December 28 – End of Plans

        Psalm 146:3, 4 – "Do not put your trust in princes, who cannot save. When their

spirit departs, on that very day, their plans come to nothing."

        As I was reading this Psalm one day, verse 4 really jumped at me from the page. It caused me to pause and think deeply of the word "plans". That sentence has quite an obvious meaning. When I die, my plans for me will certainly end, as my eternal

beginning starts. Also, in the context of the verse, the plans belong to rulers, leaders of the nation. We are commanded to not put all our eggs in the political basket (even

though one may work toward political goals). God is the only one in whom we should place our trust.

        Obviously, there are plans currently in motion, even by people who have already died. They saw that there were money and resources to keep their plans going, after their demise. This happens quite frequently by philanthropists of all kinds, whose trusts and charities have been developed to outlast their lifetimes. Compare this idea, however, with I Corinthians 2:6-8 – "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age nor the wisdom of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Now, the picture becomes clearer. If my plans do not align with God's plan in this world, they will certainly end in futility, because God's plans will be accomplished (Ps. 33:11).

        The contrary is also true. If I have devised plans that align with his ways and purposes, then God may bless those and allow them to be perpetuated for his glory and for the good of mankind. Read Acts 5:33-39 for an explanation of this concept by Gamaliel, a Sanhedrin council member who spoke in favor of, apparently, wisdom and temperance, when dealing with the newly-formed group of Christians. But I believe that he understood the broader picture of God's plan of salvation; so, he was actually speaking on behalf of God's plan.

         What do you plan to do today? Is it something selfish? Is it something to help another person? Is it something to further the kingdom of God? Are you planning for an eternal future with God?

December 18 – You Are Valuable to God

         Matthew 10:31 – "So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

        Ever wonder why we have speed limits? Or crosswalks? Or any number of other laws that restrict our free flow of movement? They are there to protect us – yes, to protect us from harming each other with large pieces of machinery (like cars). Why do we need protecting? Because we are valuable. In 2017, society sometimes thinks this way, at least for those who are not elderly, or who are already born. Think of how many legal rights and accommodations are given to the handicapped. People are thought to have intrinsic value. The ultimate reason is that we are made in God's likeness – we are valuable because he puts a high value on us, not because society assigns values to its individual segments.

       Think about these verses. Genesis 1:27, 31 states "So God made created man in his own image....God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Psalm 139:14, 17 states, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made....how precious concerning me are your thoughts, O God!" Matthew 6:26 states, "Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Psalm 8:4, 5 states, "What is man that you are mindful of him....you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned him with glory and honor." 1 Peter 5:6 states, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." Finally, put these two passages together, which have even yet more bird references. Jesus says in Matthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings." Psalm 91:4 states, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."

       Are you starting to see a concept emerging, that describes us humans as having worth in God's eyes? Today, meditate on how much God loves you. Psalm 103:13, 14 – "As a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust."

November 28 – Have Mercy

        Psalm 88:3 – "For my soul is full of trouble, and my life draws near the grave."

        I have always thought that this is the darkest psalm in the sacred writings. There is not even the slightest glimmer of hope. The psalm can be summed up in the words: "God, have Mercy!" The writer is clearly afflicted with some type of mortal physical ailment, perhaps chronic, that is pulling him ever closer to death. We don't know how old this person is, but it sounds like he has dealt with this problem since his youth (verse 15). One thing is clear; he attributes his sickness to the wrath of God (verse 7). Yet he appeals to God to rescue him from this sickness.

        Have you ever felt this way, either from having a lengthy sickness, or from other negative circumstances in life, or perhaps from a spiritually dry time (see Psalm 42)? As I read this psalm for the umpteenth time, I still cannot find any hope within the psalm itself. It is simply a dark prayer to God, conveying the writer's actual feelings of despair.

At the very least, the writer knows that there is a God to whom he can appeal (vv 1, 2). After that, there is no whisper of hope, only a desperate cry. Looking back from the New Testament revelations, there are a couple of questions that arise from his further statements. In verse 5, the writer states that God no longer remembers the dead, or cares for them. However, in Luke 16, Jesus tells that dead persons are either in torment in the flames, or in peace in Abraham's bosom, the latter clearly conveying the thought that the righteous dead are cared for, and not forgotten.

        While Exodus 4:11 intimates that God makes one seeing or blind, lame or ambulatory, Acts 10:38 plainly states that Jesus went about healing people who were under the power of the devil. Matthew 8:16, 17 also points to Jesus fulfilling OT writings about healing the sick. So, we know that while God allows sickness, it is most likely attributed to the devil. Did the writer of this psalm realize that?

        Verse 16 states, "Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have ruined me." No reason, however, is given for God to be displaying his wrath in the writer's life. Did he commit some egregious sin? Is he continuously practicing sin against God? The latter certainly prompted God to punish the nation of Israel. Perhaps this was written as a reminder to call on God, no matter how bleak the situation looks. Remember the persistent widow in Luke 18.

        Psalms 42 and 43 are companions to this Psalm with the same themes. However, Psalms 42 and 43 offer hope by reminding the writer to praise God, his joy and delight (Psalm 43:4).

