Seeing What Others Didn’t See; Hearing What Others Didn’t Hear!

Today’s reading:  Psalm 36-38; John 12:1-26

Once again scripture that I have read thousands of times in my life as a Christian has opened up to me.  I saw and heard what I hadn’t seen or heard before.  That’s what makes the Bible such a unique book!

With today’s reading in John 12, we are entering the last week of Jesus’ life and this story of the anointing of Jesus in Bethany at Simon the Leper’s house sets the stage for what would happen in that last week on earth.  In the other gospel’s versions of this story, we find other aspects emphasized.   Today’s reading, however,  emphasizes the contrast between Mary and the Disciples and their grasp of Jesus’ words and actions.

We see Mary presented by John as insightful and devoted to Jesus, sitting at His feet, listening to His words and responding with love.  She recognizes that Jesus feet were dirty from His journey that day and wanted to do what servants generally did in the middle eastern households, wash the traveler’s feet.  Instead of using a basin of water from the well and a cloth, she obtains her alabaster flask.  Alabaster was a white, semi-transparent stone used to hold precious and costly ointments and perfumes.  The flask contained Nard, which was a highly aromatic ointment used for anointing priests and kings, anointing the wealthy for burial, or a gift for a king.  Nard was made from a plant that grew in the Himalayan Mountains; it was difficult to obtain and extremely expensive.  Its cost was, according to today’s reading, 300 denari.  The typical daily wage of a worker in that time would have been 1 denari.  It was worth an entire year’s wages!

Mary broke the flask, probably the neck of it as it would have been constructed to only let a drop at a time fall out, so that it could flow freely over both Jesus’ feet and His head.  This action alone shows that Mary had great insight as to who Jesus was and His mission on earth.  1) She saw Him as King.  The very next day He would ride into Jerusalem on the donkey proclaiming Himself as King.  2) She saw Him as Priest.  He was soon to make atonement for the people as a priest, standing between them and God.  3)  She saw Him as the One soon to die and in need of anointing for burial.  And, I believe with my whole heart that she also saw herself as a sinner in need of the salvation He would provide for her.

The result of her devotion – the fragrance filled the room!  She sacrificed her costliest possession for Him; He was soon to sacrifice His all for her and the whole world!

There is a great contrast in this story that I haven’t really noticed before.  Mary listened and heard, watched and took all that Jesus said and did and acted from her heart.  The disciples heard and observed, but didn’t really see and hear.  Mary made the issue Jesus, they made the issue the poor!  Do you suppose that Mary’s wholehearted devotion to Jesus made them uncomfortable?   I have often observed that devoted people make religious folks uncomfortable.  It’s alright to be “devoted” to a hobby or your favorite sport, but if you’re devoted to Jesus you are a “fanatic”.  Why?  It shines the light on their own lack of spiritual priorities.  It’s very convicting to be in the presence of a devoted follower of Jesus.

Mary knew that her significance and her security in this life was in Jesus Christ.  For the disciples, especially Judas, security and significance were still anchored on this earth.  They failed to really see and really hear and were totally unprepared for the reality that was to occur just days from then.

Take advantage of those times you can spend in the presence of Jesus, listen closely to what He is saying.  It just could be very important to you!

Forgotten? Never!

Today’s reading:  Psalm 12-14; John 8:28-59

In today’s reading, Psalm 13 has captured my attention.  Written by David while being hunted by King Saul; though loyal and innocent, he lived as an escaped fugitive for twelve long years.

There was a time in my life when I identified with David closely…I too lived in less than stellar circumstances for twelve long years.  I read David’s Psalms and felt his pain and frustration.  Had God forgotten him?  When in the midst of dark times, it’s not unusual for a Christian to feel that way.

As this Psalm opens, David expresses his frustration at his humiliation meted out by Saul  and the misery of his circumstances.  During my years of despair, I read somewhere that God designs trials for each of us and the circumstances of life are His shaping tools. He designs the depth and length of our trials according to the purpose He has for us to fill.   I even remember a long ago sermon that has stayed buried in my heart and mind for forty years using this Psalm as its focal point.  When I started reading this Psalm, it came to the forefront of my thoughts and I wish to share some of them with you.

