When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses." (Nehemiah 4:14)
The rebuilding of the wall and gates of Jerusalem was a monumental task. When the people were actually engaged in the work, then discouragement began. The first tactic of the discouragers was to convince the workers of the futility of the project. The Jews were hearing that they were not strong enough to complete the work. They were told that the work itself was substandard. Not good enough was the taunt that was issued. How many times have the people of God begun a good work to hear seeds of doubt from the mouths of others that there is not enough…not enough people…not enough money…not enough strength...not good enough in the quality of the work…so we might as well quit. I’ve heard that more than I care to recall. Many times it came from within…me talking to myself. The seeds of doubt begin to take root in the Nehemiah project and the people were discouraged. This seems to be natural to a human being. The desire to give up. Quitting becomes the norm. But as for the people of God, there is a different way to live. Live being encouraged, rather than discouraged. Courage comes from God, who empowers godly leaders to encourage the discouraged among them. Nehemiah recognized that the work was bigger than them. And he saw their fear. Fear is a visible thing in that it manifests itself in our lives. When a leader sees his people afraid, he speaks to them about the source of courage. The tactics of terrorism were evident. The threat of their physical safety was very real. Nehemiah reminded them to remember the character of God and fight for their families, friends and houses. Here’s a lesson to the fearful people of God. Fear God, not people. The strength that they relied upon was in the community effort of building and security. They needed one another. Courage is often exhibited when people are in fearful circumstances and they do what is right at the risk of their own safety. They learned to work in the midst of their fear. They learned to watch one another's back. They were moving in a direction of community strength as they learned the secret of body building. They cannot be strong against outside forces when they treat one another as outsiders. A lesson for God's people. Learn to treat family like the Father wants them treated. God's people made peace with one another, courageous in their unity against those who sought their destruction. God was not only praised, but pleased. He is pleased when His people look out for the welfare of one another. Let’s build up the body, loving and trusting God who helps us love, trust, help, encourage and serve one another.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Inside Job
Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, but wickedness subverts the sinner. (Proverbs 13:6)
The difference between a righteous and a wicked sinner is found in what they practice. I am a righteous sinner, in that the effects of sin still affect me from time to time. I am tempted to practice sinful acts willingly that I once did without realizing it. I was once a sinner that practiced sin continually…it was my nature…it was all I knew. But now I am different. I am still a sinner but there is a new reality. Righteousness lives in me…and motivates me to make righteous choices…with the goal of the righteousness in view. Therefore, a righteous sinner may still sin from time to time, but the righteousness within reveals the path. Righteousness within is like a spiritual GPS device directing our path. And when I stray off the path, righteousness shows me the way back to it. Righteousness is like the guardrails upon my life. Contrast that with the life of the wicked sinner. Since there is no deterrent to wicked, or sinful, living, or motivation to live blamelessly, the wicked sinner has no restraint to his wickedness. In fact, the wickedness within is a powerful subversive force. Subversion is especially destructive. It destroys from within…imploding to reveal its emptiness. There is no righteousness that resides in the wicked sinner. Nothing to guard and guide the way. The subversive practice of wickedness is self-inflicted and self-destructive. Self-destruction is deceptive. We will not believe we are destroying ourselves. It’s because we have believed that we are not as bad as we really are…while wickedness is loose…eating away and eroding our lives. We will lie to ourselves when we practice wickedness. Wickedness within cannot tell the truth. Righteousness has not been received. Subversion, intentionally undermining something to cause it to fall, is like termites gnawing at the structure of your house…it will crumble long before its shelf life is set to expire. Don’t die before your time. Seek first the Kingdom of God…and His righteousness. Wickedness eats its way out…of house and home.
The difference between a righteous and a wicked sinner is found in what they practice. I am a righteous sinner, in that the effects of sin still affect me from time to time. I am tempted to practice sinful acts willingly that I once did without realizing it. I was once a sinner that practiced sin continually…it was my nature…it was all I knew. But now I am different. I am still a sinner but there is a new reality. Righteousness lives in me…and motivates me to make righteous choices…with the goal of the righteousness in view. Therefore, a righteous sinner may still sin from time to time, but the righteousness within reveals the path. Righteousness within is like a spiritual GPS device directing our path. And when I stray off the path, righteousness shows me the way back to it. Righteousness is like the guardrails upon my life. Contrast that with the life of the wicked sinner. Since there is no deterrent to wicked, or sinful, living, or motivation to live blamelessly, the wicked sinner has no restraint to his wickedness. In fact, the wickedness within is a powerful subversive force. Subversion is especially destructive. It destroys from within…imploding to reveal its emptiness. There is no righteousness that resides in the wicked sinner. Nothing to guard and guide the way. The subversive practice of wickedness is self-inflicted and self-destructive. Self-destruction is deceptive. We will not believe we are destroying ourselves. It’s because we have believed that we are not as bad as we really are…while wickedness is loose…eating away and eroding our lives. We will lie to ourselves when we practice wickedness. Wickedness within cannot tell the truth. Righteousness has not been received. Subversion, intentionally undermining something to cause it to fall, is like termites gnawing at the structure of your house…it will crumble long before its shelf life is set to expire. Don’t die before your time. Seek first the Kingdom of God…and His righteousness. Wickedness eats its way out…of house and home.
