech makes a special type of saliva which allows them to drink quickly and painlessly. As they spread this saliva over the area where they will feast, they also spread an anesthetic which stops any pain. This anesthetic then keeps the host from feeling the bite. It is common for leeches to be connected to a person for hours before they are ever noticed or realized. But a second agent is also found in the saliva, one called anticoagulant. This agent prevents the blood from clotting, which in turn becomes like a flowing waterfall of blood for the leech to drink freely from. Once filled, the leech will drop off and be filled for months.
I am reminded of the story in the Bible where Joseph is confronted by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph, being a well built man, was taken notice of by her. When she confronted him and gave her offer of a one night fling, he refused (Gen 39:7-8). She, however, was resilient. Day after day she kept coming to Joseph with her offer, and day after day he kept saying no. Seeing she was constantly being denied, she tried another more forceful approach. With the house fully empty, she waited for Joseph. Catching him in her trap, and catching him by the cloak, she offered again, “Come to bed with me.” No matter how many times she approached Joseph, his answer was always the same. Leaving his cloak behind, he left her once again.
Sin is like a blood sucking animal. At times it comes on with pain, like when bitten by a tick, but in most cases sin is sly. Sin comes in with its flashy appearance and a constant hunger for more. This is the anesthetic and anticoagulant agents that work in tandem toward our destruction. Too many times we do not feel the bite and lose our life sustaining fluid before we even know what is happening. Then when sin has had its fill, we are left feeling empty and void. But we should be on the watch for this parasite. We are charged by God to be on guard. Many times we are not like Joseph and run, but rather allow ourselves to stay in the places where sin begins to suck our life.
The example of Joseph should be the rule and not the exception. We should run instead of entertaining the thoughts and temptations of the flash while unknowingly being bitten and deleted of life. Our task, in Ephesians 5:10, is to find out what pleases the Lord. It is this task that we then must do. But it is this task that we cannot do if we continue to let the parasites drain us. I encourage you to leave the cloak behind if you must, but do whatever is needed to free yourself from the life sucking parasite of sin.
“One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”
Genesis 39:11-12
I have a crazy hobby; one that most despise. I love to research. Maybe it makes sense as it goes hand in hand with all the writing I do. To me, there is something enjoyable about learning for the first time. Researching new topics and knowing new things not only helps me in Trivial Pursuit, but also feeds my constant desire to be a student. With that in mind, when my son brought home a book about leeches, I had to read it. Ever since watching the African Queen as a child I have been scared by the thought of leeches, so I wanted to get a new and true perspective on these parasites.
When I was reading this book, I found something very interesting. A leech makes a special type of saliva which allows them to drink quickly and painlessly. As they spread this saliva over the area where they will feast, they also spread an anesthetic which stops any pain. This anesthetic then keeps the host from feeling the bite. It is common for leeches to be connected to a person for hours before they are ever noticed or realized. But a second agent is also found in the saliva, one called anticoagulant. This agent prevents the blood from clotting, which in turn becomes like a flowing waterfall of blood for the leech to drink freely from. Once filled, the leech will drop off and be filled for months.
I am reminded of the story in the Bible where Joseph is confronted by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph, being a well built man, was taken notice of by her. When she confronted him and gave her offer of a one night fling, he refused (Gen 39:7-8). She, however, was resilient. Day after day she kept coming to Joseph with her offer, and day after day he kept saying no. Seeing she was constantly being denied, she tried another more forceful approach. With the house fully empty, she waited for Joseph. Catching him in her trap, and catching him by the cloak, she offered again, “Come to bed with me.” No matter how many times she approached Joseph, his answer was always the same. Leaving his cloak behind, he left her once again.
Sin is like a blood sucking animal. At times it comes on with pain, like when bitten by a tick, but in most cases sin is sly. Sin comes in with its flashy appearance and a constant hunger for more. This is the anesthetic and anticoagulant agents that work in tandem toward our destruction. Too many times we do not feel the bite and lose our life sustaining fluid before we even know what is happening. Then when sin has had its fill, we are left feeling empty and void. But we should be on the watch for this parasite. We are charged by God to be on guard. Many times we are not like Joseph and run, but rather allow ourselves to stay in the places where sin begins to suck our life.
