Give of Ourselves - Acts 1-2

Acts 2:45 (ESV)

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Perhaps there is no greater example of a life filled with the Spirit of God than a life that is given of themselves and all they have to meet the needs of others.   God sustains us as we obey Him.   Jesus, as He walked the earth demonstrated this first and foremost.  Jesus told us about this life before His death:

John 15:12-15 (ESV)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

He demonstrated this in His death:

Philippians 2:4-7 (ESV)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

The early church, shown in the above text from Acts, demonstrated this type of life with each other.   We miss this in our current church in today’s capitalist society.  We first look to see how we can make money off the ministry before we just do the ministry of giving.  Not true for all, but often true for most.   God gives Him to us.  We are to give us to others.   

Treat Your Neighbor As Yourself - Obadiah

 Obadiah 1:9 (ESV)

And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,

so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

The book of Obadiah was written by the prophet of the same name and was written to the country of Edom.  Edom was the tribe that rose out of the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s (his name later changed to Israel) brother.   So, the Edomites were cousins of the Israelites.    Teman (in the above verse) was a grandson of Esau.   The Edomites lived in these elevated cities surrounded by rocks and cliffs.  They thought they were secure. Their military (might men in the above verse) were invincible.  As one commentator states, “They thought being undefeated as an army meant they were undefeatable.”  The prophecy of Obadiah was later fulfilled and Edom was destroyed by God’s power.   These “might men” were so dismayed that everyone one of them was “cut off by slaughter.”  

When we trust in anything other than God, this is our fate.  God takes away all that we trust in that comes between our worship of Him vs the world’s resources.   Edom had assisted the Babylonians to capture the Israelites as they tried to escape their being taken captive in 586 B.C.   The Edomites even took up residence in the villages and homes of Israelites who were carried off to Babylon.   God saw that and brought His wrath on the Edomites.  Rather than assisting Israel, Edom assisted Babylon.    This angered God and, as a results, He destroy the might ones and the wise ones of Edom.    God does not tolerate those who ignore people in distress.  He especially punishes those who take advantage of those in distress.   When we put resources between us and our trust for God and we turn our backs on others, we encounter God’s discipline.  This is what the Law is summed up in the following verse:

Luke 10:27 (ESV)

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Edom failed to do this.  As a result Obadiah pronounced doom on them.  

Put Out the Fire - Proverbs 26-27

 Proverbs 26:20-22 (NASBStr)

For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.

 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

I am not much of a woodsmen.  I don't think I could start a good fire with gas and a match.   But, I do know what Solomon is talking about in the above set of proverbs.  The fire he is talking about does not keep you warm and make you feel good.  The fire he is talking about is the friction that is caused by people using words in the wrong way to stir-up strife.  When we use words and speech we have an opportunity to bring peace or create havoc.   We can, and should, use our words to bring healing and to move the gospel forward.   In Romans 10 we read about the beauty of those who bring good tidings of the gospel through their speech.   In the above proverb we see what happens when the opposite is true.  When we use our tongue to gossip, kindle strife and whisper about others, we cause contention.   James says our words can be the little match that causes a great fire.   

James 3:5-6 (ESV)

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

Only Christ can enable us to control our speech.  That is what the Spirit does when He gives us "self-control" (see the fruit of the Spirit).   Not only does He give us self-control, He gives us:

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

When people use their words in the wrong way they don't always sound "wrong."  In fact, according to Solomon in the above, they go down like "dainty morsels."   Yet, they cause destruction in the body.   We can use words for good or for evil.  

God’s Gifts - Psalms 114-116

 Psalms 115:14-15 (ESV)

May the LORD give you increase,

you and your children!

May you be blessed by the LORD,

who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 115 is a national praise song for the nation of Israel.  It is about praising God and then offering a plea to God for intercession and blessing.   The above couple of verses are an example of that asking God to bless the nation collectively and perhaps the person interceding for them.   The truth found in these two verses is that if we are to have any “increase” in our lives, it is because god allowed it and provided it.   It is God that gives us all things.  

James 1:17 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God gives us blessings and we are to bless Him back in praise and adorations.  Why?  Because He made the heavens and the earth.  God can provide every gift we need because He is the One who created all that we have.  Our rejoicing should be natural as we come to realize we have nothing without Him and we owe everything to Him.   

Inequity - Numbers 25-28

 Numbers 27:1-5 (ESV)

The Daughters of Zelophehad

1 Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brothers.”

5 Moses brought their case before the LORD.

The above text follows the re-numbering of the nation of Israel, by tribe, to prepare them for the distribution of each tribes portion once they reach the promise land.  It is obvious in Scripture and in historical studies, the culture in these Biblical times was highly male dominant.   In fact in the mid-east today, in some religious circles, it is still highly male oriented.  Females in those cultures are not treated with respect or given concern for their well being.  They certainly have little privileges.   So, we have to ask about this story in God’s word.  What is this all about?  

This story brings a sticky situation before Moses.  According to verse five, Moses didn’t even know what to do.  He immediately sought wisdom from God.   The daughters of a certain tribeMEN, came to him to say the man had no sons.  All the inheritance was about to be divided up and given to the sons.   No women were given any inheritance (that right there might be a huge issue in today’s western culture).   The daughters thought it right for them to inherit their father’s land, possessions.   Moses ultimate found out from God that their should be a plan.   But, if you read more in this chapter, the solution was that if a man has no sons, his possession can and should go to his remaining daughters.  Moses does not change the previous policy (giving the inheritance to the elder son).   He does not lower the one to accommodate the other.  He simply makes sure that these women in this story and those subsequently who would not have brothers, be able to keep their inheritance. 

