GIVEN, NOT TAKEN
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13

During the time of the Passover certain commands and restrictions were given by God in how the ceremony should go. In addition to setting the specific date, Numbers 9 also tells us that God advised the Israelites that they were to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were not to leave any remnants till morning, nor were any of the lamb’s bones to be broken (Num 9:11-12). So then, skipping ahead in time we see how Jesus Christ became the lamb sacrificed for us, and how His life was given freely as opposed to being taken forcefully.
The Bible records in John 19 that Jesus was crucified on the day of Preparation, meaning that the next day would be the Sabbath. Jewish culture, as stemmed from Numbers 9, did not allow for bodies to be left of the cross during the Sabbath. As such, the legs of those being crucified would be broken. Let me explain this a little more. As long as the one being crucified had strength in his legs he was able to push up against the cross and take deeper breathes. But with broken legs, that option was no longer there, therefore the victim would die from the inability to breathe deep, or breathe at all. John 19:33 states that when the Roman soldiers came to Jesus they found he was already dead and did not break His legs. They also left no part till morning as we read that Jesus was taken done and placed in a borrowed tomb before the Sabbath began.
Instead of Jesus’ life being taken from him, as were the lives of the thieves that hung next to Jesus, He willing gave Himself. And in giving of Himself, He proved He was the spotless lamb, void of defect, and true to the demands of the Passover lamb. Jesus was able to relate with us yet without sin. Jesus’ death marked the finishing of the power of sin. And Jesus’ final breathe after stating it was finished was given in love and with a definite purpose rather than stolen from him. So then, John 15:13 is true. Jesus’ love was greater in that He gave Himself by laying down His life.
I John 3:16 tells us, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” As we continue in our brief study of love this day before Valentine’s day, I want to ask you one question. Do you love Him back in return? If love is defined as the laying down of a life, and has been shown in His laying down of His life for us, then can we respond that we love in return? Have we with same purpose determined that we will give God our life? I write this asking you, but I ask it also of myself. I say it easily but it is a hard question to answer. Pieces of me I desire to hold back, but I know I must give it all. God may not be satisfied with chocolates this holiday, but He would be satisfied with my giving Him all of my life as He gave His all for me.

UNFAILING
“Love never fails.”
I Corinthians 13:8a

“Love is in the air, everywhere I look around. Love is in the air, every sight and every sound.” Have you heard these words by John Paul Young before? It seems fitting as we are coming closer to Valentine’s day. All sorts of love songs are filling the radio waves, as well as pictures of cupid, hearts, and little stuffed animals hugging each other plastered in department store windows and such. But have we reduced Valentine’s day to simply hearts, chocolates, and a man in a diaper? For the next few days I want to focus on the topic of love and St. Valentine himself, and dispel the myths in order that we may gain truth. So let us first look, then, in I Corinthians 13.
Starting in verse 4, I am quite confident each one of us can state verbatim the characteristics of love. Love is patient, kind, not envious, boastful, or proud. Love is not known as rude or self-seeking, and true love in not easily angered or record keeping when wronged. Love rejoices in truth rather than in evil, and as such, it always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. But then we read of a single characteristic that I think tops the list. Love never fails.
How can love never fail? Here we are giving love human characteristics and then we are told it does not fail. I am human and I do fail, more often that I care to admit also. But not love. For many years this idea confused me. And then, while studying in a personal quiet time with God back in college, God answered my question. He took me to I John 4:7-8. John speaks that we should love one another and that love comes from God. If we know God then we know love, but if we do not know God, then we do not know love. Then comes the cake-topper, “…because God is love.” So in essence, John and Paul, though writing at different times, are actually writing together and in tandem. Let me explain.
If God is love, according to John, and love is all these thing that Paul writes of, then can we not substitute the word ‘love’ in our I Corinthians passage with the word ‘God’? Let’s try it and see how it sounds and if it speaks truth. “GOD is patient, GOD is kind. HE does not envy, HE does not boast, HE is not proud. HE is not rude, HE is not self-seeking, HE is not easily angered, HE keeps no record of wrongs. GOD does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. HE always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. GOD never fails.” That sure sounds like my God, and that sounds like someone who never fails even when I do.
So where do we go from here? Once again the answer is easier to read than to perform. The answer is back in I John 4:7-8. We must first know God and know His love for us. We can never be everything in Him until we are able to know His love for us. The voids in life that we have can only be filled by His love. Not until we embrace His love for us will we be able to love others as we are urged in this passage. And not until we know His love, and walk in His character of love, will we be free of failing. John Paul Young in some ways had it right. Love is in the air, and that love is God. I urge you to grab hold of God and know a true, unfailing love.

