That Hurts

The Word is first...

Revelation 2:29

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

In considering this verse I am reminded of the numerous times that Jesus said "let he who has ears, hear." I always thought of that in terms of an admonishment to 'pay attention.' But today, I have a totally different thought.

Most of us have ears and are capable of hearing; yet we often choose not to listen. In the same way most everyone can read The Bible but there are many that are incapable of understanding it. What is it that makes the difference?

Circumcision. I am not talking about a gender-specific surgical procedure but rather a spiritual process. Specifically, it is the spiritual cutting away of the flesh that makes the difference. The eyes are uncovered, the ears are cleared, the veil that separates us from God is torn asunder.

For those that can read The Bible and not understand, it is the flesh that hinders them. The same is true for those that hear the truth and choose not to listen. Only the spiritually-circumcised ear is capable of listening and obeying the Word of God.

In this passage then, it is the believers, those that have been spiritually circumcised that are being addressed. It is the believers that are being reminded to listen! To pay attention to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Do you hear? Are you listening?

Peace,
Carl

Eyes of Faith

The Word is first...

Galatians 1:11-12

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Many people think of 'revelations' as some sort of wispy vision, dreams, appearances in the air or apparitions in the living room. It may be true that in some circumstances God does indeed choose to 'reveal' to people in this manner. But when I consider Jesus and the extraordinary manner in which he dealt with ordinary people, I believe that the vast majority of such 'revelations' are of a more common nature. By that I mean the 'revelation' is the revelation of Christ by the Spirit and the opening of the eyes of faith that we may see The Christ Jesus for whom He truly is.

As much as I long to gaze upon the face of the God-man who loved me so sincerely, as much as I long to linger upon his radiance, I am profoundly satisfied that I see Him clearly using my eyes of faith. And though my physical eyes ever search without seeing Him, I feel Him in my heart and know His power, presence, grace and glory. It is that revelation that brings about transformation, renewal and repentance.

So the story to which I testify is not one of folklore and fable, it shall not be found in the fiction section. Rather I shall live it out for it is my biography penned by The Spirit.

Peace,
Carl

And In Summary....

In Matthew 7:12 Jesus sums up the whole of the law and the prophets when he says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Just treat others the way you want to be treated and we will fulfill the law. Yet even with such a simple sounding maxim, we are incapable of doing this. Consider the pizza. You and your family sit down to a piping hot pepperoni pie. Do you take the first piece? Do you scope out which piece is best and go for that one? Or do you wait until everyone else has chosen and then you choose from what remains? Do you do that cheerfully or begrudgingly? And if we can be tripped up by something so innocuous as a pizza, what do we do when it is something really important?

But it's not about how easy or how hard doing the right thing is, it's about the right thing. Jesus teaches us to place others needs ahead of our own, to give more than asked, to be lavish in our generosity; even as He is lavish in his generosity. He calls us to the higher standard of treating others as we would like to be treated.

I want God's forgiveness, I must forgive all others.
I want God's love, I must love all others.
I want God's blessings, I must bless all others.
I want God's family, I must be God's family to all others.

It's easy to want those things and to just skip past our own obligations, that's the "wide gate" of the world. But where I want to go is at the end of the narrow path and beyond the "narrow gate".

Let's not fall in with the crowd today as they jam through the wide gate. Let's humbly and gently take someone by the elbow and lead them to the narrow path. And let's be sure to set our own feet securely onto that path ourselves.

Peace,
Carl

Setting the Standard

In Matthew 4 we read of how Jesus began his ministry by setting the standard to which we can all aspire. Immediately after being baptized, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert for the purpose of being tempted by the devil himself.

Now normally, I'm praying to God that he 'lead me not into temptation' but here we clearly see that sometimes God's will is that we be tempted. From this we can understand that temptation itself is a part of God's plan not just for Jesus but for us also. It was in the crucible of the desert that we learn a valuable lesson, from Jesus, as to how we are to respond to Satan and his schemes. The standard that Jesus set was to use the very words of God as a weapon to rebuke and rebuff Satan. In so doing, we see that the words of God are powerful and effective as our first response to temptation. And we learn too that Satan will withdraw from the battle. In this one short passage we learn two important lessons from Jesus' example.

The first is a willingness to be led by the Spirit. Jesus could have commanded the Spirit or simply exercised his own will to avoid the desert and its' attendant temptations. Instead Jesus was led as a willing participant. This sets the standard of how we are to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.

The second is the ability to wield the sword of God's Word. I do not believe that Jesus was born knowing all the scriptures but rather that as a child he studied and committed to memory all the same teachings that all other Hebrew children were presented. In this he sets the standard for hiding God's word in his heart.

If we apply these two lessons to ourselves, if we follow the example of Jesus then our lives will be profoundly different.

Peace,
Carl

To Fulfill All Righteousness

In reading the Gospels I cannot help but notice how consumed Jesus was with accomplishing God's will. It seems that every decision, every action, every word was carefully chosen so as to advance the accomplishment of God's will. What an example to me of how I am to live my life today. I should be, as He was, a man of prayer and a man who is wholly committed to God. A man where every decision, action, thought, word and deed is carefully evaluated to determine whether it is of God or of me.

