Why confess when God already knows? Genesis 1-3

Genesis 3:11-12

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

"Confession is good for the soul but bad for the reputation."    This old adage has been passed around for years.   The value, or truth of it, probably depends upon the one saying it.   When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden God came looking for them and asking them what was wrong.   He asked them who told them they were naked.  But, God already knew.  He is omniscient.  He knows everything.    Why then did God ask them "why" they were naked?   God knew they were naked but God wanted them to say it. Confession is for us and not for God.  Confession is when you and I agree with God that our behavior is sin and offensive to God.   When we sin we have a tendency to want to hide it from others and from God.    But, in the above account of this historical and theological event we see that God desires that we "confess" to Him what He already knows.   Confession is good for us as it relates us to God and allows us to open the door for His grace.   Confession is the valve that we open to allow God's grace to flow into our damaged lives.  

He will finish the job!! Jude

Jude 1:24

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

After reading the first 23 verses in this little book of Jude we might think we are destined to be deceived and will fall for every deceitful doctrine postulated by man.   Jude, in his one chapter book, is warning believers that there are many who wish to lead them astray.  He gives a number of examples of those who taught falsehoods, or gave into them.   He is warning us to stand our guard against the doctrines of the Devil, who only wishes to lead us into his same destiny.    The attack on the faith of the believer is real and often successful.   Yet, God ends the book with the above verse ... a promise to all believers, similar to the one Christ gave to Peter in regard to his denials.  Christ told Peter he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.   However, Christ didn't abandon Peter in his denial.  In fact, note what Christ said to him "prior" to the denial:

Luke 22:31-32

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

God promises to "keep us from stumbling" and to "make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy."   We may fail and fall-away.   But, God promises to keep us to the end.   He promises to finish what He started.   There may be deceivers out there and we may fall to their message from time to time.  But, God will rescues as we believe in faith that He will and He will bring us safely home to Glory.   

Don't forget God's will because of His methods - Acts 27-28

Acts 28:30-31

And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

This historical evidence of Paul's travel from Jerusalem to Rome is remarkable on a number of different levels.  God's sovereignty is on full display, as is Paul's faith and the attitude of unbelievers toward them both.   Paul had so longed to go to Rome but never would have imagined the journey that would bring him there.  Yet, the purpose and mission, no matter how he arrived would stay the same: Preach the Gospel and persuade whoever would hear about the resurrection of Christ.   As today's believers, we must finish our course in the same manner.   We have no idea "how" we will get where we are going.  But, along the way we have to make sure that the journey doesn't distract us from the mission.  We are called to tell others about Christ.   We are not called to enjoy and embrace the world.   We are called to be the light in the darkness.   That means while in the darkness we can act like others.   Paul is our example of what can happen when we have faith in God's plan and His ways of working out His plans.   Many of us believe in His will but few like His methods to accomplish that will.   Remember the mission despite the journey: Christ and Him glorified.  

Water of Life at NO COST - Revelation 18-22

Revelation 22:17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

In this last section of the Revelation much debate can be heard as to meaning.   Who is who and what is what is often kicked like a can between theologians as they struggle with the visions and terms and pictures.   Thankfully, despite the difficulty, there is much that is simple and true and can be stated with out ambiguity.    The above verse is one of those clear and certain truths we would have little debate about.   At the end of the book there is a clear and distinct invitation to come to Christ.   The book might cause some confusion but God's intent is to drive the hearer of the Word toward Christ.   "Come" is the invitation all men need to hear.   In our difficulty of understanding some parts we see that all the parts point to an invitation to come to Christ.    Like the Gospels, The Revelation of Christ is an offer to quench the thirst.   The "water of life without cost" is the offer a Savior who paid it all.   Don't get lost in the interpretation when the central theme is so plain and so clear.   Once we come to that understanding it is much easier to realize the rest of the book has Christ at the center, as well.   

Locked in by her Locks - Song of Songs 7-8

Song of Songs 7:5

“Your head crowns you like Carmel,

And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads;

The king is captivated by your tresses.

The above verse is from Solomon's words directed toward his bride.    I love the last line.   He, the king, is "captivated" by the tresses (locks of her hair).   The love we have for the partner God gives us should "captivate" us.   The word here in the Hebrew is that we are "locked in" or "taken prisoner."   Poetically we might say that Solomon is "locked in by her locks."   When you are in love it doesn't taken much to be "captivated."  We are often put in prison by love.   We ought to enjoy that type of prison.   Love's prison is the best.   Solomon spends the entire first part of this chapter simply outlining and taking inventory of what he loves about his bride.  He "counts his blessings" in the bride God gave him.   We ought to take stock in what we have in our spouse.  Yes, they could weigh less (or more); they could be taller (or shorter); they could be funnier (or, more serious); and they could be more passionate (or, less).   But, they are what God made them.  Satan wants us to look at what we don't have.   The person at work you are attracted to is not there by mistake.  Satan surrounds you with people your lover is not.  He wants you to fail and fall.   Solomon takes time to inventory what he has.  Once he does that he doesn't need another.   

