God will bring it to pass…

Would it not be an understatement to say that we get in a hurry? Would it also be safe to say that we often procrastinate? Both can intentionally or unintentionally go unnoticed due to choice, busyness or whatever other deterrent that comes our way. This real fact in our lives can present a continuum in the context of purpose and opportunity. Arguably, everyone has been on both sides of this line multiple times. But our Creator God is not this way, His way is perfect and He doesn’t procrastinate nor does He get in a hurry to see something come to pass. However, His love and mercy allows us to make these daily choices and often we find ourselves doing what we don’t’ want to do either being too anxious or too lax.

Moses found himself on both ends of this continuum. He went from savior to coward, from having almost everything in Pharaoh’s court to the Median desert, from aggressive to passive. Observing Moses’ life, things are much of a rollercoaster, but we have the privileged to look at his entire life from a very distant perspective. We see his beginnings and his end in only a few chapters of the Bible and we do not see the small day-to-day things, to these we are left only to imagine. Just before he ran for his life after killing an Egyptian things really look great for him. He has it together. However, on his way back to Egypt after spending a lot of lonely, humiliating time in the desert of Midian we see him so passive that his wife has to take control or he would have died (Gen. 4). I think if we are honest with ourselves we can relate to Moses. I think if we are honest with ourselves we often look a lot like Moses. But what about our Creator God?

Notice the call of Moses by God in Genesis 3:4. God uses Moses’ name twice consecutively, “Moses, Moses.” This is not the only time God does this. When God called the great prophet Samuel He does the same thing, “Samuel, Samuel” (1 Sam. 3:10). It happens again in the New Testament with the calling of the Apostle Paul, when God says, “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:4). But this pattern does not end with calling of persons names, Jesus often repeated words back-to-back especially the Hebrew word “amen” often translated in our English Bibles as “Surely, Surely”, “Truly, Truly”, or in the KJV, “Verily, Verily.” Why is this?

First, this shows the certainty of God, the sovereignty of God and how our God is not like a shadow moving depending on the pressure or light source (James 1:17). God is in control of what He chooses to be in control of and He never looses or has lost control since the beginning of everything. Wow! There is more though. There is a verse, a bit of evidence in the story of Joseph that brings all this to reality. Joseph is given a gift of prophecy in the form of dreams and dream interpretation. He first has a repetitious dream about his family (Gen 37). Then after he has been sold by his brothers and finds himself in Egypt. Pharaoh has repetitious dreams and Joseph says “And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about” (Gen. 41:32).

When God sets a certain thing in order it will come to pass. He is without shadow or turning (James 1:17). He is steadfast, He is God! Notice further in the account of Saul’s call, as we have already seen He uses Saul’s name twice. But when He calls Ananias to go see and minister to Saul God only uses Ananias’ name once. Why is that? Could it be that one way or another it was God’s plan and purpose (Doctrine of Providence) that Saul would be the Apostle Paul, but in Ananias’ case if he passed up this opportunity (procrastination/sin) God would have simply used someone else? The harmony of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, it happens everyday and it happens in your life too.

Be blessed in knowing that we serve a God who is in control of all things yet loves us enough to give us a choice. Be blessed in knowing that that same God loves you and wants you to depend on Him and at the same time be diligent in the opportunities He brings you. Do not stress out thinking you will blow it. First, we all have blown it and second, if you ask Him, He will bring it to pass (Prov. 3:1-12).

Father, we praise you for your sovereignty and your patience in our lives. Direct us and guide us and please by the power of Your Holy Spirit help us to be submissive, obedience and diligent. Help us to make our yes, yes and our no, no. Amen.

Do-it-Yourself Project

When Cain’s selfishness, pride, anger and stupidity overcame his better judgment of forgiveness and resolution rather than retaliation he shallowly replied to God’s question with a question. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9) What was he asking? What we he really saying? I don’t have the responsibility of my brother? I don’t want the responsibility of my brother? I am an independent individual and that is all I want and all that You require God?