In Matthew 3, we read the account of John the Baptist preaching the coming King and also of how Jesus was baptized by John. By human reasoning, the baptism of Jesus by John would seem to not make sense. Afterall, John was right when he said in v14 that "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" John recognized the authority of Jesus and was subservient to it. But Jesus, having all authority did not exercise it but rather submitted himself to God's will.

The words of Jesus in v15 "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." reveals exactly what was important to Jesus. Jesus did everything according to God's instructions and in order to not provide material for arguments from the religious leaders, he too had to be baptized.

The last bit of v15 is important to me. "Then John consented." Jesus wanted to do things God's way and John submitted himself to the authority and example of Jesus. Fully aware of his own shortcomings, John felt unworthy to baptize Jesus but in order to fulfill the righteousness set down by God, he submitted.

I too am keenly aware of my own sinfulness. I too feel unworthy to call myself a follower of Christ. I look in the Bible and see Jesus and like John, I must choose to submit myself to the will of God and I must commit myself to fulfill all righteousness.

Peace,
Carl

And So Was Fulfilled

In Matthew 2 there are two prominent stories and one underlying theme. The two stories are the arrival of the Magi to worship the new-born King and the escape to Egypt of Jesus and his fmaily.

With respect to the Magi (wise-men) we see a group of men that were willing to saddle up their camels, put together a caravan and travel great distances bearing gifts that they may come before the king in the proper manner. They came to worship. "We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." This is a story that continues to this day. Those that are paying attention see the sign of his coming. No, it's not a star in the East, it is the changed life right next to them. It is the rebirth and new life of every believer that testifies to his coming. To those that see the sign and understand it, they too want to come before the king and to worship. Every believer lives out this pattern in their own way.

The escape to Egypt reflects the extent to which those who fear The Lord will go to oppose His will. Herod was willing to kill off babies in an effort to thwart God's plans. This story reveals the depths of depravity of the human heart and the willingness of man to stop at nothing to 'protect their territory.' Yet this story also reflects how God's will cannot be thwarted and to oppose God is to guarantee defeat.

The underlying theme is the certainty with which the words of God, as revealed by his prophets, come to pass. In Matthew 2:5, Herod receives the counsel of his advisers who directly quote the prophet when they inform Herod that the new King will be born in Bethlehem. And indeed, Christ was born in Bethlehem and so was fulfilled the prophecy.

In Matthew 2:13-15 we see how the angel tells Joseph to take his family and flee to Egypt that they may escape the coming slaughter. "And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'"

In Matthew 2:16 we see Herod's slaughter of the boy-children of Bethlehem and it's surrounding area. As despicable as it was, it nevertheless underscores the certainty of God's words. For in v17 we read "Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:" and this was a reference to the weeping and great mourning of the mothers over their slain children.

In Matthew 2:19-23 we read of the return of Jesus' family from Egypt and how Joseph, again warned in a dream, takes his family to Nazareth rather than to their traditional home. "So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: 'He will be called a Nazarene.'"

As I read this passage today, I am reminded of the omniscient nature of God and of how His word does not return void. If God said it, we can depend on it. It will be fulfilled. We should take heed of his words and bring our own lives into alignment with Him for we know what is coming. The day will come when people will say "and so was fulfilled" God's word concerning the return of His Son.

We better get ready.

Peace,
Carl

So We Would Know

Our Senior Pastor has challenged the congregation to read through the New Testament in a year, this year. While that doesn't seem like a extraordinary request, I know from previous experience that it will get tough. Nevertheless, today I join hundreds or thousands of others in rising to this challenge by opening my Bible and reading.

Today, we start with Matthew 1 which opens with the genealogy of Jesus. I must admit that I was more interested in this genealogy than I've ever been before. Typically, I just skip through the genealogies to get to the 'good stuff.' But today, somehow, this IS the good stuff.

Giving consideration to why God found it necessary to present us with the genealogy of Jesus, I have three theories;

The first is to demonstrate God's Grand Design, specifically that Jesus (the man) was not an after-thought but had been intended from the beginning of time. In this way, we can more plainly see the thread of God's plan for salvation that winds its way through the Old Testament, the New Testament and into our lives today. This too reveals how the old covenant (Abrahmic) and the new covenant are not separate and unrelated promises but they are inextricably linked together across time and generations.

The second has to do with God's nature of perfect justness or more plainly, the legal ramifications. It is necessary for Jesus to be in the lineage of Abraham, et al so as to plainly establish his authority, his sovreignty and his 'right' to claim the throne. Jesus is no pretender to the throne nor is he some long-lost overlooked branch on the family tree. The blood of Abraham flows in the veins of Jesus and Jesus is the personification of 'the seed of Abraham' which God promised. Thus to establish the unbroken line from Abraham to Jesus clearly established the 'legal' authority for Jesus to ascend to the throne.

