Upon This Rock ... the OG Reference

Scripture:
The Rock—his work is perfect;
all his ways are just.
A faithful God, without bias,
he is righteous and true.
Deuteronomy 32:4

Observation: As Moses pronounces his song to Israel, he uses the term "Rock" many times as a reference to the Lord. Yes, he uses other names for the Lord too, including Yahweh and God (likely various words like Adonai), however the term Rock - capitalized - is used five times, and is also lowercased in quotes ('rock') twice when referring to false gods. Therefore, Moses is very intentionally introducing the word "Rock" as a description of, if not an outright name for, the Lord. The term is introduced in verse 4 as a name for the Lord. Later, the term Rock is used to state that ... the people rejected salvation, they ignored their creator, and God is so strong that the only way Israel could ever be defeated is by God's own choice.

In looking at the Hebrew word for 'rock' (eben) when written in Hebrew, it is comprised of three characters. The first is also the first letter of their alphabet, which became commonly used as the symbol for God when the Jews would not write out the full name. The second two characters together, when alone, are the spelling of the word 'son'. Thus, there is a way of looking at the word "rock" to represent "God the father and his son." (And yes, had to look all this up of course.)

Jesus will pick up this same theme. Jesus refers to himself as Messiah as the rock or cornerstone that will cause others to stumble, and that truth as the rock upon which his church will be built. He compares faith in him as Messiah to the bedrock upon which to build one's life.

In all of this, in Moses' very last contribution to everyone's understanding of the Lord, he has introduced as complex concept. The Lord is the Rock, comprised as both the father and creator of the universe, and the son of God. That Rock is contained in and demonstrated through his works, which are perfect, just, righteous, and true. The Rock is strong and cannot be broken, and it is only by the Lord's own will that anything on earth can happen.

Application: My college major is English Literature, and thus I understand how someone can study the intricacies of written works as a full-time vocation. I can even see studying one author's work, or a single era of collected works. However, it is the depth and complexity of the bible that is so unrivaled that millions of people can study this one book for thousands of years. And this is because God was always so amazing in his love for us, and his desire that we have faith in Jesus as a path to redemption, that he created all the signposts for us to follow millennia before Jesus even arrived on earth.

Jesus is the Messiah. This is the truth, and it is the redemptive gift of the Lord, provided out of his love and mercy and justice. And this is the Rock upon which I place my life.

Prayer: Lord, again I say it, thank you for your word, and the power found by your word and your teaching. It is by your word that I know you and know the truth about life, about Jesus, and about you. You are my hope, my rock, and my Lord. Amen.

Worse than Poor Service

Scripture: But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’ ... But bring here these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter them in my presence. Luke 19:14,27

Observation: In this telling of the parable of the good and faithful servants, there are actually four types of people. There is the master of course. There are the good servants who work and earn money for the master, and there is the bad servant who simply holds the money and does nothing out of fear. However, there are also subjects who want to completely reject the rule of the master. When the master leaves on his journey, they take action to try to remove the master from his position and status. Therefore, when the master returns and has judged his servants, he turns to the matter of the rebellious subjects and has them executed.

This rebellion is treated much more harshly than the unfaithfulness of the servant. The unfaithful servant feared his master and thus failed to serve him well. However, the rebellious subjects have outright animosity toward the master, seeking to reject him entirely as the master and king. The unfaithful servant has his resources taken away and is sent off. The rebellious subjects are killed ... not just a standard type of death, they are "slaughtered", and right in front of the master so they know this is being done on his orders.

Application: This is the parable so many people should fear ... but don't. Yes, as disciples of Jesus, I take away from this the lesson of the servants, desiring to act and serve the Lord instead of doing nothing with the knowledge I have about his love and mercy. However, most people around me are in full rebellion. They have declared that the Lord is not their master, and they desire to have him removed as their ruler. The two great points for them are:

1) It doesn't matter what you want when it comes to God's rule, for he IS the ruler and will never be removed from that position.

2) The response to your rebellion is not a lack of resources or to be cast away, but rather the response is death.

I have been thinking regularly about others - friends and acquaintances - who are likely living under this death sentence and just don't know it yet. I wish they would fear the Lord and accept Jesus, even if they don't know how to serve him yet.

