Messiah snippets, part 2

What then is the Gospel? Are they just the readings the priest does on Sunday? Or the 4 books of the Bible at the front of the New Testament/second half of the Bible?

‘Gospel’ is the English translation twice over of the Greek word euangelion, which means good message or good news and pertains to the good news that “Christ is coming, Christ has come, and Christ will come again.” Simply put, the Gospel is Jesus and his propitiary sacrifice – He is the reason we have breath, He is the reason we can love, He is the reason above every other reason for why we are here and for where He has placed us. He died in our place, because as sinful humans, inheriting the sin nature of Adam, we were under the condemnation of death, because the 'wages of sin is death.' God viewed us as spiritually dead, and unable to commune with Him. Not until repentance - a decision to choose Christ to be our Lord and Savior and turn away from the rejection of his sovereignty, so that the blood of Jesus' sacrifice for us restores us to a right standing with God. We have life because Jesus died instead of us and all of our sins we have ever committed and ever will commit can now be forgiven because of his death on the cross. That's why he cried out on the cross, because the sin burden of all mankind became charged against him, resulting in a separation from the Father who cannot look upon sin because He is so Holy. Thus, the Gospel message is at the heart of God’s purposes and relationship with his human creation.

That He would pierce eternity to be in communion with His people is not a simple matter. Many people enjoy the Gospel message sung to them in the beautiful work of Handel, yet I wonder how many find it a call from God?

We continue…

Isaiah 7:14 (prophecy) and Matthew 1:23 (fulfillment) “Behold a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.”

This is the greatest gift God has given us – Himself in Jesus and His Spirit. Do you know that when God calls you out from all of time to become one of His children, He regenerates you (i.e., you are born again – given a new spiritual life in Christ), and then – miracles of all miracles – He comes to live in us. Emmanuel – God with us. (Romans 8) His habitation creates a new life for us and in us, and enables us to live out lives that submit to His love. So, He came to live on earth, He came to live in Mary, and then He came to live in us. In the future, He will come again (but that’s another part of Messiah!!).

The air continues: Isaiah 40:9; 60:1 “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold thy God! Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

Being a prophet in ancient times was not the easiest job. Being a prophet of God Jehovah whom He used to foretell and forth-tell His Word to people could be downright life-threatening. The good news that God’s prophet was tasked with carrying to the people could be received either way, yet the news was life-giving. So that everyone will hear, a prophet could go to a high elevation to make the pronouncement. The weightiness of this particular message would necessitate the prophet or heralder to get up into the high mountain – the news would be echoed off the mountain walls and carried for miles! God emboldened His messengers to speak His Words. He put the Words into their mouths. The good news to the remnant of Judah signaled restoration and reconciliation was near. The light of the world has come. (John 1:1-18)

Jesus, the Light, came into the world, bringing His healing to a hurting people. He spoke from a mountain glad tidings to people gathered there, and they saw their God walking among them in the flesh. The glory of the Lord, and His grace and high favor had risen up on them. Their faces were alit by the divine presence. Today, we are the heralders. We are tasked to bring glad tidings to a lost and hurting world. We are given the Words of God that will reconcile people to Him. Nothing man can create or make up can accomplish the power that the words of The Word can. We are a privileged people to receive them and share them. Only through the message of this gospel can the glory of the Lord be seen on His people. Anything less is a shallow light.

The mood changes, but the message continues to be sounded, now beyond the remnant of Judah. The male voice says (Isaiah 60:2, 3; 9:2) “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  ³And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. …²The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Beyond the remnant of Judah – to the Gentiles. That is us! This is indeed good news – God’s message of salvation and reconciliation would embrace those who were non-Jews and not proselytized. His promise to Abraham was that his seed or offspring would bless the world; Jesus fulfills that prophecy. God calls a people from beyond time that would include all tribes and peoples of the earth to become His in a new relationship. He has called us forth from darkness – from alienation from Him, from spiritual death,  into the glorious light of Himself. (Ephesians 2:1-10) He has given us His Word – His message of Light, and true enlightenment to sustain us in that life in the Light. The ‘kings’ coming to the brightness of thy rising may refer to the so-called wise men who followed the light to where Jesus was born. How wise are we? Do we follow the light?

And, then, in a series of heralds, the birth of the Messiah is announced, and Handel is first inspired from Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 9:6 to score “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The virgin named Mary – a teenage girl betrothed to the man Joseph – carried Jesus within her. She was not a popular girl any longer. Her friends deserted her. Her father and mother were ashamed; the family name was dragged in the mud. In those times a young woman who was perceived to have had sexual relations outside of marriage could be stoned to death - both she and any child she was carrying. God's law concerning marriage and sexual purity were still in effect. Everyone shunned her; even her fiance could not believe that she would wrong him like that! He was cut to the heart for he loved her. Yet, Joseph - a man broken by what he thought was deceit, and particularly believed to be a crime, decided with much anguish and pain to settle the matter quietly and not bring her before a tribunal. His sacrifice was rewarded by God's message to him explaining what had befallen Mary and the miracle into which his own life would be enmeshed.  As wondrous as this miracle was, it was clear that carrying Christ within one’s self does not always engender kind responses, not even from those closest to us. Yet, the joy that Mary would see, the faith that God had given her to continue this labor of love, helped her and eventually, her husband Joseph to press on.

Their faith - no doubt tested severely on the trek to Bethlehem - yielded the fruit that changed the world. A son – a progenitor, giver of life – was born. Not just a child, but one who is the Mighty God and Everlasting Father. A ruler whose power would supersede human government. His name – Jesus, which means God is salvation – forth-told what His purpose on earth would be.

We, too, who have accepted God’s invitation to let Him dwell in us, will at times face difficulties because of that relationship. Yet, think of the fruit we are yielding – we are God’s instruments to carry life to persons through this transforming Gospel message. His indwelling Spirit makes it possible for us to achieve what no program no matter how noble, and no self-help set of seven principles can achieve – He empowers us even in the most challenging of times, to bring Jesus to others. What He has done is truly Wonderful!

Handel's Messiah - Not Just Another Music Score!

When I first experienced this work performed at our church, it was an eye-opener (and heart-opener and mind-opener, and subsequently a Bible-opener). It is as far away from being ‘just another concert’ as you standing in your living room is as far from Jupiter, and even farther away than that! Because it is the Gospel message directly from the Bible; it carries a life-saving urgency. The Messiah came and is coming again! A couple of notes of applicability from the sheet music of Messiah …

           Opening voices: Male voices sound the prophecy, exhortation, and God’s Grace provision. God’s people can feel comforted and assured that God will carry out his promised restoration of His people. He forgives sins. He has sent his messenger to make a pathway, to clear the way for the Anointed One – the Messiah. His promised restoration will raise up His people again, and in contemporary times, we are His messengers, we proclaim the Gospel and coming of Christ. His Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to receive the Messiah by breaking our mountains we have set against God in our sinful condition, and raises us to spiritual life.