The third has to do with God's nature of perfect redemption, this is a spiritual dimension to the genealogy. In the genealogy of Christ we see a variety of men, women and personalities. With only a passing familiarity of the people in this list we can immediately identify prostitutes and adulterers. If God can so use those people in the realization of His divine plan, how then can anyone be outside the scope of being used by God? This is a great relief to a sinner such as I!

So, in considering the genealogy of Jesus, let us look behind the list of ancient names to understand the ancient story of God. A story which now includes the likes of you and me.

Peace,
Carl


Spiritual ramification

Digging In

The issue of obedience comes down to a single question; "what's more important to me; God's way or my way?" Depending upon how hungry we are for communion with God and fellowship with His people, we make our decision. Our decision is driven by our appetite.

Consider this...

Proverbs 16:26 (NIV)

²⁶ The laborer’s appetite works for him;

his hunger drives him on.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

If our appetite for God is keen, our hunger drives us to ever greater communion. We study more intently, serve more freely, love more and our every decision is tested against the litmus test of whether it draws us closer to God. If our appetite is more for the comforts and conveniences of the world, then our hunger drives us to greater distraction. We lay aside our studies of God, withdraw from service and fellowship becomes a burden. Every decision is weighed as to whether it serves our purposes or our pleasures.

What are you hungry for?

Peace,

Carl

Digging Out

Years ago when I was first challenged, by my mentor, to begin daily devotions I was pointed towards the concept of reading one chapter of Proverbs per day. There are after all, thirty-one chapters of Proverbs so its and easy introduction to a new discipline.

Last night as I was sharing with my accountability group how I had stopped my daily devotions and that I felt as dry and crusty as week-old bread, they (bless them) challenged me to get back into my discipline by reading a chapter of Proverbs per day. Then they 'made' made me read chapter 14 to them on the spot as a way of getting started.

Thank God for my friends and brothers who have lifted me up in the spirit of Eccles 4:10a "If one falls down, his friend can help him up." They are true friends who challenge me and hold me accountable in this manner. How blessed I am!

So today, I take the next step as I read chapter 15 of Proverbs.

Peace,
Carl

Starving in the Presence of Sustenance

The Word is first...

Psalm 107:5 (NIV)

⁵ They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

With respect to God's plans and provisions for us it is amazing to me how stupid we can be. Psalm 107 is a treatise to the goodness of God and of how he has delivered the redeemed from their despair. Literally everyone that has any understanding of God can read this passage and see themselves. It is a comprehensive list of all the myriad ways that we can be 'lost' and of how God can overcome all those obstacles, burdens and afflictions to draw us to him. Though the salvation offered by God is the 'end all' of our salvation needs, though it secures our place in his presence for all eternity, it does not stop us from being stupid.

There are those, myself included, who will come to the banquet table of the Lord, eat our fill and then depart for barren lands. There are those who having drank from the cup of eternal life, will leave from the wellspring and strike off into the desert. I speak of those who receive the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sin, the covering of Christ's blood and the imputation of righteousness yet choose not to live a life of communion with God.

The focus verse today describes the life led by such as these. "They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away."

Contextually, this is a reference to those who are lost, spiritually. But I believe it is also an admonition for those that are lost, practically. Understand that I am not calling into question their salvation but rather the quality of their life and more specifically, their relationship with God.

As humans our hearts are prone to wander, we are inclined to leave the presence of God, to decline the gifts he offers on a daily basis and instead, wander in the meaningless wasteland of everyday life. How sad it is that we choose not to attend the banquet of God's presence and guidance in all the matters of our lives through reading, study, prayer and meditation. How profoundly unwise of us to turn to earthly sources for wisdom, comfort and help. Yet that is exactly what happens.

Do not let your life ebb away, live life to the fullest today by returning to the God's banquet table. Spend time with Him daily, pray to Him in all things and trust in Him. Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I think that means right now, today, not just sometime in the future. An intimate relationship with God that permeates the fabric of our lives is heaven on earth.

Peace,
Carl

It's Not In Me to Change

The Word is first...

Jeremiah 13:23 (NIV)

²³ Can the Ethiopian^a change his skin

or the leopard its spots?

Neither can you do good

who are accustomed to doing evil.

^a Hebrew Cushite (probably a person from the upper Nile region)

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I've heard the question dozens of times "can a leopard change it's spots?" Its always been a nod to the inevitability of certain behaviors and a capitulation to complacency. Its a way of saying that "you're just the way you are and you're never going to change." Yet I know from personal experience that this saying is both true and not true.

It is true to the extent that of ourselves, we are unable to effect lasting change at our core. Oh we can certainly modify our behavior such that an outward change is apparent but sooner or later, the curtain will come down and our true selves will be revealed.

The saying is not true to the extent that it precludes the power of God to effect real and lasting change in the very center of our being. This change effects not only our inner self but our outer self at all. This change is 'regeneration.'

The leopard cannot change its' spots (its nature) but by the power of God it can be reborn without spots; it can be reborn with a new nature. More specifically, we can be reborn into the family of God and our sin nature left behind.