The example of Joseph should be the rule and not the exception. We should run instead of entertaining the thoughts and temptations of the flash while unknowingly being bitten and deleted of life. Our task, in Ephesians 5:10, is to find out what pleases the Lord. It is this task that we then must do. But it is this task that we cannot do if we continue to let the parasites drain us. I encourage you to leave the cloak behind if you must, but do whatever is needed to free yourself from the life sucking parasite of sin.
Monday, November 22, 2010
GOD TRUMPS MAN
“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’”
Acts 5:29
Not too long ago, one of those poker tournaments was on TV. Now as one who enjoys a good card game, I can honestly say that I have never gotten into the whole gambling scene. Maybe I am afraid of losing more so than the chance of winning. Nevertheless, I do know how to play and know what beats what. I know that a Full House beats and Flush, and a Four of a Kind beats and Full House. I also know that the great defeat – the winner takes all – is the Royal Flush. The same suited Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and ten in order defeats any other hand the opponent may conjure up. And as I read Acts 5 this morning, I was reminded of the hand we hold when following God.
Where is the point in which we obey God over those put in charge over us? The disciples were preaching about Jesus, as commissioned in Matthew 28:19. It was for this reason that they were thrown in jail. So then the question is asked, should they have obeyed the high priests and his associates, or Jesus? They were visited while in jail by an angel of the Lord who opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. But the angel also re-charged them with the task of telling the people the full message of their new life (Acts 5:20). Once daybreak came, there were the disciples once again preaching in public. Now they were lawbreakers according to Sanhedrin.
Part of me wishes I could have been there to see the faces of the high priest and his staff. Seeing that the jail was still intact, with the doors securely locked and guards remaining at their post with no one inside, would have been a sight. And it wouldn’t be the last jail break that God would perform either. Then someone came over and pointed out that the men who had been inside were now outside, preaching once again. The disciples stood trial before the Sanhedrin and were rebuked. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you continue to teach and continue to place the blame of this death on us” (Acts 5:28).
The game of poker was again in play. The Sanhedrin held a Straight Flush with the cards stating ‘lawbreaker’. The disciples, however, held a Royal Flush, and trumped all. Peter and the others showed their cards which read, “We must obey God rather than men!” The high priest and his band of men did not like this response and wanted to put them to death at that moment (Acts 5:33), but this action would have to wait.
Trust me, I’m in no way suggesting we should go out and break the rules we are to live within, but there does come a point in which we must obey God as opposed to the rules given by others. When your boss tells you to cheat on the numbers a little, God says, ‘No.’ When you find your spouse cheating and want to do so in revenge, God says, ‘No.’ When tax season approaches and you want to claim that $500 max charity knowing you only gave $100, God says, ‘No.’ It’s not that God is trying to be a party pooper, but God desires obedience. It is in these times then, that the words of Peter need to be the words that we also speak. We must obey God rather than men!
“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’”
Acts 5:29
Not too long ago, one of those poker tournaments was on TV. Now as one who enjoys a good card game, I can honestly say that I have never gotten into the whole gambling scene. Maybe I am afraid of losing more so than the chance of winning. Nevertheless, I do know how to play and know what beats what. I know that a Full House beats and Flush, and a Four of a Kind beats and Full House. I also know that the great defeat – the winner takes all – is the Royal Flush. The same suited Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and ten in order defeats any other hand the opponent may conjure up. And as I read Acts 5 this morning, I was reminded of the hand we hold when following God.
Where is the point in which we obey God over those put in charge over us? The disciples were preaching about Jesus, as commissioned in Matthew 28:19. It was for this reason that they were thrown in jail. So then the question is asked, should they have obeyed the high priests and his associates, or Jesus? They were visited while in jail by an angel of the Lord who opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. But the angel also re-charged them with the task of telling the people the full message of their new life (Acts 5:20). Once daybreak came, there were the disciples once again preaching in public. Now they were lawbreakers according to Sanhedrin.