In verse one, David asks God a question…”Will you forget me forever?”  What is the depth of this trial, God?  He then asks God…“How long will you hide your face from me?”  What is the length of this trial, God?  David then asks God…”How long will I take counsel in my soul?”  Do I have to use my own plans to survive this trial?  Since we know the end of the story, we know that his trials forged David into a man with great inner strength and sensitivity to his God.  But how did he survive the long years of struggle?

We see in verse three that David is now on his knees…“Consider and hear me O God.”  David knew acutely that his strength to survive depended on his relationship with God and his times of communion with Him.  He goes on to ask God to “enlighten my eyes”.  Restore the sparkle in my eyes, God.  Let me feel the life and vitality to live as I once did.  Trials drain your vitality; mere survival on a day to day basis saps your positive outlook and causes you to focus on your miserable circumstances.  He knows that only God can lighten the load in the midst of the circumstances.

In his time of prayer and communion with God David gets the encouragement to not only survive, but even flourish in the midst of his trial.  In verses five and six we read…“I have trusted in Your mercy…my heart rejoices in Your salvation…I will sing to the Lord for He has dealt bountifully with me!” 

That’s quite a reversal of attitude between the opening stanza and the last of this chapter.  David’s circumstances hadn’t changed – David had changed!  He begins bowed down with his misery and ends on his feet rejoicing before his God!  I’ve always felt that in our weakness and time of trial, God has a platform to do some of His most magnificent work for us humans that trust in Him.  In II Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul tells the Corinthian church that God told him “For My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”  He goes on to say…“For when I am weak, then I am strong!”  There it is again, one of the dichotomies of scripture.  David’s trials and how he faced them had worked in him the mettle that he would need for the plan God had for his life.  That’s an interesting way to face our disappointments and trials – call on God, learn from them, go on to worship God in the midst of them that His strength can work through our weakness to show Himself strong!

Forgotten?  No, definitely not!  David was in the midst of the refining process to become God’s tool, to become the King that would usher in the reign of the King of Kings; the throne and the Kingdom that would never end!

I close with a quote by Jim Elliott:  “The saint who advances on his knees, will never have to retreat.”

Never Too Old!

Today’s reading:  II Samuel 19-20; John 5:25-47

Today’s reading in II Samuel is full of petty jealousy and strife.  It tells the familiar story of man’s rebellion against God’s leadership.  It tells the tale of the people following the words of a trouble maker and deserting their king – only the tribe of Judah remained loyal along with David’s mighty men (the 400 from the Cave of Adullah).  Joab, the king’s first in command has been sent with the remaining army to hunt down and destroy the rebellion led by Sheba.

This photo shows what is believed to be the current site of Abel Beth Maacah.

The most remarkable part of this story, in my opinion, occurs at the end of chapter 20 when Joab and his army track down Sheba in the twin cities of Abel and Beth Maachah north of the Sea of Galilee.  They proceed to build a ramp and attack the city gates with the intent of entering the city and killing all of the inhabitants for sheltering Sheba.  The city was doomed!

Then a woman cries out from inside the city “Hear, Hear! Send Joab that I may speak with him.” Now, I assume that there were city elders, men of importance therein, but an elderly woman has to assume leadership in their time of crisis.  She gets right to the heart of the matter with Joab: “I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel.  You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel.  Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”  Was she brave or just crazy?  With some further research I learned that the city of Abel was known in the region as a place where you could go and get wise counsel.  A “mother” in Israel is a way of stating that this city was one of influence and respect.

This woman, whose name we don’t even know, withstands and negotiates with David’s foremost general and convinces him of his error in thinking, determines the solution to the problem, convinces her fellow inhabitants of the proper course of action, accomplishes what Joab hadn’t been able to do, and ultimately saves her entire city from death and destruction.

