Why me? Why anyone?

 

God saves sinners by grace through the merits of a Substitute, but why? As a friend says, we are saved in a moment, then spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out what happened — or why it happened.

God had no mercy upon the angels that fell. Many of His chosen were destroyed in the holocaust. Not everyone we share Christ with accepts Him. Why is God gracious to me? I did nothing nor have anything in myself that deserves it, only that the Bible says “He has mercy on whom he will have mercy.” Otherwise we would die in our sin.

He saved and changed me so I would bless Him. Some say that word can mean “be well spoken of” so to bless God is about praise. I cannot add anything to His majesty but I can speak well of Him and totally trust Him, believing all that He says. I can also make the wonder of who He is known to others. Yet this does not answer the question “why me?”

Scripture gives no reason. The OT says this of His choice for Israel:

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (Psalm 106:8)
It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. . . . (Deuteronomy 7:7–10)

The Nt tells of His blessings in Ephesians 1:3–14, but is silent about the ‘why’ of His choices only this:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)

God only says His reasoning is not about my merit, but about His will — and He does not explain that!

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory — even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:14–24)

PRAY: I cannot answer my question, but I can say with the psalmist, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes. . . .” (Psalm 8:1–9) I can praise You, knowing that Your way is gracious and Your choices fit the wonder of who You are — much more than mere mortals can fully understand. For that, I can repeat, O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Being in listening mode. . . .

We took my dad for a hearing test. Mom said to the doctor, “Sometimes I say something and he seems to not have heard what I said.” Dad turned to the doctor with a twinkle in his eye and said, “Don’t you do that to your wife too?”

We chuckle at that, but there are times when spouses want to use a brick to the head when ignored, especially if the communication is vital.

It works concerning the voice of God as well. He says, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) and “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) But the question is if hearing the Word produces faith, how come not everyone who hears it is saved?

John Piper and many others would say that God’s ‘brick to the head’ is the gift of faith given through grace. He imparts new life and in that instant the ability to hear is also given.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1–10)

While these verses only imply the way grace provides both faith and the saving knowledge of Christ, this idea of both being given at the same time explains why many theologians say that the gospel message given to us from God is irresistible. We not only hear it but are given ears to hear at the same time.

The downside is like my dad’s joking remark to the doctor — that those to whom God speaks can be in a ‘I’m not listening’ mode. Pharaoh prior to the Exodus was like that. The Bible says he hardened his heart, a very similar description of someone who refuses to listen. I do it when someone says something I don’t want to hear. It could be bad language, a coarse joke, or even a request that I’ve no intention of answering. It might go around inside my head, but without a response, whoever spoke might as well not have said it.

If I do that with God, my spiritual life takes a nosedive into deafness and even darkness. Because Jesus promised to save me from sin, He will take measures to turn on the lights and turn up the volume. He has ways of communicating that do not involve words, such as circumstances or the actions of others. As He ‘speaks’ through whatever communication method He chooses, He makes me realize that my bad attitude is no joke. If I don’t listen to Him, I will listen to my own ideas, or the world’s ways, or the devil’s lies. It does not take long to experience the folly of being deaf to God.

Faith does come by hearing. The more I listen, the more my response to life and its quirks and foibles is trusting God with everything. Besides, unlike the noisy chatter that might be happening all around me, God never says anything useless or inane. His words are life-giving, inspiring, helpful, and a great blessing.

Some families play “I spy God” and share what they see Him doing. Another interesting activity is “I hear God” and sharing what He is saying to us, including what He is asking us to do!

PRAY: Jesus, as I meet with prayer partners today, remind me to share with them the answers to both questions and ask them to do the same. We are learning to be better listeners and also excited to hear You speak to us. Thank You.

God Communicates

When we moved into this new home, one large piece of furniture would not fit. Where we put it was functional but awkward. I began praying for a solution. Then, last week while visiting our son, he was excited about a small addition to his new home. It didn’t register then, but a day or so later, I woke up praying again about my dilemma and the Lord put two and two together. I was awake and saying “Yes, that’s it!” This woke my hubby and we spent yesterday moving furniture. The dramatic change was celebrated with apple pie and ice cream.

We knew this idea was an answer to prayer. Our son’s actions were part of it, but he had no idea that he was so helpful. What happened is another example of the power of God to communicate answers to prayer in surprising ways.

This is a small example. A bigger one is how He is working in parts of the world where Christianity is a crime and becoming one leads to severe persecution, even death. Those who are free to do so are praying for salvation for those people groups. But how can they be saved if they cannot hear the gospel? Some verses seem to say this is not possible. . . .  

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:22–23)
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Skeptics often ask the same question; what about those who never hear or who cannot read a Bible? God blessed me and my hubby with a clue. We talked with a woman who came from one of those ‘closed’ countries. She told about her family being in the living area of their home one morning. Her father was upstairs. She said when he came down, they knew something had happened. He was glowing, his face shining in great peace. He had experienced an encounter with Jesus Christ, prior unknown to him, and he was transformed. Now a Christian, he took his family out of their home. They fled to a safer country, all becoming believers in Jesus — without a Bible or a sermon.

Since then, we have heard many stories like that. It gives no excuse not to preach or share the gospel, but it does assure us that God is able to reach anyone with truth about Jesus and redemption, with or without us. Some might argue that this cannot be a ‘real salvation’ yet changed lives and a deep love for Jesus say otherwise.