Part of me wishes I could have been there to see the faces of the high priest and his staff. Seeing that the jail was still intact, with the doors securely locked and guards remaining at their post with no one inside, would have been a sight. And it wouldn’t be the last jail break that God would perform either. Then someone came over and pointed out that the men who had been inside were now outside, preaching once again. The disciples stood trial before the Sanhedrin and were rebuked. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you continue to teach and continue to place the blame of this death on us” (Acts 5:28).
The game of poker was again in play. The Sanhedrin held a Straight Flush with the cards stating ‘lawbreaker’. The disciples, however, held a Royal Flush, and trumped all. Peter and the others showed their cards which read, “We must obey God rather than men!” The high priest and his band of men did not like this response and wanted to put them to death at that moment (Acts 5:33), but this action would have to wait.
Trust me, I’m in no way suggesting we should go out and break the rules we are to live within, but there does come a point in which we must obey God as opposed to the rules given by others. When your boss tells you to cheat on the numbers a little, God says, ‘No.’ When you find your spouse cheating and want to do so in revenge, God says, ‘No.’ When tax season approaches and you want to claim that $500 max charity knowing you only gave $100, God says, ‘No.’ It’s not that God is trying to be a party pooper, but God desires obedience. It is in these times then, that the words of Peter need to be the words that we also speak. We must obey God rather than men!
Monday, November 15, 2010
ONE NIGHT WITH A PROSTITUTE
“One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.”
Judges 16:1
I want to start off by saying that I have never been with a prostitute, and I understand this title may take a few people off guard. But as I was recalling the details of the life of Samson, and reading this account in Judges, that word stuck out to me. One could say it is because of my past that the word would pop, but I think it is more of a lesson that God has to at times remind me of. It is not that I am going out looking for someone to be physically intimate with, but rather that I am at times quick to act without thinking my action through. Let me explain.
By the time Samson was lured in by prostitute, he had already been used by God to judge the mis-deeds of the Philistines . Because of his Nazirite vow to drink no fermented drink, eat nothing considered unclean, and not cut his hair, God’s Spirit rested on him. With this Spirit came great strength. When attacked by a lion, he tore it apart with his bare hands (Jud 14:6). When outsmarted in his riddle, he struck down thirty men and stripped them of the belongings to pay his debt (Jud 14:19). In an act of breaking free from bindings, the Spirit of God came upon him and with a donkey jawbone he busted the heads of a thousand men (Jud 15:16). But then he met the prostitute.
There must have been someone watching guard that night, for the story continues that the people of Gaza were tipped off that Samson was in town. They surrounded the place, waiting for just the right time to make their move. When the sun would rise, they would attack. But Samson didn’t wait that long, and in the midnight hour he left town. On his way out, seeing they were trying to trap him, his strength again proved useful as he dislodged the doors of the city gate and made his exit. Samson didn’t stay till morning, but he still stayed too long.
Proverbs 5 tells us of the seduction of adultery. The adulteress looks good. She has sweet words to match her sweet lips. She is trained in seduction and knows just how much to reveal to catch the eyes of the men passing by. As she waves to the men, and giggles, and flirts, she becomes the black widow that invites her prey into her trap. Some fall victim, like Samson, but all are encouraged to resist. Her path leads to death, her steps straight to the grave. It is from her that we are encouraged to run, as Joseph did when seduced by Potiphar’s wife. “Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house…” (Prov 5:8). Who will listen?
Are we any different? We may not desire or accept the offer of a present day prostitute seen on the corner, but do we not pay the fee of the prostitute of sin? Do we not walk into the house of an addiction, or a lie, or a theft, or anything contrary to God’s Word? All sin is the acceptance of one night with a prostitute, and the cost for her pleasure is our death. Yes we have forgiveness through Christ, but let us stop using Him as our crutch and start obeying Him by keeping a path far from sin. And not only should we stay away, but we should help others stay clear of her street. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Gal 6:1). Isn’t time that we pay more attention to what road we’re on and steer clear of the red light district of sin?