God's word explains this in...

Titus 3:5-6 (NIV)

⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Through rebirth and renewal, by the death and resurrection of Christ, we can be reborn with a new nature, without spots. It's not in me to change, it's God in me that makes the change.

Peace,
Carl

Here... This if for you, take it!

The Word is first...

Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c198

Since before the fall, God has predestined a plan of salvation to reconcile us to him. The elegance of His plan is beyond comprehension or compare and it is complete to the uttermost. While each of us can grasp some portion of it, none may plumb the depths of it.

God's plan of salvation was designed exclusively and expressly for us. It is not applicable for the animals and it is not available to the angels. It is well beyond the grasp of Satan and it cannot be undone by any amount of demonic intervention. It is designed and intended for us, all of us.

Today's verse discloses two components of God's plan for us as well as a key consideration.

Beginning with the consideration, let's examine the very first word of the verse; "Take." This is an imperative, a command, something to be done without hesitation and so it should be for it is for our own good. But even more important that the tense with which the author presents this is the concept that it is something that cannot be bought, negotiated or traded. It is as though God is saying "Here! This is for you, take it! It's a gift for you and I've been waiting for you to get to this point so I could offer it to you. I made it myself, I know you'll like it."

What then is the nature of this gift that is so forcefully offered to us? The verse continues "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Therein are the two things which we most need.

The helmet of salvation not only protects our head, our mind, from attack but it also anoints the entire body. Salvation is the balm for everything that ails us, it heals us completely. It is this knowledge of salvation that draws us into a more intimate relationship with God which is entirely enabled by salvation itself.

The sword of the Spirit, the very word of God, is offered to us not only as an offensive weapon against whatever would come against us, but as a comfort, a guide and a proof of ownership. We know that we are God's children because he has given us his seal (his spirit) and his sword (his word).

Offering us salvation, redeeming us from sin, is not an after-thought of God but rather the very essence of his divine plan for us. Offering us his spirit is not some ad-hoc, "oh yeah" kind of moment but rather a carefully crafted solution to the problems that vex us on this Earth.

Take up the helmet of salvation today. Place it upon your head to protect your mind and to declare your allegiance to The King of Kings whom you serve. Fix the sword of the Spirit to your belt (of truth) knowing that you have the best weapon to bear against your enemies.

Shalom,
Carl

To Be Presented Righteous

The Word is first...

¹¹ When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,^a he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^b so that we may serve the living God!

^a Some early manuscripts are to come

^b Or from useless rituals

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Heb 9:11-14

In this passage I see more on the topic of Christ's role as my High Priest which God has been keeping in front of me throughout this week. I find it wholly wonderful how God presents his son to me, through the word and by the Spirit, that I may know him better. The more I know Him, the more I love Him and the more perfectly I may follow Him.

With regards to this passage, I sense the purpose with which Christ entered the world and in the opening fragment of this verse (v11) "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here..." there are three thoughts that immediately captivate me. First is the certainty that Christ did come as expressed "when Christ came." As a believer, I operate with that certainty at the very core of my being. Here it is presented as a presumptive fact and I find that confidence comforting. Second is that he 'came as high priest.' He did not come as a mere man to experience life as a man but to fulfill a particular role. He did not grow into this role or 'happen' into this role as many of us do with respect to our various parts played in life. Rather, this was a central purpose and a core motivation. Third, is the description of mankind being 'the good things that are already here.' This harkens back to Genesis where God saw all that he had created and declared that 'it was very good.' In this we can derive that Jesus came as the high priest of all creation, he is in front of everything even as the high priest is in front of the 'congregation' before God.

The second half of this verse "he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation" speaks if how Christ functions at a supernatural level far beyond what a human priest is capable of. According to my understanding, the high priests of old, having cleansed themself (ceremonially) and having offered atonement for the sins of the people would then enter into the Holy of Holies; that portion of the man-made tabernacle in which God dwelt. They would come into the very presence of God albeit imperfectly and yet separated by the construction of the tabernacle. Not so with Christ. Christ did not come before God by way of the man-made tabernacle but by the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle.' My understanding on this matter is imperfect and as yet unclear. At once I see both the concept of the man-made tabernacle being inextricably linked to the Old Covenant and the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made' representing the New Covenant as well as the concept of the man-made tabernacle (physical) and the 'more perfect' tabernacle as being spiritual or super-natural. With either understanding I realize that the distinction is that what came before Christ was insufficient and that Christ is sufficient.

Moving on to v12 we see clear reference to the cost of admission (sacrifice) to God's presence and the explicit understanding that Christ did not enter by the normal (imperfect and temporary) means of animal sacrifice. "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves." His entrance into the Holy Place was by means of the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice (perfect and eternal); his own blood. "but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." The permanence of the sufficiency of the sacrifice secures eternal presence with God and He need never leave it again. With this picture in mind it is easy to overlook the fact that he 'obtained eternal redemption' and it is upon this point that our hope and joy is hung. We rightfully celebrate our redemption and I believe we should equally rejoice in Christ's entrance as our High Priest into the presence of God (the ascension). For in a picture of things yet to come, Christ is bodily in the presence of God as we too shall be.