IN THE WILDERNESS
"He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you."
Deuteronomy 8:15-16

My son is an avid viewer of the Discovery channel show, Man vs. Wild. As I wanted to spend some time with him last night, I decided to sit on the couch with him and watch an episode. In this account, the man was dropped out a plane in the remote Australian outback. His chore then was to live off the land until he found his way to civilization. Depending on the episode, this adventure normally consists of about two to three days in the wild.
As he made his way toward the coast, he fell upon a series of mountainous rocks and cliffs. Hoping from one ledge to another, he then came to a hidden cave where he found sitting water. By using charcoal that he had found in what looked like the remnant of a lightning strike, he was able to filter the water before finding it fit to drink. Going forward, however, he also found himself having to watch out for crocodiles, water snakes, and plenty of other challenges. In the end, the adventure led him through the desert and back to a place of green lush and civilization.
For a few days now, I have been feeling like I too was in a place like this desert; my own wilderness so to say. Although recently God had been talking to me and blessing me, I have found myself more so questioning now if God is still aware of me. This is a feeling that many have had I am sure. David expressed it in Psalm 23:4 when he referred to the valley of the shadow of death, and the Israelites lived through a physical wilderness for forty years on their journey to the Promised Land. But they all had one thing in common. They all were led through.
When Israel was receiving the second law in Deuteronomy, Moses reminded the people what they had come through. The nation of Israel had suffered the desert. Following the passing of the Red Sea, God allowed water to gush out of a rock. When the snakes plagued the people, God provided a healing method in their looking at the snake statue. God had allowed the people to have food to eat in the form of manna and quail, so as to not let them die of starvation. In all these tests, however, one thing was consistent. Deuteronomy 8:15 shares this truth - God led them through. He didn't just leave them in the desert, he brought them through.
Perhaps like me, you have found yourself in that same place. You feel like you are in the wilderness and are not sure when the exit will come or where it lies. But I want to encourage you with the same words that God has shown me recently. God will lead you through. God's desire is for your good fortune (Jer 29:11). Good fortune does not end with death in the desert, just as our adventurer was not stranded and left for dead in Australia. Therefore, there will be a day when you will no longer find yourself in the desert. The relief could come tomorrow, or it could come forty days from now. Until it comes, though, let us not give up or grow weary as we wait.

MARRIAGE VOWS
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

I married my first wife on August 1, 1998. Before we married, we each took the time to write out the vows we wanted to say. For me, as one who enjoys researching and writing, this was a long process. I wanted to say just the right thing, and I wanted it to be from my heart as opposed to just standard words written out for me. In the end, I did add my own twist to the standard wording of for better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health, loving and cherishing till death do us part. But as I was cleaning out my closet last night, I stumbled upon some old pictures and memories from the wedding. It was at this point that I began to realize more deeply that I did not keep my vows.
It is normally in these quiet moments of reflection that God speaks the loudest to me. This time was no exception. As I felt the guilt for not keeping my marriage vow, I heard God ask, “What about your vow to me?” What? I was forced to think back and came to the conclusion that I have been living more sold out for God these past few years than ever before. But God didn’t let up. I heard Him ask me again. “What about the vows you have made to me and have not seemed to keep?” Again I was confused and had to think back. I jogged my memory and still couldn’t think of vows that I felt I had broken.
Then God began to share more intimately what He was referring to. Just as in my marriage I had made the covenant to be committed regardless of riches, health, or love in return, so also when I had accepted Christ as my Savior I made a vow with God that I would be committed to Him until the end. This covenant doesn’t end when it feels like God is far away, or when I am suffering financial struggles, or feeling the pains of sickness. And it also shouldn’t be increased when things are going well, and money is pouring in, or when health is great. When I asked Christ into my life as my Lord, I made a vow to Him that be it up or down, I would be committed till death. So then, have I kept my vow to God or have I unknowingly began to distance myself from God based on my actions and feelings that come with the waves of better or worse that ebb and flow?
As I contemplate the vow I have made with God, I am reminded of a song by Geoff Moore and the Distance. In the song The Vow, Geoff sings of his knowledge of himself and how he will falter due to his inadequacy. The end result then, is his need for God to help him in keeping his covenant. And this is where I found myself last night as God spoke with me. I faltered in my marriage; I didn’t keep my vows that I had originally stated I would do. The end result was divorce. How much more will I lose if I falter in my vows with God? As we read in Ecclesiastes 5:4, we should not delay in the vows we make with God. If I said I would, then I need to keep my vow. The reason being is seen in verse 5. It is better to not make a vow than to break a vow.
I do not want to break anymore vows. I especially do not want to break vows I have made unto God. Because of this alone, I find myself asking God for help in keeping my vow to Him. Do you feel the same? My life is an open book and I hope that in each page I share, God uses me as a tool. As I have poured out today the importance of a vow kept, maybe God has been talking to you and asking you the same question He posed to me. “What about your vow to me?” Are you able to answer in full confidence or do you, like me, see where the vows made have been compromised and need to be returned to? Now is the time to finish strong in the covenant to following Christ that we have made. God help us not to falter from the vows we have made to you.