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit saying, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8) In my first encounter with Jesus, I did not physically see Him, yet I knew He was with me. Others testify to seeing Him, even being hugged by Him. Dare we limit God to what He can do to reach sinners?

Not only that, the NT church did not have the NT! They eventually had Paul’s letters, but none of them were written declaring the gospel until later.

Faith came by hearing — and anyone who knows Christ knows that the Holy Spirit is capable of speaking to the human heart. He convicts of sin, speaks of righteousness, and warns us when we forget or err in what we do. God even speaks of sending His Word to do His will:

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Again, this is not license to sit back silent and merely pray for the lost, but it is assurance that no one who is chosen by Jesus will be lost. Another truth is also illustrated: when the Spirit speaks to me, I must listen. I have the Word to make sure what I am hearing is written by God also, yet Isaiah tells me that obedience is part of His success in His will being accomplished by those who hear Him.

PRAY: Jesus, Your great power to make Yourself heard makes my ability to listen and obey a partnership with what You are doing. I’m deeply humbled yet must never be speechless. You are the Savior and this is what You want me to say, loudly and joyfully, and deeply in awe. Yet I know that You have the power to speak in other ways besides using my mouth.

 

Testing what I hear

 

Someone I know is so in tune with spiritual matters that she senses the spiritual status of people around her. For her, this is so distressing that she avoids crowds because those who reject Christ have a strong effect on her emotions. She is also discerning with all media, so their television set is often turned off. I’m uncertain how this happens but know that God calls all His people to be discerning. He says:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:1–3)

Normally these verses are applied to sects that try to imitate Christianity. They will not acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord who came in the flesh to die for our sin, nor will they fully acknowledge their sin and need of His grace. However, this sort of deception also creeps into churches. Some may attend yet err in their understanding of His identity and of the way of salvation. They may claim to follow Christ but cannot spot errors. Christians are told to test all spirits and be wary of what they teach because some are religious but actually not for Christ but are anti-Christ. 

This attitude is described as one person in the following long passage. It also describes the power behind the subtle lies that can deceive even genuine believers for a little while:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:1–17)

Not everyone is gifted in discernment, but our protection from false teaching is secured in the Lord Jesus Christ. He works through His Word to help His people stand firm and recognize lies. The key is to read the Bible and keep short accounts with God so we can hear Him clearly. This long passage is a warning but also an assurance. I was chosen to glorify Christ, not to make up anything that suits what appeals to my flesh. Not only that, the One who called me also promises to keep me.

PRAY: While some of this seems complicated, Jesus I know that You are quick to impress my heart when someone teaches a lie that is against You. I might not have an immediate answer for them, but know that I can find truth in Your Word. I’m so glad to have the Bible and access to it, and to have the Holy Spirit who helps me recognize solid Christian teaching. I’m also thankful that You persist in feeding me truth to keep me trusting You — rather than anyone or anything else. Thank You, Jesus.

A clear focus

 

A former pastor impressed me with this: Some Christians become so focused on one truth about God and Christianity that their understanding becomes like looking at something with a magnifying glass, everything else around the edges becomes distorted and blurry.

I’ve noticed this with those who have strong spiritual gifts. A gifted server thinks everyone should be doing practical things. A person with a generous heart stresses sacrificial giving. An evangelist thinks all Christians should focus on soul-winning.

As for the latter, Jesus did say, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15–16) He also said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

Paul was focused too. Even though his particular concern was winning souls, he added instruction about how to do it:

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:30–2:5)

Paul also explained that other things needed to be done. The body consists of various gifted people who do various different things. For instance:

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4–8)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16)

I’m not behind a pulpit or in a social position that offers many opportunities to ‘preach’ or share the gospel. God gave me a computer and told me to share His truths with others, truths that He teaches me every day. Part of His desire for my life is to gather from Him and share with others, and another focus is prayer, particularly for His truth to be lived out in the people on my prayer list.

Others share Him in varying ways, including (but not limited to) full-time missionary work. This goal of winning souls is important, but also I’m to be growing in love for God and for others in ways that glorify Jesus Christ. The work of the Body of Christ is not limited to telling. We are to take care of the needy, be peacemakers, love our enemies and “let our light shine so others will see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

While it is not wrong to focus, it is not biblical to tell others they must post their devotions in a daily blog, or be a missionary and go to Africa, or feed the homeless, or “be like me.” Instead, we are called to be like Jesus — who took His orders from His Father through the Holy Spirit.

PRAY: Jesus, it is such a delight watching You bring great unity from great diversity. Our hearts are united in wanting souls saved, but also in loving You. More and more You work in us to love one another and listen to Your voice as You guide our lives. To focus only on one part of what it means to be a Christian would side-track me from hearing You and knowing what to do when challenged by things that so easily become blurry around the edges.

All of Grace

A wise neighbor said that Christians are saved in an instant then spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out what happened. This can become controversial. Many Christians say “when I choose Christ” even though Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you. . . .” and others will say they were seeking God even though the Bible says, “no one understands; no one seeks for God.” (Romans 3:11)

Many Christians base their conclusion of how salvation happens on their experience, even to the conclusion that others who have a different experience cannot be saved. The Word of God speaks to that also:

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. (2 Corinthians 10:12)

My salvation experience was something like the Apostle Paul. While I was not seeking to put Christians in prison, or walking on a road, or even realizing God was goading me, Jesus appeared and at that instant everything changed. But I cannot say this is how salvation should happen to everyone.

