Rejecting the Written Truth

Scripture: Ahaziah had fallen through the latticed window of his upstairs room in Samaria and was injured. So he sent messengers, instructing them, “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.” 2 Kings 1:2

Observation: Ahab has finally died, and now Ahaziah is injured and wants to know if he will live. He sends the messenger to inquire of Baal-zebub, but instead Yahweh responds when Elijah intercepts the messenger and says that no, Ahaziah will die.

Baal-zebub means "lord of the flies". The outline of the modern novel by that same name is as follows:

-- Boys are stranded on an island.

-- Their only task is to keep a fire burning to signal rescue.

-- One other boy rebels, extinguishes the fire, and their camp divides into two.

-- The second camp begins worshiping a "beast" that doesn't actually exist.

-- Violence ensues when the second camp decides to kill the others.

-- As they totally destroy the island by fire, a man arrives to save them.

Obviously, the modern novel borrowed heavily from Israel and the divided kingdom. This is what has happened ... the northern kingdom divided away the Lord's priestly nation, rejected the burnt offerings done in the temple in favor of idols, worship completely false and non-existent gods, and respond to correction and wisdom from prophets with violence. Soon, their nation will be burned down and destroyed, and they'll have to wait for the one man - Jesus - to eventually come save everyone.

This is a book almost universally taught in schools still. It seems everyone has read it, and it has been made into movies multiple times. Literary critics and analysts describe it as a commentary on the animalistic tendencies of base human character, the lust for power, and a warning of how societal differences devolve into violence. Yet I have never, ever once heard it described as a modern fictional account of the divided kingdom of Israel, which is almost too obviously what it is.

Application: I was thinking of this the other day when I looked up information about biblical places and read the Wikipedia articles about them. The tone on information sites has changed. It used to be "this is in the bible, this is what the bible says, and this is other information from other historical or scientific sources." Then it was "this is in the bible, this is what the bible says, this is other information that other historical or scientific sources say, and we are actively editorializing about if and how these sources don't exactly align." Now the general tone is "this is factual information; there is also information in the bible but that's fictional so doesn't matter, and we are editorializing to tell that when the bible matches the facts it is only because the author of bible fiction borrowed from the facts." This isn't always quite this obvious, but it's there. Even for somethings as "factual" as mountains ... named in the bible, surrounded by events, that online sources then describe as "this is the mountain, its name comes from a story in the bible, but even though the bible says certain things occurred here there's no evidence of it so clearly that's a lie."

This is the reality we face ... the world rejects the written truth about - and from - the true Lord. The world rejects the bible. Even when the world studies biblical topics, it ignores and rejects the information, and therefore misses the lessons and the wisdom of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I know only one true and reliable source of truth in this world, and it is your word. I cling to you as my only source of absolute truth. May I be strong enough in the spirit today to be in your word, relying on your direction, instruction, and correction. Please, send your Holy Spirit to help me, for I am too weak on my own. Amen.

The Original 'Hail Mary'

Scripture: Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." Acts 17:22-23

Observation: Paul begins his speech at Mars Hill this way. It is well-known that he called out this 'unknown god' alter and used it to then tell them about Yahweh and Jesus, effectively saying that they already do worship Yahweh but just don't know him. However, there is another interpretation, which is that the people of Athens - while being "religious" - are so desperate for help from any 'god' that they will even pray to empty and nameless nothingness in the hope that something might happen. It's a very literal "a hope and a prayer" action, or the original "Hail Mary".

It is this that Paul is then addressing with the Athenians ... hope. They have hope, in fact they have so much hope that it overflows into undirected vagueness. However, this means that they have hope for something, but they don't know to whom they should take their hopes and turn them into trusted help. Therefore, what the Athenians do in ignorance, Paul can now proclaim to them in a concrete manner so their hope can be realized through faith in Jesus.

Application: This remains the great truth of Jesus ... those who are lost and hurting, who wander through life in sadness and despair, who yearn for meaning and understanding about life ... they have undirected hope, but Jesus now gives them the Messiah to give their hopes to, and who will return to them trusted help and answers and comfort and direction and joy.

Paul was able to take a concept of nothingness and use it to speak to philosophers about faith, hope, and love. Still today, people are in their own minds as their own philosophers, and they still wonder about the nature of faith, hope, and love. May we find elements of the world that are already all around them and have the wisdom to introduce Jesus to them by those simple things.