V13 "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death," is a mouthful. Whereas animal sacrifice was sufficient to temporarily cleanse the outside for the purposes of ceremony, the inside is far more important (and difficult to cleanse). The fact that Christ's blood is sufficient for the uttermost cleansing of the innermost being speaks of the power or efficacy of the blood. "How much more" will the blood cleanse indeed!

I close with the last fragment which speaks of the purpose for which all this occurred. "so that we may serve the living God!" We have been reconciled to God through Christ our Lord not for our own benefit, though we receive benefit, but that we may serve God! I believe that anyone who truly understands the depravity of their own sinfulness and comprehends the depth of Christ's love as evidenced by his sacrifice on our behalf, will not long sit in the pew. Instead, they will rise up with hearts of joy and enter into service to God by meeting the needs of his people.

How wonderful is our God! How wonderful is His Son! How wonderful is The Spirit that has been given us by God to lead, teach and convict us! Let us stream into the streets and paths, let us beat the bushes and look behind every hedgerow and bring others to the feast of reconciliation to God.

Shalom,
Carl

I'm With Him

The Word is first...

Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

When Christ ascended into Heaven, he was enthroned at the right-hand of God. Now my natural inclination is to consider him in a state of repose, looking out over the kingdom and commenting to God now and then about something interesting that piques his interest. But I know that nothing could be farther from the truth.

Recently, I had the good fortune to learn just a little bit about what it is Jesus is doing in Heaven right now. Now, there wasn't anything really new but it was presented to me as a list and being a list-maker myself, it seemed particularly real to me and I want to share it with you. So, here's Jesus's "to-do" list;

1. Be your Savior
2. Be your Intercessor
3. Be your High Priest
4. Be your Mediator
5. Be your Advocate (Lawyer)

I'm sure that I could extract a 12 week sermon series on this concept and on the verses underlying this little list but today, I am struck by the fact that God presented me with Hebrews 4:15 to study and therein we see a reference to the role of Jesus as my High Priest.

Many may not even realize they have a High Priest (by name) but indeed we do in Jesus Christ. He has fulfilled his chief obligation associated with this role in that he has made atonement for my sin according to God's laws. In the course of this great task, he has presented me with a path to God for it is 'through the Son' that I must go in order to be reconciled to God.

Now, as today's study verse reveals, our High Priest is no high-minded, elitist, out-of-touch functionary. The verse teaches that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses." This means that Jesus, our High Priest, is not detached from our suffering or our human condition.

Thank about the implications of that truth. In the hour of our need, we cannot rationalize bad behavior or decisions becauce "you don't know what it's like..." The fact of the matter is that Jesus does know what it's like; exactly what it's like. Consider the second half of the verse "but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."

In order to make the connection with us, Jesus was born just as you and I were born. He grew up enduring all the trials and tribulations of childhood and walked the Earth as a man, same as us. Along the way, he faced all the same temptations that we face. Do you think that Jesus was never hungry? angry? lonely? tired? His friends betrayed and abandoned him. The general population mobbed him. Religious leaders despised him and ultimately murdered him. Yet through it all, he did not sin.

I submit that Jesus knows far more about temptation than you and I ever will. Consider this thought... I have given into temptation. It's true. More than once. By giving in, I cut off the temptation because once you're in the middle of sin, the temptation is gone. That means that I never experienced the full force of the temptation. Somewhere between slightly tempted and overwhelmingly tempted, I would capitulate to stop the temptation. Jesus never did that. That means, to me, that the temptation he experienced was as intense as it could possibly be. In that he experienced more temptation than I have ever known.

To be sure, things are different for me now in that temptation no longer holds dominion over me. But it's not because of anything I've done. Rather, it is the power of The Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that cuts off the temptation before capitulation. So even today, it is Jesus that deals with the temptation that is more than I can bear.

As a result, Jesus can relate to me, to us. When he goes before the Father as our High Priest, he does so with a fervor that is rooted in his own visceral experience. He has sympathy for us as well as empathy and this adds to his motivation that is rooted in God's will that we be reconciled.

There is no other high priest with His qualifications. And I for one am ecstatic that I have Jesus preparing a way for me.

Shalom,
Carl

Sustaining Production

The Word is first...

John 15:4 (NIV)

⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The concept of 'remaining' in Christ is a difficult thought for many people yet as this verse reveals, it is critical. I believe there are two challenges we face with respect to 'remaining' in Christ.

The first challenge is one of perception. Unless we perceive a connection, our weaknesses lead us to believe the connection is lost and that we have been detached from the tree of life. Yet we know that we will all go through various 'cycles' where we feel close and connected as well as when we feel distant and disconnected. These are nothing more than passing 'feelings' and we need only continue in the disciplines of the faith till such time as the 'feeling' passes.