Prayer: Lord, may I bring your truth to others, as you would have me do, wherever you place me every day. My heart does break for those in rebellion. May I and your church be better and teaching them how to be servants. Amen.

Chicken or Egg; Satisfied or Crave

Scripture:
The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry,
but he denies the wicked what they crave.
Proverbs 10:3

Observation: In a chapter explicitly said to be Solomon's proverbs, he makes this observation about how the Lord cares for the righteous versus the wicked. The righteous are satisfied; the Lord will never let them go hungry. However, the wicked are never satisfied; he denies them whatever they crave.

However, there is an element of this that is found in other proverbs, other bible stories, and even the New Testament teachings. Righteous people ARE satisfied. They do not covet nor chase after things of this world. They find comfort and peace in the hands of God. In this manner, they do not go hungry because they simply do not have wants that extend beyond their means. Conversely, wicked people are never satisfied. They covet and desire a great many things. Once they have something they want, they want more, and they scheme and plan how they can get it. In this manner, they always crave because they simply want more and more.

There is a wisdom to be found in exploring which comes first. Is a righteous person satisfied because everything they want has been provided to them, or do they simply have no wants and therefore are satisfied? Does a wicked person crave more because what they want is withheld from them, or does their wicked want for more produce craving?

Application: I fall into a trap of wanting more sometimes. I was doing it just last night, exploring ideas of houses I could never have. The truth is, I don't really even want to live in the place I was looking at (Kauai), and the homes I could afford are no more than what I already own, just with an ocean view (and corresponding mortgage-payment-size monthly HOA fees).

It doesn't make me wicked to look. It would make me wicked if I pursued the actions needed to obtain such possessions. Instead, I know very well that the Lord has given me just what I need, where I need it, and will continue to provide for our modest comfort. I never go hungry. I pray I also never crave.

Prayer: Lord, I say it again, may I never crave. Help me to never fall into the trap of covetousness, but instead always be content in your provision and blessing. I know there is no better life than one simply cared for by you, my father, my daddy, my Lord. Amen.

Curse Upon People, not Nations

Scripture: The Lord will bring you and your king that you have appointed to a nation neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there you will worship other gods, of wood and stone. You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you. Deuteronomy 28:36-37

Observation: This section is one of the saddest in the Old Testament. Amidst the excitement of preparing to enter the promised land, Moses delivers curses. The curses are brutal and terrible. They are also conditional - IF they turn away from Yahweh these will happen - however he also declares it is a certainty they will turn away. We know they do, and all these terrible curses come to pass.

However, these curses are not about the nation of Israel. Rather, they are about the people of the Jews, the descendants of Jacob. As a result, the curses are not (just) about how their nation will be overthrown and destroyed. They also discuss what will happen to them as individuals once Israel is overthrown. As an ethnic people-group, they will be "an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule." They will be persecuted and oppressed by every other people-group to where they are scattered, and they will be scattered ... to so many other nations. Even as they lose the identity that made them a special people - they will lose their focus on Yahweh, effectively ceasing as his nation of priests, and will worship other gods - they will still be repressed to the point of continual worry and fear.

God's blessing and curse is not upon a nation ... it is not upon the government that Israel will create. Instead, it applies to people. Yes, those people are a group, and their fate is intertwined with each other as an entity. However, it extends beyond that concept, to people who either do or don't obey the Lord's commands and precepts and instructions.

Application: Many in our age believe that our nation cannot survive given the current direction of our culture. However, God is likely not directly opposed to the "United States" or any other country. He is likely opposed to the people who have come to drive the downward spiral of our culture, and everyone who is complicit is that spiral. And yes, all that may be intertwined with both government structure and political manipulation, requiring the country to be deconstructed as part of the correction, but the Lord's correction will be about people's hearts, not national rhetoric.

The U.S. is NOT the chosen nation of priests, as Israel was. Thus we have never been part of their same covenant, and therefore not likely cursed in the same manner. That isn't to say, however, that as a people-group we haven't failed to comply with the Lord, and thus are subject to retribution.