Prayer: Lord, you are our wisdom, and you are our hope. May I and all of us have opportunities to tell others of the hope found in Jesus, and may your wisdom alone guide our words. Amen.

Setting the Stage for the Pit

Scripture: When these troops heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king, then all Israel made Omri, the army commander, king over Israel that very day in the camp. Omri along with all Israel marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. 1 Kings 16:16-17

Observation: The kingship of Omri is ominous and immediately different from the other kings of Israel. It begins with this rapid military coup ... Zimri kills Elah and every single male of the king's entire household, but is king only seven days before Omri arrives. Then the people of Israel actually support Tibni as the next king, but during a four-year fight Omri wins.

Omri is declared to be just as bad as the preceding kings, however the Lord doesn't curse him because Omri is just the precursor, setting the stage for the real terror. First, Omri purchases land and builds a new capital - Samaria - which will become the name of the entire land, eventually becoming the name of the quasi-Jewish people group that occupy the place a millennia later. However, more than that, Omri will be the father of Ahab, the king that deep-dives into baal worship and requiring Elijah to be raised up to confront him.

To summarize ... Omri takes the throne by military coup and civil war, rebrands the entire nation into a model that will become synonymous with questionable faith and worship practices, and raises one of the most evil men in history to succeed him.

We have now seen several kings of the northern kingdom who are declared to be taking Israel into sin and thus a prophet is sent to curse them ... they will have their entire line cut off and killed, and their sons will not hold the throne. Omri does exactly as they have done - even worse (v16:25) - and does NOT get this curse because his son WILL become king. The Lord has seen where Israel is going, and instead of continuing the same warnings and action to reverse them, he will now allow them to go 'all the way' into the pit of sin. It will be a pit from which the northern kingdom never returns.

Application: Obviously, what happens to Israel is not because the Lord "gives up" on them or decides he doesn't love them. Instead, he just decides to allow them - as his beloved humans - to exercise their free will, just as he always does. There will be many who remain loyal to the Lord throughout this. In the next chapters Elijah, Obadiah, and the 100 hidden prophets are all given as examples, and certainly there are thousands more. However, Israel as a nation is going down.

I hate to belabor this and dwell on this, for it is not probably healthy for my heart and mind, but I am just waiting for the obvious signs that this is what the Lord is doing with the Pacific Northwest. I feel it, but I'm not complete sure ... that he has just had enough and is giving us over to our collective free will, to go down to the pit, never to return. And there are thousands of us here holding onto the Lord for sure. We aren't yet hiding, but our loud-and-proud moments are drowned out and attacked both individually and collectively. We don't even have a prophet telling the local 'kings' how messed up they are, pointing out that the plagues of this area (rampant homelessness, emergency-level drug use, deteriorating infrastructure) are curses upon the land.

So no, our modern-day Ahab isn't yet here, but maybe ... maybe ... the stage is being set right now.

Prayer: Lord, clearly this is on my mind and my heart these last few days. I do continue to pray for our town, our city, and our region. May we find a way back from the sinful direction we are headed, and may revival break out miraculously across this entire area. However, if that is not to be, and if you are now preparing this place for the real downfall, please care for your faithful here. May the ravens aid us. May we find safety. And may we be strong enough to declare your word even in the face of danger. Amen.

Awaiting Future Public Oppression

Scripture: The jailer reported these words to Paul: "The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out." Acts 16:36-37

Observation: Paul and Silas have just successfully evangelized to "Europeans" for the very first time in history, and while staying there to raise up the church they cast a 'spirit' out of a slave girl, whose owners have them publicly beaten. The officials know they have done wrong and attempt to convince Paul and Silas to simply leave, but they refuse to go in secret since they were punished publicly. The officials will, in fact, yield, fearful because Paul and Silas are Roman citizens with rights, and do in fact publicly release them.

The question must be, why did the city officials violate Roman rights and beat/imprison Paul and Silas without trial? And the answer must be ... because the issue in question was about commerce and money. The public charge against them was that their teachings were opposed to Roman "customs", but this accusation wasn't made in a government or court setting, but in the marketplace. It was, in fact, to the marketplace where the accusers "dragged" them (v19), and Philippi actually had a very impressive forum-style market given its size. Furthermore, the 'real' issue is money related, as casting out the spirit from the slave girl has impacted the revenue stream for her owners.