Isaiah 40 --  ¹Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.  ²Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins. ³The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  ⁴Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Then the choir – all voices – forthtell the immensity of the Anointed One’s coming

⁵And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Many people shun the truth of the Word – Jesus – but are happy to celebrate a holiday that is said to be about him. Just because folks reject him does not make him to be a nothing, or to be inconsequential – it is like being in front of a tsunami and saying it cannot bother you because you’re in a Hummer. The immensity of the wave is terrifying. On the other hand, those who have accepted Christ the Messiah as their Lord and King, and have been brought into fellowship with him, sense the immensity of God in another way. They already enjoy a revelation of God’s glory – measure by measure – within their lives. When brought into the family of God, God installs in us Himself in the presence of the Holy Spirit so that the Shekinah Glory remains with us and in us. All can witness God’s glory in those in whom God is present – if we continue to let our light shine before men and women. Why? Because God says so – He has purposed a people from before time and has brought them into His glorious light. (Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 4:4) What He also says in this very short verse is that regardless of whether or not you accept the Messiah, you will see the Glory of God – either in a positive way, or in judgment.

                Malachi 3:1-3. Male voices speak of God’s preparation of His people for the day of His coming, and the choir responds

¹Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  ²But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: ³And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Fuller’s soap was a cleanser that was used to scour and scrub wool and cloth. In ancient times, cleaning a wool fabric was not as simple as taking it to the dry cleaners, or using Woolite. If you have ever seen the wool on a sheep, you recall that the wool is full of impurities and is dirty. The person called a Fuller had the job of taking the cloth woven with that wool and scrubbing and rubbing against a rock or other hard surface until it was reasonably clean. These were some very strong-armed folks. Hand-washing made extreme. Likewise, the task of purifying precious metals like gold and silver requires very, very hot fire to burn the impurities away. It is not an easy job standing in the heat of the furnace all day then processing the metal for purity. That is where the ‘karat’ and fineness designations fit in – they describe the purity of the metal.

For the ancient Israelite priests – the sons of Levi who were the only Israelites permitted to be priests, they understood the need for purification – they were handling sacred things, and standing before the very presence of God within the tabernacle and temple. They had to be made holy by God because they were entering a holy place. The blood of a perfect lamb would be sprinkled on the priests to cleanse them of their sins. Their clothing was made to specifications designed by God. It was and still is a fearful and humbling thing to stand before the Creator! And terrifying to come before Him unprepared. Without being made pure by God’s standards, it was impossible for the priest to offer up anything of worth to God. The book of Malachi speaks to how the priests had become wicked and had trashed the word of God. They worshipped other gods and mistreated the people. They refused to be sanctified and purified as God prescribed. Their offerings were worthless before God. Today, we are in the same situation. As a called-out, redeemed people, God has appointed us as his “holy nation of priests, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) and we are tasked with the responsibility of carrying out worship in our spiritual temples - our bodies. We are purified, made pure by the fire of His Word (Jeremiah 23:29) and His transforming Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), so that our worship can be acceptable to God. We who subject ourselves to the authority of the Word, are cleansed and we are also washed in the blood of the Lamb, as the Israelite priests were during the cleansing ritual. (see Eph. 5:26; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14; 1 Peter 1:18-20) If we reject God’s Word and authority, and do not submit to His Holy Spirit’s counsel, we are in the same predicament as those priests spoken of in Malachi chapters 2 and 3, and come under the judgment of God.

            Next time, we will look at the succeeding airs and chorus pieces in “Messiah” so as to understand what we are saying when we share this Gospel with others.

Are you in THE BOOK?

Dear Friends,

We are in so many listings so that we can be identified and reached by others: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, to name a few electronic ones. The school and work office keeps you on a list. Social Security Administration has you on a list. Those of you who have ever worked are probably on at least one tax list in the federal or state books. You may be in the White pages in either the hard copy or online version. You may be on a scout list, a birthday list. You may appear on a 'virtual' list should your name be Googled. You and your home may be in a book down at the department of land records or whatever the agency is called. You can probably think of other books and lists that you can be found on.

But, ARE YOU IN THE BOOK?

Do you know what book I mean? We all start out there, but we do not all end up in there. For the answer, you need to read…. Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 20:15.

God keeps lists. He is a list-keeping God. Wonder why if He is all knowing and all present? Think about who benefits the most from the lists we mortals keep. Not just the list-generator, but also as those who will view/use the list and the one who’s name is listed.

Ok. All for now.

-jo

Thanksgiving

When I realize that Thanksgiving for a believer is a daily occurrence, then I'm never late publishing this message:

Reflections on Thanksgiving… God is here and has blessed us with His presence. We are not alone! Bless you all and may God give you grace to use the blessings you’ve received to be a blessing to others! -jo

1 Chronicles 16:34

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁴ O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 9

A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God’s Justice.

    For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.

1 Samuel 2

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

 ¹ Then Hannah prayed and said,

   “My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 30:4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁴ Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.

Psalm 50:14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁴ “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving
And pay your vows to the Most High;

Psalm 50:23

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²³ “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright
I shall show the salvation of God.”

1 Chronicles 16:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Psalm of Thanksgiving

 ⁸ Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

Psalm 69:30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁰ I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

² Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Philippians 4:6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 4:2

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 ² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 

Lamentations chapter 3

Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy

¹⁹ Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
²⁰ Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
²¹ This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
²² The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.

Revelations 7

⁹ After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; ¹⁰ and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

   “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying,

   “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

The Still Small Voice

Listening to the winds of Sandy brought this to mind just now. When Elijah was on the mountain in the cave hiding out of fear of Jezebel and her forces, a very tired possibly discouraged or despairing Elijah needed the reassurance that his God was more than a word on a scroll, greater than a hero in a story.

Elijah didn't seek out this reassurance, but his all knowing God in heaven knew Elijah's true need at that moment. It wasn't a hiding place from evil people - what he needed was a confirmation that his life spent as a prophet of God wasn't for nothin'. Wasn't just another life to be snuffed out by an enemy of Jehovah. Not a dot on the immensity of time, nor a mindless tool of a puppeteer god. No, an A grade was not what Elijah needed. God wanted Elijah to know that he was of more worth to God than all the rubies, gems, precious metals, any and all treasures ever to be seen by man. God gave him a gift of Himself. And this gift was given in an extraordinary way.

