Dying in Winter...Rising in Faith

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Thursday, All Hallows Eve, October 31, 2019

(the beginning of All Hallows Tide)

Then this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord:  “This is what the Lord says:  If you can break my covenant with the day and the night so that one does not follow the other, only then will my covenant with my servant David be broken.  

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah.  He said, “Have you noticed what people are saying?—‘The Lord chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!’  They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation.  But this is what the Lord says:  I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.   Jeremiah 33 (selected passages)

Predatory behavior which takes advantage of public opinion and fears is what bullies do.  From the dawn of humankind’s existence there have been those who act this way, seizing on opportunities to put God in the background, and put themselves in charge.  It’s a form of Trick-or-Treat; the trick is the naysayers get to be in God’s place, while the treat is those tricked get to breathe a sigh of relief…false as the promises might be.

Masking and costumes are a way of attempting to diffuse the terror relationship we humans have with our mortality.  Among some of the ancient Celtic traditions is the practice of impersonating terrifying mythical creatures as a means of dissipating fear of the unknown.  Many pagan celebrations at this time of year are meant to stave-off the harsh impact of winter.  By imitating death with masks, it was thought to hold back the coming cold bleakness.  But, as with whistling in the dark, making light of reality changes nothing.  Ghost and goblin masks on children don’t have a chance against death.

For the church, today is the evening vigil before All Saints Day (All Hallows Eve or Hallowe’en), and begins three day’s observance of departed believers, ending on All Souls Day (the entire celebration is called All Hallows Tide[2]).  The central focus is on the faith which is common to both the church here on earth, and the church triumphant, those already in the presence of our Lord.

I would get disagreement on both sides of this argument (probably from both believers and pagans), but neither Halloween, nor horror movies scare me.  Nor does the practice of Trick-or-Treat bother me.  In my parents’ generation (Great Depression era), and in their part of the world, the cultural norm for the practice was not on October 31^st, but closer to Thanksgiving, when the children would go door to door.  Their phrase, with outstretched little palms, was Pennies for Thanksgiving.  (Well…it was a long time ago; today it would be 10-Bucks for Turkey Day)

Whether one is bothered by the holiday frenzy with Trick-or-Treating, or simply glad the children get to dress-up and have a ball, there is one matter that concerns (at least) me; I fear we have dropped the ball in the cycle of the Christian Year.  Our disconnect from a sacred observance of triumph over death (ironically celebrated in the culture by holding up death as the ultimate celebrity) further serves to isolate our culture’s children from the genuine cure for our morbid fears…Christ’s victory over death. 

It’s been fifteen years since Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of Christ hit the big screens.  I recall watching that movie for the first time shortly after it was available on DVD; I couldn’t sleep for a week.  The depictions of the violence done to Jesus in the scourging and crucifixion gave the film an R rating.  It should have been “HS” for heart and soul-squeezing.  The sinister nature of Satan’s attempts to insert himself into Christ’s mind made any Steven King movie seem like a Sesame Street production.  In short…I bought the DVD and watch it every so often.  With our culture’s fascination with masks and unreality (Walking Dead, etc.), I want a constant reminder of reality; the Lord Jesus who never abandons me and takes all the fear out of death’s sting.

For You Today

If you’re into Trick-or-Treating you’ll get little criticism from me.  But while you’re taking your kids from door to door, don’t forget to teach them the real reason for this season!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Wikimedia.com    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

[2] Read more about this here:  Wikipedia.com

Fountain of Life

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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.  He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.  O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!      Interlude

I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me—also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.  They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!  Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.”  And the Most High will personally bless this city.  When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”      Interlude

The people will play flutes and sing, “The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”  Psalm 87:1-7[2]

Problematic to the church is eisegesis, that which happens when people look at Scripture and see only what they want to see; that’s a sticky wicket indeed.  Followers of Jesus think this only happens with pagans who want to attack Christian belief and use a passage out of context as a bludgeon to (supposedly) discredit and disprove Christianity as a whole.  But, sadly, it also happens in the church family.  In fact, it happens especially in the church family. 

The last sentence of the 87^th Psalm has singers gathered around the Lord’s presence lifting a testimonial song of praise:  …the source of my life springs from Jerusalem!  In a casual reading of that verse it’s easy to start feeling all warm and fuzzy with thoughts of a nice, comfortable sense that everything is right in Zion.  It’s that picture of everything finally being in proper places with no problems, mortgage paid, kids safe, great doctor’s report, and no cracks in any foundations.  Many people get that same feeling in church services when we sing a song like When We All Get to Heaven or In the Sweet By and By; there’s such a sense of a secure future in heaven, which is so totally foreign to the present reality of chaos on earth.  We live in a shadowy, troubled in-between time, here below, while perfection is off, somewhere beyond the blue.