The second challenge is one of reality. Isaiah 59:2 teaches us that "your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sin has hidden his face from you..." So the reality is that when we sin, we drive a wedge between the branch (us) and the vine (Christ). 1 John 1:9 teaches us that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness." In this manner, the wedge is removed, the wound is healed and the connection is restored. But if we harbor unconfessed sin in our life, the wedge remains, the wound festers and the connection is compromised. I don't mean to imply that salvation is lost but our ability to 'perceive' the connection is impaired and our ability to produce fruit in His name is sacrificed.

To remain in Christ means that we must continually confess our sins, continually receive His forgiveness and continually remain in a state of renewal or sanctification. This process is enabled by our studying, learning and applying his commands in our daily life. We remain in Christ by loving him. We love Christ by keeping his commandments. In this manner, the connection of the branch to the vine is made apparent in the spirit of John 14:21 which teaches "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Our awareness of our connection to Christ is a function of His response to the love we have for Him.

If I were to walk through the orchard of your life, would I have to step carefully over all the fruit that has fallen to the ground? Would I have to duck repeatedly so as not to run into the abundant fruit hanging from the branches? Or would I have to look at the leaves of the tree to even know what type of tree it is since there is no fruit?

My challenge to you today then is to measure your harvest for Christ. If your bushel baskets overflow, sing praise. If your baskets are empty then examine the connection between the branch and the vine. Give attention to nurturing the grafting site so that the rich nutrients of Christ may flow into your branch and you may produce fruit in His name.

Peace,
Carl

From Whence We Came

The Word is first...

Psalm 107:10-16 (NIV)

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,

prisoners suffering in iron chains,

¹¹ for they had rebelled against the words of God

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

¹² So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

¹³ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom

and broke away their chains.

¹⁵ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

¹⁶ for he breaks down gates of bronze

and cuts through bars of iron.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The body of believers is a great amalgamation of people. Long before the United States of America laid claim to the title 'melting pot' God defined that concept. The redemption offered by God through Jesus cuts across all boundaries, real or imagined and knows no geographical, political or physical boundaries. Neither the hue of skin nor the different melodies of speech offer any restriction. By the grace of God and the blood of Christ, all (that is ALL) may be adopted into the family of God. Praise Him!

Today's passage is an exploration of the circumstances in which some of the lost find themselves. In fact this Psalm (107) illustrates the variety of places and situations from which the lost may be redeemed and brought into the family and favor of God.

This particular section (v10-16) speaks of the situation in which those who have defied and ignored God find themselves. These few verses speak to me in a profound way for in them I see and understand myself a little bit better.

The essence of this section is that those who rebel against God, those that hear his counsel yet choose their own path will suffer. "Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains," is the description. In fact, anyone that does not walk in the light of God not only sits in darkness but walks, sleeps and works in it as well. Though they may stand in the center of the brightest lights known to man, the darkness of their sin and hopelessness prevails. In fact, within them, in their hearts and their minds may be found the 'deepest gloom' for such a person is without hope. Even if they walk the Earth as a 'free' man, still they are prisoners and suffer. To borrow a line from a popular song "we are all just prisoners here of our own device." And so it is.

This passage reveals to us that as a result of our rebellion and folly there are consequences. "So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help." Ack! The fool lives in darkness, is oppressed by the deepest gloom, suffers in iron chains AND leads a life of hard labor. What a sentence "life in hard labor." We're talking in terms of the 'chain-gang', a most unpleasant thought. Even beyond that, is the profound loneliness and vulnerability "they stumbled and there was no one to help." Ecclesiastes 4:10 speaks to this "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" What a terrible and terrifying situation in which to live!

And yet, this passage speaks of the hope in God as it continues "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress," Like me, there are many that must reach a deep, dark place before they 'come to their senses.' And what I see here is that great hope that whenever someone reaches the end of them self, when they have suffered enough to burn through the hardness of their own heart, then they cry out to God. And GOD IS LISTENING FOR THEIR CALL. Our merciful God grieves over their suffering and is mighty to save them. In this too we can see that our own works have no role in this exchange. All that is required is to call out to God.

Once we reach the end of our self and cry out to God, "He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains." To me this speaks to the fact that the delivery offered by God, the salvation and reconciliation to Him is total and complete. The darkness gives way to light, the gloom yields to hope and the chains are broken. There is nothing left to do, there is no aspect left undone.

Our response, as the redeemed is then portrayed "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men." Our only right response to the thought of, the knowledge of, the arrival of, the presence of and the passing of the Lord is worship. Driven by a heart of thankfulness let our lips not be still and instead rejoice! Rejoice!

Closing this passage is a testimony to the power of God; "for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." Simply, He is the strongest of strong and there is nothing, not one thing, that He cannot overcome.

Whatever bondage you find yourself in, no matter what your chains are made of, no matter how deep you may be in the dungeons of sin, these are of no consequence to God. Cry out to Him! He will hear your cry and he will deliver you. He is the ONLY ONE that can and will do this.

