Call evil what it is: Evil - Malachi

Malachi 2:17

You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “ Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “ Where is the God of justice?”

In this prophetic book Malachi provides strong indictment for the nation of Israel in regard to their conduct and misdeeds.   In the above statement we see one of the most egregious acts they committed: They failed to practice pure justice, which would demonstrate the character of their God.   Instead of standing for truth their leaders perverted truth and flipped it upside down.  They didn't just ignore truth and justice but they tried to re-define it.   Instead of ignoring truth they reshaped it by pointing to evil and calling it good.  Are we not in the same place in our society today.   Abortion has killed and will continue to kill millions of infants.   Instead of leadership standing up and calling it evil they run political platforms on it and win!!!   The majority votes for it.   They have called evil good!    They question that God even cares about homosexuality, poverty or truth.   God sent His son to provide pure justice and to give us an example of truth and a way to truth.   Even though we live in a world of deluded truth we can still take our own stand for God's truth and justice.  In our homes and in our churches and in our communities we can speak out against injustice and when we see evil we can call it evil.   

God is goading us into fear - Ecclesiastes 11-12

When reading the book of Ecclesiastes we can get lost in some of the things Solomon says, and even does.  He seems to have a fatalistic view of life and seems to have little regard, at times, for moral behavior.   Ecclesiastes is one book you should start at the end before you read the beginning.   Note the ending of the book, which puts some of those "questionable" discussions and comments early in the book into context:

 Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well- driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.  But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Solomon is our "test case dumpy" for life's experiences.  He is saying to us, "I have tried life and found it vanity. The only thing that really remains is to 'fear the Lord' and be warned that judgement is coming for the good and the evil."   We all want to learn and experience and devour.  It is in our nature.   But, God has given us a great and marvelous truth: Fear The Lord and all else is easy.   I love the first part of the above verses (v. 11).   "The words of the wise are like goads."   No one likes to be "goaded."   We often have our enemies goad us into arguments.  We might have our friends goad us into doing evil.   God's Word (Wisdom) is here to goad us.   It is to prod us along to live for God and to encourage us, warn us, shape us and teach us how to be holy for Him.   Life's experiences can be a great teacher of life.  Solomon teaches us that truth in this wonderful book.   But, God has a better way than to learn through experience.  Trust the wisdom of His Words and believe in them.  

God's Name and His Word are Synonymous - Psalm 137-139

Psalms 138:2

I will bow down toward Your holy temple

And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

As the Psalmist is bowing down in worship toward God he looks to the right place: Your holy temple.   The nation was promised after the temple was built that if they pray toward the temple God would bless that.    (This is way Daniel prayed daily facing the temple back in Jerusalem, even though the temple was destroyed.  This, of course, got him tossed into the lions den.)  But, the direction of the prayer only matters if we understand the person we are praying to.   The writer goes on to tell us about God's "lovingkindness" and "truth."   We worship and pray to God because of His name is synonymous with lovingkindness and truth.    His truth, if fact is the validated of His "Word."  The Psalmist tells us that God's Word is on the same level as His Name.  So, the writer can say we "give thanks to Your Name" because His name, like His Word, is Truth.   We worship God because of His truth.   We worship God because He is truth.   If we say we are telling the truth we could say we are telling God.  God is truth.  Jesus said He was truth (John 14:6).   The Spirit is truth.   So, in our worship we are worship the truth of God's promises because God's character is based upon the truth of those promises.   He cannot lie.  He cannot break a promise.  

Who is doing the work? Nehemiah 1-4

Some people are asked to do more than their share of the work.   Some aren't asked and do it anyhow.   In most churches the statement is often made that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.  That is probably true in most of our society.    I heard a statistic yesterday (11/2012) that in California only 18% of the people pay 80-90% of the tax.    We might think this is only true in our corrupt society.  However, in Nehemiah's day, when it came to building the city of Jerusalem, they same thing was true.  When Nehemiah outlines who did the work to build the city walls, not what he says about one particular family:

Nehemiah 3:5

Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters.

It seems that the Tekoites had to do the work, without the help of their leadership.  They did the work without the help of the "nobles."  But, this is not the entire commentary from Nehemiah.   Note what he records later in the same section about those who built the wall:

Nehemiah 3:27

After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.