“One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.”
Judges 16:1
I want to start off by saying that I have never been with a prostitute, and I understand this title may take a few people off guard. But as I was recalling the details of the life of Samson, and reading this account in Judges, that word stuck out to me. One could say it is because of my past that the word would pop, but I think it is more of a lesson that God has to at times remind me of. It is not that I am going out looking for someone to be physically intimate with, but rather that I am at times quick to act without thinking my action through. Let me explain.
By the time Samson was lured in by prostitute, he had already been used by God to judge the mis-deeds of the Philistines . Because of his Nazirite vow to drink no fermented drink, eat nothing considered unclean, and not cut his hair, God’s Spirit rested on him. With this Spirit came great strength. When attacked by a lion, he tore it apart with his bare hands (Jud 14:6). When outsmarted in his riddle, he struck down thirty men and stripped them of the belongings to pay his debt (Jud 14:19). In an act of breaking free from bindings, the Spirit of God came upon him and with a donkey jawbone he busted the heads of a thousand men (Jud 15:16). But then he met the prostitute.
There must have been someone watching guard that night, for the story continues that the people of Gaza were tipped off that Samson was in town. They surrounded the place, waiting for just the right time to make their move. When the sun would rise, they would attack. But Samson didn’t wait that long, and in the midnight hour he left town. On his way out, seeing they were trying to trap him, his strength again proved useful as he dislodged the doors of the city gate and made his exit. Samson didn’t stay till morning, but he still stayed too long.
Proverbs 5 tells us of the seduction of adultery. The adulteress looks good. She has sweet words to match her sweet lips. She is trained in seduction and knows just how much to reveal to catch the eyes of the men passing by. As she waves to the men, and giggles, and flirts, she becomes the black widow that invites her prey into her trap. Some fall victim, like Samson, but all are encouraged to resist. Her path leads to death, her steps straight to the grave. It is from her that we are encouraged to run, as Joseph did when seduced by Potiphar’s wife. “Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house…” (Prov 5:8). Who will listen?
Are we any different? We may not desire or accept the offer of a present day prostitute seen on the corner, but do we not pay the fee of the prostitute of sin? Do we not walk into the house of an addiction, or a lie, or a theft, or anything contrary to God’s Word? All sin is the acceptance of one night with a prostitute, and the cost for her pleasure is our death. Yes we have forgiveness through Christ, but let us stop using Him as our crutch and start obeying Him by keeping a path far from sin. And not only should we stay away, but we should help others stay clear of her street. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Gal 6:1). Isn’t time that we pay more attention to what road we’re on and steer clear of the red light district of sin?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
STILL SMALL VOICE
“…And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”
I Kings 19:12b-13
I don’t know about you, but I consider myself to be an observant driver. I observe the road and do my best to watch traffic, but I also observe the billboards that I pass to and from work daily. It isn’t that the billboards change daily, but that my attention is drawn to the bright colors and familiar slogans. In a normal day of driving I am reminded to purchase the farmer’s insurance, buy tickets now for the World Famous Rockettes, and gather together for a Wednesday night bible study at the local Baptist church. I am flashed so many different messages that I am drawn away from the real voice that is calling to me – the still small voice of God.
Coming away from God’s awesome display of power over the gods of Baal, Elijah was on the run. Jezebel had heard of the works of God and a message was taken on her behalf stating that Elijah would die within the next twenty-four hours. In fear of life, Elijah fled and eventually came to Horeb. As he spent the night in a cave on the mountain, the word of the LORD came to him. God was questioning why he was there, in Horeb? Elijah explained that for fear of his life, he decided to run away from the very one trying to kill him. It was at that response that God in turn replied that Elijah to go and stand on the mountain as He passed by.