God brought him out onto the face of the mountain - an experience which was incredible in its own way - man against a mountain. Then God passed by Elijah! The New American Standard Version actually includes an exclamation point after that sentence - underscoring the significance of that moment. There was a great wind that ripped by Elijah - who was no doubt being protected in a supernatural way by God from this windstorm - it was so fierce it must have sounded like 10 x 10 times squared the roar I'm hearing outside my window now. The wind shattered and imploded parts of the rock face all around Elijah. He already knew God to be of infinite power and yet it was being demonstrated again. Then an earthquake occurred that shook the very foundation of the huge mountain, and still Elijah is protected and sees and experiences God's omnipotence first hand without a single bone being damaged! After the earthquake, a fire - a consuming force that could 'eat' its victims in a moment. God must have pushed Elijah back away from the fire into the mouth of the cave, for we next read that Elijah emerges from the cave again. Yet God did not make Himself known to Elijah in any of these all powerful occurrences. These were God's calling card, so to speak, to get Elijah's attention for the real encounter God would have with him. It was in an intimate whisper - a still small voice - that God made himself known to Elijah. God brought Elijah into a personal relationship with Himself, a moment in time like no other Elijah had known where he - a mere man - was allowed to commune with God. God saw through Elijah's fear, frustration, and despair, transporting him to a place of complete contentment that he would experience with God. From that point forward Elijah would grow in relationship with God in a special way until the time he would be taken up into heaven to never experience death like every other human has.

We often want God to make Himself known to us in big ways - a huge material blessing or a huge healing. And He may do that if that is His will and method for getting our attention. A whisper, though, requires one to get close enough to utter it and the hearer close enough to hear it. God chose to make Himself known to Elijah at this time in his life in such a way. It is always in a personal way that we come to best know God and experience who He truly is. We can experience the omnipotence of God in glorious and wondrous ways, yet the encounter God knows we need is a personal one with Him. So God still speaks in a 'still small voice, in a whisper', to his servants. He still sets as His ultimate goal for us a close, personal relationship with Him. His Spirit in us testifies to us of this intimacy. He whispers to us through His Word, in silent moments of meditation and prayer in which we are reassured of His presence in our life and circumstances. Obviously, His omnipotence is certainly representative in the thrashing of the winds and the copious downpours. Yet, it is the intimacy with Him that He seeks with us where we really 'see' God and know His love for us. A close and trusting relationship that we can count on for the rest of our lives. A true peace and joy that knows I am His and that I can enjoy His best for me forever.

God, I will praise you in this storm, for I know You and You know who I am. (borrowed from the hymn by Casting Crowns "Praise You in This Storm")

John 10: The Shepherd, the Sheep - and the Door!

Greetings.

In John 10 Jesus speaks to his disciples and those in the crowds about the only way to God and Salvation. For different reasons, many people hearing Jesus say this in the first century--in person--had just as much trouble hearing it and accepting it then as people hearing his voice today through the written Word have hearing and accepting it now. Many church leaders are not preaching or teaching this message. They are offering a softer approach - that it is ok to believe that there are other paths to salvation, of which Christianity is one and that you can determine how to be a Christian - as long as you believe in something and call it God. Do you know how appealing that statement is to any human in bondage to original sin??

It is very appealing – it is like saying that anything our ‘conscience’ says is ok is ok. Or that as long as I do not hurt anyone it is ok. It also is appealing because quite frankly we don’t want anyone dictating to us that we are wrong to choose to live our lives the way we do – we’ll work it out and it will be all right in the end. It’s un-American. Didn’t the Bible say that there is freedom because of Christ?

  

Hitler had a conscience. Qaddafi has a conscience. Until a short while ago, Bin Laden had a conscience. They all considered or consider their way to salvation correct!

  

Well, maybe these examples are too extreme. Let’s go to the other side and consider these:

• Mr. and Mrs. Beentrue have been attending church for years, contribute regularly, and have been involved in many church activities. They believe Jesus died on the cross, that he was born on earth, and he rose on Easter. They consult their horoscopes and toy with mysticism and are liberal minded when it comes to personal morality.
• Mr. Neighbor. He will not darken a church door, he says – too many hypocrites. He’s a good neighbor, though, watches out for his neighbors, does good deeds for other people, and volunteers as a tutor.   
• Ms. YoungAdult was a regular churchgoer, involved with youth group. After college, she has been involved in other pursuits – getting a life as she calls it - e.g., getting a good job, buying a condo, social life with her friends – and attends church when she can. She believes that women should have the right to choose abortion if they think it is right for them, and that there is nothing wrong with being gay – it doesn’t hurt anybody. She gives to charity and to 'street' people.  
• Miss Teen spends her time studying, is determined to remain an A student. She’s involved with a couple of clubs at school, and plays soccer with the community team, where she mentors young girls. She acolytes at church and sometimes sings with the choir. Her friends are into wicca.  
• Mr. Athlete is a young man in high school who has made both basketball and track teams during his time at school. He’s a B student, outgoing, volunteers with his church in outreach projects, and is part of the landscape and garden guild at church. He has been accepted into a Christian college, where he plans to study to become a minister.  
• Miss What was an A student, attended church regularly, served in the Altar Guild and choir, and was active in outreach activities. She led junior Bible study. Her first year in college was a whirlwind; by the second term she found herself pregnant. Despite her friends’ advice, she did not have an abortion, but instead had the baby.  
• Mr. Ohmy fell into bad company when he was a young teen. His parents used to take him to church, but he was bored he said. He was hanging with a group of boys when they encountered some folks that were the ‘enemy’, a fight ensued, and he was shot – not fatally. A couple of years later, he retaliated and killed one of the people who was with the other gang. He was sent to jail for life. After being there several years, he ventured in one day to a room where a Bible study was taking place, and questioned everything. But he kept going back because he liked to question the teacher.

These stories are composites of true stories. One wonders, which of these people are sheep who hear the voice of Jesus?

I don’t ask the question to be judgmental – and I want to make that very clear - but rather, I ask for the purpose of being thought-provoking. For example, have you ever seen someone who is very hungry eat? They don’t question the food if it looks familiar - they just eat it and then maybe question it later if it doesn’t set well. So, at some point, we really may need to think about the big question: what does it really mean to be one of Jesus’ sheep? How well do you have to know the Shepherd? How well does the Shepherd have to know you? What does it really mean to enter into the gate or door? Did Jesus really mean that there was only one way to God and salvation—isn’t that a narrow-minded view? What about those good friends who are Buddhist, or who follow Islam – they are good people – are you trying to say that God condemns them? What about my family members – they’re pretty good, but just don’t want to belong to any religion. Are you saying that they are not saved?