The trumpet is blown after the head of Sheba sails over the city wall and Joab’s army returns to their tents and withdraw back to Jerusalem.  The rebellion is over!  Thanks to a nameless older woman!

I have been thinking lately about the stage of life that I am quickly and irreversibly entering and wondering how effective I will be in accomplishing anything for God.  Then I read this story which is contained in just a few verses of II Samuel and as it so often occurs, a portion of scripture that I have read many times is illuminated to my mind and I am encouraged, and lifted above my circumstances and my fears.  Always before I have concentrated on the actions of Sheba and Joab and never paid much attention to this woman and her actions.

Thank you, God, for showing me through the actions of one nameless woman that people in the winter of their lives can accomplish great things for God and His Kingdom and their fellow inhabitants.

Thank you, God, for showing me again the importance of being part of the solution to the crisis of life instead of being faint of heart or part of the problem itself.  Stand up and be a voice of reason, speaking according to God’s heart, and let His will and plan be the order of the day.

“A Lamb, Not a Lion!”

Today’s reading:  II Samuel 6-7, Psalm 30, John 1:29-51

With our reading today in John, I was struck once again by verse 29 of John 1.  Israel was under the thumb of Roman occupation and they were praying for deliverance.  They wanted and envisioned a military type leader who would build and lead an army to overthrow the Roman garrison in Jerusalem as a start of the all out rebellion.

But instead, “Behold, The Lamb of God” enters the scene.  He came as a lamb, not a lion!  What could God be thinking?  Surely the subjection of His people was uppermost in God’s mind, right?

But it seems that God was more concerned with the condition of man’s heart and soul.  God was more concerned with the eternal instead of the temporal earthly circumstances.

He sent a lamb to take away sin.  If you know the Old Testament sacrificial system,you get a clear picture of what Jesus’ earthly mission would consist of – it would involve sacrificial blood!  The lamb became the bearer of sin transferred to it so that its blood could wipe the sin slate clean for the human worshiper.

Yes, it is a bloody religious system because only the blood of a perfect (sinless) one – bearing the very blood of God could settle the sin question for mankind.  Isaiah 53:7b “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent”.  Jesus understood that His mission and work was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant.  He would be exalted, disfigured by suffering, make a blood atonement, be rejected, bear our sins and sorrows, be our substitute, voluntarily accept our guilt and punishment, be buried in a rich man’s tomb, save us who believe in Him, die on behalf of transgressors.

It was the greatest injustice of all time.  It was the greatest self sacrifice of all time, the giving of Himself to save all who believed in Him!

 

From a Cave Named Adullah

Today’s Reading:  Psalms 52, 57, 142; Luke 22:24-46

In today’s reading we find David on the run from Saul in Psalm 52 because of the treachery of an Edomite named Doeg.  I refreshed my memory of this story by reading I Samuel 22 and was once again reminded of the evil that is resident in the hearts of men.  The murder of 85 men of God, their wives, children and even their flocks and herds happened  because of Doeg’s love for “sharing” the tidbits of information he possessed.  David was fleeing from Saul and stopped in to see Ahimelech, a priest where he was given bread and the sword of Goliath.  Doeg happened to be there and delighted in being able to share David’s whereabouts and the events at Ahimelech’s with Saul.  Saul ordered his men to go and execute a whole community of priests because of the information.  When his men refused to raise a hand against the priests of God, Saul commissioned Doeg to do the deed and he was only too eager to accomplish the task.

