She Is Praiseworthy

“Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Pr 31:31 AV)

The first half of the proverb is explained by the second.  Those who know her will praise her in public for the virtue by which she lives.  The gates are the gates of the city.  They are the gates of the marketplace.  This praise comes naturally because of the faithfulness of a godly woman.  But this was written to king Lemuel by his mother.  When she tells him to “give her the fruit of her hands” and compares it to praise in the gate, it is not hard to see she is telling her son he should praise his wife in the privacy of their own home.  The fruit could be material or financial compensation for the input she has to the success of the family.  Which would be right, moral, and ethical.  Seeing how Lemuel’s mother tied it to praise, however, lends us to think the compensation of which the virtuous wife is due is emotional and verbal.

It is too easy to take advantage of the blessings right in front of us.  We can take for granted those things, or people, whom the LORD has blessed us with and forget they are treasures bestowed by a gracious God.  Simple acknowledgement, compliments, and positive reinforcement goes a long way in the value one places on herself.  Lemuel’s mother is not speaking merely of her appearance.  She is speaking of all the qualities she had just listed.  Her industry in taking care of her household.  Her love and care for her husband.  Her effort in maintaining a beautiful appearance.  These and so much more are worthy of praise from her husband and children.  A simple statement of gratitude, acknowledging mother and wife for all that she is and does is a better treasure than the finest gift one could buy.

If the truth be told, we are lousy at this.  Husbands and children are not the best when it comes to paying compliments.  This is one of our greatest flaws.  If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to admit the LORD has really blessed us with phenomenal people as our wives and mothers.  Just the other day I had a thought of how special our ladies are.  I think the thought came because I was brought to an awareness of how difficult it must be to be a lady, enduring all they have to endure, and knowing I would fail horribly at it.  There is a lot that is done that goes unobserved.  We don’t see all they do.  We have no footing whatsoever to complain.  We do not deserve the special gift our wives and mothers are.  This may seem like an odd devotion in which to end the year, but maybe we can end the year by appreciating the one person closest to us who is also the most precious and valuable person the LORD has ever given.  Our wives and mothers.  Take the time today to tell her how much you appreciate all that she does and is.  It just might shock her!

Three Levels of Witness

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,” (Isa 62:6 AV)

It appears there are three levels of witness.  There are those who never hold their peace.  There are those that make mention.  And, there are those who are silent.  The question is:  which one are we and which one are we supposed to be?  Note a foundational truth here.  God has set watchmen.  This is not according to which one they will be.  It is precisely because the watchmen are set that they should not hold their peace.  The funny thing about watchmen is they really do not care how specific individuals might react to their warning.  They are there for those who will heed the warning, and even if the majority would reject the warning, the watchmen still declare the danger ahead.  The watchmen, because they are set, have no option other than to declare loudly, often, and faithfully.

I fear there a few who will not hold their peace, more who will only mention, and many who keep silence.  This is true no matter what the circumstances.  When there is eminent danger ahead, very few will get involved so as to change the outcome.  They leave it up to the few who are vocal to save the one in danger.  That is all well and fine when there are more who are vocal than the one in danger.  Imagine of a boater was getting to close to the point of no return as he nears Niagara Falls.  A few might shout from the shore.  There may be a Coast Guard vessel designed to approach the precipice of the falls which approaches the boat and warns of impending danger.  As we observe these event unfolding, we wonder what good our single voice might make when there are many others warning the boater in perilous times.  However, our reality is quite different.  The vast majority are in boats and heading for the falls.  Those who have a voice are few.  This is the reality of the gospel.  There is far more heading for eternal damnation than there are voices who will say something. 

Our view must be the opposite of a watchman.  The watchman has his eyes on the majority even if only the minority heed the warning.  He believes the majority will.  But our eyes should be towards all with a view to the one.  In the analogy above, even if one boater heeds the warning of the shoreman, it is one less life lost to certain and predictable death.  We will not lead the majority to Christ.  This is clearly stated by Christ himself.  However, there are still individuals who will heed the warning and avail themselves of the grace of God through Christ.  The bull horn must sound.  The declaration must be often and loud.  Let us not keep silence.  Let is not be content with mere mention.  Rather, let us not hold are peace because there might just be one that will respond.