Boast about God ... He deserves it! Psalm 149-150

Psalm 150 is a Psalm of praise.  In each verse, each line begins with instruction about where or how to praise God.   The fact that we need instruction on where and how to praise God should give us some pause.   When we realize the greatness of God we ought to simply burst forth with praise.   But, we don't.   We have to instruction of who, how, where and why to praise Him.   The word praise is the Hebrew "halal".   It is used over 100 times in the OT and actually means, "to boast in a shouting manner."   The first time the word is used in the OT is in Genesis 12:15 when Pharaoh saw Abraham's wife, Sarai.   He "boasted" of her beauty.    You and I have a choice each day what we boast about.  We can boast about "how great the day is" praising the weather.   We can boast about our children ... telling all how great they are.   We can boast about our jobs, our possessions, or our futures.   We love to boast about our sports teams .... when they do good.  That may be the best example of "halal."   In Psalm 150 we are told to boast of God and His greatness.   We are told to use instruments to do so and song as our medium of praise.   We are told to do so because of what God has done for us.  We are told to do so simply because God is great.   Let's sing praise to Him for whatever reason He gives us.   But, let's boast about Him and not our own meager accomplishments.   

God uses the little things in life to shame our enemies - Esther 6-10

The minor circumstances in life can have a large impact on our lives.   We don't always see it but the little things God uses to move us and situate us in the right place at the right time is truly amazing.   God had Moses in the exact place he needed to be to see the Egyptian soldier beat one of his brothers.  He didn't respond appropriately but God used that to accomplish His task.   The band of traders that came by just as the brothers of Joseph tossed him into a pit saved his life.   In our story here in Esther is full of these minor movements orchestrated by the God of Mercy.   Just as the King decides to award Mordecai for his faithfulness to the king who "just happens to come into the royal court?" ... Haman, the arch enemy of Mordecai.   Haman didn't know why he got up so early and rushed off to the palace.   He didn't know why the traffic was light that day.  He didn't know why no one else showed up for work.   But, what he did know is that when the king wanted to run an idea past someone for insight, he was the only one there.  His head must have swelled.   His ego must have exploded.   But, in the end, he was humiliated.   In the end he had to lead the man he hated the most around the city praising him.   God is funny that way.   The next time you read a verse like this think about all the times God has had you in a place to either receive honor or shame:

Esther 6:4

So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.

New Retirement Plan - Deuteronomy 32-34

Before you go, remind others of what God has done and will do.  Moses knew he was about to die.  You can't get more information about the end of your life than God simply telling you (that is what chapter 32 is all about).  But, he didn't use the end of his life to find a place to die or go to retire.  He used the last breath to vocalize what God did do, can do and will do for his brothers.   We tend to think of the end of our lives as a time to sit back and relax and “suck it all in.”  In reality God gives us a great lesson in this text:  Use your last breath to tell others about God.   We shouldn't think of the end as a time to slip quietly into the sunset.  We should use the end to get on the mountain to tell others about God. In chapter 33 Moses leaves a song for the nation and for us.   We are told that his vigor was the same at the end as it was during his days.    It is important to know that God doesn't expect us to drop off from life at a certain age.   Our "retirement" mindset has stopped many strong men and women of faith from working in the nursery, teaching Sunday School, or doing some other ministry; simply because they are "too old."    Retirement is a product of man and not God.   We are told all of our lives, by society, we are supposed to stop working.  But, God never outlines that in His Word.   Moses wrote a song moments before his death.   That is working to the very end.   And Moses wasn't even a musician.   How many people do you know who start a new hobby hours before they die.   

