"Remember Ye Not the Former Things"

As we stand on the threshold of another new year, some look back wistfully at the past year. Most of us would probably say the year has been one of mixed blessings; some successes interlaced with some failures. For others, it was a year of "what might have been." There are things we wished we had done differently, things we probably regretted saying and doing. Regardless of where we direct our thoughts, one thing is clear - we cannot go back in time and change anything that was or was not done.

In his reflection on time, American poet and educator Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) wrote, “Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear." However, centuries before, words to the same effect were spoken by the prophet Isaiah to the nation of Israel, "Thus saith the LORD . . . Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:16a, 18-19, KJV). There is something about focusing on the past that can often leave us in a position of complacency, and some of us can attest to that. We can become thoroughly satisfied with our successes, or mentally and emotionally crippled by our failures. We can spend so much time looking backward that we fail to move forward timely and effectively. There is a reason the rearview mirrors in cars are so small relative to the windshield. We glance back every now and again but we look in front. There are important lessons we can learn from our experiences and we should learn them, but let us not build tents around those experiences.

What are some of the things God wants us to forget? Our past losses, sorrows and sufferings; associations and traditions that hindered His working in our lives; the focus on self; past accomplishments and achievements that would distract us from offering glory to Him; and our failures, to name a few. As we begin the new year, God stands poised yet again to do new things that shall spring forth. If 2011 has been a year of failure and broken dreams, 2012 can be the opposite; if it was successful, there are more victories to be celebrated. We serve an awesome God to whom nothing is impossible (Jeremiah 32:26-27; Matthew 19:26).

Let us take God at His Word. Forgetting the former things and looking forward to the “new thing” He will be doing in our heart and lives. It is my prayer that He surprises us in ways far beyond anything we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), and I pray that especially for you and yours for this New Year. He is faithful that promised (Hebrews 10:23).

Reflections on Joseph at Christmas

His part in the "Christmas story" seems rather insignificant. After all, he was not even the baby's father, just the betrothed husband of Mary, divinely chosen to be the mother of Jesus. According to Matthew's narrative, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 1:18, KJV). Joseph, who had not been sexually intimate with Mary, must have been stunned to find out his bride-to-be was pregnant. In the Jewish culture of the day, a violation of betrothal was considered adultery and breaking a betrothal required a formal divorce. It is no wonder that he "being a just and upright man and not willing to expose [Mary] publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly" (v. 19, The Amplified). Who could blame him? She could not hide the pregnancy. Soon everyone would know he had left her because of her perceived unfaithfulness.

"But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit. . . . Then Joseph, being aroused from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: he took [her to his side as] his wife. But he had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus" (vv. 20, 24-25). In one sense, this seemed like the perfect ending but it really was not. The gossip around the birth of Jesus continued for years as some of his hearers taunted him, "We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God" (see John 8:37-41, KJV). There were two major implications – Jesus was the product of fornication and they did not know who His father was. Traditionally, some suggested His father was a Roman soldier with whom Mary had an affair. Joseph had to live with the gossip and scandal as well. To those on the outside, he had married an adulteress.

We do not hear anything much of Joseph after the birth of Jesus. Yet isn't it amazing how his life and world were turned "upside down"? However, it was all part of a bigger plan; a divinely orchestrated plan by a God who steps into time and intervenes to accomplish His purposes. He found Himself a virgin who was a willing servant (Luke 1:26-38), and a just and upright man who would remain faithful despite the personal cost.

As we celebrate Christmas, and more importantly, the reason for the season, let us remember that the God who orchestrated events around the birth of Christ is the same God we serve today. Should He desire to order events in our lives and turn our worlds upside down to accomplish His purpose, would He find us willing? Just? Upright? That kind of surrender comes with a cost; just ask Joseph. Even so, I cannot think of a better place to be than in the nucleus of God’s will. Can you?

 From my house to yours, a safe and blessed Christmas.

What Is On God's Mind?

With just over a week before Christmas, the shopping malls are a buzz of activity. Retailers are trying hard to separate shoppers from their hard-earned dollars, and astute shoppers are mall hopping in search of the best deals. In some places the strains of Christmas carols seem to be everywhere, much to the delight of those who love this time of year and to the chagrin of those who are thinking "enough already!" Some people bemoan the commercialization of Christmas, and with good reason. For the most part, it seems many people have forgotten what it is all about.

Christians, generally speaking, are not immune from being caught up in the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle. Yet as we go about shopping for gifts for the people in our lives we hold dear, and making plans for family dinners and get-togethers, I find myself wondering, "What would be on God's mind?" In Matthew 25, after a series of parables, we read of Jesus telling His disciples about the separation of nations as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; the sheep on the right and the goats on the left (vv. 31-33). The narrative continues, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (vv. 34-40, KJV).

I believe what is on God's mind is that as we prepare for Christmas, let us take some time to remember those who are less fortunate. Maybe we can buy an extra gift to donate to a toy drive, donate some food to our local food banks, or reach out to someone or a family in need. It will not ruin your Christmas. I guarantee you, it will make you feel a lot better to know you have made a difference in at least one person's life.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Our challenge is to go out there and do it.

“Render to God the Things That are God’s”

It was yet another trap and the synoptic writers said as much. The scribes and chief priests had sent certain of the Pharisees and some followers of Herod to try and bait Jesus, "hoping to catch Him saying something incriminating" (Mark 12:13, The Message). Mark continues, "And when they were come, they say unto Him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at Him" (vv. 14-17, KJV).

The groups of men working in collusion to trap Jesus had their own differences and were not always amiable towards each other. However, they were united in a common cause. Wise in their own eyes, the question asked of Jesus was a political hand grenade for if Jesus answered "yes", He would be branded a friend of the Romans, and if He answered "no", He would be branded a traitor. Of course, Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and gave them an answer that was so profound, they "marvelled at Him". Because Caesar's image was etched on the coin, it was due to Caesar. Or as Matthew Henry observes, "The circulation of the money is from him as the fountain, and therefore it must return to him." Interestingly, Jesus did not stop there for while rendering to the emperor what belonged to the emperor, they were to render to God what belonged to God. What does that mean? What was Jesus getting at?

