Sarah laughed within herself. I agree with noted Bible Commentator Matthew Henry who posited that, "It was not a pleasing laughter of faith, like Abraham's (Gen 17:17), but it was a laughter of doubting and mistrust." Really, who could blame her? She was now eighty-nine years old, and had long resigned herself to the fact that she and Abraham could not have children together.
We cannot fully appreciate how devastating her condition was in a culture where women were expected to present their husbands with heirs. Solomon wrote, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. ... Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate" (Psalm 127:3,5). Who can forget Rachel's plea, who when she saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!" (Genesis 30:1)? Hannah, in her barreness, was harrassed by Peninnah who "provoked her sore, for to make her fret" (1 Sam. 1:6).
So in Sarah we see someone who had lived with the lifelong shame of being childless. At sixty-five, there had been some hope after God had promised Abraham a son by her, but it was now twenty-four years later, and despite their best efforts, there was no pregnancy. Now here was this stranger, sitting in their tent, declaring to Abraham that which was now physically impossible - "... lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son" (Genesis 18:10b). As a matter of fact, it was so impossible that the Biblical writer emphasized that Abraham and Sarah "were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women" (18:11).
Sarah was right; this was an impossible situation. But the man among them was no ordinary stranger, He was the LORD! In response to her laughter, He uttered words that should serve as the bedrock for every believer when confronted with fear and doubt - "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?" (18:14).
What 'impossible' situation are you facing? What is that one thing for which there seem to be no answer? Rest assured that we serve a God who calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17b), and so with Him, absolutely nothing is impossible. In the fullness of time we are told that "The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him" (Genesis 21:1,2). If He promised it, He will deliver it, in His time. He's just that kind of a God.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Going Around Detours
This past November I bought myself a GPS navigation system. A really nice gadget with a 4.3" display, it plays MP3s and picture slideshows. I can connect my phone via the Bluetooth technology and use it hands-free, and with a rather pleasant female voice providing turn-by-turn directions to and from places I do not know, I was eager to put it to the test.
The opportunity came in a drive from Toronto, Ontario to Livonia, Michigan. Personally, driving in Detroit is not my favorite thing to do (those "Michigan Lefts"!), but with the GPS leading the way, I didn't have any concerns; I expected it to work as advertised. Once I got across the Ambassador Bridge at the Detroit/Windsor border, sure enough "Suzy" gave me the next set of directions. What "she" didn't know was that that portion of the hiway was closed off and detour signs were posted for the alternate route. I followed the signs, and watched in amusement as the system reconfigured the directions to my destination with every turn. For as long as I was following the detour signs, I had to ignore "Suzy's" instructions. This continued until the detour ended, and once it did, now I had to rely on "Suzy" to take me the rest of the way. I have to admit that "she" was very impressive; clear instructions given well ahead of time, and at the right number, on the right street, the announcement, "You have reached your destination." How cool is that? My path was charted from start to finish, and despite all the detours, it still got me to where I needed to get to.
I learned something very important that day. God, in His Sovereignty, has charted the course of our lives from start to finish. For one reason or another, whether God decreed or God permitted, along this course we often run into detours - things doesn't go as expected, we get off track. Often times the spirit within us, amidst all our worries and concerns, tries to "reconfigure" our paths around the detours, yet like those detour signs, the Word of God points the way to get us back on track. As good as the GPS was, as long as the detour signs continued, I could not rely on it. Unfortunately, we sometimes fall in love with following our own inclinations despite the warning signs posted everywhere. The believer has to rely on the Holy Spirit during those times we have detoured, knowing fully well that at every step, He is working towards getting us back on track.
In Jeremiah 29:11, we read God saying "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out" (Message Translation). The will of God may see us experiencing detours along the way. Relationships will not work out, jobs may be lost, children may rebel, and where success was expected, we experience nothing but failure. Amidst all of that, there's no need to panic, no need to fear. Our Heavenly Father can be trusted. He charted the course. He knows what He's doing. He has it all planned out.