Physical and health prosperity and the Gospel - Is it a marriage? 3 John

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

There is much talk in churches today about "prosperity" doctrine.  Those who are proponents of such a doctrine believe that when you come to Christ you get riches from Christ .... you prosper because you believe in God and His son, Jesus Christ.  Those who oppose the doctrine believe that when you come to Christ you are called to a life of suffering.   (Could this be why they keep their ministers poor and always in need?)  Like all "extremes" of doctrine in God's Word there is probably a balance somewhere in between.   God gives us one of those balance points as the Spirit leads John in the writing this to the church.  He wants his friend Gaius to be commended and he is asking God to "prosper" him and give him good health ... and, he uses his spiritual prosperity as a measuring tool.  It should be noted that John doesn't say that he should have health and physical prosperity in the same quantity as his spiritual prosperity.  It is not a "proportionate"  type of prosperity.   John is simply telling Gaius that he wants him to have good physical health and prosperity in the same manner or fact that his soul prospers.  The teaching here seems to be that we have spiritual prosperity in Christ and John is praying that Gaius will experience physical prosperity in the same manner; through Christ.   The fact that John is "praying" for it means it is not a guarantee that we WILL HAVE physical prosperity simply because we are IN CHRIST.   It means John is praying for that and asking God to give it to Gaius in the SAME MANNER as his spiritual prosperity ... fully in Christ.   We ought not to come to Christ thinking He will bless us physically with riches and good health.  But, we ought not to think it is a sin to pray for it either.   John seems to see both as a possibility in God's divine will.   God honored Jabez for asking for physical prosperity (1 Chronicles 4:9,10).  God can honor John's prayer for Gaius and our prayers for each other, in the same manner.   If we get this type of prosperity, remember, it is a gift of God not a benefit of salvation. 

People want their pound of flesh - Acts 25-26

Acts 25:2-3

And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him, requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).

People want their pound of flesh.   They want to inflict harm on those they don't agree with and do harm to them.  In this case the religious leaders of the day were envious of the "power" and "prestige" they perceived Paul had accumulated in Christ.   As a result they wanted to "get even" with Paul.   When people reject Christ they reject Christ's servants.   Since people can't take their anger out on Christ literally they will do so with His servants.   That is the point and approach to persecution.   Unbelievers hate everything Christ is about.   So, when Paul stands for Christ's salvation they have to persecute Christ's servants.   In every society that is true, but can also be true in organizations, neighborhoods,  and even families.  People love to "bring charges against" others.   Our only safety is that we are "in Christ." We have His love and His acceptance.   Other's can try to condemn us, but God is our shield and our sword.   

Satan is Accusing you before God RIGHT NOW!! Revelation 12-17

Revelation 12:10

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

The majority parts of this section of Revelation is the wrath of God poured out on disbelievers.   God takes disbelief seriously and rewards it properly.   In the midst of the wrath poured out on man it is important to see what God does to Satan, the great destroyer and deceiver.   He deceives man and he attempts to bring man down with him.  In this verse we see that Satan is the great "accuser" of the brethren.   He stands before God, as in the days of Job, and hurls accusations about us in front of God.  He doesn't just do this as a hobby ... when he has time to do so.  He does it "day and night" before God.  This is Satan's main hobby.  He simply wants to show God that His children are wicked and sinful like he is.  Those who don't believe in Christ and have no imputed righteousness can only tear others down to make themselves feel comfortable about their lives.  People put others down to build themselves up.  They learned it from the great deceiver/accuser: Satan.   Thankfully believers have Christ to stand and make intercession for us "night and day."   So, when Satan makes the accusation, Christ stands up and says, "Paid for!" and shows God His scars.   It would be nice if sometimes He could say, "Not true ... that is just not true what is being accused."   The problem is the accusation is true.  That is why He Ever LIves To Make Intercession for Us!  Note the next verse in the text about our "overcoming" Satan's accusations:

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Do No Harm to those you Love - Song of Songs 5-6

Song of Songs 5:7

“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,

They struck me and wounded me;

The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.

The watchmen in the city had the responsibility to protect the citizens within the city from anyone who would want to harm them who was on the outside of the city.   In the passage above we read that the watchmen actually attacked one of their own.  When the bride went looking for the groom (an apparently lovers quarrel or lover's spat) the watchmen didn't protect her, but, thinking she was a not one of the citizens wounded her and, taking her shawl, embarrassed her.  Since how you interpret the book determines many verse by verse application, it is difficult to find a majority interpretation of what is happening here.  Since I believe that the best interpretation is that this is an actual story of love that "can be" applied to Christ and the Church, I believe the application in this verse is that sometimes those who are meant to protect hurt those who are in their same camp.   Sometimes church members hurt each other in the name of protecting the church.   Sometimes family members mistakenly hurt other families members, even though they are in the same family.  Love, when lost in the hearts of men, sometimes isn't love at all.  Instead of protection we have pilfering.  What God is telling us here is that if you are the "watchmen" you need to watch who you harm and who you protect.   If you are the "citizen" you need to be careful wandering the streets with no direction and recognition as a subject of the city.   Be careful of of others.  We should protect our own and do no harm.  

