Friday, March 31, 2023

Just Tell Others my Story

Scripture: The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said, “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:38-39

Observation: The man from whom the legion of demons was cast off wishes to follow Jesus, but Jesus tells him 'no'. Instead, he is to tell others about the Lord, and what was done for him on this day. History shows that his region of Galilee was later a Christian hotspot, with many who believed in Jesus, and that is likely the work of this one man, who had a very powerful and very public testimony.

Over and over, Jesus tells his disciples exactly what to say and how to behave. He teaches them about the 'good news' of salvation through the Messiah, sends them on specific missions to tell others, and gives them words to say. However, on multiple occasions, Jesus sends one person who ... has no education, no knowledge, and little understanding of who or what the Messiah even is ... but they have a testimony. They go away with not much more than that story, and with just vague instructions to tell that story to others, and the results are great. We see that here in this primarily Romanized society, and with the Samarian woman at the well, and perhaps with less clarity we see it in others like the faithful centurion, the rich young ruler, and Zacheus.

There are those who will follow Jesus, learning deeply about the matters believers need to know and understand in order to demonstrate faith in Messiah. These followers will have the authority to heal others, teach about repentance and salvation, witness to the Holy Spirit, and generally communicate in authority about Jesus himself. However, there are those whose mission is not along this path. Rather, they have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, and they can bring others into faith and salvation simply by telling their story, without education, training, or any kind of qualifying authority. 

Application: I have a testimony, though sometimes I feel like it's pretty pedestrian. It isn't like I had cancer and suddenly didn't, or I was a drug addict in prison and suddenly was a gentle soul without cravings. In my case, I was a young person who had consciously decided that:

a) even if God existed, there was no benefit to caring or believing in him, and
b) old age looked so miserable that I actively decided to just live a life that would produce a younger death.

In the late 80s and early 90s, these two thoughts resulted in heavy drinking, an overall directionless attitude toward all aspects of life, and what I might now call some form of functional depression that made me constantly angry and sad and lonely while still being out and social and able to work.

Then God showed up! I prayed once, and he acted. I still know to this day that what happened in my life was of God, by God, and for me poured out from God's love. I still have the scars of those formative years ... I still drink too much, am not particularly healthy, fight to control my mental anger when in stressful situations, and find myself with what experts now call dysthymia. However, I have an amazing life, blessed far beyond anything I deserve, with a wonderful family.

I am not trained to be one of Jesus' special teachers. Maybe instead I should just be telling others my testimony. Would it resonate with young people today ... those wandering aimlessly, opting into self-destructive activities, all because they don't think there is any relevant God in the universe, let alone one who sees them and loves them? That may relate to many better today than stories of cancer survival.

Prayer: Lord, may I have the simple faith of the possessed man in the tombs, a man who understood very little about Jesus, but knew as fact that Jesus had redeemed him, and he was to tell others that story. Jesus, you redeemed me. I am here to tell others. Amen.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Synonyms and Antonyms for Wisdom

Scripture:
I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.
Proverbs 8:12

Observation: Wisdom describes herself. Among the words she uses are ... shrewdness, knowledge, discretion, understanding, strength, love, righteousness, and justice. In addition, she gives a shorter list of negative words that do not represent her ... evil, arrogance, and perversion.

For all these words, there is a clear understanding about how such words align to reality, and that alignment is through the fear of the Lord. It is the Lord who is the base understanding by which - for example - someone can determine the knowledge of a situation, or conversely the evil of an idea.

Application: The one synonym or antonym for God's wisdom that surprises me is ... shrewdness. This is a direct statement that the way someone manages their spending is a reflection of God's wisdom. Yes, of course there are repeated statements throughout scripture that fools spend money recklessly, get into debt, and overall make themselves poor through the mismanagement of money. However, "shrewd" as a bit of an 'Ebenezer Scrooge' connotation to it. That term is akin to miserly.

That said, the Lord certainly promotes caring for the poor and others within communities, and so this word certainly should not advise me to hoard money. Instead, it should have a more obvious guidance in my life, which is that I should not recklessly spend money.

My wife and I do this pretty well. We are not in debt, and we take purchasing decisions very seriously. On the other hand, we tend to randomly decide to go out to nice dinners often, or buy some items for our comfort that perhaps we don't especially need.