The clear implication in Jesus' statement is that in the same way that the coin, imprinted with Caesar's image, was ultimately his and so was due to him at tax time, so we who are engraved with the image of God ultimately belong to Him. The Bible is clear that we are created in the image or likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). The created belongs to the Creator, and so in the same way that we give to the various levels of governments their due, so we must be diligent to give to God His due. Ourselves and all the gifts and talents we possess. Like the hymn writer Francis R. Havergal, our prayer should always be, "Take my life and let it be / Consecrated, Lord, to Thee / Take my moments and my days / Let them flow in endless praise". A life of endless praise is the "perfect" offering we can offer to the One to whom we belong.

"Render to Ceasar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." How are you doing in that regard?

Getting It Done

In the first verse of the first chapter of the book of Ezra, we find an interesting if somewhat innocuous statement. Ezra, telling the story of the return of the Judean exiles from Babylon, writes, "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia" (1:1a, KJV). For our purposes, it is sufficient to note that Cyrus II was the king under whom the captivity of the Jews ended. During the first year of his reign, he was prompted by God to make a decree that the temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt and that those Jews who wanted to return to their land could do so. In addition, he sent back the sacred vessels that had been taken from the First Temple and quite a bit of money to buy building materials.

Nearly 150 years before King Cyrus was born, God declared to the prophet Isaiah that He would raise up this king to rebuild His city. Interestingly, at the time of Isaiah, Jerusalem was prospering and would not be destroyed for another 100 years by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In Isaiah 44 we read, "Thus saith the LORD . . . that saith of Cyrus, he is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid" (vv. 24a, 28). Cyrus himself would proclaim and had put in writing, "The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:2-3; 2 Chron. 36:22-23).

But what is so important about the portion of the verse quoted in the first paragraph above? In it we see the faithfulness of God in ensuring the fulfillment of His word. The verse tells us that over 150 years AFTER He first said it, "that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia." Jeremiah had prophesied that the Jews would be in Babylonian captivity for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11), and this was exactly how long they were there. The application for us should be self-evident. Whatever God promises, He can cause to happen. Sometimes it is easy to see our success as linked to those in authority – a manager, supervisor, pastor, to name a few – and we sometimes try to gain their favour. Yet, we are reminded that "the king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases" (Proverbs 21:1). Even if those in charge do not like us, the child of God can rest assured that at the time of His choosing He can stir up the spirit of our adversaries to do for us what He wants done. Our lives are in His hands; He alone has the final word.

What has He promised you? Does it seem like a very long time ago? Not to worry. He will do whatever is necessary to bring it to pass.

Finding Our True Purpose

Recently I was reflecting on Job's poignant observation recorded in Job 14:1, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble", and I was immediately reminded of the question posed in James 4:14b, "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." It occurred to me then that when each of us got out of bed this morning, there were many others who did not make it through the night. There are many who will not make it through to the end of today, whether through a timely or an untimely demise, but at some time or another, we all have an irrevocable appointment that we all must keep (Ecc. 3:2; Heb. 9:27a).

That God allowed us to be living in the moment, when He could have easily done otherwise, provokes the question, why? I firmly believe that we are all placed here for a reason. To the Israelites in Babylonian captivity the LORD said, "For I know the plans I have for you" (Jeremiah 29:11a), and I believe this knowing on God's part is applicable to each and every believer's life. It is no stroke of good fortune that God allowed our eyes to open this morning. He did it for a purpose, and lest we forget who we are and what that purpose is, Peter reminds us, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus told His disciples, and every disciple since, "You are the salt of the world ... you are the light of the world ... Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matt. 5:13a, 14a; 28:19a).

It seems clear to me that our purpose for our allotted time here on earth has been clearly defined. Among other things we are to 1) be witnesses for Christ - wherever we are - in words and deeds, 2) show the way of Christ to a darkness filled world, 3) make disciples, and 4) to demonstrate the richness of a life that is fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. In the "few days" that you have been given, how effectively are you fulfilling your purpose? May God teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:10), and so commit ourselves to the fulfilling our true purpose.

Cast Your “Cares Bags” – Part II

The question was simply enough: "How does on cast his or her 'cares bags' upon God?" Tired of carrying them around and experiencing the frustrations and burnout that come with such an effort, often times after the umpteenth time of resolving to leave them at the Cross, some of us can relate to it. We want to put them down, but we have carried them for so long they are as comfortable as our favourite pair of old shoes. Breaking up seems hard to do.

Generally speaking, at the root of our cares are our anxieties about any number of things. Our jobs, our families, our future, the economy, to name a few. A significant amount of our time is spent thinking, planning, being restless and sleep deprived, trying to make the pieces fit. Where God seems to be silent, we feel compelled to fill in the blanks. After all, as the saying goes, God helps those who help themselves. Yet the apostle Paul, writing to the Philippians, had a word for our counterparts of his time: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6, ESV). In everything, Paul? Yes, in everything! In other words, as we find ourselves in situations that provoke our anxieties, instead of yielding to the temptation to think about them, talk to God about them. This can be very difficult to do after years of carrying our own cares bags, but to the Corinthians Paul encouraged, "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" (2 Cor. 10:4-6). The stress and negativity in our minds can be taken captive to obey Christ and that happens when we refuse to give in to them and turn them over to Him.

When we are able to do this, the benefits are profound. As we cast our cares upon Him through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:7). That is an awesome trade! We give Him our anxieties and He gives us His peace which stands guard over our hearts and minds. Where there is peace, there cannot be turmoil. It is impossible to sincerely praise God and worry at the same time. We can rest comfortably in the fact that God has everything under control. He knows what we have need of even before we ourselves know we have the need. As Matthew Henry observes, "It is the duty and interest of Christians to live without care. There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and consists in a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of [self-doubt] and distrust which is our sin and folly, and which only perplexes and distracts the mind."

To avoid this distraction, which can cause us to take up our "cares bags" again, we need to be mindful of the things we think about and meditate on. Again from Paul, "Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is [honourable], whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4:8). This is God's "formula" for peace of mind and heart. It is one that He expects you to use. Remember, it is His responsibility to take care of those who are His.

Cast the "Cares Bags"

When I first saw him, I instinctively thought he was homeless. There he was, slowly pushing up the street a cart laden with what seemed like his life's possessions. I had seen him a number of times before and it was always the same thing. Everywhere he went, his cart and its contents went with him.

