One source of genuine wisdom

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’ (Job 32:6–10)

While all of Job’s comforters say true things, most of it is partial and misses what is actually happening to this man. He is a test subject in the spiritual realm and they cannot see what is going on. This does not mean all they say is nonsense, only that their observations and opinions do not apply to Job’s situation.

At the same time, I’m thinking two things. My dad used to say, “There is no fool like an old fool” with several people in our community to prove his point. I also thought of  the wise words from youth. One example: Christmas shopping was a hassle and the store full of rushing shoppers. At the till I complained of all the hurrying and my young daughter said, “But mom, we don’t have to hurry on the inside.”

Kids can be wise. Knowing the Word of God is not just for the mature. However, at that all wisdom comes from God. Besides, the older I get, the more I realize how much I do not know. As for Elihu, he went on:

“Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him. Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world? If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. (Job 34:10–15)

He may not have understood the what and why of Job’s situation, but he did know that God knew, and that God was not being evil or doing the wrong thing. Whatever was happening, the Lord was righteous and had good in mind for this man.

The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.” (Job 37:23–24)

In the last few months, I’ve realized how often I assume - assuming that other people are thinking like I think, or assuming that we are on the same page regarding our interpretations of life events. This is motivating me to listen more, ask questions, seek to understand. Even though Job tried, his friends had their assumptions and his explanations fell on deaf ears. At the same time, this narrative reveals my flaws in thinking I know why others suffer. 

Lord Jesus, sometimes You help me really see what is going on when suffering happens, yet most of the time, I miss it. Help me avoid assuming and giving my opinion when I need to listen more (two ears) and shut up (one mouth).

God’s Cure for Spiritual Blindness

 

It’s possible that those who call themselves Christian have learned all they know about Christianity from a textbook, or a preacher, or what they read or imagine other than what the Bible says. Because it appeals to them, they believe it but when the events of life do not match what they have been told, they become confused and doubtful.

I’ve read that I am not to accept any conception of what I see in Christ, no matter how strongly or logically it is presented. Even that statement is contrary to “what I see” because my understanding of the identity of Jesus was not told to me or explained by humans. I was revealed by the Spirit of God and for that reason, I shake my head at anything I hear to the contrary.

Years ago, a pair of cult members came to my door and questioned my understanding of Christ with “Who taught you that?” They insisted I must have been indoctrinated by others whose idea of Jesus was not the same as theirs, and that their ‘source’ was more reliable than mine. I persisted in saying that it came from the Holy Spirit, but they had no concept of how that could happen.

Today’s reading rightly says that my understanding must be based on Scripture, yet I know people who know what the Bible says and yet seem unable to obey what they know. This makes me wonder if their knowledge was taught to them by their church rather than a personal revelation by the Spirit. When humans speak, I can believe or not — depending if what I hear suits my fancy, but when the Holy Spirit says it, I know it is true. I may forget and need to hear Him again, yet refuting contrary teaching is not a big challenge when it comes to revealed knowledge.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:3–6)

Spiritual blindness is the norm. Seeing God’s truth is not. It must be revealed lest it swish over our heads. This is the reason that Bible reading and study are important, but even then, if I rely on my own abilities to interpret and understand without God revealing His meaning to me, then I’m in the same boat as those who are unable to see the Light.

PRAY: Jesus, I know that You were often misunderstood and Your identity was deemed a lie. I’m thankful and in awe that the day You came into my life, You opened my eyes to see that You are God in human flesh. It makes no sense to human thinking and is often called error and yet, spiritual revelation once seen is so powerful that nothing can rob me of that Light You have shone in my heart.

Knowing Truth

I’ve an online app for Selwyn Hughes’ wonderful devotionals called “Every Day with Jesus.” Today’s reading blessed me using verses about the guidance of the Holy Spirit. His focus was on Jesus words:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)

Hughes adds that obviously this means spiritual truth, but suggests all truth means truth about everything. His words reminded me of a couple of personal experiences. A few years ago, I thought I’d like a book of prayers that were different from the way I usually pray, mostly to prompt me to pray in a new way. I never told anyone.

However, a family member who is a believer gave me two prayer books, exactly what I was looking for. I told him this was an answer to prayer. He said he saw them in a department store, read a few pages to make sure they had good entries, and thought I would like them. The odd part is that he isn’t going to church or doing much praying that I know of, but the Holy Spirit used him anyway.

The other story was a visit to a family member who also once made a profession of faith but is not in church either. However, she drove by a church and thought it was the one we would like and told us that was where we should go. We did, and it was the right place for us to be the two Sundays we were able to attend. How did she know? All truth given from the Holy Spirit, even to a prodigal?

Hughes pointed me to several passages:

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:10–16)

In Galatians, Paul said he did not receive the gospel from anyone but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11–12) These days, many people in the Middle East are being saved by this same thing. They have no Bibles or churches but the Holy Spirit is revealing Jesus to them in dreams and visions. Can He not also direct people to buy the right books or select the right church? How about the right food to eat or the best store to find the coat they need? Or where to travel? Or what house to buy?

