Job was a very righteous man, respected and admired by everyone who knew him. He was the last one people thought trouble should befall. It was a complete shock to Job when he lost his family, his wealth and his health - he simply coul not understand it. He felt there has been a cosmic mistake, he believed God needed to answer for this terrible wrong.
Job went further than just think God should answer for allowing or causing this injustice, he puts the divine challenge out there. After laying his claim to innocence, Job utters this challenge: "I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me" (Job 31:35).
God does not answer Job's defense nor does he answer for his decision to allow Job's trial. Rather, God dismisses Job's right or even ability to begin to question Him in a single question amplified with succeeding supporting questions: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?" (Job 38:1).
Job saw the foolishness of trying to bring God to account for His choices, he realized that God's reasoning went beyond the here and now, beyond time and space or the reasoning of natural man. He still didn't know why God allowed his trials but he realized God was beyond questioning, that His reasons somehow had to make perfect sense. Job knew that, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand" (Job 42:3).
Trials may come that make no earthly sense but we can trust in a God beyond the borders of worldly wisdom. We can rest in our knowledge of Him when our world defies our understanding.
Jus' Sayn.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Choosing Hell
Given a choice, who, in their rift mind would take the punishment that rightly belonged to someone else? Mothers would, lovers would, close friends would, people who love deeply would and do offer to take the place of one they loved.
Moses even offered to be sent to hell in the place of Israel (Ex 27:37) and the apostle Paul asked to take their place centuries later the apostle Paul made the same offer (Rom 9:3). Can you imagine asking God to send you to hell in the place of another? If you deeply love another, for instance your children or spouse, you very likely could.
But, could you imagine choosing to take the curse of God earned by your enemy? Could you imagine, for instance, asking God to curse you in place of the Muslim Jihadists who seek to destroy us? Who, in their right mind, would make such a choice?
Jesus did! He "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal 3:13). And, this he did "while we were God’s enemies" (Rom 5:8). Can you imagine?
Can you imagine being asked to care for your enemies like Jesus does? Did you know God actually does ask that of you? "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy .’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matt 5:43-45).
Moses even offered to be sent to hell in the place of Israel (Ex 27:37) and the apostle Paul asked to take their place centuries later the apostle Paul made the same offer (Rom 9:3). Can you imagine asking God to send you to hell in the place of another? If you deeply love another, for instance your children or spouse, you very likely could.
But, could you imagine choosing to take the curse of God earned by your enemy? Could you imagine, for instance, asking God to curse you in place of the Muslim Jihadists who seek to destroy us? Who, in their right mind, would make such a choice?
Jesus did! He "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal 3:13). And, this he did "while we were God’s enemies" (Rom 5:8). Can you imagine?
Can you imagine being asked to care for your enemies like Jesus does? Did you know God actually does ask that of you? "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy .’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matt 5:43-45).
Jus' Askn.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Mirror Vision
Decades ago I knew a man who was extremely jealous of his wife. He was certain she was seeing other men. He didn't have any proof, there wasn't anyone raising any questions about her and she was always at home with the children whenever he checked. But he could see unfaithfulness in her eyes. Oh, not in his wife's eyes, but in the eyes of whatever lover he happened to be with at the moment - every time he was unfaithful, he became more certain his wife could not be trusted.
One of the things I observed in three decades of preaching ministry was that, often times, when a preacher began to focus on a particular sin or, as we might say, "made a hobby of it," he would often be found later to have been caught up in an affair or addiction or dipping into the collection plate.
What happens is quite simple, we see things through the filter of our own soul. Until there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we tend to assign our own values to others. As Paul wrote, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure" (Titus 1:15).
It's hard to see the best in another when we know the worst lies within ourselves. It's nearly impossible to believe the other guy has good motives when ours are so bad. Liars think everyone lies, thieves suspect everyone of wanting to steal, and so it goes.
Jesus said that the eyes are the lamps of the body and if your eyes are healthy, we will be full of light, but if they are unhealthy, we will be full of darkness (cf. Matt 6:22, 23). What colors your perception of others? Do you tend to see the best or worst in them? Could you be seeing a reflection of yourself? Could you use a heart check?
Jus' Askn.
