The Twelve - 2/4/2010

Mark 3:14, "He appointed twelve - desig-nating them apostles - that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach."

Perhaps choosing twelve apostles, or messengers, was necessary - but why twelve of them? What is the significance of choosing a dozen? Why not three or seven or twenty-five?

I think maybe Christ linked Himself with the very foundations of the Old Testament by choosing twelve apostles, in this way affirming once more that He is the son of God; that it was His story laid out and prepared for throughout the generations of Israel's family.

Originally God established the nation of Israel through twelve men. Israel was the name of a man who had twelve sons. These were the great-grandsons of Abraham, with whom God made His covenant and whose descendants God promised would outnumber the stars. All Jews for centuries traced their lineage back to one of these twelve men, using their names to identify the tribes to which they belonged.

This literally was God's family - which is why we sometimes refer to the Israelites as God's "chosen people." This is the family to whom God delivered His word, and He promised to send His son, the Messiah, through this same family. The world would know God and be saved by this family - because it is the one into which Jesus was born. Salvation then was offered to everybody "...because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Romans 1:16.

Christ came to save all men, not just the family or nation of Jews to whom He originally preached, if they just believe His message. So, Jesus chose twelve more men. These men were sent out into the world to preach the good news which, like a fire spreading across a dry wheat field, covered generations and continents, eventually spanning the globe. Those who hear and accept the good news that started with these apostles are then grafted into the family that God made - the same family that started with those twelve other men so long ago. This is why it is sometimes explained that Gentiles are "adopted" into the family of God, like in Ephesians 1:5, "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will..."

So, what is the one and greatest link between the Old Testament and the New Testament? As a Christian, I believe it to be Jesus Christ. The Old Testament establishes God's covenant and relationship with man, prophesying and preparing the way for Jesus Christ to fulfill the law and embody (literally) God's plan to save man from sin and eternal separation from Him. Much of the Old Testament involves preparing the very family into which God's son would be born - the Israelites.

Twelve men and their descendants set the stage for the arrival of the Messiah. Twelve more men carried the news of the Messiah’s arrival into the rest of the world and are the reason we know today of what Jesus accomplished.

In the book of Revelation, John explains how these 24 men will be honored, since it is by them that God's presence and knowledge spread to all of mankind, making the members of God's family innumerable. Revelation 21:12-14 describes part of the “New Jerusalem,” stating that,

"It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and the names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel ... And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."

Surely, if these men are to be memorialized in the city of heaven for all eternity, we shouldn't take lightly how God used them for His glory. By the family of the twelve sons of Israel, the world is able to enter into God's presence - the "gates" to the city as described in Revelation. And once in God's presence, we stand firm on the Truth preached by the twelve apostles - the "foundation stones" of God's eternal Holy City.

Thank you, Jesus, for your plan and your grace, that we might all be saved and come to spend the rest of our days with You.

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Bread of Life - 2/2/2010

Exodus 25:30, "You shall set the Bread of Presence on the table before me at all times."

Often I don't take the time to think about and try to understand the symbolism God uses. Typically, I will read a passage, take it at face value, and carry on. The other day I was reading Exodus as part of the one year reading plan I'm following and almost did just that.

These first books in the Bible are often passed up because the weighty lists of rules and specific commands about worship can be a dry read. This might be true, but I've also found much of it to reveal the very character of God and what He values.

In this section of Exodus, God instructs Moses on how to prepare the Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting, which served as the house of God before the temple was built. This is where Moses would talk to God and receive the instruction and information he used to write what is now the first five books of the Bible.

This is also where the Ark of the Covenant (or Ark of the Testimony) was kept. Inside, the ten commandments and a jar of manna. On top, a special lid described by some translations as the "Mercy Seat," where God would be spiritually and audibly present to speak to Moses and deliver His word.

Exodus 25:22, "There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment of the sons of Israel."

God was present here, but not bodily, since His pure holiness would cause sinful man to literally drop dead before Him if we were to gaze upon His face in such a sinful state, "But He said, 'You cannot see my face, for no man can see Me and live!" - Exodus 33:20.

Instead, God ordered the symbolic bread, the "Bread of Presence," to be on the table before the Ark at all times. This would represent the physical presence of God - His body. Flash-forward now to the life of Christ; the very spirit of God wrapped in flesh that we may know Him now and receive His mercy.

Before Jesus was crucified, He celebrated the symbolic Passover meal with His disciples. In Luke 22:19, it states, "And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'"

The body of God Himself had been represented by bread for centuries. Now, here at the Passover supper, Christ affirmed two things: that He is God (by saying this is "my body"), and that He would die for us (He broke the bread). The "bread of presence" was now in our presence, and its purpose is now made clear - to be broken for us that we may be reconciled with God the Father.

Suddenly the tedious list of rules God delivered to Moses seem more meaningful and purposeful, when at first they seemed excessive and arbitrary. The symbolism used in the Tabernacle seems less abstract - God's body was demonstrated by bread that would be broken for us, and at that time He would then dwell within us. This is symbolized by our eating of the bread during communion (which fulfills the command to "do this in remembrance of me"). The temple which replaced the Tabernacle is no more, and our hearts serve as the current Temple of God; the dwelling He has chosen now that Christ's sacrifice has redeemed us and allowed us to be in God's presence once more!

Thank you, God, for weaving a story so complex, so meaningful even across centuries that it could only have come from your vision of the big picture!