I don't want to be destroyed personally. Yet I expect my country to be destroyed someday, and I do not find any promise for Christians to be spared from the earthly repercussions of God's nationwide correction. My greatest hope is that my children may find God's grace and mercy, with a fruitful path forward, regardless of how this all plays out.

Prayer: Lord, you are right in your judgment. You are merciful and patient, but certainly your patience and mercy are near an end regarding our rebellious generation. In Jesus' name, thy will be done. Amen.

Shrewdly Making Friends

Scripture: The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. Luke 16:8-9

Observation: Jesus tells this confusing story about a dishonest manager. In it, a rich man confronts his home manager/overseer about misuse of his possessions. The manager immediately realizes he will be fired - because the accusations are true - so he takes actions to further use the rich man's wealth to make friends for himself so he can receive assistance once fired. He effectively cheats his rich boss by altering the debt owed him by others. When the rich man learns this, he "praises" the "unrighteous manager". He actually admires the effort and foresight of the manager, using the resources at his disposal to help others.

The story doesn't say if the manager was retained or fired. However, Jesus' point is that the manager used wealth at his disposal to help others. The motivation doesn't seem to care as much as the outcome, and even the rich man - who was seemingly taken advantage of in the first place, then outright cheated out of wealth owed him - thinks the manager did the right thing. It seems likely the rich man has so much, that a few measures of wheat and oil are meaningless, however the mercy and resulting joy of others is more important. And again, if this is the right deed, the motivation for doing right is less important.

Jesus turns this rather confusing story into an indictment of the Pharisees, who "love money". Rich Pharisees know the law - to care for others - and could do so with their wealth, but instead hold onto it themselves. The master - the Lord - is now saying they are going to be called to account for their behavior, and now would be a good time for action, using their money to aid others.

Application: I have enough money to "make friends" shrewdly ... to give money to causes and to individuals with specific needs ... to gain their friendly response. That feels like the wrong motivation, but again perhaps motivation is unimportant, or at least less important than outcomes.

I wonder where my wife and I can look to find such need, and respond to it. She has a position where she learns of need regularly. It may be fun to, once again, be the ones God uses to answer prayers. And to make friends.

Prayer: Lord, please guide us in thinking about this parable and responding to this direction. I absolutely do now want to go the way of Pharisees, appearing to love money despite knowing your teaching. You are my Lord, not the comfort of this world. Amen.

Learnings About Lost Sheep

Scripture: When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ Luke 15:5-6

Observation: One of the best-known parables of Jesus, the lost sheep is a metaphor for a lost soul - a lost person - and God is seeking them. He celebrates their recovery, which doesn't mean he doesn't love the 99 sheep that didn't wander away, but that the finding of this sheep was special. It was only just this week, however, that it was explained to me the deeper implications of finding a lost sheep.

Sheep are ... dumb herd animals. A sheep doesn't just up and wander away from the rest, but rather there must be something wrong with it. Often, the issue is physical. Wounded animals will find isolation in order to die, and a blind animal will wander without knowing it. Sheep can even have mental issues that cause them to behave differently. A sheep can also just be foolish and get stuck on a fence or thorny bush, or fall into a crevice from where it can't get out.

Therefore, in this parable, when one sheep wanders off, that sheep is a weakened, at-risk, damaged animal. It is that sheep that the shepherd celebrates when he finds it ... the weak and defective and damaged and lame and blind and foolish and wounded and unlucky and hurting sheep. It is the one sheep that probable has less actual earthly value, and thus is the one likely to be missed the least economically, but due to its issue has a tender spot in the shepherd's heart.

Application: I can attest to this, that when I wandered away from the Lord I was very, very hurt, and every subsequent hurt drove me further away. If I can understand this so easily, then I must apply it to others whom I see wandering.

My wife and I are struggling with the suicide seven days ago of a person we knew. She was a young woman who was immensely sweet and caring and in every way lovely. She had also told many of her struggles and hurts ... from harmful relationships, to failed career goals, to her father's own suicide, to the mental health challenges she carried inside. We have both wondered, together and individually, if she had ever known Jesus and accepted him into her heart. She was a lost sheep, but had she at one time belonged to the shepherd? And yes, she was clearly now wandering, isolating herself, and was not found in time for an earthly celebration to occur. Yet we hope and pray that she had, at one time, been part of the flock.