This perspective is reenforced by the nature of Philippi itself. It is a city exceptionally rich for its size due to local mining. It is considered the most important city in the region or Macedonia, though it is not the capital, and it included a large theater for both shows and games ... leisure activities. In general, it is assumed that people here lived far better than in most places in the Roman empire. Therefore, acts that disrupt commercial operations likely are viewed as a higher 'crime' than acts like speaking about worship practices or just violating Roman "customs".

Of course Paul and Silas are brave in their public acts. However, they were also brave in setting an example, and in this case the example was that their preaching was not illegal, and therefore the people of Philippi needed to see they were released and forgiven for it, instead of just being punished. This was necessary to give the new church security.

Application: As I write this, I see parallels between Philippi and Seattle. Both are cities where residents have far more wealth than is average. Both are the major economic centers of their regions. Both are not the capitals. And both have values that ignore the larger laws of their countries and instead place greater importance on a local cultural system of behavior and life. And yes, that is the only way to characterize Seattle. This is a place that has 'legalized' so many problematic issues, refuses to enforce property crime laws, funds infrastructure to assist in the use of illegal drugs, and promotes violent protests against the central rulers of the land.

When the time comes ... when Christians are publicly oppressed and our basic actions are unjustly punished by government leaders, then those leaders ask us to simply go away ... will we have the courage to demand public acknowledgment of the evil that caused the oppression? Or will we just leave?

Prayer: Lord, despite the fact I am not as active as I should be in the church, we are still here. We are angry that others don't come to help, but we haven't left. You know better than I, of course, that the oppression has begun, and it will become worse, and it will eventually become violent, and it will eventually become endorsed by the local government. May we have the strength of Paul and Silas to continue to sing in the midst of it. Amen.

Death is Not a Punishment

Scripture: As for you, get up and go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the boy will die. All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He alone out of Jeroboam’s house will be given a proper burial because out of the house of Jeroboam something favorable to the Lord God of Israel was found in him. 1 Kings 14:12-13

Observation: Jeroboam - the first king of the northern kingdom - has committed all the sins against the Lord, installing idols and new self-serving festivals. The Lord declares he will destroy his entire family, including his sickly son. However, this is part of the prophesy about how Jeroboam's family will be destroyed ... this son will not die of violence or retribution from the Lord like the rest of the family, but instead he will die now as a result of his illness, and receive both a proper burial and honored, nationwide mourning, because he alone if the family has been found favorable to the Lord.

This is the manner in which the "good" son (in the eyes of the Lord) will be treated ... he will die immediately yet painlessly. It isn't that he will be the one who inherits the kingship. It isn't even that he will be allowed to live. No, the punishment against Jeroboam must be total and complete, so instead this young boy will die mercifully. Again, this is his reward for having "something favorable" about himself in the eyes of the Lord ... an easy and young death, without facing violence, war, rebellion, or betrayal.

Application: This is what I expect to happen in our day ... the Lord will see something favorable in many Christians, and as a result we will die easier deaths and not face the terrible times ahead. I'm not sure if this aligns to concepts like the 'rapture' and the 'tribulation' in my mind, or if there are simply times ahead when the earth continued to devolve into evil and somehow Christians will be removed from the scene before this happens.

In this, I am reminded that death is not a punishment. When prepared through faith in Jesus, death is the ending of life on earth and the beginning of life with the Lord. Furthermore, being on the side of the Lord does not give someone the ability to escape the outcome decried by the Lord against a people-group, but may change the pain and suffering associated with that outcome on earth.

Prayer: Lord, you know that my wife and I discussed the upcoming Independence Day holiday, and how it feels different this year for a variety of reasons. I am unsure what you plan to do about our nation, and about the radical path of many to abandon your teaching, but whatever it is, please have mercy upon your Church. If we cannot be spared from your actions, may we come to you with less hardship and pain. Amen.

Judging One's Self Unworthy

Scripture: Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles." Acts 13:46

Observation: Paul and Barnabas continue to tell the good news in Antioch. At first many Jews receive the truth about Jesus as Messiah, but then Jewish leaders become jealous of their popularity and argue against them. It is to this action that Paul and Barnabas reply, and the nature of their reply is telling.

