Comforted and warned . . .

Revelation’s letters to seven churches applied to them, to other churches like them, to today’s churches with the same conditions, and to individuals who need to hear the words of Jesus. This includes me.

His letter to the church in Smyrna describes an event in my life. With tears, He informed me that I was going to experience a great trial. It began that very day and the vision of His tears sustained me for the lengthy time of that horrid trial. I can imagine how the church at Smyrna felt when they received a similar message also accompanied by the loving thoughts of the Lord:

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10–11)

As I have learned from that trial and others, suffering is not an evil intended to destroy. God has purpose in it and fulfills His promise to use all things for my good (Romans 8:28-29), the good being transformed into the image of His Son. Sometimes suffering is a discipline, or a way for God to prevent me from becoming proud or thinking too highly of myself. Sometimes it is a way to learn obedience. If I am like Jesus when under pressure, then my testimony of God’s power and love is far more believable than if I fold up in self-pity.

Most of all, through trials God teaches patience. He shows me that struggling, complaining, or any other response does not change the trial. Those responses only put my focus off Jesus and on myself, rob me of energy and make matters worse. Because of trials, I can now see that patience truly is a virtue.

The letter to the church in Pergamum is not as encouraging as the one sent to Smyrna. While Jesus commended for their faith under persecution, He also pointed out that they had a few false ideas that lead to sinful behavior. They needed to repent. Otherwise they would find themselves in trouble with Jesus rather than in trouble with false teachers:

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Revelation 2:13–17)

Compromise with worldly morality and pagan doctrine was prevalent in that church. It is also a danger today. In the name of tolerance, Christians are urged to put up with sinful practices. The danger of tolerance is eventually participating in that which we are supposed to merely tolerate.

The situation in Pergamum was severe. It is not that strong for me, but there are times when I should speak up but remain silent. The saying, “For evil to triumph, all that is required is for good people to do nothing” may be the problem. I tend to follow the idea that “If truth and lies are allowed to battle, truth will win” but sometimes forget that I hold the sword of truth. I cannot leave it unused when the arrows of the Liar are flying all over the place, and particularly when they are hitting targets within the Body of Christ.

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Jesus, You know the challenges of using that Sword in a hostile world. You died because You told the truth to a people who didn’t want to hear it. Eventually ‘Jesus wins’ yet the battle rages and You expect me to be part of it, to resist sin, to repent of any sin I am guilty of, to rebuke it in others and do what I can to restore those who fall to the enemy’s arrows. In these two letters, I see You both as a Comforter in the battles and difficulties of life and a Warrior who knows the real enemy and fights the Liar and His lies with all of Your heart and soul. You gave Your life to defeat that enemy and I want to be just like You.  

Today’s thankful list . . .

- being comforted by God’s Word.

- the Lord’s reminders to press on in truth.

- sweet prayer and sharing with other Christians.

- feeling physically stronger because of the weekly session at the gym and doing the homework.

- the beauty of winter.

- the love of family and friends.

Staying out of danger may not avoid suffering

Jeremiah 33:1–34:22, Romans 8:1–17, Proverbs 22:1–16

This week, someone drove into the side of a train. Reason? They were not paying attention. While that driver might not have been simple minded, Solomon may have disagreed. One of his proverbs says, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3)

Jeremiah gave warnings of danger to God’s people before the exile: “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known . . . . I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil.’” But that condemnation was not the end of God’s plan.

He continued, “Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it . . . . the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” (Jeremiah 33:1-11)

Lest they think they would be scot-free, He also warned them to truly repent: “You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves . . . . You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the Lord. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 34:15–17)

Repentance and obedience is a mark of faith and of a sincere commitment to follow the Lord. However, those who continue doing whatever they desire as the Israelites did, are marked as unfaithful and destined for severe chastening which could include death. In those days, death was literal as well as spiritual. In the NT, death often means both, or simply separation from God.

“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.” (Romans 8:5–8)

Christians who sin are following the desires of the flesh. Yet because of Christ and the grace and power of God, we are never separated from God: “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 8:10–11)

That is good news, but that does not mean I am free to do whatever I want. Sin brings with it a sense of exile, a sense that God is not pleased, even that He is not with me. I feel it in my very bones, even though I know He promises to never leave or forsake me. Because He lives in me, His displeasure is real and felt. Soon I am hating sin and wanting to walk in the Spirit as I also feel His desire for me, His child: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Romans 8 goes on to encourage endurance: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Saying no to sin can mean a heightened sense of God’s presence, but it can also mean suffering. Many times, sin involves a choice between personal comfort and obedience. Jesus suffered in the flesh because suffering was part of His obedience. To be like Christ means that I must do the same — or wind up in Babylon.

Generational choices, bondage and freedom

2 Kings 13:1–14:29, Galatians 4:1–31, Proverbs 7:21–27

Children eventually reach an age where they want to be free from parental control and make their own decisions. At that time, most fail to realize the impact parents have made on their lives, for good or for bad.

When Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria he followed not only his father but the kings before his father. “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them.” Because of this, the Lord brought judgment by giving Israel continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.