I often wish I had more of God's wisdom. I actually put this in the negative context, as in praying that I would not be prideful and arrogant, or that I would avoid common pitfalls of life. However, in the positive context, I could stand to be a bit more shrewd, and thus having addition resources to give to others.

Prayer: Lord, is there a time of hardship coming for my household? I pray your protection over us during these times when the future seems so uncertain. At the same time, may we be wise in how we interact with your great blessings in our lives, returning to you all we should and even more, with an understanding that we ourselves do, in fact, have plenty, a full measure, pressed down, and overflowing. Amen.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Still Using Evil for Good

Scripture: The angel of the Lord asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil." Numbers 22:23

Observation: When the angel of the Lord blocks Baalam and his donkey a third time, he presents himself and says these things to him. He is there to stop and kill Baalam, because Baalam's decision to go curse Israel is evil.

However, before this episode with the talking donkey occurs, Baalam had sought the Lord's guidance about going to curse Israel, and was allowed to proceed. Even now Baalam says he won't go, and the angel tells Baalam to proceed. The Lord is allowing Baalam to proceed with an action he deems evil because he will use it for good. It is true Baalam may not have had the ability or inclination to do what was right or was God's intended work on his own ... he certainly was proceeding to meeting King Balak because he wanted the reward ... but they Lord is going to use that to bless Israel and ensure Moab understands they have no chance of stopping Israel.

Application: As I was thinking yesterday, the Lord can and does absolutely use our evil human actions for his good. He can turn any situation into a chance to honor and glorify him.

I don't know the circumstances of the people at our church I am thinking about, but I know the Lord is doing a miraculous work through what might be a painful - some might say, evil - situation. I see it, as do others. I hope they will, too.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for your will. Yes, you are a God of miracles, and I see your miracle at work in this situation. You are doing something no one could have considered possible, by using an old pain for your purposes. Praise be to you, our Lord and our God. Amen.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Perceiving the Spiritual World

Scripture: Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. Luke 4:41

Observation: As Jesus casts out demons from people, they come out declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God. This is something they - demons - know for certain, that the human man standing before them is actually the son of God, who carries the authority of the Lord in him, and thus whom they must comply with when he orders them to depart. The demons know this not because they recognize the human Jesus, but because they recognize the spirit of the triune Lord.

Application: One of our greatest challenges as humans is certainly our inability to comprehend the spiritual reality. Demons looked at Jesus and saw ... a spiritual being whom they recognized as the co-creator of the universe, and who had within him the ultimate authority of that creator to speak orders to and command compliance from even creatures opposed to his will. These same creatures, and their leader, remain active all around us today, and we completely fail to see them. The Holy Spirit, who was active in Jesus and is now active in so many of us, is likewise everywhere giving us guidance and aid and instruction, and most have no idea he exists, and even the best of us struggle to recognize and interact with him.

We had a related conversation with my son the other day, warning him about how the spiritual evil in this world needs to be seen and acknowledged as active. While he is strong in faith, he tends to attribute the social issues of our world to the people participating in such behaviors. He doesn't perceive the attack of the enemy in the spiritual realm, and how it is so pervasive that it influences the thoughts - and thus the behaviors - of billions of people ... hundreds of millions to such a degree that they will completely overhaul everything about their physical lives to pursue the lies fed them from the spiritual realm, while simultaneously denying the very existence of good and evil spirits.

I wish more of us - especially believers who have some connection to the Holy Spirit, but everyone else too - understood the reality of the spiritual warfare in our world, and recognized it is the location of the true battle. The battle is not between Christians versus those who declare and pursue practices in conflict with the Lord. It is between the Lord God almighty and his beloved creation, versus satan and his demons who desire to undermine it all. If only we could perceive it as well as the enemy sees and understands our limited physical world.