In Psalm 57 we find David hiding in the cave called Adullah which in Hebrew means “failure”.  David is on the run even though he has been anointed king, being chased by the reigning king.  He leaves Israel and enters the land of his enemies, the Philistines, and takes up residence in the cave near the hometown of his slain enemy Goliath – the city of Gath.  We know from the story in I Samuel that about 400 men followed him there and the Bible specifically calls them the ones who were in distress, in debt, and discontented.  In other words, he attracted those just like himself.  He was at a low point in his life, but through his writings in Psalms 57 and 142, we see that David would rather please God and live in a cave than displease God and sit on the throne.  We also see that David didn’t calculate his safety in his distance away from Saul, but in his closeness to God. We see that so profoundly in his words in Psalm 57:1 “My soul trusts in You.  In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge until these calamities have passed by.”  Then again in verses 7-11 “Awake my heart, play and sing.”  “Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, Your truth unto the clouds.”

After a period of time, the Prophet Gad came to visit David and advised him to leave that cave and go back into the land of Israel.  Safety for the Christian is not in hiding out or isolating ourselves from the dangers of the world; but in casting ourselves on God for His care and guidance as we seek to do His work and His will in or lives.  We can’t be a light if we don’t inhabit some dark places!  I guess if you’re dwelling in a cave, it’s not easy to believe that it’s part of His divine plan for your life.

From Psalm 142 we can learn how to handle the times in our life that contain overwhelming stress.  1) Cry out to the Lord – the Hebrew actually means to bellow or thunder!  2) Level with Him – tell Him how it is.  3) Pray.  David realizes that this dark, depressing place is actually very much a part of God’s plan for his life.  You see, God resurrects dead things in caves!  I guess we could say that He does some of His best work there.  Jesus came out of His cave-tomb glorified.  David will emerge from this cave to go on and claim the throne, but never losing his humility.  When Saul and his sons are slain and nailed to a city gate, David rescues their bodies and sees them buried with honor.  David’s 400 downcast men will emerge to be called in later scripture David’s mighty men!  They will do exploits that will live in history.  The Edomites of which Doeg was a part will go on to join forces with the Babylonians to sack Jerusalem and desecrate Israel.

If you find yourself now, or in the future, in a dark place — a cave of sorts — listen to David’s words and praise in the midst of calamity; awaken your heart and sing to God.  For His “mercy reaches to the heavens and His truth unto the clouds.”  Psalm 57:10

“Disobedience Could Cost You Everything!”

Today’s reading:  I Samuel 10-12; Luke 19:1-27

"Israel demands a king before Samuel", 1728 engraving, by J. Winter

God was finally giving Israel what it wanted, a king that they could see, just like the lands around them.  They just didn’t perceive that they were different, not like the other people.  They were going to crown Saul their king.  God picked him out because he stood a head taller than everyone around him.  You see, appearances matter to people.  They weren’t happy having God be their king, they couldn’t see Him.

It’s ironic, but Samuel told them that their earthly king would require their horses, young men to form armies, a palace and much more.  As humans, we have to be shown the error of our ways.  One day they would have to be delivered from this king by an ignominious death on the battlefield, taking good men with him.  When we put our faith in a man and elevate our leaders to equality with God, we are sure to be bitterly disappointed.  Men at best, are only instruments to be used by God.

Saul seemed to have only a fuzzy sense of his calling, seeming to prefer the company of his donkeys to other humans. They had to look for him, finding him with the saddles and gear that belonged to the donkeys.  When Jabesh Gilead was threatened with destruction, they had to go find Saul and he was out with the donkeys!  Even though he had been proclaimed the king, he had not taken any steps to form his government.  I think he really wished all this would go away!

When he did accept his responsibility and function as king and actually walk in the Spirit, he realized that his military victories came from God and he functioned as a deliverer to his people.  God expected the King of Israel to function as a servant king, but Saul functioned his best when serving himself.  He had a double coronation (once by Samuel, then again in front of all the people) perhaps because he was a double minded man.  At his coronation, Samuel delivered a stirring address citing God’s faithfulness to them as their King, bringing before them their disobedience and rebellion.  He then went on in 12:13-15 to say “you said to me, a king shall reign over us, when the Lord your God was your King.  Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired.  And take note, the Lord has set a king over you.  If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God.  However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you.”

