Duality 2.0 September 30, 2014

1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
    Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

² He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
    and speaks truth in his heart;

Psalm 15: 1,2 ESV 

Two days in a row, God has led me to verses that speak to the duality of man.  It will be interesting to see what tomorrow holds.

The first part of the second verse of today's entry speaks to our horizontal life (blameless walk and right actions) while the later half addresses the vertical (what is in our hearts).

One challenge with Psalm 15:2 is "blamelessly".  That would speak to a perfection that is not possible this side of Heaven.  So I did a bit of research on the world wide web.  I read several things, but this in particular stood out, "We should understand that to be blameless does not mean to be sinless, but it does mean that we live in such a way that we are not accused.  We should always live in such a way that if anyone makes an accusation against us, our testimony is believed before any false accusation."  http://www.holybiblesays.org/articles.php?ID=382

We have to accept that no matter how much time in prayer we spend, no matter the length of our devotional time, regardless of number of Bible verses we have memorized, we will sin.  Some of us more often than others.  But is the pattern of our lives one that would withstand accusations?  Would our lives have enough evidence of our Christianity to withstand the scrutiny of coworkers?

If our lives would not hold up to public examination, what changes do we need to make?  Are there relationships that need to be mended?  Situations needing resolution?  

How do we know?  That is where the second half of verse two comes into play.  "Speaks truth in his heart."  If our desire is to become more like Christ, we have to have an honest heart before God.  Ask Him to reveal areas of sin, areas that fall short of His plan for our lives.  

But we cannot stop with the revelation.  The next step it to pray for guidance and strength to change habits, mend fences, and alter paths.  He will be faithful in assisting those who are sincere in their desire to "walk blamelessly".

Duality September 29, 2014

¹⁴ Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.  Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Today's verse is a confirmation of what I have lived this weekend.  Which is that humans are dual creatures- spiritual and physical.

The writer of Hebrews points to the duality of people.  "Strive for peace with everyone" connects us with the humanness of our existence.  That is the horizontal plane of our existence.  While the holiness "without which no one will see the Lord" is a reminder of our spiritual side, our vertical connection.

Late Friday afternoon a situation arose at work I was unable to bring to resolution due to the lateness of the day and the ensuing weekend.  All weekend the issue was never far from my mind.  At times it became a joy-robbing worry.

I would leave it at the alter of prayer, claim verses of protection and peace, and mentally walk away. . .for a time.  Then the issue would creep or leap back to mind.  More prayer and promise claiming.  Peace for a bit, then here it comes back.

An earthly issue was creating a spiritual struggle.  I was tempted on more than one occasion to shout, "WHY!" at God.  Then I realized that I had spent more time in prayer this weekend than I have in a long time.  Perhaps I needed a reminder from God that He is in control and on Monday, His provision will be made obvious.  

At this writing, I am not sure of the outcome at work, but I am assured my Heavenly Father is in complete control and will provide peace, protection, and guidance.  As we strengthen our vertical, we will find our horizontal in a better place.  The spiritual will come to the rescue of the physical.

It Ain't Rocket Surgery September 22, 2014

¹¹ “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. ¹² It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ ¹³ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ ¹⁴ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.  Deuteronomy 30:11-14 ESV

In the Christian's life there will be those unfathomable concepts, those immeasurable depths, those incomprehensible ideas.  But today's verses from Deuteronomy remind us that God's primary expectations for us do not require three degrees from a seminary to understand.  We do not have to "ascend to heaven" or "go over the sea" to find God's word for Christians.  It is near to us so that we can do it.

Thousands of years after Moses wrote Deuteronomy, Jesus distilled God's expectations down into two commands.


³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:35-39 (ESV)

No interstellar voyages required.  No ocean cruise necessary.  Love God.  Love others.

Sure there will be challenges with application.  We will be faced with decisions that will require prayer, study, and counsel.  But at the end of the day, if we will love God and others, the world will be a better place.