God made today's weather - Psalm 146-148

Psalms 147:18

He sends forth His word and melts them (the snow);

He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

Psalms 148:8

Fire and hail, snow and clouds;

 Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

When most people think of "God's Word" they probably think of the Bible ... His written word; recorded and preserved over time.  They would not be wrong.   The Bible is God's message to man and has been preserved for generations.  However, there is more to God's Word than this Great Book.   In these two verses from these Psalms we see that it is God's sustaining Word that controls the weather.    If He wants the snow and wind to blow, He does so.   In 147:17 He asks, "Who can stand before His cold?"   If you live in Michigan in the winter you know how to answer that question.   We don't think much about God and the weather.   We complain about the weather, as though it is our nemesis and out to destroy our wonderful plans.   But, God has a purpose in all of the earth and the weather is no exception.  The next time we complain about the weather we ought to first take thought of these two verses.   God sends forth His Word and melts the snow, or He sends forth His Word and brings hail, snow and storms.   We may not like the weather and fear its destruction, but like all parts of creation it is at His biding.   Because of sin in the world even the weather can be destructive and a tool for damage.   In the story of Job a strong wind was used by Satan to destroy Job's children.   In Elijah's day the rain was stopped to show God's judgment.   In Noah's day the rain was used to destroy sin.   At Jesus crucifixion the sky drew dark (in the middle of the day).    In Jonah's rebellion God used a storm to get him tossed into the sea.   God uses the weather to stop the world.  He uses the rain to bless the farmer.   God directs the weather.  Quit complaining about it and embrace God sovereign will.   

God's law are not arbitrary - Esther 1-5

The law(s) of the land are sometimes built on false wisdom and on contemptible situations.  So, we see here in counsel given to King Ahauerus by one of his servants and advisors: Memucan.  The situation of the Queen not coming to the party when the King ask is certainly a contemptible thing ... if your the king.   If your the Queen it is a different story.   Her failure to "comply" to the King is not grounds for dismissal ... unless you are the king.   The story is about two people full of pride.   Maybe a third person full of pride, if you count Memucan, the advisor to the king.  He wants the kings ear.   The king wants the queens body.  The queen wants her privacy and autonomy.   So, we see this is no time to create a law.  Yet, that is what Memucan proposes.   He turns a situation more suited for marriage counselors, into a congressional act and produces a law; that will never be able to change.   Man's justice and legal system is a farce when you understand the legal and moral "system" of God.  God does not arbitrarily make a law based upon ego and envy.  God's law and justice is based upon His perfect character of love, mercy and holiness.  He does not punish on a whim.  He does not demote us on a whim when we fail to "dance" in front of Him.   His perfect holiness and love met at the Cross.  He crucified His only Son so that we could have His righteousness.   Man creates laws in knee-jerk reaction to the ego and envy that lurks in his heart.   Not so with God.   We can not measure up to God's Law but He provides His Son in our stead.  Man's law can only condemn.   

God's Will is right in front of us - Deuteronomy 29-31

Deuteronomy 30:14

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

Believers are always talking about "God's will" and finding it.   We search for it as though it were some secret path, object, journey hidden in the bushes of life.   We don't realize that God's will for our lives has been preserved for centuries.   "God's will" has been a best seller in our society for decades.   "God's will" is found right between Genesis 1 and Revelation 21.   As the nation of Israel was about to depart into the promise land.   To assure they would follow God in "His Will" God gave it to them.   He simply told them.   In the above verse we see that God's desire for us is not far away.   It is right in our mouth and heart.   Moses meant that the Words he just spoke them and had written down and placed along side the Mercy Seat, were now in their mouth and in their heart.  They had "digested" the Word and that was what God wanted for them.   We don't have to seek some hidden, unexpressed Word from God.   If we spent our entire time on earth simply obeying His written and revealed Word, we would be exactly in God's Will.   Don't spend your life looking for a secret when His revelation is right in front of you. 