God knows these things and gives wisdom of how to handle situations that might come to us in these areas.  Moses’ first step was to seek wisdom from God.  He did not simply accommodate the masses.   He wanted to find the mind of God on these things.   He will solve their situation and make it right for these five daughters.  God always sees inequalities and always addresses them.   Moses was willing to listen and then solve the situation before him.  Always listen and seek to solve the situation before us to bring glory to God.  It was not about what the daughters wanted.  It was about what God wanted.  

Forgive as We are Forgiven - Philemon

 Philemon 1:19 (ESV)

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

Let’s supposed you had a great debt.   Let’s supposed I was aware of the debt and went to the person holding the debt and told them I was going to pay for it.  Would that person object to me paying your debt?  Probably not.  All they want is the debt paid.   Now let’s supposed that debt was you took something from them.   As long as I paid the debt would they be okay with that?  Probably, as long as I paid the debt equivalent to the value of what you took from them.   But, let’s now supposed the debt is not just that you took something from them, but you broke their trust and injured their relationship with you.  Yet, I still agreed to pay the debt.  Would they be willing to not just forgive the debt, but to also forgive you?   That scenario is the very point of the little book of Philemon.   Philemon was a prominent man in the church and apparently had a church meeting in his home.    He had a slave named Onesimus who not only took something from Philemon, but ran away, as well.   Apparently, in his running, he was caught, put in jail and was chained up next to Paul, who also was in jail, but for preaching the gospel vs stealing from his master.    The book reads that Paul lead Onesimus to Christ and is now sending the released-from-prison-saved-by-grace version of Onesimus back to Philemon.  Paul is asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus for the sin of stealing and telling him that he (Paul) would pay any debt that Onesimus has created in these past actions.   Paul appeals to the fact (in the above verse) that Philemon owes his salvation to Paul’s ministry.  So, Philemon has a debt to pay Paul. 

This is all the point of Christianity.  We all have debts.  Jesus paid for out debts.  We now, because of Christ’s nature in us, are obligated to forgive others, as well.  This is no hidden mystery because Jesus told us to forgive, just as we have been forgiving.  Note:

Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Philemon could hold the debt over Onesimus head and keep reminding him each day of what he owed.  Yet, that is not what Jesus did for us.  Paul is offering to pay the debt and is asking Philemon to forgive the debt financially and in all ways spiritually.   Philemon was written to tell us about forgiveness and substitutionary atonement.   Jesus substituted Himself for us to the Father so that the Father no longer sees us in debt.   Paul is saying I will pay the debt of Onesimus and asking Philemon to forgive him.  In reality, Paul did not need to do that, but he substituted himself for Onesimus, showing the perfect example of what Christ did for us.   We are to forgive as we have been forgiven.  

Goal Association Strategy - John 19-21

 John 19:12-15 (ESV)

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

There is a theory in leadership called, “goal association strategy.”   The tenant of the theory is that when we offer an idea to someone and they believe that our idea will help us reach OUR goal(s), they will tend to reject our idea.  However, if we offer them an idea and they are lead to believe our idea will help them reach THEIR goals, they will run through a wall with our idea.    If we can “associate” our ideas with their ultimate goal(s), they will agree with our idea and move forward to execute it.   In the above passage we can actually see this theory played out.   Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus.  He found no guilt in him worthy of crucifixion.  But the Jews (the religious leaders of the day) told him that if he didn’t declare Jesus guilty and worthy of crucifixion, he would not be a friend of Caesars.    Pilate’s ultimate goal in life was political.  He had to be seen as a great representative of Caesar.   When the Jews said these things to him, they were playing to that goal.   They were using what we would call today “goal association strategy.”   To put an exclamation point on the moment, the Jews later cried out “We have no king but Caesar.”    The Jews no more wanted Caesar as their king than Pilate wanted to crucify Jesus.   But, they had to make it look that way so that Pilate would go along with their idea to kill Jesus.   Pilate was first and foremost committed to being a representative of Caesar.   If killing Jesus allowed him to reach that goal than the Jews benefited themselves by associating their idea to that goal vs their own goal.  They just wanted Jesus killed.  They didn’t care if to do that they had to sell the idea to meet Pilate’s goal.  That is “goal association strategy.”  

Day of the Lord - Amos 5-9

 Amos 5:18-20 (ESV)

Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!

Why would you have the day of the LORD?

It is darkness, and not light,

as if a man fled from a lion,

and a bear met him,

or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,

and a serpent bit him.

Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

Amos was the first, but not only, of the writing prophets to mention the “Day of the Lord.”   Israel falsely thought that the “Day of the Lord” was a time when God would come and deliver them from their enemies by destroying their enemies.   This was true, but the Day was not limited to God punishing their enemies.   The “Day of the Lord” would also include judgment on those within the nation who did not worship and honor God.   They mistakenly thought that God would punish other nations for their treatment of them but ignore their treatment of Him.   Those in the church age have a similar thought pattern.  This is why Peter wrote in this second letter the following:

2 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV)

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

God does not ignore anyone’s sin.   Those who are “in Christ” have no condemnation (Romans 8:1).   However, this is NOT because God ignores their sin.  It is because His wrath for their sin was poured out on His Son, Jesus.   God ignores no man’s sin.   Sin must always pay the penalty of death.  It is just a matter of who’s death.   The nation of Israel desired the judgment of God at the “Day of the Lord” but failed to realize they were crying out and praying for their own judgment as well due to their rejection of God in their day-to-day lives.  