I thought of him as I reflected on Peter's short but rather profound sentence to the elders to whom he was writing, "Casting all your care upon Him [God]; for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7, KJV). In my reflections, it occurred to me that like the man who carried his stuff with him wherever he went, so too some of us carry our cares and concerns everywhere we go. We are never without them. It is as if we unload our "cares bags" by the side of our beds and once we awake in the mornings, we get dressed and then dutifully - though often times without thinking - we take up our bag, ready to carry it around with us for the rest of the day. We do that every day. Inside the bag are our cares, our worries, our frustrations, and our anxieties, to name a few. All the while professing belief in an awesome God who can do the impossible. Obviously, for some of us our God is not that awesome. We have made Him too small and as a result, we think our "cares bags" are too heavy for Him to carry. We justify carrying them ourselves.

Yet Peter reminds us, as he did the elders, that we can cast ALL our cares upon Him. I like how the Amplified Bible puts it, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." In other words, we can be rid of our bags by throwing them upon Him "once and for all!" We do not have to be burdened down with our loads of care. The accuser of the brethren is quite content for us to do just that, but that only leads to spiritual, emotional, mental and psychological rust and burn out. In the words of the old hymn writer, "Oh what peace we often forfeit / Oh, what needless pain we bear / All because we do not carry / Everything to God in prayer." When we find ourselves worrying and unable to rest in the peace God promises, it is a sure sign that we are still carrying our own “cares bags.”

There is tremendous freedom in casting ALL our cares upon the One we serve, knowing that not only does He cares about us but also that He does so affectionately and watchfully. What are you doing with your "cares bag"? God stands by ready to relieve you of it. You just need to cast it upon Him. Too heavy, you say? Trust me, He is big and powerful enough to manage it. Yours and everybody else's.

Running On Empty

The request from the five virgins seemed reasonable. "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out" (Matthew 25:8, KJV). The response from the other five was not very encouraging. According to Matthew, Jesus was relating the following parable: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps" (vv. 1-7). It was at this critical time that the "foolish" ones discovered they did not have enough oil. Not allowing for the possibility that the groom might be delayed, they had not taken enough.

The response of the "wise" virgins and subsequent events are insightful. Matthew continues, "But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not" (vv. 9-12). Jesus summed up the parable, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (v. 13). What was Jesus teaching?

There are too many theological truths in the parable to uncover in our limited space. However, in Scripture the lamp symbolizes the Word - the laws, principles, and precepts - of God which lights our paths through life (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:20-23). It serves to guide the child of God in the righteous ways of life. For as long as it takes to wait for the bridegroom, the return of Christ, the wise among us will ensure that we remain always in the Word, allowing ourselves to be guided by it. The foolish will become apathetic, going back and forth into the ways of the society around them, not having the conviction to stand for truth. It is this latter group that we must avoid. Despite the distractions and the challenges, we must read, study, and apply the Word of God. In world of darkness, we cannot see clearly without it.

It is important to note that there are only too categories of people - the wise and the foolish. The difference between them was the amount of Word that was in them and how that Word influenced their life. On which side do you find yourself? Are you among the wise?

Checking the Owner's Manual

The warning light on the car's instrument panel was one I had never seen before. My ignorance of what it meant at the time did not change the fact that it was "telling me" something was wrong. I had two choices. I could ignore it and hope it went away, or I could investigate and find out what it meant and take the necessary action. There was a good chance the first option could cost me much more than I would bargain for, my safety and wallet included, so that was not very appealing. It was also irresponsible. So considering myself a responsible person, I took the second option. There was only one place to check what the light meant and that was in the car's manual. There I discovered that the light indicated low tire pressure. I took a walk around the car and the tires looked fine. Nevertheless, I figured that while it could have been a malfunction, the car manufacturers knew far more about the vehicle than I did, so at the nearest gas station, I put in the recommended pressure in all four tires. Sure enough, once the car started, the warning light went off.

As I settled into my seat, it occurred to me that this particular experience had a couple of significant spiritual lessons. The Holy Spirit is like the car's instrument panel and because a part of his role is to guide us into all truth (John 16:13a), when something is wrong he warns us that we are straying or have strayed off course. That warning comes in different ways; maybe a check or feeling of restraint in our spirit, a discomfort with a particular decision, a "no" where we were expecting a "yes," to name a few. How do we respond then? We can either ignore what He is saying, or we can refer to the Christian's manual, The Bible, for corrective action. Either way, the choice is ours.

What is interesting about the Holy Spirit's warnings is that they usually "stay on" for quite some time. Just like when I looked at the tires they seemed fine, we may do our own self-check and feel everything is fine. The thing we are pondering seems very advantageous to us; the decision we made seems and feels right. Yet, the warning is still there. It is God's way of alerting us to something we need to attend to.

As you make your way along your Christian journey, have you checked your "instrument panel" lately? Are there any "warning lights" that you have been ignoring? If so, I encourage you to check your "owner's manual." It is far more reliable than your feelings.

Little In Your Own Eyes

For some people, success is very difficult to handle. The more successful they become, the more they become strangers to humility. Irving Berlin shone a spotlight on the dilemma of the successful when he observed, "The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success." In other words, it comes with its own seduction. Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates summed it up well when he said, "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."

King Saul found himself in such a situation. God had sent him to destroy the Amalekites, but he felt he could do as he wanted instead of what God had instructed (1 Samuel 15). Drunk with his success, the narrative tells us that he left for Carmel to set up a victory monument in his honor (v.12). Matthew Henry observes, "By his wars and victories he hoped to magnify and perpetuate his own name and honour." The narrative tells us about God's conversation with Samuel which resulted in Samuel's conversation with Saul. Totally ignorant of his haughtiness, Saul boasted to Samuel of his obedience (v.13) which the prophet immediately challenged (vv.13) before pronouncing judgment upon him (vv. 16-31).

The primary verse of interest is verse 17, "And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?" The most convicting words, "when thou was little in thine own sight." While Saul was still humble, God made him king, but as success came he forgot to remain humble. He started working his agenda instead of God's; he forgot that it wasn't about him, but all about God. Unfortunately, this problem is not unique to Saul. Many, including ministers of the Word, have become caught up in the success that God has allowed them. Believing their own hype and that of others around them, they lose sight of the fact that the God who promotes is the same God who demotes. None of us, no matter how successful, can afford to forget where we are coming from. We are where we are all because of God's grace.

As you move in the realm of success, how do you see yourself? Are you still little in your own eyes and following God's agenda, or are you all grown up and following your own?