September 18, 2014

A Blast from the Past September 17, 2014

¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  Ephesians 5:1 ESV

When I read today's verse, an anti-smoking PSA from 1967 came to mind.  Thanks to Youtube, I was able to find it.  

In the video, a young boy watches and imitates his father- painting the house, riding in the car, etc.  (At the end we see the father modeling negative behavior, luckily not a worry if we imitate our heavenly father.)

Just like the little boy mimics his earthly father, Paul encourages us to be imitators of our heavenly father.  The boy is able to imitate his father because he is spending time with him.  On a ladder, in the car, taking a walk, and in the park. 

If we don't spend time with our heavenly father, how can we hope to imitate him?   

September 16, 2014

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  James 3:13 ESV

I struggled with application of this verse at first reading.  However, after reading several commentaries, its applicability came to light.

In Barnes Notes on the Bible I found that James 3:13 was written "with reference to the work of public teaching; and the meaning of the apostle is, that if there were such persons among them, they should be selected for that office."   In my position as principal I am a teacher of sorts. While not in the classroom I am responsible for the professional development of a staff of a dozen teachers, indirectly the instruction of over 200 young people, and the oversight of 8-10 noncertificated staff.

Any wisdom I may have acquired or been granted over these past 29+  years in public education is all for naught if not accompanied by good conduct and meekness.  I am reminded of the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson,"Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying."

True to the theme of his book, James reminds Christians that words alone are insufficient.  They must be reinforced with right living and Godly works.

G and W September 14, 2014

³ Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3 ESV

If you have any trial which seems intolerable, pray,—pray that it be relieved or changed. There is no harm in that. We may pray for anything, not wrong in itself, with perfect freedom, if we do not pray selfishly. One disabled from duty by sickness may pray for health, that he may do his work; or one hemmed in by internal impediments may pray for utterance, that he may serve better the truth and the right. Or, if we have a besetting sin, we may pray to be delivered from it, in order to serve God and man, and not be ourselves Satans to mislead and destroy. But the answer to the prayer may be, as it was to Paul, not the removal of the thorn, but, instead, a growing insight into its meaning and value. The voice of God in our soul may show us, as we look up to Him, that His strength is enough to enable us to bear it.
J.F. CLARKE

When taken in context of chapter 33, the third verse of Jeremiah is referring to the restoration of the nation of Israel. However, Tileson attaches the quote from J.F. Clarke to the verse.  That got me to thinking.

When we think of God revealing "great and wondrous" things, our minds, rightly so, go to things associated with prosperity- health, wealth, church growth, revival, etc.  However, is it not just as "great and wondrous" to know He will give us the strength to get through a divorce?  He will provide for us through unemployment.  He can comfort us through the death of a child.

Perhaps the "great and wondrous" is not the healing from cancer, but the souls that will be brought to heaven through our Christian witness as we travel through chemotherapy and radiation.  "Great and wondrous" might be the new church plant that results through the division of an established church.

His ways are not our ways.  His "great and wondrous" may not be our "great and wondrous".  Faith allows us to thank Him for the "great and wondrous" that may not seem so great or wondrous in this present age.

September 13, 2014

You will find it less easy to uproot faults, than to choke them by gaining virtues. Do not think of your faults; still less of others' faults; in every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong: honor that; rejoice in it; and, as you can, try to imitate it; and your faults will drop off, like dead leaves, when their time comes.

J. RUSKIN

Today's exerept from Daily Strenth for Daily Needs was accompanied by two verses: Lamentations 3:26 and Psalm 62:1.  Both verses speak of waiting quietly on the Lord.  I am not sure either are a perfect match for Ruskin's quote. 

A quick reading of a Wikipeida article of Ruskin recognizes him as "the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist.  No mention is made of any religious thinking, writing, or speaking.  However the quote above does have application for today's Christian.

 

September 10, 2014

September 9, 2014

Push or Pull September 8, 2014

¹² The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. Mark 1:12 ESV

¹ Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 
Matthew 4:1 ESV

1And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness Luke 4:1 ESV  

Yesterday, Pastor Chad delivered a sermon about baptism. The why's and why not's.  Scriptural support for the practice.  Its purpose and nonpurpose.  I enjoyed the sermon and found it informative.  A verse immediately following Mark's description of Christ's baptism caught my attention. 