In His Grip,
Carl

Only One To Reconcile Us

The Word is first...

1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)

⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

A few decades ago there was this movie that I really liked and watched over and over. This movie had a really cool line in it that I've quoted hundreds of times; "There can be only one!" This of course was always in reference to myself and some aspect of victory or superiority that I would hold over someone. Wow, seeing that typed out reminds me of what a fool I was!

Nevertheless, that was then and this is now and though it's been a very, very long time since I've declared "There can be only one" I am happy to proclaim today that "THERE IS ONLY ONE!" Fortunately, this has nothing to do with my own prowess or ability and speaks only of the nature of Jesus Christ.

My study verse today states it plainly and without obfuscation; "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." Within this passage there are two ONE'S which are of course still one.

In the first fragment of this passage, Paul declares that 'there is one God'. This is an important and life-changing truth; one that came as quite a shock to me. Before everything there was God and from the nothingness, God spoke and created everything. His action didn't stop there and he has persisted across the ages, persists today and will persist forever yet. But like many, I balked at the concept of 'one God' and moved from altar to altar worshiping may gods. All had one thing in common; they were false. So when finally, I came to understand the truth that 'there is one God' it was a real eye-opener for me.

The second fragment of this passage declares by implication that there is some need for men to be reconciled to God and that there is only one way person capable of that task. "and one mediator between God and men" is the song that this passage sings. Not only is there one God, we have been separated from him by our sin (Isaiah 59:2 / Romans 3:23) but there is only one road that we may travel that brings back into fellowship with God and that is revealed in the third fragment of this passage.

"the man Christ Jesus" is revealed to be the only ONE that is capable of reconciling us to God. It never occurred to me till just this moment that Jesus is the original mediator. Neither works nor piety nor service nor anything else will reconcile us to God. Only Jesus THE Christ has the power to reconcile us to God. And the lengths to which he went to accomplish the task simply boggle the mind.

For those of you who may be searching, ever searching and not finding, let me help you out. There is only one God and there is only one path to Him and that is by and through Jesus Christ. To know Jesus is to know God. There is only one to reconcile us.

Peace,

Carl

His Way or Death

The Word is first...

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I get paid to help people find better ways to do things. Of course, the things they want help with all involve business; productivity, profits, procedures, projects and processes. My ability in these matters is a gift or perhaps more accurately the product of the gifts that God has given me. In many ways, when I analyze a particular project or process I can 'see' or 'sense' a way that is better or right. It makes perfect sense to me and it's difficult for me to see how it could have ever gotten into the state it is in that requires my help. In the grand scheme of things, they don't matter and by the metaphorical morrow they will all be gone.

My abilities in matters of true importance are not so good. I've discovered, painfully, that my heart is deceptive and will easily lead me in the wrong direction. In the matters of life that really count, my track record is pretty poor. At least, it was till I started consulting the instruction manual and relying on The Holy Spirit to show me the right way.

My study verse today speaks of this phenomena as it teaches "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." When you combine the temptations of this world in the light of our sinful and selfish desires we see a dangerous opportunity for deception. We often mistake 'the way' that fulfills our desires or feelings for the 'right way.' We allow our happiness and sense of fairness to govern our decisions which often leads to terrible results, even death.

Consider those who believe there are many paths to God. That whole concept "seems right", it "seems fair" and it plays into our selfish nature in that it gives us license to live a life according to our rules. It's an easy palliative to the bitter pill of doing what's right in the sight of God. No matter how it "seems" it is nevertheless a lie and in the end, the pain, agony and death that will be suffered as a result of such a choice will be eternal.

I challenge you to examine your life, your habits, your relationships and your walk with Christ today. Ask The Holy Spirit to reveal to you those 'ways' in your life that 'seem right' but in fact are not. Ask God to forgive you for those choices. Ask The Holy Spirit to lead you in the 'right way', the Way that is Jesus.

I know it 'seems right' to let this be a long and thorough process. But I want to urge you to do this immediately. Tomorrow may never come and after lunch may be too late. Get right with God starting right now.

Shalom,
Carl

The Sound of Silence

The Word is first...

Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

² But your iniquities have separated

you from your God;

your sins have hidden his face from you,

so that he will not hear.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

There are times when God is tremendously silent, when our prayers seem to fall to the floor instead of rising towards Heaven and when we lift our voice in praise it is awkward and unnatural. These times or seasons seem to slip over us like a blanket, gently, quietly and without any pretense. There comes a moment when we are profoundly aware of a tomb-like quality of such silence. It is in those moments that we have choices to make whether to lie quietly in our coffin of self or to start kicking, screaming and clawing our way out of that box.

These times or seasons are very real and they come for numerous reasons. Today's study verse speaks of one such reason; sin. As a created being it was sin that separated us from God in the garden and sin separates us still.

