Week 32
The Lords Day, week 32!
Thoughts on 2nd Thessalonians 1-3:
· Even in the 1st Century Christians were obsessed with the return of Christ. When is He coming? did we miss it? Is it soon? are we in the end of the end times? When reading even through the epistles at times you sense Paul thought Jesus would arrive any minute... Yet here we are 2000 years later! God continues to build His church, and Jesus continues to reign from heaven. Even the vehicle through which God brings about growth in His church hasn't changed all that much... it's still suffering, just as it was in Paul's day. In this we must remember, Paul's words still have the same meaning for us today, don't be alarmed or taken in by any who want to distract you by saying the day of the Lord has come, or it's here. Many have been so focused on this aspect of our belief that they've wasted their time here on earth, they failed to live for Him because instead they thought it best to just sit and wait while the world wasted away. But that's not our instruction, that's not what Jesus Himself told us to do while He is away preparing a place for us. Just think with me a minute, who do you think will receive greater satisfaction, the one who has decided that they will just get up every day expecting that to be the day Jesus will come, or the one living everyday not knowing, will today be the day, the one living in anticipation knowing there is still so much of the world that needs to know who He is that I just have to tell people, I have to proclaim the good news, they need to know that the Master is coming, and that they still have time to repent and believe in Him before He comes? This person, while trusting that Jesus will come at the perfect time, He will come when all those predestined to believe, believe, can trust that He will not come a second early! But they rejoice that when He comes, the work is complete. Being in the military, I can remember being deployed and not telling my daughters when I was coming home, and then surprising them... There was such joy in their faces when I got back, it was so unexpected, they knew I was coming but they didn't know when. So, they lived their lives hoping and waiting, and when I arrived, for me and for them, it was such a joyful moment. They weren't angry that they didn't know, they were just happy that I was finally with them. But there were a couple of times, that I was tried to plan a trip home, and I did tell them, and then plans fell through and I was unable to make it. I can remember there being tears shared over the phone and my heart just broke. Obviously this isn't a one for one, but when we live thinking we know, we are headed for disappointment, but for the one who lives acknowledging what we don't know, and living in the hope of what we do know, that yes, He is coming, but that until then He's left us a whole world that is in need of His good news, for that one, whether Jesus comes tomorrow, or we go to be with Him in 10, 20, 30 or even 50 years, there will be nothing but Joy in the morning. "So then, brothers (and sisters), stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us (the Apostles), either by our spoken word or by our letter (now contained in the Scriptures). Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (go proclaim the gospel to the world)" 2nd Thess. 2:15-17
Monday, week 32!
Thoughts on Leviticus 25-27:
· Recently I read an article by well-known Pastor and author, Tim Keller. This article was on biblical justice and was an attempt, I believe at finding middle ground between the social justice warrior crowd and those who would take a more conservative-right wing stance on justice. I've learned so much from Keller over the years and have come to see him as normally a well-balanced and thoughtful theologian. However; when I read this article it seemed to me that this balance was lost. Either Keller was ignorant on what the bible truly says, or he had an ulterior motive driving his post. What's this have to do with today's post? Well, it was his stance and private property, he states that the community has certain rights over what's ours and because of this we are obligated to share what we have. I apologize for not quoting the article here, but I do believe I have summed it up. The problem with that, is the bible teachings no such thing, nowhere does it say the community has rights over our property, but rather the bible continuously affirms our own rights over private property, and we see this here in Leviticus 25. The land ultimately belongs to God, this is where it begins, verse 23. But then in verse 25, the land now belongs to a brother, and he has sold a part of HIS property in order to survive. But the bible sees this land as still ultimately belonging to him, he must be given the opportunity to redeem his land, and if he isn't able to do so, then when the year of Jubilee comes, he will then be given his land back. Do you see the great lengths to which God protects private property? In this first scenario it is assumed the property in question is such that one makes a living off of it, which is why it is to be returned. But then in the case of a house within a city, a dwelling place, the one who sells his house get's a year to buy it back. Notice how the very next passage deals with the poor, so that the right to private property and caring for the poor are not seen as contradictory, but rather both are ordained by God. We are to be good stewards over what God has given us, recognizing it all belongs to Him, and we have merely been given dominion for a season, honor him with all of it, yes, but no one else has rights to your private property, you alone are responsible for it and will give an account to God for how you've stewarded it. Care for you brothers and sisters who are in need but do so in a way that they maintain their dignity, allow them the opportunity for redemption or restitution. If you know of a way they can earn the money or whatever it is they need, offer it to them. There's nothing wrong with trading labor for financial gain, it's actually biblical!!! Just read the rest of chapter 25, and yes, it is still considered loving, and kind, in fact it is more so because you are acknowledging that person is made in the image of God and made to work, made to provide for themselves. I still love Tim Keller, and I think he is outside of the family of God because of this article, but it does remind us of how necessary it is for us to read all of our bible, to be familiar with all of it and not be so quick to just take someone's word for it. By the way, there's also a commandment that tells us not to steal from one another, and not to covet what belongs to our neighbor... so yeah, there's also that! Anyway, steward your property well, if God has blessed you with anything at all, then know that it is only for His glory, and love your neighbor well, treat the poor with dignity and allow no man to go hungry or without whenever you are able. God bless!