Today’s devotional cites an incident in the life of Christ. A ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, came to Jesus pleading him to heal his daughter who was dying. “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:35–36)

The author of the reading said this was all we have to do, even though Jesus was not talking about salvation, but His power to heal. This author also wrote that the gospel of Christ is addressed to sinners as sinners, ‘not awakened sinners, not sensible sinners, not convicted sinners, not lost sinners, not repentant sinners—just sinners.” He added that God does not command sinners to feel a certain way, experience something or come to realize something about themselves. God commands sinners to ‘believe on his Son, Jesus Christ’.

However, the Bible also says that faith comes by hearing and that the Holy Spirit communicates it to us, so the hearing is from Him, as is the conviction of sin and the gift of repentance. Whatever order they come in, or seem to be realized, the responses to the ‘hearing’ about Christ are all gifts from God. So is being able to believe what He says;

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Saying that my part in believing is true, yet beware that faith becomes a work on my part and one more thing that I can boast about. While I should never insist that the salvation experience of others be like mine, what happened to all of us should be like what the Bible says; it is all of grace — even the faith to believe is grace.

The moment any condition or qualification of any kind is placed upon the sinner before he can be saved, including “just believe” slips away from the gospel of pure grace. Anything that seems like a prerequisite is actually a gift from God, including repentance, conviction of sin, lamentation and sorrow over sin. These are part of faith, and may deepen with faith, but whenever they occur, all these experiences are part of God's saving power, not something anyone could or would do on their own.

No one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:11–18)

PRAY: Grace humbles me even as it blesses me. It enables me to trust You. Because You softened my hard heart and put in it a desire for You and to love and obey You, my life is changed and changing — and it is not my doing. Every part of salvation and the results are gifts of grace and because that is so, I worship You.

Faith is a journey. . . .

 

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— (Galatians 3:13)

Christ alone is our Redeemer. Christ bore our sins. Christ endured the wrath of God, Christ satisfied the claims of justice against us, as our Substitute. The work of redemption was fully accomplished. ‘Christ has redeemed us.’ Nothing is left to be done by us. Christ has done all. The blood of Christ poured out in death for the atonement of sin accomplished an effectual redemption. ‘Christ has redeemed us.’

Sin has been dealt with. The only sin that keeps anyone from redemption is unbelief in what Christ has done. Lack of faith is our nemesis. Faith is our salvation — yet faith has stages. 

First, the Bible says that the existence of God is made plain in creation and that faith begins with believing this simple truth:

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

If a person dismisses all the evidence of God’s existence and thinks He is not a good God, what more can the Holy Spirit reveal to that closed mind?

Faith also includes believing what God says. If not, we make Him a liar — even though Jesus clearly identified Satan as the liar and father of lies. And what does God say that must be believed? Some focus on creation or other truths, but the main thing that halts any hope of moving on in a spiritual journey is refusing to believe this:

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:22b–23)

A man said to me that he had no trouble believing that Jesus died for the sins of the world and argued that was good enough. I said, “But what about your sin?” Long pause. “Oh, I see what you mean.” He realized that his ‘faith’ was general, not personal. Even the demons believe God exists, but saving faith goes beyond that. Biblical ideas might be in place, but faith that cannot admit sin is not saving faith. John wrote:

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. . . . If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:7–10)

What is missing in that kind of faith is a failure to believe and apply verse 9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

What more can God say to a person who rejects what He says about our sinful condition. If it sounds anything like “I don’t need that” or firmly insists they are okay without a Savior, the journey to God stops. God can barge in and open blind eyes, however He is a God of grace and even tells His people to “correct his opponents with gentleness.” God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, yet it is vital to believe the truth we already know. (2 Timothy 2:25)

God’s kindness “is meant to lead us to repentance” (Romans 2:4) so He “is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Without it, the wonder of redemption eludes those who fail to believe what God reveals.

The OT laws and rituals pointed to the realities to come. The blood of animals offered for sin had no power to take away sin, but faith in God's promise of a Deliverer was vital. This faith kept His people until their Messiah came to fully redeem those who trust Him. Jesus came to do the will of God and by that will, those who believe are set apart, redeemed, being transformed. By His single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:1–14), an amazing gift that is given to those who believe God exists, that He rewards all who seek Him, that know they are sinful and have no merit to earn this blessing, and therefore trust in Jesus Christ alone for redemption.

PRAY: What can I say? Only Jesus. You have brought me to faith, led me through all the barricades and shown me truth that helped me understand the wonder of who You are and the blessing of Your amazing grace. I bow in adoration and in joy.

Made perfect in Christ

 

People used to call me a perfectionist. I resented it because in my mind, every person should do the best they can. Not only that, it seemed to me that most folks could excel or at least improve if they tried harder.

Then one pastor said, “If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing poorly.” That made me think about my motivations. Was I restricting my activities to only the tasks that I could do well? Was I unwilling to attempt anything that I knew would not turn out well? Was ‘doing poorly’ a threat to me?

I still think that doing the best we can is a virtue, but have changed my mind about picking and choosing. Some things are impossible or not a good idea because of my health and physical well-being, but I’m far more willing to try new things and not worry too much about how I rate.

As for being a perfectionist, Jesus did say this: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) While perfectionism can be a sin, I wondered why tell us that when the Bible is clear that no one is perfect except God?

Today’s reading says this word is used in four ways. Job 1:8 points to one of them.