The opportunity came in a drive from Toronto, Ontario to Livonia, Michigan. Personally, driving in Detroit is not my favorite thing to do (those "Michigan Lefts"!), but with the GPS leading the way, I didn't have any concerns; I expected it to work as advertised. Once I got across the Ambassador Bridge at the Detroit/Windsor border, sure enough "Suzy" gave me the next set of directions. What "she" didn't know was that that portion of the hiway was closed off and detour signs were posted for the alternate route. I followed the signs, and watched in amusement as the system reconfigured the directions to my destination with every turn. For as long as I was following the detour signs, I had to ignore "Suzy's" instructions. This continued until the detour ended, and once it did, now I had to rely on "Suzy" to take me the rest of the way. I have to admit that "she" was very impressive; clear instructions given well ahead of time, and at the right number, on the right street, the announcement, "You have reached your destination." How cool is that? My path was charted from start to finish, and despite all the detours, it still got me to where I needed to get to.
I learned something very important that day. God, in His Sovereignty, has charted the course of our lives from start to finish. For one reason or another, whether God decreed or God permitted, along this course we often run into detours - things doesn't go as expected, we get off track. Often times the spirit within us, amidst all our worries and concerns, tries to "reconfigure" our paths around the detours, yet like those detour signs, the Word of God points the way to get us back on track. As good as the GPS was, as long as the detour signs continued, I could not rely on it. Unfortunately, we sometimes fall in love with following our own inclinations despite the warning signs posted everywhere. The believer has to rely on the Holy Spirit during those times we have detoured, knowing fully well that at every step, He is working towards getting us back on track.
In Jeremiah 29:11, we read God saying "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out" (Message Translation). The will of God may see us experiencing detours along the way. Relationships will not work out, jobs may be lost, children may rebel, and where success was expected, we experience nothing but failure. Amidst all of that, there's no need to panic, no need to fear. Our Heavenly Father can be trusted. He charted the course. He knows what He's doing. He has it all planned out.
Mind & Heart Wholeness
For the most part, most of us are extremely careful of what we say when we're around other people. In the privacy of of our own thoughts, well, it's sometimes a different story. Things we would not say out loud often percolate in our minds and hearts for days, weeks, months, and even years. Try as hard as we may, there are times when words leave our mouths and before we are through saying them, we wish we could take them back. But like an arrow from a bow, speeding toward its target, words spoken cannot be pulled back. Our culture allow us to make apologies, ask for forgiveness, to retract harmful words, and some of us have learned to graciously accept sincere apologies and retractions, but the fact remain that words uttered at the wrong time, and/or in the wrong place, do have the potential to cause tremendous anger, hurt, and pain.
Isn't is amazing the tongue, such a small member of the body, can do so much good and so much evil? In talking about how great ships driven through rough winds are steered by a very small rudder wherever the steersman desires, James said, "So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God: out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (3:5-10). Quite the indictment, huh?
There was no doubt in James' mind; no one can tame his/her tongue. I believe it was this truth that David realized when he prayed, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). Jesus said what comes out of the mouth is a reflection of what's in the heart (Matt. 12:34b). He clearly established the relationship between the heart and the mouth. It stands to reason therefore, that we need God's help to keep the heart's meditations right before Him. The way we think of ourselves, and of things and others around us, determines the way we speak to and of them. We cannot arrive at where we ought to be on the merit of our own efforts because we are incapable of it. Thank God, He stands willing and able to help. We just need to ask Him.
What words are you speaking? How are your heart's meditations? Are they both pleasing to God?
Isn't is amazing the tongue, such a small member of the body, can do so much good and so much evil? In talking about how great ships driven through rough winds are steered by a very small rudder wherever the steersman desires, James said, "So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God: out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (3:5-10). Quite the indictment, huh?
There was no doubt in James' mind; no one can tame his/her tongue. I believe it was this truth that David realized when he prayed, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). Jesus said what comes out of the mouth is a reflection of what's in the heart (Matt. 12:34b). He clearly established the relationship between the heart and the mouth. It stands to reason therefore, that we need God's help to keep the heart's meditations right before Him. The way we think of ourselves, and of things and others around us, determines the way we speak to and of them. We cannot arrive at where we ought to be on the merit of our own efforts because we are incapable of it. Thank God, He stands willing and able to help. We just need to ask Him.
What words are you speaking? How are your heart's meditations? Are they both pleasing to God?
New Beginnings
When I awoke on January 1st, everything around me looked the same. Just another day, or so it seemed, but it really wasn't. It was the first day in the year 2008, and there would never ever be another of its kind. Well intentioned people once again make resolutions they would try to keep, though statistically, most resolutions would not make it past the first couple of weeks. We try anyways, because in looking back on the past year, most of us have probably felt that there are things we want to do differently, to be better at. Truth be known, we desire to be better persons, and so inherent in our resolutions is the desire to use the New Year to "start over".