October 27 – Foreigners Born in Jerusalem

        Psalm 87:6-7: "Yahweh will write in the register of the people: 'This one was born in Zion.' As they make music, they will sing, "All my fountains are in you". (NIV, copyright 1973)

        I had a revelation today, 2017, regarding this Psalm. I had always thought that this was some obscure, irrelevant short ditty, especially the last verse, which made no sense to me, and which seemed out of place in the psalm. Au contraire!

        Like so many prophetic writings of the Old Testament, this one points to several New Testament passages – John 3:1-8, Revelation 5:9, Ephesians 1:5, & Romans 11:13-21. God is in the adoption – choosing – redemption – business. He is always working, drawing people out of the world, and into his family. Just like Leviticus 19:33 intimates, God wanted ancient Israel to welcome aliens into his people, but only on his terms – not on deceptive, selfish terms, as is described of the people of Gibeon in Joshua 9. So the entirety of Psalm 87 describes the adoption of Gentiles into the family of God, being a part of the chosen people, not by natural birth, but by adoption. It goes further than that. God then says in verse 6 that these people will be considered as being natives! God doesn't look at me as a "red-headed stepchild", a part of the family, but actually unwanted. He calls me his son, and writes my name in his book of life (Revelation 3:5; 20:12).

        After researching the original language of verse 7, I was finally able to understand its meaning. The word "fountains" is probably not a clear translation in this case. It was probably used for its poetic nature. In our culture, a fountain is a man-made water sculpture, resulting in a beautiful flow of electrically-pumped water, emanating in an artistic spray. The original Hebrew word means "springs" or "sources", meaning a place where water naturally flows from the ground, which usually does not include an upward spraying of water. (One well-known exception would be Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park.) A spring usually just appears out of the ground, where it might not be expected. It is a source of water from a hidden place of origin.

        Keeping that thought in mind, verse 7 fits perfectly in this psalm. Having been adopted by God into his family, it makes perfect sense that my source of life is God himself. He has given me birth and life itself; I had no power to create my source of life or well-being. All my breath and life were given by God (Acts 17:25); he deserves all the glory for such.

 

October 13 – A Biblical Worldview Microcosm

        Psalm 73:16-17 – “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me, till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny”. (NIV, 1973)

        Have you ever pondered deeply about why certain persons or classes of people prosper or why other cultures seem to perpetually struggle for survival? What about the carefree attitude of many people in our own country? What about your co-workers who are so wrapped up in following the Hollywood “elite”? I could ask many more questions about what we see happening around us.

        The writer of Psalm 73 is asking the same question, wondering why certain people that he deemed wicked, would prosper greatly within a culture that started out following God, but then largely falling away from living by his ways and commands. He is obviously thinking that any pagan can do well, even as this person thumbs his nose at God. That thought is predicated upon the idea that God only blesses those who embrace his righteous ways. So what gives, when that idea goes by the wayside?

        Psalm 73, overall, is a small summary of the biblical worldview of personal destiny and how it comes about. Jesus ultimately showed us a more complete understanding of what the Old Testament writings were intimating. With that in mind, verses 2-12 can be understood in the light of Matthew 13:24-30, the story of the wheat and the weeds. God allowed both to grow up together. What follows verse 17 is a microcosm of man's destiny that Jesus described. Verses 18-20 are a vague way of describing hell (see Matt 7:13, 5:22, 5:30). Psalm 73:21-22 are a confession of our blindness in understanding God's ways. God has to take the scales from our eyes for us to see the truth and goodness of his word and worldview. Verses 23-26 describe the changed heart and secure state of a believer, who now desires to please God, living in his salvation.

        The final two verses once again summarize those who will be cast out of God's presence, and those who will enjoy his presence. As one reads the entirety of God's word, it is so refreshing to see the revealed truths of the New Testament in the partially concealed truth of the Old Testament. Psalm 73:1 surely points to Matthew 5:8 - “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

September 16 - Disastrous Weather

       Psalm 46:8 - "Come and see the works of Yahweh, the desolations he has brought on the earth."

       I have often wondered and pondered why God allows tornados, hurricanes, and floods - "natural" disasters, as the world calls them.  Is the weather simply a matter of seasonal course of events that God set in motion in Genesis 8:22?  Or is God  interactive in the  weather that we experience?  If he is interactive, why must he bring such devastation?  After all, this planet does belong to him.  Psalm 24:1 states, "The earth is Yahweh's and everything in it; the world and all who live in it." 
 Every time a hurricane slams the Caribbean, United States, or more frequently, the western Pacific, I marvel at the paths thereof, and their destructive inherency.  The leading scripture above comes to mind.  Despite the fallen nature of this planet, we still see such striking beauty in the creation.  And then, in a matter of a few days, a relatively small island is devastated, such as Barbuda was, from Hurricane Irma in 2017. 
        The Hebrew word for desolations in the above Psalm is "shaw-moht", meaning a waste or horror.  It is also found in many verses in Jeremiah and Isaiah, as they relate to judgment upon Jerusalem, Israel, or Babylon, as a result of their sinfulness.  The context of Psalm 46 seems a bit ambiguous as it relates to this verse.  The writer was mostly thinking about God being our help in the midst of trouble, whether it was from nature or from war.  He was most certainly not thinking about a hurricane, living in 9th-century Palestine, although Job chapter 1 may have been in the back of his mind, recalling the disaster that happened to Job's family at the power of Satan through the arm of nature, allowed by God. 
        I don't have a clear understanding of why this destructive phenomenon occurs.  However, I know that Psalm 46:1 was written for our encouragement as believers.  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging."  Trusting that God's judgments are righteous and true is the key in continuing life with a positive and beneficial attitude after such "desolations".