I am not sure how God had spoken to Elijah prior, whether audibly or not, but I am going to imagine it was in some manner of force. I say that because as a great and powerful wind came by, Elijah was looking for God. God was not in the wind, though. In fact God wasn’t in the earthquake that followed either. The fire turned up lacking God too. All these methods would have grabbed my attention, and I like Elijah, would have been waiting for God to speak through some bold and flashy message. Yet I too would have been wrong, for God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. This whisper demanded reverence and obedience, and he knew it. Quickly Elijah pulled his cloak over his face and stood waiting on God. It was in this exchange of hearts that Elijah shared his fears and God shared His securities. It was here when Elijah received the command to go to the desert of Damascus where soon enough he would find his young apprentice in prophesy, Elisha.
The wind, earthquake, and fire that passed by were simply billboards, nothing more. They carried within them the means of distraction. God wasn’t in these things. Where He was, though, was in the gentle whisper. That same whisper is still a challenge for me today. I know the Bible says that God’s sheep hear His voice and obey, but sometimes I am waiting for God to speak a little more forceful than in a whisper. Sometimes I want the billboard ads of wind, the reminder to purchase through an earthquake shaking, and the glitz of fire. But if I am caught up in only those methods, then I miss the still small voice of God.
I am always challenged in reading this story in the Bible. There is the part of me that thinks that if God really wants my attention, then He should work hard through the crashes and booms to get it. But that’s not always how God works. The truth is that I should be listening for Him so intently that I recognize His gentle voice even when other voices are as loud as thunder. My challenge today is for myself, but you are welcome to call it yours as well. I resolve today to make it a point that I will listen for the whispers of God even when the billboards and noise from the storm sway me the opposite direction. I vow to listen for the small in the big. And I vow to train my ear to hear only God.
“…And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”
I Kings 19:12b-13
I don’t know about you, but I consider myself to be an observant driver. I observe the road and do my best to watch traffic, but I also observe the billboards that I pass to and from work daily. It isn’t that the billboards change daily, but that my attention is drawn to the bright colors and familiar slogans. In a normal day of driving I am reminded to purchase the farmer’s insurance, buy tickets now for the World Famous Rockettes, and gather together for a Wednesday night bible study at the local Baptist church. I am flashed so many different messages that I am drawn away from the real voice that is calling to me – the still small voice of God.
Coming away from God’s awesome display of power over the gods of Baal, Elijah was on the run. Jezebel had heard of the works of God and a message was taken on her behalf stating that Elijah would die within the next twenty-four hours. In fear of life, Elijah fled and eventually came to Horeb. As he spent the night in a cave on the mountain, the word of the LORD came to him. God was questioning why he was there, in Horeb? Elijah explained that for fear of his life, he decided to run away from the very one trying to kill him. It was at that response that God in turn replied that Elijah to go and stand on the mountain as He passed by.
I am not sure how God had spoken to Elijah prior, whether audibly or not, but I am going to imagine it was in some manner of force. I say that because as a great and powerful wind came by, Elijah was looking for God. God was not in the wind, though. In fact God wasn’t in the earthquake that followed either. The fire turned up lacking God too. All these methods would have grabbed my attention, and I like Elijah, would have been waiting for God to speak through some bold and flashy message. Yet I too would have been wrong, for God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. This whisper demanded reverence and obedience, and he knew it. Quickly Elijah pulled his cloak over his face and stood waiting on God. It was in this exchange of hearts that Elijah shared his fears and God shared His securities. It was here when Elijah received the command to go to the desert of Damascus where soon enough he would find his young apprentice in prophesy, Elisha.
The wind, earthquake, and fire that passed by were simply billboards, nothing more. They carried within them the means of distraction. God wasn’t in these things. Where He was, though, was in the gentle whisper. That same whisper is still a challenge for me today. I know the Bible says that God’s sheep hear His voice and obey, but sometimes I am waiting for God to speak a little more forceful than in a whisper. Sometimes I want the billboard ads of wind, the reminder to purchase through an earthquake shaking, and the glitz of fire. But if I am caught up in only those methods, then I miss the still small voice of God.
