Your promises have been thoroughly tested

.... and your servant loves them (Psalm 119:140 NIV). The different translations of the Hebrew that we find in English versions,  can be quite puzzling. The NKJV of this verse reads “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.”  Let's start with “is pure” and “have been thoroughly tested.”  Leaving aside the confusing nature of Hebrew tenses, the verb underling the translations means to refine, as silver is refined.  Are we to say that the Word of God was in need of being refined?  Better not!  And in fact “The Words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold” (Psalm 12:6),  hence the NKJV. The problem though is that the word we are seeking to translate is a verb,  and that is what  the NIV is trying to show.  JSP (1917) has “Thy word is tried to the uttermost, And Thy servant loveth it.”

So is it “promises” or is it “Words?”  No doubt you know the phrase “His word is his bond,” meaning his word is as good and as a firm  promise. Speaking to us,  Jesus puts it this way “let your 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no,' be 'no'” (Matthew 5:37). Since He does not say one thing,  and do another, God's promises are  “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).  In other words  God's Words are as good as a promise.   And His promises are “exceeding great and precious” (2 Peter 1:4), and “without a shadow of turning.” So then they are pure and completely reliable. The Psalmist had tested God's Words, His promises,  and had found them pure, trustworthy,  and true.  In a world where “all seek their own” (Philippians 2:21), and at a time when everything that can be shaken is being shaken, it is good to know that He, and His Word are thoroughly reliable and can be trusted.

One of my favourite hymns when I was first saved was “Great is thy faithfulness.” Righteousness had become very attractive to me, not that I was there, but I wanted to be. And His great mercy, faithfulness  and forgiveness contrasted so greatly with the lack of mercy,  unfaithfulness,  and unforgiveness that I had experienced both in my own behaviour and character,  and in the behaviour and character of those who had let me down. Here was rock, a source of peace and stability,  in the midst of so much that had been,  and was being,  shaken in my life at that time.  If there was a God, and that God was the God of the Bible, then His Word had to be pure, and as I accepted the invitation to taste and see,  it  become clear to me that His promises would stand up to being thoroughly tested.

Great is Thy faithfulness,  O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy comparisons they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou for ever shalt be. Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness, morning by  morning Thy Mercies I see. All I have needed,  Thy Hand hast provided. Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.  Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness,  Your promises and the purity of Your Word. I love them Lord, for You and they keep me grounded. I bless You Lord, hallelujah in Jesus Name Amen

Again Peter denied it

.... and at that moment a rooster began to crow (John 18:27). You likely know the story, Jesus had told Peter that before the cock crowed three times,  he would deny him thrice.  And here is the warning as it were from heaven.   It's not that Peter had not  been unafraid, or unwilling,  to fight for Jesus. Peter had taken up a sword and struck what he likely thought was the first blow, when  a detachment of soldiers  and some officials had come from the chief priests and Pharisees.  They had come  carrying torches, lanterns and weapons,  and  completely outnumbering the little group of followers (verses 3, 10). Jesus told him to put away his sword and healed  the man he had struck (18:11; Luke 22:51).  Peter was not yet equipped either for the the form, or with the weapons of the warfare in which he would later excel. But Peter was not the only one who was acting our of fear that morning.

When Jesus was brought before Pilot, the Roman governor of Judea, Pilot's own verdict on the charges that were brought against Jesus was that he found no basis for a charge (any charge) against Him (19:6). Right there and then,  justice demanded that he release Jesus.  They tell Pilot that Jesus deserves to die because He claimed to be the Son of God (which He was of course), and we read “When he heard this Pilot was even more afraid” (19:7, 8). Playing on that fear,  the crowd now kept shouting “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (verse 12).  Pilot had already  tried to release Jesus, he had had Him flogged Him hoping that would satisfy the crowd (19:1).  But it was the fear of the political fallout, in particular  “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (verse 12) that lead Pilot to finally hand Him over to be crucified (19:16).

We may be quick to condemn both Peter and Pilot, but have we never acted out of fear?   Which one of us has remained silent at times when we should have spoken up?  If called to renounce Jesus or die, would we immediately think of what that would mean for the family,  and rationalize that if we denied Him,  we could always repent later?  Was Peter thinking that if he got arrested he would not later be able to fight for Jesus his way, with swords?  Are we like Peter, brave in some situations, but not so much in others?  I have often wondered how I would have feared had I been called to fight in a physical war.  But the fact of the matter is,  that we are called to fight in a spiritual war, and the default is to be like Peter and Pilot were that morning.

Father Your Word tells us that when we  strengthen our feeble hands, and say to our fearful hearts“Be strong, do not fear,” then You will come and open the eyes of the blind, unstop their ears, and heal, and the waters of Holy Spirit pour down from on high (Isaiah 35:3-6). We need Your help Lord, straighten us by Your Spirit Lord. Thank You Lord that like Peter, You do restore and recommission us when we fail (John 21:15-19).  But Lord please strengthen us to act bravely in every situation,  and we will give Your the Glory in Jesus Name Amen

I have more understanding than all my teachers

.... For Your testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:99, 100, 105). What we have here, are two examples of Hebrew poetry, the frequent repetition of essentially the same concept,  but often with subtle differences.  So in the first instance understanding comes (a) because the Psalmist meditates on the Lord's testimonies, and (b) because he keeps His precepts.  The Hebrew word translated as testimony here can mean witness, but it can also mean “statute,” or “regulation.” The dictionary defines precept as a “statute a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government.”  Ancient Israel of course was a theocracy, and the precepts were given at the times when it was governed by God.  As a boy I would hear the oft repeated phrase “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” in other words medite on the concept being taught. “Keep” of course has to do with obedience.

You have to wonder if the wide and persistent occurrence of antisemitism has something to do with jealousy at the success of the Jew. I am sure blame also plays a role. But there has to be a reason that the Jews have more Nobel prizes per capita than any other people group, and why Israel is called the startup Nation. I mean it's called the startup Nation because it has more successful innovations per capita than any other nation. And I think the principle is these first two verses is the primary explanation.  In particular success is promised in all we do when we meditate day and night on His laws (Psalm 1:4, 2).  And the fear of the Lord (leading to obediences) is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).  Certainly Israel is not perfect, but it does have God's statutes and precepts as an enduring part of its heritage.

The second Example of Hebrew poetry in this morning's reading is in verse 105 above. And it has to do with the guidance and protection. “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:2, 3). It's talking about a snare, his feet had almost slipped until he “understood their end” (verse 17), and that as the statutes and precepts make clear there is judgement for the wicked.  The second part is guidance, when we trust the Lord with all out  heart and lean not unto our own understanding, acknowledges Him in all our ways (keep His precepts) He has promised to direct our steps and make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

Father, Your Word tells us that Your people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and because it is resisted (Hosea 4:6). The word “all” in the Proverbs quotation is important. If You are not Lord of all, You are not Lord of all, but also just one disobedience is a chink in our armour. Lord I pray this morning that You will come under the radar of our excuses and of our rationalization. It is the truth that sets us, and keeps us,  free.  Give us hearts to obey this morning Lord, and hearts of  compassion to pray for,  and love,  those who are suffering because of their disobedience in Jesus Name Amen


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And this is eternal life

.... that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3). I ... pray ... “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (verse 21). These words are taken from the  high priestly prayer Jesus prayed,  knowing that the hour had come for the Father to glorify Him though the cross (verse 1).  In verse 3 above, He is telling us that the very essence of eternal life, life in its fulness in the here and now, and life for ever in the hereafter,  this life is to be found in relationship with the Father and the Son.  We get this wrong in so many ways, looking for love in all the wrong places, in the abundance of things, in power and influence, in our ministries, in our goals and  ambitions, and in our dreams. 