February 14 – Sexual Behavior Versus Feelings

        I Corinthians 6:9f – "Don't you know that wicked perons will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither sexually immoral persons, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not male prostitutes, nor practicing homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were...."

        In 2017, the world is letting everyone know how they feel, every day, all day long. Facebook allows us to do so, ad nauseum. The general "moral values" of our culture have also changed quite dramatically over the last 20 – 60 years. Some things that were considered "sinful" by the culture sixty years ago, are acceptable today, even arrogantly flouted. The culture has changed because the "veneer of cultural Christianity" (as I call it) has worn off, and the culture is left with its blatant sinfulness uncovered. True believers, however, do not stand by the whims of the culture. They stand upon the solid rock of God's word, which does not change like shifting sand at every breaking wave.

How is one to act when inundated by the supposed balancing statement of "Love the sinner; hate the sin"? There is so much hullabaloo, even in the body of Christ, about loving everyone regardless of one's sexual orientation. Therein lies the crux: orientation versus godly behavior.

       When I was in Bible college in the 80s, I had a close friend, a roommate for one semester, who was sexually oriented toward the same sex. His outward mannerisms certainly pointed in that direction (stereotyping notwithstanding, as even stereotypes are based upon some semblance of truth). He confided to me what was already obvious. Why did he need to confide in anyone? Because he knew that his orientation – his feelings, if you will – was not normal, and it was leading him into temptations toward sin with which a child of God might deal. Was it his fault that he was raised and surrounded mostly by females during his most formative years, when his self-esteem was the lowest? The point that I am getting at is that sexual orientation is very deep in our beings, even argumentatively "natural". However, the animal kingdom decidedly argues against that thinking. Why? Because animals are hard-wired sexually (call it instinct; call it God's handiwork; it is the same), even though there are some species that are quite social. Humans are are at the top of the social ladder; so we can be taught, consciously or sub-consciously, to ignore what is "natural". Our minds have great capacity to do so. A village might not be necessary to raise a child, but a child can certainly be a product of that village's values. Professional marketers know that all too well.

        The Greek word for "practicing homosexuals" in the above scripture is "arsenokoitai", which literally means "man having sex with man". It is forbidden in the New Testament as well as the Old Testament (See 1 Timothy 1:10, where the same Greek word is used; Leviticus 18, especially verse 22.) Both New Testament references here also include the general term for sexual immorality, the Greek word "pornoi", from which we get the English word, pornography. It is a reference to any sexual act that is sinful, which is basically anything outside of marriage. (Marriage is defined by God to be a union of one man and one woman for the duration of their lifetime together- no exceptions. Jesus confirmed Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:1-12.) So, homosexual behavior is not singled out as being worse than other forbidden sexual behavior. It is, however, grouped together with other sexual behaviors that are practiced by non-believers.

        In the mind of the Christian, there should be no need to know someone's sexual orientation. It is irrelevant as it relates to behavior that is pleasing to God. Which leads me to my thoughts on why sexual orientation is so touted as important to the world. Since our culture has increasingly ignored God's commands, which are meant for our good (Deuteronomy 10:13), it seeks then to justify its own behavior, by flaunting itself, instead of hiding it in the darkness. Hiding it insinuates shame; flaunting it insinuates justification. John 3:19 casts some light (pun intended) on this thinking: "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil."

        The upshot is this. As a follower of Jesus, I don't need to know or care about the sexual orientation of any unbeliever. I need to present the good news to them, based upon the bad news. The good news is that God will, and wants to, forgive them, and bring them into his family, teaching them how to best live their lives, while seeking and pleasing Him. The bad news is that they are enemies of God, kicking away at God's gentle, loving prods, because they are slaves to their own sinfulness. In relation to believers, God's word is clear. We are to conform our behavior and thinking in accordance with God's ways – regardless of how we feel about it. Love toward God is not a feeling – it is an act of one's will.

August 17 – What We Have Been Given

        Psalm 16:2 – "I said to Yahweh, 'You are my Master; apart from you, I have no good thing.'"

        Most of us find ourselves living our lives within the financial class in which we were born. When one is wealthy, it is a little easier to give up that corresponding lifestyle. When one is poor, it is very difficult to improve one's condition, as it takes much hard work and fortuitous circumstances.

        Today's thought has to do, however, with what we have, and more specifically, with what we have been given. I have always said that I possess things by two means – that which I have been given, and that which I have been allowed to have. I Corinthians 4:7 states, "Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did not receive it, why do you boast as if you did not (i.e., why do you boast as if you earned it)? So, there really are two ways of possessing things – by gifts or by earning. However, God is the one who gives us the ability to earn. Deuteronomy 8:17, 18 states, "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth..." The previous verse also states that it was God who faithfully gave daily manna "in order to test you, so that it might go well with you in the end." God's gifts and abilities are sometimes given to test our gratefulness to him, because everything we have ultimately is due to him.