There is a judgment against the resistant Jews, however it is not Paul and Barnabas doing the judging. It is not Yahweh or Jesus doing the judging. It is not even a debate about the truth that is revealing judgment against them. Instead, the Jews are judging themselves, and declaring themselves unworthy of salvation.

Truly this is the issue Paul and Barnabas are addressing ... they are speaking the truth, straight out of scripture, identifying alignment between Jesus and the promised Messiah, and thus the fulfillment of salvation and thus eternal life through faith in the promise, and the Jews are declaring this false. This goes beyond a lack of faith, but rather they are contradicting and therefore rejecting God's Messianic covenant promise. And if a person rejects the validity of that entire covenant, they are well and truly declaring themselves unworthy of receiving the resulting promise.

Application: In this way, the challenge in our lost world - and especially in our lost corner of the U.S. - is not an issue of 'faith in Jesus as Messiah'. Rather, it is the broad rejection of the entire covenant promise of the Lord. However, beyond that, I am a little 'haunted' by this characterization of the condition by Paul and Barnabas ...

Such people judge themselves unworthy.

This is so alarmingly accurate. Over and over, we see people who have fully rejected the Lord and embraced crazy, radical ideals that run opposed to biblical teaching, and over and over we know they have a root-cause issue involving personal pain and suffering, which has left them in a state where they are seeking value and esteem in all the wrong places. They are judging themselves unworthy - and yes, probably because they have been hurt by the world - and turn to the wrong things to find their self-worth and "identity". Just like the Jewish leaders, they decide they want some form of 'attention' from people, instead of the promised love of the Lord.

They declare that, by pursuing this attention, they are fighting against all the forces that have made them feel unworthy. However, the truth is, they are embracing that unworthiness and then seeking value in lesser, worldly places. They do not turn to the loving creator of the universe, to the point that they reject all truth about him, and in their self-judged unworthiness they opt out of his promises. That is a tragedy.

Prayer: Lord, you are the loving father of everyone. Somehow, Lord, may we find a way to serve you by revealing to others that they are worthy of the very best love in the universe, and not just some form of earthly attention. Amen.

What's in the Act of Naming

Scripture: He set up the pillars at the portico of the sanctuary: he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin; then he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz. 1 Kings 7:21

Observation: After constructing the rest of the temple, Solomon commissions two great pillars ... between the pillars and their capital on top they are both 34.5 feet tall, and made of solid bronze. And then he names them. One is named "he will establish" and the other "in him is strength".

The Jews have a way of naming places after historical characteristics of either some land feature or of an event that occurred there, but they do not typically name things. Throughout the time constructing objects to honor the Lord, they call things by their function and design, but do not give them formal names. The ark, the tabernacle, the wash basin, the alter, the ephod, the temple, the giant cherub, the lampstands, the table of incense, and the table of the bread of presence ... none of these are named. Even the Lord himself has an unspoken name, and names they call him are typically adjectives of his character. This makes the naming of these bonze pillars interesting not only in their meaning, but also in the logic of why it was done.

And in fact, there is ONE object representative of the Lord that has a name. It is the bronze snake made by Moses - Nehushtan - that is lifted up on a staff during a plague of snakes in the wilderness, so that anyone who looked upon the snake would not die from poison. What we know about this event is that it is foreshadowing of Messiah. The Jews are sinning, which brings with it earthly pain and death. However, the embodiment of Messiah is lifted up on a wooden pole, and anyone who looks upon and trusts in that Messiah is redeemed from sin and saved from death.

As for Solomon's pillars, "he will establish" is future tense, and "in him is strength" implies a dependency for salvation. Is it possible that Solomon named the pillars because, while the entire temple was built as the resting the place for the Lord, the pillars represent the Lord's redemptive covenant, which is to be fulfilled by Jesus?

Application: It is possible that my ol' English Lit analytics have kicked in, and I'm connecting dots that don't exist. However, I have also learned that everything in the Old Testament has a connection to the New Testament, so it makes sense to wonder about the random naming of these two objects - and nothing else - during the temple construction.

The Lord has in fact established his kingdom through Jesus. The Lord has in fact placed the strength of salvation in Jesus. It is by that strength, while striving to live in his kingdom, that we can have salvation from sin and death by simple faith in Jesus and adoption into the Messianic promise.