Since the essence of eternal life is in this relationship,  our highest priority therefore,  needs to be the nurturing of it. Functional relationships are two sided. For His part,  He has taken the initiative in making it possible in the first place. The Father has  done this in loving the World enough to send, and the Son to give,  His life on the Cross.   Based on this He issues forth the invitation to come into this relationship.  Our part, as the Bride of Christ, is to respond to the extravagant love poured out for us in this way.  In a marriage relationship the natural thing is to please ones's spouse (1 Corinthians 7:33). And the way to please our “spouse” Jesus,  is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength,  and our neighbour as ourselves.

The word “all” is important in His prayer that  “all may be one” (verse 21).  It is far too easy to want to cut loose those who are not so easy to love. But is it how we love the least lovable among us,  that the World may believe,  or disbelieve,  that the Father sent the Son.  And what Jesus prays for, is that that we should exhibit the very same oneness that exists between the Father and the Son.  We cannot do this without Him! But be encouraged,  He is praying for it, and so that when we fully cooperate with Him, it will happen. 

Father, Lord Jesus, please give us a revelation of what Your oneness with each other looks like. If we are to enter into this Lord, then the deeds and passions of the sinful nature, need to die. Thank You Lord that You have given us each other to do this, as we rub up against each other in the iron sharpening iron process (Proverbs 27:17). May we provoke one another to love and good works Lord so that we may truly be one, and that Your name may receive the Glory in Your Holy Name Amen




I still have many things to say to you

....  but you cannot bear them now.  However, when the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth (John 16:12, 13).  I taught Math at the University for 42 years. About half way through,  they introduced student-prof evaluations. I would have found them very difficult had they done that  earlier. I knew the students either loved me or hated me.  And for the fist half of my career I was not secure enough to receive criticism, constructive or otherwise that would have come from the latter group.  Part of that,  was that I had receive too much destructive criticism in my life.  Another part,  was that I had not yet learned to care more about what God though of me,  than what others did.  Towards the end however, as I became more secure in God's love and acceptance,  I was able to learn from the  course evaluations, and was able laugh at some of the more outlandish ones. I was learning my identity in Christ, a son of the living God.

In the beginning then, I was exactly where the disciples were. It is a common malady, and I know what Jesus meant.  Perhaps you do too! Verse 13 tells us what they were not able to bear, endure or tolerate (from the Greek), it was truth. The Holy Spirit would guide them into  all truth,  and He will guide us too,  if we cooperate with Him. “All truth” encompass a lot of truth.  Part of it  (but only part), is “truth as  personal excellence;  unreserved, honesty of mind which is free from affectation, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit,  sincerity of mind and integrity of character, it is a mode of life in harmony with divine truth” (Thayer, the Greek Lexicon). To continue in this truth, meditating on it, growing in it, obeying it,  this truth is what Jesus promises will progressively set us free (John 8:31,32).

It is not easy, but Holy Spirit is a wonderful teacher, and as I say, He will teach us if we cooperate with Him.  I have found that many times He waits to be gracious to us,  to show mercy and compassion on us (Isaiah 30:18).  But there are times when He will discipline us for “For whom the LORD loves He chastens.”  And although “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:6, 11). It is a question of being teachable or not, being eager to learn, or being dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11).  One of the symptoms of this latter state,  is being stuck, not growing. At such times He may wait to be gracious to us until we are sick and tired,  of being sick and tired. At other time we may not be  willing to let the Lord deal with something that needs to be dealt with. In such cases He may well discipline us, or send a brother a sister to confront us (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1).

Father, as for me, I would rather hear truth from You,  than from others. For this reason Lord I am asking almost daily for You to search my heart to see if there be any wicked way within me. Lord Help me to be,  and to stay teachable Lord, and to continue in Your Word so that I might truly be Your disciple (learner),  in Jesus Name Amen. 


For I have given you an example

....  that you should do as I have done to you. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet (John 13:15, 14). There is always so much going on in the stories about Jesus, you can come back again and again and still find something new. Here we have the example of course, but also Jesus' awareness of His coming death and who would betray Him, the lesson behind His exchange with Peter, who was not wanting to let Jesus wash his feet, the sign of the one who would  betray Him Judas, and in spite of this, the way the disciples missed it etc., etc. 

The washing of the feet was the task of the servant with the lowest rank.  And some have seen Jesus example here,  as a command to do foot washing ceremonies. In fact I have taken part in such, and in many ways they were both humbling and moving.  And all this  is fine,  as long as we don't miss the wider lesson that Jesus is wanting us to hear.  It  is that the most menial of tasks should not be beneath any of those of us who name Jesus as teacher and Lord.  And as I meditate on these things this morning,  and even as I write,  I am asking the Lord to show me anything that I might not be willing to do, and for Him to expose any excuse I might have been giving for not doing them. The other thing that comes to mind here, is that many of us are willing to minister, but are not so willing to be humble enough to allow others to minister to us. It might look  humble, but actually it is false humility to disallow others to minister to us.

Another lesson Jesus is wanting us to hear from the exchange with Peter, is that once we have received Him as saviour and Lord (those of us who have been “bathed”),  we are “completely clean.”  We need then only to “wash” our feet (verse 10). As an aside here, there are likely those in the fellowship who have the outward appearance (“not all of you”) but are not.  However, since Jesus did not treat him any differently, neither should we! But perhaps the main point,  is  that we don't need to get saved over and over just because we have been defiled by walking in the world. The defilement of course is both from the pollution of the world,  and from our own sin.  The occasion of this exchange is of course the Lord's  supper. And part of what I hear Him saying to me this morning, is that in the midst of this crisis I should not neglect the (virtual) meeting of ourselves together whenever possible,  to remember His  dead until He come (1 Corinthians 11:25, 26).

Lord Jesus, I want to thank You this morning for the technology that allows us to meet together virtually. And though it is not the same, nevertheless it is something that I believe You  provided in anticipation of this time of isolation. Lord help us to be aware of those for whom and act of kindness at this point in time would mean so much. Thank You for the cookies that were delivered to me last night,  and for the love behind that simple act. I thank and praise You again this morning Lord in Your precious and Holy Name Amen

These things I have spoken to you

.... that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11). We are in John 15 this morning (obviously). Jesus tells us He is the true vine, and we are the branches. If we abide in Him, and His Words abide in us we will bear much fruit. Without Him we can do nothing (verses 1, 5, 7).  And then in verse 11, He is telling us these things that His joy may be in us and our joy may be full.  How are you doing this morning, how am I doing?  Do you, do I have fullness of joy?  Here's the thing, if we don't,  either Jesus' Words are hollow and meaningless, or we have not lived up to our part in the bargain. As for me, I'm not going to blame the Lord! And when I read things like I am reading this morning (and they are written all over His Word),  it challenges me once again to press in, to be determined with His help to do what I need to do, to do my part.

The passage itself explains much about what it means to abide in Him.  We see from the with picture that we are the branches, that a “branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine” (verse 4). The branch draws is sustenance from the vine. So from where are we drawing our sustenance? What am I feeding on?  During this time I have not been listing much to the news, and I have been fasting from Netflix. But it's not just what I don't feed on, it's what I do feed on. In verse 7 Jesus ties abiding in Him with His Words abiding in us. The Greek word here is rhama – the spoken living Word, the words we hear when we are truly sheep that follow (John 10:27). They are the words that become rhama words as we meditate on the logos words of Scripture (Psalm 1). So we are talking about being readers,  and doers of the Word (James 1:22), we are talking about a radical obedience.  

It's not all up to us, “every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (verse 2).  Note that it's the branches that bear fruit that He prunes. Pruning is not a lot of fun, but part of what He is saying here, is that the pruning is not punishment for something we've done.  I am not saying He will not disciple us for disobedience (whom the Lord loves he disciplines Hebrews 12:6), only that  when we truly understand, we realize it's a privileged to suffer for Him (Philippians 1:29).  We will not know this if we are not vitally connected to Him. And as long as we keep fighting the people and circumstances that He allows, we will not have fullness of joy, and we will not bear much fruit.