There are so many more wandering. Whether I can see it or know about it, do I understand that they are wandering due to their hurt and pain and innocent defects? Can I help Jesus find them in the midst of that weakness and confusion? Do I have empathy to look past such issues and only see the person that the tenderhearted shepherd cherishes and wants to celebrate?

Prayer: Lord, in my pain, you came for me. As I learn to love others more, may I understand the truth about the wandering and lost, and know of their pain and hurt even when I can't see it. If I can aid in the searching for others, here I am. Amen.

Speaking of Crazy Ideas

Scripture: But the prophet who presumes to speak a message in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must die.’ You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a message the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:20-22

Observation: As Moses differentiates between prophets and divination, he makes this statement about false prophets and false prophesies. Those who pronounced the word of God falsely are to die, and the criteria is this ... that the prophesies are in fact false and do not come true.

Application: I personally know a few dozen Christians who need this information emailed to them immediately.

I am so very weary of this issue ... certain individuals being zealous over some "fact" they know through some "prophet" - a prophet on social media - who declares with great certainty everything we need to know and observe about ... presidential elections, government policies, vaccines, public health, gun control, local violence, war schedules and outcomes, hurricanes, medical outcomes.

They are never right. I don't mean that they are not 100 percent accurate, or that their prophetic results are subject to interpretation. I mean they are NEVER EVER correct in any form or manner. They provide details, outcomes, with dates, and nothing even similar to what they say occurs. And those around me, every time this happens, double-down with even crazier ideas about 'why' these things didn't come to pass, and with the next wild declaration they are choosing to believe and share this week.

How is it that people who believe in the Lord, then embrace false prophets? They don't just embrace them with hope intermixed with a touch of ignorance, but with enthusiastic fervor bordering on radical mania. They don't just pursue the wisdom of the Lord over the wisdom of the world, but rather they reject all wisdom for illogical and contradictory concepts, all because such false statements align to worldly hope they hold in their own hearts.

And this last element is the true issue ... that there are individuals who formulate goals for society within their own hearts, and then seek a 'truth' that supports that social model.

It is enough that the world itself stands opposed to the wisdom of the Lord, and against the hope of his Messiah Jesus Christ. Now we have false prophets misleading so many, and thus directing their time and efforts to meaningless pursuits, pointless topics, and wrong messages.

Prayer: Lord, in my heart and mind right now are several members of my church, and members of my own family. These are people who could do so much for your kingdom. May their hearts be reminded of what true prophets are, and where your true word comes from. Amen.

Source of Human Standards

Scriptures: Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, ‘The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,’ and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty. Deuteronomy 15:9

Observation: As Moses teaches the precepts for lending - especially the canceling of debts every seven years - he warns of this pitfall, which is that people may choose not to lend money to help others when that seventh year is near, for the debt will certainly have to be canceled before it is paid back. He warns not to do that, and of course the great point is that the Lord blesses the generous person ... of course you won't receive the money back that you lent, but you will receive blessing from the Lord that will exceed that loan.

However, this is a loophole that Moses is calling out. He is warning about the hearts of men, and how they will now change how they behave due to the rules about forgiving debt. Debt forgiveness will not then be a blessing to the recipient of the forgiveness, but a burden on the poor who cannot receive a loan. So is there any acceptable limitation on how much can or should be lent in each year within the seven year cycle? This feels like exactly the kind of loophole question people would ask, and exactly the kind of thing that some "legal expert" ... a Pharisee ... may eventually establish as a man-made component of obedience to the law.

Most of the rules and precepts Moses wrote had some element of vagueness. The how/where/what components were often missing. Wash before eating ... what do you wash? Meet in the place ... where is that, a city or single building or type of building? Do no work ... what is considered work? Give freely ... how much is normal for that? In time, it is human nature to come up with "standards" for all these elements, and then to have people who teach the standards. The danger comes when those standards become themselves the law, ignoring the spirit and purpose of the original teaching.