After listing many others who were building the wall, Nehemiah comes to the Tekoites again.  You get the impression that Nehemiah is walk around the wall and recording the workers he sees as he goes from one section to the another.   Similar to how a foreman of the job might do to observe the work and the workers.   After he leaves the Tekoites in one section he finds them in another section, working.   Most people, if they are willing to do their own work, seldom do the work of others.  Most people don't even want to do their own work.   What would the church be like if it were filled with Tekoties?   Think of the work that got done.  Instead, 80% come each Sunday having done nothing and leave having done nothing.  

What to do with a lost donkey ... or, wallet full of money? Deuteronomy 20-22

Deuteronomy 22:4

You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fallen down on the way, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly help him to raise them up.  

Many people struggle with the "law" as they read through it.   Since "Deuteronomy" is the "second giving of the law" the entire book might be tough to read.   When trying to read the many laws and commands of God it is easier if you remember what Jesus said about the law.  He said the entire law could be summed up in two commandments:  Love The Lord God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might; and, love your neighbor as yourself.    In this above "law" you can see how that summarization captures the entire meaning of the text.   If we found our neighbor's donkey, ox, (phone, rack, dog) what is our "law" responsibility?   It is to find the person it belongs to.   We are probably fine with that until we find a wallet with no identification that contains hundreds of dollars.   Then we have to ask, do we love our neighbor more than we love ourselves?    That is where the true understanding of the law comes through.   

Do you feel tormented in this world? 2 Peter

When righteous people get tangled up in the world it is a torment to their soul!  Read again 2 Peter 2:4-10.  The theme in these verses is that God can and will deliver the righteous from evil.  However, in the middle of the development of that theme we see that Peter gives us a brief commentary on what happen to Lot as he was living among the sorted and vile men of Sodom.  Peter tells us that it was a torment to his very soul.  You will know that you are righteous through faith by grace if when you are surrounded by sin you are uncomfortable.  Although, Peter doesn't say Lot was uncomfortable.  He says that Lot was “tormented.”  It is important to realize that people who have been declared righteous by God's grace through faith in Christ will find torment when surrounded by sin.  If you are comfortable with sin and sinners  you are not fully growing your declared righteousness.   Lot was "oppressed" - the word in the Greek is made up of two words, "down" and "labor."   We might say, waited down.   The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah "waited him down."   If we are righteous in Christ we ought to fill unclean in the world.    

You can't stop God's plan ... Acts 17-18

Acts 17:13

But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

Imagine being so vocal and effective as a minister of the Gospel that when you arrive somewhere to preach the gospel you are asked to leave because you are turning the world upside down.    If Paul's ministry began today Paul would be the lead story on every network.  Paul was often run out of town.   For most of us, being run out of town would take the wind out of our sales.   But, God uses this poor treatment of His minister to move Paul to Athens to talk to great men of philosophy who would come to Christ and further the gospel.   God doesn't waste His servants.  God may allow things to happen in our lives to further the gospel in other areas.   We ought not get discouraged when our message is rejected or we are "run out of town."   We have to remember that when Satan is moving us away from his world of influence by using evil men God will use that to move us to a new place to reach others for Christ.  God is always one step ahead.  

How the N.T. writers used the O.T. truths - Zechariah 8-14

When Paul and the other New Testament writers composed the N.T. they were "moved along by the Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).  That means the Spirit of God wrote the N.T. by using the personality and talents of the writers, like Peter and Paul.    This means the N.T., like the O.T., was "inspired by God" ... or "God Breathed."     However, it should be noted, that as the N.T. writers wrote the N.T. they also were men of the O.T., meaning they spent their days and nights studying and meditating on the O.T. Scriptures.   If you read the N.T. closely and watch the phrases and emphasis you will see that the Spirit of God indeed did use these men to compose the N.T. Scriptures but used the O.T. truths to carry over to the N.T.   Note the following for our reading in this passage and the writings of Paul to the church at Ephesus.  

Zechariah 8:16-17

These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate, ’ declares the Lord.”

Ephesians 4:15

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

The Spirit moved the N.T. writers and used the inspired O.T. to fill their minds with God's truth.   The N.T. writers were Spirit filled and men of the Book.   They read and understood the O.T. and saw and integrated the continuity into their letters to the early church.   This is seen in 2 Timothy 4:13 where Paul asks young Timothy that when he comes to visit with Paul to bring the "parchments."   In your and my world it would be, bring my Bible.   The O.T. lead to the N.T. because the Spirit of God used it to move holy men to write with the same truth.  