And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8)

According to this writer, God uses this term to describe someone who is ‘sincere’ and says that God’s people are not deceitful, hypocritical or pretentious. While this is true of Job, the Hebrew word in other versions is translated blameless, free from guilt. This indicate that perfection is about keeping short accounts with God and trusting Jesus who bore our guilt. In other words, it is about being forgiven and knowing it to the degree that all of life is affected.

The next verse about perfection says: “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2)

This word in Greek is about maturity or completeness. Those who are in control of what they say are mature. It seems that perfection in this verse refers to Christians who are walking in the Spirit and not so much in the flesh. It isn’t so much about who they are all the time, but how they let God control their words as they obey Him.

The third use refers to the believer’s positional holiness, sinlessness, and blamelessness before God by the atonement of Christ and the imputation of his righteousness. The author used this verse to illustrate this meaning:

And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 16:14)

While perfect is used in this example, the context is a description of a sinful use of the physical perfections. The perfections of Christ imputed to us are not about the appearance of our physical bodies. Our imputed holiness is better described in the NT rather than this verse that uses the word ‘perfect’ to describe what He has given us. Not every Christian could be considered renown because of their outward comeliness, but all are perfect in holiness in Christ. 

Of course another use of the word ‘perfect’ is in describing  the ultimate glorification of all believers when we shall be made entirely conformed to the image of Christ in heaven. This verse is used:

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12)

Another author says that this use of ‘perfect’ should be understood in the sense of a functional stage of religious attainment, to be completely successful, to succeed fully. For this, I’m often drawn to this verse that describes what God is doing in my life:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

In this life, I see Jesus in reading about Him, in experiencing and responding to His grace. This is the route to perfection, yet He does it. On my own I can do nothing.

PRAY: Lord, as I confess my sins, You forgive and cleanse me. As I keep my focus on You, You transform me into what I see in You, yet this task is not done and will never be until You take me to be with You forever. If perfectionism means to be a fan of the One who is perfect, then I’m all for it.

Jesus does it for me. . . .

 

This week a man was found not guilty and released from prison after being locked up several years for something he did not do. Imagine a twist to this story; the man was guilty but released because another person was willing to serve his sentence for him. This twist illustrates the gospel and the grace of God.

Just as our laws require obedience and punishment for those who break them, God’s laws are even more exacting. The law must be fulfilled. Both its requirements of righteousness and justice must be satisfied. The only way fallen, sinful men can ever fulfill the law and be saved is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the sinner’s Substitute.

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:3–11)

This passage is for those who believe the gospel and trust Christ, our Substitute as our law-keeper. Yet how easily this is overlooked. The church at Galatia did that, either through simply forgetting, but more likely because false teaching made a strong appeal to their pride.

Put it this way: Christ is my righteousness. I cannot save myself or do anything that warrants His amazing grace. My pride balks at this. I have some goodness, don’t I? So I begin an effort to be righeous without depending on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That fails, but spiritual blindness can make me think I’m doing just fine as I walk in the flesh, ignoring what I’d once learned, or just not seeing my efforts as fleshy. Reread the above passage!

So Paul wrote to the Galatians, and his words are for anyone who falls prey to the idea that there is some goodness in that old nature. . . .  

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1–3)

If this happens, along with it comes the rating of sin. Some are totally intolerable, like most of the lists in Scripture, but God put in enough for me to realize that simply ignoring Him and doing my own thing, as good as it might seem, is sin. I might even start telling Almighty God how He should rule the universe, or at least the events of my life, as if I know better than He does. It may take years for some of us who trust Christ to realize the meaning of “in everything” and actually do it in everything.

PRAY: Father, I know that all believers struggle with the noisy demands of our hostile flesh and I know how much I need a daily reminder to trust You with everything, the messiness of the world and the trials that keep popping up in my world. Thank You for Jesus. When I fail and listen to the flesh, You are listening to my Savior and Substitute interceding for me. Like a prisoner set free, I’m deeply thankful that Jesus stands for me and for the grace and love that motivated Him to take my place and do what I cannot do.

Who gets the glory?

The author of the devotional I am using puts focus on faith in the gospel, not only for saving sinners as our Substitute, but also for His grace in our everyday lives. Today he writes of our desire to see the glory of God. Some of what he says feels like a rebuke for not believing, yet he also writes of the reasons to see God at work.

For me, it seems easier to be critical of the lack of faith in others and in myself than it is to rejoice in what God is doing, both in my life and the lives of other Christians. This is my fleshy, old nature side: critical, never satisfied, always wanting more, and so on. However, as I praise God in worship, study the Bible, and pray in Jesus’ name, it is easier to trust God for all things, including the biggies, like the mess in the world, and including the salvation of hard-hearted people that seem far from faith.

Early in my walk with Jesus, He gave me this passage, and my focus back then was on the first part. . . .  

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30)

Finally I realized that the “good” was more than what made me feel good; it is about transforming my life to be like Jesus. Then I began to see God's glory in a far different way. Since then, even as I see others going through various circumstances, my prayer is that God will use it for that kind of good — to bring spiritual growth into their lives. That is the glory of God.

Yet far too often, something else is given credit for our victories. I cannot be critical for I do it too. When I was in the hospital last year, I told others that I came out with far more empathy for those who are sick. I should be saying that the Lord gave me this empathy instead of sounding like it dropped out of thin air. This is because. . . .  