Father, please teach us more about what it means to abide in You,  and for Your Words to abide in us. Lord we haven't even looked at the other benefits of abiding this morning. You tell us for example then “you will ask what you desire and it will be given unto you” and that  this brings glory to You (verse 7).   Lord You know what I am asking for this morning, I'm believing I have received it, and I give Your the Glory in advance, in Jesus Name Amen

He who has My commandments and keeps them

... it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14:21). It's Jesus speaking of course, and part of what He is saying here, is that love looks like something. He had just given them a new commandment, that they love one another as (in the same way) that He had loved them. And in doing so He gives the World the right to judge whether we are His disciples by that love (13:34, 35). The same John who is author of this gospel, puts this negatively telling us that “He who says he loves God and hates his neighbour, is a liar” (1 John 4:20). This is not about earning our salvation, it's about living in the reality of the Christian life. Our love for God looks like something, and God's love for us looks like something too. First and foremost of course that is that “God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

 

But what Jesus is saying here, is that when we respond to Him not just by turning to Him, but also obeying His commandments, then He will go further and “manifest” Himself to us. This manifestation is thoroughly trinitarian. If we love Him and keep His Word, both Jesus and the Father will further demonstrate their love by coming to us, and making their home within us (a habitation not a visitation verse 23). Moreover the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth will also come and abide with us forever (verses 15-17). And lest there be any doubt as to what this all means, Jesus tells us that He “will not leave us orphans” (verse 18). So it remains to ask what does it look like for us to love each other, as He has loved us. 

 

What I know, is that if we are to be His disciples (life long learners 13:35), then we will need to cooperate with Him in learning at least two things. Firstly obeying His commandment to love involves allowing Him to use our relation difficulties to reveal things in ourselves that need to change. This is the meaning of “As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens man” (Proverbs 27:17). When we do this we can find healing by confessing our faults one to another (James 5:16). It is easier than the other way round with the other person needing to show me my faults! The second thing with “as He has loved us” is that “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). What this does, at least what it has done and is doing for me, is that it draws me closer to Him, and I am loosing my orphan spirit in the process.

 

Lord Jesus I am not quite there yet, but more and more I am learning to be son, and to care more about what You think of me, than what others do. Lord, I want to be able to do the greater works that You promise in this morning's readings (verse 12). Please give us a double portion of Your Grace Lord as You continue Your work in us, and let it reflect Glory to You Lord, in Your precious Name Amen 

 

And I will be even more undignified than this

..... and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the servant girls of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honour (2 Samuel 6:22).  David was finally bringing the Arc of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, and for him it was a time of great rejoicing. There was a procession of celebration,  and David dressed in a linen ephod  was dancing before the Lord with all his might,  whirling and twirling to the music. David's wife Michal, seeing him through a window, despised him in her heart. With biting sarcasm she confronted him (verses 14-20).  And the title verses is David's response essentially saying “you ain't seen nothing yet!” Michal's words were also meant to guilt and shame David, as she accused  him of exposing himself  “in the sight of the slave girls .... like a vulgar person would" (verse 20).

Such things are of the flesh, not of the Spirit. They are about control and manipulation, and radical disrespect (she despised him in her heart), and ultimately pride.  The Lord does not operate today as He did with ancient Israel, but we can tell how He feels about things by the way He dealt with them back then. In particular we read  “therefore (i.e. for this reason) Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death” (verse 23). Paul summarizes the controversial passage about husband wife relationships,  in Ephesians 5:22-33,  by saying “in particular let each one so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Having been the recipient of much of the above behaviour, I can say that one  of the reason the Lord feels so strongly about these things, is that they undermine a man. I know that I have felt undermined by them, especially by disrespect.

It takes a strong man to stand up to a woman's words. I am not saying they don't exist in men! But many, perhaps  most of us, are defenceless in the presence of these things especially from a woman.  David was such a strong one. He tells her “It was before the Lord” (verse 21). And these things delight the Lord, it is a form of praise (Psalm 149:3).   Michal was operating out of a religious spirit, a spirit that is unfortunately alive and well and operating today in the Church. It seems that we are quick to condemn things that we would not do, and things we do not understand. This spirit is also a spirit of control. And the rumour is that God wants His church back!

Lord Jesus, of course it's not just women who are into domination, manipulation, control and disrespect.  It is interesting to me though that one of the other verses that caught my attention in this morning's readings,  is Your command to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:4). The above things are the very opposite of love. We need Your  Help with these things Lord. Help us to put to death those what is displeasing to you. Also Lord, teach us Lord to be like David, who cared more about what You think about him than what others thought. Finally Lord show us any place where we have not allowed Your free reign either in our lives,  or in Church and help to us to let go and let God  in Your precious Name Amen

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies

....  it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:24, 25).  Jesus was very aware that the time had come when He would soon be delivered up to death. It was in the middle of holy week, the triumphal entry was behind Him (verses 12-15);  Mary had  anointed the feet of Jesus with costly oil “for my burial,” and wiped His feet with her hair (verses 3, 7);  and Jesus had turned away some Greeks who had come to see Him (verses 23).  The quote is the answer He gave to the request. As He often does, He is using natural things to teach. The picture in the first part is comparing grain planted to it being burred in the ground. Only after it is “buried” in this way,  will it spout and produce a full ear of corn. The ear of has course is the  “fruit,” that is much more grain from the single grain that died.

Part, but only part,  of this saying,  is Jesus telling that it was necessary for Him to die in order that His followers might receive eternal life (verse 25). It is easy to pass over the difficulty that Jesus had in submitting to the death He knew was coming. “Now is my soul troubled” (verse 27, but see also Matthew 26:36-46). It is remarkable that the private ministry of the Son of God that follows given under such pressure (Chapters 13-16),  contains some of the most profound teaching of the whole three years. And since He had laid aside His Godhead (Philippians 2:5-8),  all this was done in His capacity as a Spirit filled man, not as God. And so it was as human being that He “hated His life” in order that we might live.

Coming to the second part of this morning quote, in the hyperbole (exaggerated rhetoric) of verse 25,  the Lord is essentially saying “I did this for you, will you do it for me?” Elsewhere He tells us “Unless you take up your cross daily and follow me you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). Paul tells us “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). The invitation of the gospel is to come to die, for unless a seed die, it abides alone, but if we die,  we too will produce much fruit.

Father, I remember this morning how courageously my mother in law clung to life in her dying days. We do not die easily Lord either physically or to the self life. Your Word tells us that “ those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). It seems to be a process Lord. Paul further tells us if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh we will live (Romans 8:13). It is we who do it, but it is by the Sprit. In other words we need to surrender and cooperate with Him. So we come again this morning Lord bringing our bodies as living sacrifices.  It is the only reasonable response to Your tender mercies. We love You Lord Jesus in Your precious Name Amen

But David strengthened himself in the LORD

It was a huge blow. When it became clear that Saul would eventually kill David if he stayed in Israel,  he and his followers and their families had fled to the Philistines. And thinking he was on their side  King Achish had given  David the city of  Ziklag  to live there (1Sam. 27:6). David and the men (six hundred of them) had been gone, and when they returned they found that  “the Amalekites had .... attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,  and had taken captive the women and those who were there .... they did not kill anyone, but carried them away.”  David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD  (1 Samuel 30:1, 2, 6).

Just because we are living for the Lord, following His directions to the best of our ability does not mean that things will go smoothly. Jesus wanted us “In this world you will have troubles, but be of good cheer I have overcome the World” (John 16:33b).  No doubt part of David's “great distress” was because not only because his wives had been taken captive, but also because those who had up to this point been faithful to him were talking of stoning him. The Scripture again warns “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings .... ” (Psalm 146:3).  In my own experience I can say without doubt that I have been more hurt and let down by Christians,  than those who don't know the Lord. Part of is it that you expect better of Christians. But Christians are people,  and as the saying goes “people who are hurt,  hurt people.” That is if they don't take their hurts to the Lord,  to strengthen themselves in Him!