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Proof - 1/31/2010

1 Timothy 2:3-7, "...God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and know the truth. There is one God and one way human beings can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who is Himself human. He gave himself as a payment to free all people. He is proof that came at the right time."

"Proof that came at the right time," like the old song says, "He's an on-time God!" Our modern world has been completely shaped by Jesus Christ; knowledge of Him has spread to every continent. If He came any earlier in history, His teachings may have been lost to antiquity. Any later, and they may not have spread as far and as fast as they did. Since He came at that time and place in history, His life and teachings were able to be recorded and then carried with those who recorded it as they spread across the globe, sharing the message of His love and salvation.

"The proof that comes on time."

So, what did He prove? That the prophets were right! That God didn't fail. God didn't forget about us in our lost state. That God is forgiving. That God's love knows no limits, that his love and forgiveness applies to all people. It says here that God our Savior wants all people to be saved and know the Truth, to know Christ.

He also proved God's word to be true and reliable. Isaiah 52 and 53, for example, described "God's suffering servant" 800 years before Jesus was born and suffered on the cross. This chapter is a prophecy that specifically describes what Christ accomplished on the cross for a sinful world that He loved enough to die for.

Christ was the proof that God loved us so much that, "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God the father sacrificed His son so that every one of us might be saved and can eternally enter back into a relationship with Him - our very reason for having ever been created. He didn't give up on us!

There are many who reject that truth. Yet, Christ wants all to be saved. But in the end there will be some, who "...will die, because they refused to love the truth. (If they loved the truth, they would be saved.)" - 2 Thessalonians 2:10b.

So, we are commanded to help these people, and ourselves. In Titus 1, 2:1-8, we are instructed in this way:

"...tell every one what to do to follow the true teaching. Teach older men to be self-controlled, serious, wise, strong in faith, in love, and in patience. In the same way, teach older women to be holy in their behavior, not speaking against others or enslaved to too much wine, but teaching what is good. Then they can teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind, and to yield to their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us. In the same way, encourage young men to be wise. In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. Speak the truth so you cannot be criticized, then those who are against you will be ashamed because there is nothing bad to say about us."

Certainly, this will prove that the Truth of Christ has its foundation in love, having the power to change hearts and bring us back into relationship with God. Amen!

Abba, Father - 8/29/09

Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (NASB).

I love the way God uses His word to speak to me! I understand why it is called "the living word," since a verse you've read before that didn't really apply can suddenly come alive - jumping off the page to speak to your current situation.

That's what this scripture above did for me. It began with my studying Hebrew. I think the Hebrew script is beautiful, and to satisfy curiosity I have been studying it during Corban's naps. The day I finished learning all the consonants, I turned to that day's reading in the Bible which began with Psalm 119 - an acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet! Originally, each verse began with one Hebrew letter. I might have considered that a coincidence, but then I clicked through a couple pages online, and suddenly was looking at my first name written in Hebrew! One of only two names on the page. I think these two "coincidences" were God's way of encouraging me to continue studying the language.

So far, I learned that the Hebrew characters began as pictures that evolved into an alphabet over time. To infer deeper meaning in the words, some people have substituted the modern letters with the original pictograms, using the meaning of those ancient pictures to get a deeper understanding of that word. For example, "El," the root word for "God," (אֵל) can be traced back to a picture of an ox and a staff, the two images together meaning "Strong Leader." Likewise, the picture-word for "father," or "abba," (אָבּ) is an ox and a house, meaning "Strength of the House."

So with this in mind, I turned to today's reading in the Bible, Psalm 127:1. It states, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Abba. Father. Strength of the House. Who is the strength of the house? God, our Father, is the Strength of the House. He is the one who must build it; He is the one who must be the foundation for my family. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27, "

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (NIV).

I can let Jesus Christ and His teachings be the foundation for my house, and it will endure life's storms. Or, I can try to do it on my own and watch it all "fall with a great crash" when those storms come along. I am a father now, I am Abba. I am supposed to be the strength of the house. But, without a foundation built by my God, my "Strong Leader," my efforts to establish a safe home to raise and guide my family are in vain. I must rely on God's strength, not my own, to provide for my family.

If a father is to be the strength of his family, then surely the enemy will recognize that threat and attack it first. As a father then, it is important to take extra care to anticipate attacks in areas where I am weak (i.e., temptations). How many families in our country live in a house without a father, without abba? Clearly these attacks have been successful in our culture, given the number of students I have without a father in the home. Fortunately for fatherless homes, our Heavenly Father can be our Abba.

He can be the strength of any house.

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Son Shine - 8/13/09

Psalm 84:1-2, 10, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; ... Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere..." (NIV).

Psalm 86:10, "You alone are God" (NIV)

Yesterday Melissa and I were talking about where to go on vacation at the end of the month. She's concerned that I didn't really get a summer break, having spent all my time with our newborn son. I love her. I didn't mind that, but I'll take a getaway! We kicked around a few ideas: the Oregon coast, Suncadia, and San Diego.

Ah, San Diego - my favorite U.S. city on the mainland. That night with San Diego on the mind, I read Psalm 84. This Psalm inspired the popular song by Third Day, "Better Is One Day." On any other evening, coming across this Psalm may not have seemed significant. But this evening, while dreaming of the warm sands of La Jolla and Pacific Beach, I'm reminded of my mother by the Psalm I read. She and I made dozens of trips to San Diego to visit her doctor before she passed away there. This song by Third Day was always one of her favorites. The coincidence between reading this Psalm and its connection to the destination I had in mind struck me. But then, with God, there really aren't many coincidences.