How can they possibly think that God has not taken care of them and protected them?  And now they wish to place their hopes in a mere man!  They surely couldn’t think that bad leadership was their problem and not their sin and disobedience.  History was a witness against their thinking!  The king is not the key to their survival as a nation, obedience is!

Isn’t it the same for us?  God has laid out for us the precepts of a life of abundance and we consistently make choices in life that goes against those precepts.  And we wonder why our life has gone so wrong.  Simple. Do what God says and experience His abundant life and blessing.  It sounds so simple, why do we make it so hard?

An obedient heart, not the form of government we dwell under brings the blessing of God.  I think the words of Samuel at the end of his address to the people of Israel at Saul’s coronation still hold ultimate truth for today: “Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”  I Samuel 12:24

God’s commands serve as a test of our faith in obedience.

But lest we end this devotion there; verse 25 follows: “But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king!” God’s judgment is pronounced long before it becomes apparent.

Let’s wake up and live for God – eternity is a surety!

Day #109 “The Lone Ranger Rides Again!”

Today’s Readings:  Judges 13-15; Luke 15:1-10

When I was a small child, Saturday mornings were spent with cowboy shows on the TV.  One of my Grandpa’s favorites was The Lone Ranger.  He was impeccable sitting astride a white horse with his white cowboy duds and his black mask.  What a guy!  All his adversaries were dressed in black and it was easy for even a child to identify the good guys from the bad.

In the same manner, my childhood Sunday School heroes were presented in the same manner- good, trustworthy, riding to the rescue.  Sadly to say, they were not always as they were presented.  Today’s reading introduces us to a childhood Sunday School hero — I can still see him holding up the remains of a building he was going to bring down to destroy God’s enemies by the thousands.  But, in reading the Biblical account of his life, it depicts quite a different type of guy.

He came into this world in a miraculous way to aging parents with a call of God on his life.  If there could be a spiritual silver spoon, Samson would have been born with it in his mouth.  He was wanted, conceived in a miraculous way, into a home with deeply spiritual parents.  He had every advantage of success in the coming years.  But, as we see so often in Christian homes, he did not value his parents and the heritage they provided him.  He did not adhere to the religious education he was given.  He did not respect and revere the God who had given him breath.  He grew up and became a negative Lone Ranger riding again over the land of Israel, serving himself, gratifying his fleshly appetites, and wallowing in revengeful behavior.  How could my Sunday School hero have such feet of clay?

Samson became one of Israel’s judges during a period after the death of Joshua and until the kings began to reign.  It was a time that is described as “everyone did what was right in their own eyes”.  It was also a time when Israel was a conquered land under Philistine occupation.  It had been so for a number of years and the Israelites had grown accustomed to the situation and just wanted to live in as much peace as they could.  Into this mix, God miraculously raised up a man called Samson, declared by God to be a Nazarite from his birth until his death.  When he was older the Spirit of God began to stir within him and he knew that God had called him to begin the deliverance process from their conquer0rs.

But, alas, Samson was not long revealing his true character to the world.  He began by demanding a woman for his wife that was a Philistine.  When his father had finally negotiated the bridal dowry and the ensuing celebration had begun, the disaster of his life begins to unravel.

He slays a lion on his way to his bride’s house (a Nazarite cannot touch a dead thing).  Then on a subsequent trip he purposely goes to look at the carcass and eats honey out of it, also feeding it to his unsuspecting parents.  He drinks strong wine at his bachelor party (Nazarites were forbidden to drink).  He brings his future wife a goat as a wedding gift! (Mr. Romance he was not.)  He calls his wife a “heifer”!  One more point for romance!  His future wife cries during the whole celebration trying to get information out of him.  He stalks out on his wedding night before the marriage is consummated.  His wife is given to his best man!  When Samson finally decides to go consummate the marriage, his father in law tells him his wife has been given to his best man!  He lets his rage take over and ties foxes tails together and turns them loose in Philistine farmers fields of grain and burns the economy of that valley to ruin.  (What did the farmers do to him?)  The Phillis tines retaliate by taking his ex wife and her father out and burning them to death.  Now the Philistines and the Israelites are both angry at Samson.  Three thousand of his countrymen bind him and deliver him to the Philistines to keep them from attacking them.

