December 7 – Focusing on God's Standards

        Psalm 89:16 – "They rejoice in [God's] name all day long; they exult in [God's] righteousness."

        This verse conveys the opposite mindset reflected in December 6th's topic. While the sinful culture should repulse us Christians, we need to have something stronger and better upon which to focus, lest we fall into despair. God is still in control and allowing man to make his own decisions.

        God's righteous standard comes from his very character, which is displayed in his reign as king of the universe. Verse 14 of this same Psalm states that "righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you." While the foundations of righteousness are crumbling around us (Psalm 11:3), what are believers supposed to do? We are to be examples of salt and light in this wicked world. Part of doing that is focusing daily – thinking deeply – on the standard of righteousness. Philippians 4:8 gives us the command "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things." If that reflection does not come easily, then we have to train ourselves to do so. With God's help, we can have our minds transformed, which concept appears in another command in Romans 12:2.

        Focusing on God's righteousness takes work. It is a conscious effort, a continual battle of the mind. For me, it means more meditation in God's word, and less news coverage on the TV. For you, it might mean less movie watching, and more fellowship with other believers that focuses on our purpose for living. However the focus happens, it will require a continual change on our part.

December 25 – Special Days

        Romans 14:5 – "One man considers one day more sacred than others. Another man considers every day alike. Each man should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so in reverence to the Master."

        As an adult, I have come to loathe Christmas Day and the entire Christmas season. From my experience with family, it has turned into a day of selfishness, indulgence, certain expectations, a veneer of religious sentiment, and a display of a waste of money on gifts for people who already have all we need. This is all based upon traditions that have been passed down through the centuries mostly among Europeans – traditions that have been based upon the actions of a certain "saint" named Nicholaus.

        This brings us to the concept of giving. I hear the world and Christians say that the Christmas season is the season of giving – as if the rest of the calendar year is the season for hoarding and stinginess. As Christians, we should be growing in a habit of continual giving, helping to alleviate the suffering of the poor throughout the entire year. Hunger doesn't wait one day, let alone 11 months.

        Many people will argue that St. Nicholaus gave because of his underlying faith in the fact that God gave his Son to the world to provide the possibility of reconciliation between God and man. That obviously is the greatest gift of all if we choose to take it and live our lives based upon it. For some strange reason, however, we have segmented the birth of Jesus, and have only allowed its story to penetrate our lives for the month of December, relegating it to repetitive yearly displays of the same old thing. There are fantastic songs related to the birth of Jesus, which should be sung year-round. After all, we don't limit any other type of song to a certain month. We talk about the rest of the Bible at any other time, but leave the incarnation of Jesus only for December. Go figure!

        This is my opinion, and I am convinced that it is right for me, as the above scripture states. I am not denigrating anyone else's beliefs about how they do or do not "celebrate" the Christmas season. Each one of us lives in relationship to God, and should worship him as we see fit, whether it is on a day or season that we hold dear, or if it is a day like any other. 

       Read the rest of Romans chapter 14 for a complete view of the main verse. Colossians 2:16, 17 are also related verses.

 

December 6 – Mourning Over Sin

        2 Peter 2:7, 8 – "....Lot, a righteous man, was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)...."

        We get a sense of Lot's predicament from reading Genesis 18, but we don't get the impactful statement above, until the Apostle Peter spells it out. In 2016, the Western world has grown to resemble Sodom and Gomorrah more and more. Even more so, society keeps drifting further from God as it doesn't take sin seriously any more, except in a few aspects. We, as children of God, should know better, however. If we have been saved out of our sinful states that were preventing us from drawing near to God, then we should constantly be growing to hate sin in our own lives, as well as grieve over the blindly sinful lives of the people around us.

        It is interesting to note that the righteous in Jerusalem who were sealed in the days of exiled Israel in Ezekiel 9:4 were those who "grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it." Since the nation of Israel was a foreshadowing of the body of Christ, the direct correlation, then is to sinfulness within the church, the body. Also, from the hard-hitting book of James in chapter 4:8-10 , we are instructed to "come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Master, and he will lift you in due time."

        Wow!  It's time again, for me to examine myself, to see if my heart and attitudes align with God's desires above. May God change my heart to be broken for the sinful behavior in my life and in the lives of those around me who are blind.

November 29 – The Weather

        Job 38:25 – "Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm[?]...."

        Given that there are only three sources of causality in the world (God, other spirit beings, man), I have often wondered to whom should be attributed certain acts of nature, specifically weather events. It is clear from Job chapters 38 and 39, that God is in control of all aspects of weather. However, as I look at details within the bigger picture of the entire Bible, I see glimpses of God allowing Satan to temporarily control the weather.

        At the beginning of the story of Job, Satan is allowed to "test" Job. He uses two different means in chapter 1: two separate raiding parties against his servants, and two separate "physical phenomenon" events against his servants and his children. One of these latter events contains strong wind, which causes a house to collapse and kill Job's adult children. It is clear from the text that even the "fire of God" in verse 16 was caused by Satan.

        There is another event - in the life of Jesus -  that lets me know that Satan can control physical phenomena. In Mark 4:35f, Jesus is asleep in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. His disciples were rowing across the lake, when a strong storm suddenly arises, apparently strong enough to start swamping the boat. The disciples awaken Jesus, and he immediately rebukes the wind and waves, and causes the storm to suddenly die down.