Application: It is in this manner I can understand the existence of the Pharisees and Jewish experts we find judging Jesus in the gospels. That same activity still takes place today, in all aspects of life. For example, there are accepted standards for hours of work every day, but the truth is those standards are effectively arbitrary ... they exist instead to establish a common understanding of expectations, and thus close a loophole for someone looking to find the absolutely minimum they can do, and since such people can create burden on others, a standard is established.

I wonder how much of Jesus' teaching we have turned into "standards" that we now teach and enforce, losing the heart of the matter in the process? I'm sure there are procedural activities like taking communion that don't look like what Jesus intended, and in some churches there are people who are a stickler for their procedures that are nothing like what Jesus did. I get angry at how some things are done in church, and I know that is wrong.

More and more, it is important that we obey the heart of Jesus, not the human process we have created to achieve that obedience.

Prayer: Lord, I ask today for your forgiveness for when I have cared too much about how, where, and what we are doing in the church, and not enough about your love as the reason why we do it. May I not have strong opinions about process, but simply love others as you have taught. Amen.

Not Because of the Door

Scripture: Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God. Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last. Luke 13:26-30

Observation: When Jesus speaks of entering the kingdom by "the narrow door" or gate, it is confusing. The question is even asked if this means only a few people can enter. Jesus does not directly answer that. Instead, he says everyone needs to enter by that narrow door, for someday it will be closed up and those outside will not get in, even though they claim they were friends with the Lord in the place where he ate and drank and taught.

There is almost no other interpretation possible about this ... Jesus is the door, by faith in him everyone enters the kingdom, and this is a warning for the Jews. It is the Jews who can claim that the Lord was in their presence. It is the Jews who can say Jesus now - and Yahweh for generations - ate and drank with them, and taught in their streets. It is the Jews who would recognize that the patriarchs and all the prophets taught them and warned them and themselves believe, but the populace rejected it. Furthermore, it is the gentiles who will come from all directions to share in the kingdom. It is the gentiles who are the last to be reached, and will greatly accept Jesus, while the Jews - the first to be reached - will not, and will thus be 'last'.

Application: My son is in Israel right now, and last night my in-laws wondered about why the Jews continue to reject Jesus as the Messiah. I don't know the answer as to 'why'. I do know that Jesus knew it would happen, and he tried to warn anyone who would listen.

Yes, fewer people will enter by the "narrow door" than will not. That is not because of the dimensions of the door. It is because of the decisions of the individuals. Most people look at the door - Jesus as the way - and choose not to enter. And yes, that door locks at some point for everyone, and once locked perhaps they recognize the lost situation but can do nothing about it then.

It isn't just the Jews who reject Jesus, but most people do. This has probably always been true from a purely numbers perspective. But again, that isn't because the door is too narrow to allow anyone who chooses to enter to pass through. The door is narrow, but it's also open.

I am thankful that God specifically opened the door to gentiles like me ... those who would "come from the east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God." I have entered through the narrow door, knowing Jesus is the way.

Prayer: Lord, I pray today for Israel and for your chosen people. I am not wise enough to understand your ways, and therefore I do not know how the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants apply today. I do not know how or why your chosen people can know everything about Messiah, and not know Messiah himself. Yet I do know you have always had a plan that involves the function of the Jewish people in the world, as a method of making yourself known. May many, many more of them choose the narrow door. Amen.

Proceed at Your Own Peril

Scripture: When your son asks you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ ... The Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes and to fear the Lord our God for our prosperity always and for our preservation, as it is today. Deuteronomy 6:20,24

Observation: As Moses is about to reteach all the ordinances, statutes, and precepts of the law, he also tells Israel why they have the law. It exists for our prosperity and preservation.

He will spend the next couple chapters re-enforcing this idea, which is that within the obedience to God's word lies the love, care, and blessing of God. The Lord will provide good harvests, abundant resources, natural resources, personal health, and peaceful living to those who obey and honor him. However, he will withdraw all these things from anyone who rejects his word, pursues other gods, and defiles God's own nature.

It cannot be stated any clearer than what Moses says. Obey the word of the Lord, and you will live a blessed life .. yes, it will still require work and sacrifice, but it will be better than any possible alternative. However, reject the word of the Lord, and you will proceed at your own peril, subject to every hardship the world can avail, from nature and from mankind.