At the site where he was turned over to the Philistines, Samson stood bound with ropes, waiting for the death sentence to be carried out when he spies a jaw bone of donkey lying at his feet.  He simply breaks his bonds, picks up the jawbone and proceeds to slay a thousand Philistines with it.  Can you imagine the awe of his Israelite brothers as they watch this spectacle!  Moffatt in his translation of this story indicates that Samson was somewhat of a poet by Samson saying “With the jawbone of an ass, I have piled them in a mass!”  This site became known as “Jawbone Hill”.

So, what can I gather from this interesting, if somewhat bizarre account of Samson’s life? I have wondered this question often in the past few years and I think just this week have garnered something that gives me comfort.  God was using Samson to achieve His purposes even though he was an unwilling, uncooperative vessel.  As we see our country surging down the wrong road  economically and spiritually, should we stand in the shadows wringing our hands as if God’s purposes are at risk?  We have long ago been told what God was going to do in the future, and no power on earth can thwart His purpose.  God is able to use even unwilling vessels to bring about His plan! In spite of  Samson’s efforts to indulge his flesh, he never received the satisfaction he craved.  When we live for the flesh we can expect less than happy results.  Man’s need for a deliverer has never diminished, but man cannot provide what is needed – only Christ could!  Man will always be but a flawed shadow of the genuine.

A flawed vessel used by God was Samson.  God is using flawed vessels today – His plan and purpose to achieve!  Look up Christian!  God is in control!

Day #103 – “Listen Now, I Won’t Be Able To Say This Again!”

Today’s Reading:  Joshua 22-24; Luke 12:1-31

Joshua was 110 years old and knew that his days on this earth were few.  He called all of Israel to Shechem (the place of diligence, perseverance, faithfulness, and loyal fidelity) to give them a final message before God took him home. He had the people’s respect and love as their Commander.  He had faithfully led them through battle after battle, never shirking in the face of the enemy.  He lived with integrity before them and had learned to listen to God with a keen ear.  They were ready to hear what he had to say.

He didn’t sound like a man about ready to die!  His voice carried across the multitudes that arrived to hear him, strength in his words.  “Listen now!  I won’t have the opportunity to speak to you again!”  What would you say to all who could hear you if you knew this was your last words to them?  Listen to what this man of God tells God’s chosen people.

He begins with a stirring account of God’s call to Abraham, then all the exploits of God’s leading His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness and down to this very day that they stood before Joshua. I can imagine his words sounded like trumpet blasts (no microphones folks).  It had to be anointed for he used seventeen blasts from his trumpet like voice: “I took your Father Abraham from across the the Great River, To Isaac I gave Esau and Jacob, I sent Moses and Aaron, I plagued the Egyptians, Then I brought your fathers out of bondage, I led you into the land of promise, I drove out the Amorites before you, I have given you this land…”  What he did let them know with power and anointing was that all the miracles, conquests, tremendous fetes were not their doing, but God’s!  He let them know in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t their swords that had vanquished the enemy, but it was God who went before them!  I can only imagine that a holy hush fell over the assembled congregation of Israelites.  Joshua, their fearless leader, who had led them into battle time after time, had never appeared so full of and aware of God’s power upon him.  He might be at the end of his days on earth, but he was never more commanding in his demeanor.

In Chapter 24, verse 14 he booms forth: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.  Serve the Lord!”   He goes on to use that word “serve” numerous other times throughout the rest of the chapter.  He was calling them to total commitment, urging them to make an irrevocable choice for God!   Then in 24:15 he goes on to make a stirring proclamation:  “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”    He wasn’t speaking just to the assembled folk of Israel on that day, but his charge would transcend the generations even unto our day.  Who are you going to serve?  Will you let the gods of this society influence you and turn your heart away from God?