Monday, August 27, 2012
In Good Hands
I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the good work. (Nehemiah 2:18)
Nehemiah was the Lord’s hands on guy. God had his good hand upon him and Nehemiah had a helping hand for the work. Nehemiah was on mission doing a physical thing, and needed material resources to do a practical as well as a spiritual thing. He was put into place in the king's court as a cupbearer so he would have been trusted to act in the best interests of the king's welfare. Here we have a contrast of two worldviews. Nehemiah served an earthly king, but his ultimate allegiance was to the High King of Heaven. He has the welfare of the name of God and His people in mind and in his worldview, anytime God's people are a reproach, the name of God is debased. Nehemiah had in his mind and heart to restore the wall of Jerusalem, symbolic of restoring the faith of God's people to trust and believe in God's provision and protection. Nehemiah gives the credit for the success of his appeal to the king to the fact that the good hand of my God was on me. We do well to remember that the work we do in this world, before earthly kings and everyday men, should reflect our purpose to glorify and exalt the name of our God, seeking to restore dignity to His people and bring hope to their situation. But this is never an easy thing to do. We are often resisted from without and within. Sometimes God's people have to be challenged. They have to be reminded about the good hand of God upon them and the good work of God before them. God's enemies have to be opposed. There must be an answer to them. There must be a witness of God and His power to grant success. The enemies must be reminded that without God's portion, they have no portion. We get also a sense of the loneliness of spiritual leaders as Nehemiah operated without telling anyone his plans until the time came to act. Sometimes we only have God as a confidante. He is the only One who can truly be trusted with the plans He puts into our minds and hearts and hands. Nehemiah needed a hand. God’s hand. Is the good hand of your God giving you success in His mission? Are you in good hands as you put your hand to the good work?
Nehemiah was the Lord’s hands on guy. God had his good hand upon him and Nehemiah had a helping hand for the work. Nehemiah was on mission doing a physical thing, and needed material resources to do a practical as well as a spiritual thing. He was put into place in the king's court as a cupbearer so he would have been trusted to act in the best interests of the king's welfare. Here we have a contrast of two worldviews. Nehemiah served an earthly king, but his ultimate allegiance was to the High King of Heaven. He has the welfare of the name of God and His people in mind and in his worldview, anytime God's people are a reproach, the name of God is debased. Nehemiah had in his mind and heart to restore the wall of Jerusalem, symbolic of restoring the faith of God's people to trust and believe in God's provision and protection. Nehemiah gives the credit for the success of his appeal to the king to the fact that the good hand of my God was on me. We do well to remember that the work we do in this world, before earthly kings and everyday men, should reflect our purpose to glorify and exalt the name of our God, seeking to restore dignity to His people and bring hope to their situation. But this is never an easy thing to do. We are often resisted from without and within. Sometimes God's people have to be challenged. They have to be reminded about the good hand of God upon them and the good work of God before them. God's enemies have to be opposed. There must be an answer to them. There must be a witness of God and His power to grant success. The enemies must be reminded that without God's portion, they have no portion. We get also a sense of the loneliness of spiritual leaders as Nehemiah operated without telling anyone his plans until the time came to act. Sometimes we only have God as a confidante. He is the only One who can truly be trusted with the plans He puts into our minds and hearts and hands. Nehemiah needed a hand. God’s hand. Is the good hand of your God giving you success in His mission? Are you in good hands as you put your hand to the good work?