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

Years ago I was involved in a seminar where one of the attendees was often giving God glory. Another Christian said, “Who is that woman doing all the God-talk?” as if to make fun of her. Is that why giving God glory is difficult or avoided? That others will mock me? Or treat me as if I am odd? This fear is more than mere selfishness; it is dangerous. Jesus said:

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)

So the Lord’s Word to me today is very clear — I am to not only seek His glory but speak it. For instance, Jesus answered prayer and healed BF of back and knee pain that has bothered her for years. My hubby met a man last night who gave him affordable information about a problem in our home, totally providential, thank You Jesus. I prayed for someone to want an odd desk that I could not seem to sell, and it was sold the next day.

PRAY: This is a short list. God, You hear, care, and often answer prayer before it is prayed. It is easy to write about it and toss it out into the world on the Internet. Help me to do the same with my words and actions every day, because You give me so many opportunities to glorify You!


 

These troubling times. . . .

 

Many folks in North America are in a turmoil over tariffs, new laws, and the way governments are threatening each other. However, Christians need not get in a stew. Sooner or later, either in mercy or in wrath, God will make all men see and confess that “The most High rules.” Nothing happens apart from His will, even the tough stuff.

In the days of Daniel, the king Nebuchadnezzar thought he was invincible and yet God had another plan. This man was “driven from among men, and his dwelling was with the beasts of the field. He was made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time passed over him, until he knew that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” (Daniel 4:17-32) After this time of insanity, this proud king declared:

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34–35)

In many cases, national leaders have little knowledge of God. Even these days, I’ve heard it said that while many Christians have biblical understanding that God is ruling, is totally sovereign, yet in practice they live like atheists. This does not always mean they are not really Christians, but that the full realization of this truth has not yet grabbed hold. The flesh still has not realized it is dead (separated from God) or the reality of fleshy action has not been recognized. If that is happening, some Christians run their own lives as if God is there only to forgive sin and take them to heaven.

This can be the result of inadequate teaching, or just a proud heart that does not see their need to diligently study the Word of God. Whatever the reason, God teaches us through trials. When trouble comes, the goal is to realize He can be trusted within the trial. For Nebuchadnezzar, God removed it. For some, the difficulty stays.

Either way, eventually all of us are terminal. What goes unlearned here will not benefit this life or give us the peace of knowing God is in charge. Far better is that “abundant life” Jesus promised to His sheep. We need to be able to say this about those who think they are in charge of things:  

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:21–25)

He also says this, and these words give me a calm heart:

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:1–6)

PRAY: Father, I am so glad that You are on the throne and that the rulers of this world are not greater, stronger, or in charge over You. I can pray and even protest their ideas if You want me to do that, or I can rest in Your care and trust You, learning what You want me to learn from all trials. Nothing happens to the lives of Your people that escapes Your power to use it for our good — which is to transform us into the image of Your Son Jesus.

God’s perfect will. . . .

I’ve been praying more than twenty years for the salvation of some family members and friends. Through this, God is teaching me patience. However, I have a small problem concerning my own need that I’ve prayed about for a week and am getting impatient. This says a great deal about my concern for others and my selfishness concerning myself.

I read this morning that I am impatient if I think time belongs to me, but if I realize it  belongs to God, I will have the capacity to be patient. The question is, am I willing to trust in Him when I am living in the middle of the story, or do I want to fast forward to the end? Do I want to skip the struggle to get to the resolution? Or even in the struggle can I be content to trust in God, letting faith in the unseen be my anchor during this troubling time? If I can do it for the salvation of others, what is my problem with waiting on Him concerning a small problem of my own? Where is my faith then?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Why is it easier to depend on the unseen for someone else and not for myself? Am I so important that I must have God hear me right now? I am critical of those Christians who must have a resolution to all of life’s struggles as soon as possible, yet accept my impatience without thinking I also lack the faith needed to wait just as they do?

God promised to meet all my needs. Do I doubt that He sees my prayer as a need, or that the answer would be helpful? In Exodus, He held back on some vital needs of His people to test them, to see if they would obey Him. Am I so short-sighted that I cannot see this might be why He delays?

This week, an eleven-year-old child said to me, “When we have troubles, God is trying to teach us something.” How easily the flesh forgets that truth. How wonderful that He can speak it through the lips of a little one to someone who is old enough to be her great-grandmother. I am humbled.

My little problem does rob me of energy and enthusiasm, but I must not let it rob me of faith. God is the same God for this issue that He is for all issues. He rules the universe and the earth revolves around the sun at the exact time and angle needed for our lives to thrive. My problems are nothing to such an Almighty God.

PRAY: Lord, You know my needs. Forgive me for thinking that You have forgotten me or that You do not care. Your timing is always perfect and You are good all the time. As Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” I can depend on Your will to be done, in Your way and in Your perfect time.

My Need for God’s Spirit

Christian discernment notices things that  otherwise would be missed. For instance, when another believer is filled with the Spirit, the attitudes or fruit that the Spirit produces are very obvious to a discerning mind. Because this happens, God’s grace is richly recognized and enjoyed. Rather than crediting a spirit-filled person for being nice, God is glorified as He should be. However, if a believer is walking in the flesh, discernment easily senses selfishness, or rudeness, knowing that this doe not come from the Holy Spirit. Fleshy behavior is the opposite of godly behavior. The difference is described in Scripture by comparing the two:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

Fleshy behavior is selfish, but not always discerned as such. I need to watch how I react to it. If someone is rude to me, my reaction could be critical or anger or wanting to retaliate. Yet God tells my to be discerning and pray for that person. They are not walking in the Spirit and need to get back on track. If I am offended by what they did and react in a fleshy way, then I am not walking in the Spirit either.