Prayer: Lord, may you give us strength today in the war against the evil one. He is active, and he has a plan, but we know your plans are better, your ways are higher, and your words are true. May we serve you in this battler, and love everyone as you would have us do. Amen.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Responding to Evil with Worship

Scripture:
An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
Dread of God has no effect on him.
For with his flattering opinion of himself,
he does not discover and hate his iniquity.
Psalm 36:1-2

Observation: Accurately the psalmist describes a wicked person as this ... someone without any dread of God. Without the fear of the Lord - in fact, without any knowledge about the Lord or even belief in the Lord's authority or perhaps existence - all the wicked person has is his own opinions and thoughts. He exercises those thoughts, coming up with them all the time, and then goes off and does evil. Furthermore, without knowledge of God, he can't even know enough to hate his own actions.

Application: While verses 1-4 are consistent with other parts of scripture - that evil is rooted in a lack of fear in the Lord - what I love about this psalm is what comes next. After detailing how evil people act, verses 5-9 are ... a worship song!! In fact, Third Day made them a modern song I have referenced before.

And this is our proper response to understanding and acknowledging evil ... worship.

Yes, there are wicked people ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people plotting evil ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who ignore God ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who are ignorant even of their own transgressions and evil ways ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who speak with lies and hatred ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who will never reject evil ... we are to worship the Lord.

While we may have a mission to tell others about Jesus, we do NOT have a mission to condemn others. In some cases, there is nothing we can do. In all cases, the root of their issue is faith, and so telling them about Yahweh and Jesus is all we can do. We cannot correct behavior, thoughts, attitudes, or words.

Instead, we can properly direct our own behaviors, thoughts, attitudes, and words, and we can do that in worship of the love, faithfulness, righteousness, and judgment of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, may my words and behaviors honor you. Forgive my anger toward those who dishonor you, please, for my anger is not what you need or want. You want my heart, and to hear my praise. This I will do. Amen.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Thinking About the Next Phase

Scripture: Register men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting. Numbers 4:23

Observation: After registering all men in the other tribes age 20-60, the census of the Levites - to manage their service regarding the transportation of the tabernacle - is for men 30-50. These men will be expected to work, carrying large gold and bronze furniture, heavy leathers and fabrics, and cast posts and weights. There are plenty for the job so they can rotate regularly, however these individuals will need to have strength to do work, but also attentiveness to detail to avoid damage to the finer elements.

While fitness for battle had broader requirements, service specific to the tabernacle requires both a bit more mental maturity, and a bit more physical ability. The window for this is smaller, and caps out at 50.

Application: Perhaps I am reading too much into this, but ... there is a time in the church when men are considered "elders". This is not just the 'title' of some on a council, but a model of interaction between wiser men who can help others not with their physical effort, but with your advice, insights, memories, and inspiring words. It is possible I am now supposed to be one of those people.

That said, there is a different responsibility with that phase of church participation. I need to actively care about younger men, engage with them in conversation, and provide opportunity for them to seek advice, ask questions, hear memories, and receive encouragement. If this is my job, I need to make myself open and available to doing it, and not just be with older men, or isolated in the front row with my family. I need to be that man over age 50 who might not be right for physically managing God's property, but cares a lot about spiritually softening God's hearts in the men around me.

Prayer: Lord, I continue to mature in how I see others with your love and your eyes. I desire to be whatever man you wish for me to be within the body of Christ. Thy will be done. Amen.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Scope Beyond Understanding

Scripture: These were Levi’s sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These were the names of Gershon’s sons by their clans: Libni and Shimei. Kohath’s sons by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Merari’s sons by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans by their ancestral families. Numbers 3:17-20

Observation: As the census of the tribes continues, Levi is counted for their temple service. They are organized by clans. While their work and living arrangement will be organized based on the three sons of Levi, the clans themselves - which become named people-groups - are defined and named for Levi's grandsons. Descendents in those clans are now 'ites' so to speak ... Libnite clan, Shimeite clan, etc.

By organizing the clans this way - at the level of the great-grandsons of Jacob - the common ancestry of individuals across clans is now so far removed that we don't even know the modern term for it today ... third cousins? And even some of those would be 'half' related due to the multiple wives of Jacob. In modern times, such relationships often aren't traced or barely understood. Third cousins likely have never even heard of each other, let alone met.

Application: It is wonderous to consider how great Israel had grown as a people-group at the time the Lord redeemed them from Egypt. We are in the midst of counting them here. In total, there are 627,550 men ages 20-60 ... assume an equal number of women, plus those older and younger, and we're easily talking about 1.5 to 2 million people. The organization of the clans is another model demonstrating this large and complex structure of people, that they can be designated by ancestry not at their central source - Jacob/Israel - but at the level of his great grandsons.