I am always challenged in reading this story in the Bible. There is the part of me that thinks that if God really wants my attention, then He should work hard through the crashes and booms to get it. But that’s not always how God works. The truth is that I should be listening for Him so intently that I recognize His gentle voice even when other voices are as loud as thunder. My challenge today is for myself, but you are welcome to call it yours as well. I resolve today to make it a point that I will listen for the whispers of God even when the billboards and noise from the storm sway me the opposite direction. I vow to listen for the small in the big. And I vow to train my ear to hear only God.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
WE SHALL FIGHT
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
I Corinthians 16:13
On June 4, 1940, as word of the upcoming German attack on the British Isles became known, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered one of the grandest speeches given in World War II. To a weakened French army, a surrendered Belgian army, a proud British army, and any additional army listening, Churchill spoke.
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air,
we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender
As I read these words for the first time just last night, my mind was immediately taken to I Corinthians 16:13. It is here that Paul warns the believer to stand firm. It is in Churchill’s speech that he too warns the British nation to stand firm. A fight was coming, there was no doubt it was coming. But it was not time for the nation to shrink back in the face of the oncoming Nazi regime. It was time to dig the feet in the sand and stand ready to fight.
In Isaiah 51:12, the prophet questions, “Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass…?” I believe it is true that although God has not given us the spirit of fear, we are still easily intimidated by the enemy. It is no different than when a child sees the flicker of lightening and hears the crashing of thunder. Countless times the parent can soothe the child and let them know they are safe, but the fear is still there. It is not that the child does not trust his or her parent, but rather that in that moment something is bigger than the parent. In our moment of attack by the enemy, we fear a ‘something’ bigger.
But let us continue in Isaiah 51. In verse 14 we are promised freedom from our prison and life where we once feared death in our dungeon. How is this so? The answer is in verse 15 and following. God! It is God who brings this freedom. God laid the foundations of the world. God puts His words in our mouth. God calls us His children. And as an angry mama bear runs after the threat to her cub, so God will step on the grass that we are for no reason to be fearful of.
With Christ on our side, we are undefeatable. The people of Britain heard this message given by the Prime Minister, but did they believe it? It is the same message God is giving to the church, but do we believe it? Look…
We [the church] shall go on to the end, we shall fight [against the devil and his cohorts],
[the church] shall fight [in prayer and fasting],
[the church] shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in [the power of God],
[the church] shall defend our [body], whatever the cost may be,
[the church] shall fight [against the devil’s schemes],
[the church] shall fight [against the rulers and authorities of evil],
[the church] shall fight [against the powers of the dark world],
[the church] shall fight [against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms];
[the church] shall never surrender
It is time to put away the fear of the enemy and meet him head on. He only has power over us if we let think he does; if we let him get in our mind. So then, it is time to “be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
I Corinthians 16:13
On June 4, 1940, as word of the upcoming German attack on the British Isles became known, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered one of the grandest speeches given in World War II. To a weakened French army, a surrendered Belgian army, a proud British army, and any additional army listening, Churchill spoke.
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air,
we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender
As I read these words for the first time just last night, my mind was immediately taken to I Corinthians 16:13. It is here that Paul warns the believer to stand firm. It is in Churchill’s speech that he too warns the British nation to stand firm. A fight was coming, there was no doubt it was coming. But it was not time for the nation to shrink back in the face of the oncoming Nazi regime. It was time to dig the feet in the sand and stand ready to fight.
In Isaiah 51:12, the prophet questions, “Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass…?” I believe it is true that although God has not given us the spirit of fear, we are still easily intimidated by the enemy. It is no different than when a child sees the flicker of lightening and hears the crashing of thunder. Countless times the parent can soothe the child and let them know they are safe, but the fear is still there. It is not that the child does not trust his or her parent, but rather that in that moment something is bigger than the parent. In our moment of attack by the enemy, we fear a ‘something’ bigger.