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

We find His first recorded words from His first sermon in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (KJV). Before He arrived on the scene, John, his cousin, was preaching in the wilderness of Judaea saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1-2). The introduction of Jesus' sermon shows a passing of the baton. No longer was the kingdom of heaven at hand, it was now here and Jesus was teaching the principles of that kingdom.

When Jesus talked about poverty in spirit, He was not talking about the opposite of being materially rich. To this end, Luke 6:20 - which seems like a contradiction - must be understood in light of the fuller statement of Matthew 5:3. James M. Boice, in his exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, observes, "To be poor in spirit is to be poor in the inward man, not in outward circumstances. Consequently, to be poor in spirit is to recognize one’s spiritual poverty before God. . . . [It] is the opposite of being rich in pride; it is to be spiritually bankrupt before God."

A prudent study of the verse, and what it means to be poor in spirit, reveals two very important truths. Firstly, sinful human beings cannot achieve the standards of God’s righteousness and the requirements for the kingdom of heaven. The first principle of Christian ethics is that a new nature, given by the Lord Jesus Christ, is required in advance. Secondly, there must be an emptying in our lives before there can be a filling. We must become poor in spirit before we can become rich in God’s spiritual blessings. In other words, the old wine must be poured out of the wineskins before the new wine can be poured in (Matthew 9:17).

A true poverty of Spirit is unnatural to man, and therefore impossible. Nothing but a direct confrontation with the holy, just, and loving God will produce it. It is impossible to create a true poverty of spirit by looking within or by looking around at other people. True humility and a true sense of need come when we look to God for the basis of our self-evaluation. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: How do I (my life, my words, my thoughts, my actions, my desires) measure up against the Word of God? When we look to God and His Word for the basis of self-evaluation, a true response is like that of Isaiah’s, who when He saw God, cried, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Have you checked your spirit lately?

Seeing As God Sees

When Abram received his marching orders to leave the idolatrous region of Mesopotamia for a land he did not know, for his obedience the LORD promised him, in part, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Gen. 12:2, KJV). As he and his household made their way through the plain of Moreh, again the LORD assured Abram, "Unto thy seed will I give this land" (vv. 6-7). The promise of heirs made a lot of sense for Abram's name meant "high father". The fly in the ointment was that Sarai, his wife, was barren (Gen. 11:30); she could bear him no children.

We are not told that Abram thought about the reality of his situation and how that fit into the plan of God. However, when God reassured him "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (15:1), he did not hesitate to bring it up. "And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir" (vv. 2-3). The LORD countered, "This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir" (v. 4). He then took Abram out of his tent and said to him, "Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be" (v.5). I would imagine that for a moment there was silence. As Abram gazed up into the skies looking at the countless stars, the promise of God echoing in his ears, something happened to him for the narrative tells us, "And he believed in the LORD" (v. 6a). In other words, he was able to see what God was seeing.

We do not know for sure if he understood everything at that point. Outwardly, his situation had not changed. Sarai, his only wife, was still barren, but in spite of that he believed in the promise of the LORD. He did not know how his LORD was going to pull off what He had promised, but they had traveled this far together and he was learning that his task was to trust and leave the outcome to Jehovah, the LORD.

We are in the same position today. As we journey with the LORD we find ourselves facing seemingly impossible situations. There are times when in our moments of weakness, like Abram, our faith wavers and we devise our own solutions (Gen. 16:1-4). However, "let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)" (Hebrews 10:26). Let us change our perspective from being circumstances-centered to being God-centered. Let us remind ourselves of His promises and start to see as He sees. It is the only perspective that matters.

Tried and Refined

The narrative of Job's life and experiences, as recorded in the book bearing his name, is one with which some of us are familiar. With divine permission, Satan unleashed a wave of events that saw Job - whom God described as unique in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and shunned evil (Job 1:8) - losing his family, his wealth and his health. Unknown to Job, he was like a pawn in a cosmic chess game. Satan had called his integrity and fidelity into question, and God was confident that Job would stand firm against the onslaught. Satan could do whatever he wanted to do with Job, but God had set the boundaries within which he could operate.

Standing firm against Satan's attacks was not easy. Job knew that his life was in the hand of a sovereign God who not only had the power to give but also to take (1:21), and that whatever happened to him had to be permitted by God. To go through difficult times feeling the presence of God can be very comforting, but what happens when God seems nowhere to be found? In reality, God's presence is everywhere, but many are the saints who can voice the words of the Psalmist, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me?" (Psalm 22:1a).

As he struggled under the weight of Satan's hand upon his life, Job lamented, "Even today is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him (Job 23:1-3; 8-9, KJV). However, instead of becoming despondent, he recognized that even if he could not see God, God could see him; even if he did not know where God was, God knew where he was, and so he encouraged himself, "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (v. 10).

 Job knew something we need to remind ourselves of - nothing touches our lives that do not pass through the hand of God first. Though what had befallen him was Satan's doing, He recognized the hand of God at work in his life. The sovereignty of God meant that there was nothing Satan could do that was not permitted by God. Job knew at the end of his time in the valley, if he remained faithful, he would come out "golden". The same goes for you; the same goes for me. Our challenges can be likened to the refiner's fire. The aim is to purify our hearts, to cleanse us from within, set apart for God and ready to do His will. With this perspective, we will not spend time blaming the devil, but we stand strong, trusting God even when we cannot see Him. He is there working things out, all for our good and all for His glory.

"Not As I Will"

The place was Gethsemane, a garden outside the city, a place planted with the olive and other trees, across the Kidron brook and on the Mount of Olives. It was a place that Jesus and His disciples were familiar with (John 18:1-2), and so on this night it would not have been unusual for them to be have gone there. According to Matthew's narrative, they had just finished their last meal together and Jesus, knowing what was imminent, spoke to them about a number of things. The narrative continues, "And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:37-39, KJV).

It is hard to imagine the "weight" that was on Jesus' shoulders. He who was born to die, in His humanity felt the deepest anguish, and there in the garden with His friends close by He seemingly struggled with the burden of what was ahead. This was He of whom the angels declared to Joseph, "Thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Here He was, pleading with the father, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." The word "cup" is often used in this context in Scripture to point out sorrow, anguish, terror, and death. In essence Jesus' prayer was, "If the world can be redeemed - if it be consistent with justice, and with maintaining the government of the universe, that people should be saved without this extremity of sorrow, let it be done" (Albert Barnes). However, He did not stop there but continued, "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

For sure that has to be the hardest part. Yielding our will to that of the Father. Giving up what we want to do, for what He wants us to do. Giving up what we would like to have, for what He wills for our lives. Giving up where we would rather go, to go wherever He sends us. Giving up the known for the unknown. His will versus our will - the two are not always the same. Left to our own ways we would take the easy way out, we would take only the best of what life has to offer. However, where is the growth in that? How is God glorified on “Easy Street”? How do we put Him first if we are not prepared to surrender our will for His? Yet, as His representatives on earth that is exactly what we are called to do. There is nothing to say that His way is easy and comfortable. Lest we forget, it is never about us but all about Him and Jesus demonstrated that to the fullest.

"Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." As you strive to please God in your service and obedience to Him, do you finish your prayers with that sentence?

Standing Up For Christ

In an environment where anything goes, standing up for one's beliefs can be costly. In some countries around the world, Christians who face persecution and resulting hardships every day because of their faith are far more aware of this than we are in the West. Yet, they stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances while holding fast to the profession of their faith.

It is not easy swimming upstream when it seems everybody else is swimming downstream. It is not easy to say "no" when it seems everybody else is saying "yes". It is no wonder genuine Christians stick out like sore thumbs; they find it impossible to accept and embrace much of what society deems acceptable simply because certain behaviors and attitudes are contrary to the Word of God. Unfortunately, some professing Christians choose to remain silent and in the process they unintentionally allow the perpetuation of those behaviours and attitudes. It is so easy to go along with the crowd instead of "rocking the boat" by taking a stand.

John the Baptist had other ideas. In a culture where criticizing the king was to sign one's death warrant, he had openly rebuked King Herod for taking his sister-in-law, Herodias, as his own wife. Fearing that John's preaching would start a revolt against him, Herod had him thrown in jail. According to the narrative, Mark 4:1-29, Herodias, who was smoldering with hate and wanted John killed, completed a series of manipulative moves that boxed the king in a corner. After a couple glasses of wine too many, he had promised Herodias' daughter anything she wanted. The mother promptly saw her opportunity and told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist (V.24). Not willing to take a stand, Mark tells us, "And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother" (vv. 26-28, KJV). We can only imagine that she looked at it with immense satisfaction. She had silenced the voice of rebuke. This despite the fact that having John killed did not change the reality of the inappropriateness of her marriage to the king.

Standing up and speaking out cost John his head. He knew the probable consequences but instead of compromising by remaining silent, he chose to stand up for truth and righteousness. In a culture of darkness, his light shone brightly. What about your light? When things are going the wrong way in your spheres of influence - your offices, your homes, your churches - and when things get out of hand, do you speak up? Christians are supposed to be the light of the world (Mark 5:14) and the whole purpose of light is to repel darkness. If you are not shining where you are and if no one knows what you stand for, then something is wrong. Maybe it is time for a light check?

Being Led of the Spirit

In his letter to the believers in Galatia, Paul writes, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (5:16-18, KJV). Isn't it interesting that he used the world "walk"? This tells us the Christian life is a journey, and to walk in the Spirit is to walk as guided by the Spirit. In other words, to live under His influence and not resist Him and in doing so, "ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." So far, so good.

However, as we are guided by the Spirit along our journey, what happens when He is leading us somewhere we would rather not go? Or to take it one step further, somewhere we definitely do not want to go? Because He is the one leading and because He only works in accordance with what is in the will of God, a part of trusting Him means trusting that wherever He leads is all a part of God's plan for our lives. That can get tricky because He sees and knows far more than we do. For the most part we have a fear of the unknown; we want to see and know where we are going and why. These thoughts came to mind as I reflected on the opening verse of Matthew 4, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil," and I thought, "To be what????" For sure, the Spirit must have taken a wrong turn somewhere! To compound matters, this was not a quick trip through the wilderness but rather a forty-days and forty-nights (v.2) assault on the mind, the emotions and the will during a time of fasting and according to Mark 1:13, while surrounded by wild beasts. It is no wonder that when the devil left Him, "angels came and ministered unto Him" (Matthew 4:11).

On the outside looking in, all of this makes very little, if any, sense. Yet it wasn't that the Spirit did not know what He was doing; it wasn't that He had lost His way. His leading Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil was all a part of God's plan for "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). It follows that as we are led by the Spirit we too may be led to places and into situations that seem strange. For those of us who are methodical in whatever we do and those of us who like to be in control, this is rather scary. Yet we can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will never lead us into situations contrary to the Word of God and that are not in keeping with the will of God for our lives. Yes, those valley experiences are included as well. The challenge is not to resist Him though everything in our flesh will want to do that.

Where is He leading you? What is He asking you to do? What is your response?

Unconditional Love and Acceptance

Have you ever felt excluded from an event or group because you did not meet someone else's standards? How about feeling rejected by others because you were considered not "good enough"? According to social scientists, inherent in the process of growing and developing as a person to achieve individual potential is our need to be accepted for who we are. Nevertheless, it seems parts of the media have done and continue to do a masterful job in making some people feel personally inadequate. Advertisers tell us we are too fat, too slim, we need to buy this or that to get a desired look, to become more attractive. For some people, it is pressure from our families, friends, and most regrettably, our spouses. It is as if we are encouraged to strive for something that is always out of our reach. And some of us have spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars trying.

These thoughts came to mind as I reflected on Romans 5:8 where Paul writes, "But God commendeth [showed] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (KJV). Stop and read the verse again. Paraphrased in The Message it reads, "But God put His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him." That is right. While we were yet sinners, while we were of no use whatsoever to Him, God accepted us as a people worth saving. It is easy to gloss over this wonderful truth. To fully understand the extent to which God pursues the sinner is to understand that to be a sinner is to be His enemy. We came into the world as sinners, as enemies of God, and so from the very beginning we were not "good enough." Yet God, because of His great love, looked beyond our sins, our faults, our imperfections, our weaknesses and saw something in us that He deemed valuable. Not only did He have warm thoughts towards us, covered as we were in the ugliness of sin, but He demonstrated His love and acceptance by giving His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus took our place and through dying on the cross, saved us from an eternal hell.

It is important to note that God did not stipulate that for Him to love us we first had to become "good enough." While we may struggle with our insecurities in our efforts to be accepted by those around us, God accepts us the way we are. Our thoughts and feelings about ourselves should be based on this unshakeable truth and not on some secular media-driven standards. While we may not be able to meet and live up to the standards of others, we can rest comfortably in the fact that God loves and accepts us the way we are. His intent is that we enter into a relationship with Him, through Christ, and allow Him to work out His purposes in our lives. It is difficult to struggle with low self-esteem when we embrace His love and acceptance. No matter who you are, what you have done, what you look like, God loves you and He has demonstrated that love for the whole world to see.