THE COMEBACKS
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37

When it comes to sports, there are only a few that I will watch religiously on television. They include football, Nascar, and college basketball if my alma mater is playing or during March Madness. Other sports I find I would rather watch in person than on television. Last night, though, I was able to see my alma mater play their homecoming game. As I watched with my kids on the couch, I pointed out the section of seats where I would sit as a student. I laughed at the face painted students, remembering I used to do the same. And I felt the same emotion as they went into half time down by ten. They had been trailing all night and I wondered if they would be able to comeback. Then it happened. Following the half the team came out and looked refreshed, recharged, and ready to play. From the tip off to the last ticking seconds, my team held their opponent off and came back to win 81-73. They went from down by ten to win by eight. This was a much needed win and a great comeback to watch.
The Bible is full of comebacks; those who looked defeated but in the end came back stronger and brought a win for the heavens. I think about Samson who was deceived by a nagging girlfriend to tell the secret of his strength. She then used this secret against him and he became the reason for the Philistines laughter. But, when it looked like he was down for the count, God allowed him strength once more as he grabbed the pillars and brought the house down. What a comeback.
Or what about Saul who became Paul? It looked like the enemy was going win as Saul had gained so much power in being able to have Christ followers murdered for their beliefs. With letters from the high priest in hand, and his plans set to travel to the synagogues in Damascus, Christians hid in fear. But when it looked hopeless, God knocked Saul off his donkey and questioned why his was persecuting Him. This event set the stage for a great comeback as from it we have a majority of the New Testament.
But the greatest comeback in all history is that of Christ. Tortured, nailed on cross, and laid in a borrowed tomb, the enemy thought he had finally won. I’m sure they were even celebrating on the sidelines. However, the game was still being played; the final buzzer had not yet sounded. When hope seemed lost to ‘Team God’, ‘Team God’ came back. With the stone rolled away, and angels declaring His resurrection, Jesus Christ came back to life for the greatest comeback ever in history!
But the story doesn’t end here. Yours and my final buzzer has not yet sounded either. In my own game I went into the locker room at the half defeated by sin, questioning if I should even play the second half because I was down by so much. My enemy was so far ahead in points. The coach, though, saw untapped potential in me and fed me truth. “Daniel, you are more than a conqueror because of all of me that I have placed in you. Now go out there and play in my strength.” The game isn’t over yet, but I am on a second half hot streak. I’m coming back, and the enemy is losing.