      So, who caused the storm? Jesus gave an explanation in Mark 3 when the Pharisees attributed Jesus' power to drive out demons, to the "prince of demons" himself. Jesus explained that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus also mentioned in John 8:28f that he only acted to please the Father. Therefore, if God had sent the storm on the lake, then Jesus would have been fighting against God. So the only other possible source of the storm is Satan.

        On the flip side, the scriptures attribute power and might to God when it comes to the weather. Psalm 29 is replete with references to wind/storm, possible tornadic. Matthew 5:45 tells us that God sends the rain on both the just and the unjust. The aforementioned reference to Job 38ff strongly attributes weather events to the power of God. So, who moves the hurricanes up the east coast? Or spins up a tornado in the plains? It is hard to say. I am in no position to presume the reason or source for localized weather events. However, the one who has ultimate control over his creation, will also hide me in the shelter of his wings (Psalm 91:4). Nothing can separate me from the love of God, even in the midst of a raging, destroying storm (Romans 8:38, 39).

November 18 − Possible Reasons for Sickness, Harm, and Death

        3 John, verse 2 – "I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."

        I firmly believe that God wants physical wholeness for all humans, especially those of the household of faith, as indicated in the verse above from 3 John. When we find ourselves asking "why is this bad thing happening to me", the scriptures detail many possible reasons therefore, and they give faith-laden remedies for overcoming/changing those circumstances.

        God demonstrated his perfect will through the life of Jesus. Jesus never turned away one single person who came to him, wanting to be healed. There is no such incident listed in the gospel writings.  Peter explains to us in Acts 10:38 - "....how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." This brings me to the first possible reason for sickness, harm, or death, which I believe is the most basic and prominent reason for all malaise.

> The devil, or demons, directly or indirectly bring(s) sickness and death.

        -John 10:10 − "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that

                  you may have life, yes, life to the fullest."

        -Luke 13:10, 11 – "On a Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in one of the 
                  synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit 
                  for 18 years."

        -Job 2:7 – " So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh and afflicted Job

               with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head."

> For the ultimate glory of God in healing

        -John 9:1-3 – " As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples

                 asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born

                 blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this

                 happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

> Lack of acknowledgement of God

        -Psalm 91:2, 14 – "I will say of Yahweh, 'He is my fortress and my refuge, my

                 God in whom I trust.' 'Because he loves me', says Yahweh, 'I will rescue

                 him; I will protect him because he acknowledges my name.'"

> To be spared from evil

        -Isaiah 57:1-2 – "The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; 

              devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous 

              are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter 

              into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." 

> Not correctly recognizing the Master's supper

        -1 Corinthians 11:29-32 – "For those who eat and drink without discerning 

              the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why 

              many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen 

              asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we 

              would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged

              in this way by Yahweh, we are being disciplined so that we will not be

             finally condemned with the world."

> Sinful behavior

        -Romans 1:27 – "...men also abandoned natural relations with women and 

             were inflamed with lust for one another. Men commited indecent acts 

             with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their 

             perversion."

        -1 Corinthians 6:18-20 –"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man

               commits are outside his body, be he who sins sexually sins against his 

              own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, 

               who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 

              You were bought at a price; therefore honor God with your body."

       -Jonah 1:1f – Jonah's disobedience brought about the ocean storm that 

              imperiled all on board

> Extreme eating; not taking care of your body; purposely ingesting poisoned 

         food or water

        -Proverbs 25:16 – "If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and

              you will vomit."

        -Proverbs 25:27 – "It is not good to eat too much honey...."

        -Proverbs 23:20 – "Do not join those who drink too much wine, or gorge

              themselves on meat...."

> Persecution (God's permissive will)

        -John 16:2-4, 33 – "'....a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think 

              he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they 

              have not known the Father or me [Jesus]. I have told you this, so that 

              when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you....In this 

              world you will have trouble, but take heart; I have overcome the world.'"

        -Revelation 2:10 – "'Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you,

                 the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer

                 persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will

                 give you the crown of life.'"

        -2 Timothy 3:10 – "Everyone who wants to live a godly life will be 

                 persecuted."

       The above scriptures refer to reasons why sickness, harm, and death come. Many times in the gospels, sickness and death leave, mostly due to the faith of the sick one, or his/her parent. Here are some reasons why healing comes and why healing may not come. For me personally, and for most of what I observe, healing is hindered by my lack of faith.

> Faith in God (or lack thereof) and doubting

        -Mark 9:23 – "'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who

                believes.'"

        -Matthew 17:19-21 – "Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and 

             asked, "Why couldn't we drive out the demon?" Jesus replied, 

             "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have 

             faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move 

             from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for 

             you."

        -Mark 11:23, 24 – "'Have faith in God', Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, 

             if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea, and 

            does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen it 

            will be done for him. Therefore, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe 

            that you have received it, and it will be yours."

> Persistence alone (possibly instead of faith)

        -Luke 18:1, 6-8 – "Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they

                should always pray and not give up.... 'Listen to what the unjust judge

                says. Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out

                to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will

                see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man

                comes, will he find faith on the earth?'"

> Not being considerate of wives

        -1 Peter 3:7 – "Husbands, be considerate, as you live with your wives, and 

              treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of 

              the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

        Some of these scriptures apply to all of us. A few might apply only in a small number of cases. Let us examine ourselves, and consider the possible reasons why we are not experiencing physical wholeness.