But what does it mean to strengthen yourself in the Lord? It's going to be hard if you don't have an ongoing relationship with Him. But often  troubles are what drives us to Him in the first place. But where ever  we are starting from, turning to Him in our troubles,  and choosing to trust Him,  is the first thing we need to do. I find it helpful at such times to go over the many promises He has underlined for me, especially those in His Word. In  John 16:33a  He tells us  “these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.”  He is saying that our reaction to troubles should not be surprise or panic, but rather we should tap into His peace.  After strengthening ourselves in this way,  we need like David did,  to enquire of the Lord (verse 8). The Lord is not taken by surprise at the troubles we find ourselves in, and He knows what to do.  We also like David did, choose to trust others, in His case the priest (verse 7). We need each other even in the midst of being let down, perhaps even especially at those times.  David needed His men for the rescue that followed. 

Father, we will likely never get past needing to strengthen ourselves in You. Help us to get better at it Lord. Help us to trust You and quickly come to peace in these times so that way we will be able to hear You more clearly. Thank You that You work all tings together for our good in Jesus Name Amen

Jesus wept

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb  (out of order John 11:35, 33, 38). Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, had died. He knew he was going to die,  and delayed going to him, not getting there until four days after his death (verses 3, 6, 14, 17).  Jesus also knew that He was going to raise him from the dead “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” (verse 4).  It was also the occasion of one of the “I AM” sayings (see May 16 post), He says “I am the resurrection and the life” (verse 25). The majority of various translations of “groaned” (repeated to get our attention) have words like deeply moved, greatly troubled, greatly distressed. Holmans is more true to the Greek, and has “He was angry in His spirit.”  According to the lexicon the meanings include,  snorted with anger, was moved with indignation, was furious, was angry in His spirit.

All this, just in case you felt that Jesus, being God, did not have the full range of human emotions. Hebrews tells us “We do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with  the feeling of our infirmities” (4:15 KJV). Part of what I am hearing,  is that anger is a normal human reaction to death.  Of course what we do with our anger is important. Scripture tells us “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). Both verbs are in the imperative, i.e. they are commands, but of course the two commands need to be held together.  Many Christians seem to think that all anger is wrong,  and accordingly they try suppress it (good luck with that). I am not saying we should give free reign to our anger.  The last part of Ephesians 4:25 says “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.”  Likewise the above Hebrews reference ads “but He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Two things, it may not seem logical that Jesus would be angry and weep  when He knew perfectly well that He was going to raise Lazarus. But emotions are not logical are they? I keep saying this, we cannot control our emotions, but we can control our thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5). The will, not our emotions,  is what is  intended to be the train that drives our actions. And when it is,  like the caboose on the train, the emotions will eventually follow.  Secondly we can use our emotions, in particular our anger,  in a positive way. Anger may give us the courage to do what needs to be done, the courage to do things we might not normally do. We can also like Jesus did, allow them empower faith to rise,  and to take up the authority we have been given (Luke 10:19) and war against the enemy, in this case death itself.

Father, it is interesting to me that You brought this to my attention this morning the day after we had been looking at “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”  This is one more thing we need to hold together in tension. Thank You for emotions Lord, we cannot be fully alive without them. But help us Lord to direct them to Your Kingdom purposes, and we will give You the Glory in Jesus Name Amen

Precious in the sight of the LORD

.... is the death of His saints (Psalm 116:15). During my treatment for prostrate cancer, a longtime friend of mine commented that I was not afraid of death. I am believing that he is now with the Lord, at least partially because of that witness. Scripture talks about the release of those “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:15). It seems that many times we push the thoughts of the inevitability of death down below our conscious thoughts. Nevertheless it affects us in ways we likely also don't want to admit, or deal with. So what is the release the Hebrews reference is talking about? Well the previous verse tells that the Son of God took on flesh so that “through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Note the tense “had the power of death.” He no longer has that power, death was defeated at the cross. The point is, that death came into the World through sin (Romans 5:12). God created man to live forever in paradise, but there can be no sin in paradise, or it would not be paradise. That's why Adam and Eve were expelled “lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” in his sinful state (Genesis 3:22, 24). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23). “But” changes everything! The sting of death is sin, BUT as one commentator put it “Through faith in Him, death is no longer a stinging punishment, but the victorious entry into eternal life” (see 1 Corinthians 15:55, 56). In other words death is graduation day for the believer, for His saints.

So if it's graduation day, why should I (or you) fear death? And just as an earthly parent rejoices at the earthly graduation of his (or her) child, so the Heavenly Father rejoices at the graduation of one of His sons or daughters. He longs as much to say it, as we do to hear it “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:23). Paul could say “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He tells us that he was hard pressed to choose between the two. To be with the Lord is “far better,” yet to remain meant bearing more fruit (Philippians 1:21 – 23). Paul is not suicidal, but He knows something of the glory of Glory! In many ways I feel the same! I know that the Lord still has things for me to do, and I'm willing to stay until the appointed time for Him to take me home. But this life is hard and times, I get tired, and I long for the fullness of His presence and the glory that is to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

Father, there are times when we and all creation groans. Give us a gimps Lord of the glory that is to be revealed in us, so that with Paul we too may able to consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with it. In the meantime Lord, please give us the Grace to not be weary in doing well, that we may run the race set before us with perseverance as we look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, in His precious Name we pray Amen

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us

..... but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. Why should the Nations say “Where is their God?” The highest heavens, are the LORD’S; but the earth He has given to the children of men (Psalm 115:1, 2, 16). There are two distinct groups included in the phrase “the children of men.” They are the children of Israel, the prototype of God's people, and the nations. By default, since we always worship something, the second group are idol worshippers. At the time the Psalm was written, the idols were silver and gold, the work of men’s hands (verse 4). Today our idols are more subtle, science, intellect, success, self (I am captain of my fate, the master of my soul) etc., etc. The Lord took a great risk when He gave the earth to the children of men, but it was always His intention that we should steward it under His Lordship and guidance (i.e. Genesis 2:15-17). You know the story Adam (mankind) rebelled (fell) and the Lord cursed the earth for our sake (Genesis 3).

There is a sense in which every sin, every rebellion, is like the sin of the morning star, the son of the dawn, Satan, the one who once laid low the nations. He said in his heart “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12, 14). Likewise, the history of God's people, both Israel and the church, is one of  oscillation between revival, returning to God, and rebellion, of “doing it my way,” seeking our own glory. But the Lord will not give His Glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). The church of course, is often in denial that it is in rebellion, but so much of what we do is about our ministry, about our group being the best, and only true representative of God on earth. There are over forty thousand registered denominations. Is it any wonder the “nations” are saying “Where is their God?” I mean which of the forty thousand are they supposed to think is correct? We have a form of religion, but it is absent of its power (2 Timothy 3:5).