Don't be so open minded - 2 John

2 John 1:10

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

Christianity prides itself on being hospitable, amicable, and accepting.  You can turn to many passages in God's Word that even enforce and teach just guiding principles.   However, our societies pressure to make sure we "accept" all things and "abide" by all things is not a Biblical or Christian concept.  It is fostered from Satan, himself.   It is a lie from the Father of Lies.   In John's day, toward the end of his life, the church was fully under attack by false teachers and leaders who the god of this world was using to lead the People of God away from the truth.  The denied the Deity of Christ and the Work of Christ.   In John's day they were false teachers and were to be treated as such.  We are told today to not be "unloving" toward those who oppose our views.   We are to be open to the things of the world, especially different life styles and different views about morality and, even, ethics.   Yet, John was quite blunt and quite narrow minded in his views.  His warning to "his children" was that if someone denied Christ's came in the flesh (in other words, "Christ's Incarnation ... That He was fully God and fully man), we are not only to keep them out of our house, we are to not even greet them.   (The reference to our "house" would be another way to refer to the early church as they often met in the homes of believers to worship.   This letter in particular is to someone who is using their home for worship.)  We are not to be "open" minded to false teaching from someone who denies Christ is Lord and Savior of the World.   That includes "anyone" who rejects Him.   We can be civil and we can, like Christ, show forgiveness for ignorance.   But, we are not to open our minds to their teaching.   We are to stand our ground, which might not look very hospitable, amicable, or accepting. 

Are you ready to defend your walk with Christ - Acts 23-24

What is your response when you are arrested for the cause of Christ and accused of false behavior?   How would you respond to a conspiracy to take your life because of your testimony for Christ?   If the religious leaders surrounded  you with false accusations and brought those false accusations to the unbelieving authority in the world, how would you defend yourself?   

We might answer all those question with one simple answer, "I have never and will probably never have that experiences."   Paul's life is not like ours today, but how it could be in the future.   For centuries in our society Christian principles were adored, if not woven tightly into the constitutional fabric of our country.  However, those times are changing.  It is no longer vogue to be a Christian.   We are only years from outward, societal accepted,  persecution.   So, perhaps the questions ought to be phrased in the future tense: What will out response be when we are, soon, persecuted for our faith?   I can only hope that my response will be the same as that of Paul when brought before his accusers and the unbelieving authority set up to hear his case.    Note how he stays on message:

Acts 24:14-15

But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.  

He goes on to say a little later:

Acts 24:21

other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today. ’”

If we hope to stand for something in the future we have to be preparing ourselves in the present.   We will never be persecuted for our faith if we don't stand for Christ.    When we stand for Christ we have to put our faith firmly in His hands and our security firmly in His care.   Paul was ready and did stand for Christ.   Are we ready and willing to do the same? 

Still won't repent ... even in light of this? Revelation 6-11

The wrath of God poured out on the earth will be so severe people will run and ask the rocks to fall on them to kill them, just so they don't have to endure such pain (see 9:6).    We can't imagine the torment that is actually described in these chapter of Christ's Revelation to and through John.   You would think that when people are met with such devastation they would turn to God in droves.   They would fall to their knees and, like Isaiah of old, say, "Behold I am undone" (Isaiah 6).   Yet, this is not the case.  Note what John records in regard to those who are not killed by the wrath of God:

Revelation 9:20-21

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

Despite all this devastation they refuse to repent.   We hear so many people say that if they could only see the miracles of Moses, Daniel, David, or Jesus they would gladly worship God.   However, in the light of the worst punishment ever inflicted on the earth and man we see the result: Pride.   Man is so full of himself he refuses to repent and worship God despite the worst punishment any man has ever faced.  When Sin grips the life it truly prevents repentance.   When we elevate ourselves above God we will never find a way to put ourselves under God's rule.   We will not repent unless we have God do a great work in our lives.   We need God's grace to repent.   Absent God's grace we have rebellion and hard hearts.   If you have repented from your sins give praise to God for His grace.   For without it, you would be as though in 9:20-21.

I see NO flaws in my spouse - Song of Songs 3-4

Song of Songs 4:7

“ You are altogether beautiful, my darling,

And there is no blemish in you.

Love is blind, or so they say.   Perhaps Solomon's confession about his lover and bride is a clear example of that truth.  In these two chapters of the Song of Songs, Solomon and his bride are praising each other and each has poured out the proper and expected salutations, greetings and compliments to their respective lovers.   By the time we get to 4:7 above they are drunk on love.   Solomon sums up a section describing the body of his bride with this statement, "You are altogether beautiful ... there is NO blemish in you."    The world, especially women, are in great pursuit of this high and lofty evaluation.   You can almost see the cover of the glamour magazine with the bride displayed proudly on the front with the headline, "No Blemish In Her."   Perhaps that is what floated around Jerusalem in those days.   Perhaps there was no blemish in her.   The "bride" is supposed to be a picture of the church purified by the blood of Christ, so in once sense the statement is true.  As we are presented to Christ we are presented spotless, with no blemish.  Note Peter's words about the coming Day of The Lord (the Marriage Supper of the Lamb):

2 Peter 3:14

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

But, in the historical sense of the Solomon's statement to his bride, he is so captivated by her beauty he literally sees no flaws. This is how we are to view our spouse.  We are to see the perfection they have IN Christ and we are to compliment them for who they are.   It is easy to find flaws in others, even after we have been married awhile and have now discovered each and every one of them.  It is quite another to allow true Biblical love to cover those flaws.   Solomon already knew this when he wrote the following Proverb.  He practiced in Song of Songs 4:7 what he wrote here:

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all transgressions.