November 13 ─ The Golden Rule, part 2

        Matthew 7:12 – "So in everything, do to others what you want them to do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

        What a simple statement! Yet, how often do we go about our normal days thinking about this command from Jesus? This command is directly related to the principle of sowing and reaping, found in Galatians 6:7. For the measure that we use is the same measure that will come back upon us. We do get what we deserve, because God is not unjust.

        Would I like roadside assistance if my car breaks down? Then, provide the same to someone broken down. Would I like detailed directions to a Christian concert venue, while walking in downtown Baltimore? Then give directions to the simple-minded person who asks for directions to the local palm-reader. Wait a minute! Am I suggesting that I directly help a person in their pursuit of Satanic things? Not if it is in my power to re-direct them. However, regardless of my influence in that situation, it doesn't leave me off the hook of obeying Jesus, or of somehow thwarting someone else's free will to their own fate. To not show someone a simple kindness like giving directions when asked is simply sabotaging my own point in time when I will need the same.

        Have you ever heard the phrase "pay it forward"? It means doing something now so that good will happen to me later. This principle is really understated in our culture, because of the ever-decreasing growth of love and morality. People in Buddhist cultures who are serious about their beliefs understand this quite well. The same principle is called karma, and even pre-dates the life of Jesus on earth. Now we know that Jesus did not get his teaching from the Buddha; but God's simple truths can sometimes be found in other cultures and religions. After all, the deceitfulness of Satan contains just enough truth to cause confusion.

        I don't know how the name "The Golden Rule" came to be associated with this principle. Maybe someone thought it was a philosophy of high worthiness. The upshot of the argument is that the Golden Rule principle is very important to what happens to us, as our own actions to others comes full circle in the same manner.

October 25 – Keeping the Commandments on the Outside

        1 Kings 15:5 – " For David had done what was right in the eyes of Yahweh and had not failed to keep any of Yahweh's commands all the days of his life – except in the case of Uriah the Hittite." © 1973, NIV

        On the surface, this verse sounds as if it implies that King David was nearly perfect all his life, only failing to keep two commands from the law of Moses – adultery and murder. Well, David knew his heart better than that. Including the obscure sin of taking a census of the army in 2 Samuel 24, David repeatedly in the Psalms, both claims reliance on his own uprightness as well as confesses his own sinfulness, which was in him at birth (the concept of an inherited sinful nature). Is it possible that the above verse was written instead as an example of David's otherwise lifelong devotion to God as a man who "pursued God's heart" (Acts 13:22)?

        One can also look at this verse in light of how Jesus explained how our motives were part of keeping God's commands. The Pharisees were known for their penchant for obeying the letter of the law, but their hearts were far from pleasing God. In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us several examples of keeping the letter of the law, but utterly failing to do so, when the real motives of the heart are revealed. He mentions adultery of the eyes, murder of the heart, loving others in the smallest way possible, divorcing quietly, and bringing gifts to God's altar, while a dispute is still brewing with a brother. In verse 20, Jesus states, "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

        Pleasing God is more than just keeping his commands. It requires a change of heart, a desire to go beyond keeping the letter of the law, and to possibly sacrificing, in order to keep the spirit of the law.

March 1 – Shepherds of the Body of Christ

        1 Peter 5:1, 2 – "To the elders among you....be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers, not because you must, but because you are willing...."

        I have always been an idealist, someone who looks for that slice of utopia in certains aspects of life. I want to see the picture of a perfect world, or at least a piece of perfection in our skewed perception. One of those aspects has to do with the worldwide church's tradition of "the pastor". I use the word "tradition" because the "real-world" pastor and his role, do not necessarily meet the instructions thereof, found in the New Testament. On the flip side, God is so patient with his children, that he allows many things that are not in his perfect will. I am not referring to sinful ways, as they never receive his blessing. Reference 2 Thessalonians 1:11, where Paul prays for blessings on good intentions and purposes, whether they be from God's perfect will or from not knowing his perfect will in a situation. God will work through anyone whose heart is desirous to please him.

        Nonetheless, let us look at a few scriptures that describe a scenario where the broader church might not get things right. In English translations of the Bible, the word "pastor" usually shows up only once in the New Testament. This started in part with the Geneva Bible translation and carried over to the long-overused King James Version. Eph. 4:11 states, "It was [Christ] who gave gifts to people in order to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service...." The word "pastor" in this verse simply means shepherd in Greek. Therefore, let's look at a few pertinent verses about shepherds. Three pieces of this puzzle will suffice to get a clearer picture. Refer to the main verse above where Peter ties together the words "shepherd, overseer, and elder". In Titus 1:5, Paul tells Titus, "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might organize what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you." In Acts 20:28, Paul tells the Ephesian elders, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God...." In the early church, there was no structure where one man was the leader of a local body of believers. There was a plurality of elders, who humbly led the flock into God's truth. They were the overseers who taught the people God's ways and directed the affairs of the local body.

        In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul does state that the elders who direct well are worthy of double honor. However, I see leaders all the time who call themselves pastors in a possibly elevated manner. Jesus gives us a warning for such arrogant attitudes. In Matthew 23, especially in verse 7, he describes the wrongful actions of the scribes and Pharisees in this regard.

        For further study, 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 give the qualifications for elders/overseers. May God bless our efforts to serve him, even if those efforts are not in line with his ideal plan, or our perceptions thereof. That wish, however, does not mean that we should not strive to know God's perfect ways. We are all guilty of sometimes settling for God's 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th best, instead of desiring his 1^st best. Let us strive for God's best in everything.