After the fall, the Lord cursed the earth for our sake (Genesis 3:17 NKJV), meaning that He changed reality so that the consequences, the  pain, confusion and the emptiness of our rebellions ways, would lead us to return to our God and the shepherd of our souls. I am hoping that I am wrong, but I have the sense that as we adjust to the new normal with this coronavirus, that the urgency, the impetus to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and repent especially of our disunity (2 Chronicles 7:14) had diminished. As long as we refuse to be eager to maintain the unity He has purchased at such great cost (Ephesians 4:3), we are doing the exact opposite of this morning's title verse praying “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”

Lord Jesus, please give us Your grace, and the humility that will enable us to be eager to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Help us to get low, and to stay low. And when this is over Lord, please help us not to go back to the old normal. Show us Your Glory Lord, in signs, wonders and miracles. Kingdom of God come on earth as it is in Heaven in Your precious Name Amen

One thing I know: that though I was blind

.... now I see (John 9:25). Jesus had healed this man born blind from birth. And the man was displaying courage, standing up against the intimidating tactics of the Pharisees. But Jesus had opened both his physical and his spiritual eyes. When Jesus found him later,  and asked him if he believed in the Son of God, he answered “Lord, I believe” (verses 35, 38). Jesus went on to tell him “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind” (verse 39). Jesus had told the crowd that He is the light of the World (verse 5), and now had demonstrated the truth of it  by opening blind eyes. Then and now,  He is the one who brings light to those who are in darkness. Then and now, He does it though the testimony of those whose eyes He has opened. And then and now He, and the light that He brings, divides the sheep from the goats.

There is no fence, you are either for Him or, by default, you are against Him. If you are not gathering with Him, you are scattering abroad (Matthew 12:30). How may parents have I heard say that they don't want to influence their children, they want them to make up their minds for themselves? But this already is an influence, and it says loudly and clearly “It's not really important.” But actually, it is a matter of life and death. It was for judgement that He came into the world (verse 39 again). Christ came not to condemn, but that the World through Him might be saved (Romans 8:1; John 8:15; 3:17). It's our response to Christ and the light that He brings that makes the difference. He brings light into the darkness so that “those who do not see may see.” When we respond positively to the light, more will be given. But when we respond negatively, even that which we have will be taken away (Matthew 13:12). “Everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3:20). To say it again He came that “those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

Then and now, it's not about logic. I am not saying that logic is not important, but we need to realize that the intellect is fallen. Logic did not convince the Pharisees “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (verses 32, 33). It should have convinced them! I am not saying we should not use logic, but what the Pharisees could not dispute was the testimony.

Father, thank You for reminding me this morning, that there is no fence, we are either moving forward or we are moving backwards. We are either growing in Grace or it is diminishing in us.  We are either dying to the self life,  or we are living for self. Our testimony needs to be fresh Lord, and so we come to You again this morning Lord Jesus to remember Your death,  and to commit again to take up our cross and follow You until You come. Even so come Lord Jesus Amen

Amen, amen before Abraham was, I AM

.... Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple (John 8:58, 59). There was an impression that was around when I was a child it was “Gentle Jesus meek and mild, wouldn't hurt a fly.” Anyone who thought that did not know his Bible. He was meek certainly, as in humble, though we may have to adjust our understanding of humility! But mild? In this passage you might be forgiven for thinking that Jesus was not a tad provocative. Earlier in this conversation He had told them “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do” (verse 44). He had also claimed “Amen, amen if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” They reply “Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead” (verses 51, 53), and the conversation continues as above. It's not exactly clear how He manages to escape, but He does this on more than one occasion (i.e. Luke 4:29, 30). But in any case, Jesus claim “before Abraham was, I AM” is the last straw.

It is the one place where we can be left in absolutely no doubt as to what He was claiming. He was claiming to be the God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush. God is commissioning Moses there,  and when Moses asks whom shall he say sent him, the Lord answers 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’ (Exodus 3:14). That we are not misunderstanding this is clear from the reaction of the crowd. They took up stones to stone Him. I am put in mind of C. S. Lewis's trichotomy. He say either Jesus was a liar, claiming to be God when He was not, or a lunatic on a par with someone who claimed to be a poached egg, or He is who He claimed to be the Lord God almighty. He says I want you to prevent you from saying a very silly thing, namely that He was just a good teacher. He has not left us with that possibility, He is either a liar, a lunatic or He is who He claims to be the Lord of all creation.

To come back to our understanding of humility, it is not lack of humility for me to claim that I am a child of God, created in the image of God, and have passed from death to life. I have this on His authority (i.e. John 1:14; Genesis 1:26; John 5:24). Likewise it is not arrogance for Jesus to claim that He is God. We have somehow confused timidity with humility, but is it not only not humility to withhold truth, even when it makes others angry as it did here, actually it lacks love. We see this even in the context of this passage. You see as Jesus had said earlier,  it is the truth that ultimately sets you free (8:32). We do of course need to speak truth in love.

Father, Jesus was a bold as a lion, fierce when He needed to be, always acting in love and saying only those things You told Him to say. We want to be like Him Lord, bold, courageous, sensitive, loving, intimately in touch with You, hearing Your voice, and walking full obedience. Forgive us when we fail Lord, and equip us to walk in Your paths in His precious Name Amen

The LORD, who delivered me

.... from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1 Samuel 17:37). David is about to go up against Goliath, the Philistine champion who was defying “the armies of the living God” (verse 26). Goliath was a formidable foe. Since the Hebrew measurement of a cubit is not exact, various translations put him between seven to ten feet tall, and with a spear whose head alone weighed about fifteen pounds. When King Saul agrees to let him fight Goliath, he gives David his armour. But David is unable to walk in it (verse 39), and instead goes up against him with his shepherd’s sling and five smooth stones. He prevails of course , with a shot to the head, he then uses Goliath's own sword to decapitate him (verses 50, 51).

Goliath had bragged that he would give David's flesh to the birds of the air and the beast of the field. David answered “You come to me with a sword, with a spear. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (verses 44, 45). He tells that he would do to Goliath what he had threatened to do to David, and that all the earth would then know that there's a God in Israel and “this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S” (verses 46, 47). There are a couple things to draw out of this story. The fist, is that God prepares His people for battle. David had a history of the Lord delivering him, and this built faith and confidence that what He had done before, He would do again. I consider it likely that the lion and the bear were not David's first trials of faith. The Lord starts where we are, and when we act in courage and obedience, He builds our faith and confidence from there.

That task that which the Lord had prepare David, was related to his destiny. David was to be the warrior King of Israel, and in stepping into this next stage of his destiny, in addition to building faith, the Lord was also building a his reputation for courage and his suitability to lead Israel. It is interesting that David did not go in Saul's armour. Trying to go in someone else's armour is a mistake many make. God prepares us individually and gives us individually the gifts and talents we need to accomplish the tasks to which He calls us (1 Corinthians 12:11b). What is also interesting to me is that what David saw in Goliath was both a challenge and an opportunity, an opportunity to defend the honour and reputation of the Lord.

Father, I thank You this morning for the heroes of the faith, the cloud of witnesses, both Biblical and in this season, who You have raised up and are raising up to challenge us. So Lord help us to lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily trips us up. Help us to both discern the task and the destiny to which You call us, and to run with courage and perseverance the race that You set before us, looking of course, unto Jesus. And Lord whatever we do in word or in deed, let it all be done for Your Glory in Jesus Name Amen

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice

.... And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:22, 23). The Lord had told King Saul though Samuel to destroy the enemy completely, and to take no booty. But when Samuel came he could hear the bleating of the sheep that had been spared (verse 14). Saul had done most of what the Lord had told him to do, but he had allowed the people to take “the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD .... in Gilgal” (verse 21). And Saul had allowed this because he “feared the people and obeyed their voice” (verse 24).

There are more than a few ingredients of our fallen ways that are present here, our obedience only to those parts of what God requires that appeal to us, and our ignoring the rest, telling ourselves that partial obedience is obedience (verse 13), rationalizing our disobedience, blame, fear of man (verse 21), rebellion, stubbornness etc. But how is rebellion like witchcraft, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry? Well, rebellion is outright, active opposition to God, it is taking the side of the enemy against God, and is in fact obeying the enemy's voice. Obstinate resistance to God and disobedience are in fact tantamount to idolatry, because both are essentially worship of, and trust in, self will.