I have relatives in Holland who are this far removed from myself ... our grandparents were brother and sister, and thus our 'common' ancestor is a great-grandparent. I know of one of them only through the internet, by name only. I would know we have common ancestry, but wouldn't even consider us really related. We have never met, never spoken, and live on almost opposite sides of the planet. That is just the one I know about. And our children have never even heard of each other. This is the first level of abstraction between the clans, who are of course actually another 3-4 generations removed from even this level at the time of leaving Egypt.

The scope of the Israelites and thus the "nation of priests" that the Lord redeemed is ... staggering in size and breadth. Due to the limits of human understanding, we see images of scenes like the exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, the encampment around the tabernacle, and we can only conceive it at a scale of several thousand. But this is a group of people with a population the number of modern-day Manhattan!! Their camp would be at least that size, which is so large that walking around it would take two days. Based on statistical models, in ~1,300 BC it is probably 2% of the entire world's population.

This isn't a camp, this is probably the single largest city on Earth, with a population exceeding most major cities even today. While still a camp in a desert, they have governance, physical living structure, social constructs, and economic models. THIS is what the Lord delivered, set into motion, organized, and demonstrated great and wonders signs to over and over again.

Prayer: Lord, even when we declare how great and amazing and wonderous you are, we still rarely "get" it. I am limited in my understanding, and cannot even fathom the size and complexity of what I just described, but with you both delivered and then organized using nothing but a shepherd talking to you face to face inside a nice tent. I can't even imagine it. So I say again today, you are amazing, wonderous, and almighty, though I know that even in my greatest thoughts about those grand statements, you are so very much more than that. Amen.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Faith and Wisdom in Context

Scripture: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. Luke 1:32-33

Observation: In explaining what will happen to Mary, Gabriel never says she will give birth to the 'Messiah'. Instead, he repeats the descriptions of Messiah as found in the prophets ... Mary's son will be great, he will be called the Son of God, and he will inherit the throne of David, from which he will reign over Israel forever.

These descriptions cannot be understood except in the context of the scriptures. There is no Davidic kingship. There is nothing to reign due to Roman occupation. And the very idea that one man can be king forever is, of course, unimaginable. In other words, in any normal context, the words of Gabriel are difficult to comprehend at best, and perhaps nonsensical. However, Mary has knowledge of the scriptures, and wisdom in her faith. She immediately understands the application of these descriptions, and the implication that she will give birth to the Messiah.

It is this application of her faith that is evidence of Mary's worthiness for this call. She doesn't just respond obediently to instructions, but she understands the implications, too.

Application: I am often hoping for clarity from the Lord. Would I understand instructions if they were given to me? Do I have faith in the Lord, and wisdom about his word, to apply the guidance he would give me and know how to respond?

This is unanswerable, for if the Lord wanted to confuse me he could, or if he wanted to speak plainly he could. What I do know is that the Lord will often speak in the same language he always has, meaning his word comes from his word, the bible. As I spend time learning his word, I am more likely to have the context to understand his future words.

Prayer: Lord, Mary is an example for me when she responds so faithfully to your call on her life. I continue to wonder about mine, knowing I have likely failed to respond to your call several times, when I was young enough to actually pursue a meaningful life. I look forward to still having small things to do for you. May I respond to your words with faith and wisdom. Amen.

Monday, March 13, 2023

On this Desert Road

Are you sure this is the plan that you have for me?

God, if there's a bigger picture, it's getting hard to see today.

I don't know where this is going, but I know who holds my hand! It's not the path I would have chosen, but I'll follow you till the end.


Friday, March 10, 2023

Careful Not to Be a Priest

Scripture: The Lord spoke to Moses: "Tell Aaron and his sons to deal respectfully with the holy offerings of the Israelites that they have consecrated to me, so they do not profane my holy name; I am the Lord." Leviticus 22:1-2

Observation: Throughout this section of Leviticus, God outlines special provisions for the priests, the descendants of Aaron who will be part of the special lineage of Levi and thus be the ones who present offerings, organize the special items within the holy of holies, and generally "run things" in the tabernacle and temple. Not only do they have special jobs to do, but they have unique rules for everything from who may eat their provision of the food, to whom they may marry, to how they care for their hair.