SNAKE-EATER
“Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.”
Exodus 7:12

When Moses was standing before the burning bush, God gave him two signs showing His might. The first was displayed when Moses laid his staff down on the desert sand. Instantly his staff turned into a snake. As Moses went to pick it back up by its tail, the snake turned back into a staff. A second sign was displayed when Moses placed his hand inside his cloak. When he pulled it out, his hand looked as though it had been infected with a leprous disease. These signs were only a forecast of what God would unleash upon Egypt in the days to come.
It was now, as Moses and Aaron stood before the Pharaoh requesting the release of the Israelites, that the first of God’s signs would be seen by Egypt. Aaron placed his staff on the floor of Pharaoh’s kingdom and the staff became a snake. Unmoved, Pharaoh called his magicians to him to repeat this ‘trick’. Sure enough, the staffs of the Egyptian magicians also turned into snakes. But there was one difference. The staff of Aaron which was now in snake form slithering on the ground ate the snakes of the magicians.
It is easy to quickly read over this verse. And why not? Pharaoh saw it first hand and even he looked over the incident. But we should not overlook this verse. It is in this verse that we see a marker of God’s strength. It is from this verse that the plagues stem. Beginning with this verse, Egypt starts to fall. It is from this verse that God wants to get our attention. The snake of God’s servant devoured the snakes of the enemy. So then, the acts of God through us should overtake the acts performed by our enemy.
All power in heaven and on earth has been given to the Lord, according to Matthew 28:18. But He has given us His power. This is not so that we can boast or become great in our own eyes, but rather that God can be glorified through us and people brought to a relationship with Him. Moses was not able to transform a staff into a snake on his own. It was done through God’s power. Pharaoh’s magicians were also not able to perform this ‘trick’ on their own strength. They too were assisted, but by the enemy, the devil. In the end, however, God’s power was greater than the devil’s as was seen by the snake of God’s elect devouring the snakes of the enemy.
Let us consider what we can gleam from this verse for it is in the Bible for a reason. It is written for us so that once again we may realize God’s strength. John 16:33 tells us God has overcome the world. Will we have trouble? Yes. We will be put in positions where we will face our own Pharaohs and magicians. But with God on our side, as we place the staff down, we too will see His might as He devours and eats our enemy. The singing duo of Hall and Oates may have sung about a “Maneater”, but my God is a snake-eater.

OVERTAKEN AND LIBERATED
“All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 28:2

As a lover of history, especially the historic events related to World War II, I find myself drawn to reading articles or stories of Holocaust survivors. Without going into a full history lesson, I want to share a brief overview of historic events related to the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. In July 1944, Soviet forces were the first to approach Majdanek, outside of Lublin, Poland. The march on the Germans by the Soviets caught them off guard, therefore allowing the Russian army to see the extent of death being used by their enemy. But this liberation was only one of many. In the months to follow, additional camps in Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka were also overtaken by Soviet forces before they finally liberated Auschwitz in January 1945. As the Allies continued to work together liberating additional camps in the Baltic states and Poland, Germany soon realized they were being overtaken with massive efforts. Shortly thereafter, Germany surrendered.
In Deuteronomy 28, Moses challenges the people of Israel with words concerning blessing. Moses spoke that if they fully obeyed the Lord and followed His commands, then He would set His people above all nations. But then he continued and spoke that all these blessings of God would come on the people and accompany them. Another version uses the term ‘overtake them’. In practicality, just as the Allied forces overtook Germany, so God would send His blessings to overtake those who walked in obedience to Him. Let us look at two examples of this truth.
The first example that comes to my mind is Joseph. Granted, Joseph suffered many things in his younger years before finding himself in the position of second in command, but look at Genesis 39:3-4a. “When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant…” Did you catch that? The Lord blessed Joseph in everything he did. Why? Because Joseph obeyed and served God in everything he did. The blessings of God overtook Joseph because he lived his life in obedience to God alone. Although he lived in a foreign land, he did not forsake his God. God’s blessings came upon Joseph and when the time was right, his liberation from prison also came and he was promoted to a place of prominence.
But let us also look at another example from the time after Moses’ words were spoken. If we look into the book of Ruth, we find that God used Boaz as a means of blessing for Ruth and Naomi. Ruth 2:15-16 shares that Boaz gave orders to his men to pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up. Ruth and Naomi had little, and as such, Ruth went and found the approval of Boaz to glean in his field. Basically, Ruth was given the approval to go behind the workers and gather any leftover grain. Boaz, then, instructed his men to purposefully leave larger portions behind that she then would glean and use for food. By using Boaz, blessings overtook Ruth.
I want to be in a position where blessings come upon me. I want to be in a place where I am overtaken by God’s hand of blessing and liberated from the enemy of lack and bondage. But, this cannot happen if I am not walking in obedience to God. The examples of Joseph and Ruth show that God’s blessing can overtake us. True, God will bless us with what we need out of His love for us, but I don’t want just enough. I want blessings to overtake me. And I want to see blessings overtake you. Let us then put ourselves in a place where this can happen; where we can be overtaken and liberated. Let us walk in full obedience to God.