Unconditional love and acceptance feels wonderful, doesn't it? Think about that the next time you look into the mirror.

Talking About "Body Parts"

As the parent of a soon to be college basketball player, I have had my share of sitting in gyms watching different teams practice and play over the years. One thing that usually intrigued me was that if one player did not do exactly as the coach instructed during practice, the entire team had to do laps around the gym. Something about that did not seem fair and some of the boys’ facial expressions said as much! However, in the context of team, it reinforced the fact that the actions of one affected the whole. This is not unlike what happened in Eden. Adam and Eve messed up and all of humanity continues to be affected by the consequences of their actions. Again, that does not seem fair. Just maybe, if we were able to start in our own Eden we would have made a different choice! However, just like those boys doing their laps in the gym, we did not get a vote. For better or for worse, we are a team.
 
The apostle Paul used the same idea when he sought to remind members of the early Church of their obligations to each other. To the Corinthians he writes, "The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance" (1 Cor. 12:25-26, The Message). I find the last two sentences rather compelling; if one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the cheerfulness.
 
One body, one team. We all need each other. Earlier on in his letter Paul states, "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him" (vv. 14-18, KJV). In other words, there is interrelatedness between each part with each part doing exactly as it should. Then and only then is the body truly healthy.
 
What does that mean on a practical level? As members of the body of Christ we are obligated to each other to play our part as God intended. We cannot opt out simply because we do not like some of the other body parts. Secondly, what part do you play? Maybe someone could benefit from a word of encouragement, a phone call, a note to say you care. Thirdly, understand that together we are the church, the body of Christ. Individually, we cannot wait for someone else to do what God placed us in the Body to do. An ineffective body part is a strain on the body; the body may compensate but it is not functioning as well as it should.
 
Are you effectively doing your part?  Is the Body hurting because of the loss of your contribution?

Making the Right Decisions in Tough Situations

It started out as a simple stroll. It was at the time when kings go forth to battle and Israel, under the military leadership of David's designate, Joab, was at war with the Ammonites. The narrative tells us that while Israel besieged Rabbah, David stayed in Jerusalem. On this particular spring evening and with his army doing well in battle, "it came to pass . . . that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (2 Samuel 11:2, KJV).

Even if the Scripture did not tell us what happened next, chances are good we could have figured out how this drama unfolded. A handsome and powerful king with time on his hands, so to speak, looking across the way at a beautiful naked woman is fertile ground for trouble. Like Eve in the very beginning, and countless others since then, David found himself in the proverbial “wrong place at the wrong time.” In Genesis we read of Eve, "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat" (3:6). Instead of sensing imminent danger when she was first approached by the serpent (Genesis 3:1) and removing herself from that place back to where she should have been, she stood to reason with the serpent and lost that battle. David, standing on the roof gazing at this beautiful specimen of God’s creation, had a moment in time to decide if he would make a hasty retreat and go back into the house. However, the narrative continues, "And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house" (2 Samuel 11:3-4).

For some of us, being innocently in the “wrong place at the wrong time” brings its own challenges. The magnitude may not be like that of David's, in this instance, but we find ourselves in situations we did not foresee and did not plan for. Suddenly, it seems, we are presented with an opportunity to do something we would not normally do. The seemingly helpful co-worker of the opposite sex, the busy-eyed flirtatious fellow believer, the chance to take something that is not ours, to look a something we should not be looking at, the compliment or email from someone we know we should stay away from for our integrity’s sake. Danger lurks and seductively so. Right there and then we have to decide; we must decide. It would be wonderful if we could all affirm that we would make or have always made the right decisions, but as we have seen, that is not always the case. The immediate consequences of his actions were that a husband was murdered and an innocent baby died. His circumstances remind us that we must always be vigilant; we must not let our guards down. We cannot afford to admire, think on, rationalize, or reason through the circumstances of our testings. Instead, let us be quick to "get out of there." It is not always easy but He has promised, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). With His help and by His grace, we can make the right decisions.

How are you doing with your challenges?

Loving the Unlovable

Have you ever met someone who was difficult to love? Not necessarily romantically, but just to love as another human being. The phileo kind of love that we are exhorted to show to another. I have known a few people like that; really obnoxious personalities with a healthy dose of bad attitudes and manners. Looking at some of them one could never tell. They are what I call "lime people" - deceptively smooth on the outside, sour on the inside. It is quite possible that even as you are reading this, at least one person you know comes readily to mind!

The challenge for some of us is that we share the pews with some of these people. Yes, they are sitting among us in our Churches on Sunday mornings. The unlovable unbeliever we can probably understand, but an unlovable Christian seems like an oxymoron. More times than not we avoid them like the plague. Yet in a way that only Jesus can, He challenges us to break through our apprehensions and judgments when He says rather emphatically to those following Him, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34, KJV). Notice this was a "new commandment" because the law did not make such a demand. In this new era, we are to love others the way He loved us and that means, among other things, without conditions. In other words, we cannot say we will love someone if he or she changes their attitudes and behaviors to meet our predetermined standard(s) because God, through Christ, did not impose any such conditions on us.

Paul exhorted the Roman believers, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love" (Romans 12:10a), and again, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (13:8). He realized this was not our natural disposition when he exhorted the Thessalonians, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you" (1 Thess. 3:12).

God doesn't expect us to avoid the unlovable among us but to love them. But there is a purpose, as there always is, to what He asks us to do and Jesus pulls the veil apart so we can get a glimpse: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). Our greatest challenge can be the open door to our greatest opportunity. So the next time you see or come across someone you deem unlovable, you are in the right place to show him or her the love of Christ. Consider it a test, and purpose it on your heart that you will ace it. Moreover, by doing so, you will put the devil to shame and Christ will be exalted. Now, that is what I call exciting!