Joshua’s whole life was one of integrity and single minded devotion before God.  He never wavered in his faith.  His loyalty to God was without question.  He was obedient to God even in the face of ridicule and harm.  He was faithful to God in the face of formidable odds.  His whole life was an example for the people of his day to follow and emulate.  Yet, I can find no place in scripture where Joshua was ever tempted to harbor even a hint of pride in his accomplishments.  He was never corrupted by his position or the power that it held.  He seemed to always posses a humility and to be envied wisdom.  It was because of Joshua’s contrite heart that God honored him with conquest after conquest.  His forthright faith moved mountains in the invasion of Canaan.  I believe Joshua’s devotion to God and his keen ear to hear God’s commands that Israel’s woebegone days of wandering turned into triumph after triumph.

Can we hope that what was true for Israel all those years ago could be true for God’s people today?  God hasn’t changed and the same spiritual principles that brought victory then can do so today.  We can’t see victory and conquest today if we don’t operate under the same operational plan as Joshua did.  Being in a “holding” position, or establishing a fortress won’t take the land!  What are those principles? 1) God calls and anoints His leaders 2) It’s for His purposes in the earth 3) It’s not because of who we are, but who He is! 4) He leads us, all we have to do is follow! 5) He is at work behind the scenes to achieve His purpose 6) All we have to do is let Him work through us 7) He makes us fruitful and productive.

I can only hope and pray that like Joshua I can come to the end of my days here on earth, having lived a faithful life for those behind me to emulate.  That my words have inspired faithfulness and integrity in the hearts of those who knew me.  And my life was lived with eternity in view!  Thank you Joshua for living before us a life we can truly respect and emulate.

Day #96 “Strong and Courageous, Me?”

Today’s reading:  Joshua 1-3; Luke 9:1-17

Joshua has to be one of my favorite Biblical characters – what a guy!  He got it.  He was ready to take the Promised Land 38 years ago, but instead had to wander around with the fearful and faithless in the wilderness.  You’ve got to admire him for having patience until everyone died except he and Caleb.

In today’s reading, they are finally preparing to cross the Jordan and step foot in the land God had given them.  Joshua is ready to put his life on the line to carry out God’s purpose.  He’s ready to face hostile forces to possess their God-given land.  He’s God’s man of the hour and he stands head and shoulders above his peers spiritually.  The first thing God says to Joshua is “Moses is dead.  Arise and go over the Jordan”.  Sounds simple enough, but the facts were:  1) the Jordan was a flood stage 2) the hostile forces across the river were expecting them.  Maybe that’s why God told Joshua to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS!

I’ve never considered myself to be particularly strong and certainly not very courageous.  But, just as Joshua and the children of Israel had to face enemy forces to take their Promised Land; so also we have to be strong and courageous if we are going to face enemy force to experience the thrill of conquest and see the deliverance from the wilderness of wandering aimlessly.  The definition of courage:  a quality that enables people to encounter danger with firmness and resolve in spite of inner fear. 

Another notable fact in this story is that they were to prepare themselves for the invasion of enemy territory and the conflict ahead.  They had to be prepared physically and spiritually.  Joshua was adequately trained for the task, knew the Covenant, knew what the goal was, and most importantly he knew God!

Strong: valiant, established, fortified, courageous.  God tells Joshua four times in the first chapter to be strong and courageous – it must be very important!  Strength was in Joshua’s character, after all he had been sent out to face an army after they left Egypt and neither him or any of his fighting men had ever fought a battle – they had spent their lifetimes as slaves.  He was battle scarred and ready to fight!  He sent out spies, but not on a fact finding mission, but to preview what it was going to take to achieve victory!  He was prepared to take Jericho by force, being totally unaware of the miracle that was before him.  Evidently, God had been preparing Jericho for 38 years to fall at the hands of the Israelites.  Rahab’s words “there is no courage in anyone because of you!” (Joshua 2:9)

The very first act in the invasion of Canaan was the courage it took for the priests to take up the Ark, lift it on their shoulders and wade out into the flood swollen river.  It must have been extremely difficult given the weight of gold covered Ark.  I have heard this referred to many times as the “first step principle”.  God does not keep us from having to step into the rampaging currents of life, but He intends to take us boldly through them!  How can we see God’s wonders, if we stay safely on shore and wait until the water recedes?