But let us continue in Isaiah 51. In verse 14 we are promised freedom from our prison and life where we once feared death in our dungeon. How is this so? The answer is in verse 15 and following. God! It is God who brings this freedom. God laid the foundations of the world. God puts His words in our mouth. God calls us His children. And as an angry mama bear runs after the threat to her cub, so God will step on the grass that we are for no reason to be fearful of.
With Christ on our side, we are undefeatable. The people of Britain heard this message given by the Prime Minister, but did they believe it? It is the same message God is giving to the church, but do we believe it? Look…
We [the church] shall go on to the end, we shall fight [against the devil and his cohorts],
[the church] shall fight [in prayer and fasting],
[the church] shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in [the power of God],
[the church] shall defend our [body], whatever the cost may be,
[the church] shall fight [against the devil’s schemes],
[the church] shall fight [against the rulers and authorities of evil],
[the church] shall fight [against the powers of the dark world],
[the church] shall fight [against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms];
[the church] shall never surrender
It is time to put away the fear of the enemy and meet him head on. He only has power over us if we let think he does; if we let him get in our mind. So then, it is time to “be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
Thursday, November 4, 2010
BREAKING THE CURSE
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:3-4
William Henry Harrison served as the ninth President of the United States. His term however, only lasted thirty-two days. Coming into office at age 68, Harrison was the second oldest President to serve. On the day of his inauguration, Harrison delivered a two hour speech in the rain without a hat or coat. Some attribute his death from pneumonia to this boyish action, but as medical studies have advanced there has not been shown a link for the bad weather and pneumonia. Harrison’s doctors tried cures such as opium, leeches, and the like, yet within the nine days from the onset to his death, no cure seemed to work. As the President grew delirious, and other ailments arose including jaundice and septicemia, Harrison’s body found itself unable to fight back. It is possible that this sudden death was due to what started out as a simple cold, but is there another reason? Let us look deeper into the life and history of William Henry Harrison.
As a history minor in college, interesting stories of the past always grabbed my attention. Naturally then, when I heard about the Curse of Tecumseh, my ears were opened. While Harrison and Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, engaged against each other at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 over the rights of the Indian land, the battle favored Harrison’s troops. As Tecumseh admitted his defeat at the hands of Harrison, it is said that he spewed out an ancient Indian curse of death over the Great White Fathers, or Presidents. As the exact story of history is unsure, another story suggests that it was the half brother of Tecumseh, the medicine man known as “The Prophet”, Tenskwatawa, who placed the hex in revenge for his leader and brother. While the hex of the medicine man is recorded with more accurate words, stating every President chosen every 20 years will die, we do not know the truth. But, we can see the truth if we look at the history of Presidents who followed.
Starting from the election of Harrison in 1840, who was the first President to die in office, we jump to 1860. As President Abraham Lincoln was serving his second term, elected to do so in 1860, history records his assassination caused by John Wilkes Booth. In the 1880 election, James A. Garfield came into power. In 1881, Garfield was also shot while waiting in a Washington railroad station. His death would come two months later due to the wounds from the incident. The election in 1900 brought William McKinley into office. He too was shot and within a week passed away as a result of the wounds suffered. Warren G. Harding, elected in 1920, suffered a stroke while in office in 1923. As Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in 1940 for his third term, he found himself next in line for the curse. It was not until 1945, as he served his fourth term, that he suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Most notably was the passing of John F. Kennedy, who was elected in 1960, and was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Whether the curse was called out by Tecumseh or Tenshwatawa, the curse was real. “But wait,” you say, “what happened in 1980?” Elected in 1980, Ronald Reagan took the title of President. The would-be assassin John Hinckley missed Reagan’s heart by one inch in his attempt. The curse was finally broken. Was there a time line within the curse that said it was good only for 140 years? Perhaps. I chose to believe, though, that when true men and women honor God, God protects them. Within the lives of Ronald Reagan who was elected in 1980, and George W. Bush who was elected in 2000, God was not lessened. It is recorded that these two Presidents often consulted with Christian religious leaders such as Billy and Franklin Graham before making weighty decisions. As a result, God honored them and the curse was lifted.