When  Paul was headed for Jerusalem, “constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.”  This was not a problem for him as he did not consider his life of any value nor precious to himself. He also knew that those with him would not see him again. (Acts 20:17–25) How was this possible unless the Spirit revealed it!

So many people look for guidance each day. Sadly, many look in the wrong place. For millions it is horoscopes in the nation’s newspapers that people often governed by ‘science’ in the rest of life can believe that the planets’ positions affect what might happen to them that day. For Christians, such things are not only forbidden, they are totally unnecessary; for God himself has promised to guide us.

This reading blesses me. God can use anyone, even backsliders who are His yet not walking the way Christians should walk are still guided by Him anyway. As for the two I mentioned, I see God’s Spirit at work in their actions and concerns for justice and truth.

PRAY: Lord, You are Lord. Your Spirit is guiding those who You want to guide, whether they realize it or not. You do this for me, but how delightful that Your guidance has no limits. Thank You.

In a fog about God?

Yesterday I mentioned reading an article entitled, “The silliest story ever told” that ridiculed the biblical story of Jesus Christ. This morning I read a response to comment on a video about exercise. The first comment said that God lead him to that channel and wanted to bless the person who had done the video. The reply to that comment said that he needed to have his mental health examined if he thought God led him to this video.

Both items made me feel sad, a bit annoyed, and somewhat apologetic. I wanted to take the people by the shoulders who dismissed the Lord and say, “You just don't understand.” But I know that it's God who creates understanding. I cannot talk anyone into it.

I also realize that much of the story of Jesus Christ does sound silly to the rational human mind. This morning, I tried to see some of that in the events common to each of the first three gospel accounts in the New Testament.

The first one sounds okay; John the Baptist announces that the Messiah is coming. But if that event is connected with Old Testament prophecy as the Gospel writers affirm, then it becomes suspect. The rational thinker assumes that no one knows the future not even the people of God 600 years ago. So to them, that part of the story is silly.

The second is the baptism of the Savior. A rational human mind would ask what significance is there in being dunked in water? Even if they understand that this is a symbolism, it makes no sense. Some sort of false teaching might say that baptism washes away sin but that makes no sense either. Those NT writers say that Jesus didn't sin so why did He have to be baptized? To them, this is also silly.

Third, all three of the gospels describe the temptation of Jesus Christ. If He is God what is the point? It makes more sense to say He is a man and is tempted like everyone else. Jesus responded to temptation with Scripture. It may make sense to use Bible verses to give a person a way of thinking to keep them from ‘error’ but only if that is what a person wants to believe. But to a rational thinker repeating verse of Scripture does not give anyone in any special power — no more than saying abracadabra does. So that one is silly too

Teachings and the miracles of Jesus are also irrational to the average human mind. They make no sense. Raising up a man who has been in a grave for 3 days? Really? What sense can a reasonable person make of that? Most will conclude somebody made it up.

I recently read an entire book that gives reasons that belief in Christ makes no sense. However it was written by a Christian theologian whose bottom line is valid. He concludes that unless God opens our hearts and gives us the gift of faith, none of it makes sense. it is silly.

Yet because God does open hearts and minds and grants faith to people, millions of people realize that all the sayings, the stories, drama, the teachings, the miracles, everything in the Scripture is true. It happened. Jesus did say those things. Jesus did do those things. We say we know this is true by faith, but faith is actually a gift to understand and verify the revelation God gives.

I imagine looking off to the horizon but there's a fog and nothing can be seen. Then the fog is lifted and reveals a string of mountains. They are blurry. Are they real? Then I am handed binoculars and with them the mountains can be clearly seen. I have no doubt they are actually there, not a mirage or a figment of my imagination or an illusion.

It is the same with knowing God. I could not see Him until He lifted the fog and handed me the binoculars. The words and events in the story were a blur and made no sense until God granted the ability to see what He is doing and has done, and with such clarity that I realize it is totally true.

I cannot make that happen. No one else can make that happen. We can seek the mountains. We can see something through the fog. But until He hands us the binoculars, we cannot make sense of it. The only thing we can do is keep looking. God promises that if we search for Him, we will find Him.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

And if the fog is still there, then He will grant faith. It is given and we can narrow our search enabling us to be recipients of that gift.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

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Jesus, I read the Bible for many years without any understanding of what I was reading. I didn’t think it was silly, but it certainly was covered in fog. Why did it take so long for revelation and faith to come? Perhaps the most obvious reason is that pride in my IQ created the fog. Now, as I think on these things, I am greatly aware that my salvation, even my very life, totally depends on You.

Where do I say NO?

God’s first ‘revelation’ of Himself is that He exists. The Bible tells how He does this: He puts eternity in our hearts; His creation reveals His glory and makes it plain:

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19–20)

This passage adds that people who refuse to acknowledge God exists are not thankful. Their hearts are darkened and their thinking becomes futile and foolish. They slide into deeper sin and are lost. At that point, what good would further revelation do if a person already rejects that He exists?