Wisdom beats Power, Position, Strength and Wealth - Ecclesiastes 9-10

In today's world we are often awestruck by position, power, strength and/or wealth.   We see these things and we honor them by given them more position, power, strength and wealth.    In this interesting book of life by Solomon, however, we are giving a story (whether true or made up I do not know) that debunks our obsession with these four things.  Note how Solomon shows us a deeper truth:

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me. There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. So I said, “ Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

We should, according to Solomon, be impressed with wisdom.   Here we have a poor man (debunk wealth) who lived in a small city under siege.   The poor man offered wisdom that proved to deliver the city (debunk strength).    Yet, he was still overlooked (debunk position).    Solomon's conclusion is that "quiet wisdom debunks power".    We don't look for the non-power-player in our midst who has quiet, yet powerful, wise words.   Solomon adds that wisdom is better than weapons of war.   I suppose in battle the warrior would disagree.   But, this is a Biblical truth to embrace.   Having wisdom debunks having power, position, strength and wealth.   

God's Love is Strong - Psalm 134-136

Psalms 136:23-24

Who remembered us in our low estate,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

And has rescued us from our adversaries,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

When I read this verse and come to realize that God "remembered us in our low estate" I have to ask, "Do we have another state other than 'low'?"    We are in sin which makes even our highest really, really low.   We are not worthy of His grace or lovingkindness, but, yet, He extends them to us.   Even when we are at the height of our worship we are low.   To think that God even stoops in the manner He does to reach us is breath-taking.   He "rescues us from our adversaries."   That means outward and inward.  He is there to take us all the way home (Romans 8:29-30).   And, it is all based upon His "Lovingkindness."     The Hebrew word (checed) for "lovingkindness" appears 240 times in the Bible and has the meaning of mercy, grace, love.   Note what Vine says of the word:

In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: “strength,” “steadfastness,” and “love.” Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. “Love” by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet “strength” or “steadfastness” suggests only the fulfillment of a legal or other obligation.

The word refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Yahweh and Israel). But checed is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. The weaker party seeks the protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises. Checed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law.

Vine goes on to use marriage as an example of Checed.  Marriage is a legal contract and can be obligatory, but the individuals in the marriage freely give to one another in steadfast love based upon their promise and the needs of the other.   God is in the business of loving us and giving to us based upon our need and His steadfast and perfect love.  

Encouraged by an ungodly politician? Ezra 6-10

Encouragement can come in many ways.   God's Word can and does and should encourage us.   God's people can and do and should encourage us.   But, should something that an ungodly politician do encourage us?   Note Ezra's response to the King of Persia's decrees concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem:

Ezra 7:27-28

Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes. Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Even in the midst of captivity God was moving.   God, after exactly 70 years (the time He said they would be in captivity) moved in the heart of an ungodly king to send the captives back to build the temple.   The king also sent them back with all the treasures that the previous king had taken from the temple.   The king also made sure they had material to build the temple and were not taxed in the same way others in the land were currently taxed.   In a time of great evil God protected His people.   In a time of great hardship and captivity God not only protected His people He accomplished His will through an ungodly king.  This was an encouragement to Ezra.   When Ezra sees the "kindness of the king" he is not confused as to where this kindness comes from.  It wasn't out of the bowels of the king but from the compassion and sovereign moving of his God.   Ezra sang the praises of God in this doxology.   God had moved in the heart of an ungodly king to have compassion on His people.   In the midst of a society like we live in today, let's not forget that God can and does move in the rulers of today.  God can and does move the "kings" heart the way He wants.   God uses His sovereign power to accomplish His will.   That should encourage you.   

Keep it clean - Deuteronomy 16-19

Three times in these four chapters Moses states the following:

"So you shall purge the evil from your midst."  (17:7) See also 17:12 and 19:19

The responsibility for purity in the midst of the people was the people.  God demands a lot from leadership but here He is telling the nation to police themselves.   When they see someone who is doing something contrary to God's Word they are to purge the evil from their midst.  Believers in the Church have the same responsibility.  In Galatians 6 we read that when we see another brother overtaken in a fault we are to restore them.  In James 5 we are to pray for them and turn them from their evil.   Personal responsibility toward one another is a key component of God's plan.   We are not to ignore the fellow believer who ignores God and His Word.  We are to step in and correct him/her.   Our desire should be to humbly correct them and get them to see the way of God.   In the OT God gave specific instructions that they were to destroy the sinner who leads them astray and disobeys God.   In the NT we are told to restore them and if they fail to repent we are to disassociate ourselves with them (1 Corinthians 5).   Biblically we have a responsibility to keep the community clean and pure.   That is our responsibility.  