Application: These words of Moses are specific to Israel in the promised land, to be certain. I mean, I don't have any Girgashites in need of being driven out of my city! However, the nature of God never changes, and thus his guidance for our lives is the same. We are to listen to him, love the Lord with all that we are, and obey his word. In doing these things, he will be with us.

I don't want to proceed in life independent of the Lord. I do wish I did a better job of obedience. The Lord has given me so much in my life, none of which I have earned. While I cannot earn it, I can obey and do a better job of walking with God, aligned to his statutes, commands, and instructions.

Prayer: Lord, I am listening. I carry items on my hand to remind me of your words. May I do better every day at true obedience, so I may live within the shadow of your wings, walking hand in hand with you along your chosen path, every day. Amen.

When I Was a Prodigal

I’ve seen shame,
The kind that comes from mistakes.
I’ve seen regret,
The kind that messes with your head.

Now I see grace!!

When I was a prodigal
You saw a son,
When I left the 99
You saw the one!

The Modern Question NOT Asked

Scripture: He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:27-29

Observation: As the lead-in to the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus asks an "expert in the law" about the law. The man answers well, citing the two greatest commands, effectively "love God and love others". However, the man then asks Jesus to clarify ... exactly who is "my neighbor".

Yes, Jesus will use a parable to respond, and the answer is effectively 'everyone', including strangers and even those you may have low opinions of. However, it is important to note that, even though the legal expert was looking for a loophole to "justify himself", he did NOT ask the question that would be most prevalent in modern culture ... exactly who is God?

Application: There are massive numbers of people today who, if you told them to 'love God and love others,' they would have no problem at all in loving others. In fact, they would demonstrate how greatly they love others by how they champion the thoughts, opinions, and behaviors of absolutely everyone. They declare their love for others by identifying themselves as advocates and partners of people-groups who may be nothing like themselves. This very idea that Jesus promoted in the good Samaritan parable - to love everyone - is almost the defining characteristic of a good society or culture today.

However, there are massive numbers of people today who, if you told them to 'love God and love others,' they would ask ... who is God? They would be confused by the very idea of a definitive God, or even reject that idea entirely. They might wonder about how a myriad of gods and spiritual concepts has any applicability to their mission and purpose in life. They would almost certainly renounce the statement that caring about a conceptual being that probably doesn't exist - and thus demonstrating that care through obedience to ancient instructions about right behavior - has any place in their model of the proper way to live.

Many people love others, and demonstrate that by opposing the Lord, denying his existence and/or authority, and even describing his guidance for loving others wrong and 'evil'. It is this shift ... 'experts' who now know whom their neighbor is, but don't know whom the Lord God is ... that needs response today.

Prayer: Lord, you know of this change, and how the evil one has twisted the concept of loving others against our society and against you. Yes, I wish to love others better. However, I will always love you first and best. Please help your people to know how to best respond to the experts all around who know nothing of your love. Amen.

Claiming the Promise of Covenant

Scripture: When you get close to the Ammonites, don’t show any hostility to them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the Ammonites’ land as a possession; I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.’” This too used to be regarded as the land of the Rephaim. The Rephaim lived there previously, though the Ammonites called them Zamzummim, a great and numerous people, tall as the Anakim. The Lord destroyed the Rephaim at the advance of the Ammonites, so that they drove them out and settled in their place. This was just as he had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them; they drove them out and have lived in their place until now. Deuteronomy 2:19-22

Observation: Moses begins this book reviewing the history of why the Jews have spent 40 years wandering the wilderness. The story is simple ... the Lord gave them the promised land, they were afraid of the people there and thus refused to go, so the Lord punished that generation by forcing them to wander and die without entering the land.

During this time of wandering, they pass through other lands. Three such lands they are expressly told they cannot settle in - the land of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites - as these are lands already settled by the descendants of Esau and Lot, relatives of the Jews.