If a person believes that God does exist, this is good, but not a saving faith; even the demons believe and tremble. More revelation is required. This may involve a deeper understanding of who God is and what He does, yet eventually the most important concerns God’s high standard of righteousness and that we fall short. In this revelation, the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin. No one can get past this without agreeing with God.

Many will agree that all people sin, even that Jesus died for everyone, but when it comes to believing that “I am a sinner” and “Jesus died for my sin” there is resistance. A helpful illustration is to imagine everyone lined up on the west coast of the USA and given the task of swimming to Hawaii. Good swimmers might go several miles, but no one will make it; it is too far. So also is the high standard of God. Even the best ‘good’ people cannot reach it.

No person can be saved without agreeing that they need to be saved. Remember, God is not asking for a robot-like love. He wants our hearts engaged in saving faith. Saying no to our need of it will not produce it. Not only that, when God says I have sinned and I do not agree, I am calling Him a liar. What more can God say to convince me?

In today’s devotional reading, the author makes a difference between God’s general call to everyone, and His specific call to those who will be saved. He says the latter invitation is irresistible, but the first is not. Interesting, yet the Greek word used for ‘calling’ is the same, whether the invitation is accepted or rejected. In some mysterious way, people can resist the will of God. Jesus explained it this way:

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1–14)

Some accepted, some did not. What makes the difference? Perhaps it is that reference to a “wedding garment” required for being at the feast. In those days, it was supplied by the host, the person who sent out the invitations!

John Piper writes that salvation is a combination of two things that happen at the same time. God reveals the good news about Jesus Christ to a sinner and as that invitation is heard, He gives us the ability to believe it.

That is, the gift of faith and the gift of eternal life are God’s grace. This does not happen to those who reject His existence, or who refuse to believe that they sin and fall short. Yet for those who do go that far, it is still outside of our ability to say yes to God’s invitation. We need repentance and saving faith — both gifts from God. At that point, these gifts are irresistible because we have already agreed with God about our deepest need.

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Jesus, I’m trying to balance Your sovereignty with our responsibility. My efforts may fall short because the real question is why should You save anyone? Denying that You exist blinds us to see our sinfulness and need for You. Some of us will often fall and fail and fall and fail many times before admitting we cannot reach Hawaii by our own efforts. We often try over and over to please You, totally stubborn in our attempts to establish our own righteousness. Yet You are incredibly merciful. You keep calling, inviting, revealing, patiently saying, “Come to me . . . .” What a wonder that You should be gracious and change our NO to YES and transform us from darkness into light, from self-rule into Your kingdom, from lost lambs into Your children. 

Ignorance is not always bliss . . .

Just over ten years ago, my tasks in a writers' group ended. When I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do next, the answer was to post my daily devotions in a blog. I said, "What?" but knew that arguing would not be wise. These posts are the result of reading the Bible, sometimes being prompted by a devotional guide, but mostly listening to whatever the Lord has to say to me each day. I'm amazed how He knows what I need to hear. Someone else might read the same things and He will speak about a different issue in their lives. This shows that our relationship with Him is intimate and personal. I am so thankful -- even though there are days when I would rather not make public the conversations I have with Jesus.

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Sometimes God’s revelations are depressing. In the last week or so, He revealed to me the bottom line of a lifetime problem that I’ve only half-heartedly tried to overcome. At first I was dismayed, but slightly glad that I knew why this happened. After a few days of despondency, Chambers pointed to something that lifted my spirits.

He discusses the conversion of Saul to the Apostle Paul, beginning with this verse about Jesus encountering this man on the road to Damascus . . .

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Acts 9:5)

Before anything else, this reminds me that my own conversion was similar to Paul’s. I didn’t become a church planter or leader like him, nor was I persecuting Christians, but I was going the wrong direction when Christ confronted me with a bright light and changed my life.

As Chambers says, redemption is a miracle. He also points out the importance of obedience. I might try to do what God says and could appear very religious, but that is not Christianity. If my master is not Jesus Christ, then I am a slave to something or someone else.

This reminder of Paul’s conversion prompted me to think about other things in this man’s life. For instance, he had severely persecuted Christians before his conversion. This could have been a source of long-lasting sorrow, but he repented and did not let his past hold him back; he moved forward. This attitude became part of his understanding. Later, nearer the end of his life, he said,

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12–14)

Whatever happens, pressing on is vital. I am sad that time, energy, and life has been wasted, but this is what it is. God wants me to deal with the issues He has revealed, then press on toward the goal of being like Jesus.

Paul was well aware of the kind of person he had been, but he also understood that without God’s revelation, he would not have realized it . . .  

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief . . . .” (1 Timothy 1:12–13)

I need to be thankful, not sad. Ignorance and unbelief is what it is also. I’ve been depressed that it took so long to realize it, but that is not the point. The point is that God lifts ignorance and unbelief. He forgives and is merciful. Would I prefer that He let me go on in my ignorance? Not at all!

May the Lord have mercy on each one of us — whether or not we realize how much we need it!