I think it is worth pondering that God didn’t directly answer Cain’s question, at least not verbally. God did answer the question with His judgment upon Cain. “and now you are cursed from the ground…” (Gen 4:11a) But the question still lies open or does it? It has been answered over and over throughout Scripture. The answer is a unmistakably yes! The Second Commandment answers that question. Jesus answered that question not only in His teaching but in His example and His purpose. Then Paul writes to the church in Rome “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Rom. 15:1) The context is to Christians individually and in the church setting. The concept of chapter 14:1-15-13 is that we are responsible and obligated to our brother’s/sister’s well being, physically, emotionally and spiritually. He goes further in verse 2 of chapter 15 to say, Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (Rom 15:2) Now, this Biblical truth says our brother’s/sister’s importance level is more than our own.

However, there is more. If we stop right here this Biblical truth seems to add more pressure to our all ready over-stressed lives, right? If we stop right there and that would be foolish because with God all endings are happy and if it doesn’t show joy then it is not over. Look at Romans 14:17, the purpose of life is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God has a purpose for us to enjoy peace and joy. What if we step back and look at the bigger picture, not looking at it only from our perspective? What if we turned it around and asked the question do I need my brothers and sisters to be MY keeper? Your first response maybe be no but that is totally from whatever level of pride is still in your life. The real answer is yes, we need help and this (life) is not a do-it-yourself project[1], I need you and I need Jesus!

On one of our mission opportunities to Brazil, the church sang a song that translated “I need you, you need me and we need Jesus.” How true can this be, yet satan (I didn’t capitalize his name on purpose) wants us to believe we are independent, not needing others and certainly not our brother’s keeper. He wants you to believe that this is a do-it-yourself project (life). But Jesus said (and I totally believe everything Jesus said and says) that satan is a liar. The truth is we need each other and when you look at the bigger picture, being my brother’s/sister’s keep is not more weight on my life. It is a privilege to share in the teamwork of life within the purpose of the Eternal Creator God. I need you, you need me, we need Jesus, and this is not a do-it-yourself project.

Lord Jesus, show us more of Your truth and help us to see the bigger picture. Teach us more about You, Your Word and how to be the best brother’s/sister’s keeper we can be in the center of your righteousness, peace and joy, all to Your glory. Amen.

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[1] ________________, The Everyday Guide to Prayer: 2002 Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Oh ISBN 1-58660-224-1

Shattered Clay Judgment

Jeremiah was a man of God that went through tremendous testing and trials. Known as the “weeping prophet” he had to preach to his fellow people whom God had just pronounced divorcement to. He was imprisoned, served under various kings experiencing a seesaw of political leadership; he even had one of the kings to burn his scroll. Not a piece of work done on a computer easily reprinted.

When we come to chapter 19 God tells Jeremiah to go purchase a clay pot from the local pottery shop, take it to the Valley of Slaughter and smash it to pieces on the ground. Wow, this doesn’t sound like the loving God many modern day prophets talk about. The God that they know that wouldn’t send anyone to a place known as hell. The place to bust the pot was call Hinnom. It was a deep, narrow ravine separating Mount Zion from the so-called “Hill of Evil Counsel.” It had been the place where the idolatrous Jews burned, yes you heard right, burned their children alive to Moloch and Baal.

The Jews associated with this valley these two ideas, (1) that of the sufferings of the victims that had there been sacrificed; and (2) that of filth and corruption. It therefore became to the common mind a symbol of the abode of the wicked hereafter. The Greek word Gehenna (hell) would be the translation to that language.” ^[1]

Why would God ask Jeremiah to do such a thing? Because though God is entirely a God of love, He is also a God that is entirely holy. Holiness in the purity of the Creator, Almighty God means that sin will not and cannot be tolerated in any form. Therefore we can say that God is entirely a God of love and entirely a just God. The holy and just God has, can and will be angered. That is why we find Jesus as the only answer to the opportunity to be in the presence of the Almighty, Creator God. It is only by Him that we have access to ANY degree.

It is so easy to think about, talk about and take advantage of the loving God that is so real. However, it is not a popular thing to consider the holy and just God that will break the clay pots in the time of judgment. Thinking deeper, how was we made? Adam was formed from what, dirt? Clay? Wow, clay pots being crushed because of sin, new concept, I don’t think so.

