Advent, Day 16: A Meandering Pig-Trail

Most of us like to be linear people when it comes to progress, right?  We desire that things move along smoothly in a straight line, to a beautiful conclusion.  No setbacks, no problems, no aggravation.

Life, however, even the Christian life, especially the Christian life, is not that way.  God knew it would not be.  And, that's okay.

How can we have peace with this ongoing roller coaster, this struggle?  Why does God allow this?  As I referenced in a post or two back - - one of the newer Christmas songs puts it like this:  what a strange way to save the world!  Indeed.  It all seems backwards at times.

The resplendent walk is not a linear walk, because ours is not a linear faith. 

The Bible calls Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith".  So, let's look at His example (Hebrews 12:1b-3) - - -

"Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Source and Perfecter of our faith,

Who for the JOY that lay before Him endured the cross,

And despised the shame

And has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.

Consider Him, who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,

So that you won't grow weary and lose heart."

God Himself, pours Himself into a human body, with all it's problems and restrictions, to make the way of redemption for us.  How backward is THAT?  John Piper calls this "God's Most Successful Setback".  In the same manner, our problems and trials are "divinely appointed setbacks" (Piper), which will always look and feel like failure.

The world looks at us and draws all kinds of erroneous conclusions.  Here are some of them:
1.  "Those people are too good, and I can't be one of them.  I just don't have it in me."
2.  "Those people claim to be so good, but look at what one of them did!  Such a spectacular fall!  What's that all about? I want no part of that."
3.  "Those people are crazy to govern their lives by a mere book.  They have a distorted view of reality."
And, their reactions range from hostility to indifference to ridicule.

No wonder!  This path, this "race" as Paul put it doesn't seem to make sense.  It is more like a meandering pig trail through the woods, really.  Sometimes we get disoriented and wander off. Sometimes, we step into a mole hole and twist our ankle.  Sometimes a branch flies into our face and pokes us in the eye. Sometimes it is uphill.  Sometimes it is gloriously downhill.

Why did God do things this way, engineer our redemption in such a strange fashion?
He did it so that He would get the glory, and the worship and the praise, and not us.
There are two diametrically opposing principles in Scripture and in life.  They are rebellion/pride versus submission/worship.  If you will recall, the former was the original sin of Satan's, and Eve's and Adam's....and ours.  When our race, our path becomes too linear, what is our fleshly reaction? We tend to exalt ourselves and take on the glory that does not belong to us.  We tend to stop walking by faith and instead start trusting in our own power.  This serves to move us away from God, to estrange us from Him, because it is sin.  It is the bedrock of our sin nature, which is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, but which is ever with us as long as we live in these mortal bodies.

Glory and worship and praise are His, and only His.   As a result, He allows the natural consequences of our sin nature to train us for future glory  (Hebrews 11:12).  The reaction He desires from us in all circumstances is the submission of our will to His, our worship.

If you have ever learned to ride a bike you may have a memory similar to this.  You fell a few times, and your mama or daddy encouraged you to try again.  Then, they ran a distance across the yard and said, "Keep your eyes on me.  Don't look down.  Keep your eyes on me and pedal toward me."  And, you did.  By focusing on your loving parent, you successfully pedaled your way toward him or her. Do you remember that joy?!

This is what Hebrews 12:2 is urging us to do, to keep our eyes on Jesus, when our progress is linear and when it is not.  Jesus kept His eyes on His Father and on "the joy that lay before Him"!

Let's follow His beautiful example as we walk....resplendent!

Dear Father God, my prayer is that when people look at me that they say, "What a wonderful Savior she serves!"  So often, my sin nature wars tremendously against your Holy Spirit, who lives in me. More times than I would like, I wander off the path of righteousness.  I am so grateful for your forgiveness and restoration.  Thank you for going after and rescuing me, over and over again, for being both the Author and the Completer of my faith.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Advent Day 9: The Long View

Today's Advent meditation is from Psalm 89:1-4, sometimes called the Covenant Psalm.
(This is from a version called "The Voice".)

I will sing of Your unfailing love, Eternal One, forever.

    I will speak of Your faithfulness to all generations.

2 

I will tell how Your unfailing love will always stand strong;

    and how Your faithfulness is established in the heavens above.

3 

You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one.

    I made My servant, David, this promise:

4 

‘I will establish your dynasty

    so that you and your descendants will always be secure.

    Your rule will continue for generations to come.’”