What to do when others attack us - Psalm 143-145

In order to catch today's theme we have to read the basis for it in the following verses from Psalms:

Psalms 143:3-5

For the enemy has persecuted my soul;

He has crushed my life to the ground;

He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;

My heart is appalled within me.

"I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your doings;

I muse on the work of Your hands."

The writer seems under attack by someone.  He is being persecuted and is feeling overwhelmed and full of self-doubt.   He states his "heart is appalled within" him.   That is the fruit of depression, or, perhaps, depression itself.   This attack from the outside has mingled wine with the inside.   External problems eventually, if not always, damage internal organs.    

To combat this situation the writer can go many places.   Modern day psychologist give us many "techniques" to get over hurt from others and to restore the "feelings within."   The Spirit has the writer, in this case, to give us a key to restoring our confidence and internal strength.  It is NOT the idea of self evaluation - count what you have accomplished and learned in your life.  It is NOT they idea of learning more and gaining insight from past mistakes.  Both of these methods have some merit and might even be supported by some principles of Scripture.   But, here the writer tells us to "remember the days of old and mediate on" God's doings.   To overcome self-doubt we are not to focus on SELF.  We are to put our focus on what God has done through us and for us.   HIS WORK is to be identified and mediated upon and not our work.   He is the one who restores the internal power, despite the external pressure.   Meditate today on what God has done for you in the past and you will soon begin to believe what He will be doing in the future

Staying in the comforts of home vs. moving toward God - Nehemiah 11-13

Read the first three verses of this section in Nehemiah again:

Nehemiah 11:1-3

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine- tenths remained in the other cities. And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah each lived on his own property in their cities —the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.

Here we have the re-habitation of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah, on his first trip back from captivity, had made sure the walls were built.  On his second trip back he wanted to make sure the city was filled.   Neglect would only lead to more ruin.   This was Jerusalem, the Holy City, the place God put His name and His temple.   Yet, the people were not rushing to dwell in the restored and honored dwelling place.   We can see in this description of the residence that the "leaders" of the people lived there.   And that they should.   This is where the leaders belonged.  But, where were the rest of the people?  Why the hesitation?  It would be normal to fear living in Jerusalem.   The foreign countries that took them all captive, first and foremost, destroyed Jerusalem.  The city was hated by other countries.   But, perhaps there is another reason.   Ezra tells us that the people wouldn't rebuild the temple because they "lived in panel houses" of their own.   Perhaps Paul, latter in his letter to the Church at Phillipi, gives us the real reason they wouldn't inhabit the city:

Philippians 2:21

For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

The people were comfortable.  They had become entranced in their own cities.   There should have been a rush to fill the city.  Instead they resorted to a lottery system to put Jerusalem back where it should be in occupancy.   Like our empty churches today, seeking the place of holiness is just not on our agendas.   We prefer the comfort of our surroundings than to put ourselves at risk in the place of holiness, hated by the world.  

The curse and the cure - Deutronomy 26-28

Deuteronomy 27 and 28 are the Blessings and the Cursings of the nation of Israel.  In a simple truth God tells them if they obey they will have blessing and if they disobey they will have the curses.   To say that the curses are horrible and destructive and full of pain would be a vast understatement.   Note the following summary of the curses:

Deuteronomy 28:58-59

“If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses.

These are just two of the large number of verses that tell them to obey God.   God does not tolerate or excuse disobedience.  This is why we need Christ to stand in our place.   We, like them, would be in constant torment from the curses without God's grace through Christ.   We constantly disobey God and fall short of His demands.   We can't obey even the short list in chapter 26.   We are cursed ... like them.   God, however, knows this and provides Christ to fulfill the requirements of the law and to stand in our place for the punishment due for breaking the law.   God's grace in our lives meets the demands of God's justice over our lives.   We can be thankful that God provided Christ in our stead for the demands of the law.  