Tuesday, week 32!
Thoughts on 1 Chronicles 1-4:
· Genealogies are hard to read, I'll be honest. Name after name, after a while just feels redundant. But they are a part of Gods word for a reason. As I read through these genealogies today there were two thoughts I had. First, was confidence, consider how much attention to detail these ancient writers went through in order to trace lineages all the way back to Adam. Most of us are luck to trace our family tree back more than two or three generations, and yet the Israelites felt compelled to write down and trace all the way back to their first parents. The Lord wants us to remember that we all come from the same parents, we may look different, but deep down we are all united, descendants of Adam. Secondly, as we read through this, there are names that we have all seen over the last few months, names that didn't appear to mean much at the time, but now, seeing them in this context we should recognize they were in fact very important. It's not where these genealogies end here that's important, it's where they are still going... Jesus. That's where they are ultimately pointing, to the Messiah, the Son of David, who will come to redeem the world. His genealogy will be traced back to Abraham and Adam when the gospel writers sit down to record the good news... These two points do come together as well, as we are reminded that all are born in Adam but being born in Adam also means we carry sin with us. Being born in Adam means we are born sinners. This birth carries with it the penalty of death, and in and of ourselves, there is no escaping it. But where the genealogy is pointing is to our hope, our redemption, Jesus. For all those who repent and trust in Jesus, are born again, and have a new genealogy, one that takes us back to the second Adam, free of sin, free of condemnation and looking forward to an eternity of joy of peace with our heavenly Father.
Wednesday, week 32!
Thoughts on Psalms 93-95:
· Psalm 94:20-21 "Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statue? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death." We live in a country with wicked rulers, there's no escaping that. We see very clearly today that injustice has now passed for justice, when we judge events based solely on the color of people's skin instead of the actions and evidence, we have framed injustice by statute, when we look to treat some people better or worse because of their background or ethnicity, we have framed injustice by statute and we have done all this in the name of justice, which is what makes it all the more perverse. We see that our rulers are banding together against the life of the righteous as they go after Pastors for simply having worship services on the Lords Day. When they treat churches worse than they do Casinos, when they arrest those who would speak out to defend the unborn but praise those who destroy businesses and homes and even defend them. They condemn the innocent to death by continuing to allow abortion, the murder of the most innocent in our societies, the answer to the Psalmists question is simple, can wicked rulers be allied with you? No, absolutely not, their wickedness betrays them, it shows that they have no fear of God, they are fools who go around giving lip service to God, while at the same time looking to do away with God in the public space. But for the righteous, for those who do know God, who do trust in the Lord, He alone is our stronghold, He alone is our rock and refuge. All that goes on in the world is a reminder of why God alone is the one we put our trust in. No human ruler, even one like King David, who was a mans after Gods own heart, will be able to live up to Gods standard, all of them will disappoint somewhere, and many of them will show themselves to be extremely wicked. As you read through scripture, we see, the bible has many more corrupt and wicked rulers than it has righteous rulers who trust in the Lord. But our hope our trust is in the fact that He will bring back on them "their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out." He alone will do this, we need to do the best we can in seeking righteous rulers, and in being a righteous part of an unrighteous system, but our hope is never in this system or in any ruler, but always only in God. Whatever the outcome of any election, the Lord Reigns, "His throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting... His decrees are very trustworthy, holiness befits His house, O Lord, forevermore." What God is doing in our midst... Only He knows, and as bleak as our options may be, as wicked as our rulers are, we know that He is not, and we know that He is at work in this world bringing a people to faith in Jesus and His will is being done, on earth as it is in heaven. Brothers and sisters let us not fret, but remain focused, remain fixed on Him, our refuge and our strength! He alone is worthy. God bless.