You may be aware that most of the 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms were written by either King David, or his son, King Solomon.  A few were written by Asaph, and then this one was written by someone called Ethan, the Ezrahite.  According to biblical scholars, it is not entirely certain who this character was; but, it appears he was a wise man in David's day, who lived also to be an old man in Solomon's reign.  It is believed he wrote this psalm in his old age, as he saw the kingdom headed toward ruin, or as we say in the South "going to heck in a handbasket".

This psalm is referred to as the covenant psalm because it reaffirms the covenant that God the Father made between Himself and the house of David.  In older versions of the English Bible, the first verse says, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever."  Ethan begins by affirming the unfailing love and mercies of the Lord God, the Eternal One, who sees the end from the beginning.  This is an expression of trust and resolve to hold fast to the promises of God.  Ethan had faith that God would establish the house of David forever, as promised in 2 Samuel 7:8-16.

The Davidic Covenant, as it is often called, is one of several major covenants that God has made with mankind.  The first was the Adamic Covenant.  Others include the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, and the New Covenant.  Now, before I lose you entirely in this miasma of covenants, let me just get back to the Davidic Covenant, which is highlighted here in this psalm.

What does it mean when God promised He would establish David's dynasty so that he and his descendants would "always be secure" or that, as the NIV puts it, that his "line" would be "established forever"?

There were several descendants of David who ruled the people of God, many of them awful.  It looks like, in retrospect, a train wreck of descendants.  But, God's plan has always been at work.  When we trace the ancestry of Jesus Christ in Matthew and Luke, we find that both his biological mother, Mary, and his earthly "non-biological father", Joseph, were descendants of David.  The Jews have always been fanatical about tracing their ancestry.   I don't know that a Jew invented ancestry.com, but it is a distinct possibility!  (In fact, if you study the history of the Bible's formation/creation, you will be dazzled by the lengths Jewish scribes went to, in order to preserve their holy writings.)

Jesus Christ, whose coming in His first advent we celebrate in these days leading up to Christmas, was the last descendant of David to rule and reign on David's throne.   The title, "Son of David", was a common Jewish title for the Messiah.  We see an everyday, blind, Jewish beggar use this title in Luke 18:38, when he is begging Jesus to give him his eyesight:  "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 

"But, He did not rule and reign," you say.  You are right, to a point.  Jesus came, in His first advent, to establish His spiritual kingdom, in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls.  Today, He rules and reigns in hearts.  After Jesus' finished work, there is a pause for what is called The Church Age, when the whole world will eventually hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  After that age is over, Jesus will return to earth, and establish His reign on this planet for 1000 years.  At that time, He will re-establish the throne of His earthly ancestor, David, completely fulfilling the Davidic Covenant.

What I want to know from you, as we all watch and wait for Christmas, is this:  do you have the faith of Ethan?  That's what I ask myself.  This morning, I was praying for some of my loved ones who are far, far, far away from God.  It looks like things are "going to heck in a handbasket"!  Truly.  Maybe you are there with me.  (Dear Reader, if you tire of this theme, remember that this is a personal, devotional blog.  :) 

But, the mercies of the Lord, His lovingkindness - - - they. never. fail. His "faithfulness is established in the heavens above"! (vs. 2)  He cannot abrogate (abolish, annul, repeal) His Word! He fulfilled His promise to David, and He will not forget His promises to you and me.  The resplendent walk is a faith walk, friends!

Hello, Lord, You know where each and every one of Your children "is" right now, in his or her walk with You.  Regardless of that place, please remind each of us of Your precious promises.  Give us faith (because it IS a gift!) to trust Your heart, when we cannot see Your hand.  I love you, but my love is paltry in comparison to Yours, which is perfect and eternal.  "Thanks be to God, for His indescribable gift!"  (2 Corinthians 9:15)  In Jesus' name, amen.

Closing Words

The boy is ready for college and life in the dorms.  His bags are packed.  His boxes and hanging clothes and bedclothes and what-all are in the car.  He gets into the backseat as mom and dad get into the front.  Thus begins the hour-long trek to the campus.  And, as they pull out of the driveway Mama begins to speak.

"Remember, Son, to brush your teeth twice a day."

"Don't neglect your Bible reading."

"Steer clear of people whose values do not match up with your own."

"Avoid junk food."

"Wash your clothes regularly."

And, on the "laundry list" goes.  Mama is reminding her son of training he has received from her over his lifetime.  She is depending on her training to serve him well as he begins to move into adulthood.