October 16 – Being Cold (Not Lukewarm)

        Revelation 3:15-16 – "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

       These verses troubled me for the longest time. Whenever a preacher would focus on these verses, he would always categorize the coldness in the same bad light as being lukewarm, for one simple implicit reason. We, as a Western culture, consider being hot, and on fire, as having a passion for something. If we are cold, then, it probably implies laziness and apathy toward something. However, we cannot force that cultural mindset on a 1900 year-old writing from the middle east.

        In the verses above, it is only the state of being lukewarm that is at risk. Jesus actually states that he would rather have us cold, than being lukewarm. Consider that the people in sub-tropical, or desert, environments two millenia ago, placed a great deal of importance upon water. Water at a cold or cool temperature was certainly not to be maintained since there was no refrigeration. So, how did one obtain cold or cool water? There are several ways: 1) from a natural underground spring flowing out; 2) from a well that had been dug; 3) from flowing streams or rivers; 4) from a collection of water or snow from a mountainous (cool) climate or in winter season; or 5) from a collection of any of the above that would immediately be placed in an underground cistern, meant for keeping water a little cooler than room temperature. Obtaining water through options 1-3 would take some time and effort to get to the source (a well was usually open to the public). Option 4 would necessitate being in a certain physical location or season. Option 5 depended on one's ability to have access to a cistern, (which might have been private). If one was therefore able to obtain cold water, it would have most likely been due to a spur-of-the-moment effort to retrieve it. It would also have been quite refreshing, since already-stored water would have been at room temperature and would have been the norm to drink throughout the day (unless one had easy access to a cistern). [The use of large clay water jars might have kept water a little cooler than room temperature, but not for long.] Jesus mentions cold water once in Matthew 10:42. He states, "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, that person will certainly not lose his reward". Giving that cold water could have meant sacrificing a little time and energy in obtaining it on-the-spot, in order to refresh someone who needed it and could appreciate the refreshment (see also Proverbs 25:25). The same could be said about a hot drink when it is cold. Doesn't that remind us also of being salt and light to a world that needs preserving and that needs to see (Matthew 5)? Don't they also need the refreshing love of God's forgiveness and freedom?

        From the context of verses 17 and following, we see what being lukewarm looks like. The Laodicean church thought they were rich and lacking nothing. But God rebukes them for not realizing that they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked – all synonyms for being in a sinful state of existence. God advises them to buy refined gold from him – a reference to 1 Corinthians 3:11-13. God also advises them to buy white linen to cover their nakedness – a reference to an earlier verse, Rev. 3:4, which describes a worthy believer wearing white. How is any believer worthy? By accepting the righteousness that only comes from Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). The upshot is that being lukewarm meant that this so-called church may have had some people who thought they were in Christ but were really not Christians, or at the very least, were nominal Christians. This idea is further pointed to, in verse 20, where Jesus says that he is knocking on your door and will enter your house to eat with you, if you only let him in. That could be a salvation invitation and/or an invitation for closer fellowship with the Master who loves us.

        Remember that Revelation was given to John in a cryptic fashion, and often needs explanations for its metaphorical pictures.

February 2 - Examining the Scriptures

Acts 17:11- "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness. They examined the sacred writings every day to see if what Paul said was true."

        Blind Willie Johnson, a poor Christian blues-style acoustic guitartst, sang in the 1920s, "Nobody's Fault But Mine". The first verse states:

I got a Bible in my home

I got a Bible in my home

If I don't read it, and my soul's lost

It's nobody's fault but mine.

         

Do you have a Bible in your home? If not, I would suggest procuring one, and reading it, especially the New Testament, as it explains the mysteries of the "sacred writings" that Paul was explaining to the Bereans in the Acts 17 passage above. They didn't just take his word at its face value; they cross-referenced it with what they already knew from the accepted writings of the Old Testament, the Jewish scriptures. They were able then to mesh the two together in coherent understanding.

        If you have a copy of any faith's sacred writings, and don't take the time to read them, seeking for the truth in this world, then it's nobody's fault but your own, if you never find it. Further on in verse 27 of Acts 17, we are told that "perhaps men would reach out for God and find him...he is not far from each one of us."  Deuteronomy 4:29 also gives us a promise about finding God: "If....you seek Yahweh your God, you will find him, if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

        Let's not neglect reading God's book when it is right in front of us.

January 10 – Confidence in Eternal Life

        1 John 5:13 - " I write these things to you who believe [put your trust in] the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

        The apostle John wrote his first letter re-iterating several themes from his gospel writing, namely, that Jesus was the Son of God; forgiveness of sins through him; the command to love one another; and being confident that God lives in believers. Chapters 3 and 4 give us concepts of walking in love and knowing that Jesus was the exact representation of Father God. On the contrary, just believing mentally that Jesus is God's Son is not good enough. The Greek word for "believe", epistuo, connotes actually trusting in something, not just mental assertion of truth. It means to embrace the subject, not just acknowledge the facts. James 2:18, 19 states, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder [with fear]." The demons know the facts, but they cannot embrace the saving faith that you and I can. Showing faith by action is embracing the subject! Most of that action comes in changing our attitude and behaviors to come in line with God's ways, such as turning away from sin and starting to love others and God.