I kept reading the Psalms while listening to some music. My current favorite song by Hillsong United, "Till I See You," began to play as I read Psalm 86. The very second I began reading the line of verse 10, "You alone are God," those exact words played in my headphones.

Two notable parallels in one night's reading leads me to believe there is more than mere coincidence at play here. This is how God so often speaks to me or gives me encouragement, or words of confirmation.

So, I should probably try to figure out what He's trying to tell me ... though I think I can just take it all at face value. It's true that I may be exasperated by the region in which I live and I may pine for the sunshine and warm water of California. I may want to take that walk down memory lane in San Diego; to stand in the sun and laugh with the shadows. But, all this is temporary.

Because Better Is One Day in His Courts than a thousand days in California, Belize, Hawaii, or any other sunny place I dream of returning to. My mother knows for certain that better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. And, why should I chase after the sun, when I already have the son? This may be what God is trying to make clear to me. It doesn't matter where I am, this world is temporary. True, permanent happiness can only be found in the Lord God Almighty.

You alone are God. "And that my soul knows very well," to quote another Hillsong.

All I need is Jesus. I may want more, but "all of Him is more than enough for all of me."

So, I can dream of standing in sun, or I can dream of standing in awe of the Son. That's why I like this song that played so much, because as it says, until I see my heavenly Father face to face, I can just stand as a child in awe of Him. So here are the lyrics to that song, may you be blessed by them!

"Till I See You"
by Hillsong United

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing
takes me home
I'll trust in You

With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdome come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing
takes me home
I'll trust in You

I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You

You are the voice that called the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And 'til I see you face to face and grace amazing
takes me home
I'll trust in You

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
and with all I am my soul will bless Your name

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Show Them The Way - 8/9/09

Psalm 78:5-7, "We will not keep them from our children; we will tell those who come later about the praises of the Lord. We will tell about His power and the miracles He has done ... He commanded our ancestors to teach their children ... so they would all trust God and would not forget what He had done but would obey His commands."

I'm seeing a theme here in the scriptures God is speaking to my heart this week. Today again, God focused my attention on the command to teach our children. Well, I am a teacher ... mission accomplished, God!

Except of course for the content I teach. It says in verse 4 that I am to tell of His power and the miracles He has done. This can't really be done overtly in my position as a teacher if I'm to keep my job.

But, this is a good reminder in general. I believe God is trying to re-focus my purpose in working with the youth group and preparing me for my greatest responsibility as a father. It seems it didn't sink in the first time...so God brought it up again tonight.

So I am to tell them of His power, glory, and miracles. Why? The answer may seem obvious, but I like how the book of Romans answers that question. Verse 10:14, "But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in Him; and before they can believe in Him, they must hear about Him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them, and before someone can go and tell them that person must be sent."

So, I have been sent. I'm here, working for Jesus. If any of these kids want to ask the Lord for help, or if I want to ensure they spread the Good News to the next generation, I must open my mouth. I must tell them of His power and the miracles He's done, from delivering Israel from Egypt to changing the hearts of people I love. Verse 17 ties in nicely with this idea, "So faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ."

I wasn't born with my faith, someone told me about Him. And as my wife pointed out, God doesn't have grand kids. You don't inherit your parents faith, but must develop a relationship with Him on your own. It helps to listen to what people have to say about the true Jesus Christ of the Bible, let them tell you of His power - not what the hate-filled "sandwich board Christian" says on the street corner.

It's worth the effort seeking Him and learning about his power, miracles, and love! In Romans 10:11 it says, "Anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed."

I love that!

John 14:6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Sharing What Is Good - 8/6/09

Proverbs 16:17, "Good people stay away from evil. By watching what they do, they protect their lives" (NASB).

Psalm 73:28, "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of your works" (NASB).

Psalm 71:18, "I will tell the children about your power; I will tell those who live after me about your might" (NIV)

Today I read Proverbs 16 again, focusing on the verse that stuck out to me yesterday. I've been thinking all day about the concept of "good people," as stated in Proverbs 16 above. I'm reminded of the man who called Jesus "good teacher," to whom he replied that nobody is good. How can I be good, as mentioned in Proverbs 16, if I am not God?

The Lord answered me this evening with the 73rd Psalm. "The nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of your works." This issue may have seemed insignificant to so many people, but it was something I needed to work out for myself. God saw this in my heart and answered my question for me. He is so great! I love how He speaks to me through his word.

Drawing near to God, and making him my refuge, leaves only one more aspect of this Psalm to live out; I must tell of His works. This theme rose briefly in yesterday's devotion in Proverbs 23, to speak what is right. So then, what will I tell of, exactly, and to whom?

Perhaps that's why Psalm 71 also spoke to me during this past day in the Psalms. "I will tell the children about your power; I will tell those who live after me about your might." I feel in my heart when reading this verse that the high school kids Melissa and I host at our house every week are the children I will share God's power with - along with my son and his generation. I will tell them all about Your power.

I pray that my words and a life lived for Jesus will tell those who live after me about his might.

Wisdom Gained - 8/5/09

Proverbs 15:31, "If you listen to correction to improve your life, you will live among the wise."

Proverbs 16:17, "Good people stay away from evil. By watching what they do, they protect their lives."

Proverbs 19:20, "Listen to advice and accept correction, and in the end you will be wise."

Proverbs 23:15-16, "My child, if you are wise, then I will be happy. I will be so pleased if you speak what is right."