Hebrews 13 is like that.  The author has presented, in previous chapters, an eloquent dissertation on a number of critically important theological topics.  In chapter 13, though, he gets down to the most practical of matters: walking by faith.

He begins in verses 1-3 with how we as believers should relate to one another: to love one's fellow brothers and sisters in the faith; to be hospitable to all people.  As for those believers absent because they are imprisoned for their faith, they must not be forgotten!  In all things, demonstrate the love of Christ Jesus.

He then cautions against the following:

Marital infidelity (vs. 4)
Love of money to the point of idolatry (vs. 5)
Getting seduced by strange spiritual doctrines (vs. 9)
Bedeviling your spiritual leaders in the Church (vs. 17)

On a positive note, he urges the following:

Be content with what you have.  (vs. 5)
Trust God with your future.  He will never fail you.  (vs. 5-6)
Imitate the faith of those who raised you up in the faith, and submit to their authority. (vs. 7)
Bear honorably the disgrace that comes from following Jesus.  (vs.12-14)
Praise God continually, with your lips and with your sacrificial giving to others.  (vs. 15-16)
Pray.  (vs. 18-19)
     (He left prayer for last.  We usually mention the most important one at the end, don't we?)

Then, as a godly parent prays over that son being dropped off at college, the writer of Hebrews prays a beautiful benediction over the recipients of his letter.

I've thought, sometimes, about writing my sons a letter that they could read after I'm gone.  But, then, I realized that all my blog posts are "my letters" and more importantly, the life I lead is the greatest "letter" of all, much more potent and accurate than anything I could write.  That is what the writer of Hebrews is saying also.  The lives Christians lead are much more real than the words they profess, the things they say they believe.  "Actions speak louder than words" and "by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:16).  So true.

It is with this in mind, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that he writes the benediction in verses 20-21.

20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us^b that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

"Equip you" is the central theme of this prayer.  Living the Christian life, walking the resplendent walk, is not possible under our own power.  It is only possible under the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why the author prayed for Him to equip those who belong to Christ.

May we allow His Spirit to work marvelously within us and bring our Savior all the glory, forever and ever.  Oh Yes!

But, But, ... BUT....

We are at the end of the book of Galatians.  Here we find an apostle Paul who was weary - - from the disputes which the Judaizers had stirred up among the Galatians, Paul was "over it".  I imagine he felt like he had said all he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say on the matter.

There comes a point where arguing does no good.  Frankly, I feel that way when arguing about certain Biblical teachings.  Certainly, there are major doctrines of the Christian faith which are indispensable and undeniably right, "one right answer" issues.  The Bible and Holy Spirit make these clear.  An example is the tug-of-war which was going on between the Galatian church and the Judaizers, who were teaching that in order to have a right relationship with God the Law still had to be followed to the letter, and moreover, that it was the following of Mosaic Law which brought salvation.  This was no petty dispute.  It is important to "contend for the faith" in such situations! Otherwise, people will continue to be lost, without Christ Jesus, because they have heard and believed a false gospel.

That's not what I'm referring to this morning.  There are sincere believers who are absolutely convinced that they have every minute detail in the Bible "figured out".  Furthermore, it is often a point of pride for them, as it was for the Judaizers.  These legalists in the Galatian church viewed those who became swayed to their point of view as "conquests" or "notches on the belt" more than anything else.  Pride...such a joy-stealer, eye-blinder, ministry-killer!

Look, I don't have God's A-Z plan figured out.  Neither does anyone else, regardless of how vehemently they insist to the contrary.  It is possible for us to know enough, in order to walk by faith in the rest.

I do not have to know the exact moment that Jesus Christ is going to return.  It is enough for me to know that He will, in God the Father's own perfect timing.
I do not have to know what transpired in Jesus' life from age 12 to 30.  It is enough for me to know God's revelation of Him to me through the Old and New Testaments.  It is enough to know and accept that He lived, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and now lives again, seated at the right hand of God the Father, and that He did made perfect, complete atonement, so I could have an eternal relationship with Elohim (the triune God).  It is enough.  God gives us the knowledge and wisdom we need.

We can choose to argue endlessly with each other and/or boast about things in which we have no business claiming credit.  OR, we can choose to live faithfully, daily choosing to fulfill the callings God has given to each of us.  If we choose the former, we will diminish our effectiveness in God's kingdom, "hindering the gospel".  If we choose the latter - - letting God do His marvelous work in and through us, giving Him the glory, we have then chosen well.  Paul knew this, which is why in today's verses he gives pride the old "punch down".