Jesus "fulfilled" the law. In his time, the priests were still set apart as special people for special tasks, and through that designation received special honor among the people. If the priests understood that the Messiah was someone who would disrupt the priesthood - either by abolishing it, or by becoming THE 'high priest' or even 'the high priest in the order of Melchizedek' - then this would certainly motivate their opposition to someone claiming to be Messiah.

However, I wonder how much of the priestly laws they were really observing at the time. It is already clear how often the Jews observed extreme implementations of some laws, while ignoring others, and certainly ignoring their purpose of the heart of the Lord within the law. How true was this of priests? In the gospels, we see the high priest up at night angry, interacting with Pilot, lying about Jesus, and attending the crucifixion. At best these seem to imply that he is walking close to the line on several of the behaviors ... nearing the point of dishevelment and uncleanliness, while purporting to defend the people from blaspheme (which, by the way, I don't think is in the law as the function of the high priest).

Application: The high priest may have been defending his livelihood, but he was also following some learned tradition of the law. However, over 1,200 years had passed since the writing of the law, and as time passed strict adherence would have been difficult (I mean ... the priest's family can't eat 10 percent of EVERYTHING sacrificed by a nation of people). The instructions would morph over time.

We are now 2,000 years after Jesus. How much have we morphed the word and instructions of Jesus? Should we have done so? How much have we changed his true words in order to accommodate reasonable changes in structures over time, and how much have we changed his true words in order to accommodate our own desires for ... ambiguity, comfort, and pleasure that are available in a different age?

Did the priests behave as they did because they wanted to twist the law in a manner that incorporated new, worldly values and opportunities?

Do we behave as we do because we want to twist the teaching of Jesus in a manner that incorporates new, worldly values and opportunities?

All of us, myself included, need to be careful not to become priests ... people who obey some version of "instruction" that we think is close to what God told us to do, with reasonable accommodations for new world orders and structures, but that fail to align to God's heart. The answer to all of this is understanding the heart of the Lord. Jesus himself pointed out that the Lord desires mercy, not sacrifice. We know that no amount of sacrifice accomplishes what the Lord really wants us to do ... seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with him.

Prayer: Lord, may I be obedient today to exactly this, your heart, today and every day. May I truly love justice and mercy, seeking them in the world, being your instrument in providing them to others when and where you have me, and may I know how to do that because I am walking with you, head bowed, at all times. Amen.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Misplacing One's Fear

Scripture: Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death. Mark 14:63-64

Observation: Jesus refuses to answer any and every false charge or twisting of his words, but he answers the one question that reveals the truth ... he states he is the Messiah. This truth is the charge for which the Sanhedrin "condemned him [Jesus] as deserving death". However, despite the fact that the law of Moses prescribed how the Jews can and should execute such judgment, the Sanhedrin ... doesn't do it. They instead will take Jesus to the Roman authorities. Yes, he will be crucified, but his death will not be carried out by the Jews.

In other words, the Jewish authorities are zealous in their compliance with the law, to the point that they declare a death sentence upon the Messiah himself, yet they then ... fail to comply with the law. They do both of these acts out of misplaced fear. They fear human authority - in the form of Roman rule - and thus will not act as prescribed by the law due to the fact they yield to the idea that only Roman authority may carry out an execution. However, they do not fear the Lord's authority - in the form of the law and the prophets - and thus ignore the fact that Jesus has fulfilled all Messianic prophesy, has rightly shown himself to be the very son of God, and even when they don't believe it they are willing to ignore SEVERAL laws about charges (to be in writing), trials (to occur only during daytime), and punishment (to be a public act of the Jewish community) ... just to name the ones I know off the top of my head.

Application: This idea of misplaced fear - explicitly, fearing 'the world' above fearing God - is at the heart of so much anxiety for most people, including myself. If I truly placed my values only in the things of God, then there would be so little I would actually get stressed out about in life. I would only worry about how to make God pleased, and to keep my thoughts and deeds aligned to his good instructions. I would never worry about work, societal conflicts, politics, or all the other matters that completely permeate American life and culture today.