Isaiah 59:2 teaches us "But your iniquities have separated you from your God." Iniquities are defined by Webster as "gross injustice" or "a wicked act or thing." When can think of them as those sins we commit knowingly and willfully. Consider James 4:17 which speaks "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." Whether by omission or commission, sin is sin and our God cannot tolerate sin in his presence. Whenever we choose to sin, knowing full well what God has said about our actions, we elevate the sin to a position ahead of God. We state that our will reigns in our lives not God's will. The isolation from God that we feel when we are in a state of sinfulness is real. It is because our sin, our iniquity, has separated us from our God. It is not as though God has left us, it is as though we have driven a wedge between us. In the same way that you use a wedge to split a piece of wood, the wedge of sin splits us apart from God.

The study verse continues; "your sins have hidden his face from you." You may recall that when "The Law" was all we had, we were separated from God by a great curtain in the temple. We were prevented from seeing God or coming into his presence by this veil. Though that particular veil has been torn asunder by the shed blood of Jesus, there is yet another veil that works in the same manner. This veil however, is not made of fabric but is constructed of our sin. God can be standing right in front of us, facing us and we are unable to see him if we are in a state of sinfulness. It's not because he is invisible or has 'left the building' but our sight is hampered by our sin; "your sins have hidden his face from you..." The same sin that has forcefully separated us from the presence of God covers our eyes like scales so that we are blind to Him.

The last fragment of this verse "so that he will not hear" reveals why we perceive that God is silent and brings us into the full realization of why we feel that we are alone. The wedge of sin acts as a stopper or plug in the 'ears' of God. I think it is important to note that the phrase is "will not hear" instead of "can not hear." This indicates that God is ignoring the prayers of the unrepentant sinner. Our iniquities isolate us from God, blind us to God and renders our prayers ineffective.

What a dire situation this is! Yet all is not lost! That wedge of sin can be easily removed, fellowship restored, sight returned and prayers rendered powerful and effective! All that is required is confession and repentance.

When we submit ourselves before The Lord and confess our sins He hears. 1 John 1:9 teaches us
^"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." The contrite heart gets God's attention above the noise and chaos of sin. And as he forgives us and cleanses us, we are returned to his fellowship and the veil that hid Him from us is once again dissolved.

Let us not forget though that confession is but one step in the process. Having a contrite heart, being in full realization of our sinfulness and our helplessness, we confess and fellowship is restored. But it is the repentance that secures us in that fellowship. Jesus said "go and sin no more" and that is the very basis of repentance. To turn away from sin and go in the opposite direction is the order of the day and in so doing, we leave the wedge of sin that would divide us, lying the mud forgotten.

So if you are in such a season of isolation and separation, examine yourself carefully to be certain that there is no unconfessed sin contributing to your situation. If during your examination you discover there to be sin, repent, confess and be restored. If you find no sin to explain your situation then praise God for His faithfulness and be resolved to finish the current test in a manner that glorifies God.

Peace,
Carl

How Do You Feel About Payday?

The Word is first...

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^a Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Few of us would look forward to a payday where we received what we deserved. However, most would be ecstatic to have a payday where we received what we think we are worth. The reality is that in our jobs, our compensation is somewhere between what we deserve and what we think we are worth. Our compensation is most likely associated with what our boss thinks we are worth. That same principle is at work with respect to spiritual matters.

Today's focus verse speaks to what we deserve. "For the wages of sin is death..." Whether we like it or not, we have all toiled under the taskmaster of sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's all as in well, all, everyone. This means that as 'sinners' our just compensation, our wages, is death. That's harsh but it's reality. God himself set the standard by which we are to be judged, he established the rules and made them known. Our ancestor, Adam, chose to be disobedient and brought all of mankind under the wrath of God. As sinners, we deserve death. To receive what we deserve is the very essence of justice.

But God, being exceedingly just, is not without mercy and He established that though we deserve death we could have this sentence served by someone on our behalf. God himself selected our proxy, appointed him to the task and empowered him to accomplish the feat; which he did to the uttermost. By his sacrifice, by Jesus' sacrifice, all mankind may slip the noose of justice (death) and fall into the embrace of God's mercy. To be spared what we deserve is the very essence of mercy.

Yet God, perfectly just and overflowing with mercy, was not satisfied with this act of mercy and decided to go much further and thereby defines grace. The second half of today's verse gives testimony to the extreme measure of God's grace. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Though we have done absolutely nothing to deserve this wondrous gift from God, nevertheless, he gives it to us. To receive that which we do not deserve is the very essence of grace.

So the only conclusion that I can draw from this thought is that we are not compensated according to our worth. We are gifted according to the worth of Jesus Christ but only to the extent to which we depend on and willingly choose to follow the Son of God. The absolute truth of this matter can be found in 1 John 5:12 where we are taught that "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

When payday rolls around and we all queue up with our palms open, you can have my place in the 'get what you think you are worth' line. I'm falling in behind Jesus in the 'get what Jesus is worth' line. I'm going to hold a spot for you though so that you can step out of the queue you're in and into the queue with Jesus. He's already done all the work, all that remains is your decision to accept him as your proxy, your Lord and Savior. It's your choice, life or death; choose wisely.

Loving Him,
Carl