In Christian theology, the number eight represents "new birth" or "new beginnings". Eight persons survived the Noahic Flood, which was a type of Salvation, New Birth (1 Peter 3:20), and according to Genesis 17:12, circumcision was performed on the 8th day after the completion of the first category of 7 days; similarly, salvation the beginning of a new life (Colossians 2:11, 13). While every day is a good start to "start over", in Biblical Numerology the year 2008 is an exciting time for the believer because from God's perspective, it represents something new. Not necessarily new things materially, though that is always possible, but even more importantly, a renewed awakening in the inner man that will see wonderful moves of God in our individual lives. In the same way that Noah and his family stepped out of the ark into a new beginning, the child of God also has that privilege. We can step out of worry, fear, doubt, lack, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sickness, and whatever else, simply because we serve a God of new beginnings.
As we commence this year, may we resolve to do as the Wisdom writer recommended: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6). It's all part and parcel of a new beginning; letting go and letting God. Afterall, He knows what He is doing.
To you and yours, God's very best for a year of abundant blessings.
In Christian theology, the number eight represents "new birth" or "new beginnings". Eight persons survived the Noahic Flood, which was a type of Salvation, New Birth (1 Peter 3:20), and according to Genesis 17:12, circumcision was performed on the 8th day after the completion of the first category of 7 days; similarly, salvation the beginning of a new life (Colossians 2:11, 13). While every day is a good start to "start over", in Biblical Numerology the year 2008 is an exciting time for the believer because from God's perspective, it represents something new. Not necessarily new things materially, though that is always possible, but even more importantly, a renewed awakening in the inner man that will see wonderful moves of God in our individual lives. In the same way that Noah and his family stepped out of the ark into a new beginning, the child of God also has that privilege. We can step out of worry, fear, doubt, lack, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sickness, and whatever else, simply because we serve a God of new beginnings.
As we commence this year, may we resolve to do as the Wisdom writer recommended: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6). It's all part and parcel of a new beginning; letting go and letting God. Afterall, He knows what He is doing.
To you and yours, God's very best for a year of abundant blessings.
The Unspeakable Gift
Christmas is over, and soon the trees will come down, as will the decorations and the lights. For some, there's really nothing quite like the excitement of Christmas morning - anxious kids, sleepy-eyed adults, the exchanging and opening of gifts. Some were opened to much delight as the peeling away of wrappings revealed something much desired or delightfully unexpected. Others were opened to a twinge of disappointment. Yes, the recipient was grateful but it wasn't quite what they were hoping for, and so Some gifts will be returned, others will be exchanged. Such is some of the drama around Christmas.
Yet amidst all of this, the celebration of Christmas for some was more than just trees, lights, decorations, presents, or even family and friends. It was a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's gift to the world. The wrappings on that gift wasn't fancy. Born in a stable to a virgin girl and her startled husband, wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feeding box, how could one believe that this was no ordinary baby but rather the "Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"? But it was true! This gift, so nondescript as it seemed then, was one that superseded all other gifts imaginable. It could not be returned, or exchanged, only refused, and to refuse it would be the biggest mistake that an individual could make. It was impossible to be fully reconciled to God without this gift as He later said of himself, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6, ESV). While we may not be particularly thankful for some of the gifts we receive at Christmas, here was one we could always thankful for. By sending His Son into the world, God flung the doors wide open for our redemption. Judgement and condemnation were escapable because while the wages of sin is death, the gift of God, obtainable through Jesus Christ, was everlasting life. Given our spiritual alienation from God, and the things of God, could there have been a greater gift?
As we leave this Christmas 2007 behind us, may we be constantly reminded that God's gift to us is not only good at Christmas, but all throughout the year. Accepting that gift makes the world of difference in our lives, and so like the Apostle Paul we can say, and should say, with a heart of gratitude, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15).
Yet amidst all of this, the celebration of Christmas for some was more than just trees, lights, decorations, presents, or even family and friends. It was a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's gift to the world. The wrappings on that gift wasn't fancy. Born in a stable to a virgin girl and her startled husband, wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feeding box, how could one believe that this was no ordinary baby but rather the "Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"? But it was true! This gift, so nondescript as it seemed then, was one that superseded all other gifts imaginable. It could not be returned, or exchanged, only refused, and to refuse it would be the biggest mistake that an individual could make. It was impossible to be fully reconciled to God without this gift as He later said of himself, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6, ESV). While we may not be particularly thankful for some of the gifts we receive at Christmas, here was one we could always thankful for. By sending His Son into the world, God flung the doors wide open for our redemption. Judgement and condemnation were escapable because while the wages of sin is death, the gift of God, obtainable through Jesus Christ, was everlasting life. Given our spiritual alienation from God, and the things of God, could there have been a greater gift?