I am getting better. I am less concerned with status than I used to be. I am less worried about many earthly ideas of value. I do still wish for stability around earthly work, though in my heart I do trust in the Lord in that matter. Perhaps how I 'fear' worldly constructs has diminished, but it is time to elevate my 'fear' of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, while I trust in you for my earthly needs, may I also elevate my faith and fear of you when it comes to defining my earthly activities and thoughts. I do desire to live the great life you would teach me to live. May I fear you more every day. Amen.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Comfort in God's Justice

Scripture:
Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them be quiet in Sheol.
Let lying lips
that arrogantly speak against the righteous
in proud contempt be silenced.
Psalm 31:17-18

Observation: As the psalmist discusses the attacks that come from his enemies, he calls on the Lord for ... retribution against these enemies. He wishes that they will be disgraced. He points out that their attacks are not just lies, but are arrogant lies spoken against the Lord himself, and therefore explicitly wishes they will be silenced by being sent to hell.

Application: Yes, we are to forgive those who wrong us. However, there is a significant gap between ME forgiving someone and letting go of such wrongs, and God deciding not to judge them for acts for which they do not seek forgiveness. Especially in situations where such individuals - in their arrogance and pride and contempt, which certainly also means out of a total lack of fear in the Lord - speak out against the Lord's righteous and thus the prescribed way of living ... anticipating eternal punishment of such individuals is normal.

I take comfort in this.

Prayer: Lord, you are wise and merciful and loving and just. I know that all four of these attributes are true of you, and I take comfort in all of them. Thank you for revealing and explaining yourself to us in ways that comfort and heal us. Amen.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

When Midnight Might Be

Scripture: It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. Mark 13:34-35

Observation: Jesus tells his disciples to be steadfast in doing the work of the Lord by using a parable of a master who goes on a journey. The servants must remain active and vigilant or else they may be sleeping or failing at their work when the master returns, and the return is at an unknown time. However, Jesus gives examples in the parable of when the return could be ... evening, midnight, pre-dawn, or early morning.

It is interesting that none of the potential return times are ... during the day. Jesus doesn't say that the master might return at midday, or in the afternoon, or at mealtime. The return doesn't occur during the productive working hours, nor during any time of good daylight. These are times where the servants would certainly be prepared. They would be working, doing their daily chores, and if they happened to slack off for a moment they would be able to see the master coming due to the good light of the day, and resume their work.

Every day has times when it is good and natural to be doing work, and other times when it is easier to slack off, to relax, to rest with some wine or other pleasurable leisure, and to not be doing any work. Likewise, in waiting for Jesus, there are times when we are alert to the signs around us, active in the Lord's work, and there are times when we are more likely to be at rest and not being particularly diligent about the great commission. These are the times that those who await the return of Jesus need to be extra alert.

Application: As just yesterday I hoped for Jesus' return, today I am reminded that not only can we not know when it will come, but it likely will occur at a time when we don't particularly expect it. When we think we see all the signs ... that's because they are all well-illuminated by the midday sun, and we are actively working to live properly within the context of those signs. Yes, Jesus might then come, but he would find us well-engaged in his work.

However, there will come a time in the future when the economy stabilizes, wars die down, angry rhetoric subsides, some kind of moral order is (at least partially) restored, and Christians will say 'okay, we can relax a bit and enjoy just resting in God's love'. That sounds like evening and midnight, when the master could suddenly arrive and we would not be working, and we would not see him on the horizon.

I hope I can be alert at all times. I hope further, however, that I don't necessarily need to be especially alert, as I would simply be doing the Lord's work anyway when he arrives.

Prayer: Lord, you have given us your work to do, and you show us your work and join in it with us. May I serve you better every day, and may I serve you all my days. I wish I can find your work in my earthly role, for I know you have placed me here for your purpose. I do look for your return. Amen.

Monday, March 6, 2023

Identifying 'These Things'

Scripture: While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" Mark 13:3-4

Observation: Jesus has predicted the destruction of the Temple, and the disciples ask when "these things" will be occur. Jesus will go on with a litany of non-specific events, which he even says are just the beginning of chaos. Then he discusses specific items with vague language as signs of more immanent danger, before finally transitioning his explanation to an image of how he will return.