On Being A Role Model

It would probably be a nice thing if we all had good role models to emulate. It is commonly held that a role model is a "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others" and it is difficult to argue with that. However, that does not tell us anything about the quality and character of the person being modeled. Role models can be good or bad depending on how they influence or affect us. Because such influences can have lasting consequences, it is extremely important that we choose our role models carefully.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1, KJV). Other translations put it differently. For example: "You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (CEV) and "Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ" (HCSB). I do not believe Paul's intent was for the believers to shift their focus from following Jesus to following him. After all, Jesus is the perfect example and the best role model one could ask for. However, what we see is that as Paul gave instructions to the church on a number of issues, he concludes what we know as the previous chapter with the words, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God : Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved" (10:31-33). It is on that note that he proceeded to say, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." In other words, emulate me; imitate me; learn from me as I emulate/imitate Christ. This emulation was a form of discipleship that allowed for the spiritual growth of the believers, as well as it placed them in a position of holding Paul accountable for walking in "the Way of Christ" so he would not be a stumbling block to them.

It is important to note that this was not a call to blind allegiance; they were to follow the Apostle only to the extent that he was following Christ. The principle here is that good role models are not interested in amassing followers at any cost. They realize the burden of their responsibility and the importance of influencing the lives of others in positive ways. As we go about our daily lives, who are we role models to? What kind of a role model are you? Are you leaving a positive and lasting legacy or are you influencing the lives of others in ways that are questionable?

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." As you resolve to follow in the steps of Christ, ask God to help you to let that be your appeal to someone in your sphere of influence. Become a role model and model Jesus. Someone is looking for one to follow.

Taking God Out of the Box

We do not know much about her. According to the narrative in 1 Kings 17, she was a widow living with her son in Zarephath, a Baal-worshipping city on the Mediterranean coast of Phoenicia between Tyre and Sidon out of the borders of Israel. We also know that she was poor, destitute and desolate because at the time we met her, she was down to her last "handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, [she was] gathering two sticks, that [she] may go in and dress it for [her] and [her] son, that [they] may eat it, and die" (v. 12). That she had to gather the sticks herself confirms her lowly status as it was clear she had no slaves to do such a menial task. Being a widow with no one to look after her, she had resigned herself to the fact that after this last meal she and her son would die; there was nothing else to eat. Even if spurred on by the will to survive and a mother's instinct to provide for and protect her offspring, she had no money to buy whatever, if anything, that was available. The famine had taken its toll. Yet it was to this woman that God had sent Elijah: "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee" (v.9).

To sustain him? What was God thinking? Didn't He see the woman's condition? She was one meal away from her and her son starving to death. Then there was Elijah. God was sending him into Gentile territory to be fed by a widow when, as we discovered later, there were many widows in Israel at the time (Luke 4:25-26). Why not send him to one of them? Lest we forget, Elijah was a hated man in Israel because he was held responsible for the drought and the resulting hardships. Israel had embraced the worship of Baal and was being punished by God. So, here we have God, to whom all things are possible, sending His prophet from among His chosen people to a Gentile widow in a Baal-worshipping city for sustenance. Couldn't He have provided for Elijah some other way? In a way that made some sense?

Because He is omnipotent, of course He could have but why should He? When God does something we typically expect Him to do so in ways that makes sense to us. If we could figure Him out or always understand His ways He would not be much of a god. He reminds us that His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). His dealings in this situation clearly demonstrate His ability to provide for and bless His people in any way, in any situation, and through whomever He chooses. When we are looking for and expecting Him to act in a certain way, we need to remember He is not limited in the ways He operates in our lives.

We would be remiss if we did not observe two important truths in the narrative: Elijah's obedience in going where he was sent, and the widow's obedience in doing what God had commanded her to do regardless of the external situation. Both acts of obedience were responsible for the miracle that followed (vv. 15-16). One of the lessons for us is that as children of God we can expect Him to work in our lives and situations in ways that we would least expect. In other words, with God always expect the unexpected. Take Him out of the box and watch Him do the things He alone can do, and bring to pass all the things He alone can make possible.

Born With a Purpose

Parents have an awesome but sobering responsibility. To bring a child into the world, give him or her a name, and plan for the future of this little person is no easy task. Parents have hopes and dreams for their children. We want them to be successful and as much as is within our power, at the very minimum, for them to have a good education which will translate into a stable career, a relatively good life, and secure their future. We may not do everything perfectly, but for the most part our intentions are good.

However, parents are not the only ones who have plans for the child or children entrusted to their care. Though we embrace them as our own they are ultimately God’s and He too has a plan for their lives. Every child that comes into the world does so with a God ordained purpose. For a number of reasons that purpose may not be realized, but it doesn't change the fact of purpose. In the Scriptures we see several instances where individuals were called by God for specific purposes and in some cases, from they were in their mothers' wombs. For example, from the prophet Isaiah, "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name" (Isaiah 49:1, KJV). From the prophet Jeremiah, "The LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak" (Jeremiah 1:4-7). From the apostle Paul, "It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen" (Galatians 1:15).

Clearly, not all of our children will be called as profoundly as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul. Not every child will be called directly to ministry, but every child is called to something God honoring and it is the responsibility of parents, god-parents, adopted parents, and other caregivers to pray for discernment in that regard. In our prayers we should pray for that God-given purpose, often times dormant in those lives, to be quickened and for our children to walk in that purpose. Yes, it is not just about giving them our love and other material things, but also about a spiritual legacy. Not only should we pray unceasingly for them but we should also consistently bless them by speaking words of life and encouragement into their lives. A blessing could be something like, “You are the righteousness of God and will walk in His purpose” or, “You will excel because you are a child of purpose and God’s plan for your life will be manifested for His glory.” Alternatively, declare your own blessing based on the God’s word and promises. No matter how rebellious they may be, they can never outrun our prayers and declarations. We do our part and trust God to do His. However, first things first. Those of us who have a position of influence in the life of a child need to nurture our own relationship with God and seek His wisdom for the task at hand. If there is ever a time our children need good God-fearing role models, it is now.

How are you doing in that regard?

"I Will Love You Still" - Neville Peter

There are not enough words to describe what this song means to me. Can I worship Him still even when I don't understand His will? My soul says "Yes, Lord. I will worship you you there, even when it's hard for me to understand your will, I love you still." Another tremendous song by this gifted and anointed minister. I sure hope it challenges and blesses you and it challenged and blessed me.

He Does Not Forget

Have you ever felt like God has forgotten you? That He has lost your address? That as you try to make your way through life, tossed to and fro by contrary winds, it is as if He has disappeared into the night and your prayers are met with nothing but deafening silence? During the different seasons of our lives it is the responsibility of the Adversary to bring doubt and fear into our minds and, for the most part, he does a very good job at it. Those dark periods in our lives challenge our faith and belief in God's goodness and care. Some of us are able to keep trusting God in the dark; others are overcome by it and are left confused, hurt, and bitter towards Him.