        James 1:17 agrees with all the verses above. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of the heavenly lights..." Let us remember to give thanks to God for all the things in our lives, both great and small, common and special.

July 12 - Thinking Metaphorically

       Psalm 132:11-12 - "Yahweh swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: 'One of your own descendants I will place on your throne; if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever."

        There are many scriptures in the Old Covenant, referencing the "covenant" that God made with David, promising a descendant who will always reign on his throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-16 is the original promise. Psalm 89:3, 4, 35-37 also references this covenant, quite emphatically, while leaving out the conditional phrase of obedience. Of course the reference in Psalm 132 above does contain the caveat "...if your sons keep my covenant." We know that the final descendant to be a physically-reigning king was Zedekiah, who was taken captive into Babylon, when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem. There is no further reference in the sacred writings, alluding to a descendant of David – except for Jesus. So, how can these "promise" scriptures be true?

        The first answer has to do with the condition in the promise. The descendants of David were not faithful in keeping the laws of the Mosaic covenant, either personally or socially (meaning, nationally – as the leader of the nation). This in itself would render the promise null and void. But what about the references that allude to perpetual reigning, yet leave out the condition necessary for it?

        We know from the genealogy in Matthew that Jesus was descended from David, but not necessarily from Zedekiah's line. This fact at least stays true to a descendant of David always reigning on this throne. But wait! Jesus himself said in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest from the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Jesus takes the old promise and puts a metaphorical twist on it. The old promise becomes a double entendre – in other words, it has more than one meaning. God does this throughout the history of the Old Covenant. Take Daniel, chapter 12 for example. If we would look at some problematic scriptures through spiritual eyes, most of the head-scratching would be relieved in some fashion. 

       Jesus himself talked metaphorically quite often with his extensive use of parables. He even did so in the presence of his disciples. Look at John 16:17-31. Jesus states in verse 25, quite interestingly: "Though I have been speaking in allegories, a time is coming when I will no longer do so, but will plainly speak to you of the Father." How many times did Jesus say after speaking the parables: "For him who has ears to hear, let him hear"? He was obviously couching spiritual truths in ordinary language.

         We true "latter-day" believers have the luxury of hindsight, with the explanations of the fulfillments of the Old Covenant, fleshed out, in the writings of the apostles. Paul explains one double entendre in Romans, chapters 9-11. He clearly talks about the physical nation of Israel, being a metaphor for the church, the body of Christ, and how the body of Christ is actually the true Israel. Take for example Romans 9:6 – "It is not as though God's word had failed; for not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." This shift in emphasis in the New Testament writings to the church of Jesus is basically the foundation for why I do not adhere to the modern-day teaching of God fulfilling last-day prophecies through the current physical nation of Israel.

        The previous specific argument obviously needs much more reasoning and scriptures to back up my position. Space does not allow for that in this post, nor is that the goal in this writing. I am only trying to help you think outside the box, while still staying true to the integrity of God's word.

July 04 – Marriage Honored

        Hebrews 13:4 – "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all who are sexually immoral."

        My grandparents were married on July 4, 1943. They commemorated 50+ years of marriage. My parents were married on July 4, 1967. They commemorated 50+ years of marriage. Why someone would get married on Independence Day is beyond me. The same goes for Christmas. Why would you want to ruin a perfectly good holiday? (I do happen to know a couple who were married on Christmas.)

        All kidding aside, it is honoring to God to reach a human milestone in the life of a marriage. God made the first marriage with his first human creatures. He expected them to remain faithful to each other for their entire lives. God says in Malachi 3:13-16, "Another thing you do: You flood the altar of Yahweh with tears. You weep and wail, because he no longer pays attention to your offerings, or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, 'Why?' It is because Yahweh is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, as you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not Yahweh made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because God was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 'I hate divorce', says Yahweh, God of Israel...." In several New Testament passages, namely Ephesians 5:25-33 and Revelation 19:6-7, we see that marriage is a metaphor regarding believers and Jesus Christ, the ultimate wedding between the church-bride and the Lamb. So we see how serious God considers this concept, since faithfulness is actually pointing to that between us and him.

        What if I have broken faith with my spouse and with God? Is the relationship over? Not at all. God wants us to confess and turn away from our sinful behavior, so that he can forgive us (1 John 1:9). Then he asks us to be faithful from that point forward. Every day we can start again in that faithful relationship to our spouses and to God. Lamentations 3:22 states, "The steadfast love of Yahweh never fails; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning."

        Let's give glory to God for the example of faithfulness, when we celebrate someone's 50^th anniversary.

June 15 – More Valuable Than Cats

        Matthew 6:26 – "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, reap, or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they are?"

       In my hometown, there is a new business that recently opened in 2017. It is a cat adoption agency, where one can also bring your cat and participate in yoga with one's cat. One can bring lunch and enjoy it along with your cat, your friends, and your friends' cats. The persons associated with this business love cats so much, that they dress themselves with cat paraphernalia, and make up their faces to resemble cats, on a regular and public basis.

        I have also noticed over the past several years a new societal trend in America that elevates the status of animals, particularly dogs and cats, to the level of quasi-human respect, even verging upon worship. There are television commercials, decrying the plight of neglected and starving dogs and cats, pleading for your help in this cultural melee of pet abuse. The commercials portray these animals with such sad eyes, just like the former and still-present commercials for organizations that vie for your donations to relieve human suffering in Africa or India. What is a rich man to do?