        The verse above comes on the heels of chapters 3 and 4, which give us tests of our faith. Then the statement comes that we may know that we have eternal life, not just hope, guess, pray, or wonder if we possess it. John gets his theme from the words of Jesus in John 17:3: "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." The rest of John 17 gives a sense of that "knowing", which is a unity between me and God, as if in a marriage. This is basically what Paul describes in Romans 7. If you are "married" to God, eternal life is the (super)natural outcome.

        Check out the entire chapters mentioned above for further details.

January 8 - Born Again

        John 3:3 - "Jesus said to Nicodemus, 'No one can see the kingdom of heaven, unless he is born from above.' "

        The term "born again" was quite popular during the Jesus Movement of the '70s. It has become quite in disuse in the 20-teens. Nonetheless, it is in plain view in John, chapter 3. Some translations use the term "born again" in this verse; some use "born from above". Both are correct, at least in grammar, and in the context of the story. We are all born once - physically. In order to get to God, however, we need to be born a second time - spiritually. This second birth must come from God himself. Whereas no one asked to be born physically, one must ask for the second birth, or at the very least, come to the state of ready acceptance of one's need of redemption, in which the next step would be a natural flow of God's new birth.

        This new birth also has many of other terms associated with it, in synonymous meaning. Just check out John 1:12 (receiving); John 17:3 (eternal life); Colossians 1:13 (rescuing); and Ephesians 2:7-8 (saved), for a few samples. Two other verses further give us different terms, as well as a challenge. 1 John 5:11 states that "he who has the Son [Jesus], has eternal life". 1 Corinthians 13:5 commands us: "Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you fail the test?" One way to know that we pass the test, is that we have a desire (and action) to turn away from sinful attitudes and behavior, and that we have a desire (and action) to produce good fruit, in opposition to sinful fruit (Luke 3:7-8). One further test is to see God producing his own fruit in us (Gal 5:22 & Psalm 1:3).

October 8 - Why Do I Stub My Toe?

        Psalm 91:9-12 - "If you live in the Most High, even Yahweh, who is my refuge, then no harm will fall on you, and no disaster will come near your house. For God will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

        The Bible is quite clear about many things, especially the plan of redemption for mankind through Jesus Christ. The important truths of the faith are solid and plain to understand. However, not all things in life are cut and dry. Neither is everything in God's word. Even Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now I know only partially; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

        I believe that the Bible has possible answers for many events in life for which we wonder why they happen. Some things that are unclear for me are: why are there hurricanes; why do I bite the inside of my cheek when chewing food; and why do I sometimes stub my toe on a heavy object? There are obviously many other examples that could come to mind, including serious subjects like why otherwise-healthy children get cancer, and why people get struck by lightning. I believe the Bible gives possibilities for these, but those subjects are for another time.

        Psalm 91 gives me a clue to my own toe-stubbing. It paints an overall ambiguous picture of living inside God, with a more specific idea of constant acknowledgement of him. Psalm 34:1 also states "I will give praise to Yahweh at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." I know that my problem is that I don't give credit to God enough - out loud, in front of my friends and family, and so that the world can hear. God is worthy of my praise from the time of awakening to the time of drifting off to sleep. He is the one who ultimately sustains my life and health every second of the day, even though my own decisions also play a part in my vital consequences. Every time my teeth come into aggravating contact with my inner cheek, I think of this psalm, and cry out "God, help me!"

        I believe that if we take a closer look at our own lives and a deeper look into God's word, we may find some answers that would surprise us.

October 7 - God's Anger

        Psalm 7:11 - "The righteous God judges; he is angry every day [with the wicked]."

        A thorough study of the Psalms shows a balance between God's love for mankind, for the righteous person, and for Israel; and his anger for sin and wicked, evil persons. There are many instances related to God's righteous judgments and his anger. In the context of the Psalm above, God is angry every day with the wicked, those are living in a state of wickedness. Paul, in the New Testament describes in detail in Romans chapters 3-7, how the sinful nature causes our evil state. Then, in Romans 7:24, 25 and in 1 Corinthians, 1:30, he gives us the remedy for being the objects of God's anger. Jesus Christ has become our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. If it weren't for our acceptance (reception) of Jesus being our scapegoat to take the punishment of God's anger in our place, we would still be in the place of incurring God's (impending) anger. In other words, Jesus has become our firewall, keeping the heat of God's anger from reaching us.

       This is not the same as incurring the consequences of our individual actions, while living as believers. That is another topic in itself. As John states in his Gospel and in his first letter, when we receive Jesus, he gives us the right to become children of God and the assurance of eternal life with God, not separated from him in eternal punishment. See John 1:12 and 1 John 5:11-13.

October 3 - Submitting to the Supreme Ruler

Psalm 2:10, 11 - "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling."

        The second Psalm is not credited to any author in the missing title. However, from the context, it appears that it was written regarding the reign of King David or Solomon. The kings in the entire Psalm are probably those of the outlying lands of the kingdom of Israel that David or Solomon had captured or subdued, and had brought under his control. The readers are commanded to acquiesce to the ruler, lest they incur the wrath of the ruler. In other words, life could still go well if the subjects were not bent on rebellion.