The excuse that “well we just wanted to have something to sacrifice to You God,” is also problematic. “I'll do it my way” is also part of will worship, and religious observance is empty if we are not loving God with all our heart mind soul and strength. We are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), but as David tells us “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). A broken spirit is not the same as a crushed spirit. A broken spirt comes, as we come to the end or ourselves, when we come to the place where we not only want to do things God's way, but with His help we do it. There is life that flows out of having our self will broken, and death flows out of hanging onto it.

Lord Jesus, broken lives are why You died on Calvary, and the conviction and brokenness I am feeling this morning, is not condemnation, for there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Your Word tells me Lord, that if You are not Lord of all, You are not Lord at all. So I come to You again this morning for forgiveness, cleansing and recommissioning. I love You Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice. You died that I might live, and I give You all the honour, all the Glory and all the praise in Your holy and lovely and precious Name Amen

For nothing restrains the LORD from saving

...... by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6). The speaker is Jonathan the son of Saul, the first Israelite King. He is speaking about he and his armour bearer going up against a Philistine garrison. It is clear they were outnumbered, in fact the two of them finished up slaughtering twenty of them (verse 14). You have to love Jonathan, bold, courageous for God, a man of faith. And, as we will read, a true and loyal friend to David, even after it became clear that it was David and not he, who would inherit the throne. In this incident he may even appear reckless, but as the Scripture says “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Daniel 11:32).

There are two basic responses to life, fear or faith. And faith sees an opportunity in every trial, difficulty and temptation. Faith however is not foolishness, and Jonathan, though he is bold, seeks and receives confirmation of his proposed actions (verses 8 -12). And in the midst of this coronavirus crisis, the Lord is prompting me this morning to see opportunity in it. Up to this point I had largely seen this as an opportunity for the church to rise and shine (Isaiah 60:1), and it is. But if we are to understand the times and know what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32), then we need to understand that it is not just for the church that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, but it is also for the World. I mean in times of crisis we all, believer and unbeliever alike are likely to start to question ourselves, our priorities and start to ask the what the were and the why questions. In other words to become more open.

As to knowing what to do, it is the time to be bold, not reckless, but bold. We need to be praying for opportunities to speak to those who do not know Him, to speak the truth in love, to come along side those who are hurting and struggling. We need to demonstrate His love in tangible ways. As Heidi Baker says so often “love looks like something,” something tangible. Continuing the Isaiah 61 reference we read “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Father, as we continue to press into our assignment to humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14), Your light and glory will surly rise on us. Thank You that You are using these things to refine our characters. It must start with us Lord. Thank You for Your promise that the unbelievers will come to the light and the glory You are placing upon us. Help us not to miss the opportunities here, and give us a boldness and love that has been missing many times, for so long. Show us tangible ways to do this Lord, and we will give You the honour and the Glory and the praise in Jesus Name Amen 

If anyone is willing to do His will

...... he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him (John 17:17, 18). There are a couple of things that come out of these words of Jesus that come to my mind this morning. The first is that our ability to know the truth is a heart matter. In particular it centres around a willingness to do His will. The Amplified Bible translates part of John 8:31, 32 as “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.  And you will know the truth.” The converse is also true. In fact as Paul says, the truth is suppressed by unrighteousness, by the willingness to do what we know is not God's will (Romans 1:20). It's called rationalization and denial!

In the last part of verse 18 Jesus is, of course, speaking about Himself. He is confident of the truth of what He was teaching, even though He had neither gone to the best universities, nor sat under the acknowledged experts of the day (verse 15). And part of this confidence, was knowing that His motives were pure, and He knew they were pure because He was seeking the glory of the Father, the One who sent Him. For the same reason He knew there was no unrighteousness in Him (still in verse 18). This being sure of His motives is no small thing. When we let Him, the Lord will reveal to us the secrets and the intents of our heart, both good and bad (Psalm 44:29, 21; 1 Corinthians 14:25). And for the one wanting to do the will of God, this is important, for “man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Knowing the truth is, as I say, a heart matter!

In the first part of verse 18 Jesus says “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory.” When we do what we do to look good, we will already have received all the reward we will ever get for it (Matthew 6:5) – been there done that, bought the T-shirt. But also we will not be anointed in what we do, because “His Glory He will not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8). I am convinced that part of why the Bible tells us to “not to be many teachers,” is because so often we operate out of mixed motives. And this morning these things reminded me that “the Word of God is living and powerful, it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). And it comes to me again “This Bible knows me!”

Lord, the conviction of the Holy Spirit comes, not to condemn us, for there is therefore now no condemnation to those of us who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). No it comes in order that I might be free, and a vessel fit for the Master's use. Search my heart again this morning Lord, and lead me in the ways of life. And I will be sure to give You the Honour and the Glory and the praise in Jesus Name Amen

A soft answer turns away wrath

..... But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness (Proverbs 15:1, 2). A soft or gentle response to anger can prevent its escalation, it can redirect it, and even calm it. But these sayings are proverbs, not exact spiritual law. A proverb describes trends, the way things tend to work. What for example is almost universally true is that a harsh response to anger tends to stir it up and make things worse. The proverb is giving advice as to the best way to meet anger. It is not with more anger, rather it is with a soft and gentle response, a response that exhibits a spirit of sweet reasonableness. The second stanza of verse 1 (a harsh word ... ) is relevant both to the one responding and to the one initiating any exchange.

At the risk of being misunderstood I want to say that many believers have confused timidity with humility, and conflict avoidance with spirituality. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and there are times when no matter how softly, humbly and lovingly we speak the truth, anger and wrath can result. We also need to realize that withholding truth at times can be unloving, in and of itself. That's because only the truth can set us free (John 8:32). On the other hand there are those within the Christian community, who have gotten truth and love out of balance. The second part of the second verse (but the mouth ...) is applicable here. The phrase “verbal diarrhea” comes to mind, and another proverb tells that “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). James tells us to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath (James 1:19).

Coming to the first part of verse 2 (the tongue of the wise ...). There is a huge difference between wisdom and knowledge. There are many in academia who have lots of knowledge, but lack wisdom. Perhaps we can think of wisdom as good and appropriate and loving ways of using knowledge. A wife or a mother (or father) who nags, may well have knowledge and truth on her side, but does not realize that her nagging pushes the other person away. Scripture tells us there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). But wisdom here is not just about when to speak, it is how, and how much, and with what attitude. What we say and how we say it. Paul puts it this way “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).

Father, James tells us that if we do not ever offend in tongue, we are a perfect man (3:2). I am not there yet Lord. Thank Your for this morning's proverbs that show us how to live. And when we have done our best and offence is still taken, help us not to second guess ourselves (unless You ask us to). They took offence at Jesus (John 6:61, 66). Father help us so to walk that the only offence that comes is the offence of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:18) in Jesus Name Amen

I am the bread of life

.... He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst (John 6:35). The previous day Jesus had fed five thousand plus from five barley loves and two small fish (verses 1-12). The crowds had gathered again, and Jesus perceived that they came because they wanted to be fed again (verse 26). He tells them “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life,” and He tell them “This is the work of God that You believe on Him whom He sent” (verses 27, 29). They ask for a sign referencing the manna, the bred from heaven, that Moses had given the children of Israel in the desert (verses 30, 31). Well, the Father gives the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world, and it's Jesus (verses 32-35).

So then Jesus had demonstrate that He could fulfill physical hunger, physical hunger of course had returned the following day. And He uses the occasion to talk about spiritual hunger, and what will satisfy it. And again, it's Jesus! It seems to be a principle that things have to appear in the natural before the things to which they point, appear in the spiritual. So here manna, the bread from heaven that came down in the desert (Exodus 16:32-35) needed to appear in the natural (physical) before the teaching would make sense to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. As Paul could say of the things he taught, that he taught “not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Many would not understand, and they would turn back (verse 66).