Friday, August 24, 2012
Oblivious To The Obvious
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also. (2 Timothy 3:8-9)
The same mindset that is described in these two men is described for us in Romans 1. Depravity in humanity suppresses the truth of God. Although men know God to be true, they try to smother His truth, to cover it up, to cloak it, and cloud it so that truth is not easy to see and perceive. According to Jewish tradition, these two men were some of those that opposed Moses in Pharoah’s court. Although not named in the Old Testament, Paul was acquainted with their opposition to Moses as magicians. If these are some of the magicians that were duplicating the miracles in Egypt, they soon discovered that they could not do all that God can do. This is a lesson for us today. God is often copied, but never cloned. His power is made manifest in some humans…but all cannot access Him. And the men who opposed young Timothy reminded Paul of the fate of the foolish. The inability and inadequacy of the fool who suppresses the truth is exposed to those who know the truth of God. This is our inoculation from folly. To know truth. Fools oppose and suppress the truth. Not because they can overcome it. Not because they deny truth’s existence. But folly will be on parade because the fool cannot be a servant. Folly cannot come under truth’s authority. Folly wants to be in charge…and in control. Fools will die in rebellion rather than bow in submission. Why? Because they are fools. Fools have said in their hearts that there is no God…and God will not influence their lives. You can’t cover up the truth. And you can’t cover for a fool. His folly will be so obvious to all and the fool will be oblivious to all his folly. Pity the fool...says the Truth...or was that Mr. T? A mind is a terrible thing to waste. When it comes to the surrender to the truth of God, resistance is futile. Depravity leads to wasted lives. That will be obvious to all.
The same mindset that is described in these two men is described for us in Romans 1. Depravity in humanity suppresses the truth of God. Although men know God to be true, they try to smother His truth, to cover it up, to cloak it, and cloud it so that truth is not easy to see and perceive. According to Jewish tradition, these two men were some of those that opposed Moses in Pharoah’s court. Although not named in the Old Testament, Paul was acquainted with their opposition to Moses as magicians. If these are some of the magicians that were duplicating the miracles in Egypt, they soon discovered that they could not do all that God can do. This is a lesson for us today. God is often copied, but never cloned. His power is made manifest in some humans…but all cannot access Him. And the men who opposed young Timothy reminded Paul of the fate of the foolish. The inability and inadequacy of the fool who suppresses the truth is exposed to those who know the truth of God. This is our inoculation from folly. To know truth. Fools oppose and suppress the truth. Not because they can overcome it. Not because they deny truth’s existence. But folly will be on parade because the fool cannot be a servant. Folly cannot come under truth’s authority. Folly wants to be in charge…and in control. Fools will die in rebellion rather than bow in submission. Why? Because they are fools. Fools have said in their hearts that there is no God…and God will not influence their lives. You can’t cover up the truth. And you can’t cover for a fool. His folly will be so obvious to all and the fool will be oblivious to all his folly. Pity the fool...says the Truth...or was that Mr. T? A mind is a terrible thing to waste. When it comes to the surrender to the truth of God, resistance is futile. Depravity leads to wasted lives. That will be obvious to all.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Breathing It In...Living It Out
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Good work is God’s work. And without God’s word we would be woefully inadequate. No matter what God is calling us to do…without His word we cannot do work out His will. His word is our manual of reference. We seek His wisdom whenever we tackle a problem, design a system, fix a flat, plant a garden, or preach a sermon. Paul is writing specifically to a pastor but the principle remains. Scripture equips a man to work the work of God. Before a man can do any of God’s good work in this old world, the man must be prepared for the task. He must be made adequate. God’s good work is all about reclaiming this world and our hearts for righteousness. We won’t know the standard of godly dealings, regardless of our vocation, unless we know God’s standard of righteousness. We find them in His word. And He begins His work with the man of God. Are you adequate to pursue the goal of righteousness in the world? Are you making a difference in the way you do what you do by being different? Are you satisfied with satisfactory standards or do you strive for excellence? Do people know you to be a godly person in the workplace, one they can trust when they trust you with their car, their food, their child, their health, or their soul? When the work God calls you to do overwhelms you and brings you to a place of inadequacy, turn to God’s word for His wisdom. It is here we can trust God for our training. His Word, our training manual, is always updated, always adequate because it is the very breath of the Living God. A dead man cannot speak about life. God's word breathes into me...but I must be taking it in. God will work His good work in me before I am able to work His good work in the world. And His word is always enough. Breathe it in…live it out.