Avoid Courts - Come to Agreement - Proverbs 25

 Proverbs 25:8-10 (ESV Strong's)

8 do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another's secret,

10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

Solomon, no doubt, had a great legal mind.  He negotiate several agreements with surrounding nations, kings and dignitaries.   There was plenty of opportunities to learn the legal system of his day.  He, of course, was not trained in a legal pedagogy.  But, when God asked him what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave that to him in an unlimited fashion.  That unlimited wisdom, therefore, had no boundaries.   Solomon had a depth of it and the above proverbs are an example.   The above passage is about conflict.  We can find legal methods to solve conflict problems.  But, Solomon suggests something more practical.  He suggests that we don’t take the legal channels (although he does not forbid it). He suggest (wisdom suggests) that we solve the conflict between ourselves and the person we have the conflict.  Solomon suggests that we resolve issues before they are legal matters.   Note how Paul states something similar about the Christian church and the conflict that comes simply because we are people living together in community: 

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (ESV Strong's)

1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

Solving issues between each other is the wise thing today.   Attorneys can help.  But, they also want (need) billable hours.   Conflict can be solved when we seek resolution and agreement rather than winning a battle.  

No Matter Our Approach to Life, Praise His Name - Psalms 111-113

Psalms 113:2-3 (ESV)

Blessed be the name of the LORD

from this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

the name of the LORD is to be praised!

What is your goal each day?  Do you make a list?  Do you revile in checking a box each day to make sure you have accomplished something?   Are you a non-list maker and your goal each day is to not be conformed to a list?  Perhaps you have a free spirit and you believe it is best to allow life to unfold and come to you, rather than controlling and organizing life.   Whichever these two extremes fit for you, the above passage gives us another option ... or, an option to blend into the life of task oriented behavior and/or the life of relax oriented behavior.   We are, from sun up to sun down, to be blessing and praising God.   We are commanded to praise the name of the LORD.   This is not an option for us.   God’s character is on display each day for us and we are to lift Him up above all our tasks and/or above all our relaxing activities.  Throughout the Psalms we are both commanded to praise Him and given example after example of why to praise Him.   If we are looking to do God’s will or find God’s will, the above verses tell us quite planning what it is:  Give praise and glory to God.   Jesus, when instructing us how to pray, said it this way:

Matthew 6:8-10 (ESV)

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

We are not to pray like those who have no connection with God.  We are to pray with an adoration for God.   We are to pray, “... hallowed be your name.”   No matter how we orient your life, whether structured or flexible, we have the command and privilege to honor God by praising His name.  

Listening for God in the Night - 2 Chronicles 1-5

 2 Chronicles 1:6-7 (ESV)

And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

Solomon, upon coming king, starts his reign with a worship service.   He brings all the nation together to worship God and sets the tone for his service to God and the people.  That, by itself, is a lesson all leaders should learn.   Setting the stage and focus of your leadership is seldom done with the intentionality it deserves.   

However, the main take-a-way of these two verses might be what we read about God’s response to Solomon’s worship.    The passage states that “that night” God appeared to Solomon.   Solomon spends the entire day offering and worshipping with a thousand burnt offerings.  But, it is that night that he hears from God.   How often do we worship God in a formal manner and then leave the “worship service” to simply do our thing(s).   Do we have an ear for God “after” our formal worship services?   God approached Solomon in the stillness of the night, not during the time of his worship to God.   This might remind us of another leader for God:

1 Samuel 3:1-4 (ESV)

The LORD Calls Samuel

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”

God can talk to us in the noise of the worship (Exodus 19 & 20), in the midst of the storms of life (Jonah 2), in the midst of sin (Psalms 51).   But, God can also simply speak to us well after our formal worship, in the stillness of night.   Solomon was in tune with God.  He was able to hear God because He was open to God’s speaking.   If we listen we will hear Him speak to us, even in the night.  

Psalms 16:7-8 (ESV)

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Greedy Men of God - Numbers 21-24

 Numbers 24:10-14 (ESV)

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak’? And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

Balak was the king of Moab.  He saw the nation of Israel outside his boarders and heading his way and wanted to find a way to stop them.  No other nation was able to defeat Israel in battle.  So, Balak thought, why not find the local prophet and have him curse Israel.  That prophet was Balaam.  He apparently was a prophet of God, but one for hire.  However, to Balak’s dismay, rather than curse Israel, Balaam instead blessed them, not just once but three times.  That, of course, infuriated Balak and instead of paying Balaam (this prophet for hire) he simply sent him away.   Balaam tried to explain that he told Balak he could only do what God told him to do.   In the subsequent chapters Balaam will find a way to secure his wanted treasures form Balak through the deception of Israel rather than a curse.   But, if the story would have ended as the above passage reads, Balaam would have been a great prophet of God.  But, if you read the next chapter you see he is just full of greed like many other “religious” leaders:

Luke 11:39 (ESV)

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, Balaam was full of greed on the inside.  He talked a great game (as in the above passage) but he will soon simply be willing to sell his soul for a few bucks.  His words were pure as we read them above.  But his heart is only looking out for himself.   That is not a good combination for a man of God.  