As I read through Proverbs, these verses really spoke to my heart. I wrote each one down in turn, without much attention paid to the other verses I picked. I just felt like God was speaking to me through these words but wasn't sure what He was saying. After I'd finished, I read them in the order I had written them down.

My God is also my Father, and I've often looked to Him for guidance, example, and fatherly advice.

Reading these verses in this order was a pretty direct admonition and reminder from God to live rightly and speak what is right. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, as the scripture says. Here, however, my heavenly Father offers me correction, with the added benefit of wisdom. I can accept correction and live among the wise, and in so doing I can protect my life - simply by watching what I do. I can be a "good" son by staying away from evil - as the second scripture says.

The third verse then emphasizes what the first one said - but adding that "in the end" I will be wise, indicating that wisdom is a process gained over time. So then, I am to patiently and consistently listen to advice and accept correction. Easier said than done, but my goal nevertheless.

But ultimately, and this is the verse I loved the most, God said to me through the fourth verse that I will make him happy by gaining that wisdom earned through accepting God's advice and correction. The idea that my small, seemingly insignificant actions can make the Creator of the universe happy leaves me dumbfounded. What's more, it says He will be SO pleased if I speak what is right!

Who wouldn't want to please the Lord God Almighty?

What It Means To Be "Saved" - 4/26/09

Isaiah 55:8-9, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'"

Many people don't understand when Christians say they've "been saved" or that they "need a Savior." Saved from what? It's not like we're drowning...

They fail to understand the condition of the human soul. They don't see us as God does, since our thoughts and ways are so different from His. We have difficulty understanding holiness and perfection - two of God's greatest qualities.

It used to be that our imperfection prevented us from having a relationship with God. The sin we carried with us must be atoned for through a lengthy, almost impossible process. That's where the book of Leviticus comes in. We could not even approach the King or the tabernacle if we were unclean, lest we be struck dead. We had to ritually cleanse ourselves of the sin so hideous to one so holy and follow His commands to remain pure or we could not enter into the presence of our God in the temple. The biggest requirement for cleansing our condition was blood sacrifice, since shedding sinless blood removes sin for reasons I cannot as a human understand; but His ways are higher than mine...
Since no human was found to be sinless, we had to use animals, who do not sin.

Flash forward to the book of Revelation, which is an account of all of history from the beginning to the end that is to come. In chapter 5 John wept because, looking at the whole of mankind, not one was found worthy to carry out God's will. They looked at mankind from the beginning of history to the end to find just one worthy to save us all; someone with sinless blood that could be shed to save everyone and allow us to enter into His presence again. Not one was found. There was great weeping and sorrow. Then suddenly, rejoicing - something had changed; there was one who was worthy! Jesus bled, died, and overcame the grave, shedding his sinless blood for us all. As God, He couldn't die, but entering the world through flesh gave Him the body and blood to offer up for us all, while His spirit within was still God. Carrying the strength and power of His divine nature was necessary to withstand the temptations of the sinful flesh he acquired, giving him the strength to remain sinless and pure. The sacrifice of His body and the shedding of that blood is what allowed for the cleansing of all sin.

That's why we say, "washed in the blood of the Lamb." Jesus is called the Lamb of God in reference to all the animal sacrifices made to purify men so they could enter into God's presence while on earth. He is greater than a lamb though, so His is the only sacrifice ever needed. That's why we say, "worthy is the Lamb." More astonishing still, is that he did so WILLINGLY. He had compassion on us all, and allowed His sinless blood to be shed so that we might be cleansed and able to enter into the presence of the Father once again.

So, there came a new way. That's when Christianity arose from Judaism. God is unchanging - His laws and requirements as they're found in the Old Testament didn't go away, but we don't have to follow them anymore. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. God did not change His law, but He allowed for us to follow the one who fulfilled it, and by following Him we follow the law.

Where before we could not even stand in God's presence because our hearts are so full of sin, God has now chosen those same hearts as His temple. The tabernacle or the temple in Jerusalem once served as God's house, separating Him from us. So powerful was the blood of Christ that it was able to wash our sins away, allowing for His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

What blows my mind is that God's sacrifice keeps new sins from "staining" our soul. That's what it means to live under grace, not the law. That's the basis of the song "Amazing Grace." His grace allows for our mistakes, knowing that it is our sinful flesh that causes us to sin now and not our sinful soul, since God "makes all things new." If we accept and acknowledge His sacrifice and invite Him into our hearts, our souls receive the benefit of His sacrifice though we are still trapped in sinful flesh. When we die, we shed our sin permanently and can live in the very presence of God Almighty. No form of sin, whether it be flesh or deeds, will ever again separate that relationship.

That's why we need a savior. We can't see the sin that's destroyed our souls because our ways are not as high as His ways - but we can see the results. We can see that our relationship with God needs to be fixed.

That's why we say, "Jesus saves." That's why in Christianity, blood is so important, and being washed by the blood of the Lamb means we are forever forgiven of all sin.

We were incapable of saving ourselves. It's almost as if the old law - that was designed to cleanse us - was made so impossibly complicated just to show how far we had fallen from holiness. It served to show that we weren't really capable of completing what was necessary to make us clean in God's sight. The list of sins is long - and committing any one sin can make us impure again, requiring ritual cleansing for our soul.

Thank God, Jesus cleansed our souls for us. We have only to accept the gift of salvation from Jesus, which is so strong that eternal separation from God is instantly replaced with eternal communion with our Creator. Praise the Lord!

"Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown you now with many crowns
you reign victorious!"