Matthew’s Gospel puts it this way:

“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

May God open our eyes and hearts so that we will make wise choices.

Stewardship...

For many churches at this time of year - or within the next few weeks, the call will go out for financial pledges, flyers on ‘stewardship’ are put up on bulletin boards, posted to the church website, and/or mailed out with pledge forms. Scriptures are quoted to underline the importance of financial giving, such as the widow with two mites, ones that show that investing in God will bring you manifold returns on your investment (e.g. Luke 6:38). Google "Bible verses to use to encourage financial giving" and, oh my, all sorts of programs, lessons, and schemes are listed. Some sites sell their 'proven methods'. Sometimes churches will hire a consultant to work with the church to encourage greater giving, including partnering with retail stores so that a percentage of money spent by churchgoers returns to the church coffers. Given the recent financial times, not to mention increased interest in self and comforts, it is little wonder that for many churches, the Bible principle of ‘stewardship’ is diminished and mocked, referring chiefly to how much a person is willing to give to the church over the course of another period of time. This understanding of stewardship falls excessively short of what the Bible teaches, and can sometimes brink on being unscriptural or just Bible-flavored fundraising. Such misrepresentation may cause churchgoers and Christians to miss out on a wonderful and fundamental experience in their walk with God.

I remember when this truth was driven home to me several years ago, when I began to catch a glimmer of what God’s Word truly teaches on stewardship. One of the members of my congregation testified one Sunday – praise God for the courage and encouragement that the Holy Spirit had on this comparatively new believer! – that he had lost his job, yet he had not lost his faith in God’s promises! He believed God to be the true provider for himself and his family. While the job loss and reduced income required adjustments in spending, he said he could not see himself still not giving God one-tenth of his income. He testified that God had not changed – just his own personal circumstances, and he believed that God would honor his faith in Him to continue to bless his family’s obedience in this regard. Not only did he get new employment, but it is employment that brings enough to sustain the family and allows him to engage in evangelism work through the faith communities to which he belongs.

See, he was teaching us this: Stewardship is founded on love of God, a trusting relationship with Him, leading the believer to express gratitude, faith; he does not see stewardship as merely a ‘financial’ thing. God gave us stewardship of the earth, of our lives and faith, of the relationships within the body of Christ so that as faithful stewards grounded in the sacrificial love of Christ, we see ourselves as what we are – purchased for Christ by His blood and no longer our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We see our very lives and existence as coming from God, and that without Him and His grace we are dead spiritually and separated from Him. We owe Him ourselves. As such, all of our life and lifestyle pivots on stewardship of the faith God has given us (Hebrews 12:2), stewardship of the temple of the Spirit  - our physical bodies and how we use them to God’s glory, stewardship of the relationships God brings us to, stewardship of the secular and spiritual work that He brings us to – everything in our lives that we encounter call for us to exercise the stewardship role that God has bestowed on us. The joy and wonderment of this is that we are partners with Christ in our stewardship responsibility, we share with Him, we serve with and abide in Christ throughout the remainder of our earthly lives and beyond (John 15; Romans 16:3,9; Romans 8). The rewards of our stewardship can be experienced in this life and in the life to come (Matthew 25:14-30). We are commanded to give ourselves to His kingdom work, which includes proclaiming the good news to our friends, family, coworkers, and others, and making disciples of ourselves and others, and to serve one another in Christ.

Yes, our financial giving is but one aspect of our stewardship, and yet all of our stewardship responsibility is predicated on the same love, thanksgiving, and gratitude, and faith. Our financial giving, though, is an indicator of how we see ourselves before God. Do we believe God is who He says He is? It’s funny – we will give/dedicate our babies and children to God and ask Him to do with them as He wills, yet we are stingy or reticent with our money and will not give to God the one-tenth He asks. Some excuse themselves from the tithing by saying that this was a part of the old Mosaic law and doesn’t apply to Christians. Why not? Jesus’ first coming did not obliterate the principles of the law, of which tithing is one of those principles. His coming fulfilled the redemptive plan of the law. Jesus upheld the principles of the law and expounded on them in the Sermon on the Mount – particularly in Matthew 5. The law pointed to Christ, yet it also underscored the Jews' accountability to God, as it does so for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Compare Paul’s inspired account in 2 Corinthians 8 as he identifies the source of the giving by the Macedonians. (In the next chapter in verse 7, Paul uses the word 'cheerful' with respect to the believers' attitude towards giving. The Greek word used here is a derivative of the word for 'hilarious' or 'hilarity' - when was the last time you wrote a check to church which had you falling out of your seat laughing hilariously?) Malachi 3 is not a part of the Mosaic law, and believers are commanded there to bring one tenth of their income into the ‘house of the LORD,’ i.e., we have the supreme privilege of honoring God through our material goods, service and our active faith. 

As we look at ourselves through the perspective of God’s Word, we each need to ask ourselves: What kind of steward am I? Do I believe in God’s Word and promises? Have I pledged allegiance to God through the blood sacrifice of Christ and accepted Him as my Savior, Lord and Master – not in word only but through a real transfer of my rights to Him? Have I accepted the honor of partnering with Christ in stewardship? Do my works and actions agree with my answer? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

How does your church approach stewardship?

Sabbath Rest

It's less than two hours before midnight and I'm writing a post about sabbath rest. What does that tell you? God graced us with a period of rest on purpose - we need the un-wind, decompression, refocus and most of all physical rest. He did not make us to be a 24/7 machine. This principle applies universally - a need for adequate rest and refreshment of spirit. We are desperate for sabbath rest whether we admit it or not. Stress takes a chunk out of our lives, leaving us sometimes in emotional distress, and rushes us sooner than we would like to the grave. Our cognitive skills are strained and our bodies' organs must work overtime to compensate for how the stress is affecting us. We retain body fat when living in stress because the body reacts to stress relative to fat the way that squirrels react to the changing fall weather, storing up vittles for themselves. The body clings to the fat. Google "fat and stress" to see the results of research in that area. Scary.