Fear and Conversions

“Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.” (Isa 60:5 AV)

A thought occurred.  Could it be the fear of God and conversions of the lost are related?  What I mean is, could the people of God be losing their fear of God because we are not witnessing the conversion of the lost as we once did?  We often equate this relationship in the opposite direction.  Because the people of God lack fear, then the wicked are not converted.  But what if the opposite is also true?  What if the lack of conversions also results in a lack of fear?  Putting it another way, if we do not see the most obvious and dramatic moving of the Holy Spirit, then would we also lose a bit of God-consciousness and thus fear?  It seems plausible.

Working as a chaplain, I was able to see doctors perform many services. From the mundane to the dramatic, witnessing a doctor save a life effects one’s perception of him or her far more than witnessing a check-up.  The more dramatic the task, the more respect grew in the heart of the observer.  It shouldn’t be so.  Whether the doctor is checking blood pressure, listening to the heart, or rescuing the body from the throws of death didn’t change who he was, what he knew, or what he was capable of.  He was the same person regardless of what service he provided.  The same is true of God.  Whether souls are saved or not, He is still the same God as He always was.  Whether creating all in six days, or making it rain on the just and the unjust, He is still the same God.  Whether parting the Red Sea or breaking bread among friends, He is still the same God.  Our fear should be the same regardless of our experience with the hand of God.

Nonetheless, conversions would go a long way towards establishing a proper relationship of fear towards the God whom we claim to worship.  I wonder how many prayers for the saving of souls include the result of increased fear of God.  I wonder how concerned God’s people are with our perception of God as suffering because of a lack of conversions.  I wonder if we pray for conversions solely for the purpose of glory for the name of God.  If we were to be honest and admit to the LORD that our perception of Him is suffering because of a lack of conversions, it may change how we pray and how diligently we would be to witness to the lost.  If we were to approach our soul-winning as a desire to see the hand of God move like it once did, rather than other honorable motives, it might just change who and what we are and how we are towards the God whom we serve.  If our walk is suffering from a lack of a healthy fear of God, maybe we should redouble our efforts to witness to the lost, begging God to save them that we might grow more and more in the fear of God.

The Rut of Religion

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” (Isa 58:1-2 AV)

It is very easy to get into a rut wherein we ignore our sin but are faithful in our religious duties.  This is the situation above.  Judah had become religious and ceased to be spiritual.  They felt the practice of their religion was sufficient to the needs of spirituality.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Just because they faithfully discharged the duties of religion did not mean they forsook sin.  Having a religion of form makes it too easy to fall into the trap of ignoring sin due to the convenience of religion.  Confession of sin over the sacrificial ox did not necessarily atone for sin.  A heart of repentance was needed.  Not a mere confession with the mouth.  The form of religion does not, in and of itself, absolve sin.  Confessing and forsaking does. 

When we talk of such things, we often use examples of religions built on ceremony, rites, or sacraments.  This fault does not lie strictly with them.  Whether we point to a liturgical form of worship, or a much less formal tradition of worship, the principle is the same.  We can get into the rut of living our walk out in mere actions of duty and service, ignoring our sin what lies un-confessed.  One of the failures of fundamentalism over the last generation was the temptation of service, soul-winning, our outward standards as sufficient to the definition of sin.  The reason they so many fundamentalists fell into serious sin was their service, soul-winning, or standards became the only means to cover a sinful inward condition.  The thinking went something like this.  If I show up to all the meetings and soul-win on Thursday night, then the sin of which I am involved isn’t really all that bad.  Or, if I dress right, speak right, listen to only the right kind of music, and never darken the doors of places I shouldn’t go, then the rest is not worth the examination.  Nothing is wrong with these things.  In fact, they are principles or commands of scripture.  However, if we only limit the definition of spirituality by things that can be seen, we are headed for disaster.

The Christian walk is a constant examination of the heart as well as the actions.  Both have to be held under the microscope of the word of God.  This is what Israel failed to do and this is what fundamentalists failed to do a generation ago.  One of the reasons emotionalism is taking root is this present generation saw the hypocrisy of orthodoxy and rejected form for feeling.  Yet, they are making the same mistake of which they accuse their forefathers.  Assuming emotionalism is true spirituality, sin is ignored as well.  The law doesn’t change.  What is sin is always sin.  God has not changed.  Israel failed to see the inward man matters.  They failed to see obedience matters.  They failed to see God doe care what we do, what we say, where we go, and what we think.  Unless we deal with our very nature, then we are failing just as Israel did.