Legal Action - 11/24/2008

Romans 7:1-4, "... a person is subject to the law only so long as he is alive. For example, a married woman is by law bound to her husband while he lives; but if the husband dies, she is released from the marriage bond. ... So too, my friends, through the body of Christ you died to the law and were set free to give yourselves to another, to Him who rose from the dead so that we may bear fruit for God."

After reading Romans chapter 7 today, I opened the devotional book by John Piper called The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came To Die. The section I opened to began with Romans 7:4, the scripture above that I had just finished reading. Sometimes when God speaks to me through a scripture, the exact same verses will come up elsewhere as confirmation. I love when he does that!

As a Christian, I am not under the law anymore but under grace. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners, and when we sin again, God is not waiting there to strike us with a lightning bolt and destroy us for our sin because we broke the law. This is something I struggle with from time to time. He may discipline us, like any good Father, but we are washed clean in His sight by his sinless blood shed on our behalf, so He doesn't need to strike us down. His amazing grace covers our sin - we are only to turn away from it and follow Him.

That's hard. Since I've been made aware of the law, I have guilt when I sin. Sometimes this guilt is a stumbling block that keeps me from approaching Him. It's almost as if I want to be chastised before coming back into the presence of God. I want a consequence that tells me I've paid for my sin and am now clean enough to come back to God. That ain't gonna happen.

God already paid the price; the consequence was his suffering and death on the cross. He had to do be the one to do it - we can never be cleansed by our own works. He did this for us while we were still sinners as the scripture states. He didn't wait for us to clean up, to "get good enough" before we were worthy of His presence. He just paid our debt and waits for us with open arms - THAT'S amazing grace.

For a Christ follower then, we are commanded how to live, but we will surely continue making mistakes. If I sin, I know that it is wrong, against the very desires of my own spirit, as Paul explained in Romans 7:14-25, and I have guilt. I know what I've done violates God's law that he delivered to us. Earlier in Romans 7:7 it says, "... Yet had it not been for the law I should never have become acquainted with sin. For example, I should never have known what it was to covet, if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'" So when I do stumble, my mistakes often become something I dwell upon, knowing that God said it was wrong and required cleansing before we could enter into presence once again - just as the rituals of the Old Testament indicated. However, this is no longer the case - we've been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, poured out for us. The laws for atonement in the Old Testament - the laws that revealed to us God's nature - no longer apply.

I think this is why so many critics point to the contradictions of the Bible as an excuse to throw out the whole text. I've found that many look at the law of Moses in the Old Testament (sacrifice, rituals, etc.), and compare it to the message of Jesus Christ in the New Testament to say that the Bible contradicts itself.

Well, of course it does!

The law given by God was one meant to make us holy in his sight, to cleanse us before approaching the tabernacle of His presence. Perhaps in this way God has shown us how far we've fallen from what it means to be holy, as God is holy. But as the scripture above from Romans states, we are freed from the law by death. It further clarifies that through the death of Jesus Christ, we are released from the same law. His sinless blood shed for us was the last sacrifice needed to cleanse us of our sins, and by that death we are freed from the law. It is written that in this way, Christ fulfilled the law. It was not thrown out - God does not change. He still required atonement for sin, but Christ's sinless blood was enough to do so for all mankind if they would only freely accept that gift.

How comforting! How refreshing to know that because our flesh is sinful, we will still make mistakes, but the death of Jesus Christ allows us to be clean in His sight, so that we may enter into His presence and worship the risen Lord! Even more comforting to know that after death, when my sinful flesh is put away for eternity, I will be left with only the transformed spirit washed clean by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Behold, he makes all things new!

Thank you Jesus for your amazing grace; a grace that allows us to enter into your presence in whatever state we're in. Thank you for accepting us as we are, and loving us enough to give your very life for our salvation when we've done nothing to deserve it.

Puzzling Questions - 10/17/08

Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Who decides what is right and wrong?

What is the meaning of life?

How do we arrive at Truth?

These are some of the many questions we discussed last night while studying the Truth Project – where we compare the secular worldview with a Biblical worldview.

We saw an excerpt from a debate by Will Provine, a proponent of Naturalism and Evolution. It was fascinating to hear his point of view, as he explained the implication of these viewpoints that are commonly taught and held by the world. He agrees with them.

In short, he said that if we are all products of the natural environment, there is no ethical basis for what is right and what is wrong since there is not a single force governing the universe. Additionally, he said that since we came from nothing and upon death will return to nothing, there is no meaning to life. Consequently, since this is the only life we have, he argued that we must construct meaning and decide for ourselves what is right and wrong before we die and return to nothingness.

Wow.

I don’t think he realizes the extent to which his implications define ethics, according to evolutionary theory and Naturalism. If there is no basis for ethical behavior – since we, like the animals, rose up from the primordial ooze, then we can do whatever we want. It’s natural. We’re just following our natural desires; we don’t have to adjust our behavior or beliefs or be told that what we’re doing is wrong. If it feels good, do it - because if it's natural it can't be wrong. We can act like baboons, since humans are just one more type of animal; one more variation in the evolutionary development of species.

So, if we are not living by God’s law but by man’s philosophies and traditions, why was Hitler such a bad person? He did not break the laws of Germany at the time – he was the one who made them. And if we are to believe in evolutionary theory – survival of the fittest – “might makes right,” then the strength of the Nazi army against civilians was completely acceptable. It was just one more stage in the evolution of the human species. Like baboons sometimes do, Hitler was killing off the weaker rivals for territory and dominance, working to make sure the next generation had more Germans in it than the other groups – basic evolutionary principles.