Now, while it is true we have not yet arrived at the throne, and we are pilgrims in this life, the awkward shadow trailing that truth is we wind up settling-in with this existence, managing the pain of life with a teaspoon-full of religion, instead of being fully-immersed in the fountain of life.

Let me put it simply:  

Jesus didn’t die in Jerusalem so we could wring our hands over what this life offers or doesn’t, just waiting to die and finally be with Him.  Jesus died so that we could be forgiven and freed to have an overflowing cup of the river of life eternally…beginning RIGHT NOW!

Here’s one other, related simple thought to chew on as you hit the rocky road today:

Whatever circumstances your life holds at this moment, if you’ve decided to settle-in with the misery chaos brings in this life, just waiting, trying to hold-out until God finally takes you home, it’s a good bet you can’t sing the end of Psalm 87 now…that the source of your life springs from Jerusalem.  And if you’re not ready for His fountain of life here, you’ll have a hard time finding it in the hereafter!

For You Today

From the birth of the church on earth on the Day of Pentecost, to this very day, God’s Spirit has been giving new life from the fountain of life.  An old Gospel song says it well:

There came a sound from heaven as a mighty rushing wind.

It filled their hearts with singing and gave them peace within.

The prophet gave this promise, he said the Spirit will descend

And from your inner being, a river with no end.

There is a river, and it flows from deep within
There is a fountain, that frees the soul from sin
Come to this water; there is a vast supply
There is a river, that never shall run dry.[3]

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] For another post on Psalm 87 see God’s Much-Loved Hills

[3] Words and Music ^©David Sapp All rights reserved

A Firm Foundation

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Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you.  Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.  Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.  And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.  In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders.  And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  Stay alert!  Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.  Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.  So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.  All power to him forever! Amen.  1 Peter 5:2-11

Peter’s instructions are a legacy of leadership for those who would come behind as servants of Christ.  He builds a mighty case for the right attitude as an elder; it’s the kind of attitude filled with adjectives describing the character of Jesus, which builds a firm foundation for the household of faith.  And what a list it is:

     ·      Caring for God’s family willingly and eagerly

     ·      Choosing positive example over authoritarian demand

     ·      Accepting leadership of others with humility

     ·      Having humility in all relationships

     ·      Keeping a non-anxious presence as you lead, trusting in God.

     ·      Attentiveness that recognizes your own vulnerability in spiritual matters

     ·      Awareness of other believer’s suffering and need

For You Today

The servant of God must be clothed in this kind of attitude, otherwise whatever is built does not glorify God; it is merely a display of human talent and work.  Frankly, that falls far short of the glory God wants to do through you!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

Reason to Leave

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Monday, October 21, 2019

When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world?  And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves?  Don’t you realize that we will judge angels?  So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.  If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church?  I am saying this to shame you.  Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues?  But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!  Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that?  Why not let yourselves be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.  Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?  Don’t fool yourselves.  Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.  Some of you were once like that.  But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Paul makes the case for God’s people to trust God’s holiness rather than man’s cultural bent.  It makes little difference that the world mocks one who would follow Christ rather than bow to world and societal pressure; our standard is what God says!.  This is the background of why Paul wrote what he did in his  second letter to the church at Corinth…you don’t let the world judge the church; it’s the other way around!  Too many Christian people get that backwards.

The rub in this is that our faith very often puts us at odds with people we love.  It is so hard to take a stand that puts distance between us and our friends, neighbors, or family.  Jesus did make it abundantly clear that would happen:

Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth?  No, I have come to divide people against each other!  From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.  Luke 12:51

It is certainly not wise to separate over trivial issues, like whether it’s right to be a Republican or Democrat, or if the color of the church carpet should be green or plaid.  But there are issues of righteousness over which we must hold a higher bar to the level of our affiliations; those things we take into our lives and become part of our character.  Even the word affiliate projects that sense.  The word comes from the medieval Latin base that is related to the process of adoption, bringing into your home something, or someone from the outside to be part of you.  A child adopted is irreversible by law.  By common sense, a practice or habit you adopt undoubtedly changes your worldview and allegiances, for better or worse.

In his second letter to the Corinthian church, a fellowship gifted by God above many others, but steeped in worldliness, hedonism, and sexual sins, Paul did not pull any punches at this point; he told them it was time to fish or cut bait; they couldn’t do both.