Good work is God’s work. And without God’s word we would be woefully inadequate. No matter what God is calling us to do…without His word we cannot do work out His will. His word is our manual of reference. We seek His wisdom whenever we tackle a problem, design a system, fix a flat, plant a garden, or preach a sermon. Paul is writing specifically to a pastor but the principle remains. Scripture equips a man to work the work of God. Before a man can do any of God’s good work in this old world, the man must be prepared for the task. He must be made adequate. God’s good work is all about reclaiming this world and our hearts for righteousness. We won’t know the standard of godly dealings, regardless of our vocation, unless we know God’s standard of righteousness. We find them in His word. And He begins His work with the man of God. Are you adequate to pursue the goal of righteousness in the world? Are you making a difference in the way you do what you do by being different? Are you satisfied with satisfactory standards or do you strive for excellence? Do people know you to be a godly person in the workplace, one they can trust when they trust you with their car, their food, their child, their health, or their soul? When the work God calls you to do overwhelms you and brings you to a place of inadequacy, turn to God’s word for His wisdom. It is here we can trust God for our training. His Word, our training manual, is always updated, always adequate because it is the very breath of the Living God. A dead man cannot speak about life. God's word breathes into me...but I must be taking it in. God will work His good work in me before I am able to work His good work in the world. And His word is always enough. Breathe it in…live it out.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The Running Man
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11)
The difference between a good run and bad stand is like knowing whether we're coming or going. Some things you run toward and some things you run away from. Wisdom will tell us when we've run far enough. Timothy is told to flee…not to walk briskly away in a different direction…or stand fast in the midst of…but flee! What are the things that he was warned to flee from? Meaningless and mindless controversies that distract from the gospel message. Imagine spending precious time in speculations about how many angels could dance on the head of a pin, or how much seed money we can invest till the Lord is obligated to bring an exponential return of our investment. We may laugh at such things but dissertations have been written and endless discussions have occurred over these things and many more like them. As faithful ministers of the gospel, we are to run away from these entanglements and distractions that rob us of reflecting and teaching the glorious truths of the gospel. We are to run away from these things because in many cases we are in conversations with fools and in danger of being trapped into silence. Fools seek arguments. Wise people seek wisdom. Wise people flee toward Jesus. Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness are found in Christ. When I run to Him I get a mental picture of a child running toward a parent, laughing all the way. The character of the man of God is framed here in the context of this verse. When a man looks like Jesus, he will look like this. The last two qualities are instructive for us. Perseverance is also translated steadfastness. This is an old word and not one you hear much about these days. In our culture of rapid change, people tell us that the only way to success is to be easily adaptable and ready to change. Don’t become rooted in an unchanging mindset. Perseverance is a word that tells us to stand where God stands…stand fast to be steadfast. To sing the refrain of an old song… I shall not be...I shall not be moved; I shall not be...I shall not be moved; Just like a tree that's planted by the waters...Lord, I shall not be moved. For a person to have perseverance, a strength to stand in place no matter what, one would think that a stubborn and unyielding spirit and even a hardness might be beneficial. Then bring gentleness into the mix and you have a combination only the Lord can bring about. Each one of these words are tempered by the next. A righteous man may be self righteous, but godliness will give direction. A godly man will be a faithful man, faithful to God’s principles rather than man’s preferences. A practical faith is not practicing godly faith unless it is acted out in love. And a loving man may have a tendency to always say yes to those who may need to hear no, especially when practicing discipline with a loved one. Love sticks...love stands fast…and sometimes we need to stand fast in a gentle, but firm, way. This is what the godly man aspires to…a Christlike demeanor and godly countenance among others. If you've ever run away or had the desire to run away from home, turn around and start running toward it. One day, we will find that we will have run far enough…when we have run all the way home…to Christ, where home really is. But for today...flee from these things!