Prayer: Abba, my wonderful daddy, you are great and your name is great. There is no name above you, and no name worthy of you, which is why we simply honor you without the need for named symbols. May your kingdom truly come to the earth and all around us, this day and every day, and may I find ways to live into your kingdom values and teachings today. As you have declared in heaven, may we find ways to do and accomplish and serve your will on earth. Please give me what I need this day, and especially forgive the sins I commit. I have been baptized in the name of Jesus, but I walk in a fallen world as a weak man, so I need my feet washed every day. May your ways be near to me, and thus may evil remain far away from my home and my family. You are my master and my God, Jesus is my Lord and my savior, and the Holy Spirit is my ally and strength. Amen.

Absolutely, Positively, Without a Doubt

Arrows flying, devil’s trying
To make me think I’m going down this time.
You might think that I’d be afraid,
Running scared with a shaken faith,
But the God I know says it ain’t over.
The God I know is gonna make a way.

God's over my life, so I will have ... No Fear!!!

Returning to Reliance in the Garden

Scripture: "So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?" Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 1 Kings 3:9-10

Observation: Once Solomon has carried out the instructions his father David gave him in order to secure the kingship, the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him whatever he wants. Solomon famously asked for 'wisdom' ... actually (and I think I've covered this before) he never says 'wisdom', but asks for discernment. To be even more accurate, Solomon asks for a "receptive heart" that will enable him to "discern between good and evil" so he can govern and judge well. This pleases the Lord and he proceeds to give Solomon riches, power, peace, and success in all he does, especially in building the temple.

However, this request and the Lord's response must be juxtaposed against Adam and Eve's original sin in Genesis 3. They eat from the tree of 'the knowledge of good and evil', and their sin is that they chose to seek that knowledge and thus to be able to judge between good and evil. The difference here is reliance upon the Lord.

Adam and Eve sought the ability to judge between good and evil based on their own minds ... to decide for themselves instead of relying upon the Lord's guidance. Solomon is actually seeking the EXACT opposite. He declares he is unable to judge for himself and lacks experience, so he asks for a "receptive heart" ... for the character and ability to not make decisions for himself, but rather to listen to the Lord ... and that the Lord would then speak to him in matters of discernment between good and evil. In other words, Solomon's request is to return to the ways of the garden and rely on the Lord in matters of good and evil instead of relying upon his own understanding.

Application: "Original sin" is called to my mind over and over. I have that sin in my heart. Every day I consider what I should do, thinking only with my own mind and applying my experience to act as I decide, instead of relying upon the Lord alone for guidance and wisdom and discernment. However, the worst part of our society - of the 'human condition' if you will - is that this is now our collective nature. We judge between good and evil without reliance upon the Lord, and we are moving away from that reliance more and more every day.

How could we collectively return to the garden? It would be great if we at least began moving that direction, if more people would turn to the Lord and to scriptures for truth and wisdom. It would be wonderful if our collective discernment involved reliance upon the Lord's perfect will.

That is a huge component of the Lord's kingdom, which won't fully come until Jesus returns. However, I can personally and consciously return to the garden and rely more and more upon the Lord in all matters, every day.

Prayer: Lord, again today I pray this, may I seek your will and wisdom on all matters. As Solomon asked, please, oh Lord, give me a receptive heart to discern between good and evil, based on your will alone, guided by the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Deceit in the Who, Where, When, and How

Scripture: Adonijah sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king, but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the royal guard, or his brother Solomon. 1 Kings 1:9-10

Observation: Adonijah is conducting a coup to claim kingship of Israel. While by birth he has a valid claim, it is known that Solomon is the heir named by David. The logistics of what he does to conduct this coup is quite telling.

First, Adonijah includes many of the visible leaders of Israel, including Joab the military commander, and Abiathar who was David's personal priest. However, he excludes the leaders who are closest to God, Nathan the prophet, Zadok the high priest, and Benaiah who is one of David's "mighty men" and whose father's name (Jehoiada) means "Yahweh knows". In this manner, he includes those who have earthly influence, but excludes those who would look to the Lord for their proper direction.

Second, Adonijah unifies his support at a feast "near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel." This location is interesting for what it is and is not. It is not inside Jerusalem, and it is not central and obvious to others ... in fact, it must be concealed as it was used as a hiding place by David's spies during Absolom's rebellion. It is in a place with some significance as the well, being the designated boundary marker between Judah and Benjamin, but the fact there is a 'named' stone in the Kidron Valley also illudes to the idea that it may be a place of Canaanite worship. In other words, at best this is a place hidden to the population of Jerusalem.