In today’s reading in Luke, we see that Jesus lets His disciples know that they can expect victory over the powers of darkness.  It’s the Father’s pleasure to give us the Kingdom, supplying us with His peace and power.  But, we can only expect to conquer new territory for God as we live in and appropriate His power to take radical steps by faith.  It still takes the “strong” and “courageous” to experience conquest and deliverance.

Strong and Courageous, me?  YES!

Day #89 – “Just Like Grandma!”

Today’s reading:  Deuteronomy 17-19, Luke 5:17-39

As I grow older, I am reminded often that I resemble my paternal grandmother in an uncanny way.  I have always known that genetically I am my father’s child, but lately comments like “Della Tefinia will never be dead as long as you walk the earth” come my way!

Alas, not an actual picture of our blogger and her grandmother.

I realize that I do resemble my grandmother and I am like her in many ways.  She loved to cook and was an outstanding one.  I remember most the things she made that I liked, but I’m sure there were many others – like her cole slaw, macaroni n’hamburger, her chocolate cream pie and orange chiffon cake.  YUM!  But, there were other ways I am like her also – not just my love for cooking.  She was a deeply spiritual woman – she and my grandfather were founding members of this congregation in the 1930′s.  I have been told that she rose early every morning around 5am to spend time in prayer before starting her day.  She could get “blessed” and dance a joyful jig – which is difficult for me to picture because she was basically a very quiet and reserved lady.  Maybe my bent toward the spiritual side of life at an early age came from her.  She died at the ripe old age of 89 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.  I loved my grandmother and am proud to be compared to her.

There was only one person that Jesus compared himself to during his life here on earth – that person was Moses.  In Chapter 18 of Deuteronomy, verses 15-19 Moses is speaking to Israel about a Prophet like him that would come later.  Of course many prophets followed Moses such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah etc; but Moses’ prophecy found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  Jesus said in John 5:46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.”  Peter in his sermon recorded in Acts 3 quotes Moses’ prophecy as being fulfilled in Jesus in verses 22-24.

To the religious Jews of Jesus’ time, no one was greater than Moses.  Through Moses God had given them the Law and their whole religious system was transmitted through him.  But, they were also aware that God said He would send another Prophet like Moses.  So when the Pharisees asked John the Baptist whether he was “the Prophet” (John 1:21) they were referring to this scripture in Deuteronomy.

As Moses’ destiny was to give the Old Covenant after leading God’s people out of the bondage of Egypt, Jesus destiny was to bring the New Covenant to God’s people who come out of the bondage of this world.  John 1:17 states “For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.  The writer of Hebrews tells us that Christ became the Mediator of a “better covenant”. (Hebrews 8:6)  Jesus as “the Prophet” came to fulfill the requirements of the Old Covenant so that a New Covenant could be established between God and man.

As so often happens in biblical history, a foreshadowing occurs pointing forward to what is coming later.  Moses was that foreshadowing pointing forward to Jesus Christ.

My grandmother, Della, could not have imagined that her granddaughter would not only make her way back to Murphysboro after decades in the west, but be part of the ministry staff of the same church that she and grandpa helped to establish. My Dad’s little sister, Evelyn Gregersen, also made her way back to Murphysboro to establish Murphysboro Christian Academy.  I have a rich heritage in this church and I hope that my life can leave an imprint on its history as well.

Lord, help us to fulfill our destiny, leaving an imprint of our lives on this earth. But most of all, let us aspire to be compared to You.  You are the Giver of our lives, the Creator of our days, the Inspiration that motivates our actions.  Amen and Amen!