The difference between a good run and bad stand is like knowing whether we're coming or going. Some things you run toward and some things you run away from. Wisdom will tell us when we've run far enough. Timothy is told to flee…not to walk briskly away in a different direction…or stand fast in the midst of…but flee! What are the things that he was warned to flee from? Meaningless and mindless controversies that distract from the gospel message. Imagine spending precious time in speculations about how many angels could dance on the head of a pin, or how much seed money we can invest till the Lord is obligated to bring an exponential return of our investment. We may laugh at such things but dissertations have been written and endless discussions have occurred over these things and many more like them. As faithful ministers of the gospel, we are to run away from these entanglements and distractions that rob us of reflecting and teaching the glorious truths of the gospel. We are to run away from these things because in many cases we are in conversations with fools and in danger of being trapped into silence. Fools seek arguments. Wise people seek wisdom. Wise people flee toward Jesus. Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness are found in Christ. When I run to Him I get a mental picture of a child running toward a parent, laughing all the way. The character of the man of God is framed here in the context of this verse. When a man looks like Jesus, he will look like this. The last two qualities are instructive for us. Perseverance is also translated steadfastness. This is an old word and not one you hear much about these days. In our culture of rapid change, people tell us that the only way to success is to be easily adaptable and ready to change. Don’t become rooted in an unchanging mindset. Perseverance is a word that tells us to stand where God stands…stand fast to be steadfast. To sing the refrain of an old song… I shall not be...I shall not be moved; I shall not be...I shall not be moved; Just like a tree that's planted by the waters...Lord, I shall not be moved. For a person to have perseverance, a strength to stand in place no matter what, one would think that a stubborn and unyielding spirit and even a hardness might be beneficial. Then bring gentleness into the mix and you have a combination only the Lord can bring about. Each one of these words are tempered by the next. A righteous man may be self righteous, but godliness will give direction. A godly man will be a faithful man, faithful to God’s principles rather than man’s preferences. A practical faith is not practicing godly faith unless it is acted out in love. And a loving man may have a tendency to always say yes to those who may need to hear no, especially when practicing discipline with a loved one. Love sticks...love stands fast…and sometimes we need to stand fast in a gentle, but firm, way. This is what the godly man aspires to…a Christlike demeanor and godly countenance among others. If you've ever run away or had the desire to run away from home, turn around and start running toward it. One day, we will find that we will have run far enough…when we have run all the way home…to Christ, where home really is. But for today...flee from these things!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Shields Up!
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.. (Proverbs 30:5)
The shield is tested…because there is no place in a warrior's life for a defective shield. He must depend upon the shield as the missiles are launched for him to be effective in the battle. The ultimate evidence that the shield didn't work is the searing pain experienced as the arrow entered the body. Then it was too late. The battle was over for him. Imagine that I have a need to have some body armor for a dangerous and anticipated conflict such as a bulletproof vest. When I purchase this vest, I assume the truth of the manufacturer’s claim that the vest is without defect. It has been tested... with real bullets…and found to be effective. How much more can I trust this word of God as a guarantee? God’s claim is that He is a shield…and His word has been tested. God’s word is a shield from all the enemy’s missiles. And the word of God has been tested through the ages and found to be effective in combat. Not only in defensive postures but in offensive engagements. In military terminology, a shield is not always a protective defensive weapon…it can be the ultimate offensive weapon as the Lord invades enemy territory. We see this in our time when elite teams of prison guards go into a cell to remove a rebellious prisoner. They will advance behind a large protective shield. The enemy’s attacks against God and His people are real and destructive. But we need to remember that it is he who is in the most desperate situation. Not only is he in a defensive position but it is a defenseless one as well. Our enemy has Almighty God as an enemy. Consider that the Lord may actually provoke the devil to attack with the goal of destroying the enemy’s strongholds by flushing him out of his hiding place. This is effective strategy in warfare. Trust that God is our shield when we move into offensive engagements with the enemy. We can trust that the weapons of our warfare are effectively tested and battle ready. Take up the Word of God and engage the enemy wherever you find him. I heard somewhere that the Living God's church will prevail!
The shield is tested…because there is no place in a warrior's life for a defective shield. He must depend upon the shield as the missiles are launched for him to be effective in the battle. The ultimate evidence that the shield didn't work is the searing pain experienced as the arrow entered the body. Then it was too late. The battle was over for him. Imagine that I have a need to have some body armor for a dangerous and anticipated conflict such as a bulletproof vest. When I purchase this vest, I assume the truth of the manufacturer’s claim that the vest is without defect. It has been tested... with real bullets…and found to be effective. How much more can I trust this word of God as a guarantee? God’s claim is that He is a shield…and His word has been tested. God’s word is a shield from all the enemy’s missiles. And the word of God has been tested through the ages and found to be effective in combat. Not only in defensive postures but in offensive engagements. In military terminology, a shield is not always a protective defensive weapon…it can be the ultimate offensive weapon as the Lord invades enemy territory. We see this in our time when elite teams of prison guards go into a cell to remove a rebellious prisoner. They will advance behind a large protective shield. The enemy’s attacks against God and His people are real and destructive. But we need to remember that it is he who is in the most desperate situation. Not only is he in a defensive position but it is a defenseless one as well. Our enemy has Almighty God as an enemy. Consider that the Lord may actually provoke the devil to attack with the goal of destroying the enemy’s strongholds by flushing him out of his hiding place. This is effective strategy in warfare. Trust that God is our shield when we move into offensive engagements with the enemy. We can trust that the weapons of our warfare are effectively tested and battle ready. Take up the Word of God and engage the enemy wherever you find him. I heard somewhere that the Living God's church will prevail!
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