It is all very confusing with certainly a non-specific response. However, the disciples asked a more specific question ... they asked about when "these things" will happen. Immediately before this, Jesus spoke of the destruction of the Temple. We know that occurred in 70 AD. That is only about 35 years after when Jesus is speaking, and thus withing 'a generation' and aligning to v30.

But where did the rest of "these things" come from? How did Jesus pivot into end-times prophesy. And ... did he even do that, or were all these things actually just reference to the near-future Roman destruction of Judea, sacking of Jerusalem, and scattering of Jews? Certainly many of these things align ... Romans in the temple burning it down would mandate that all flee quickly; This was a nation/kingdom rising against another nation/kingdom; Those seeking to survive would turn against their own families; Those who didn't believe in Jesus as Messiah were still looking for another Messiah to rise up and overthrow Rome; Verses 24-27 could be metaphorical to show that the promised land is again evacuated and removed from the Jews for a long, long time (it would be almost 1,900 years) and that issue must be resolved before Jesus' return.

But that isn't how this chapter is usually read. Most believe this is all about end-time prophesy. That doesn't make total sense. Yet this could be another example of where the scriptures are able to relate to multiple events - events that are both different yet indeed possess a foreshadowing relationship. God does this over and over in scripture, so certainly Jesus can respond to a request with the same skill.

Application: If I had to tell someone, I would say this entire passage from Jesus falls into the prophesy category of "both soon and later". I would say this referred to the Roman situation the Jews were in, and that the violent resolution of that situation is a kind of earthly foreshadowing of the future spiritual conflicts that will precipitate the 'second coming'. I do think we are in this second cycle now ... that there is enough parallels in the words of Jesus and current earthly events to make a logical connection. However, that doesn't mean it will happen in my lifetime.

I hope to see the second coming, yet I would have trepidation of living in the worst of the end times if all the interpretations of such a time is accurate. I am certainly not sure. However, I do believe that Jesus will come again, and I believe the issues of our current time involve spiritual warfare waged by satan against God and his creation. It would be nice to have it all end.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Friday, March 3, 2023

I’ll Fight on My Knees

So when I fight I’ll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high.
Every fear I'll lay at your feet.
I'll sing through the night,
Oh God the battle belongs to You.


Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Stop Judging One's Self

Scripture: If someone sins and without knowing it violates any of the Lord’s commands concerning anything prohibited, he is guilty, and he will bear his iniquity. He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a guilt offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he is indeed guilty before the Lord. Leviticus 5:17-19

Observation: In the ongoing instructions about sin and guilt offerings, the Lord defines the what to do when someone sins and does not know it. This is not the sin offering, it is the guilt offering. Though he didn't even know what he did - he committed the error unintentionally - the sinner is "indeed guilty before the Lord".

This has nothing to do with the person judging themself and discovering they have sinned. It has nothing to do with any feeling of internal guilt over having done something wrong. Someone doesn't give a guilt offering when they believe they are guilty ... they give a guilt offering when they are guilty before the Lord. The Lord determines guilt, not one's own conscience.

Application: This is an interesting insight into the judgment authority of the Lord. His judgment is of course paramount, and I have been taught this lesson which I struggle with daily ... I am not to judge others ever. However, this lesson is new ... I am not the authority to judge myself. I may come to a realization of my guilt based on God's guidance. I may understand my guilt based on the words and instructions of God and Jesus and how my actions align to such teaching. However, the authority to judge me is God's alone.

There are many things I know I do wrong, and many times I know I sin. However, there are items I still carry in my heart and wonder about. I know the Lord has forgiven me entirely and completely, and even shown me that I am blameless in his eyes with regards to these old items, and yet I wonder if I could have done better ... been nicer ... acted differently. The Lord says only he can judge me, and so my own opinion and thoughts on this matter are beyond pointless ... they are wrong, as they represent me attempting to usurp the Lord's authority in my life.

I submit to the Lord's judgment. When I do something wrong, I feel guilty and desire to repent. I will no longer try to further judge myself when he has already decided the matters of my past.

Prayer: Lord, you judgment is in fact comfort for me, for I know not only do you love me, but that Jesus has absolved me through my faith in him as your son. I do submit to you entirely, my Lord and my God. Amen.