False Teaching in the Church - Titus

 Titus 1:9-11 (ESV)

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

They fact that the early church experienced false teachers is a truth worth noting in our day.   The book of Titus was written to Pastor Titus around 60 AD.    That means within one generation for Jesus’ resurrection false teachers were able to have a grip on entire families in the church.   Peter, in his second letter (written even a little later), stated the same thing:

2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)

False Prophets and Teachers

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Notice the common denominators in these two passages:

1. The false teachers were organized.  They had a system of teaching. 

2. Their system of teaching contradicted the Gospel.

3. They were leading others astray. 

4. They were teaching these false systems of doctrine contrary to the Gospel which lead others astray for personal gain and wealth and power. 

Paul and Peter are telling the early church to look out for those who speak contrary to the Gospel and who do so for personal gain.   

In both writer’s warnings there is an admonition to the the Elders of the church (in this case, Titus) to warn the false teachers and to rebuke them.   Note what Paul will say in just a few more verses:

Titus 1:13 (ESV)

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

In our day we will be rebuked for rebuking false teachers.   Yet, that is still our role and responsibility to rebuke those who teach doctrine in opposition to the the Gospel.   

Predicated Persecution - John 16-18

 John 16:2-4 (ESV)

They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Jesus is about to be crucified on the cross.  He came to die and to die in that manner.   Those who stood with Him, however, will also die like Him.   He is warning them of the struggle in persecution they will all experience because they would follow Him.  We might wonder if they even grasped, at this point, what He meant.  They certainly saw how the religious people treated them.   They certainly knew there was a plot to kill them.  They certainly had been told by Jesus that He was going to die and return, which was not clear to them until after He did so.   But that was all their fate.   Did they truly grasp their fate?  We, today, don’t grasp that we will be persecuted.  In other countries this is a daily occurrence.  The above words of Jesus are true in the lives of believers in many countries around the world DAILY!   He is telling the disciples these things (and us) so that when it happens we will remember He told us.  Despite being another verification of God’s truth and Jesus’ validity, we can take comfort that God knows these things and is watching over us.   Note, from John MacArthur’s commentary what actually happened to these first followers of Jesus:

(MacArthur New Testament Commentary Set (33 Vols.)

“The followers of Jesus Christ have always faced the world’s hostility (a point that was detailed in chapter 15 of this volume). From the inception of the church, the apostles and those closely associated with them endured intense persecution. They were ridiculed, scorned, denounced, hunted, arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. Many even paid the ultimate price, giving their lives as martyrs (a transliteration of the Greek word meaning “witnesses”) for the sake of their Savior. A brief survey of ancient Christian tradition reveals that Peter, Andrew, and James the son of Alphaeus were all crucified; Bartholomew was whipped to death and then crucified; James the son of Zebedee was beheaded, as was Paul; Thomas was stabbed with spears; Mark was dragged to death through the streets of Alexandria; and James the half brother of Jesus was stoned by order of the Sanhedrin. Philip was also stoned to death. Others, including Matthew, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus, Timothy, and Stephen, were also killed for their unwavering commitment to the Lord. As Clement of Rome, a contemporary of the apostles who died around A.D. 100, observed, “Through envy and jealousy, the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the church] have been persecuted and put to death” (First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, 5).”

Spirituality vs Riches! Truth vs Falsehood! Amos 1-4

 Amos 2:4-6 (ESV)

Judgment on Judah

Thus says the LORD:

“For three transgressions of Judah,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

because they have rejected the law of the LORD,

and have not kept his statutes,

but their lies have led them astray,

those after which their fathers walked.

So I will send a fire upon Judah,

and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”

Judgment on Israel

Thus says the LORD:

“For three transgressions of Israel,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

because they sell the righteous for silver,

and the needy for a pair of sandals—

God requires from us, obedience!    Amos is a prophet who is warning the nation of Judah and Israel that because of their disobedience and desire from living righteous before Him, will suffer punishment by being taken captive by their foes.   Note the two complaints that God has against them:

1.  Rather than keep His statues and follow His truth, they followed the lies of their forefathers.   Their false narratives caused them to do abhorrent things that are outlined in the rest of the Amos’ prophecy.   Following lies over truth has been and will be something man does for generations (read 2 Peter).  This is against God’s known truth.   God will discipline this. 

2. They were willing to sell their righteousness for nothing more than a pair of sandals.   This is a metaphor for the fact that they desired earthly goods and welfare over walking in obedience toward God.   They were willing for a mere pair of footwear neglect the weightier mattes of God by showing mercy and kindness.   Capitalism conquered righteousness.   

Today’s Christian can fall into the same trap as these two areas Amos speaks about.   We tend to want to follow the latest teachings of the world and we want to purchase all the toys we can in place of following in obedience the truth God gives us and putting righteous behavior and living before our possessions.   Nothing has changed much in our day.   Instead of sandals it is our technology.   Instead of divine truth it is our social media narratives.   We need a new Amos today.   

Speak Truth - Kiss Lips - Proverbs 23-24

 Proverbs 24:23-26 (ESV)

These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”

will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

Whoever gives an honest answer

kisses the lips.