Revival is the Reason

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa 57:15 AV)

This verse is a special one to me.  I have used it and written about it often.  This verse puts in a nutshell the very nature of God’s relationship with the sinner.  This verse speaks of the value of a humble heart.  Contrite means penitent.  Contrite means more than mere sorrow over one’s faults and sins.  It goes a bit deeper than that.  Another word that is similar is repentance.  Repentance, however, may not have the depth of emotion which is tied with contriteness.  Contriteness has more shame and humility associated with it.  The point is, God values those who walk humbly with Him.  Those, and only those, who exhibit a brokenness are the ones whom God walks with.  But we want to consider the double use of the word ‘revive’.  More to the point, ‘to revive’.

We have this strange understanding that the normal for a saint is to be in a constant state of spiritual and emotional defeat over our faults, failures, and sin.  If we are not somehow beating ourselves up over what we have done of failed to do, we think we might be a bit too arrogant.  Note the purpose for which the LORD dwells with the contrite and humble.  Not to keep them that way.  Rather, to revive them.  Why is it that some believers feel the only way to be spiritual is to practice monasticism?  That being, constantly beating yourself up over failure, faults, or sin.  The idea is to never let yourself live one moment in victory.  The idea is to be preoccupied with how far short one falls when compared to God’s holy standard of righteousness.  Martin Luther comes to mind.  Spending years in chastening himself for all that he was not, he came to the place that he understood acceptance from God only comes from grace.

What we want to consider this morning is the reason God dwells only with the contrite and humble.  He dwells with them so that He can revive them.  Think of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda.  When he met Jesus, he was asked one question and one question only.  Will you be made whole?  This is the question we must ask ourselves today.  Will you (and I) be revived?  Can we live in the grace of God’s forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit?  Can we accept that God wants us to rise from the pits of defeat and live on the mountain of acceptance?  Can we leave our sin and faults in the past, taking God’s mercy as our shield?  Can we rebuke the adversary who would have us be impotent concerning spiritual warfare?  Can we accept God’s benevolence and grace without perpetually feeling guilty about it?  Part of us wants to suffer for what we’ve done or failed to do.  This is not what God intends.  He wants us back on our feet.  He wants us to live above our sin.  His grace is the means to do just that.

Satisfaction In Simplicity

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isa 55:2 AV)

How obvious is this application?  This devotion almost writes itself.  Not context needed here because it is what it says.  There are some generations that know nothing about this.  The generation that lived through the great depression.  The generation that suffers at the hands of conquerors.  The generation that lives through times of famine or drought.  The generation that lives through the horrible atrocities of war.  These generations learned by the hard lessons which life can bring that merely having the basic necessities of life is satisfaction enough.  It is the generation that grows up in prosperity that struggles with contentment.  It is the generation where everything new is better that becomes dissatisfied with what they presently possess.  It is the generation which has failed to realize that labor is its own reward.  It is the generation that doesn’t have to expend any effort to have their needs met that cannot seem to come to a point where they all are met.

One of our favorite Christmas movies is A Christmas Carol.  We favor the rendition with George C Scott as Ebeneezer Scrooge.  It always impresses me how the vast majority of characters and situations playing in the background are content to celebrate the holiday with nothing more than a church service and time with family over a holiday meal.  There is not vast exchanging of gifts.  Not rush to shop and buy things.  No day after Christmas exchanges.  Several of the scenes are in the house of Bob Crochet.  They have several traditions.  There is the meal.  There is the toast.  Then there is signing Christmas carols around the fire.  One tradition which my family had was singing carols as we all played our instruments.  Mostly guitars.  I only remember a toy or two, but the times we spent signing praises to the LORD and other carols I will always fondly remember.  To this day, I wish we had done that with my own family.   It didn’t cost much.  It was immensely joyful.  The simple things.