        The same goes for us as Christians. When we become God's children, we acknowledge the goodness of God, his forgiveness, and his authority to rule our lives as well as the whole universe. However, it doesn't mean that all of our sinful, rebellious attitudes have been erased. We must continually die to ourselves, so that we can let "the Son" reign in our hearts, minds, thoughts, and attitudes. After all, his ways are much better for us, better than those we selfishly cling to. So let's strive to become obedient children and let verse 12 be the outcome: "Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

October 5 - Alcohol in Moderation

      Proverbs 20:1 - " Wine is a mocker and beer, a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." NIV, ©1973

       I am still amazed at the number of adults who are ready to encourage minors in their consumption of alcohol, as soon as the minor turns 21 years old - as if the "green thumb" has been somehow missing out all of their youth on something incredible! At a recent OctoberFest at my place of employment, I noticed this firsthand, when an adult tried to get a fellow employee to have a beer after work. This fellow employee was still a minor, so she naturally declined. However, after having a short conversation with her, and after seeing her birthday note on the work calendar (Sheila's 21st Birthday - October 19 - Finally!), I realized that she had already tasted alcohol and couldn't wait for more, in a legal fashion. This youth actually had the gall to tell me (at 52 years old) that one actually had to learn to like the taste of beer - as if she had experiential knowledge of this (at 20 years old)!

       I am certainly not against legal adults drinking alcohol. I am not a teetotaler; the Bible is not against drinking alcohol. However, like anything else, we need to ask ourselves why we engage in our behaviors. There are really only two uses for alcoholic beverages - nutritional and drug-related. The former enhances health in the body in a natural way because it is related to moderate usage that does not affect the mind in a radical way. The latter is simply to alter the mood of an individual, either to "take off the edge" or to invite an unnatural euphoria. I will not argue for one wanting to take off the edge to reduce stress, but when alcohol is used to alter one's state of mind, it might as well just be heroine or cocaine!

       Either way, it is moderation, control, and motivation that is in question. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6:12: "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food, but God will destroy them both." The key words are "I will not be mastered by anything". He was wise in using the natural things in life, by not letting them get the best of him. Furthermore, he tells us later on in chapter 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God". This is why we drink or do not drink. The importance is the "why". Let us please God even in the way we drink.

October 1 - Love Not The World - Part 1

        Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will."

        1 John 2:12 - "Do not love the world or anything in the world...."

        The "world" in biblical language is synonymous with "the nations" in the Old Testament. It is analogous of the peoples who were not God's chosen nation. Under the New Covenant, that would be pagans, unbelievers, those who have not been "born again", those who are not in God's family.

        Conforming to a pattern means fitting into the mold, doing exactly as expected. Paul commands us in Romans to no longer slide so easily into that pattern of the world - how they act, think, and react. He then commands us to change. How? By changing the way we think. That change can only come when we start soaking in God's word. That probably means spending less time watching frivolous movies, less time listening to unproductive lyrical music, and less wasted time on the Internet. Do we want to know and walk in God's pleasing and perfect will? Then we need to find out what it is - purposefully. 

       Shortly after becoming a Christian at age 14, I sensed the Holy Spirit calling me to quit listening to the world's music. Two years prior, I had been turned on to current pop music on the radio, because the music sounded really cool. I learned to sing right along with the recorded vocalist, because I was passionate about the songs. When I learned that there were Christians performing music using genres that I liked, and using themes that brought glory to God and his ways, there was no longer any reason to listen to what the world produced. Now, after many years of finding what God's general will for living is, I can pick and choose some of the world's music that sounds good, because those filtered songs have lyrics that are spiritually insightful, have a nugget of truth, and/or are neutral enough, that one could fit them into a biblical worldview. The rest of the world's lyrical music (99%) still gets purposefully ignored.

 

        1 Peter 2:9-11 calls us "a chosen people, a holy nation, a people belonging to God....aliens and strangers in the world, abstain[ing] from sinful desires". As Jesus said, since we are not "of the world, but still in it", we should not act like it. As we grow into that transformation, we will learn how to test what is God's good will for us, a will that is seeking to lead us into beneficial things, not just things that we think will make us feel good. So, let us make every effort to be in a constant state of transformation, seeking to please God.

September 30 - Humility in Duty

        Luke 17:10 - "So when you have done everything you were told to do, you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

        Recently, my supervisor at work called me while I was working the evening shift. Among other things, she thanked me for being a responsible worker and for doing what I was asked to do, which was sometimes a different task each day. I responded by saying that I was only doing my job.

        In the story of Luke 17:7ff, Jesus is calling us to be humble in our servanthood. After all, God is the Master; we are the servants. He is in control; we are the workers in his kingdom. The same goes for being employees for our company or boss. We have agreed to be compensated a certain amount of money and/or benefits for doing a certain amount of work. Why should we expect anything more? On the contrary, we should follow Colossians 3:22-24, knowing that it is God who we ultimately work for, and who will ultimately reward us. Galatians 6:7 also comes into play here. We really will reap what we sow. If I work to enhance my employers' business, then his blessing will become my blessing. If I increase his earnings, then I might possibly increase my earnings, however without expecting to do so. The opposite is even more true. If my employer loses money, I can certainly not expect to make more.

        So, do what you are required and more, with a humble attitude, and let God take care of you.

September 19 - Feelings and the truth

        Jeremiah 17:9 - " The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

        2 Corinthians 5:7 - "We live by faith, not by sight."

        Feelings/emotions are a strange topic to discuss. Every moment of our lives is sensory in nature to some degree. How we react to truth, falsehood, and the perception thereof, involves not only the mind, but how we feel about those facts of life and perceptions about those things of which we don't know the facts. We obviously live day-to-day based upon facts of life. For example, I go to work to earn a paycheck, whether I feel like it or not. Because, if I don't go to work, I do not get paid. When I got married, I entered into a lifelong relationship/commitment that just doesn't dissolve because I don't feel like I am married anymore. As Wendy Kaiser once told in a story about a friend whose marriage was on the rocks, "Honey, you better adjust your feelings to the facts."