One of the things I observed in three decades of preaching ministry was that, often times, when a preacher began to focus on a particular sin or, as we might say, "made a hobby of it," he would often be found later to have been caught up in an affair or addiction or dipping into the collection plate.
What happens is quite simple, we see things through the filter of our own soul. Until there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we tend to assign our own values to others. As Paul wrote, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure" (Titus 1:15).
It's hard to see the best in another when we know the worst lies within ourselves. It's nearly impossible to believe the other guy has good motives when ours are so bad. Liars think everyone lies, thieves suspect everyone of wanting to steal, and so it goes.
Jesus said that the eyes are the lamps of the body and if your eyes are healthy, we will be full of light, but if they are unhealthy, we will be full of darkness (cf. Matt 6:22, 23). What colors your perception of others? Do you tend to see the best or worst in them? Could you be seeing a reflection of yourself? Could you use a heart check?
Jus' Askn.
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Source
The shepherd boy, David, was ill matched and out gunned as he faced off with the giant veteran warrior Goliath. The odds makers would have given 30 to 1 or better.
Young David stepped onto the field of battle with a slingshot and 5 smooth stones, his opponent was fully armored and equipped with weapons of war - it did not look good for team Israel's champion.
But David saw things differently. He did not see advantage Philistines, instead he was confident in the strength of his position. Listen to his assessment: "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, …" (1 Sam 17:45, 46).
As you face the giants of your life, it is not the size of your challenge nor the sum of your resources that determines the outcome, it is the source of your faith. David's optimism was rooted in one simple fact: "God's got this!"
Jus' Sayn
Young David stepped onto the field of battle with a slingshot and 5 smooth stones, his opponent was fully armored and equipped with weapons of war - it did not look good for team Israel's champion.
But David saw things differently. He did not see advantage Philistines, instead he was confident in the strength of his position. Listen to his assessment: "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, …" (1 Sam 17:45, 46).
As you face the giants of your life, it is not the size of your challenge nor the sum of your resources that determines the outcome, it is the source of your faith. David's optimism was rooted in one simple fact: "God's got this!"
Jus' Sayn
Thursday, October 3, 2013
It's My Life
It's my life, my decision, what I do is nobody's business but mine! Really? When one chooses to have an abortion, is no one else's life impacted? Really? What about the baby's father, grand parents or the baby? If you choose to abuse drug or alcohol, are not our roads less safe, children more at risk, hospitals more taxed? If you choose to be a deadbeat dad, don't others have to take up your slack?
John Donne once wrote, in part, "No man is an island, entire unto himself. Each is a piece of the continent, a bit of the maine. Each man's death diminishes me." As Christians, the apostle Paul affirms, "For we are all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body....If one part suffers, each part suffers. If one part is honored, each part rejoices" (1 Cor 11:13, 26).
No one lives in a vacuum. If I throw a rock, it may hit someone. If I throw a fit, I may wound someone. If I throw my life away, others may be sucked down along with me. Like it or not, there is a ripple effect in everything we do, whether good or bad.
Our lives are intertwined. In that light, the question is not, "What will I do with my life?" Rather, "What will my choices do to the lives of those in my circle, including myself?" Bringing it closer to home, "How are my choices impacting my circle?"
Jus' Sayn.
John Donne once wrote, in part, "No man is an island, entire unto himself. Each is a piece of the continent, a bit of the maine. Each man's death diminishes me." As Christians, the apostle Paul affirms, "For we are all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body....If one part suffers, each part suffers. If one part is honored, each part rejoices" (1 Cor 11:13, 26).
No one lives in a vacuum. If I throw a rock, it may hit someone. If I throw a fit, I may wound someone. If I throw my life away, others may be sucked down along with me. Like it or not, there is a ripple effect in everything we do, whether good or bad.
Our lives are intertwined. In that light, the question is not, "What will I do with my life?" Rather, "What will my choices do to the lives of those in my circle, including myself?" Bringing it closer to home, "How are my choices impacting my circle?"
Jus' Sayn.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Opening Heaven
Regarding Jesus, in the Gospel of Luke we read, "… as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him …" (vv. 21, 22).