Third, Adonijah conducts this act while David is still alive, but is so weakened that he is bedridden. If he had attempted this while David was still strong, he knows David would publicly oppose and likely kill him. If he waits until David is dead, then the people will question David's true intent. By doing this now, it perfectly implies David's consent, excludes the possibility of David's public objection, and thus will be viewed as David's will by the rest of Israel. Adonijah has chosen his timing well.

Fourth, Adonijah solidifies his coup through sacrifices and a resulting feast. The feast of course implies that he is bestowing rich favor on his supporters. However, by doing this via a sacrificial process implies Yahweh's blessing ... and the Lord has rules, all of which Adonijah is ignoring. This sacrifice is not being done on the Lord's alter, by a priest, following neither the sacrificial procedures nor the prescribed purposes for offerings.

To pursue his agenda to become king, Adonijah has exercised worldly logic. He has included influential people, gathered them at a place of significance, planned the timing to perfectly align with circumstances, and unified all in a grand ceremony. However, in all of this, he excluded the Lord, even violating the Lord's laws and precepts and instructions, and it is the Lord who decides and defines the kingship of Israel.

Application: Those who wish to control, manipulate, and deceive will use worldly structures to make worldly plans, then execute on those plans using worldly authority. This defines the politics of our day, where all who participate in such debates are driven by worldly logic, and almost never rely on any sort of authority derived from the Lord. Even "moral" arguments involve worldly logic that is built upon itself, and not on the truth in God's word.

Of the groups shouting about all the issues of the world, I don't see any of them doing so by publicly praying to the Lord, discerning his will, and seeking his timing. There are pockets of people doing this, which generally involve only the most faithful churches (and synagogues).

All I see when I look around is people acting like Adonijah ... making plans in private, holding big 'shows' as if that connotes rightness, conducting these on just the right dates, and including people who are 'important' only by a worldly definition of the word. Where are the people who want to improve the world by going to the Lord, asking him what he would like to see happen, and then doing that?

Again, they are those pockets faithful to the Lord, being persecuted in places like Tehran, Tel Aviv, Bejing, Riyadh, Pyongyang ... and Seattle.

Prayer: Lord, I know I do not do enough in your name, but neither do I ever want to act in a manner that leverages worldly models. Please give us all your strength to both seek and do only your will for the advancement of your kingdom in the world. Amen.

Anyone and Everyone Fails

Scripture: In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, "And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring". God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways. Acts 3:24-26

Observation: Peter makes his next great speech to the Jews in Jerusalem, this time after he and John heal a cripple at the temple gate. He again tells them who Jesus really is - the promised Messiah - and reiterates that the Messiah was promised by prophets for centuries to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant ... the Jews are first, Yahweh's own nation of priests, 'blessed to be a blessing'.

Application: Today, my mind is occupied with yet another sinful fall of a major and very prominent Christian leader. Clearly all men sin, but to see another succumb to such a terrible act and now be engaged in a public fall from grace is difficult. My heart breaks.

And here is Peter, 2,000 years ago, reminding the Jews that they have always been chosen and blessed, given the greatest mission in all world history along with the most wonderful promise to go along with it, and they too miss the mark. Jesus was sent to bless them and turn them from evil, but they actually tortured and killed God's son. Peter tells them the truth, then offers them repentance and redemption in the name of Jesus.

Christians are adopted heirs of the covenant. We are now blessed to be a blessing, and satan knows it. Those that are greatly blessed are greatly attacked, and we are weak humans. My wife and I say over and over that we just hope there won't be another major public fall of a prominent Christian leader ... but there will always be another major fall, because human's fail. The Lord never fails us, but we fail, sometimes for a moment, sometimes for a season, sometimes in a specific area of our lives.

The Jews knew they were Abraham's descendants and thus heirs to the covenant - they declared that over and over - yet they would commit all the sins. All of us Christians profess our belief in Jesus Christ and declare him as our Lord and savior, and we commit all the sins.

Prayer: Lord, I have no hope of being good and blameless before you. Amazingly, you know this, and love me anyway. Please forgive me for my daily sins, and give me strength to walk on your path, holding your hand, more and more every day. In the same way, please be with other Christians, helping us all to find the better way to live every moment of every day. I especially pray over Church leaders, whose stumbles are not just harmful to them but impediments to your mission on earth. Where there are victims, may your peace and love cover them. Where there is shame, may your peace and love recover them. Amen.