I urge you to consider two things today. One, curses are real. The words we say to others can affect them and as such, it is to our benefit and that of others to button our lip at times. But the second is this. Psalm 91:1 starts out with, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” God will protect us from the fowler’s snare and cover us in His wings when we dwell in Him. In this dwelling His covering exists. I encourage you to dwell in Him.
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:3-4
William Henry Harrison served as the ninth President of the United States. His term however, only lasted thirty-two days. Coming into office at age 68, Harrison was the second oldest President to serve. On the day of his inauguration, Harrison delivered a two hour speech in the rain without a hat or coat. Some attribute his death from pneumonia to this boyish action, but as medical studies have advanced there has not been shown a link for the bad weather and pneumonia. Harrison’s doctors tried cures such as opium, leeches, and the like, yet within the nine days from the onset to his death, no cure seemed to work. As the President grew delirious, and other ailments arose including jaundice and septicemia, Harrison’s body found itself unable to fight back. It is possible that this sudden death was due to what started out as a simple cold, but is there another reason? Let us look deeper into the life and history of William Henry Harrison.
As a history minor in college, interesting stories of the past always grabbed my attention. Naturally then, when I heard about the Curse of Tecumseh, my ears were opened. While Harrison and Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, engaged against each other at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 over the rights of the Indian land, the battle favored Harrison’s troops. As Tecumseh admitted his defeat at the hands of Harrison, it is said that he spewed out an ancient Indian curse of death over the Great White Fathers, or Presidents. As the exact story of history is unsure, another story suggests that it was the half brother of Tecumseh, the medicine man known as “The Prophet”, Tenskwatawa, who placed the hex in revenge for his leader and brother. While the hex of the medicine man is recorded with more accurate words, stating every President chosen every 20 years will die, we do not know the truth. But, we can see the truth if we look at the history of Presidents who followed.
Starting from the election of Harrison in 1840, who was the first President to die in office, we jump to 1860. As President Abraham Lincoln was serving his second term, elected to do so in 1860, history records his assassination caused by John Wilkes Booth. In the 1880 election, James A. Garfield came into power. In 1881, Garfield was also shot while waiting in a Washington railroad station. His death would come two months later due to the wounds from the incident. The election in 1900 brought William McKinley into office. He too was shot and within a week passed away as a result of the wounds suffered. Warren G. Harding, elected in 1920, suffered a stroke while in office in 1923. As Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in 1940 for his third term, he found himself next in line for the curse. It was not until 1945, as he served his fourth term, that he suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Most notably was the passing of John F. Kennedy, who was elected in 1960, and was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Whether the curse was called out by Tecumseh or Tenshwatawa, the curse was real. “But wait,” you say, “what happened in 1980?” Elected in 1980, Ronald Reagan took the title of President. The would-be assassin John Hinckley missed Reagan’s heart by one inch in his attempt. The curse was finally broken. Was there a time line within the curse that said it was good only for 140 years? Perhaps. I chose to believe, though, that when true men and women honor God, God protects them. Within the lives of Ronald Reagan who was elected in 1980, and George W. Bush who was elected in 2000, God was not lessened. It is recorded that these two Presidents often consulted with Christian religious leaders such as Billy and Franklin Graham before making weighty decisions. As a result, God honored them and the curse was lifted.
I urge you to consider two things today. One, curses are real. The words we say to others can affect them and as such, it is to our benefit and that of others to button our lip at times. But the second is this. Psalm 91:1 starts out with, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” God will protect us from the fowler’s snare and cover us in His wings when we dwell in Him. In this dwelling His covering exists. I encourage you to dwell in Him.
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GOD OUR FATHER
If one were to move away from the misconception that God is so distant in His status and truly understand, as Christ so often pointed ou...
