Before sin and its consequences…

The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:20–25)

In high school English, my teacher stressed looking for connections when the word “therefore” as used. It usually means “for that reason or consequently.” A few weeks ago, I read that it is used hundreds of times in Scripture, therefore is worth looking at. 

In the above passage, the Word of God connects why and how God made woman, and what He intended as the consequence. In thinking about it, an internet image came to mind. It was a mare and her foal trotting together, in step, side by side, with the older horse guiding the younger one who came from her body. The harmony was lovely. She nurtured and guided the foal and the perfect youngster was growing and happy as they moved together. 

This is not a perfect example because most people have trouble imagining marriage could look like that. And we are not horses. The bigger problem? In Genesis 3, sin came in. The results are described in one verse that she will desire her husband, but he will rule over her. Later God explained the struggle they would have with sin:

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)

Other translations clarify that sin is the desire to run our own lives our way and not God's way. That rules out being in step with our spouse and having the harmony described in the NT:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22–33)

Even Christian women think “submission” is a bad word that robs her of her personhood, yet being a “helper” to her spouse is honorable. The only other use of that term calls God our helper. Wives travel in high and honorable company! 

Not only that, after years of us each trying to do our own thing, hubby and I are moving closer to the “therefore” description — only because Jesus is at work and insists on no other attitude. The surprise is the joy and peace of harmony rather than each of us desiring to rule and have our own way.

Therefore, keep at it, Jesus. The more we love and obey You, the more we love and make sacrifices for each other. Your way is always better!

The Power of Salvation

God reminds me today of all that He has done and is doing in my life. Because of His faithfulness I live in His mercy which is “new every morning.” As we age, forgetfulness is common, yet the  only sign of amnesia in the Lord is that He forgets to remember my sins against Him! These thoughts fill me with peace, joy, and hope. His words of truth keep changing my life. 

He tells me to “Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4) 

Joy in trials once seemed impossible, but as He shows His goodness, then I start to see it, even before the trials are over.

He bids me to ask for wisdom, trusting Him. If I cannot do both He patiently keeps showing me that He is the source of wisdom and His wisdom can be trusted. 

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” not from me, not from the kindness of others. He is the first source, the origin of goodness and this produces humility and thankfulness. 

When I watch the congregation go forward to participate in communion, I see that partiality is foolish. We all stand before Him, saved sinners remembering what He has done for us. There is no rich or poor, only family — together to thank and glorify our Savior. 

He also reminds me that the praying field is level; “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” No little/big sins. It is just sin that we fight — and salvation by faith that we share. Yet this salvation is not mere talk. If it is real, it show up:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 

Faith without works is only talk, not saving faith. Saving faith changes lives. God says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?… For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” 

One example of faith is tongue control. The Bible says it is “a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”  So I need the grace of God and the power of God to know when to speak and when to shut up. I also need His wisdom: 

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
God also points out the reason some of my prayers bounce off the ceiling: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” and He tells me what to do about it — in this order: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. . . . Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, I will live and do this or that.” As it is, “You boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So if you know the right thing to do and fail to do it, for you it is sin.” 

He tells me of His patience and this changes my ’I want it now’ focus. He tells me of His healing power and I pray for the sick and for those who sin, but also confess my own, and more easily see that prayers coupled with simple obedience have great power. Yet as Piper says, the promises God made to Abraham and the prayer prayed through Mary all found their fulfillment in Jesus. My prayers are answered only because of Him.

PRAY: My Lord and God, I praise you for your grace and your mercy, and Your incredible power to speak to a sinful person and change their life, my life. Thank you for sending Jesus and making such miracles happen. 

Joy

 

READ Psalm 96–100

This morning our son sent me a link to an older video that he’s just discovered. After listening to it and reading these psalms, I’m filled again with great joy. God truly brings His people together as we praise Him. This is the LINK to the video and the music is Ode to Joy. It shows the wonder of what happens when people obey these verses:

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. (Psalm 96:1–6)

Why praise God? Because “The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!” (97:6–7) It is also because joy is the consequence of doing what God says, and what He wants for us — the reason for His decrees. “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!” (97:11–12)

Music is a powerful medium. It can be exciting, soothing, energizing, even maddening, but most of all, the music of praise is joyful. I see it on the faces of those in the video and feel it rise up in my heart as I sing with them.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! (98:4–6)

I worship God because He is holy: “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!” (99:9) That means He is ‘set apart’ and there is no one or nothing like Him. He is worthy of our praise, totally worthy.

Joy is also powerful. Yesterday at church an elder sat near the back. He attends each week with a limp, a leg brace, and always with joy on his face. This time, he also had a black eye and a few facial scars. He told me he fell, but he never grimaced. We talked about the discovery that joy is not about all things being well. Instead, joy from God overrides all things. It cannot be ruined by mishaps, pain, trials or discomfort. Learning to live in joy is an amazing gift from the Lord, a gift received by this man, the psalmists, and others who enter a deep walk with Jesus Christ. Joy is not the reason we worship; worship is the reason we have joy.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (100:1–5)

Thank You Lord for the joy that reveals to me Your great love and power, Your faithfulness and determination to bless Your children. What a wonder You are!