Got a Gift? Glorify God - 1 Peter 4-5

1 Peter 4:11 has been my life verse for ... life.   I have quoted it hundreds of times before I speak to believers and non-believers, alike.   It keeps me anchored in what is my responsibility toward God with the gifts He has given me.  

1 Peter 4:11

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

It is one of the few verses in God's Word that ends with an "Amen."   Peter is adamant about our using our gift for the glory of Christ.   Whether we are given the gift of speaking or the gift of serving we are to glorify God in all, by speaking of Christ and serving for Christ.   As a professional speaker I take great solace in this verse to aide me in remembering that no matter where I speak or what I speak on I should use truth originated by God and say it for the glory of God.   He (Peter) is using "speaking" and "serving" here as mere examples of using your gift for God.  In verse ten he has stated that we are all given special gifts.  We are to use it (whatever it is) to bring glory to the God who gave us the gift.   Speaking (being up front) and Serving (being behind the scene) are at opposite poles of the gift world, from man's view point.   However, both are to be used to bring glory to God.  God does not distinguish in the type of gift (1 Corinthians 12) and niether should we.  We are to only make sure we use the gift to glorify God.  

Discuss, Debate, Decide - Acts 15-16

There are many debates in the church about many important things.  In Acts 15 we see the value of debate and we the way the debate over doctrine should come together.   Those in dispute came together and shared their views.   Someone moderated the meeting (in this case, James).  He seems to be ultimately the one who is going to make the decision (see verse 19).   But, the key to James' decision and the debate is found in this statement by James, who is speaking to validate Peter, Paul and Barnabas' words:

Acts 15:15

With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

He then goes on to quote the Old Testament prophets.   What he has done is verified the words of these men of God with the words of the men of God from the past.   God's plan is not dis-jointed.  It is an harmonious plan.   God speaks through one man with the same message He speaks through another man.  What God did in the New was a continuous of the the Old.  But, with a different aspect of fulfillment.   Isn't it interesting that the debate in chapter 15 centered around some of the church wanting to keep the Law (OT) and when the discussion was done they affirmed the decision by keeping the Prophets (OT).   The two parts of the OT are not in conflict.   It is only how we interpret them that is in conflict.  Christ repeatedly said He came to "fulfill" the law.   Let's not argue and debate endlessly.  Let's find an answer to our debate that harmonizes the Scripture, not puts it into conflict with itself.   The early church did it through solid debate, deep discussion and guidance from the Holy Spirit.  

Satan can no longer accuse us - Zechariah 1-7

There may not be a clearer picture and expression of what God does for us in the act of salvation than what is found in Zechariah chapter two and the story of Joshua, high priest.     Note what God says through Zechariah about Joshua, who is a picture of every believer:

Zechariah 3:1-4

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “ The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “ Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”

This is a picture of Romans 8;1 that states there is no more condemnation for the believer.  God saves him, clothes him and rebukes the accuser for him.   Christ is our salvation.  He takes our place so Satan can't condemn us.   Our new garments are Christ's clothing us with His Spirit.  Satan may want to point out all our sin.  Satan's surrogates (our friends and other men) may want to point out all our sins.   But, God is the rebuker of Satan and his allies.   He rebukes them through the finished work of Christ.   Rejoice today that the accuser has been silenced.  As much as he wants to accuse us and hurt us with his flaming arrows, our shield of faith in Christ's work rebukes him.   

We all have mis-spoken in the past - Ecclesiates 7-8

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

Solomon was a king and master politician.  He learned the art of the spoken word and could articulate his thoughts better than almost any man.   He was able to realize that even though a person spoke a certain phrase, we need to be careful.   Every man's words are not always every man's thoughts and what is in his heart ... we have all said things we realized we didn't mean ... a curse or an inappropriate phrase.   I write this devotional two day's after a presidential election.   The election season is filled with statements that people land on every word.   During the election coverage commentators say things and people land on every word or phrase.   Solomon warns us about "landing on" every word in this proverb, of sorts.  If we take "seriously" every word we hear we will soon find that many, many people say things they wish they shouldn't and we will often do so ourselves.   When we are catching others in their sin of "too many words" we must remember that we too are caught in the same fix.   Watch our words but remember to not watch everyone else's so close.   