        I have a cat that I feed and pet every day. It was a feral cat that showed up one day as a kitten, living in my wood pile. My wife took pity upon it, started feeding it, and it eventually lost its fear of us humans, enough so, that we had it spayed and took it into the house as a pet. Occasionally it escapes the house, runs around outside for a while, visits its previous home, then cries to get back in its safe haven.

        For thousands of years, people have done the same thing, domesticating dogs and cats, adopting them into the human family as a special pet. Why? It is obvious that dogs, and, to a lesser degree, cats have a tendency to assimilate to living indoors with a human family, enjoying human attention, and even showing loyalty in various degrees to those humans. No other animals normally and regularly are brought into this situation. Humans enjoy their pets!

        The word "cat" does not appear in the Bible. The closest related animal that does appear is "lion". However, that animal is not one that is normally domesticated. Generally, only dogs and cats become pets, because we don't eat them in America. In other countries, like Thailand, dogs can be pets, or one's dinner, but not usually as both. There are other tamed animals that we normally leave for the dinner table, such as cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and, in Thailand, goats. Psalm 8:6-8 states, "You, God, made [man] ruler over the work of your hands; you put everything under his feet, all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea...." God also states after the flood in Genesis 9:3, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." No animal is off-limits.

        So, then, animals are not on the same level of purpose as humans, and therefore, not on the same level of respect and honor. This, however, does not give us the right to abuse animals, but to treat them humanely, so as to reap the most benefits of their existence. Jesus stated in Matthew 12:11, within the greater context of the importance of the Sabbath, "If any of you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not pull it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep?" He is implying that the sheep does have value, but that man has much more value, in society, and to God himself. But why would the man care about one sheep? Because it supplied the man with a constant supply of wool, and possibly one day with a meal of mutton. The animal was recognized for its sustenance of human life, given by the Creator for man's good.

        The American Indian tribes have long had this general mindset of respect for life-sustaining animals, albeit sometimes too extreme. The main thinking, however, was that the Creator supplied the animals for the existence of humans, and that relationship should not be abused or otherwise treated wrongfully.

       On the opposite side of the coin, should I venerate an animal when it dies? Does not God know or care about his creatures? On the contrary! Psalm 50:10-11 states, "For every animal of the forest is mine [God's] and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine." Psalm 104:25-29 also states, "...the earth is full of your creatures...these all look to you to give them their food at the proper time...when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things...when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust." Finally, the theme verse of this topic states again, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, reap, or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they are?" God sees every squirrel, possum, bird, and domesticated cat that gets hit on the highway in front of your house. He is not phased or alarmed, even knowing that sometimes we love and enjoy these same animals, and are saddened by their deaths.

        Let's keep a proper and balanced perspective on our animals, not holding them too highly in regard, but in their rightful place. God is the one, who gives us all things for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17). He is the one who needs to be elevated in our thinking as the recipient of our praise, gratitude, and adoration, for bestowing upon us the good things we enjoy.

June 5 – Living Sacrifice

        Romans 12:1 – "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in light of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your reasonable act of worship."

        This is a verse that is heard quite often from the lips of preachers – and rightly so. It is obviously a good reminder verse – a reminder for prompting daily behavior and attitude. There is so much packed into this verse; it hearkens back to the Jewish sacrificial system found throughout the entire Old Testament. Now, however, instead of animals, humans become the sacrifice to God, but not through death. Rather, we are told to be an oxymoron, a living death offering to God, that is to be consumed by the flames upon his altar. After all, a sacrifice was to be either fully consumed by the fire, or its meat was to be eaten by the priests, and the rest consumed by the fire. Thus, two things resulted: the physical sustenance of the priests, and a pleasing aroma to God's nostrils. The first was literal; the second was mystical.

        One thought that comes to mind regarding this verse is to avoid sexual immorality. When we are born again, submitting our lives to God, we need to turn away from our sinful lifestyles, and start obeying God's commands. This agrees with instructions in I Corinthians 6:18-20: "Run away from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside his body, but 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." Under the Old Testament, if a person had to travel a long way to Jerusalem in order to sacrifice, he did not have to bring his own sacrifice; he could buy it there. Likewise, God has bought us humans with the blood of Jesus.

        Another thought regarding this verse is that, by a constant offering of our lives, this act of worship is our reasonable service. The Greek word for reasonable is "logikos", from which we get the English word logical. The apostle Paul is stating that our constant offering of ourselves to God is a normal, rational part of living in the Spirit. It is not just done on special occasions; this dying to ourselves is to be done constantly, just like living/breathing is done constantly. There is one problem, however. Dead sacrifices did not move; living sacrifices seem to want to squirm off the altar. We fight against the sinful nature, and do not want to die to our selfish desires. As the verse states, however, our dying to, and offering of, ourselves, is what pleases God. That is the goal for our lives – children living to please their good and faithful Father.

        God, grant us your power by the Spirit, to die to ourselves, and to live every day with a desire to please you, by our actions, words, attitudes, and service to others.

May 05 – Insights, Not Doctrine

        Proverbs 1:2 - "...for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;..."