The older I get the more I am learning to appreciate the simple things of life.  With my children and grandchildren all moved away, it is a blessing to date my wife all over again.  The things we enjoy the most don’t cost a whole lot.  A stroll in the zoo.  Grocery shopping or running errands together.  The things we thought were important all of a sudden are not all that important.  This year has been a difficult one health-wise.  It started in January with a couple of days in the hospital.  My wife and I were scared with a test result which came back in February.  This started a year long journey, looking at potentially very serious diagnoses.  But the LORD was good and even though they could have been life threatening, they are manageable.  It forced us to re-evaluate our lives and value the simple things.  These trials were a blessing in disguise.  Bread is enough.  A roof over our heads is enough.  Whatsapping our kids and grandkids is enough.  God is good and He always provides what we need.  Learning to be satisfied with the least we need takes a life time of experience, but in the end, it has great reward.

Born To Die

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him…All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa 53:2,6 AV)

On this second most solemn of Christian holidays, many will take advantage of His birth without availing themselves of the greater gift of His death.  This chapter of the holy Word of God is the ministry of our LORD rolled up in a few verses.  He will be born of human flesh, suffer as we suffer yet without sin, and die in our place satisfying the wrath of God for our sin.  There is a song entitled ‘Born To Die’.  The message is clear.  Jesus Christ did not come in the form of human flesh, born in a manger, and honored by the shepherds and wise men that we might have a holiday in which we exchange gifts.  Jesus Christ existed before His incarnation.  He is eternal.  Jesus Christ does not have a birthday in the sense we do.  Our birthday marks the day in which we celebrate our coming into existence.  Jesus already existed.  He willingly limited His divine attribute and became a dependent that He might experience the human experience.  He limited His deity that He might empathize with our condition.  Our passage tells us clearly that Jesus Christ came as a helpless child that He might grow up and be the perfect sacrifice for our sin.

There was this program in the recent passed called Undercover Boss.  The CEO or owner of a large company would work the most menial of jobs for his own company with employees who had never met him nor knew what he or she looked like.  Often times it was the most menial of all jobs.  A janitor, dishwasher, mail room clerk, landscaper, etc was the type of job he or she would assume.  This CEO or owner would go through the hiring process and start off being trained by the least of his company.  The point of this project was to educate the CEO or owner of what it was like to work for him.  He learned the experience of the basest of all employees.  He learned what they really thought of the company and remuneration package.   He humbled himself for a purpose.  This illustration falls short in that the CEO didn’t die for the crimes of his employees.  When the project was over, he went back to his office a bit better educated and appreciative of those who worked for him.  But he didn’t die for them.

I guess the point is this.  Even though Christmas and Resurrection Sunday are separated by about four months, we shouldn’t separate them in our theology.  Even though one is celebrated at the beginning of one season and the other at the beginning of another season, they are inextricably tied together as the purpose for the ministry of our Messiah.  Sure, He was born of lowly parents and humble beginnings.  Sure, the Christmas story appears in the gospels.  Sure, verse two of our text promises the incarnation.  But verses three through six follow.  Jesus Christ was born.  Born for a purpose.  This purpose was not for mere charity.  This purpose was for sacrifice and reclamation.  Redemption and reconciliation are the reasons He came as He did.  This small child is the King of kings and LORD of lords born that we might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life through His shed blood.

Limited Light

“Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” (Isa 50:11 AV)

The immediate context here is comparing those in darkness yet trusting the LORD for light verses those who make their own light.  The picture here are those who are in darkness waiting for the promises of God verses those who do not wait and try to manufacture their own hope and light.  The underlined statement above is a statement of judgment on those who refuse to accept by faith the promise God has made.  There is no artificial light that can take the place of natural light.  There is no spiritual falsehood that can come close to the true revelation of God found in His word.  It is better to walk in a bit of obscurity waiting on the light which God gives than to create our own.

Growing up a Cub and Boy Scout, fire is no stranger to me.  We had to learn how to manage and use fire properly.  We learned out to start fires without matches.  We learned how to build a proper first.  We learned how to clear and prepare a place for a fire in order to protect the woods about us.  We learned how to cook on an open flame fire. And, we learned how to build bonfires.  The thing about fires is they can bring comfort, encourage fellowships, and share the warmth for all who gather around.  We had a fire pit at our last house and it was not out of the ordinary to have a little fire going in the evening with the family all gathered around.  We enjoyed one another company.  We enjoyed s’mores.  We even sang a chorus or two.  But the thing about fires is they are temporary and very limited.  They are only useful as long as you stay right by the fire.  If one wanders off, the light and heat become ineffective.  There is benefit to the fire.  However, it is temporary and fleeting.  One cannot walk very far in the light of one’s fire.  Only a few yards at best.