God's Love is Strong - Psalm 134-136

Psalms 136:23-24

Who remembered us in our low estate,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

And has rescued us from our adversaries,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

When I read this verse and come to realize that God "remembered us in our low estate" I have to ask, "Do we have another state other than 'low'?"    We are in sin which makes even our highest really, really low.   We are not worthy of His grace or lovingkindness, but, yet, He extends them to us.   Even when we are at the height of our worship we are low.   To think that God even stoops in the manner He does to reach us is breath-taking.   He "rescues us from our adversaries."   That means outward and inward.  He is there to take us all the way home (Romans 8:29-30).   And, it is all based upon His "Lovingkindness."     The Hebrew word (checed) for "lovingkindness" appears 240 times in the Bible and has the meaning of mercy, grace, love.   Note what Vine says of the word:

In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: “strength,” “steadfastness,” and “love.” Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. “Love” by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet “strength” or “steadfastness” suggests only the fulfillment of a legal or other obligation.

The word refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Yahweh and Israel). But checed is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. The weaker party seeks the protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises. Checed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law.

Vine goes on to use marriage as an example of Checed.  Marriage is a legal contract and can be obligatory, but the individuals in the marriage freely give to one another in steadfast love based upon their promise and the needs of the other.   God is in the business of loving us and giving to us based upon our need and His steadfast and perfect love.  

The power of unity - Psalm 131-133

Psalms 133:1-2

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brothers to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,

Coming down upon the beard,

Even Aaron’s beard,

Coming down upon the edge of his robes.

Is there anything as powerful as unity?   Or, as beautiful?   People working together for the same common good for all is far above riches, power or personal honor.    Sports teams desire it, for-profit companies strive for it, churches should relish in it.   Perhaps one of the best examples of the power of unity is found in the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11.   Here you have mankind coming together to do something rather simple: Build a tower (perhaps not that simple in that primitive day).   They came together and began to build a tower that wasn't quite as high as their ego was for building it.   They set their hearts on being like God and wanting to reach God-like status in their act.   They had "set their minds" to accomplish something.  Note what God says of their coming together to work together in unity:

Genesis 11:6-7

The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

Their coming together as a people, the unit of their work, was very powerful.   God dispersed them with different languages to keep them from forming a unified alliance that would be used in destruction toward God's plan.  However, we should see the power of unity in this story.   In our Psalm, above, we see that God values unity when it is done for and toward righteousness.   In John 17 Jesus prayed for the unity of the church.  He knew the power it would be for the expansion of the church.  Unity is a powerful tool for God.  When directed toward the pursuit of righteousness it is like oil down the face, running past the beard to the edges of the robe.   A picture of ease, comfort and desire.  

God must ignite the heart to move the feet - Ezra 1-5

God must stir the hearts before the man engages the hands and feet.   That would be the big idea of chapter one of this book, written by the priest, Ezra.   We tend to want to think we are in control of our good works ... they they are choices of a heart with a deep desire for good.  However, we read in Ephesians 2:10 that God even ordains (before we were saved) the good works we would do.   In this passage of Ezra we see that God has already stirred the heart of a godless king (Cyrus of Persia) to send the remnant back from captivity to build the temple.   In 1:5 of the same book we see that God now stirs the heart of the people to give toward the project.   Giving and building must first begin by an action of God.  We can't believe that man can will himself to do good.   What we can see is that God actively works in the hearts of man to accomplish His ends.   God sets things in order and moves the parts to assure His will is accomplished.   This passage should excite us that God is at work in every detail of our lives.  He wants us to move by faith as He ignites our lives for Him.   Our response in faith to His moving is the act of obedience that completes the work God wants for us.  

Don't believe signs and wonders ... unless - Deuteronomy 13-15

A sign or wonder preformed by a prophet does not trump established principles and truths of God's Word.   Our society is so "experiential" in nature.   We look for things in "techno color" and when we see them we are easily led astray.   If something flashes we are quickly attracted to it.  Like a fish to a lure we like shinny things.   God knew that our eye-gate was an easy path to our weak minds and therefore warns us in Deuteronomy 13:1-4.    In this brief passage the writer Moses warns us that even if a prophet can do a miracle we are not to follow them if their council or teaching goes against God's Word.   He tells us that even if he can do a miracle (a sign or wonder) we are not to follow him or believe him if he tells us to follow after another god.  Signs and wonders don't negate Biblical truth.   We think that our experience is somehow more valid than God's Word, but it is not.   We need to be careful not to get caught up in our own experiences or those of another and think that God is leading in an area that He is not - contrary to His Word.   Pharaoh's magicians could duplicate some of Moses miracles (Of course they couldn't stop the miracle and could only duplicate them.   Something that didn't help them much.)   There were magicians in Paul and Peter's day as they established the new church.    God allows that.   But, true miracles, signs and wonders should support established truth.   Don't be lead astray by a miracle unless the miracle supports truth.   