But how exactly are we to understand this saying that He is the bread of life? Some have wanted to take it literally and see the bread in communion literally turning into His body. But as Peter would say a little later on about Jesus who is the Word (logos) that when He speaks (rhama) these words are what bring life, life in all its abundance and life eternal. In fact Jesus gives us many metaphors, He the bred of life, the light of the World (8:2), the door (10:9), the Good Shepherd (10:11), the resurrection and the life (11:25, 26), the way the truth and the life (14:6), the vine (15:5). In other words Jesus is our all, our sufficiency, our comfort, our guide, our counsellor, our friend and our saviour.

Lord Jesus, You indeed are all we need. In You is life, health, peace, joy, hope, and many other things. Too often Lord we strive for the bread that does not satisfy (27). Forgive us Lord. Thank You for Your promises that when we keep on coming to You and keep believing in You (the force of the Greek tenses), then we will indeed never hunger, for You truly satisfy. And thank You Lord that when we do this, You will in no wise cast us out (35, 37). And all we have to do Lord, is to come to You and have faith in You (29). For this and many other things we give You honour, Glory and praise in Your precious Name Amen

And He gave them their request

.... But sent leanness into their soul (Psalm 106:15). The Lord was reminding me this morning how easy it is for me to backslide. Speaking of the many vacillations of Israel, the previous two verses read “They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert.” How easy it is to forget, how easy to be impatient, how easy to think we have got it, and to act independently of His council, how easily we are drawn away by our own lusts (James 1:14). How easy all this is for me. On the other hand, it is also very easy to be overconfident thinking that this will never be me. But the latter case the Scripture warns “Let he who thinks he stands, take care lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

So there are two errors. We can be overconfident with the accompanying tendency to judge others (but see Matthew 7:1-5), or we can feel powerless. And feeling that powerlessness, we can drift back back into old ways, medicating our pain in the multitude of way we do that. And then we can swing from one extreme to the other! But coming back to what the Lord showed me this morning, the words of an old hymn come to mind “He can save, He can keep.” It's Biblical, firstly “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Our part of course, is to come to Him. Secondly with Paul we need to put our confidence in Him to keep us, to know our identity in Him, and to be “persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

There is an interesting verse that it relevant to all this. Jesus speaking says “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better'" (Luke 5:39). In recovery we learn that the new ways are better, but there are likely times when we want to go back to the old ways of coping. We need, by the Spirit, to put to death the deeds and the desires of the old nature (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24). And we also need to consider the end of the old ways. They bring leanness to our souls. The Lord asks us though Isaiah “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” (Isaiah 55:2). And for me when I am tempted to go back, I need to remind myself of the pain of the past, so that I do not choose leanness, but rather with His help to choose abundance in my soul.

Father, when we are drawn away it is so easy, like ancient Israel, to idealize the old ways, to remember the old wine, the fish and the cucumbers, the leeks and the garlic (Numbers 11:5), and forget the bondage. It is insanity Lord. Iif it were not for You Lord, who could stand? But with You all things are possible. Thank You Lord Jesus that You ever live to intercede for me, and that You are more than able to keep what I have committed unto You. I praise You Lord Jesus in Your precious Name Amen 

 

A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh

.... But envy is rottenness to the bones (Proverbs 14:30). We are triune beings consisting of body, soul and spirit. And sickness in one area affects the whole being. Modern research talks about psycho – somatic (soul body) illnesses. Worry for example, can produce ulcers. This proverb is talking about spirit – body sickness. A tranquil heart is not automatic, and we need to “guard the heart with all diligence, for out of it come the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The point about rottenness the bones is that the damage is internal, and for the longest time invisible to the outside. But it is detrimental to the very structure of the spiritual life. And lac of spiritual health will eventually literally effect the health of both the body and the soul.

I read that envy has three components of evil, the deep discontent that comes when we see what other have that we want; the desire to have it for ourselves; and the desire for it to be taken from the other. When we allow envy to take root, it's the good things that others have that makes us feel bad, and if we don't deal with it, it will take on a life of its own, and the discontent will grow. Saul was envious after David won his great military triumph and when the women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). Saul's response was both envy and jealousy. He wanted those accolades for himself alone. And it lead to his desire to take David's life. In fact he attempted it several times (1 Samuel chapters 18- 24). The Scripture puts it this way “Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).

So to come back to guarding our heart, I want to say that modern research has shown that every thought comes with an emotion. And when we fixated on something the emotion surrounding those thoughts grow. I know this from experiences, since there was a time I had murder in my heart. The Bible talks about these things as strongholds of the mind. The good news though, is that we have might weapons that with His help enable us to demolish such strongholds. It does require our obedience however, and that we grow in discipline. In particular we have the ability with His help, to take every thought captive unto the obedience of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). And we need to learn to do this at the very beginning of the thought/emotion, so that we will not be drawn away (James 1:14).

Father, my experience with these negative thoughts and emotions is that they tend to hide. And we have this incredible ability to justify our thoughts and actions. I came to believe that the Bible is Your Word because over and over it came to me “this book knows me.” It can leave us devastated when we first start to see it. That's the bad new, but the good news is that there is hope, there is a sure hope. Jesus died for my sins the just for the unjust in order that we might be brought to God (1 Peter 3:18). When we learn this, we can come out of hiding, out of denial and tap into all the benefits of His passion. We are flawed, but accepted, imperfect but loved. And on that day we will be like You, Hallelujah. Even so come Lord Jesus Amen

The Son can do nothing of Himself

... but what He sees the Father do (John 5:19). The Jews had been offended because they understood that He was making Himself equal with God, claiming God was His Father (verses 17, 18). Jesus doubles down on this, insisting that the relationship was so close that He had no power (dunamos) to do anything apart from the Father. But He does have  power to do what He sees the Father doing. Jesus goes on to describe His beautiful son - father relationship,  with the Father showing, instructing and enabling the son to do the same things the Father does. And what the Father does is to raise the dead and He honours the Son. In fact He commits all judgement to Him in order that “all should honour the Son just as they honour the Father,” In fact “He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent Him” (verses 20 – 23).

I have heard the relationship of Jesus with the Father described in terms of a skilled couple ballroom dancing. Traditionally the man leads, but watching them it is impossible to discern who is leading, for they flow together in perfect unity. According to this passage when Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, or took the little dead girl by the hand and told her to arise (John 9:6; Mark 5:41) He was doing this because He saw the Father doing it.  It is intended to be the same with us,  and I have heard testimonies of similar deeds being done by Christians, laying hand on people, “pulling” cancer out of someone's body. And of course with healing as the result.

Jesus is the God – man, fully God and fully man, but while on earth having emptied himself of His God attributes (Philippians 2:7). In this way He became the supreme example of man as God intended man to be. What Jesus did on earth, He did not do  as God, but as a Spirit filled man. And since we are commanded to be being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) it is His intention that we (a) have the same relationship with Him, as He had with His Father, and (b) that we do the same works that He did. Thus He could tell us “Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5), but if “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). In fact we will do even greater works (14:12).

Father, most of us are not there yet, but we want to be. We need Your help to abide in Christ and to have His living rhama Words abiding in us. Lord I have been praying over these past days “I believe help my unbelief,” and it has been working. Thank You Lord! Thank You that You who began a good work in me continues it day by day, and that You will continue until that day we see You face to face. Thank You that on that day I will know You, because I will be like You. Hallelujah in Jesus Name Amen

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence

... And His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death (Proverbs 14:26, 27). Most commentators suggest that the fear of the Lord is reverent awe, but Paul could speak of the terror of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11). The Greek word is “phobos,” and it means both fear and terror. Many translations have fear, but I think that Paul is remembering being knocked off his horse on the road to Damascus. He had been murdering Christians, and the Lord was telling Him that it was He, Jesus whom he was persecuting (Acts 9:5). So I have no doubt “terror” is the correct translation. And though reverence and awe are part of phobos, it is not reverential awe that will cause unbelievers to call out to the rocks to fall on them (Revelation 6:16).