14-16 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

17 Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

18 May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Galatians 6:14-18  (The Message)

So, let's be discerning about what we choose to "argue" about and "boast" about.  It is God, after all, who creates this totally new, free life we Believers are given to live and walk in.  That is why I so love the Latin phrase, "Soli Deo Gloria" - - glory ONLY to God!

Father, thank you so much for giving to your "true Israel" the gift of eternal life, and giving it free, deeply and personally!  May our focus be on allowing You to do in and through us this revolutionary, transformative thing of beauty, and in so doing, may all the glory, honor and praise be only Yours! In Jesus' name, amen.

Embraces and Heartbeats

Good afternoon,

When I picture David in my mind, the first mental picture is of him dancing in fearless, fervent praise before His Lord (2 Samuel 6:12-14).  He was leading a parade down "main street", leaping and dancing, wearing nothing but a linen ephod (whatever that is).  I think it's safe to assume that he was scantily clad...

This behavior may make us shake our heads in wonder and maybe even have a sanctimonious response as did one of David's wives, Michal, (vs. 16).  It is David's same exuberant love for His God that led him to write Psalm 150.

1 

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary!

Praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength!

2 

Praise him for his mighty acts!

Praise him for his surpassing greatness!

3 

Praise him with the blast of the horn!

Praise him with the lyre and the harp!

4 

Praise him with the tambourine and with dancing!

Praise him with stringed instruments and the flute!

5 

Praise him with loud cymbals!

Praise him with clanging cymbals!

6 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

In addition to being a masterful musician (harpist and songwriter) ... and apparently dancer, the Bible tells us that David was "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22).  The Message translation puts it like this:   He’s a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him.

Some of the sweetest moments in life come from embraces:  holding a newborn loved one, lying in bed with your spouse, holding in your arms a loved one who is insane with grief.  In those embraces and in others our hearts beat together.  Our spirits commune with one another as we share love with each other. Our hearts beat to their hearts.

When we pray together, even across time and space, our hearts are beating together.  It is such a mystical truth that, when we lift up our hearts in prayer together, our united "heartbeats" touch the heart of our Father in Heaven, hallowed be His matchless name!

David was a man who was not without troubles; neither are we.  In fact, if you look at God's blessing on your life as an absence of troubles, you will be deceived.  David was chased by Saul (Ps. 59 & 63) or frequently defended himself against enemies (Ps. 7) or had to deal with the many ungodly antics of his sons (2 Samuel).  Despite his challenges and hardships, we still see his name in the Hebrews 11 roll call of faith and this commendation in Acts 13:22.  Why is that?!

No matter what David was experiencing, he almost always ran into the embrace of His God.  Often, he wrote a psalm while there.  When God was holding David in His arms, David was able to hear the heartbeat of God, in all kinds of situations - - - wonderful ones...and awful ones.

This is one of the greatest things about prayer, no matter what circumstance impels us to pray.  We may arrive there frantic, desperate or thankful or joyful or serene.  But, no matter what our state when we arrive, He embraces us so that we can feel and hear His heartbeat, so that our hearts can align with His, so that we can discern His will or, if not discerning it, so that we can pray that His will will be done here in the middle of our circumstances.

I'll be honest.  There are times when I don't want to pray that His will will be done in a given situation.  Or, there are other things the Holy Spirit prompts me to do, and I don't want to do them. Does that ever happen to you?  But, the verse in Acts tells us that a key to why David's heart did beat steadily with God's was not just because he crawled up into God's lap; it was also because David was consistently obedient to God's revealed will.  The New King James Version puts the end of Acts 13:22 like this:  a man "who will do all my will".

"I will arise and go to Jesus.  He will embrace me in His arms.  In the arms of my dear Savior, oh, there are 10,000 charms." 1

His heartbeat...can you hear it?

Dear Father, thank you for Your all-surpassing greatness, Your perfect knowledge in every situation, Your flawless plan.  Thank you for calling us to a life of walking by faith, which has as a perk the permission to run and jump up into your lap on a moment's notice.    Thank you for sharing Your heart with us, as we walk in obedience to Your Word, and as we draw near to You.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Source:
1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LFW6pXC2wk  I love this choral arrangement of the old hymn...