But, few people will argue that what Hitler did was acceptable. If they believe in evolution, why?

So, who does decide what is right and wrong? You are a hypocrite to say , “What’s right for you may not be right for me,” but turn around and say that Hitler was a monster. If you truly believe that ethics and truth are relative – that what’s true for you doesn’t have to be true for me, and what’s right for me doesn’t have to be what’s right for you, then you also have to support Hitler’s actions. Because although it might not be right for you and his claims may not be true for you, they were for him. And our society says that this relativistic viewpoint is how to be politically correct. In fact basing your life on relativism is how you can define what is true for yourself - just like Will Provine said we should do.

If that type of philosophy can support the actions of the Nazi party, then I would put it into the category of “hollow and deceptive philosophies” like the scripture above states.

There has to be a single Truth and ethical standard by which all humans are held accountable. If that's the case, then it’s okay to tell another human that they’re wrong. But we must be respectful in doing so, as the scripture states. 2 Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

I feel like Evolutionists and Naturalism have taken a piece of God’s Truth, some concrete facts found in His creation, and built a lie off the small bit that they’ve seen. I had an image last night of a jigsaw puzzle. God’s creation is incredibly vast – like a 1,000,000,000⁵⁰ piece jigsaw puzzle. If you’ve ever put a puzzle together, what’s the first thing you do? Do you start by looking at the bits and trying to figure out what the big picture is? Of course not! You look at the box and then look for evidence of those shapes and colors in the pieces. The same is true with creation. Evolutionists are well meaning, but backward. They’ve looked at the colors and shapes of individual jigsaw puzzle pieces and then created big picture based on that.

As Christians then, we are to gently instruct others in the Truth - and Jesus Christ as the source of all Truth as well as what is right and wrong. Most importantly, we are to be a light unto the world – to live by example to show others that what we believe is really what we know to be true.

Don't Be Caught With Your Pants Down - 10/12/08

Ephesians 6:14, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."

Our church recently started the popular "Truth Project" created by Focus on the Family. It consists of a dozen, hour-long lessons on DVD to be shown by trained small group leaders in their homes, one lesson each week. Sunday morning messages apply and expand these topics further.

This came about because of the Barna group, which routinely polled non-church members to see where they stood on issues of morality, ethics, and the like. They finally decided to poll only church members, and found that the church's worldview and values were almost identical to that of the world's - even though they professed to live according to the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ.

That led to the Truth Project, which seeks to reveal the lies of the world by which Christians have subconsciously been deceived and help them to develop a life that looks different from the world while reflecting the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Before we can do this, we must know what the truth is and in which areas we've been deceived.

We see in the verse above that Truth is part of God's armor - it is important to Him that we can understand the truth and apply it in our lives; to prevent ourselves from being deceived and taken captive by the lies of the world.

If find it interesting that in the description of God's armor, Truth is compared to a belt. It is not the helmet or the shield or the sword, but the belt. Why is that?

What happens when you don't wear a belt? Unless your pants are too tight, they fall down. So as Christians, it would seem that the Barna pollsters have caught us with our pants down. We have not done a very good job keeping God's truth active in our lives. If we had, our lives would look very different from the world's. Instead, divorces in the church happen at the same rate as outside of the church, and Christians rationalize the validity of the evolutionary theory - just to name a couple examples.

A verse from the first lesson that really stood out for me is found in Colossians 2:2-4, "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments."

It would seem that we' have been deceived by many fine-sounding arguments. But I like that this verse points to Christ as the source of all wisdom and knowledge. If we humbly and regularly seek Jesus Christ, then we can be sure to find the belt of Truth by which the rest of our armor is held together so the enemy's deceitful ways can be exposed and resisted.

Thank you, Jesus, for systematically exposing the lies on which so many of us have based our lives, and thank you for guiding us into your Truth. I pray by your precious name Jesus that those who participate in this project will revolutionize the Church for your glory and to further your kingdom. Amen.

Paralells in Selfless Living - 6/26,2008

1 Corinthians 10:31-33, "...if you eat, or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God. Never do anything that might hurt others - Jews, Greeks, or God's church. I am not trying to do what is good for me but what is good for most people so they can be saved."

The other day I read this section in 1 Corinthians that talks first about living for Christ and submitting to His authority - living in a way that honors Him and does not hurt others. Later, it continues with the relationship between husbands and wives; about authority under God and how they're dependent on one another and how they both come from God.

Today I wanted to read in Ephesians, and the same pattern emerged. It paralleled exactly the themes I read on Tuesday. The first scripture that caught my eye was Ephesians 5:15, "So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times." I thought this was an interesting connection to the command I read in 1 Corinthians: do everything for the Glory of God and do nothing to hurt others. Then I read on into verses 21-27, "Yield to each other because you respect Christ. Wives, yield to your husbands, as you do the Lord ... Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.."

So basically in two days I read two sections of scripture that spoke on the same two topics: living responsibly and marital relationships. Coincidence? I think not. I believe God was talking to me in this way, reminding me that I am under His authority and to live in a way that honors Him. This applies to all relationships, and calls for me to put the needs of others before my own. It is a command for selfless living. This is how all Christians are supposed to live, and many I know do live in this way.