Idol Worship - 1 John 4-5

John ends his book on loving God and loving others and avoiding anti-Christ teaching in the following manner:

1 John 5:21

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

With no salutation or Pauline-like sign off, John simply gives one final warning: Don't get caught worshiping someone or something that is, in the simplest terms, an idol.   We typically think of idols as stone or wooden statues that the ancients bowed before asking for blessings from a rock.   We laugh at the ignorance of the primitives, who, when a meteor struck their town, they would worship the rock like some god fallen from the sky, punished by the other gods.   We laugh at the tribes in the congo who are found in worship of trees and logs they have given faces and hands.  Yet, in our society we see us worship shinny and fast cars, sleek yachts, wood and cement homes, hand-held technology and empty, vain athletes and entertainment gods.   We wait in line for the next gadget, only to find out the new version of it will be out within the next year, making the long awaited toy in our hand obsolete before we learn how to use it.  We worship the way others dress, or what they are wearing.  We worship and chase championship trophies to hoist them over our heads and kiss like the ancients years ago kissed their stones.  What we pursuit we worship.   What we adore we worship.  What we long for we worship.   If we pursue, adore and long for Christ we are in the right place.  If not, heed John's final words in this book:  Little Children, guard yourselves from idols.  

When you see other's successful ministries, what do you do? Acts 21-22

In Mathew 5:16 it says that we are to do our good works in front of men so that when they see them they will glorify our Father who is in heaven.   

Matthew 5:16

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

In this section of Paul reporting back to the people in Jerusalem about his missionary journey we see those words of Jesus fulfilled: 

Acts 21:19-20a

After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

And when they heard it they began glorifying God; ...

Telling others what God is doing in our ministries ought to produce praise and glory for God.  It ought not to produce envy and ego trips.   Paul was sharing with them the glories of Christ.   They responded by giving glory to God.    That is what our "success" in ministry is all about.   We are not to share to boast of our accomplishments.  We are not to try to solicit envy.    Yet, in most of our churches, when we see the success of others we attempt to down play or judge or marginalize their success.   When we see another church grow and ours isn't what do we do.   Paul came back to Jerusalem and sang great praise of what God was doing.  It must have been tough for the Jerusalem council since they were in persecution, with disciples living and fleeing.   They were in a famine.   Yet, God was blessing Paul ... and on top of that he was going to the Gentiles.   Praising God for what He is doing in others is the intent of God.  But, it goes against our nature.   The next time you hear or see another's ministry being successful, praise God.  Glorify the Father.   That is what the good works are intended to do ... bring praise to Him.  

Who is at the center of your praise? Revelation 1-5

Revelation 4:11

“ Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Throughout Scripture, particularly in this section of Revelation, we have a recorded doxology in praise and worship to God.   The book of Psalms is whole committed to such a task.  In the above doxology we see the center piece of our worship and the reason for our worship.   Christ is "worthY' to receive glory, honor and power.    The reason given is because He "created all things."    Christ was there at Creation and when God "spoke" the world into existence Jesus Christ "was the Word" (John 1:1-4).   But, the doxology doesn't stop there.   Not only is Jesus worthy of honor, glory and power because He created all things but also "because of Your will they existed and were created."   Christ was not only the agent of creation, it was for His will they were created.   Christ is the center focus of how things were created and the center focus of why things were created.   We exist because Christ willed it for the sole purpose of honoring and glorifying Him.   That is the shame and sin that comes when we take credit for things ourselves.   Satan accomplished through Adam and Eve the ultimate sin - the desire to live without Christ as the center, but rather putting yourself in the center.   Only Jesus is worth of our honor, glory  and of power.   Join the voices of the 24 elders in Revelation 4 .... shout from the top of your lungs, "Worth are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power." 

Flirtatious Language works - Song of Songs 1-2

Song of Songs 1:15-16

“ How beautiful you are, my darling,

 How beautiful you are!

Your eyes are like doves.”

“ How handsome you are, my beloved,

And so pleasant!

Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!

Words are the path to the heart.  Language, proper language, using the right key words, opens up the heart to the passion of love.  In these two verse the two lovers in Song of Songs share a brief, but potent exchange of compliments.   "You look terrific today ... your eyes glow," he says to her.   "And you are one handsome man," she says ... adding, "Our couch looks inviting."   The seduction and flirtatious speech of the two leads to the passion of the physical.   There is not anger between them.  They are not jesting toward one another with put downs and negative phrases.   The language of the heart is to compliment, to commend and to convey.    He to her; her to him.   Taking time today to say to the love of your life a simply phrase of how she/he looks and appeals to you is the the fragrance of love.   Words can be condemning and hurting.   But, they don't have to be.   Instead, use your language to usher in the passion of love.   Take time to say something longing and real about your love.  Notice her eyes.   Notice his strength.   We can spend time noticing the things we don't like about our love.   That it easy.  It is easy to find fault with size, weight, color and shape.  But, it is easy to notice the curve of the cheek, or the strength of the jaw, as well.   Use your language to build up and compliment.   Love awaits.  