This is the point.  Better is the darkness with the presence of God than the light of what one can build for himself.  The LORD condemns those who would reject His offer of light and He provides in favor of creating their own light.  The wood will burn off.  The fuel will run out.  The ambers will grow cold.  The light which God provides is self-sustaining.  The light which God provides is eternal.  The light which God provides may come as He deems it necessary.  Which means we may sit in darkness a time or two.  But His light will come.  When it does, it will drown out the light which we could create on our own.  Walking in our own light will fail.  It cannot sustain itself forever.  Better is a little darkness with the hope of God’s eternal light than our temporary source of man-made light.

Of Comfort and Mercy

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” (Isa 49:13 AV)

We hear much about God’s corrective hand.  We are soon to forget the comforting hand. The book of Isaiah is a wonderful book of balance.  Many of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the suffering Messiah and restoration of Israel are found in this book.  God deals with their sin.  But He balances it with His grace.  If we did not have the promises of God’s mercy, comfort, and hope, there would be not point to anything.  It is upon this comfort and mercy the contrite rely.  The LORD promises to rescue His people from their sin.  He promises Israel there will come a great Day of Reconciliation and restoration.  This is the God whom we serve.  This is the God whom we love.

 

I have a son whom we nicknamed Crash.  He was very accident prone.  He has more scares on his face than Frankenstein.  Each scar is a testament to a boy who played hard but was not aware of his surroundings.  Some parents may have gotten a bit calloused after the umpteenth time to the clinic for stitches.  The calloused parent may have uttered something he would later regret out of pure frustration.  Something like, “why don’t you watch where you are going?”  Or, “haven’t I told you a million times not to do that?”  Perhaps, “Exactly what were you thinking?  Or were you thinking at all.”  Maybe a, “well, what stupid thing have you done now?”  I have heard parents call their children idiots, morons, and much worse.  This is not good parenting and is that to which Paul is referring when he warns fathers not to provoke your children to wrath.  When my son added another permanent mark of life, we simply scooped him up, got him patched up, and loved on him.  This is what the Lord does.

I know are Calvinists friends will have hard time with this, but the LORD does not afflict man willingly.  He would rather prefer to show grace than affliction.  “For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” (La 3:33 AV)  God’s preferred manifestation towards the children of men is comfort and mercy.  Truth and judgment must come.  Otherwise, God would not be God.  Comfort and mercy are the other side of the coin.  The preferred side.  Take the promise above and seal it within your heart.  Specially during this wonderful time of the year, remember Christ came to comfort the penitent sinner and have mercy upon the saint.  This is the Savior whom we will be celebrating this coming Wednesday.

Reasoned Faith

“That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.” (Pr 22:19 AV)

In the light of this statement being made in the book of Proverbs, it takes on a unique understanding.  This statement by a father to his child is not mere faith alone.  Rather, it is faith founded upon wisdom.  The book of Proverbs are pithy sayings revealing the nature and application of wisdom.  This wisdom is, in a nut shell, how things work and don’t work.  Solomon takes great pains is sharing with his child what he should do or how he should act with the consequences of failure spelled out.  The writer gives advice on what his child should do and how he should live with the blessings described as a result.  Then he makes the statement above.  The question arises, if wisdom is nothing more than common sense advice based on the nature of God’s creation and absolutes, what need is there of trust and faith?  Giving as example: if hard work results in material gain and laziness results in poverty, where is faith involved?

I know that I have used this illustration before, but it still works.  My father showed wisdom in requiring all his children to learn how to swim.  He didn’t know how to teach us, so, he sent us to a program offered by the Red Cross.  It was held on Saturday mornings at the public High School pool.  I still remember my first day.  This is almost fifty years ago.  But I still remember it.  After getting changed into our swim trunks, the instructor had us stand against the wall as measure our height.  We had to be over three feet tall.  Then, he had is stand on the edge of the pool and read the depth of the water.  Two feet, six inches.  Proving that all we had to do was step on the floor of the pool, we couldn’t drown.  Then he showed us the rescue pole which he would use if we got into trouble.  The problem was, when one looked into the water, knowing the water distorted the true depth, our observation and fear overwhelmed our logic.  Even though it was distorted.  Ultimately, we had to trust the instructor, ignoring what our flesh and mind was telling us.