So, if you work for a jerk ... 1 Peter 1-3

1 Peter 2:18-20

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

If you have ever had to work for a jerk this set of instructions from Peter might come to you as odd.   Peter is telling us to not just "endure" under bad "masters" but to realize that this is our chance to grow patient and find favor with God.   It is tough for us to "bear up" under sorrow ... "when suffering unjustly."   Is there anything more irritable and exhausting as working in a place where there is no justice and, in fact, a practice of unjust behavior?   An employer or supervisor or leader who deliberately wants to hurt us or hinder us or hamper our activities, is hard, if not impossible, to endure.   Yet, this is the time God wants us to shine.  He wants us to mirror the same attitude Christ had during His suffering in front of the master Pilate.   God is pleased when we endure under pressure.  We think we don't deserve it.  We may not.  But neither did Christ and He endured.   So, too, must we.   

Handling resistence to the truth - Acts 13-14

Acts 14:2

But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.

There will always be resistance to the message of Christ.    When Paul and Barnabas went on the first missionary journey they didn't have smooth sailing.    The enemies of the gospel would actually follow them from city to city to resist their message.    The amazing aspect of those who oppose the gospel is revealed in this verse in Acts 14.   Not only do they oppose the gospel for themselves, but they "stir" up the hearts and minds of others to also oppose them.  People who reject truth can't simply reject truth.   They want to know that others also reject truth.  They need the company to validate their power and position.   When we fight for the gospel to be heard and to be used by God in the hearts of man we must remember that the forces of evil are rallying their armies (both seen and unseen) to prevent the power of the Word from going out.   This is why Barnabas and Paul had to make sure they were in the power of the Spirit.   Only through the ministry of the Spirit do we have a chance to defeat the forces of evil who are out to stir up the minds of the unbeliever against the Gospel.  The enemy is not passive.  He is active.  

How to deal with the wet blankets - Haggai

Haggai 1:2

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.”’”

They are in every church, crowd or organization.   They always seem to surface when great work needs to be done.   Their message is always the same, although they disguise it with a plethora of disguises.    Their favorite line is: "This will never work!"    Or, "We tried this before."    Or, "Are you sure this is what we should do?"   In our verse here in Haggai their objection to progress and something new is, "The time has not come to ... ".    "It's not the right time," is code speak for the "wet blankets" of society to water down the ideas of others.   The nation of Israel was set free from captivity to return to the promise land to rebuild the temple.   Ezra, the leader at the time (read his book) was discouraged because the people had quit or delayed work on the temple.   Haggai was sent, by God, to encourage the people.   They said it wasn't time to build the temple, yet they time to build fancy houses for themselves.   If God gives us a plan and a work to do, we ought not put a time limit on it or try to reframe it.   God said do it and that is all that is necessary.   Let's not say what God told us to do is limited by something.   It is only limited by our lack of faith.   God enables and equips those he authorizes.   Don't listen to the na-sayers.  

If you enjoy your job - that is a gift. Ecclesiastes 5-6

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him–for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God.

The enjoyment of work seems somewhat counter to the punishment in the garden to Adam after he ate the forbidden fruit.  If you remember, God told him that his "curse" would be that the normal work God gave him in the beginning of creation (working in the garden of Eden to care for it) would not be toilsome and burdensome and would produce sweat on the brow (Genesis 3).  Man was made to enjoy God's creation and care for it in enjoyment.   However, his sin caused the suffering in work we feel today.  It might be a pain to get up to go to work today but that is a pain God judicial commanded as a result of disobedience to His commands.   Yet, in this verse we see that Solomon is telling us that we ought to enjoy our work.  We are, according to the King, to enjoy our possessions and embrace our jobs.  We are to look to be "happy" in our work.    How do we balance these two different thoughts on work?    The key is to remember that even though God commanded that work would now be toilsome, God can still give a blessing on whom He wants to enjoy their work - "THIS IS A GIFT OF GOD."   God gives enjoyment as a gift.  It is NOT that we have the RIGHT job and therefore we enjoy our work.  It is NOT that we are so good at it that we enjoy our work.  It is NOT that we have the right co-workers and therefore we enjoy our work.   It is NOT that we have decided we will do what we like and never really have a job the rest of our lives.   It is because God has given us enjoyment as a gift that we enjoy our work.   It is a gift.   No, it is not your attitude, your skills, your temperament or your colleagues that gives you enjoyment.   It is your God who gives you enjoyment ... as a gift.   Don't forget that and don't reject that.   Complain about your job and you fulfill Genesis 3.   Be content with you job and you will experience God's gift. 