This is an interesting set of proverbs in light of our current societal woes.   There seems to be a lack of leadership wanting to say what is right and wrong.  Instead of standing up for moral right our leadership today seems to either not know what is right or wants to change the meaning of what is right.  That is probably true of all societies, at some point.   But, having “partially” in leadership is, as this proverb states, is “not good.”   Changing the meaning and definitions of established words is “not good.”  Saying to the wicked, “you are right,” is “not good.”   

Note the contrast found, however, in these proverbs.   If we “give an house answer” it is like “kissing the lips.”   Who doesn’t like a great kiss?   The metaphor here is plan and simple, when we twist truth and call wickedness, right, we do ourselves harm and will be cursed and abhorred by the people (or, we should be).  But, when we speak truth and call wickedness what it is (wickedness) we are doing others right, like kissing them.    Make no mistake, you can’t lead and continually do wrong and not have harm follow.  It is not right and not good.   

They Reward My Good with Their Evil - Psalms 108-110

 Psalms 109:1-5 (ESV)

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

Be not silent, O God of my praise!

For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

They encircle me with words of hate,

and attack me without cause.

In return for my love they accuse me,

but I give myself to prayer.

So they reward me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.

The above portion of Psalm 109 states that the song was addressed to the “choirmaster.”   This address indicates that this was to be a public song of prayer.    This might have been an individual song of David’s, but one he meant to be included in public worship.   Yet, it is David’s individual lament that is being captured in the song.   David is complaining to God that he has done good and is being rewarded by evil.   He wants God to no longer be “silent” and to do something about this trouble in his life.   He feels encircled by this (these?) enemies.   He finds no fault in his life.  They “attack me without cause,” he states, boldly.   And, he even makes sure we don’t conclude that he has sins of omission by stating, “in return for my love they accuse me.”  So, we have here a writer who is expressing love to others, but feels attacked and unfairly and unjustly treated in return.    Where might we see this again?  

1 Peter 3:13-19 (ESV)

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

Christ suffered harm for doing good.  He was unjustly crucified for our sins.   This individual song of David’s life is a precursor to Christ’s earthly life.   It is Christ personified by the experience of David.   Who can’t relate to this type of treatment?  Have not we all at one time or another thought we were doing good and right and yet suffered for it.   Perhaps when Jesus prayed in the Garden prior to His crucifixion, this is a song of prayer He uttered.   Our mistreatment by the hands of wicked men is what our Savior went through on the earth.  Like Him, our response should be worship in prayer to the Father and submission to His will.   Evil men will continue to reward good with evil and hatred for love.   Like David of old, our response is to appeal to God for vindication.  

Romans 12:19 (ESV)

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Leadership and Followership - 1 Chronicles 25-29

 1 Chronicles 28:11-12 (ESV)

Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts;

One of the greatest acts the older generation can do for the younger generation is to not just point them to God, but prepare them for a life with God.  David is dying.   Prior to his death he had desired to build a Temple for God.   God said no.   But, David was not told he could not plan the Temple or gather resources to build the Temple.   Instead of walking away from a desire, he found a way, in God’s will, to begin the desire and prepare for the desire.   Solomon was about to receive the plans and the finances and the material and even the organization of the people.   It will be referred to as Solomon’s Temple.   It will be for God but known as the Temple Solomon built for God.  But, that is not the entire truth.   David went to the greatest lengths as possible to get the Temple goods ready for his son to build it.   That is what one generation does for another.   In the later year of life the older generation ought to be preparing and equipping the younger generation to follow God.   However, the younger generation has to be willing to use this equipping.   Imagine if Solomon would have rejected his father’s plans and resources.  What he if would have said, “Dad, that is o old school.  I want to build it MY way!”   Imagine if Solomon would have thought the plans David put together were not for “his generation” and attempted to change it all?   Remember, if one generation does the equipping, the next generation has to be willing to do the fulfilling.   Solomon would be asked to fulfill the plans David laid out:

1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV)

Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

If one generation does the equipping, the next has to be obedient to do the fulfilling! If we have great leadership, we also have to have great followership.  

Our Legacy at Death - Numbers 18-20

 Numbers 20:25-29 (ESV)

Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

This passage is self explanatory.  Aaron was old but was also one of the many Israelites from the previous generation who disobeyed God.   He would not enter into the promise land.  He was the High Priest, but his disobedience was one that hindered that final earthly blessing.   The lesson is easy:  God takes obedience seriously.  Imagine Aaron’s son there, with him.  He is stripped of the High Priest garments and they are laid on his son.  That might have been a real time of pride an honor for a father.   Aaron is seeing his own son wear the High Priest gowns.   But, this is also clouded by a disobedient legacy.   The nation would weep over Aaron’s loss.   Eleazar, his son, would weep as well, yet he would become the High Priest.  It would be imagined that Moses would weep.  Aaron was his brother.   This entire passage would have possible be voided if Aaron had only obeyed.   Disobedience, despite God’s forgiveness, carry tremendous consequences.   We need to realize that our day-to-day walk with God is, at the end, reflected at the time of our death.   Those who live honorably in their youth will find blessing in their death.  Those who disobey in their youth carry that disobedience to the grave with them in their reputation.  