Our wicked nature distorts truth.  It cannot see it.  Our wicked nature believed lies.  It pursues what it desires regardless of the outcome.  Our egos misunderstand the absolute nature of God’s design and falsely thinks the mere ability of self-determination also means truth is relative.  Our pride refuses to see what is plainly in front of our eyes.  We ignore the obvious results of our choices or those of another thinking these results are new and not repeatable.  It does take faith to ignore our nature and trust the truth of God’s word.  The evidence is overwhelming.  No matter how much we ignore the LORD’s hand and plan, truth is still truth.  Trust means we take God at His word and apply it regardless of what our flesh or mind is telling us.  We need trust because the old man is using a lifetime of experiences to battle the truth revealed to us in His word.  We need trust based on the logic of cause and effect as revealed in the book of Proverbs so that our faith stands firm on the nature of God’s truth:  irrefutable.  This is what the book of Proverbs was written.  That trust would grow in the wisdom of God’s book and not in the feelings or desires of the heart.

Our Maker Makes no Mistakes

“Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isa 45:9 AV)

If we are going to strive, then let us strive with men.  But not with God.  The warning is a good one.  The warning is a humbling one.  The warning, if heeded, bring finality and security to a life chaotically ambling along.  The context is Judah having a hard time with God’s purpose for them.  They rebelled against being different.  They didn’t like the fact they could not live like the nations around them.  So, the fought against God’s perfect plan for them.  God is a God of purpose and plan.  He creates with a goal in mind.  To fight against it is to rob ourselves of the most blessed life we could possibly have. 

Years ago, I watched a documentary on the formation of human life.  Many things astounded me and the truth of Psalm 139 was firmly reaffirmed.  However, one part of the documentary really struck me as the hand of the Maker.  The statistical probability that you are who you are is one in 400 quadrillion.  Not factoring in your parents meeting, getting married, and able to bear children, the above statistic comes after those assumptions.  One writer puts it this way.  You have as much chance of being you as a single turtle sticking his head up in a single life preserver randomly thrown in an unknown body of water.  ON THE FIRST TRY!  This is how unique each and every individual is.  That being said, that God our maker has created with purpose and plan goes without saying.  We can believe no two snowflakes are identical.  Cannot we believe we are and always will be unique?

If that is the case, then why to we fight against the One who has made us as though we know better.  That is the point of the passage above.  We can argue with one another.  One pot can argue with another pot.  But the pots cannot argue against the potter.  If we would just relax and trust the LORD to guide us, our anxiety level would precipitously drop.  Here is another application.  Several years back, I was rebuked by a church member for trying to educate youth out of their life situation.  I was told there was no hope.  They were born into a fractured family to parents who didn’t care and their lot in life was to hopefully graduate from high school (but if not, it really didn’t matter) and either be a laborer or live off the system.  I am sorry, but their Maker might have bigger plans for them and if we don’t put those goals in front of them, they will never achieve God’s will for their lives.  Not that being a laborer is a bad thing.  It is not.  But if the LORD has something else in mind, then it can be.  In other words, God made you and to fight against God’s plan for you is not wise.

Three Little Words

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” (Isa 43:1 AV)

Three little words that mean all the world.  Some might see the possessiveness of these three little words as an offense.  They are not meant to be.  They are meant to convey value, commitment, and security.  Some may see the relation between redemption and possession and see the fact as being owned as devaluing the soul to an impersonal possession.  This is not the case.  These three little words might seem demeaning.  It is often preached the right of redemption as the right of a property owner.  Although we are the creation of God and He has the right to do with us as He pleases, this passage is not meant to convey this sovereign right.  These three little words are the most beautiful of all.  To the saint, these three little words are words that bring the ultimate in contentment, joy, purpose, security, approval, and affirmation.  These three little words sum up the total of our relationship with the Savior who gave His life that we might live.  These three little words should be held deep within the heart.  These three little words should dispel and attack waged by the adversary.  These are sound words.  These are perfect words.