Do you have a record? Psalm 128-130

Psalms 130:3

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,

O Lord, who could stand?

Most people don't think they have a record.   Most people would say they have never been arrested so there is no record.   In this Psalms we see a different view of our past.   "If" God kept a record of our sin, NO ONE would be able to stand before Him.   We all need our record purged.   This entire Psalm is about seeking and waiting for the goodness and forgiveness of God.    The writer is telling us that absent God's wiping our record clean we have no standing before God.    The writer knows his state before God.  He must wait and hope for God's redemptive arm to save him.   We may not have a record with the police or at our work or even in our own mind.   But, God knows the hearts.  He searches the hearts.  He knows the corruption we have within.   But, He does not leave it that way.  He redeems us, as we read the rest of the Psalm.   He forgives us.   We can "stand" before Him, but not based upon our own work on the work of God and His everlasting goodness and forgiveness.  

Another reason we have distress in our lives - 2 Chronicles 33-36

We often wonder why we have stress and distress in our lives. We like to think that we all deserve a life of ease and conflict is for the other guy. There is no doubt that sometimes we are "innocent" and don't deserve the pain we get but that determines you belief on the word "innocent". In God's eyes all men are guilty and deserve eternal punishment. When you start with that premise you can better understand the pain in the world but few want to believe that "all" are guilty. The world tends to start with the premise that all men are innocent until they do something deemed by their fellow man to be wrong. God doesn't work that way. In our passage about King Manasseh, King of Judah, we find that he established a different type of worship throughout the nation. To the world's standards he would be applauded for his religious prowess and his generosity.  To man he was enabling his fellow citizens and doing good deeds.  To God He was violating God's Word and deserved correction.  God actually sent prophets to him to speak for God but Manasseh didn't listen.   That is when God used stress and distress to get Manasseh's attention by sending other armies to fight against him and conquer him.   Note the king's response:

2 Chronicles 33:12

When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

God gives us plenty of chances to repent and respond to Him that are less painful.  But, often the reason we have distress in our lives is that God wants to get our attention and bring us back toward Him.   As a result of his repentance, Manasseh becomes a good king for God.  One of the few who turn in repentance toward God.   But, it took an army of destruction to wake him up.   What will it take to wake us up to the failure to follow God and to repent and return to Him?  Note what happens to Manasseh after his repentance:

2 Chronicles 33:13

When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

That can happen to anyone who returns to God. 

God gives a life time guarantee - Deuteronomy 10-12

When God gives you stuff He is the one who watches over it.  When we obey Him and He gives us stuff that is called His blessings; and with His blessings comes protection and His watchful eye as well.  Israel was preparing to enter the "promise land."   God was going to dispossess those He allowed to be "caretakers" of the land until His people showed up to take possession.   He promises the nation that if they trust and obey they would be blessed with this land and that HE would watch over the land like He watched of them.  Note the following in regards to God's promise that came along with the land:

 Deuteronomy 11:12

... a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.

We all like guarantees.  We like to know that the stuff we buy comes with some assurance it will last, or be replaced if it doesn't last.   We even keep paper receipts to make sure that the provider of the property keeps their word on the guarantee.   If something even looks wrong we clutch that little piece of paper in our hands like a golden ticket.   This verse in Moses words to Israel was their receipt that the property was going to good to the end.   God was going to watch over their land and care for it "from the beginning even to the end".   Yes, the guarantee came with the condition that they obey God as they walked through the land, but it was a guarantee none-the-less.   It wasn't based upon a tattered and torn and worn out piece of paper.  It was based upon the promise and character of God.   You might lose your receipt but God's Word held this promise secure.   It is still secure today for the nation if they would only obey His Word.  