Thursday, week 32!
Thoughts on Proverbs 16:
· Verse 6 "By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil." In today's world, love is always portrayed as the answer. Love is love, peace and love, love not hate, and on and on our little tropes go. The world has so been so taken in by this that it is even used against the church, we are called fear mongers, and haters, for simply believing what the bible says. The ironic thing is that, love is the answer. But only if we are asking the right question. For the world, the questions are many, how do we end violence? How do we stop bullying? how do we create a better society? How do we gain equality? to all of these, love, we are told is the answer... but in all of these and all the other questions the world is asking, the answer is not love. In the world, love lacks any true meaning, because love is reduced to a mere feeling or sentimentality. Without any foundation, love becomes completely subjective, and therefore is only really love, if I FEEL loved... which is often then reduced to, if you don't affirm me, even in my sin, then you don't truly love me. But, in scripture love is portrayed as the main answer, to man’s true predicament, our sin. The answer to all of the questions the world has, is actually not love, it's a fear of the Lord. How do we end needless violence? a fear of the Lord, how do we create a better society? a fear of the Lord, how do we gain equality? a fear of the Lord! But because we don't have a fear of the Lord, and instead have sinned against a holy and righteous God, Love is needed in order to cover our sin and be accepted by Him. Perfect love. A steadfast love and faithfulness, which is only possible by God. While the world goes around touting love as the answer, it fails to recognize its own inadequacies in fulfilling that which it claims is the answer. Love is necessary to atone for wickedness, a fear of the Lord is necessary to abstain from wickedness, if we continue to be in sin, it is our lack of understanding of who God is that allows for it, but it's in looking to Jesus that we see the example of steadfast love and faithfulness which has atoned for that very sin. Be compelled by Jesus, to go and sin no more, fear God, see Jesus for all His glory, all His perfection, all His love. Love is the answer, but you and I are not the ones to produce it, we are actually the problem, and it's His love that is the answer. Look to the cross today and see the horror that is our sin, the penalty that we deserve, and see how perfect love in and through Christ received our penalty and then cling to Him being forever grateful and let us go and sin no more. I need more of God that I would turn away from evil, we all do... and I am so grateful that in Jesus I have more of God than I will ever fully comprehend or grasp, may you and I spend the rest of this life fixed on Him.
Friday, week 32!