One can tell whether an individual is ready for marriage.  There are restrictions to competing relationships that are natural and necessary.  There are certain liberties lost when one says ‘I do’.  For instance, there was a time I was courting a young lady prior to meeting my wife and this young lady had a lot of guy friends.  There was no romance or flirting involved.  Aside from the inappropriateness of these relationships, I was disturbed that she would have so many male friends while I courted her.  She made it plainly known these relationships would continue and I was to get over my jealousy.  I didn’t own her.  She felt she should have the liberty to continue her life however it pleased her without any regard to how it affected me.  She clearly was nor ready to be married and the courtship ended as quickly as it started.  I have counseled couples who are considering marriage and even some married couples who struggle with the concept.  A fella doesn’t want to commit to the restrictions a permanent relationship would require.  A husband resents the lack of liberty a wife and children bring.  A bride to be desires to continue pursuing life’s goals apart from what it would mean to her husband.  Or, she wants to place other relationships as equal to, or greater, than the one she is thinking of establishing with her groom.  These people are not ready to marry.  These three little words mean all the world and those who are happily married treasure them.

The LORD does not wish to establish a relationship on ownership.  Rather, His idea has always been a relationship based on covenant.  A mutual promise of exclusivity.  A deep and committed relationship wherein both parties treasure one another beyond any and all others.  These three little words are like a husband who holds his wife tight to his chest.  Not because he owns her.  Rather, because he treasures her.  He has won the blessing of calling her, his.  There are no others that can have her heart.  There are no others who can claim her as his interest.  All other suitors have been fended off and he alone stands the victor for a heart worth the struggle.  I am God’s!  And so grateful for it!  There is not a being ever created that can break this bond.  I am eternally secure in the love of an eternal God.  Satan, the world, and the flesh have lost.  I am His and He is mine!  Forever

Wealth of Kindness

“The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.” (Pr 19:22 AV)

This is a tough one to understand.  The poor man is the man whose desire is to show kindness.  The liar is a man of mean who wishes not to show kindness.  The point of the proverb is kindness is better than the opposite, even if it means we do without.  To be kind is a blessing to one’s own heart as well as the heart of another.  To be unkind blesses no one.  Knowing many kind people of my day, I can honestly say, they are the most blessed of all people, but often suffer needs of their own.  They derive pleasure in helping others and somehow, this reduces the effect suffering a need may have on their own life.  Their needs don’t seem nearly as overwhelming as another’s need and thus their burden is lessened by the mere act of being kind to another.

Being kind doesn’t necessarily mean one has to be charitable with material goods in order to prove kindness.  There are others ways in which a soul can be kind.  Have you ever noticed that it is common to see a greeter with a handicap at your local hospital?  Some may be cynical and think it is the only job someone with those abilities could find.  I think it is much more.  The other day, I had to take my wife for an outpatient procedure.  We passed a young lady sitting at a small portable podium type desk.  She was there to assist people in finding their destination.  She was part of security, but you could tell she was not mobile enough to chase down trouble.  She was there to help and greet.  She had a really great smile and outgoing personality.  Despite her set back.  In fact, her set back was the reason she was who she was.  She was more pleasant then the vast majority of others there to secure the area.  We had a great conversation.  Merry Christmas’ all around.

Being kind could mean opening a door for someone else.  Being kind could mean starting a conversation with someone who seems down or lost in their own world.  Being kind could mean buying that first responder a cup of coffee.  Being kind could be in the form of a simple compliment.  Being kind could be expressed by a desire to pray for someone.  Being kind may look like a phone call or text, just to check up on someone.  Being kind ultimately has its expression in sharing the gospel of Christ with someone who desperately needs it.  It is better to be kind and lack some need than to have all your needs met and not care about another soul.  Being kind brings an inner peace and joy that cannot be matched.  As expression of love to a total stranger is more blessed than most all other pursuits.  Being kind always results in kindness in return.  A smile.  A thank you.  A burden being lifted.  Greater riches than even the most unkind, yet wealthy person, could ever hope to obtain.

Weeping Will, oh!

“And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.” (Isa 38:3 AV)

Sometimes, the perfect will of God is a hard thing to bear.  Hezekiah was just told that he was to put his house in order because the illness of which he was suffering was terminal.  What disturbed Hezekiah the most was not his death.  Rather, he had no male heir.  There would be no son of Hezekiah to carry on the throne of Judah.  No lasting legacy to the revival which Hezekiah brought to Judah.  No legacy of faith that withstood Assyria to pass on to his seed.  No grandchildren.  No wonder Hezekiah wept sore.  This was God’s will for him.  A hard reality for sure.