Moses points out one common detail about all three lands, which is that these lands were also originally populated by tall and numerous people, yet the small number of descendants of both Esau and Lot overcame them and took their land years and years ago. This is a very clear message ... even when these people groups, the families of Esau and Lot, were relatively small, they overcame a larger group because the Lord had decided to give them the land. Now Israel, which numbers over a million people, is about to enter Canaan. The prior generation had witnessed the Lord completely destroy Egypt through incredible miracles, yet feared taking on a significant armed enemy. This generation has not seen this, so instead they must understand that the Lord has done this exact thing before, for a small group that did not have his covenant. How much more will he do for Israel!

In fact, it is this covenant that makes all the difference. For Edom and Lot, the Lord was with them because he simply said he would be, for the sake of Abraham and his descendants. However, the Lord has a special promise with Israel. They are his kingdom of priests, to be his messengers to all the world, with a unique set of laws designed to demonstrate the Lord's authority, justice, and love. He is giving them the better inheritance, and will certainly be with them as he has shown himself to be already. Israel may rely on the covenant of the Lord, and they may have faith in entering the land.

Application: I am part of a covenant with the Lord. In this, I may have total faith that the Lord has promised me salvation by my faith in Jesus. In return, I am to ... go where he tells me to go.

More and more, I am wondering if there will soon be another sending of me to something or somewhere new. I am not where I expected to be now, and I truly have no idea if I am to stay here or proceed to something else, but I do know that is not my decision. I will instead listen to the Lord, and go where he sends me, when he sends me. I will live within his promise, receiving the goodness of a life lived for Jesus, and seeking to live that life following his direction and word. I have seen how he has cared for others around me, and know that his word is true.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your promises found in Jesus. May I live for you more and more. Yes, there is uncertainty around me, but I am certain in your blessing and goodness, and in your directions and plan. You may have me stay for a long time, or you may send me elsewhere today. Either way, my comfort and joy is found in your Messianic covenant. Amen.

Speaking of His Departure

Scripture: Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Luke 8:30-31

Observation: During the transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah appear with the glorified Jesus, the topic of their discussion is described in this way ... "speaking of his departure". This departure would be completed in Jerusalem, and obviously it refers to the events of holy week. However, there are three events that could be considered Jesus' "departure":

-- His death by crucifixion (departure from life)

-- His resurrection (departure from death)

-- His ascension (departure from earth)

These all make sense, however which of these would have best involved consultation with Moses and Elijah? In my personal opinion, it isn't the crucifixion, as this form of departure seems unlikely to warrant council unless it is context of the other two events. While Elijah might be able to discuss ascension based on first-hand experience, I feel this "departure" best fits with resurrection.

It was resurrection that would be unique to Jesus, as Jesus would be dead and then be raised back to physical life, fully restored. It was also during the act of resurrection that Jesus would accomplish his true mission ... proving victory over death through faith and thus the forgiveness of sin, which he himself had been sacrificed to atone for. In addition, it was this same act that would involve the final trial of evil, and the salvation of all those before and after Jesus who had/have faith.

Crucifixion was something many had experienced, and ascension was miraculous but not complex ... resurrection is the "departure" that transforms every aspect of human existence for eternity, and is unique to Jesus.

Application: This event - the transfiguration - is one of those mysteries that is so interesting yet confusing. Three eyewitnesses testify to it, but are seemingly overwhelmed to the point of never being able to fully describe it. This one nugget - what Jesus, Moses, and Elijah discussed - isn't even quoted ... they just vaguely state the topic of discussion.

Is it possible that Peter, James, and John heard the entire plan of salvation, and couldn't ever process or understand it? Or did the Lord simply prevent them from revealing the conversation on earth? Or in their state of mind did they not hear it well enough to be certain?

There are times I wish I understood scripture better, so I could definitively understand things like this passage. Then there are times when I recognize that ... the answer about what was being discussed here simply isn't knowable. Any biblical scholar who says otherwise is either guessing, or had received spiritual information independent of the bible. I can do both of those, but not with authority or true understanding.

Prayer: Lord, we are in fact in "holy week" this week, when we remember your great sacrifice, but mostly we celebrate your resurrection and thus salvation given to us. For all time, you knew your plan for redemption of corrupt people like me. Thank you for your great love. Amen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.