How is it even possible to respond rightly to the sin of others? Is it not because of Jesus? Because He died as my substitute and took my penalty for sin, He also lives as my substitute and gives me His life as my righteousness. Today’s readings verify this:

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18–19)

The law of God requires not only that I am without sin, but also that I am completely obedient to holiness. I am to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and being, and others as myself. This righteousness Christ performs for me as my Substitute. In Him, I’m to obey God  through the power of the Holy Spirit. I do not have to live by the dictates of my old nature, no matter how others treat me.

The Bible says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness and that when God imputed the righteousness of Christ to us, He was made my righteousness. In other words, I have the righteousness of God in Christ. This is not just about my legal standing before God, but about my state in this world. He makes it happen by filling me with His Spirit so I can walk in obedience.

Galatians 5 begins with, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) This refers to the slavery of sin, of living by my old nature, which is sinful. It goes on. . . .  

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:13–18)

Fleshy behavior is not only sin against God and a lack of love for Him, it is sinful against others, and that lack of love can offend and hurt them. However, if I’m on the receiving end, I’m not to retaliate but do what Jesus does — die to it and intercede for the other person, not only with a spirit of forgiveness but pray that God will work in their lives so they realize their fleshy motivations and actions, confess them, and ask for His fullness so they are filled with the fruit that only the Holy Spirit can produce:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

PRAY: Lord, my flesh resents my own flesh behavior, never mind the things others do apart from Your Spirit. Enable me to respond to whatever others do in the same way You respond to me — with love, patience and kindness as you gently show me how deeply I also need self-control that comes from Your amazing righteousness. I do not have any of this without You and need You every day, every hour, every moment of my life.

My Best Friend

Someone once told me that I was either a genius or autistic. When I take the tests, add ADHD to that. As a child, I was home and mostly without peers for several years, so not socialized. My parents were told I would die before 15-16 so they didn’t teach me to live. Add to that thirty relocations, many too short to get to know people, and many involving being far from those I did know. This is not a pity party but an explanation why my thinking seems out of place in a social setting. Some look at me as if I am the white elephant in the room. Those who understand become dear friends, few in number but deeply appreciated.

Then there is Jesus. Of all the people I know, He is the closest, the most understanding, the one who sticks by me and explains life to me. Theologically, He is my righteousness and advocate as the following verses say:

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Hebrews 9:24)
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:22–25)
God saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

Add to that that He endures. Often others get to know me and then ignore me. Jesus never does that. He is “the Lord, my righteousness.” and has “redeemed me from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for me” and for my sake was made sin even though He never sinned, so I could become righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Not only that, I am secure — He will lose no one that the Father has given Him. All this is good reason to trust Him, but even more, I know Him as my best friend. He said:

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:14–15)

Being close to Jesus, as most Christians know, means constant change. He works all things to transform us into His image. My husband says, “The closer I am to God, the closer I am to you.” This is true; being like Jesus is unifying, another reason He is so precious. He brings me through life experiences by using them for His plan for me. Not only that, He relates to my situations. He knows what it feels like to be misunderstood, ignored, dismissed, and rejected, even by His own people. He also knows the joy of unity with those who do understand, accept, and spend time with Him. He pulls together diversity without making clones or brain-washing to make us think alike, or be like puppets.

PRAY: Jesus, these are some of the reasons that I love You and that You are my Friend. It is Your doing all this, not what I am. You give me hope along with the reality of being like You as my eyes and heart focus on You — without much concern over what I’ve missed or the vacancies experienced. You fill the empty places. You, my incredible Lord and Savior — and Friend. Oh how I love You.

The love of God. . . .

Today is considered ‘love’ day when special expressions of love are offered, expected, and appreciated. This is not a worldwide holiday. Several countries do not recognize it. A few designate it as a private thing, unlike North America where the stores are filled with red, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.

Biblical love is generally not describe the same way we describe romantic love. Bible love is more about the love of God for those who know Jesus and how that love is expressed.

That said, today’s reading speaks of another idea about love. When Lazarus died, Jesus went to his sisters and one verse says, “Jesus wept.” At this, The Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36) This is oddly different from the words of both sisters who said, “If You had been here…” perhaps implying His love failed them. In other words, reading this brings out the fact that I cannot see hearts and know why people say or do what they do, particularly about love.

This reminds me of the pastor who saw a woman weeping during his message and assumed she was deeply touched by what he said. After the service, he found out she was crying because her cat just died!

As for the tears of Jesus, it seems wise not to interpret them by saying what made Him weep. Who knows? Sometimes we don’t understand the motivations of others.

The study of love languages gives more examples. One of my family feels loved when given gifts, but she is not greedy in the slightest. I feel loved when listened to and rejected when ignored. Others feel loved when touched, valuing a hug or a touch on their arm. It appears that the Jews interpreted Jesus’ tears as an expression of love but He may have thought something else. He also wept in another situation:

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41–44)

His tears did express love, grief, and loss, but not because a friend died. Instead, Jerusalem rejected His arrival as their Messiah and He felt great sorrow for them and for what they were missing. At the grave of Lazarus, He could have wept because of a similar lack of faith in His power to raise Lazarus.