Living for Jesus is not for the faint of heart.  There is a difference between being a believer and being a disciple.  The disciple is learning to conform to true Christlikeness.  He or she is learning the mind of Christ and found in First Peter and Philippians.  They are learning that true discipleship means a death to self.  This is why the first step of true discipleship is to deny self.  There are costs to following Jesus that many will never know.  There are private costs.  These are unfulfilled desires or dreams.  The cost of missing out on the blessing that others enjoy is perhaps one of the hardest to bear.  Resentment, like Hezekiah’s, is way too easy a temptation.  These costs are seldom welcomed.  They are seldom a cause for joy.  Persecution is easier to endure, in one sense, because we see the result of that costs.  But these private costs are the hardest.  Unless we walk in the shoes of those whom God has asked to sacrifice, we will never understand.  I have been blessed with three sons who love the LORD and are serving, or have been trained to serve, the LORD in full-time service.  They have private costs that no one will ever know.  They don’t publish it.  They don’t share it.  But they are there.

Hezekiah made the mistake of asking the cost be removed.  God heard him and granted him fifteen more years.  Two years later, he would father a son who would bring Judah down to final judgment.  Even though Hezekiah seemed not to be too disturbed by this fact, it had to eat away at him.  As he waits for the final consummation of all things, he has to bear the fact his son, born two years after God removed the cost for service, was the king that destroyed what was left of Judah.  We may feel sorrow over those things God asks is to surrender.  These things are necessary.  These things have to be.  It hurts and it hurts deeply.  But fighting it from the emotion of resentment, asking the LORD to remove the cost may indeed increase our sorrow even more.  Sure, Hezekiah rejoiced at the birth of a son.  Now he had an heir.  But at what cost?  Greater than the cost of not having a son to begin with!

Deal of the Century

“Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern; Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.” (Isa 36:16-17 AV)

The deal of the century!  Something looks eerily familiar about this deal.  Not that I wish to digress, but a ruler is suggesting the people sign over their government to him and he will let them enjoy their life just as it is.  And, when he decides to finally take them to his land, it will be just as good.  Sound familiar?  The king of Assyria has come to invade Jerusalem.  Hezekiah, king of Judah is trying to encourage the people not to fear the threats of this invading king.  One argument after another is failing.  The king of Assyria claims to be stronger than the God whom they trust.  He points to the false gods of other nations as though they were real.  Being defeated by his armies, he believes the God of Judah is just as hopeless.  This king even goes so far as to state the LORD sent him because the people has failed.  Just as he did to Israel.  This claim above is the last of the arguments.  If they will surrender, then their lives will never get worse.  It will only get better.

This is a great illustration of temptation.  Sin has a way of promising things it cannot deliver.  When meditating on this passage, I cannot help but think of the believer more so than the lost.  Those who have lived a life in the protection of the Christian home are tempted away from it by this very argument.  It promises we don’t have to give anything up.  All the blessings realized and owned will still remain even if we sign over our lives to sin.  The promise of security which we already possess doesn’t make sense.  Why sign away our lives to sin if we already have that which is best for us?  At least the king is honest in that he admits they will be carried away into his land.  The promise is a false one.  The promise that life will continue as it always has or even better than it has is a lie.  The hardships they might be facing now, coupled with the blessings of obedience, will all become a curse if they believe the word of a king who simply wants to consume them.

When we leave the center of God’s will, no matter what the allure, it is a mirage.  It won’t be better no matter how much the world or the devil try to convince us otherwise.  The real question is:  why do we want to believe such foolishness?  But we do.  Again, not to be political, but the masses simply believed the line our leaders told us and not we are going down the road of more and more government control.  What made us think we would be freer?  What made us think we would be better off?  Temptation is a strong enemy.  It is not honest.  It is not forthright.  It is not going to have any compassion on us whatsoever.  It will promise the moon and consume us down to nothing in return.  It will claim there is little to no risk.  It will claim it only has our happiness at heart.  It will claim it knows better than we do.  It will claim other similar things to our faith have not worked.  So, why not trust it?  This lie is as old as the garden of Eden and we have not learned our lesson yet.  This particular event ends well.  The King of Judah placed the threatening letter from the king of Assyria before the LORD and the people decided to trust the LORD.  185,000 enemy combatants died that night without Judah having to raise a sword.  The king of Assyria was assassinated upon return to his city.  It is always better to trust the LORD than to believe the lies of temptation.