I am one of those persons who needs to be busy. At least, that is what I have been for x# of years. Since I couldn't say no, and did not include sabbath rest in my schedule as a fixed event, it was only a matter of time before I hit the wall so to speak. It's not that I wasn't warned - I was warned countless times. You know -- 'you can't burn a candle at both ends,' 'even Jesus slept' (to which I have cynically replied inaudibly at least once, 'but He arose early'; tsk tsk), and - well, you've heard them all, too. See, sometimes us women of faith think that as long as we are doing ministry and keeping the home fires burning, God is going to keep us going even when we start to violate the parameters (we don't see it as violation - we see it as a failure or some kind of  - dare I say it - lack of faith to reject or say no to new challenges that never ever end). I kept thinking, well, that probability of crashing is way off in the future, and besides, I'll be able to tell when I need to stop and wind down. Deception! Even after hitting the burnout phase, thinking that maybe one more year will be ok before I take a vacation or take time off to do nothing, and step down from the responsibility of those things outside of true life necessities (arrrgh - we even blur 'necessities'). An individual with this personality doesn't have guardrails that are reliable. We keep moving them so they have no permanency. Eventually, we will move and move and keep moving and never see the brick wall until it is 2 feet away.

I am a recovering workaholic trying to practice a sabbath rest that works in real time for me - time when I can relax, lay back, read, and not have to be anywhere or required to be doing something. And I don't mean vegetating before the TV necessarily. It's hard, though, to go from 200 mph to 0. Especially the time for exercise - well, I'm supposed to be a steward of my time so why don't I act like it? The reality is that very few of us women who are householders, moms, or business owners, working a night shift, engaged in ministries, and/or any combination of these and other life needs can take a full day 'off' each week. But can we schedule 2 hours two or three times a week that we fix into the calendar to take a sabbath for restoration of our spirits and bodies? If you are graced to do so, could you take a full day once a month or bi-monthly to do something outside of your routine to give yourself a fresh perspective? I won't disrespect anyone reading this and needing sabbath rest in their life to draw a picture of how to do this in 7 easy steps. Each of our circumstances are unique - unfortunately/fortunately, we have to work it out for ourselves in ways that fit our realities. Women of faith need sabbath times especially as an opportunity to commune with our Heavenly Father to strengthen that relationship.

Take the idea of sabbath rest to God in prayer asking Him to give you wisdom in this area of your life. Ask Him to bring into your life women from similar lifestyles and routines as yours who have learned to do sabbath rest so that they can show you how it may work in your life. Ask others to pray for you, too, that you will find a blessing in your effort to establish this in your routine as a way of life, and a way of thanksgiving to God. As the psalmist says boldly in his own stress in Psalm 30: "To you, O LORD, I cried, and to the LORD I made supplication. 'What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?' Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper ... you turn mourning into dancing; you take off my sackcloth and clothe me in joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent."

I will listen to my own exhortation and shut down the computer and dim the light. Time for rest.

Women who Create are Women who can Bless!

Women of faith are some of the most creative women around. Many use their God-given talents for both pleasure and for ministry. The skills are as diverse as are the women who practice them. One of my favorites is sewing. I am most glad when I am able to use it for ministry, and for giving to others. Also, cooking, gardening and giving away the 'fruits' of my labor. I am amazed at the skills and natural gifts of women in my congregation. They sew, knit, crochet, draw, cook/bake, sing, you name it. The principle of God blessing us with good things and abilities so that we may become a blessing to others is important to remember because it reflects who we are in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

I was reminded of these things when my daughter brought me back the heirloom dresses I had made for my granddaughter several years ago. I have not taken the time in a very long time to create in my sewing room - only to supply. I had forgotten what God had given me to use, and I praise Him for reminding me. It is a double blessing for us to express our natural gifts freely - we are blessed in the opportunity for increased intimacy with God as we create, and those who will view or receive the beautiful work of our hands will also be blessed.

I have a friend who used her God-given talents in sewing and needlecraft to teach young women who are learning to re-orient their lives to care for themselves and their child. Her gift of sewing machines, time, fabric and supplies, not to mention of herself and her time are a real inspiration. And the blessing has impacted the young women by building their self-confidence as they realize that they have a hidden and valuable talent, offering them a new skill for self-maintenance and for creating for their child and/or future home, a creative outlet for their energies, and possible income source. My friend not only gave blessings - she created a legacy.

What do you create? How have you used your natural God-given talents to serve others?

For those who cook, any favorite recipes?

"Lawd Jesus, a fire!"

There is a video on youtube that went viral a few months ago. It was an interview with a woman awakened by a fire in her apartment building complex. When she fully awakened to what was going on around her, she remarked, "Lawd Jesus, a fire!"

That expression has stuck with me in a special way. Going through various trials, I know from whence my help comes. I cannot linger in discouragement. "I lift my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121 is one of those scriptural passages we need in our face daily to help us recall that when the fires of trials come to us that God has allowed, and we cry out "lawd Jesus, a fire!" and pray in the will of the Father, He will hear us. Our God who never sleeps, who keeps us from destructive evil that would try us beyond what He allows, our God who can keep our life for eternity, who keeps us in view marking our going out and coming in now and forevermore is able to do these things and come to the help of those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:18). I encourage you today to keep the psalm close and the Lord closer. Peace and joy from the Spirit of Christ.

"Dating" Christ - Advice to my single sisters

My sisters,
Before you get apoplectic and begin to question my theology (that's the nicest way I could put it), know that I am not speaking as the world speaks of "dating". The idea of dating for this world has moved from using the time to know a person's character and essence to a mere encounter and sleeping with someone. I can say more on this subject, and I will later, but I'm talking about an old Queen's English expression for dating or seeing someone: walking out with so and so. The "walking out with" inferred that it was an exclusive relationship, one that actually involved walking around with someone as well as seeking to know him or her better, to know their character, etc.

Many women - both young and older alike - frustratedly move through life single, desiring to be linked to someone with whom they can share their lives. Christian women are no different. There is nothing wrong with this desire, for God created us to be capable of finding love and companionship with a mate. In fact, after the Fall, one of the consequences to befall the female race was that our "desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16 AMP) Many of us truly crave for a husband to be in our lives, so much so - and I'm talking of us Christian women - that we will grab the first person in britches who looks 'respekkable' as my girl friend says, who appears to be enough of a man of God, who kind of resembles that. And who can blame us? Everything about us cries 'coupling' - music, movies, television, books, and in some cases culture. Ancient cultures of the Middle East, the Far East, Africa and elsewhere shape the outlook and desired future for women of those cultures - to be married and settled is a primary goal, an ultimate fulfillment and affirmation, followed by a very fruitful womb. I recall speaking recently in a group of women from various cultures, and one of my African sisters who now lived in the western metropolitan culture with its stressful demanding insistence on two-paycheck households, reflected how blessed she was to have several children - even though it often proves difficult to raise and discipline them in this foreign culture estranged from the 'norms' of her mother country. Others have spoken of their need to be married by a certain age, and begin in their early teens learning and preparing for such a future role. The complexities of living in this hemisphere are so demanding mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, with its high cost of living and need for both woman and man to earn a paycheck in the household, unless of course, the man is very well set in his career, and for the woman to put all of that education she received to 'good use'. Some of us Christian women find it hard to locate a man who can fulfill our - and I'm going to say it even though you will holler - unrealistic dreams of Prince Charming with all of the necessary credentials. We often put forth great energy, and great $$ storefronts (clothing, beauty shop, etc.) to be ever ready for 'catching' the One.