After Christ was baptized, both Matthew, Mark, and Luke report that Jesus went into the wilderness.  Matthew and Luke write Jesus was "led" by the Holy Spirit.  However, Mark reported that the Spirit "immediately drove (Jesus) out into the wilderness".  While the end result was the same, there is a much different feel based on verb choice.

When I think of led I have a much calmer, laid-back image.  The Holy Spirit quietly, calmly invited Christ into the desert for 40 days of no food, 40 days of wild animals, and a direct attack from Satan.

Mark paints a much more aggressive picture of the Holy Spirit's work.  Jesus was driven, forced, made to face hunger, loneliness, and temptation.  As in all things, Christ could have disobeyed, but woe to him that fights against a forceful, aggressive calling of the Spirit.

It is not uncommon for me to hear, or even utter, a prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance.  In fact that should be a daily, even hourly, prayer, but do we dare pray for the Holy Spirit to "drive" us into action?  How aggressive do we want God to be in directing us toward His will, His plan for our lives?

"Please God, show me Your will for my life."  Nice, passive, safe. 
"Please God, drive me into obedience."  Yikes!  

Are we ready to be "driven" by God?

Lovin' the Translations September 5, 2014

O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
Isaiah 38:14 KJV

Daily Strength for Daily Needs, written by Mary Tileston in 1884 uses the KJV for its scripture references.  I wasn't sure how to interpret "undertake for me", so it was off to my on-line resource, Bible Gateway, with its multiple-translation feature.  

Here is a variety of interpretations of "undertake for me".

"be my pledge of safety!"  ESV
"Lord, come to my aid!"  NIV
"I am oppressed; come and help me!” The Voice
"take my side and be my security [as of a debtor being sent to prison]." Amplified Bible
"Lord, rescue me from all this trouble."  Good News Translation

A variety of word choice, but the gist remains the same.  God is to be our salvation.  He is to be our rescuer.  It is okay to cry out to Him.  He wants us to request His assistance.  In fact, only He can provide the relief, release, and rest necessary to get us through times of sorrow and trouble.

I find it interesting that three of the translations use an exclamation point for punctuation.  In my life I have asked God for assistance with both an exclamation point and a period.  

Panicked!  Frantic!  Distraught! 

But other times a period was more appropriate.

Worn out.  Beat down.  Bewildered.

There have even been times of question marks.

"Will you really come to my aid again?"  "You'll help me even though I created this mess?"

God doesn't care about punctuation.  He wants our conversation.  He desires our interaction.  He cherishes the relationship.  

Go to Him with a period, exclamation point, or question mark.  God is our safety, aid, help, and security. 

September 2, 2014

Good for you, not for me. September 1, 2014

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.  1 Peter 1:4 ESV

I get the first 3/4 of today's verse.  When we suffer, many are naturally drawn into a deeper relationship with Him.  Prayers become more passionate.  Morning devotionals become more consistent.  The Bible replaces the People magazine.  But Peter challenges Christians to an even higher level of response to suffering.

"Let those who suffer. . .while doing good."  Peter reminds us that when pain and suffering are part of our lives, that is not an excuse to cocoon in our rooms and cloak ourselves in solitude.  Unemployed?  That frees up a lot of time to volunteer.  Bed-ridden?  Use Facebook, Twitter, or your iPhone to encourage others. 

Like a moder-day Paul, read the following article about Saeed Abedini. "Abedini threatened with more jail time over Gospel witness in prison, wife says"

This is one of those blog entries that is a bit unnerving to write.  Now that I have put this on "paper" what if God decides I should put my money where my mouth is?  Perhaps He will give me the opportunity put my words into practice.  If that be the case, I pray I will not disappoint.

Doing good when things are going good.  Not too difficult.  Doing good when things are going lousy.  There's a challenge.