It frustrates me, though, that the irresponsible minority who claim one thing but live another have come to represent Christians as a whole in our society. It makes it very difficult to convince non-Christians that we really do try to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the son of God who allowed Himself to be killed to atone for our sins, enabling Him to bless us with everlasting life without breaking the law of His Father that called for the punishment of sin. He took on that punishment for us as the only one worthy to do so. He was given all authority in Heaven and Earth for being obedient in that task. By His authority and because of His great love, He has forgiven us of everything we've ever done or thought that offended God - cleansing us in His sight and making us worthy of spending eternity in His presence, though we do not deserve it. We need only accept His gift of love and atonement, though we haven't earned it or deserve it. That's His Amazing Grace.

It is because of that selfless sacrifice that I am called to live in a way that would honor the One who gave of Himself so freely for the salvation of the world. If I represent Him - and as a Christian I do - then it is my duty to live in a way that does not hurt others. It is my duty to do what is good for others, and not myself. It is my duty to live wisely, always thinking of the future and of how my actions affect those around me. It is my duty to yield to my wife and love her as much as Christ loved the church - which means being willing to give my very life for her. And, it is my duty to share with others the love and grace of our God, who loved the world so much that He freely gave his only Son so that we may believe in Him and have everlasting life.

It seems like a great challenge, but Jesus Christ promised that it is easier than the burdens of the world. He told us that his yoke is easy, and the burden light. He said that the road is narrow that leads to Him - we must live purposefully and specifically to honor Him, and we will be rewarded greatly for it. I already see the blessings of my Father in my life, from a changed heart to a life of abundance. I can't imagine what the eternal blessings will be like, then. So what's stopping you? Because the scripture tells us He died for us while we were still sinners. He didn't wait for us to clean up our act before loving us enough to die for us, so we shouldn't try to do so before accepting that gift. Don't let guilt or shame or feelings of unworthiness stop you from accepting the gift he offers to you just as you are...

Thank you, Jesus, for your love and grace...

He Loves Me This Much - 4/26/08

2 Corinthians 6:18, "I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

God led me awhile ago to blog about this topic during my devotions, but I fled from it like Jonah running from the fish-slapping people of Nineveh, as we saw in the Veggie Tales movie. I didn't really want to risk offending my earthly father, so I ignored it entirely; I pretended like God didn't remind me of what He's done in my life. How silly. Lucky for me, He's not really one to let us ignore things ...

Today with a thirst for God's word and His presence, I sat down with my Bible and some music to seek His face. The first song, "Marvelous Light" by Charlie Hall started playing. The line, "I once was fatherless..." started playing as I turned the page in 2 Corinthians and read the line "I will be your Father..."

This was the very subject I avoided a couple weeks ago so I wouldn't risk offending my earthly dad.

The fact is, this is my testimony. I didn't grow up with a father around, and God filled that role for me when I was very young. He has done great things for me and in me; He has made me who I am and given me the life I enjoy today. He has been my God, my Father, my Friend, my Teacher. What right do I have to rob my God of His glory?

I was weak for shamefully putting anything before God, whether it be my own fear or another person's feelings. If the early Christians worried about offending people with their message of hope, the church would never have spread to the rest of the world.

God has promised that He will be our Father, in more places than just this one scripture. Our earthly fathers are temporary. And as humans, we're all broken and flawed. What can our earthly father provide that God cannot? Absolutely nothing ... and God gives us so much more. Beginning with his sacrifice on our behalf; his unconditional love and forgiveness. He also offers us a relationship.

He wants to be the One we go to, our confidant, friend, father, guide. He freely gives His love, and at times that love manifests in discipline - like any caring father. But ultimately He is the only constant in our lives, the only one whose love will not fade or change. He is the only part of our lives that will never change from now through eternity. Who wouldn't want that?

When God first brought this blog to mind, I was reminded of a music video that was played years ago at a men's conference in Seattle that I went to. Unfortunately, it is a country song. There's nothing really wrong with that, it's just not the music I choose to listen to. However, the message is moving and summarizes exactly how much our heavenly Father loves us. Here it is for your viewing pleasure, "I Love You This Much" by Jimmy Wayne:



Thank you, Father, for your love and guidance. I apologize for my disobedience. I love you, you are my Father and my friend and have paid the greatest price for me.

"For God So Loved..." - 2/21/08

1 John 4:16, "God is love."

God is love, but what does that mean in a culture where the word "love" has been so trivialized? We say we love our spouses and children and God himself, but we also love coffee, watching TV, basking in the sun, and playing Guitar Hero. That is not God.

So let us ask, what does the Bible say that love is? It's so cool! Look at the classic wedding scripture about love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

So then, if God is love, then the two words should be interchangeable when the word "love" is used properly. Look what this scripture says about who God is when you do that:

• God is patient
• God is kind
• God does not envy
• God does not boast
• God is not proud - Pride is a sin and God is sinless
• God is not rude
• God is not self-seeking - He has sought us since the beginning, even to the point of death!
  
• God is not easily angered - His word says He is slow to anger and quick to forgive
• God keeps no record of wrongs - our sin is cast as far from Him as the east is from the west when we become Christians.
• God does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth - He is kind and has our best intentions at heart even when we feel like He's forgotten us.
• God always protects - we've been saved from our sin and eternity away from Him!
• God always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres - He didn't give up thousands of years ago when we chose our own path ... He continued hoping that we'd come back to Him and persevered to the point of His own suffering and death, trusting that we'd accept His gift of forgiveness!
• God never fails. I love that.
• These three remain: faith, hope, and God. But the greatest of these is God. Of course! You can't have faith or hope without God! How cool!