        The book of Proverbs is interesting in several ways. On the surface, it would seem like a simple, straightforward book of sayings – and most of the proverbs themselves seem to be straightforward. However, beware of taking a proverb, or a string of them, and turning them into their own worldview. Chapters 1-9 are a discourse from Solomon; they contain much wisdom and guidance; but they are not individual sayings (proverbs). These start in chapter 10, and are written mostly as non-related sentences. In other words, the proverb after the one just read could be completely unrelated in nature. They are not meant to be a series of statements in a cohesive doctrine, compiled within a specific context. They are meant to be nuggets of truth, wisdom, and insight. Remember that God gave us the other writings in the Bible also as threads in the greater tapestry. They are all part of the bigger picture.

        The first part of chapter one is a prologue for the rest of the book, giving us the reasons and purposes of the proverbs. Then comes 9 chapters of a discourse on the importance of following the ways of wisdom, which flow together and are cohesive thoughts. After that comes chapters 10-31a, which contain the bulk of the individual sayings. The last part of chapter 31 is a cohesive, small discourse on a wife of noble character. The proverbs in chapters 10-31a can be tricky, because they can appear to be so succinct, to the point, and final (meaning the last word of a matter). For example, Proverbs 18:21 states, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Is the writer talking about causing physical death by the actual words spoken by someone? Can I speak healing to someone without the faith to heal and God's will to heal? Judge for yourself. Combine this proverb with James 3:1-12; Mark 11:22-23; and Ephesians 5:4, 19, to get a broader view of the puzzle, which is comprised of the individual pieces.

        Here is a profound saying from Proverbs 20:24. "A man's steps are directed by Yahweh. How then can anyone understand his own way?" Is this stating that I am just a puppet in God's hands, not responsible for any of my actions? That my own decisions are really not mine? That I am not a man of free will, much less free thought? There are many other verses in the Old and New Testaments that would answer negatively to those questions, and inform us that God does hold us responsible for own actions. This verse is quite general. Perhaps this verse is better understood in the light of Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 115:3; and Ephesians 1:11.

        Consider also an odd saying that appears to be bordering the false.  Proverbs 16:31 states, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness." Does the writer mean that all people who are gray are righteous? Or does he mean that older persons who have gray hair have achieved longevity due to righteous living? If the latter is true, did the writer observe this in his own long life, with his own perspective of righteousness, understanding that his own love of foreign women led him astray of fully following Yahweh? Regardless of any of those reasonings, why did the Holy Spirit lead him to pen these words? Is there some hidden spiritual meaning to a seemingly obscure saying of minor importance?

        The point that I am trying to make is that one cannot make a doctrine out of one powerful proverb, regardless of how well it seems to sum up a situation. We need the complete compilation of God's inspired writings to give meaning, purpose and correct understanding of God and his Word. Let's allow the proverbs to complement that which we already know, understand, and live.

May 1 – Caught Off-guard

        John 5:19 – "...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does, the Son also does."

        John 8:29 – " ...I do nothing on my own, but speak just what my Father has taught me."

        Have you ever been caught off-guard? Have you been surprised by a situation, not knowing what to do or say, because you weren't prepared for the circumstance? I am sure that has happened to all of us many times. I don't believe that it happened to Jesus. While Jesus may not have known every detail that was about to happen in his life every day, I think that Jesus was distinctly prepared to handle every situation, every day.

        Let's set aside for a moment, the fact that Jesus was specifically and especially anointed by God's Holy Spirit to do miraculous works. I believe that Jesus was never caught off-guard (even if he was "surprised" or did not specifically know of an impending situation, e.g., the time that he awoke from a nap in a boat on the sea of Galilee, in a terrible storm). He gives the reason in the verses above. He spent time in communion with God, hearing God's voice, getting instructions, and then executing them. He had the perfect relationship with his Father, and was an obedient son. He had a mission to carry out, and he was not distracted from that mission by anything.

        We could take a lesson from the life of Jesus. How often do we read where Jesus went away to a solitary place in order to pray – by himself? Oh God, how I need the discipline to make time to get away and focus my thoughts on you. Good and specific works might actually flow from such a relationship.

April 7 – Is My Fate Pre-Determined?

        Luke 14:24 – "Not one of those men who were invited, will get a taste of my banquet."

        This statement comes at the end of a parable that Jesus told regarding certain folks who were invited to eat at the great feast in the kingdom of God. Some people gave excuses as to why they did not want to come to the feast. So, at the end of the story, they were not allowed in. In the previous chapter, a related story has Jesus stating that they also begged to get in after the owner closed the door (Luke 13:22-30).

        In Romans 8 and Ephesians 1, Paul discourses on the destiny of believers [who obviously were at one time un-believers], as if their destiny in God's kingdom was pre-determined, which is exactly what the Greek word for "predestined" means. So then, did I have a choice in the greater cosmic theater, of which I play a very small part? This is obviously the argument for/against free will, which has been raging for centuries.

        Before I give my thoughts on the subject, remember that God is sovereign over all his creation, including what we consider history/time, even though God is not constrained by those concepts, having foreknowledge of all events and choices by humans. Acts 17:26 is a clear reference to me not being in control of one specific event in my life: when and where I was born. "From one man, God made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." God is ultimately in control of this planet; the remaining questions are: a) How much control does he give me; b) how much allowance does he give evil spirits; c) how much sovereignty does he wield unilaterally for his purposes; and/or d) does he work out his plans in conjunction with every other entity's free will? I believe that there is a balance in the answers to those questions.