Dying Words - 2 Timothy 3-4

 2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV)

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The above verse is a dying man’s wish for a young pastor.  Paul’s life is ending. He knows it.  Note what he says immediately following the above verse:

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Most of us will never get a last word before we die.   Seldom do we know that time frame.   We are most often taken suddenly and without knowledge or consciousness of a final word.    The New Testament writers seemed to have that grace from God.  Peter, John and James all had final words to us.   In the above passage Paul is writing to young Pastor Timothy.  He is telling him that his responsibility in life is to:

1. Be sober-minded.  It means to not be intoxicated with the things of this world, the anxiety’s of life, and/or the pleasures of this world.   Peter framed it as “girdling up the loins of your mind.”   We are to make sure our minds stay steadfast on what is important.   Being drunk with the world’s thoughts is NOT sober-minded. 

2. Endure suffering.   Paul has just told Timothy about his own suffering.  Note:

2 Timothy 3:11-12 (ESV)

my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Paul wants Timothy to both know about his own suffering and what Timothy is about to endure.  No one in the Christian faith is exempt from this.   

3.  He is to be an evangelist.   He is to be a teller of good news.  He is to bring great tidings of great joy.  Despite the suffering we are to shout from the roof-top the great news of Jesus’ death and resurrection.   

4. He is to fulfill his ministry.  Note what Vine states about this word “fulfill” - 

plērophoreō; to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish: — most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.

That is making sure the job is done.  It is not 90% completion and I am good.   It is 100% done.   

These are Paul’s commands to Timothy.  He could say all this because that is how he lived his life.    Here is what he told Timothy in his first letter to the young preacher:

1 Timothy 1:16 (ESV)

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Encouraging Words - John 13-15

 John 14:1-3 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Perhaps one of the most familiar passages of Scripture, the above passage is also one of the most reassurances of our Christian faith.   We get so caught up in the world that we often simply fail to remember the truth that Jesus was giving the disciples in these words.  To understand their complete power we have to put ourselves back into the situation of that moment.   Jesus is in the upper room with them at a time referred to as the Last Supper.  It was Passover and this was the last Passover Jesus’ would observe, with them, before His death on the cross.   He has already washed their feet.  He has already told them that Judas would betray Him. Judas has already left to do that very thing.  He has already talked to them about being “one with each other through love”.  He has started to tell them about the Holy Spirit being sent to them and picks that theme up more in chapter 14.  But, at the introduction of the truth the Spirit is coming to them necessitates that He MUST GO.  

He tells them that He is going, but gives them three important truths in the process:

1.  He is going to His Father and they are to rejoice that if they believe in God they can also (and must also) believe in Him.   He once again drive into them the truth that He and the Father are one.   This truth speaks to His authority and His power and His trustworthiness.  This is a key truth they much live on for the rest of the lives as they build the Church.  

2.  That He is not just going away, but that He is going away to build something for them.  He is going to heaven to build rooms for them.  This is the picture of a Jewish young man who is about to be married, going to His father’s house and building a room onto that house to have for him and his bride.   We don’t think that way today, but in the ancient Jewish culture the family unit resided together.   Jesus was going to the Father to prepare a place for them.  That truth would give them hope that there was more to their lives then this simple worldly existence.  

3. That He was coming again to get them.  The great hope of the Christian faith is that Jesus is coming again.   This is the same word picture of the Jewish man going to prepare a house for his bride.  Once the house was built he would return to get his bride.   The bride had to be ready at any moment for the groom to come to her.  This is the picture of Christ and the Church.  We are His bride and He is coming again to get us.  

The disciples would have been encouraged by these words.   They would have seen the obvious word picture for them.   And that is the point of the verses.  Jesus was trying to encourage them during a time that would be frightened for them.   A time they would all deny Him, if even for a moment.   But, it would be the words that encourage all of us as we live for Him in a world soon to be destroyed.  He is going away to prepare and coming back again to get us to live with Him forever.   

Pass On Your History To Your Children - Joel

 Joel 1:3 (ESV)

Tell your children of it,

and let your children tell their children,

and their children to another generation.

What we pass on to our children is important.   We typically like to pass on all the great stories of our history.   The time our great-grandpa did __________!  And the time our uncle ________ did that one thing and everyone laughed!   We like to tell of our heritage and where we came from.  The internet is filled with sites to search out our past history and heritage.    But, we also know the stories we don’t tell.  We have the family secrets that we don’t want the world to know, especially our children.  We have our own failures when we were evil and we don’t want our children to know.  We definitely don’t want our teenagers to know the things we did as teenagers.   Why on earth would we tell the sad and bad stories of our past?  What profit would that be?   This might be something we would ask the prophet Joel.   He is writing about a very sad and bad time in Judah’s history.   He is telling them about the reason for the recent series of catastrophic events.   From deadly locust to dried up drought to invading armies to captivity, Joel outlines for Judah not just the calamities upon them and about to destroy them, but also the reason for it.   Joel wants Judah and all her children that come after her to know that disobedience to God is not done in darkness and secret.  He wants them to know that God is both an omniscient God and a jealous God.  God wants His children to walk in His ways.   God gave them everything.   Yet, they rejected God and went after idols and were eager to please themselves.    This is the story that Joel wants them to tell their children and their children’s children.   