Jehoahaz, perhaps in frustration, sought God’s favor and “the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them . . . . Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.” God even reduced Jehoahaz’s army to fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen. (2 Kings 13:1-4, 6–7)

The next kings did no better. Jeroboam also “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Yet the Lord saw the bitter affliction of Israel with no one to help them. He used Jeroboam to rescue them, showing that His mercy can overrule the wrath that sin deserves. (2 Kings 14:23–27) While the sons of kings often followed the pattern set by their parents, they were held responsible. No one can blame their parents for their sin.

The reading from Proverbs seems disconnected to these thoughts. However, it does describe how temptation can pull a young man away from parental guidance. Solomon began the section with a warning to “my son.” He told him (and us) to remember the teaching of his parents and avoid illicit relationships and those woman who persuade with seductive speech and smooth talk. He says if his son does not heed this parental advice and follows her, he is “as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.” (Proverbs 7:21–23)

Solomon unwittingly pointed to the kings who came later and who reverted to the lifestyle and choices of their fathers. Some were good, yet many were evil and each generation paid the price of evil. Many young men ignore the wisdom of their parents and are ensnared, not only by a sinful woman, but other lures that she personifies.

For a Christian, the warning is to listen to our heavenly Father. If I make decisions apart from His wisdom, I will go back to the slavery and bondage to sin that held me captive before I became a Christian..

Paul writes, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.” (Galatians 4:8–11)

Paul warns about legalism and rule-keeping. The rules in themselves are not necessarily bad, but Christ died to set us free from the law of sin and death. No matter how hard I try, I cannot keep the laws of God in the perfection they call for. Instead, those laws put me in bondage.

Freedom as a Christian does not mean I can live as I please. It does mean that my master is no longer a list of ‘thou shall not’s’ but instead is the Spirit of God who produces in me a freedom to live by faith in a delightful relationship with Him. I have no need or desire to be enslaved by rules.

It happens though. The people at Galatia turned back to the things they once trusted, choosing bondage to their religious rules and regulations. For them, it was slavery to the Law. For me, it could be anything from my former life such as thought patterns, pride, bad habits, even good ones, but anything that has no value, comfort, or worth in my Christian life.  

God saved me “just as I am” without the keeping of rules, but He loves me too much to leave me in that state. I have “come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God” (Gal 4:9). While I was still a sinner, He broke into my spiritual bondage and destroyed those chains, giving me freedom and a new life in Christ. I need to guard that freedom!

Sovereignty, Warnings, and Salvation

2 Kings 8:1–9:29, Mark 16:1–20, Proverbs 6:28–35

Connecting the passages I’m given to read is not always easy. Sometimes they connect to other passages not given. When this is the case, still I write the impressions God gives me for the day.

In 2 Kings, Elisha is talking to the woman whose son he had restored to life. He says, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” (2 Kings 8:1)

The story goes on to tell more about the woman, but this verse strikes me. I live in an area where oil has been a major factor in the economy. However, the price of oil has dropped drastically and it has drastically affected all those employed in anything related to the oil industry. Thousands have lost their jobs, including senior engineers and those who thought their livelihood was secure. This verse says that the Lord called for a famine in that land. Could it be that the Lord called for a drop in oil prices as well? I know He is sovereign over all things!

My husband worked for an engineering company doing mostly oil-related contracts. A few months ago he decided to resign and work on contract. Because of his skill and reputation, he has been in demand even though so many others are out of work. We are thankful to God. Today, I feel like the woman in this verse must have felt when God spoke to her through His prophet these words of warning and protection. We have also been blessed in this current ‘famine’ that has decimated many companies and put many people out of work.

Yet the Bible also speaks with warnings. In Proverbs 6, Solomon’s warnings are about adultery, but as yesterday, I seen that this warning could concern any sin. We humans, even those who follow Christ, have a tendency to think that we can get away with sin because we are invincible, and because we are forgiven and God’s grace will keep us out of trouble and protect us from consequences. However, Solomon warns: “Can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?” (Proverbs 6:28)

This is a rhetorical question. Obviously he says those who think they can escape the consequences of sin are fooling themselves. Those consequences may not come immediately, but they will come, regardless of the confidence any sinner has in their own invincibility, even in his own security because of faith. God cannot be mocked, something I’ve realized through my own experiences.

In the NT reading, my eyes and thoughts are turned toward Jesus. The words are familiar, yet God uses them to bless me. He takes my focus off my own life and mistakes and puts it on the One who died for me, and who rose from the dead so that I might have life.

Jesus had been crucified. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. They entering the tomb and saw a man sitting there, dressed in a white robe. Obviously they were alarmed. But the man (angel) said, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:1, 5–7)

Did they believe those words? Probably they did because they eventually told the others — who didn’t believe their words, at least at first. Jesus appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

This is another warning: if someone tells you about the risen Christ and you will not believe them, the best you can hope for is a rebuke from Jesus. The worst is that He leaves you in your unbelief and you perish in your sin.

For me, the next thing Jesus said is vital. I have a responsibility to be one of those who goes and tells other about the risen Christ because He said to His disciples and to me: “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 16:14–16)

Because I care that people not be condemned, and because I want to obey the Lord, I send the good news into all the world through the worldwide web and pray that some who read it will believe in Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness and eternal life.