When the Bible tells me to love others, I’m also seeing how love is not always what I might suppose either. One passage says biblical love comes from those who know God and His love — through knowing Christ and His salvation. Love from me is His love in me, not from just me. I must abide in Him, be certain of His love, be confident that I’m forgiven and without fear of judgment. I love God because He loves me, and can only love His way by being certain of His love. (1 John 4:7–19) I need to be filled with His Spirit to love in a way that makes others feel loved by God.

Scripture also describes love in more concrete terms that show how God's love is not about what most people think it is. Instead of loving someone for how good they make me feel, showing His love is an expression of care for others without any benefit in it for me:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:1–7)

PRAY: Lord, Your love is far beyond human description and ability. The closest I can come to understand it is by staying near the cross where You died. You say most of us would likely not  die for a righteous person, or maybe a good person, but in love, You died for us while we were still sinners. Enable me to never turn my heart away from this amazing and gracious ultimate expression of Your love, a love not based on performance or what anyone does for me, except that You love me and You died for me.  (Romans 5:7–8)

Amazing Hope. . . .

So far, this has been a challenging week with concern for friends, odd health issues, spiritual lessons that seem impossible to learn and apply, interruptions to almost every task, and a long to-do list, meetings and appointments, and new information flying at me like angry wasps. I felt abandoned at times, like Jesus had other more important things to deal with and the battles were mine alone.

Today’s reading is like warm oil. It begins with: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4)

When John wrote of his experiences in exile, he saw a sealed scroll and was concerned that no one could open it and he began to weep. However. . . .  

One of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then Jesus appeared between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, standing as a Lamb as though it had been slain. He took the scroll and the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before Him, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then John heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders. These angels numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Not only that, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, were saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:1–14)

The Bible does not tell us much about heaven, but this is awesome. I will have a clear vision of Christ. Everything which now hinders my sight of Him will be removed. My many sins, earthly cares and sorrows will be gone, and like the song that blesses me, there will be nothing between me and my Savior, nothing to rival Christ or distract me from all that is in Him.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:1–3)

This is full redemption — seeing the face of Jesus with all evil and every fleshy impulse totally eradicated. I long for that complete transformation when my will and heart are totally one with His will and heart. No more battles with sin. Total bliss.

PRAY: Jesus, thank You for such a wonderful hope, particularly when the days are long and filled with so much of the struggles that will not be in heaven. What a great blessing to know that when I at last see Your face, I will be perfectly satisfied. In the meantime, thank You also for the challenge to purify myself as You are pure, doing this by obedience to another truth from John: “If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Truly, You are a worthy and awesome God.

Chosen for a reason?

Yesterday I thought about being chosen by God — for no reason, at least not in me. But He does have a reason. He told His disciples:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)

There are three reasons in this verse. One is that I will bear fruit. All through the NT, fruit-bearing is defined as a changed life produced by the Holy Spirit and often through discipline. This implies that the person chosen has much that needs changing. That is one reason He picked me. I did and still do need changing.

Second, this fruit abides, continues, endures. It is not incidental but a lasting habit. Habits of any kind are a challenge and take much repetition to form — even with the power of the Holy Spirit behind them. They require learning and relearning. With my selfishness plus attention-deficit, this is the second reason He picked me.

The third reason is so He would be glorified in answered prayer. This does not mean that I am a strong prayer person. Instead, it implies that there is no other reliable virtue or skill in me so I must pray to accomplish anything, not just the fruit of being His child, but all things. I cannot eat or drink to the glory of God, never mind speak His will or fathom His ways without prayer. More and more I realize my helplessness and that helplessness is the third reason He picked me.

Sometimes the Bible seems to put the onus on God’s sheep to do the doing, the fruit producing, making it a habit, and do the praying. Realizing my impotence changes my view. To me, passages like this one are descriptive of those who have been blessed because we are chosen, and are not or have not done anything to become chosen:

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:1–5)

Jesus explains that He is the door and we listen to Him. He came to give us life so we could live like His sheep.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3–6)

How does this make sense? It is because God knows the ones who are the most qualified to glorify Him; it is the least, not the most likely in our eyes, or His . . . .  

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:25–29)

PRAY: This week is a steep learning curve, yet when You speak to me, dear Jesus, I hear your voice and You change my life. More and more I see my foolishness, weakness, lowliness and lack of wisdom. More and more I see how much I need You and am willing to share with others that anything I accomplish is because of You. Yet I also see, more and more, how much more I must learn.

No Special Treatment

 

For the past week, I’ve suffered what seems to be a Job-like experience. If things go awry, the Lord normally reveals to me why or what He wants to teach me. This time, no clue. A pinched nerve in my neck giving me stabbing headaches, and a rash that seems without cause or even identity. I did find out they were not related to each other, and the pinched nerve seems to becoming ‘unpinched’ if that is a word. But the rash has not responded to four expensive creams or any home remedies, nor does there seem to be a reason for it.

The Bible tells me that God rules all things and is no respecter of persons, meaning He does not play favorites. He does have reasons, but as with Job, He is not obligated to tell anyone the ‘why’ of everything, only to trust Him. This shows up early in the OT:

For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. (Romans 9:15–18)

During the past few days, I could not concentrate in prayer. I’d start and immediately my mind went somewhere else. That is frustrating. Also, I slept several hours each day. That is not normal either, but seemed necessary.

Today’s reading is about God not being a respecter of persons. That means I cannot say I am immune from trouble for any reason on my part. He can protect me — or not. One pastor said this week that some Christians in our church are suffering but remain cheerful. That is a Holy Spirit thing and all I wanted to do was sleep?