        Let me give an example for each of the inquisitive scenarios above. a) Joshua 24:15 relates to me personally. "If serving Yahweh seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day, whom you will serve..." b) Chapters 1 and 2 of Job give a good description of what "the satan" (accuser) was allowed and not allowed to do with Job. c) Psalm 33:10 gives an example of God's sovereignty: "Yahweh foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. The plans of Yahweh stand firm forever; the purposes of his heart through all generations." Finally, d) Genesis 45:8 and 50:20 state that God was working through the decisions of Joseph's brothers, who sold him into slavery in Egypt, but that it was in God's greater purposes for this to happen. There are obviously many more sections of scripture that could back up each of these scenarios, which are reserved for another time.

        1 Samuel 23:7-13 also has a fascinating story of David asking God for foreknowledge of his enemy's intentions in order to circumvent them, which in the end, David does. So, who was trampling whose free will in this story? No one! God uses all the scenarios mentioned within his sovereignty of the world.

         Now, back to the main verse in this blog. I believe that it holds the key to the balance of my fate. In the story of Luke 14, all were invited (called, chosen) to enjoy the king's bounty, but all made a choice to partake or not, albeit with eternal consequences. Furthermore, in the companion story in Luke 13, Jesus commands us to do something in regard to entering: "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to."

April 6 – Co-operating With God

        2 Peter 1:5-7 – "For this very reason, make every effort to add goodness to your faith; and to add knowledge to goodness; and to add self-control to knowledge; and to add perseverance to self-control; and to add godliness to perseverance; and to add brotherly kindness to godliness; and to add love to brotherly kindness."

        Hebrews 12:2 – "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...."

        While God has made it clear that he has provided all the details for making our salvation sure, walking with God entails some work on our part. The production of the fruit of the Spirit is God's job, as any tree knows that it is a natural thing to produce fruit, as long as the tree is rooted and in good soil. That last phrase is what our part as Christians, is. Just like we are living sacrifices that can wriggle off the altar, so too we can move our roots in and out of good soil and water absorption. If we want God to produce his fruit in us, we must co-operate with him. We cannot be couch potatoes, expecting God to miraculously change our behavior.

        There are many scriptures in which God commands us to behave in godly ways, or to do something, which "triggers" God to do something. For example, James 4:8 states, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." In John 15:5, Jesus stated, "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." There is a cause-and-effect, a give-and-take relationship with God. So as we seek, worship, pray, study, act, give, do, even change ourselves (as 2 Peter 1 intimates), God will be faithful to do his part to change us even more, conforming us to his image and likeness.  Paul also states, "We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Master, and that you may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work; growing in the knowledge of God; and being strengthened with all his power...." (Colossians 1:9-11)

March 3 – Put Your Hope in God

        Psalm 43:5 – " Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."

        There are a myriad of answers to the question above. Your situation could be as serious as being a refugee, fleeing a war-torn nation. It could be as frustrating as trying to land a decent-paying job, after applying for hundreds of them. Whatever your disappointing situation is, there is hope to be found - and not just mental hope that is conjured by your own psychological workings to ease a troubled mind – although that is part of the solution.

        King David had his many troubles throughout his life, despite the great victories that God wrought for him. The Psalms are strewn with lines such as this: "I cry aloud to God. Deliver me from my enemies!" Psalm 42 and 43 are actually one Psalm in the original Hebrew writings, which is easily seen after reading both. The theme is a vacillating conversation with oneself, which asks the retorical question above, then answers with the encouragement to self.

        When the details of life do not go my way, I find myself asking God, "What's the deal?" Then I cry out for deliverance, like David does. The last step, then, is to stop my complaining and whining, and to remember to praise God for the good things he is doing in my life. Praise and thanksgiving to God is one remedy to our frustration. He is our savior in this world – not just from our sins – but from all kinds of evil, unfortunate events, wicked men, and bad attitudes, to name a few things.

        So when the anger comes to the top, take a few moments to pause, and remind yourself to put your hope in God, and in the fact that he wants to give you victory. He is your strong tower, your Savior, and the all-powerful one who is on your side (Romans 8:31).

October 2 - Love Not The World – Part 2 (Follow-up to October 1)

        James 4:4 – "You adulterous people! Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

        This verse supplements the theme already laid down in Romans 12:2 and 1 John 2:12. These are very strong words from James, the half-brother of our Master Jesus! He doesn't mince words about the seriousness of our devotion, allegiance, and love for God. 

        James uses the word "friendship" to describe this loyalty. However, he is not referring to friendships with persons; on the contrary, he is talking about friendship with the world's patterns, which are sinful and against the ways of God. Paul goes into detail about this apparent confusion in 1 Corinthians 5:9. He states, "I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or greedy, or swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world." Paul is referring in context here to believers in the Corinthian body, who were practicing sexual immorality as if it were acceptable behavior – believers who should know better. The people of the world do not know better; they are blind to the truths of God's ways. How will they ever see the light if believers do not shine it upon them?