        When I became a Christian, or just before, I had somewhat of a supernatural tangible experience. However, my faith in God's redemption for me is not based, nor was it ever based, in my feelings or physical experience. The truth of the gospel is founded upon rock-solid facts about God's love and plan for redeeming the world, not about feelings or emotions that you or I have experienced along the way. Remember what Paul said in Galatians 1:8 - "If we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a good news solution, other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be eternally condemned!" Therefore, if, e.g., the Morman missionaries, or the Jehovah's Witnesses females, come knocking on your door with their different truth, do not be fooled by their emotional arguments based upon a warm feeling that they had when they supposedly met God. The reason is that they point to that emotional feeling as confirmation of a sealed deal. They haven't read Jeremiah 17:9, mentioned above. Truth does not depend on how I feel; it depends upon God's rock-solid revelation.

January 7 - Do Something

        James 1:22-25 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says, is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, then goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. However, the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - that man will be blessed in what he does."

        Most of us comb our hair, using a mirror. Why? Because we want to know how we appear when others see us. Or we simply want to make sure that we have groomed ourselves so as not to appear terribly unkempt and ridiculous. When we are finished with the grooming, we rarely need to look again, unless an outside force, or time and gravity, has wrecked our previous efforts. We rarely have to take a second glance to make sure we parted our hair on the correct side; or to make sure that we even addressed it at all before we left the house. Those steps are fairly basic, and would be absurd, if from one hour to the next, we wondered if we ever combed or brushed our hair at all that day!

        So too, is the absurdity of simply listening to a Sunday message, and then not putting it into practice. Or simply reading a chapter in the Bible, just to say that we did so for the day. God doesn't want to see how faithful we are in our religious rituals. He wants to see action, and that from the heart. 1 John 3:18 states, "Let us love not with words or tongue, but with action and in truth."

        Years ago, I had training classes for my job. I was told that the best way to learn anything was to read the instructions aloud, while performing the task, then repeating the process. I was also told that simply reading or hearing instructions with no other action, only gave the learner a 10% chance of remembering what he heard. So if I want to be blessed and understand God's ways deeper, then I must do - regularly.

January 5 - The Great Puzzle

         Romans 16:25-26 - "Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings, by the command of the eternal God,......"

        The Bible is like a great, complicated jigsaw puzzle. It is obviously a huge book, written by many authors over a period of history approximately 1500 years in length, from c. 1400 BC to AD 90. Its "revelation", i.e., how God reveals himself to different persons and to what extent, is quite varied. That is why it is like a jigsaw puzzle. Some sections may be easy to figure out; some may take a long time.

        God himself kept some things hidden, through the years, from mankind, as the passage in Romans above (and others) states. However, Hebrews 1:1-3 clears up that mystery a good bit: "In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word....." Jesus claimed to be the ultimate revelation of God's nature and existence. That doesn't necessarily make everything clear to us humans, but it gives us enough to understand and enough in which to place our faith.

        After all, faith is putting our trust in something that is not quite a reality yet in its fullest measure. There will come a time when our "faith shall be made sight", as the old hymn has stated. I Corinthians 13:12 states, "Now we see only a poor reflection, as in a [ancient looking-glass] mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now, I understand partially; then I will know fully, as I am [already] fully known [by God].

January 6 - For Your Own Good

        Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - "Now, O Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask of you, except to revere him, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve him with all your heart and soul, and to observe his commands and decrees that I [Moses] am giving you today for your own good?"

         Many non-believers who give excuses for not wanting to follow God's rules do not realize the truth in the above verses. God has given us laws and rules to follow in order for our lives to be blessed, for things to go well, and in order to keep from being self-destructive. Isaiah 48:17-18 follows this theme, in that God is trying to teach us what is best for us. Isn't this exactly what a loving father does for his own children?

        Jesus re-iterates the need to keep the commandments in Matthew 19:16-22, but then gets to the heart of the young man in the story. The man did not have a problem with keeping the commandments or so he thought. Jesus told him specifically to sell his possessions and give to the poor; but he left Jesus in a sad state of mind, because he had great wealth. Perhaps he was unknowingly ranking his possessions in order of importance ahead of God. Perhaps he was keeping the commandments in deed only, but not in heart. Did he really love Yahweh his God with all his heart and soul (Matt. 22:37)? Did he really put God foremost in his life (Exodus 20:3)?

        Jesus also gets to the heart of the matter in Matthew 6:25-34 - which is that our heavenly Father loves us so much, that he will take care of us. So, don't worry. Surrender your life to him, and allow him to take care of you. All of these sets of verses are really tied to the nature of God - that he loves us and wants the best for us.

January 9 - The Word of God is Alive

        Heb 4:12 - "The Word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword and penetrates......judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

        Acts 7:37-38 - "This is that Moses.....[who] received living words to pass on to us."

        The Bible is not just a collection of spiritual stories, a history of people who had personal encounters with angels and with God himself. It is not just an inspirational book to help us live better lives in our communities. It contains the very words of God, the very thoughts of God, and his will for mankind. It is a collection (canon) of writings by individuals who were "carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-20). These latter verses also state that "we will do well to pay attention to it". Not only does this include the Old Testament canon (which Jesus recognized and used), but it also includes the words and history of Jesus, as well as the writings of the apostles (even before they were canonized); (cross-reference Matthew 24:35 and 1 Peter 3:2, 15-17.)