What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?  How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?  And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God said:  “I will live in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.  Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.  And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:15-18

For You Today

Holding two opposing convictions never makes either stronger, it only drives the holder insane.  Better to choose God, be adopted into His character, than to side with this world which is passing away.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com    Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

The Making of a Good Servant

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.  This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.  They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.  But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription:  “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”  In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay.  The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.  If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use.  Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.  Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.            2 Timothy 2:15-21

Although I have many “favorite” passages of Scripture, all of God’s Word interests, instructs, and corrects me[2].  But if there is one verse that could be my life verse, or the theme of what my passion is about, it would be what Paul wrote about being God’s approved workman, correctly explaining the Word of Truth.  Paul said to the Philippian[3] believers:  I don’t claim to have achieved perfection in every doctrine or complete knowledge, but I am pressing-on in that direction.  If there is one thing I am passionate about it is sharing God’s Word accurately, with an aim to help anyone know God better.

This passage is Paul’s instructions for his young protégé, Timothy, on issues related to his ordination vows.  Paul had laid hands on Timothy and charged him with being pastor to a flock of God’s people.  Timothy may have felt a little awkward, because he was probably younger than 90% of the church members.  It’s hard to be authoritative and “fatherly” to a group who were adults when you were still having your diapers changed.

Nevertheless, Paul instructed the young servant of God about what would make him a fit and holy vessel (or tool) in God’s workshop.  Chief among the required activities for any pastor is meditating on the Word.  Without careful, prayerful consideration of what God says, it matters little what the preacher says or does.  Any private that rushes into battle without heeding the commands of the general is like a heat seeking missile launched without coordinates for the target…you may stay busy, but you’ll cause a lot of damage in the doing!

Along with taking-in God’s Word, there is plenty of admonition from Paul the Elder to Timothy the Rookie to taking-out the things of the world, including idle discussions that only bear the fruit of contention, and any other kind of impure behavior.  If there is to be holy ministry in the name of our Lord, there must be holy living.

And now here is the sticky point about all this – we’re ALL servants of the Most High; we’re all ordained (set aside) to be servants of the Kingdom.  These instructions to Timothy apply to every believer, whether preacher, teacher, steelworker, homemaker, student, dentist, lawyer or retired senior.  Able-bodied or bed-ridden, male or female, new Christian, or walking with Christ for 70 years, if we have breath we must serve!

For You Today

On his way to the cross on Friday, Thursday night Jesus was girded with a towel in the upper room washing dirty feet.  That is the model of the One we long to have others see in us.  So, are you still breathing?  Serve!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  By Błażej Benisz via WikimediaCommons     Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] 2 Timothy 3:16

[3] Philippians 3:15

The Confusion and Value of a Witness

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows:  “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines.  And one of your altars had this inscription on it:  ‘To an Unknown God.’  This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.  “He is the God who made the world and everything in it.  Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs.  He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.  From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth.  He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.  “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.  For in him we live and move and exist.  As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.  “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.  For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”  When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”  That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers.  Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.  Acts 17:22-34

It’s no secret that Paul was an unusual person.  It’s been said that wherever he went he started either a revival or a riot…and sometimes both!  In this account Paul has been hauled before the city council in Athens, a city much like many Greek places of the day, steeped in learning, art, drama, and civic democracy, fiercely defended.  To say it was a culture much like the American mind’s profile would not be stretching the point.

Paul was before the council because he was preaching the Gospel.  His uncompromising approach to evangelizing was threatening to those who didn’t like change; big surprise there! 

Athens had religion like a rash, with so many gods you needed a catalogue with commentary to understand faith in their culture.  They even had, as Paul pointed out, a statue to the unknown god.  And the apostle seized on that to tell them of the unseen true God.  He recounted the facts of creation, God’s gracious providence, and sovereignty in the space of a two-minute survey of Genesis and the historical presence of the divine.  But when the apostle got to the resurrection it broke the floodgates of unbelief. 

That day some who listened simply rejected Paul’s testimony out of hand.  They huffed in derision of this madman’s delusion.  Others weren’t quite convinced, but were willing to hear more later.  Still others, a few, believed and joined with Paul to explore their newfound faith. 

The bottom line about sharing your faith so others can know about Jesus always has these three possibilities – riot of unbelief, awakening of possibilities for belief, or conversion, the revival of a soul that was lost, and is now found.

For You Today

As you go about your task of living today, walking with Jesus, led by the Spirit, be aware of the opportunities that await your engagement; it isn’t about bringing back scalps to nail to the church membership roll – it’s about an eternity of joy, peace, and love in the Holy Spirit that you’re called to model. 

Your witness; it’s confusing sometimes; valuable always.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  © Victoria and Albert Museum, London (used with permission)    Unless noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©