Is that really what God wants for you - frustration, endless toil, conflict with your spirit and the Holy Spirit, raising the search to almost idol proportions? To what limits will this lust for a husband push us? Once you charm Mr. Good enough, will he be able to keep you strong in Christ and encourage your spiritual growth and intimacy with Him, hold your hand and with him step into eternity with Christ?

To my Christian sisters who are still single and feeling tempted to break through the moral barriers or guardrails God has established in His Word for us for our protection so that we can experience the best in life, let me point you to something beyond our immediate, and in the face of eternity, temporary fleshly cravings. Walk first with Christ - 'date' Him and grow in relationship with Him first. Get to learn His desires for you, His will for your life. I recently heard a Christian man admit to the world that he was a virgin in his single life because his Godly mother had instilled Christ in him, and he had walked with Christ until, in His will, He brought him to his mate for life. He was 37 years old before he was married, and think of the beautiful story he could tell his wife: that he remained pure for her, that he waited to give the gift of intimacy to the one whom God would choose for him. How powerful an aphrodisiac is that ladies? Will our stories be similar?

Have you 'dated' or walked out with Christ - or more specifically, walked with and in Christ? I don't just mean going to church regular and looking for Mr. Right in the pews, or even being a churchgoer and maybe getting on this or that church committee and/or doing all things churchy. I'm referring to putting Christ first in your life - before the pursuit of that man, so that your focus is first in getting to know the Christ of the Bible (not the version we are taught by the world to believe). Seriously, do you think God has brought you into the world simply to copulate and fulfill fleshly desires? Did He save us through His blood to satisfy ourselves first and foremost?

No! We are told to seek Christ's kingdom first, then everything we need for life in Christ will be given to us. (Matthew 6:33) Christ calls us for a 'date' - not the other way around! Notice the underlying principle in that truth. (Romans 1:6; Hebrews 12:2) He invites us to walk out with Him, to walk in His light - His countenance and character. (1 John 1:6-7) He invites us to desire a heart for Him. (Ephesians 3:16-17) He invites us to walk in His truth and His life (John 14:6; 3 John 3,4; 1 John 5:12; Romans 6:4). He tells us what "dress" pleases Him (Ephesians 4:18-24, Revelation 3:4), and that He desires us to walk in His name - to know true intimacy with Him by taking on His name (Zechariah 10:12, John 20:31, Colossians 3:17, Revelation 22:14). He asks us to walk in His Holy Spirit and grow an attitude for Him (Romans 8:4; Ephesians 5:8,10; Philippians 2:10-11) He invites us to ask of Him good things (Luke 11:13; 1 John 5:14) He is able to 'elevate' us to the highest levels, to give us treasure beyond imagining (Ephesians 1:3,4; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Colossians 2:2-4 KJV) He promises us that He will make all things of our life and in our life work together for good - He wants only the best for our lives - if we love Him. (Romans 8:28; John 10:10)

These truths are not a 'placeholder' until a man comes along. Like God doesn't know our true motives. When we put Christ first and foremost, if it is His will for us to marry, He will guide us to the correct mate (compare Psalm 25:4, 5, 12). Can you think of anyone more qualified to do this? No matchmaker at any price can lead you to the one God has chosen for you, one in whom with Christ you will delight (compare Proverbs 5). We can ask Christ for a God-fearing mate because as a believer He does not want us to be unevenly yoked to a person who does not also put Christ first in his life. (2 Corinthians 6:14) These words God has given us for our benefit, so that we can experience the best that He has for us. (Colossians 2:6-7; Proverbs 8:32-26)

My single sisters in Christ: Do not forsake or reject these words - it will be sure to bring your unhappiness. (Proverbs 4:2, 20-22) Wait on the Lord and walk with Christ, for He is your true future. (Psalm 27:14; Psalm 130:5; Lamentations 3:25; Micah 7:7; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Philippians 3:20; Jude 21; compare Romans 8:18, 2 Timothy 4:8) I can tell you from personal experience and going my own way to find Mr. Good enough, that the Word of God always proves true regardless - and that truth is absolute. May your hearts be filled with the peace of Christ as you let Him call on you, and that you take Him up on His offer to walk out with Him.

A Spiritual 'Byte'

The next time you go to get your hair ‘did’ or done, and/or cut, shampooed or whatever, remember Matthew 10:30: “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered,” and Luke 12:7 “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Our all-knowing God, who knows better than our hair-care professionals the number of hairs on our heads, and which hairs will fall out, turn gray, or welcome new growth, is all-wise enough to know everything we need and what is best for our individual lives. Don’t worry, the price for this intimacy has already been paid! But don’t let the offer expire!

From Psalm 139: “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord…You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed… Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Metro Area Rattles and Rolls - A look back one year later

August 23, 2011 -- A Chit-Chat with God

What about that earthquake? Wow! Can you remember what you were doing when it struck? Did you feel like “weebles” – you know, “weebles wobble but they don’t fall down”? Did you thank God for the chit chat?

Looking at the Richter scale level of 5.8, and looking at the damage caused by such intensity, prayer was so called for. The fall to your knees kind of prayer, as many of us did, in deep gratitude that where we live we were not more seriously impacted. Earlier this year, an earthquake rated at 5.8 shook a part of China; 14 were reported dead. Three points higher – at 6.1, also earlier this year, reported by the Central American Adventist University in Costa Rica – initial indications were that dozens of people were missing, and life resources were challenged. The National Cathedral was damaged – the tops of the pillars on the tower falling down and cracks in several places. The Washington Monument did not fall, but it suffered major serious cracks. We can be thankful that, generally speaking and comparatively, there was no life-threatening injury report, even though some inconveniences and property damage, and that the damage was not as excessive and broad a scope as in those other locations.

We can also be thankful for the jolt.

Students of the Bible know that God will use whatever means necessary to capture the attention of people. He has declared in no uncertain terms that He does not desire for any to die because of failure to know Him and become saved (John 3:16-18). As I was meandering through the human congestion on the sidewalks and in the streets caused by all of the office buildings being evacuated shortly after the major shaking ended, I spoke to a couple of people who were so bewildered and clearly shaken spiritually – i.e., beyond the physical experience, and some spoke to it being God’s wake up call. It was a similar discussion I had with a supermarket cashier some days earlier – God keeps pursuing us, seeking to get our attention. Because we in the Western Hemisphere value very highly the security of our comforts that we pay dearly for with our credit cards and crazy work schedules, God often jars us where we feel the most secure. And yesterday was no exception.