       Jesus also iterates this idea. In John 17:15, Jesus says to the Father, "My prayer is not that you remove them from the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." The upshot is that believers are in the world, but not of the world. We live among unbelievers, but we are no longer stuck in their sinful patterns. We have been given birth into a new way of thinking and acting – one that learns to please God and to enjoy his ways.

        I used to be God's enemy as Romans 5:10 states. Why would I want to continue living as his enemy, as James 4 states, after I received his forgiveness and adoption into his family? I can be someone's "friend" without conforming to their pattern of living, because my allegiance is with the ultimate Friend, who is still conforming me to his pattern. Let's be the light and truth to those we call friends in this dark world.

March 2 – The Presence of God

        Deuteronomy 29:10 – "All of you are standing today in the presence of Yahweh your God...."

        "The Presence of God" is a mystical phrase that is used today in various ways. There is a popular song from the 2010s called "Your Presence, Lord". It suggests a physical manifestation (a revealing) of God's Spirit, similar to what we read in Acts, chapter 2. The song even longs for this manifestation. The aforementioned verse in Deuteronomy could suggest this same manifestation, or it could suggest a general view of all of us constantly being under the watchful eye of God, which basically means that he is "all around us" without actually existing within created objects.

        As to the former option above, when the Israelites were being reminded of the covenant given at Horeb (in Deut. 29:10), God was still leading the nation through the desert as a cloud by day and as a pillar of fire at night – a physical manifestation of God (who is spirit). Deut. 31:17 is the last reference of this specific manifestation, even though the tabernacle might still have been assembled after the ark of the covenant and the Israelites all crossed the Jordan river into the promised land. I doubt that this manifestation continued, since the Israelites had entered the promised land, notwithstanding the fact that the ark was yet to find a final resting place. This did not happen until David's reign; it was not until Solomon had built the permanent temple that the physical manifestation of God re-appeared where the ark resided.

        Nonetheless, there are several references in the Psalms and in Jeremiah 5:22, where the term "Presence" is used in the general sense that we are always in God's presence. Even though a physical manifestation is currently rare, it is no less important to understand that all of us are under God's watchfulness, in a positive and negative way. God notices when the least sparrow falls unto death, and cares about us infinitely more (Luke 12:7; Matt. 10:29). God also sees every intent of the heart, whether good or bad (Mark 7:21-23). 

       The NIV renders Psalm 89:15 as "....who walk in the light of your presence, O Yahweh."  That phrase is commensurate with how we think of the mystical concept of "presence" today.  Nonetheless, the Hebrew words for this verse are "....they walk in the light of your face..."  This is also a mystical phrase, because God's face is not the sun in the sky.  It is a phrase using a physical concept to describe something otherworldly.  No one ever sees God's face, physically or metaphysically (1 Timothy 6:16), but somehow that metaphysical light is shed upon us; hence, the reason for using the term "presence".  From this verse in Psalm 89, one could also theoretically argue for using the term "shining" instead of "presence".

        It is certainly not wrong to seek a physical manifestation of God's spirit, unless one deems it necessary in order to know(feel) that God's spirit is leading one's life. This  scenario suggests a walk of feelings or sight, instead of a walk of faith, the former being quite far from how God wants us to live (2 Corinthians 5:7). It would be quite difficult to live when hard things enter our lives, if feeling God's presence were necessary. Nonetheless, the book of Acts records several events of God physically changing the meeting environment. I have read of many events throughout history, in which God's spirit was physically manifested. So, it is not out of the question for God to reveal himself in a physical way, when he chooses to do so. However, his "presence" cannot be manufactured by our religious conjuring, which I have seen attempted numerous times throughout my life, and which, no doubt, occurs repeatedly in America's church services. God manifests himself physically when it is in his plan to do so.

         When God reveals himself in a physical way, you will know it. You won't have to guess or wonder. You will know it. In the meantime, let us grow in God's grace and faith, trusting in him, no matter how we feel or what we see, knowing that he is for us and not against us (Romans 8:31).

January 11 – God is Eternal

        Psalm 93:2 – "[God's] throne was established long ago; you are from everlasting."

        I believe that the hardest concept for the human mind to grasp is that God has always existed. How can one understand not having a beginning, like all humans have?  In order for God to be all-powerful, he would have to be eternal; otherwise, he would just be another created being with great power, and therefore would need a greater Creator himself – which leads us back to a being who was not created.

        When Moses at the unconsumed burning bush asks God who is sending him to the Israelites, God commands Moses to speak "I am who I am". In other words, God is the self-existent one who exists now and has always existed. In that sense, God stands outside of time measurement as we know it, because he is not constrained by time or history. He only limits himself to allow for future events to happen "independently" of his direct control, as he has given humans the ability to act with their own free will, not just as a marionette on a string, controlled only by an unseen hand. The concept of the future, however, is for another day's topic.

        King Solomon surmised that "God has set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So, we do have some inkling of the idea of our existence never ending. It would be so depressing to have nothing with which to look forward, after this life on earth has ended. It would be at the very least absurd to join with the Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrine that only 144,000 literal persons out of the entire historical population of the earth, would continue to live eternally, while billions would simply cease to exist.  Remember, we don't know what it means to have not existed; therefore, it is even harder to grasp going from existence to non-existence. Our continuation, as Solomon stated, is inherent within our very souls.

        Father, open our eyes to see the future you have lovingly planned for us believers.