I am Part of the You

Scripture: Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. Acts 2:23

Observation: As Peter preaches under the power of the Holy Spirit, he describes the trial of Jesus this way ... that the Jews "used lawless people" to crucify him. This echos back to one of the core issues of Jesus' trial, which is what charges the Jews were even trying to pin on Jesus.

Their motivation was jealousy and fear for a loss of personal authority, but the one scriptural law they were leaning on was breaking the Sabbath. However, when they got to Pilot and he effectively said he didn't care about enforcing Jewish law, their charge became rebellion against Ceasar. This was a charge for which Pilot found Jesus innocent. Therefore, the Jewish leaders simply manipulated the circumstances, getting Jesus crucified as a substitute for Barabas, and nothing more.

In this way, Peter's words ring true and not even the high priest and the members of the Sanhedrin who took those actions would be able to publicly contest them ... the Jews "used" the Romans, and not only are the Romans "lawless" by the Jewish definition of the law, the crucifixion itself occurred without any law - Jewish or Roman - being violated by Jesus.

Application: I have often read this section of Acts and wondered exactly who Peter is addressing with this specific sentence. Is the High Priest there to hear him? Are members of the Sanhedrin there so that when he says "you" did this he is speaking to them directly? Or are just thousands and thousands of people there, and even though this is seven weeks removed from Passover they are willing to be lumped in en masse with the actions of that day?

Here is what I think the answer is. I think ... it doesn't matter, because the Holy Spirit is actively reminding and revealing to everyone the truth about the Messiah. The Messiah was to be an honest man, descended from David, killed without fault, yet somehow reigning as king of the world forever. Peter's words are opening their eyes to the fact that, indeed, this has happened, Jesus is Messiah, now living eternally and worthy of their faith. The "you" is just everyone who didn't already believe this truth, and now needs to repent, be baptized, and receive forgiveness by faith.

And this means very clearly that ... I am part of the 'you'. By my one-time rejection of Jesus as Messiah and my savior, I was part of the lawlessness that nailed him to a cross and killed him.

Fortunately, this also means that the promise of Jesus' redemption was for me, one of those "far off" (v39). I was in need of discovering Jesus as Messiah, declaring my faith in that fact, repenting of my sin, being baptized, and living then in faith and hope and joy. I am now part of a much better 'you' ... the redeemed 3,000 from that day.

Prayer: Jesus, you are my Lord. Please forgive me for my sins that I commit every day, and give me strength to better seek and serve you daily. I am no longer lawless, but desire to live under your law, which is your wisdom, your guidance, your precepts, and your ways. In your great name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Trust in the Rock, not Stone

Scripture: When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold. So the Philistines came and spread out in Rephaim Valley. 2 Samuel 5:17-18

Observation: From a military tactics perspective, this is an interesting move by the Philistines. David has just captured Jerusalem, the most well-defended city in the region, and one that had repelled all other attackers for centuries. Right away, the Philistines take action and David prepares for an assault on Jerusalem, but the Philistines "spread out" in a valley that is a major trade route to Jerusalem. It would seem they had the idea that, now that David was secured in a stronghold, they didn't want to just attack him, and they didn't want to directly siege him. Instead, they cut off one of his major trade routes and almost dared him to leave his uber-secure city and come fight them.

David does - twice - and defeats them easily. Both times, David prays to the Lord for instructions and advice. The first time, the Lord tells him to attack, and David breaks the Philistines with such force he compares it to flooding waters breaking through a barrier. The second time, the Lord tells David to flank the Philistines and to coordinate his attack with the Lord's own actions, and again that works easily.

Here's the deal ... Jerusalem and its legendary defenses was NOT David's stronghold. David's stronghold was the Lord, and he knew that when the Lord went with him into any situation, he was well-protected. Sure, Jerusalem was a great capital because it was eminently defendable, but walls and towers on hilltops are earthly defenses designed to protect against human attacks. David's trust was not in stone, but in the Rock, the Lord.

Application: Over and over, David models what it means to be "a man after God's own heart". He has all these earthly blessings ... just listed in this section he has a kingdom, many children, loyal friends, and strength enough to defeat cities ... but all he cares about is figuring out how the Lord wants him to act next. He doesn't make life decisions based on the earthly things, but on the will of the Lord.