All this to say that we in the church, have soft peddled the fear of the Lord. We have failed to understand, and we have been intimidated by the tyranny of Political correctness into silence. The gospel we preach, when we preach it, is come to Jesus to be fulfilled. It is where we find fulfillment, but it was knowing the terror of the Lord that motivated Paul to persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11 again). So are we intended to stay in this terror? Well the point is, that though our God is a consuming fire, He is also merciful and full of compassion. And Paul in speaking of being subject to governing authorities says “rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil” (Romans 13:1, 3). Likewise once we have received His Mercy and forgiveness and continue to walk in obedience, we no longer need to be in terror of Him. Rather (coming to this morning's proverbs) it gives us strong confidence (to come before the throne of Grace), and we find Him to be a refuge, and a fountain of life.

Part of this is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). And it is wisdom to “turn away from the snares of death.” With wisdom we understand that we reap what we sow, we come out of deception and learn that if we sow to the flesh we will of the flesh reap corruption and ultimately death (Galatians 6:7, 8; James 1:15). And then and only then does “perfect love casts out all fear” (I John 4:18). Paul needed to know the terror of the Lord in order to come out of delusion and be set free. The Lord need to knock him down, before is was appropriate for His love to lift him up, and deliver Him from all his fears (Psalm 34:4). And having had the experience of both terror and the love of God, he could with the latter experience declare that the love of God constrains him to live for Him who died and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).

Father, once again we see the upside down Kingdom. In loosing his life for You, Paul gained it. Knowing the terror of the Lord changed him, as it does us. And when we respond this way to Your grace, we become powerful for the Kingdom. We need a revelation of the fear of the Lord Father, so that we might be changed and so then experience Your perfect love that casts out fear in Jesus Name Amen

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him

..... must worship in spirit and truth. The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (John 4:24, 23). Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well, and this part of the conversation was something of a rabbit trail, but it enabled Jesus to speak these profound truths. God the Father is Spirit, Jesus is Spirit and tautologically the Spirit is Spirit. Jesus is Logos, the Word, and the Word became flesh (John 1:14). It is mystery! If we understood God (Trinity) we would be God. Likely the closest we can get to understand this, is that mankind, made in the image of the God, is a triune (three in one) being. In particular, we are body, soul and spirit. There is a real sense however, in which the spirit is dead before conversion, dead in trespasses and sins, but made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5). And thus, as He spoke, because these things were about to be revealed, the time when mankind could worship spirit to Spirit was at hand.

The gospel is so simple a little child (or an uneducated Samaritan woman) can grasp what is needed in order to respond. But it is also so profound theologians and philosophers can never grasp its depth. God speaks and has spoken, in parables and shadows, to help those who truly seek Him to at least start to tap into these mysteries. He hides for us, not from us in order that we might search for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27). The sacrificial system, the food laws and festivals etc., these things, together with our modern ceremonies and rituals, are all shadows of a deeper reality whose substance is Christ (Colossians 2:16,17). A shadow is an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object, but it's not the thing itself.

Worship with just the form of these things is what it means negatively to worship in spirit. What it means positively is harder to grasp. But it certainly includes spirit to Spirit adoration, thanksgiving, and the presentation of our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1, 2 NIV) etc. It also includes what David counselled himself to do to “Bless the Lord o my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name” (Psalm 103:1). To worship in truth is easier to grasp. It is to walk in the light, in the truth and in the Spirit, being sanctified by the Word and, by the Spirit putting to death the deeds and the passion of the flesh.

Father, the wonder of it all is that You are seeking those, the little old me's, to worship You in spirit and truth. To this end we were made, and in this we find our purpose, our destiny and our fulfillment. So we worship You this morning Lord. Help us to delight in You, as You delight in us. Thank You Lord that in Christ You have made us worthy to do this. We are accepted in the beloved, and having been adopted we are Your beloved sons and daughters in whom You are well pleased. We praise and bless You Lord, in Jesus precious Name Amen

He must increase, but I must decrease

He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth (John 3:30, 31). The Jews had come to John the Baptist telling him that Jesus was baptizing and “all are coming to Him” (verse 26). With this morning's title, we are left in no doubt as to how John felt about it. His response is one of humility and of acknowledgement of the supremacy of Jesus. John is of the earth, Jesus is from above, and John is on no doubt that Jesus is the (unique) Son of God (1:34; see also 3:16). John's example is all the more remarkable because he is still operating under the Old Covenant (Matthew 11:11). In particular, even under the New Covenant with all its advantages, the temptation to cling to, and identify with, our individual ministries is huge. Been there, done that!

It's all about Jesus. “He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Colossians 1:18). That is, He is superior to, and notably above, all others. Then and now, there are those who love the preeminence (3 John 9). However “he who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11). Pride was behind the first sin (Genesis 3:5), and pride is what so often lies behind our refusal to give Jesus first place. And part of this is disbelieving Jesus' testimony of what He has seen and heard (verse 32). Verse 36 put it plainly “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Once again the Scripture is telling us that there is no fence, no middle ground. This is not a popular, or a politically correct position to hold, but it is a Biblical position. The earlier verses make very clear what verse 36 means (in case we should want to wiggle out of it). In particular “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (verses 17, 18). So in the end it is either all about me, or all about Jesus. And if it is to be all about Jesus, then He must increase, and I must decrease.

Father, please forgive us, forgive me, for wanting my cake and eat it too. Giving You the preeminence Lord Jesus is all about me dying to self. I certainly have a part to play in this for, as the scripture says “if by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the flesh you will live” (Romans 8:13). It is by Your Spirit, but it is also “you” (i.e. me), who does it. And my part is to receive Your testimony, to believe and have faith in You. To fail to do this is to call You a liar (verse 33). Help us Lord, help me, not to be intimidated by the World, give us the courage to come to You and die, to take up our cross daily and follow You in Jesus Name Amen

In those days there was no king in Israel

.... everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6). This commentary on the things that were happening in Israel (the whole of the book of Judges) so soon after the death of Caleb, illustrates well the need for some form of government. Paul could command “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” He goes on to say “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil” and that a ruler “does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4). It is well to remember that at the time Israel was under Rome, a far from perfect authority!

In particular, the Scripture is not naive concerning the corruption, or righteousness, of rulers. And “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2). In the early days of Solomon, when he made his judgement over the disputed child of the two prostitutes, we read “And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice” (1Kings 3:28). But over and over in 1 and 2 Kings we read this or that ruler did either evil or good, in the sight of the Lord. And of course “It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness” (Proverbs 16:12).

All this to ask the question “How should we as Christians respond and act towards government?” Well first there is an important exception to obedience to governing authorities. Peter when being told not to teach in the Name of Jesus declares “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). But we do need to obey where the laws are righteous. We also need to pray for government (1 Timothy 2:1). We aught also surly to give feet to our prayers at the very least by voting. Many Christians have neglected this and perhaps when things were more in balance it was relatively okay to do that. We also need Christian politicians, and we need to support those who God calls to this difficult ministry. In fact we need Christian leaders in all of the “seven mountains of influence” (Government, Media, Arts and Entertainment, Business, Education, Religion and Family). And we should pray for these things.

Father, I repent again this morning for myself and Your Church for abdicating our responsibility in these areas. Help us Lord to support those You are calling to the seven mountains of influence in our society. It will never be prefect Lord, democracy is not perfect, but as History has shown, it is better than the utopia on earth that many misguidedly seek to establish out of none Biblical ideologies. Thank You Lord that this World is not all there is, and that there is One who will bring forth Justice and that He will will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice (Isaiah 42:1, 4). It will not fully happen until He returns. In the meantime show us our part Lord in bringing Your Kingdom to earth, and then help us to do it even as we pray “Even so come Lord Jesus.” We pray these things in His lovely Name Amen