As we leave this Christmas 2007 behind us, may we be constantly reminded that God's gift to us is not only good at Christmas, but all throughout the year. Accepting that gift makes the world of difference in our lives, and so like the Apostle Paul we can say, and should say, with a heart of gratitude, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15).
Joy to the World
Mary was startled when she saw the angel. Barely in her teens but already engaged to Joseph, the salutation of the angelic being perplexed her even more: "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Being aware of her state, that angel was compelled to reassure her: "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God" (Luke 1:28-30). What followed was the greatest announcement the world would ever know. "Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. ... The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (vv. 31,35).
How would she tell this to Joseph? For the next three months she stayed with Elizabeth, and by the time she returned to Joseph, she was already pregnant! What would he think? What would the neighbours think? Who would believe her? Six months later, amidst all that controversy, Mary gave birth to her baby in a Galilean stable, in the city of Nazareth, where he was placed in a feeding box. Couldn't the Sovereign God have done it differently? Of all the places, why Galilee? The reputation of the place was of such that years later when the disciple Philip told Nathaniel that they had found Jesus of Nazareth, of whom Moses and the prophets spoke, Nathaniel asked, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?", to which Philip replied, "Come and see" (John 1:45,46). Only God could have planned it this way; Jesus coming into the world in relative obscurity and in a place one would least expect.
The commercialization we see at this time of year tend to blur the real reason for the season. It's more than the exchange of gifts, the spreading of cheer, and sharing hearty meals with families and friends. God in the flesh, what a thought! Stepping out of the spleandours of heaven into the drudgery of a condemned world, He was in Christ, and in the fulness of time, reconciling the world unto himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). For those of us who have found Him, we raise our voices and sing "Joy to the world, that Lord is come", and to those who are still looking, we say "Come and see".
How would she tell this to Joseph? For the next three months she stayed with Elizabeth, and by the time she returned to Joseph, she was already pregnant! What would he think? What would the neighbours think? Who would believe her? Six months later, amidst all that controversy, Mary gave birth to her baby in a Galilean stable, in the city of Nazareth, where he was placed in a feeding box. Couldn't the Sovereign God have done it differently? Of all the places, why Galilee? The reputation of the place was of such that years later when the disciple Philip told Nathaniel that they had found Jesus of Nazareth, of whom Moses and the prophets spoke, Nathaniel asked, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?", to which Philip replied, "Come and see" (John 1:45,46). Only God could have planned it this way; Jesus coming into the world in relative obscurity and in a place one would least expect.
The commercialization we see at this time of year tend to blur the real reason for the season. It's more than the exchange of gifts, the spreading of cheer, and sharing hearty meals with families and friends. God in the flesh, what a thought! Stepping out of the spleandours of heaven into the drudgery of a condemned world, He was in Christ, and in the fulness of time, reconciling the world unto himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). For those of us who have found Him, we raise our voices and sing "Joy to the world, that Lord is come", and to those who are still looking, we say "Come and see".
At His Service
Mother Teresa. Speak her name and immediately one gets a picture of unselfish love, devotion, and advocacy on behalf of Calcutta's poor, orphaned, sick, and dying. Being a great admirer of her work, I was reflecting on the satisfaction she must have derived from finding what she deemed to be her purpose in life. Webster defines purpose as, among other things, an "end to be attained", and I can think of no greater way to live one's life than to fulfill the purpose God intended.
In the closing days of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote: "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). One could say that he faced his executioner knowing full well that he had done the things God had called him to do. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians are still trying to find their calling, but certainly it has to be more than mere living. To that end, I'm reminded of the great prayer of St. Francis of the Assisi. As you contemplate on the words, I pray that it will become your prayer, and that you will be receptive to what it is that God would have you do while in your sphere of influence.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
In the closing days of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote: "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). One could say that he faced his executioner knowing full well that he had done the things God had called him to do. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians are still trying to find their calling, but certainly it has to be more than mere living. To that end, I'm reminded of the great prayer of St. Francis of the Assisi. As you contemplate on the words, I pray that it will become your prayer, and that you will be receptive to what it is that God would have you do while in your sphere of influence.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
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