Christianity is upside down! James 3-4

In the opening chapters of James the writer tells us to all our suffering to be joyous.  We are to "count it all joy" when we fall into various trials and troubles. We find that difficult but none-the-less we, through faith, do as instructed.   However, note the following as James unfolds the rest of the book:

James 4:9-10

Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

In chapter one we are to be joyous in trial but in chapter four we are to be mournful when we think things are good for us.  James has just finished telling us the pitfalls of pride.  Pride comes when we think high of ourselves.   Pride tends to excite us and make us joyous.   But, instead of being happy and excited in times of pride we are to be "miserable, mourn and weep .... letting our laughter turn to mourning."    In one case (suffering) we are to be joyous (1:2-3) and in the other case (pride) we are to be mournful (4:9-10).  Christianity is upside down in comparison with the world.   The world says be miserable when you are in suffering and be joyous when you have done good.  Christianity says the opposite.   Be joyous in suffering (because God is working in it) and be mournful in prideful times (because God can't use it).   Turn you life upside down.  Be a real Christian.  

Evil men cause other men to suffer - Acts 11-12

We seldom think about it, but the actions of evil leaders does carnage to others, even if they appear to be innocent.   In the story of Peter being set free from prison by an angel there is collateral damage inflicted on the prison guards.   Because King Herod failed to recognize any power but his own, he ordered the guards who where chained to Peter executed.   When you think about, to the naive this seems quite cruel of God to allow this to happen.  These men, in most eyes, were innocent.   They were ordered to chain themselves to Peter and then, unknown to them, an angel appears and releases him.   Imagine their thoughts when they came to and discovered Peter was gone.  They knew this would mean certain death.     They could explain to King Herod all they wanted about the providence of God and the intervention of an angel, but he would never listen.  He was so obsessed with his own power and drunk with his own ego that they would suffer a quick execution at his orders.   Ungodly men in power will cost others their lives.   These men were not innocent, of course.  Like all of us, they were born in sin and deserved death.  We all do.   But, had Herod sought God and sought the meaning in all of this these men would have been able to return to their families.   Make no mistake, the suffering in this world is due to the failure of man to submit to God.   Sin brings suffering.   These men suffered at the hands of an evil king, who refused to submit to God's rule.  

Shame on YOU!!! Zephaniah

Zephaniah 3:11

“In that day you will feel no shame

Because of all your deeds

By which you have rebelled against Me;

For then I will remove from your midst

Your proud, exulting ones,

And you will never again be haughty

On My holy mountain.

Shame is a funny thing. Those who have none even in light of their corrupt deeds are condemned by this same author (2:1). In this verse, however, God is telling us through the prophet Zephaniah that there is coming a day, even in the midst of wicked deeds, that a people will not have shame. We know that believers are told by Paul that we have no "condemnation". That means, because of the work of Christ on the cross we no longer have to stand condemned for our sin. But, that does not relieve us from shame. Shame is a an act of our conscious who knows we have done wrong. Shame can way us down, even in light of no more condemnation. Shame can be a good thing as it shows us that we are truly children of God. The Spirit can work in our hearts over our sin and show us our shame. Shame can't be relieved until God moves it totally away. In Romans 7 we see Paul struggle with "shame." The sin he didn't want to do he ended up doing and the good he wanted to do he didn't do. Shame can only be dealt with by a Merciful God. There is a day coming that we will feel NO SHAME. What a great day when God takes us away and removes not only the penalty of sin but he pain of sin.

Wise youth vs. Foolish aged - Ecclesiastes 3-4

Ecclesiastes 4:13

A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.

We often think of those in authority over us as having some special knowledge or some keen insights.  That, we presume, is why they are over us.   These people are often older and, again, presumed, wiser.  Yet Solomon, in his search for all things knowledge, gives us some important insight into what really makes a leader and what produces wisdom into our lives.   We read in this "proverb" from Ecclesiastes that an old king is foolish if he no longer is in a position to receive instruction.   As a result, a young lad, born in poverty and locked in an "at risk" status, can be wiser ... assuming he will take instruction as opposed to the old, foolish king.  God's Word, especially in Proverbs, says a lot about people who won't receive instruction.   Failure to be corrected or to learn new truth is a clear indication that someone is foolish and beyond help.   If you are old, remember that your wisdom and leadership are in direct proportion to your willingness to digest new truth and change your ways.   That truth comes from God.   If you are young, don't question your station in life.   Seek wisdom as you would seek gold and you will find  you are wiser than most leaders in the land.