Unfortunately this truth is most often followed by the spirit of rejection and denial. Humans do not want to face the holy God only the loving God but He is God both holy and loving. Now don’t get confused, God does NOT have a split personality these are the truest character traits of the Almighty God, the One who Created all, the God of the Bible.

This should not leave a bad taste in our mouths or get us in a bad mood. This should be a truth we rejoice in. Why? Glad you asked. An all Holy God is a God that can be trusted. He is a God that will make all things new, like or even better than they were before man messed them up. He is a God that will not change like the weather or a shadow; He is dependable, totally fair and righteous. You see we really need such a God, such a Father. As terrifying as it may begin in our minds we really need God to be holy and just.

In this light, the truth of the coming judgment, I challenge you in two ways. One, praise God for being totally complete, totally holy and totally loving and second allow this truth to make you a better witness to those who do not know or deny the real truth.

Father, help us to understand you more that we may praise you more and be more like your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus. Amen.

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^[1] M.G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).

Tend My Sheep

In John chapter twenty one the Apostle John gives us a unique view of one of the last historical event of Jesus’ time on earth during His first advent. We see a man that had denied Jesus, repented and basically given up on ministry by returning to his former vocation. You know this man as Simon Peter. The scene is somewhere on the beautiful shores of the Sea of Galilee where Simon and his comrades have fished all night with absolutely no luck and then Jesus appears very unexpectedly. Jesus prepares breakfast, gives phenomenal instruction on the latest news on where the fish are biting and then enters into a serious dialogue with Mr. Peter.

As with all other Scripture, I believe there are multiple concepts, messages and teachings in this text of John 21:15-19. It is unquestionable that the central theme is based on love as Jesus asks Simon Peter three times if he loves Him. In addition, there are two forms of the word love used in the Greek that sheds tremendous light on the type of love we are to use in the fulfilling of the second commandment. But I believe there is more; more for the 21st century church, more for me and you.

First, there is a change of emphasis beyond the subject of love. The very large successful catch would represent the true occupation of the followers of Jesus, today we call them Christians, not necessarily preachers, Christians. That catch would represent the need and the work of Christ in evangelism. Yet there is more because the focus moves from evangelism to discipleship and ministry. Jesus says tend and feed My sheep. Now we have to stop for a second to identify whom the command of action is given. Is it Simon Peter, is it all the Disciples, is it to all pastors/clergy or could it be simply to all Christians. A new thought? I thought it might be.

Next let’s look at the subject of the feeding and tending, the sheep. Sheep stink, sheep are stupid and cannot take care of themselves. However, Biblical sheep are Christians, anything else may look, act and dress like sheep but according to Scripture they are not sheep (Matt 7:15; 25:32-33; John 10:1-18). Also according to Scripture sheep are quite important (Matt. 18:12; Lk. 15:4-6). Even greater Jesus, the Eternal, all-powerful Son of God, was sent to and for the sheep (Matt. 10:6; 15:24, Mk. 10:16). And without Jesus the sheep go astray they get lost and disoriented (Matt. 9:36, Mk. 10:16). Wow, so we become sheep through Jesus, we are shepherded (protection, care, etc.) by Jesus and we are the reason Jesus became the Shepherd and King. But there’s more. If we are to be like Jesus shouldn’t we also, though sheep, be shepherds? That is what He is telling Peter, be a shepherd Peter! Jesus was really intentional about this too. Notice the passion, the direct communication shown in the repetition.

This should not surprise us though. Do you ever notice just how many sheep are scared and hurting? Jesus said if a man had 100 sheep and one was lost wouldn’t he leave the 99 and go find the lost sheep (Matt 12:11; Lk. 15:4)? Maybe He is asking the 21^st Century church another question that relates to John 21. Are you taking care of your fellow sheep? Maybe He is asking you right now, are you taking care of the sheep? Are you practicing the model people call church, the living organism that I came to earth and died for? Are you doing discipleship and ministry like I have taught you and how I want you to do? 

Lord Jesus, teach us more and more how to be like you. Open our eyes to John 21 and the true concepts that You want to teach us. Amen!