Thoughts on Daniel 1-6:
· There's so much in these chapters, but I want to focus on chapter 1, and then look at just one verse in chapter 3... So many Christians spend time worrying about their future and asking questions about Gods will for their lives. They want to know, "God what am I to do? Where do I go to school? What should I do for a living? Who should I marry? How many kids should I have? Should I quit my job? Should we buy a house? Should I go to seminary? Why do you have me here? Why did you let this happen? Why haven't any doors opened? What... Should.... Why.... just fill in the blank, and on the questions go. I am so guilty of this, though I know better. But by Gods grace, as I am currently in the middle of asking many of these questions, this morning I was reminded in our reading, that instead of asking why, should or what, that my focus should instead be on, being faithful with where He has me now while trusting in His plan for tomorrow. In chapter 1 verse 8, we see it summarized for us, "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself..." Think about it, Daniel had it all stripped away, he is made a Eunuch, and forced into the enemies court to serve the one who just destroyed his homeland. In the midst of this, his questions are not, What, should or why, but rather, God is God, and I will remain faithful to him even here in the enemy’s court. WOW! It shows how weak I really am... Let's be honest, no matter the questions I have, my circumstances or yours are probably nowhere near as horrific as Daniels. He was just a boy, and yet even as an adult I find myself complaining over not getting the job I want, or being able to buy the house I want, or getting sick, or whatever it is. We should pray about tomorrow, I'm not saying to stop that, Daniel prayed, and we aren't given the full content of his prayers, but we can be confident that in his prayers there was a cry to return to Jerusalem. But are we being faithful with where we are today? Have we resolved not to defile ourselves today? Or have we already compromised in order to "help God" bring about the ends that we ourselves desire? This is a dangerous game, God doesn't need our help, He demands our obedience and faithfulness, and He does so without promising to relieve any present troubles. This is where that verse in chapter 3 comes in, "But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." I know we like to focus on that fact that God delivered the men from the fiery furnace, but I fear that misses the point. They did not remain faithful to God because they expected to be delivered, they were faithful because they knew who God was. So, be faithful today, resolve not to be defiled today, not because you expect God to give you what you seek tomorrow, not because you expect answers to your many questions, but do so because you know who God is, and He is worthy of our faithfulness, of our trust, of our obedience. He is God, we are not. We worship Him because He is God, and whether we are forced to serve our enemies, or wondering God what's next? we stay faithful today, knowing that God alone is responsible for tomorrow, and whether it be another day of life, or He calls us to be with Him, we will serve no other gods but Him.
Saturday, week 32!
Thoughts on John 3 & 4:
· John 3:3 & 5 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God... truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This second birth is not an option. There are no Christians, no children of God, no saints, apart from those who have been born again. The language of Christ here is so clear, "unless one is..." whatever follows is a necessity, it isn't optional. One cannot simply like some of the teachings, take communion, and have the bumper sticker to be a part of the family of God. What Jesus is teaching here is what we understand today as the doctrine of regeneration. This doctrine teaches that human beings are completely dead apart from the grace of God, and without His working in us to bring us to new life, we are hopeless and stand, "condemned already". It is the bringing us to new life, causing us to be born again, that is regeneration. We are given eyes to see, ears to hear, and now live as citizens of the kingdom of God. Think about that, a citizen of the kingdom of God. This means, God is King, He rules, He reigns, and we are His subjects. The person who is born again then no longer has a taste for the kingdom of this world, but values righteousness, justice, mercy and love. But does so, all according to the standard our King has set in His Word, not the standard our world has set. So many professed Christians today are far too comfortable living as citizens of the kingdom of this world. This must cause us to ask, are they true Christians? Being born again means that there is a stark difference between those born of flesh alone, and those who have been born of the Spirit, it has to be. It's in this chapter that Jesus continues to make the distinction between those who love the darkness rather than the light because their works are evil. How much do you love this world? How much do you seek this worlds affirmation? Do you shy away from telling people you are a Christian, do you try to find ways to show people that, you know, us "Christians aren't so weird"?!? Do you go to a church that is obsessed with showing the culture we are just like them, so that we can "reach the people"? Then you may not have been born again or may be surrounded by people who have not been. Jesus tells us that those who love the darkness, hate the light. That means there's no making that light comfortable enough for them, they hate it, and want nothing to do with it. You don't get to throw a blanket over it and hope they don't notice how bright it is! How is one born again, by coming to the Son, by believing in the son, and only those called by the Son will come, ours is not to determine who is called, but instead to be LIGHT and call all to that LIGHT so that those the Son has called will SEE the LIGHT, HEAR the CALL and come. So, first, have you been born again? Do you see and live by the light? Secondly, are you a part of a church that is more concerned with being a brighter light than it is throwing a towel over it? If you aren't born again, repent and believe the Gospel today, you stand condemned apart from Christ, I don't condemn you, you've condemned yourself, but in Christ you will have new life. If your church rather dim its light, it's time to go. The times we are living in are simply to dangerous for Christians to be toying around with trying to be more like the world. Stop the nonsense, get in a good Gospel proclaiming, light heralding, church and be who Jesus called us to be (I know of maybe 3 - 5 in Long Island). God bless.