        I am not surprised at radical Muslims who kill in the name of Allah or the Quran. There are texts in the Quran that would, at least, suggest this action, and at most, command it. They are trying to follow their commander and his commands, as if they were following the words of Deuteronomy 32:45-46: "When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them , 'Take to heart all the words that I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to carefully obey all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life." (emphasis mine)  Jesus then comes along and fulfills the law, giving us a broader and fuller revelation thereof, and of God our Father. Therefore, the active and living (written) word of God, should be your life and my life - not just the religious component for righteous living. It should be the guiding light for everything in our lives.

February 1 – The Power of Pardoning

        Psalm 130:3-4 – “If you, O Yahweh, kept a record of sins, O Adonai, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."

        The first part of this passage brings to mind several other verses in which our perceptions of God's mercy might be a little skewed. In 1 Samuel 6:19-20, God puts to death 70 of the men from Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark as it was traveling on the cart pulled by oxen. In verse 20, the question is asked ".....who can stand in the presence of Yahweh, this holy God?" In conjunction with Acts 5 regarding the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, there are some blatant acts that God will (has) not put up with, resulting in the death of people. On the contrary, God is perfect and completely righteous, while we humans are sinful by nature. Yet we manage to live 70 or 80 years (in God's presence). God is also by nature, patient and full of love and mercy, putting up with our general sinfulness and selfishness all of our lives.

        Revelation 20 mentions the great judgment of God at the end of time. Books are opened; the dead are judged according to what was recorded in the books. So God does keep a record of sins, as well as good deeds; yet we stand in his presence while we live. These passages appear to be in disagreement. The competing concepts can appear to be oxymoronic on the surface. But, as Romans 3:4 states, "Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.' " Our perceptions and understanding is not always clear or complete.

        The second part of Psalm130:4 reminds me of a scene in the movie Schindler's List, Steven Speilberg's World War 2 classic. Oscar Schindler is meeting with a German officer half way through the movie. They are discussing the concept of power, as the Germans successfully wielded it against the Jewish people and other nations surrounding them. Oscar offers the officer an even greater level of power - the power of pardon, when one already holds the power to punish. The officer is intrigued by this concept and eventually utilizes it as a means of showing ultimate control over the oppressed person.(Cross-reference Proverbs 19:11.)  A little later, however, the officer kills the "pardoned" person arbitrarily. This analogy of God's power obviously does not fit perfectly, because God is not arbitrary in his judgments. However, he is to be revered, because he does hold the power of both forgiveness and punishment. The difference with God is that his nature is loving and merciful, not evil and hateful. We can humbly come to him, seeking his mercy and forgiveness, knowing that he will give this good gift to us.

September 7 – God's Faithfulness

        Lamentations 3:21-25 – "Yet this I call to mind, and I therefore have hope: Because of Yahweh's great love, we are not consumed, for his acts of compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.......Yahweh is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who pursues him."

        This has always been a favorite passage of mine, along with 1 John 1:9 which is related. It reminds me that I can start over with God each and every day, knowing that it is his faithfulness to me that is the controlling factor. My faithfulness to him is growing, but negligible, and lacking. God, however, knows that we are only dust, frail humans who fight against the sinful nature within us.

        2 Timothy 2:11-13 is also related and highlights God's faithfulness, even when we are not faithful to him. It is God's nature to be faithful in dispensing his love. That is why we should focus on his great love for us, and live accordingly in pursuing him and the understanding of that great love and faithfulness. Paul's prayer for Christians in Ephesians 3:16-19 is worth repeating: "I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit, in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all believers, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God."

September 2 – Work Ethic

        Col. 3:22-24 – ".....obey your earthly masters in everything; do it, not only when they are watching and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and respect for the Master. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if you were working directly for the Master, and not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Master as a reward. It is Christ you are serving."

        Do you want peace on your job? Do you want to reduce the amount of drama? Do you want to increase your chances for a raise? Then simply obey the verses in Colossians. Everything we do should be a reflection of the good things that God is doing in our lives.

        Well, what if I don't like my job? What if my boss is a jerk? What if I can never please my superiors? Firstly, we should take stock of our own behavior and attitude, and adjust it accordingly. We cannot control the actions of others, only that of ourselves. Remember, that it is God who is looking out for us, when we choose to obey him. Gal. 6:7 states that we also reap what we sow. So, God will remember all of our actions and repay us accordingly. Do you want a good return? Then, do your positive part up-front. If you give that employer 102%, it will return to you in a positive manner.

        I recently took home an older vacuum cleaner from my workplace. The upright shaft for pushing around the vacuum had become worn and in disrepair, so that one could barely push the machine normally. Someone had duct-taped the two metal adjustable pieces together, thus producing a shoddy, incomplete repair that probably worked in the short-term. I removed the old repair, fixed the metal tubing, cleaned all the parts, then used epoxy to solidify a repair of the shaft – all of this on my own time. I returned the machine to working condition on the job, as a favor to my employer, who was quite happy and a little surprised at my initiative.

        So, even if you are just sweeping a floor, do it to the best of your ability, because God is watching, to bless you. And don't forget Titus 2:10b, "....so that in every way we make the teaching about God our savior, attractive."