The thing is, though, if you’ve been paying attention, you will realize that God has been trying to get our attention for a long time. The subtle approach captured the attention of some. God is faithful – He’ll use less subtle means (e.g., earthquakes and severe weather) if necessary to get our attention so that we can make a choice. Jesus declared that we living in the last days would experience these geophysical and atmospheric disruptions (and also with some spiritual applications) on an increasingly frequent and broadening scale, not only to signal what time it is but also to alert us and get our attention. (Matthew 24 and 25, Joel 2; Isaiah 13:13; Amos 9:1; Haggai 2:6-7; Luke 21:26) So, like, how is it working for you?

At last night’s Bible study, we reviewed again God’s words in Paul’s inspired message to the church at Philippi, found in chapter 4. If one is a believer who has experienced the saving grace of God, who has been born again, i.e., baptized by and indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit and brought into the family of God, then every breath and action is one of praise and thanksgiving. We can rejoice, and must become persons who rejoice in the Lord because of what He has saved us out of and has saved us from moment by moment. Because of who He is. The expression “but for the Grace of God” takes on sober meaning to such persons who live knowing that they are in the presence of God with each breath we take. Believers know the truth of God’s promise in Romans 8:28 (which is one of the summary statements of the previous verses in that passage about who we are in Christ) that God will cause everything to work out to our good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose – even when we can’t see past the moment, God has seen our future. We can thank God that He has not lost interest in us, but at each and every turn, He reminds us who He is so that we can know who we are. He will use any means necessary to get our attention. Thanks be to God!

In fact, we can be reassured that once we have been saved by God and brought into His spiritual family, that He will not allow His love for us to be canceled out or absented from us due to external or even internal circumstances (see Romans 8:35-39). The psalmist acknowledged that even though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he could be assured that he would not be destroyed by evil, but that God will continue to be with him. (Psalm 23) God taught Habakkuk not to complain about how He worked out His saving grace and plan for salvation. (Book of Habakkuk) As the Most High Almighty God, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His plans and ways more sure than ours could ever be. God’s lesson to Habakkuk, and subsequently to us, is to learn to trust our Heavenly Father even if everything around us falls or fails. The apostle Paul cited his many trials and near death experiences on account of the Gospel of Christ, learning through those crises who God is and what His grace does on behalf of believers. (see 2 Corinthians 4:7, 8; 12:1-10)

God has fully revealed Himself to us so that we know what we need to know about Him to trust him, to believe, and to respond, and like that, see our life and times from His perspective (see 2 Peter 1:2-4), and He implores us to become reconciled to Him - that is His greatest cause for us, cautioning that this invitation has an expiration date. (2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Mark 13:19-21; 2 Peter 3:8-10)

As like with many other occasions, whether or not we were paying attention, God reached out to us yesterday. He sought to get our attention. He invited us to “chit chat”, to respond to His seeking. Some of us have responded to a gentle call, like Jesus at the sea calling out to the fishermen who would be His disciples. Some of us have required more stern communication, a la Job or Jonah, or even Saul of Tarsus. He will shake up our norm, our comforts and security; He will rock our world to its very core, if that is what it takes. No one will be able to say on that Day - the apocalyptic Day of the Lord that is coming - that they did not know! Has anyone recently asked you to pray for them? God has gotten their attention. Keep praying for them. Has anyone said they need to study the Bible? God has gotten their attention. Invite them and/or bring them to a Bible study. Has someone become aware of a need to worship? God has gotten their attention. Show them how. And rejoice, again I say rejoice, for the privilege to honor God and give thanks for every jolt we receive that keeps us focused on God.

God’s favor be with all of you. Thanks be to God!

Fear and Trembling

I wonder why we - both believers and nonbelievers - are asked to have an attitude of fear and trembling before Almighty God?

How fast has the Church held to this attitude? A couple of pastors I respect continually say that the Church must look and act more like Christ and not like the world; they grieve because too often it is hard to differentiate between the two. Many within the Body of Christ have set about to 'blend' with the world, assuming that the more we blend the more amenable and favorable people will be towards things churchy. Yet - if the Gospel of Christ, which holds and engenders the power of salvation from God, is not preached nor taught, nor reflected in those who fearlessly call themselves 'Christian', then what becomes the foundation standard within the church? It's not a coincidence that a (for lack of a better word) 'liberal' Gospel - one that purports to speak of God yet is deceivingly anti-God, is being offered by many church leaders who promote a God and gospel of convenience and feel-good comfort. It is a watered-down theology of empty promises and hyperbole. The Holy, Almighty God, Eternal Heavenly Father, maker of heaven and earth and Savior of the Bible - His Word - is diminshed to a customized made to order deity who deals out 'love' and favors, takes no notice of 'sin' nor holds any accountable. An easy-rider god doling out  >Peace! dude at every encounter.

Yet, look at what happened when Jesus met the young rich ruler as recorded in Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18. It is the only encounter where a person seeking Jesus goes away sad. Still, the Bible says, Jesus loved him with the same sacrificial love He would show for all of mankind. Jesus - God's instrument of His love for mankind -  throughout the gospel records demonstrates over and over what Godly love of mankind is. That was one of the reasons He came to earth. Look, too, at the woman at the well in John 4 (one of my favorites). In both of these encounters, Jesus in His love touches on those attitudes, practices, lifestyles that go contrary to God's moral will for their lives - attitudes that will be detrimental to their happiness and peace. Sore spots that left unchecked will take their lives. Jesus lovingly and caringly shows them Himself so that they can see their need for Him, and their need to be saved from the authority that their sin has over them.

His response to their circumstances could have been to overlook their error and accept the young man's idol worship, and the woman's adultery with a word of 'love' and let them continue on their way in sins that would destroy their lives. He could have given them a feel-good speech, and maybe the young man would not have gone away sad, and the woman not have been embarrassed or disgraced. But He would not. To do so would be against His character and His Father's character. It would be a deception to appear to approve of behavior that runs counter to everything He has ever said in His Word about worship and morality, and His desire for the best in their lives. Rather, in His unconditional love and in his unmerited grace and inestimable mercy, he conveys his conditional acceptance.