Knowing the history of the past informs the conduct and potential dangers of the future.   We need to be able to see what caused calamity to avoid it in the future.   As the saying goes, “If we don’t learn from history we are destined to repeat it.”    This is Joel’s wisdom to us in the above verse.   We want to hide the mistakes of our past from our children.  That only makes sense.  But, it is also pride and it is also dangerous for children.  It not only gives them a false vision of who we are but it also denies them the truth that we, too, need God’s grace and are, today, the recipients of His grace.    We don’t need to glamorize our evil behaviors from the past.  But, we need to tell the generations after us the glories of God in the midst of our disobedience.  That is Joel’s entire message.  

Be Prudent - Proverbs 22

 Proverbs 22:3

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,

But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

This is the same proverb in 27:14 ...

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and careless.

Perhaps this is where our forefathers came up with the quote: Curiosity kills the cat. When we see danger, the better part of wisdom says to run, hide, or, at the minimum, be cautious.   That is what the "prudent" do - those filled with wisdom.   However, the "naive" (those who pride themselves on their lack of sense) simply run toward the evil like a fly to honey.   As a result the naive get what they deserve for their lack of prudence - punishment.   Perhaps, David, in his sin with Bathsheba, taught Solomon this truth.  It would be supposed that David was last in regard to naivety, but in truth, his sin with Solomon's mom, is the exact thing this proverb is talking about.  He saw the evil and ran right into it.  He was punished for it.   He did the same, even later in his reign, when he numbered the people to show his personal might rather than a trust in God.  Based upon this verse, naivety doesn't have to be based upon age.  Even a seasoned veteran in faith can succumb to it and be punished for it.   Whereas a young man can act with extreme prudence and know what to do (take the story of Paul's nephew who warned him and the soldiers of a plot to kill Paul in the book of Acts). If you see evil don't be naive.  If you are naive and you "go on," expect the punishment you deserve.  The end of your folly is well deserved.

God’s Steadfast Love Endures Forever - Psalms 105-107

 Psalms 107:1-3 (ESV)

Book Five

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

whom he has redeemed from trouble

and gathered in from the lands,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

The book of Psalms has many praise and worship songs that belong to a corporate worship genre. Psalms 107, however, is more about individuals who have experienced something amazing at the hand of a gracious God.   It begins with the above praise.   Throughout the song it comes back to the truth stated at the beginning.   We are to give thanks to God for His “steadfast love endures forever.”   The writer repeatedly, in a variety of situations that any person of faith could experience, comes back to one solid truth: God’s steadfast love endures forever.   Repetition is a great form of learning.   We might face a variety of situations and circumstances as outlined in this chapter.   Some might be due to our own challenges and choices of life.  Some, however, might just because we are living life.   The bottom line in all situation, according to this writer, is that we are learn in all situations that God’s steadfast love endures forever.   That truth is written six times in this chapter.   God is trying to make a point.  Did you get it?  God’s steadfast love endures forever.  

Succession of Leadership - 1 Chronicles 20-24

1 Chronicles 23:1-2 (ESV)

David Organizes the Levites

When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.

The succession plan for leadership can be quite complicated and drawn out.  Most for-profit business leaders do a fair job at it.  Most non-profit business leaders do not.   Typically the most disruption in business is found in this transfer of power and leadership.   In government it is better today than the ancient world, but still not always great.   In David’s day it was always, typically, an heir to the throne.   But, that was not always smooth, either.  Remember, David’s son Absalom tried to take the kingship from David.   In the above passage we read that David is old and full of days.  He is dying.   It says that he made Solomon his son king.    The writer of the Chronicles is summarizing, however.  In 1 Kings 1 we read that Solomon’s ascent to the throne was not that easy as another son, Adonijah, tried to set himself up as king.   It was only by the work of Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, that Solomon made it to the throne.    David, as stated as well in the 1 Kings 1 passage, was “old and advanced in years.”  Sometimes in our age we are not as sharp as we should be.  But, sometimes we are smart enough to organize life and get it ready for the next generation of leadership.   David is still in enough control of his mind to make sure that the leadership Solomon would need would be in place.  He is still sharp enough to know that equipment, tools, finances and plans would need to be in place for Solomon.   Remember, Solomon is young.   So, as David is making plans he is assuring that Solomon is set up for success.  It is the responsibility of the aged to prepare and equip the youth to lead.   That is essential for continuity and for God’s plan to continue.  Think about Moses training Joshua.  Think about Paul training Titus and Timothy.   Think about Barnabas training John-Mark.   Remember, we can’t just let the following generation do what they can.  We prepare them for the future by equipping them in the present.  

Data Gathering vs Trusting God’s Promises - Numbers 13-17

 Numbers 13:17-20 (ESV)

Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

To fully understand the above passage we have to recall a few things from some other passages.  When God called Moses to lead the people, He told them, ALREADY, that He would lead them into the promise land and that land was full of great things.   So, the above reconnaissance mission was unnecessary, IF THEY WOULD JUST BELIEVE THAT PROMISE.   Note what God said to Moses at the time He called Moses to lead the people:

Exodus 3:7-9 (ESV)

Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

However, the people DID NOT believe the promise, apparently, since they asked Moses to send out the spies (which, by the way, at the time he thought it a great idea):

Deuteronomy 1:21-23 (ESV)

See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’ Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe.