I SO want this to be the model of the next steps in my life. I have blessings all around me, but I don't want to take action where the primary motivation is to preserve the blessings. I want to do whatever the Lord wishes of me. I am truly very thankful that, even today, the blessings he has given us can be a joy to others around us. This reminds me that, indeed, my basket contains a full measure, pressed down, and overflowing. I can't fill it with more anyway. I wish to do whatever the Lord wants me to do, to advance his purposes.

Prayer: Lord, I do ask this today, what would you have me do to attack this challenge before me? Where should I go, and how should I do it? You have a plan and outcome in mind for certain, and I want to arrive at that outcome having been faithful to your plan. I trust in you alone. You are my stronghold. Amen.

I Truly Prefer Spiritual Power

Scripture: So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8

Observation: The disciples have been with Jesus, observed his works, and personally witnessed his resurrection from death. And what do they now ask him? They ask him ... if he is going to NOW fully restore Israel. Somehow, they still think that the primary mission of the Messiah is about the sovereign authority and capability of the Jewish people.

And once again, Jesus gives quite the interesting answer ... they don't get to know specific timings of future events, but they WILL receive "power". However, that power won't be about national governance or military liberation, it will be about heavenly authority to carry out the ministry of Jesus.

This answer is consistent with a key fact, which is that "power" is actually a spiritual force that comes from Yahweh. It always has been. This was true for Moses, who liberated and then defended a million people but in truth it was the Lord who brought down the plagues and split open the sea. This was true for judges like Gilead who defeated enemies without even a true army. This was true for Solomon who ruled over a time of peace without ever fighting simply because his father loved the Lord so much.

So the disciples ask Jesus if he will be giving the Jews earthly power, and he responds ... he is actually going to give believers spiritual power.

Application: Multiple times again recently, I have been thinking about the 'battles' we have all around us, and the fact that they are really all spiritual. It doesn't matter if it involves middle eastern war and terrorism, or local protest conflicts, or trolls on social media, all of these look like fights that are occurring around us and affecting our lives in the material world, but the truth is they are spiritual conflicts that would be best resolved by love, faith, hope, and yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Yes, there are two sides to every 'fight' and in almost every case one side isn't going to yield to the Holy Spirit because they don't believe the Lord, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, even exists. That doesn't much matter. When we lean in on our true source of power, we win because the world cannot defeat it. And again, it might sometimes look like the ways of the world - the evil that exists is this material existence - sometimes wins individual fights, but the Lord is and will win the war.

Prayer: Lord, may I have and rely more and more on spiritual power. I desire more of your Holy Spirit, so please help me make my body and my heart and my soul and my mind a vessel worthy of such power. I see the spiritual challenge, and I both see and hope for your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

Ready and Waiting for Us

Scripture: When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. John 21:9-10

Observation: When Jesus appears to the disciples on the shore of Galilee, they rush to him as fast as they can. Jesus is there waiting. However, he isn't just standing there waiting to greet them. He has a fire that he has already burned for a while and then let it settle into hot coals, perfect for roasting fish. He already has some fish cooking as a starter, and also has bread already baked and ready to go with the fish. In other words, Jesus has made preparations in anticipation of the disciples coming to him.

Application: There is a lot going on metaphorically during this scene, but this is another example ... Jesus is ready and waiting for us to come to him, and has made preparations for our arrival. This is true for non-believers who learn the gospel and become faithful. This is true for all of us who have placed our faith in Jesus, and come to him daily for wisdom and hope and encouragement and love. And ultimately, this is true when we die and arrive in heaven to find the place the Lord has prepared for us in advance.

When we come to Jesus, he doesn't just say 'here I am' and listen to us. He already has what we need - what we will ask for - prepared for us. He didn't make the preparations suddenly, and we don't find him in the midst of making the preparations so that he'll be ready for us soon, but rather he knew we would come and already took time to be ready, and is in fact fully prepared to meet our need.

Every time I go to Jesus, he already has what I need, and is ready and waiting for me to just show up and be with him.

Prayer: Lord, what a wonderful thought, that you are just right here, waiting for me to come to you, and you already have what I need. Today, I need your love and direction as I take actions that may move my life into the direction you already have planned. I am delighted to know that the outcome is already prepared for my arrival. Amen.