Jesus told Nicodemus that God sent His only-begotten Son to be a propitiatory sacrifice because He loved the world; but Jesus' words did not end with God loves the world. He adds, "so that those who believe in him (trust, obey him) would not perish but have everlasting life." His love is unconditional - He created us, gave us life; the Bible says that God makes it rain on the 'wicked' and the righteous. He laid down His life so that humans throughout the world and time could be restored to a right relationship with God. However, to receive salvation a person would need to believe that Jesus is Christ, Savior, and Lord of his or her life. That is called a 'condition.' God did not say, 'first you must clean up your life, do penance, this that or the other, then if you believe, you can be saved.' No; by God's grace, a person believes in Jesus no matter what circumstance God finds him or her in, and by an act of faith, authored by God's grace, a person may be saved. After God's saving act by the cleansing blood of Christ, He begins the sanctification process - the transformation and restoration process within believers' lives to grow them to be more and more like Christ.. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 14-20)

To fully grasp the underlying message - if salvation was based on unconditional acceptance, then there was no need for Christ to die the horrific sacrificial death that he died. Why would He die for sins if they were acceptable to God to begin with? There would have been no need for a chosen people - Israel - through whom God would execute a plan of salvation, no Moses, no 10 commandments to show humankind its sin. The God of the Bible would not be Holy, because there would not be a delineation between holiness and unrighteousness. Adam and Eve should not have died, then, for their choice to reject God if there is unconditional acceptance. Why would have God bothered with a flaming sword in the Garden of Eden? Why all those Bible verses about destruction of Baal worship or false worship, or of places like Sodom and Gomorrah, if idolatry and immorality were acceptable to God? What about thieving and larcenous hearts in the wilderness experience of Israel and throughout that great nation's history - why would God have called for its destruction if He unconditionally accepts rejection? Why would God have bothered to denounce satan the devil if He is a God of unconditional acceptance? Why would God have carefully preserved His Word these many thousands of years, which has told the story of God's plan of salvation, His desire to see mankind saved and restored in relationship with Him - if there was nothing to be saved from?

Yet, it is this message, this gospel of unconditional acceptance of sin that too many loud voices in the Church are teaching (in fact, they dumb down the concept of sin and redefine it to support the lifestyles and behaviors of the world). It is a message that is well received by too many, by those who need their ears tickled. To feel good about themselves. To promote a pick'n'choose theology that fits one's lifestyle and then call it 'contemporary Christianity.' To bitterly abhor those parts of the Bible where God delineates his moral will for mankind and label them hate messages. To continue cocooned in the veil that the ruler of this world system has imposed to blind the minds of the unbelievers. He disguises himself as a beacon of enlightenment and leads many astray. He even desires to deceive those who would call themselves followers of Christ into this false theology about God and His character. He has done this from the beginning - with Eve he told her God knows that when you eat of the fruit you will become like Him, so why would He forbid this and withold this from you? With 21st century worshipers he uses the same deception - telling them God's love means He accepts and condones wrongdoing and blesses persons, lifestyles and behaviors in rebellion against Him.

It doesn't take a lot of looking around to see that this is true - some church groups have made this their new mantra, believing this contemporary world view will bring people back to church. (what would be the purpose, I wonder???) Just as he did in the Garden of Eden, the god of this system deceives and misrepresents the truth. He knows his fate of eternal destruction awaits and has been striving to pull away and destroy the future of those who could believe and fear the God who created the universe just by speaking it into being, who knows the end from the beginning, and who desires that all should seek him and live forever. Yet, this deceiver, this slanderer, this rebel, liar, and murderer - even he and his demons know to tremble before this Almighty, Omnipotent God. (James 2:19) Because despite their lies and deceptions, they know the truth about who God truly is.

Who do you think God is? Is He really a God of unconditional love and unconditional acceptance? (an oxymoron if ever there was one) Are we humans so stubborn, blind, arrogant - or, too ignorant to recognize who God truly is and come before Him with fear and trembling? Do we not know who it is we are thumbing our nose at? (grammar intentional) Are you willing to stake your life on what you believe? One way or the other, we all are. And we will all see the results of our choices. Please choose to fear God and follow His will for your life.

The preceding will be said to be not politically correct, old-fashioned, antiquated (as one news commentator recently stated), narrow-minded, hateful, and might even get labeled by some one at some point as uncivil and anti-whatever. And, you know, they will be right! The God who has the right to not only demand our worship but to also define how He wants to be worshiped is of old - from eternity to eternity; He is above all politics and political authorities; He has established eternal, universal principles that are against all things that would destroy and defile His highest creation - mankind. He has declared that the way to life is a narrow road. As for hatred, well, God abhors sin; as Holy, Almighty God He alone can define what sin is or is not, and has done so in His Word the Bible. (Romans 1; Job 34:10-11, 21-27, 33; Matthew 7:13; John 8:24; 1 John 4:10; Revelation 21:7-8)

Living the Abundant Life

Jesus came so that we could have real life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10), so that with the psalmist we can say "my cup runneth over." 

Persons called by God to be his children and joint heirs with Christ – the elect - are privileged to be able to quote that verse without hesitation. (Psalm 23)  As children of the Most High, Almighty God, and heirs with Christ why shouldn’t our ‘cups’ be running over? We who now are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, and who thus are in the bosom of God are in a better place than we’ve ever been in this life! What can we need but that God in His marvelous riches cannot fulfill? (Ephesians 1:3, 18-20; 1 John 3:1) Those persons walking in His will are assured by God and Christ that we can approach the throne with all boldness and be heard (Hebrews 4:14-16), and that whatever we ask in His will He will grant. (1 John 5:13-14) Our cups runneth over – what else can we need? Each breath we take and each beat of our heart comes through the goodness of God. Even in times of great distress, pain, agony, and mourning our cups runneth over because the God of all creation is there as we walk in the valley of the shadow – He’s promised that! (also John 16:33; 14:18) We need to remind ourselves of that truth and Godly promise. When our enemies encamp about us, whom shall we fear? Do we really understand how extraordinary this is? (Isaiah 41:12,13)

And this is how God feels about us and cares for us - recall John 10 where Christ is identified as our Shepherd who laid down His own life for His sheep—us! (Also John 14:1-4). Because we know that as those called by God for His purpose and who love Him, that God will transform and use every circumstance of our lives and the power of His Holy Spirit to bless us for good and to bring us into the likeness of His Son. (Romans 8:9-11, 14-18, 26-30) His greatest desire for our lives is a loving relationship with Him, and a yielding heart to His will for us as He makes us like the Son. Being transformed by the power of this Gospel, and living a transformed life, we can be like Christ to one another and to the world. If our cups runneth over now, in this life, can you imagine what it will be like in glory???

God’s eternal blessings be yours,

"I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.."   Psalm 16:8