This passage reveals clearly that Jesus' prayer life was intimate and effective. As he prayed, the connection with the Holy Spirit was evident. However, that did not mean that he always received what he asked for in prayer, it only meant that his prayer was always answered. Do you recall Mark 14:36, where he prayed to have "this cup" (crucifixion) removed? Was it? Not.
Intimacy with the Spirit of God doesn't mean just one-way communication, it means listening as well as talking in prayer. More than just listening, it suggests being in alignment with the Spirit or accepting the answer given, even embracing an answer that is counter to your personal wishes and desires.
Opening Heaven in prayer opens us to the Spirit of God, not to a heavenly goody bag. Sometimes what we ask is in alignment with His will and, therefore, what is right and good, and we will receive that (1 Jn 5:13, 14). However, don't confuse right and good with warm and fuzzy.
Opening Heaven requires opening our heart, mind and soul to the will of the Father. In so doing, we will be drawn closer to Him and greatly blessed, which may require setting aside our idea of what being blessed looks likes.
Jus' Sayn.
This passage reveals clearly that Jesus' prayer life was intimate and effective. As he prayed, the connection with the Holy Spirit was evident. However, that did not mean that he always received what he asked for in prayer, it only meant that his prayer was always answered. Do you recall Mark 14:36, where he prayed to have "this cup" (crucifixion) removed? Was it? Not.
Intimacy with the Spirit of God doesn't mean just one-way communication, it means listening as well as talking in prayer. More than just listening, it suggests being in alignment with the Spirit or accepting the answer given, even embracing an answer that is counter to your personal wishes and desires.
Opening Heaven in prayer opens us to the Spirit of God, not to a heavenly goody bag. Sometimes what we ask is in alignment with His will and, therefore, what is right and good, and we will receive that (1 Jn 5:13, 14). However, don't confuse right and good with warm and fuzzy.
Opening Heaven requires opening our heart, mind and soul to the will of the Father. In so doing, we will be drawn closer to Him and greatly blessed, which may require setting aside our idea of what being blessed looks likes.
Jus' Sayn.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
A Stone's Throw
In Acts 14:8-20, we read about Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. They went there preaching the Gospel and after healing a man lame from birth, they had to beg the crowds not to worship them as gods.
Nonetheless, some Jewish agitators came from Antioch and Liconium, and were able to turn the crowds against them,who then stoned Paul, leaving him for dead.
Paul was not, in fact, dead but he apparently had come very close - perhaps one more stone's throw away. Some scholars think that his debilitating "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor 12:7) resulted from this stoning. Perhaps the last stone cast was the final blow causing it.
What we do know is that Paul was serving God and everything was going so well when it went terribly wrong. But it wasn't the end of the story. Paul was injured but not undone. What appeared to be his end was just a painful pause.
Paul and Barnabas left Lystra and traveled to Derbe, where we read in the rest of chapter 14, "they won a great number of disciples." From there they went from city to city encouraging the church.
You may be a stone's throw away from giving up - one more loss, one more rejection, one more failure and you're ready to give up and give in. But, as long as you've got breath in you, it's not over. You may be a stone's throw away from receiving a blessing no one would have thought possible.
The stones thrown may become the path that directs you to the success God has in mind for you. As Paul would later write, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:9).
Jus' Sayn.
Nonetheless, some Jewish agitators came from Antioch and Liconium, and were able to turn the crowds against them,who then stoned Paul, leaving him for dead.
Paul was not, in fact, dead but he apparently had come very close - perhaps one more stone's throw away. Some scholars think that his debilitating "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor 12:7) resulted from this stoning. Perhaps the last stone cast was the final blow causing it.
What we do know is that Paul was serving God and everything was going so well when it went terribly wrong. But it wasn't the end of the story. Paul was injured but not undone. What appeared to be his end was just a painful pause.
Paul and Barnabas left Lystra and traveled to Derbe, where we read in the rest of chapter 14, "they won a great number of disciples." From there they went from city to city encouraging the church.
You may be a stone's throw away from giving up - one more loss, one more rejection, one more failure and you're ready to give up and give in. But, as long as you've got breath in you, it's not over. You may be a stone's throw away from receiving a blessing no one would have thought possible.
The stones thrown may become the path that directs you to the success God has in mind for you. As Paul would later write, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:9).
Jus' Sayn.
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