Do your prayers smell good? Psalm 140-142

Psalms 141:2

May my prayer be counted as incense before You;

The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

In Revelation 5 and 8 we are told that the prayers of the righteous (believers) are incense contained in a bowl in heaven.   That thought has always struck me.   When we pray several things are happening.  We typically think of the one thing we want to happen and that is an answer to our prayers.   But, there is more happening than just answers.   When we pray God stores the prayers up in a bowl and will eventually pour them out on the earth.   That is why we are told in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 that we are to pray, "... Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ...".    Our prayers, now, accomplish later what God wants to accomplish.   Righteous prayers will be used in righteous ways.   That is why in Psalm 141:2 David wants his prayers to be counted (fixed in the real sense of the Hebrew word) as "incense" before God.  That is the same concept that John tells us about prayer in Revelation 5 and 8.   David wants even his small gesture of lifting up his hands to seem as the entire "evening offering."   David doesn't want passive worship.  David wants his worship to reach the very ears, eyes and nose of God.   Our prayers should not be filled with personal agendas and as a Christmas wish list.   Our prayers are to bless God and be a sweet fragrance to God.   Let's lift Him up in our prayers and remember that just as a sweet incense to us in our homes, offices or stores soothes our spirit, our prayers should be a sweet incense to Him to adorn Him with praise and worship.  

Weakness is your real strength - Nehemiah 5-9

If you have ever been discouraged in doing God's work then the story in Nehemiah 6 is for you (and me).   Nehemiah has an impossible task.  He has been commissioned by God to rebuild a city that so destroyed it is hardly recognizable.   He is to rebuild it with very little material and with a remnant of people who busy abusing one another.   On top of that stress he is asked to do this work with an enemy who constantly tries to distract him and discourage him.   His "arch enemy" stops by to mock, to threaten, to warn, to distract.   What is Nehemiah's response:

Nehemiah 6:9

For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “ They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

When we are in the midst of difficulty doing the work of Christ we can rely on our strength or we can rely on God's strength.  God can and will do some great work in us as we trust in Him and have faith in His strength, not our own.   Many believers do the work of Christ in their own strength and fail.  Those who do work in Christ's strength find a source of power otherwise unknown.   Paul, in the midst of his toughest times came to realize that when he was weak that is when God came to strengthen him and that is when he found he was strong.   Note what Paul says:

2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

We can only find real strength when we find that we are really weak.  God strengthens those who lean on Him, not those who lean on themselves.  

Vow or Don't Vow - Dueteronomy 22-25

Deuteronomy 23:21-22

“ When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord your God will surely require it of you. However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you.

Note what God teaches and rewards in regard to vows.   Vows are important to God.   God takes them very seriously.   If we vow God wants us to keep the vow we vowed.  We can't back away from the vow once it is uttered.   However, it IS NOT sin to NOT vow.  God is not asking us to say or commit to something that is not in our hearts.   The story in Acts 5 of Annanis an Sapharia teaches us the same thing. God didn't discipline them because they kept back part of the sale of their land.  He killed them because they vowed  more than they gave.   They didn't have to give anything to God from the sale of their land.   But, once they vowed that what they gave was the entire price of the sale and withheld some, they broke God's truth.   The failed to give what they vowed.   If you vow give it to God.  If you don't have it in your heart, don't vow.   Vows are important to God.  

The TRIANGLE of relationships - 1 John 1-3

1 John 1:7

... but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Having a relationship with another believer is as much about our relationship with God as it is our understanding and walk with them.  We often worry more about how we relate to others than if our walk is a righteous walk.  Yet, the later is more important than the former according to John.  His truth above is that if we want to have "fellowship" with other believers that begins with a walk in the "light."  His point is simple, when we do sin we not only separate ourselves from God but from one another.   Couples who struggle in their relationship begin those struggles with a walk away from God ... that produces a walk away from each other.   This truth is the triangle truth.   God is at the top of the triangle and you or I are at one of the corresponding corners.   Those we have relationships with are at the other corner.  As we draw close to God at the top, we draw closer to each other.  As we fall farther from the "light" (away from God) we will fall farther from each other.   God is always at the top.    When we walk close to God we walk close to each other.