Paul didn’t have the same problems, but he knew that the job he was given would bring suffering. Reading this passage makes me feel I need to think more like he thought:

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:8–12)

While my issues do not seem to be related in a specific sense to respecter of persons, the idea that God is going to give me special treatment while others suffer is not true. I’ve often called myself “God's spoiled brat” but He does not favor and protect me for who I am. His working is according to His will, and I cannot claim to be honored above anyone else.

Today’s reading ends with this statement and it is an important truth, one for which I need a good reminder as I seem to be giving myself too much respect:

“God is no respecter of persons,’ and neither should we be. There is no place in the church of God for the honoring of human flesh. We court none and we despise none. We receive as brethren all who worship our God. All are to be treated with equal love, care and esteem. Rich and poor, black and white, male and female—are all equals in Christ.”

PRAY: Jesus, I’m no wiser on the why of this experience, but like Job, I need to simply respect who You are and what You do without insisting You give me a reason or any other special treatment. You have saved me, given me Yourself and eternal life. That is special treatment — and totally not at all related to anything I’ve done to deserve it. Forgive me for thinking that I am more special than I am. You are the Lord, no matter what happens!

There is only one good slave-master. . . .

 

The religious people in Jesus’ day claimed they were not slaves to anyone. They were thinking of human physical bondage, but Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)

His words fly in the face of those who say we have a free will. Without Jesus, our so-called freedom is doing whatever we want, running our own lives apart from God. The Bible calls that sin and sin is ordering our lives. This is why the Bible tells me:

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

I could make a list: eating after I’m full, watching TV when God is telling me to do something else, becoming angry about something and letting the sun go down on my anger, putting off praying for another person’s request, blah, blah. My friends say that too much focus on sin is not good, and they are right, but what is the alternative? To me, if I am not obedient, then I need to repent and do what the Lord says, focusing on His forgiveness and goodness.

This is simple, but as today’s reading says, legalism or living by rules is natural, a big part of that old nature. It causes me to seek assurance or recognition based on my own works instead of on Christ. It can also cause me to shirk what I should be doing because I feel inadequate and unworthy.

Legalism is motivated by pride, fear, unbelief and a sense of duty — all slave drivers. So is the way it can lead me to judge others by rules (theirs or mind) instead of loving them as brothers and sisters in God’s family.

This passage is long, but when slavery calls, I need to read and re-read it:

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:6–23)

PRAY: Jesus, what arrogance to think that my choices for life are better than Yours. While You do use a rod and staff to direct me, it is far better than the whip I carry to motivate myself. Thank You Jesus for wanting and securing my freedom and for being my Shepherd.

Teacher or Preacher?

 

 

One of the courses I had to take when working toward a Masters in Theology required me to ‘preach’ to my classmates. I picked the first part of Titus 2 that instructs pastors to encourage women in their roles. When I finished, one of the class said that I didn’t preach, that it sounded more like I was reading an essay.

I’ve since heard similar ‘preaching’ and yet find this activity hard to define. One source compares teaching to preaching:

A teacher shares knowledge to their listeners. They educate their listeners with new knowledge or to improve their student's knowledge. A preacher is a persuader. A preacher convinces or persuades their listeners to take action, change their behavior or change their beliefs.

This is technical and does not do it for me. A teacher’s message can be persuasive and a preacher’s words can improve my knowledge but my beliefs and behavior remain unchallenged. Is it something about the delivery rather than the content? Or does it have to do with the heart and motivation of the speaker? Or the heart and desire of the listeners?

For my ‘sermon’ I was speaking to men who would be preachers. I didn’t feel qualified to do that even though I was convinced that they needed to know what my text said and also needed to do it. Women in the church had drifted from those basic responsibilities in their marriages and homes. However, I do not remember saying what I said with the attitude of having authority, or with the conviction that this was vital. My words were correct but not persuasive — or perhaps some of the listeners did not want to do what I told them?

Today, I’m thinking this question needs to be looked at from another angle. We once belonged to a church who recently experienced the retirement of a former pastor and the hiring of a new pastor. The former pastor was well-liked and both taught and persuaded. The new pastor was not gifted in either, but he was compassionate and encouraging. Some of the congregation complained that he was not a teacher, particularly those who lacked compassion and were not encouragers.

This and other observations bring out the reasons for these NT verses:

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7)
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. (Hebrews 13:17)

God tells me I can learn from the gifts and skills of all His people, particularly those differing from my focus. I know what I can do well, but also know where I lack. Those with others gifts than mine can teach me, even if they are not preachers or teachers.

The other truth is that God gives leaders a heart to care for the spiritual life of their congregations. They want to be helpful where He placed them and they want to do it well. It is to my credit if I respect them and joyfully allow them to help me become a more mature Christian. It is to their credit if they can give a positive account to God concerning the development of my spiritual life. This is a win-win for both of us.

The sermon I just heard was not preaching. It sounded like the reading of an essay! But it was truth, and glorified God. For that reason, I can respect and imitate the one who gave it.

PRAY: Jesus, we sheep can hear Your voice in the words of a teacher or preacher, yet this can be entirely subjective. As the speaker I heard today said, my role is to run to You, stay close to You, be filled with Your Spirit and listen for You and for what You tell me to think about and do. This is about knowing Your Word and discerning truth, no matter who says it and no matter their style (or lack of style) in the saying. Help me fully respect those who do what they can do to convey Your words to my life and draw me closer to living as You desire me to live.