And there is one last scripture that I think is great when looking at God as love itself. Romans 13:9-10, "The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Therefore God is the fulfillment of the law! Do you know what that means? "The Law" refers to the "Law of Moses;" the commandments that God gave to His people through Moses and the subsequent laws in the Old Testament that were required for us to cleanse ourselves to be acceptable to a perfect and holy God. But when Christ died in our place - when He shed His sinless blood to atone for our sins - then He became the fulfillment of the law. That's when Christianity split from Judaism since those who practice Judaism still follow the Old Law.

That's also why people who do not understand the Bible but still choose to criticize it point out inconsistencies between the Old and New testaments. That's because they've correctly noted that there are two systems in place there. It says plainly in the New Testament though that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. We don't have to atone for our own sins anymore, God did it for us 2000 years ago!

God is the fulfillment of the law that we were incapable of carrying out. We have now to only live as Christ did - to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus Christ loved us so much in fact that He gave his life for us. God the Father loved us SO much that He gave His own son so that His holy law would be fulfilled and we could be in His presence once again. "For God so loved the world ..." His love is unfathomable to us because we can't wrap our little brains around who God is, but we know that God is love.

Lucky for us, love never fails. God never fails...

The Reaction - 1/8/2008

I posted earlier about feeling led to give a copy of Max Lucado's Traveling Light to a coworker, even though I would risk the offense of proselytizing in a secular work environment.

I did it anyway, and boy am I glad I did. God was so clearly trying to speak to and comfort this woman through this book! How many times have I let Him down by not following through with a request? How many people haven't been touched by His love because I resisted being His hands and feet? I shudder to think about it...

As I went to check my mailbox today, the woman to whom I had given the book shouted, "Stop! I want to talk to you." My first reaction was to think that this could just as easily be very good as it could be very bad. She got up and walked toward me, beginning to thank me for the gift and then gave me the tightest hug while saying, "You have no idea how much that meant to me." I tried telling her that it wasn't my idea, but God's - but I didn't get that far. And I didn't need to say so, God's actions speak for themselves. She reiterated, "Really, you have no idea what that meant."

She explained to me that she and her family are all believers, and that as her mother lay dying in the hospital, they took turns reading to her from her favorite books by her favorite author - Max Lucado. Though, she had never heard of this particular book. Then, at the funeral, her son got up to read his grandmother's favorite verse for her one last time, Psalm 23.

The full title of the book I gave her is: Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Meant To Bear (The Promise of Psalm 23) by Max Lucado. She was overcome, I think from knowing that God's presence was with her, and knowing that her mom was in God's presence. She's going to have her son read the book as soon as she's finished with it...

How could I have known this author and this Psalm meant so much to this woman and her family? There's no way! How could I have known that this was the perfect thing to give her during her time of mourning? I couldn't have!
Who else but God could have orchestrated this?
Who else but God? Seriously think about it.
Who else but God!

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone

And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on your throne
You are God alone

Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That's what you are

He loves us dearly and is constantly reaching out to us. The way His law works in this age, though, is to enact His will through men and not against their will. How many more people could we touch and reach for Him if we were always obedient? Since He wishes that nobody would perish but that all would experience eternal life, I'm guessing all of them ...

I praise you, Father, for your mercy and comfort in a fallen, imperfect world. Thank you for working with us, for your patience, and your grace during our subbornness. Thank you for your love and for your sacrifice, so that the sting of death will only be a temporary pinprick before the eternal glory of your holy presence.

Authority - 1/8/2008

Romans 13:1, "All of you must yield to the government rulers. No one rules unless God has given him the power to rule, and no one rules now without that power from God."

This morning, God reminded me that people who have authority are in such a position because He put them there. What they do in that position, of course, is up to them and many people throughout history will have to have an uncomfortable talk with God about how they abused that authority. But, the fact is, as Christians we are to submit to the authority in our lives; to God's authority and the law of the land. Rebelling against that authority is said in this chapter of Romans to be equal to rebellion against God Himself; against the laws and leadership He has established.

I believe this applies to the workplace as well, and that's why I feel like God used this verse to talk to me this morning about my attitude at work. Our bossess and employers hold positions of authority in our lives, and I see no reason not to think God would have also established them in those positions...

Yesterday I learned that I will have to move my 6th period class to another room every day - an incredible inconvenience that will throw off my routine for that period. As I allowed this information to stew in my mind, I continued to add resentment to the broth, turned up the heat, and let it simmer. I felt the administration should sample my bitter stew - to at least hear how this schedule will affect my daily life, even if it is only for one semester, even if voicing my disapproval will bring about no changes to the schedule. I don't care that they don't have options, this makes things harder for ME!

That's when God put me in check. I read this verse, and through it He reminded me that as a Christian I am to be recognized as somebody who respects authority - both earthly and divine. If I am asked to do something inconvenient at work, it is my job to do it. After all, I'm getting paid to.

Even as I was reading this verse though, I felt slighted by the administration's decision. I took it personally, even though it wasn't a personal attack. I thought to myself, "Why don't I just find a job at a school that has room for me and will make me feel welcome? I'm a good teacher. I take my job seriously. Any other school would be glad to have me." Dangerous, prideful thinking. I immediately glanced up, and verse 16 of chapter 12 read itself to me, "...do not think how smart you are."

Oops. Okay, already! I'll be good. Which, as it says here in the Bible, is how you defeat evil. Romans 12:21, "Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good."

Thank you, Jesus, for the gentle reminder this morning. Thank you for speaking to me through your word. Thank you for keeping me on track and reminding me of my job as a teacher and as a Christian.