To top this off, we see at the beginning of this section of the book of Numbers that God allowed it: 

Numbers 13:1-2 (ESV)

Spies Sent into Canaan

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”

The spying of the land will become a disaster for all the adults 20 years old and upward.  Because the spies (all but two) come back with an evil report the people of Israel FEAR going into God’s promise land.   As a result all men 20 years old and upward (except two) are told that they will die in the wilderness and only Caleb and Joshua (two of the spies who brought back a positive report) will enter into the promise land (with all those under 20).  They would all wander for 40 years as God waited for all the adults to die.   This is a very easy lesson:  Trust God’s promises.   Yes, gathering data to find out what you are up against is not a bad idea.  Data mining is today’s caviar.   We love it.  But, it should NEVER stop us, no matter the data, from believing and following God’s promises.  The spying of the land should have given Moses, the spies and the people insight into HOW God would give them the promise land and what GOD was up against.  Instead it brought fear to the people and caused them to forget God’s promises.  Like Peter walking on the water he quit looking at Jesus and saw the waves and began to sink.  The data was real but when our eyes see the date vs God’s promises, we sink (or, die in the wilderness).  

Avoid Word Bombs! 2 Timothy 1-2

2 Timothy 2:14 (ESV)

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

In the above passage we are reading a verse that is written to young Pastor Timothy about what he is to do with those in his congregation; the elect.   He is supposed to remind them to NOT QUARREL.   The Greek word in the above verse of “not to quarrel about words” is a word that means “war of words.”  The reason for this Paul states is that it “ruins” the hearers.  The word “ruin” is translated from a Greek word that means to “subvert” or to “undermine” someone’s thinking.   

Paul’s point in writing this verse is to warn this pastor that in the leadership of his church he will have plenty of opportunity to overhear and even engage himself in “wars of words.”   Paul has already, in chapter one, told Timothy that he had two of their companions leave his ministry.   He is about to warn him in chapter three of how those around Timothy will become lovers of this age and reject the truth and gives another two names of men who subverted the truth in Moses’ day.    Paul wants Timothy to be on his guard.  He does not want him to fall into this trap of word battles.   It does nothing to build up the body but rather simply destroys those who listen to it.   Today we have similar wars of words happening in our society and it has infiltrated the church.   We are to guard ourselves and especially our churches from falling into this same trap.   The imperative in the above verse is simple: Don’t do that!    Paul will go on to write to Timothy more of the “how to avoid” those word battles, but the take-a-way for Timothy (and us) is that we are to avoid discussions that attempt to use words as bullets and arguments as missiles.   We are to use our words to build and to encourage others.   We are not to subvert others with our eloquently placed land mines.   

Jesus’ Mission Is Simple and Powerful and Never Deceptive and Ambiguous - John 10-12

 John 12:44-50 (ESV)

Jesus Came to Save the World

And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Most of us know about the mission statement of an organization.  It is posted in their lobby to declare to the world around them why they exist. It is basically to make a profit to line their pockets with cash.  But, few ever just say, “We have this company to make a lot of cash!”   Mission statements of companies can be quite deceiving.    Governments do the same thing.  They exist to serve the people, or so they say.  But, they really exist to keep power over people.   Mission statements of governments can be deceiving.   Churches have mission statements too.   They exists to present God to the world.  But, far too often, they are mostly just conduits for communities to enjoy false hope.   Church’s mission statements can be deceiving.   

But in the above passage we have Jesus mission statement.   There is nothing ambiguous or deceptive in it.  Jesus came to save the world by speaking the words that His Father told Him to speak.   He did not come to judge.   But that does not mean that those who reject the words that Jesus spoke won’t be judged.  They will be.  They will be judged by the words He spoke on the authority of His Father.   But Jesus’ mission is plain, simple and powerful.  He came to save the world.   He came to give light to a dark world that they might see Him and glorify His Father.  Nothing is more simple and yet powerful as Christ’s mission for coming. There is no deception in it.  Therefore, what He said is what the Father told Him to say.  Those words are both the words of life and the words that judge and condemn those who reject the words.  

God’s Mercy Restores! Hosea 8-14

Hosea 14:1-3 (ESV)

A Plea to Return to the LORD

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,

for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

Take with you words

and return to the LORD;

say to him,

“Take away all iniquity;

accept what is good,

and we will pay with bulls

the vows of our lips.

Assyria shall not save us;

we will not ride on horses;

and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’

to the work of our hands.

In you the orphan finds mercy.”

The entire book of Hosea is God’s metaphor for His love for Israel and His call for them to repent and return to Him.   He wants them to quit calling the work of their hands, “My God!”  The above final plea is how God defines repentance.  They were turning to the works of their hands to worship and they were seeking the armies of other nations to bring them rest, peace and assurance.  Their repentance has to confess this and then they will see God’s glory.   The last line in the above verses is so powerful:

“In you the orphan finds mercy.” 

The word picture is clear.  An orphan in any era of society has a rough life.  They are abandoned for one reasons or another.  It makes them psychologically in tumult and peril.   This type of trauma never leaves their psyche.    It can damage a person for life.  But, they are redeemed and healed by God’s mercy.   God grants them mercy and revives them through that mercy.   It is God’s mercy that will overlook their rebellious ways.   In light of our lives we need God’s mercy to cover our sins with Christ’s sacrifice.  In His mercy He gives us, freely, forgiveness, despite our long history of rebellion and turning to them world and the works of our hands for salvation.   God cries out, “Return,” to us all.   When we do, we see His glory:

2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (ESV)

But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.