The psalmist David was quite open in telling God exactly how he felt. Whether he was extolling the virtues of God, complaining about his enemies, or expressing feelings of loneliness and despair, we have the benefit of reading his psalms and often times find ourselves able to identify with him. In Psalm 139 he sings about the omniscience and omnipresence of God, and for those of us who have experienced or are experiencing a dark season in our lives, we take specific note of verses 7 to 12: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." In other words, because God is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time, we are never out of His sight and as such we are never out of His care.

However, as we see in the preceding verses, the psalmist also recognizes something equally important; that God knows him and everything about him. So much so that every word he spoke was known to Him, and his every thought understood. Eugene H. Peterson, in The Message, paraphrases it this way: "I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence" (vv. 2-4). This kind of knowing transcended superficiality and gives us an insight into the level of intimacy, into-me-see, that God shows when it comes to us His children.

Even if the devil would tell us otherwise, we can be comforted by the fact that just as God knew David and everything about him, the very same way He knows us and everything about us. Just as David recognized that he could never be out of His presence, we too can be assured that even during the dark seasons of our lives we are never out of His sight. David realized "darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you" (v.12, The Message). This should resonate within each and every one of us because it tells us there is nowhere, no situations we can or could find ourselves in, and that there is no time that we are ever out of His view. The truth is that despite the seemingly unanswered prayers, the winds of contrariness blowing in your life or the dark season you are walking through, God has not lost your address. He hears you; He knows exactly where you are. Ponder those thoughts and be encouraged by them. He has everything about you under control.

"Why Call Ye Me, Lord, Lord?"

Jesus had a habit of getting straight to the point and it could be unnerving. With laser-like precision His words often struck deep, leaving His hearers at a loss for words. It wasn't just His eloquence. It was the way He unmasked the hypocrisy of His audience while making it clear that there was nothing in their actions, thoughts, or motives that was hidden from His view.

In chapter 6 of Luke's narrative we see the equivalent of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). As He meanders His way through various teachings, in verses 45 and 46 we read Him saying: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" It would have been so easy for them to have missed it. The fruit of our lives that springs forth from the condition of our hearts bears testimony to our allegiance. If we are aligned with God, our fruit will bear that out. However, the opposite is also true. "where the love of the world and the flesh reign there is an evil treasure in the heart, out of which an evil man is continually bringing forth that which is evil; and by what is brought forth you may know what is in the heart, as you may know what is in the vessel, water or wine, by what is drawn out from it" (Matthew Henry).

Having pointed out the obvious disconnect that it was the condition of the heart that was important, Jesus asked the probing question: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" While the people talked a good talk, their walk with Christ was not aligned with what they professed. It is not enough to hear the sayings of Christ; we must do them. It is not enough to profess relation to Him as His servants; we must make it our business to obey Him. For Jesus to be "Lord" is to have Him be the controller of our lives. It means we are wholly at His command, we are devoted to His service, and we are serving the interests of His kingdom. We cannot call Him "Lord" yet walk in our own ways and doing as we please. If we are going to call Him "Lord," we must do the things He says we ought to do.

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Remember, He judges the heart not by words but by works. What do you call Him? What do your actions say?

"Nothing Between / I Surrender All" - Neville Peter

Neville Peter.  I have never heard of the guy until this past week when I saw one of his YouTube videos and what an amazing talent!  God has truly blessed Him and it was a delight to have found a video with him singing a medley of two of my favorite hymns. I hope it blesses you as much as it blesses me.  You can check him out at http://www.nevillepeter.com

Only For A Season

Elijah had just delivered God's judgment to King Ahab that there would be no rain in Israel until he (Elijah) said so, right after which God told him: "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there" (2 Kings 17:3-4, KJV). This sure sounded like he would be settled in for the long haul! It is interesting to note that Elijah did not make prior preparations for himself even though he knew what was coming. There was no borrowing of pots and pans to store water for a season. Rather, he did exactly as the Lord told him "and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook" (v. 6).

We do not know how long he was there for, but what we know is that "after a while . . . the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee" (vv. 7-9). So far, everything had gone exactly as God had said. What we want to note, however, are the following - it was God who had sent him to the brook; the brook dried up; it was time for him to move again. Why didn't God simply bring food to Elijah where he was by other means? For sure, that wasn't a big deal for a God who had demonstrated on Mount Carmel that He was the God of everything. I would like to suggest that this wasn't about God but Elijah. Would he trust God in a situation where he had nothing else to fall back on? His season at the spot was over. God's faithfulness would continue to and beyond Zarephath.

Life really is about seasons. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" and there are times when God have us walk a certain path that is meant to last only for a season. However, we can become so comfortable by our dried-up brook reflecting on the way things were that we fail to trust God with the next step. Maybe we are expecting Him to do something in a way He has done it before, yet being God, He can do anything in whatever way He chooses. For Elijah, the famine was not over but his season by the brook was. Had he stayed by the brook he would have died from starvation. His blessing, food and sustenance, was now commanded in Zarephath and in order to claim it he had to leave where he was. A dried-up brook could be a failed relationship, a failed friendship, a job loss, or some other unexpected challenge. Regardless of whatever it is, it could be that your blessing has been commanded elsewhere. All of this assumes no violation of God's Word, for He will not give an instruction that conflicts with His Word.

If God has demonstrated His faithfulness in your life, you can trust Him with your next step. He knows what He is doing.

The Power of Remembering Who He Is

Jesus had just finished feeding the multitude with a little boy's lunch. It was an incredible miracle. Five thousand men plus women and children, sitting down in ranks by hundreds and fifties, eating until they were filled and all from five loaves and two fishes. As if that wasn't enough, there were twelve baskets full of leftovers (Mark 6:40-44)!
 
Shortly after, Jesus "constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people. And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land" (vv.45-47, KJV). According to the narrative, not only was the ship in the midst of the sea but there was a contrary wind and the men were experiencing much difficulty. By this time it was the fourth watch, somewhere between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and Jesus, walking on the water, went out to them "and would have passed by them. But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw Him, and were troubled. And immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered" (vv. 48b-51).
 
What did they wonder about? They were in awe and wonder of Him that was among them. He had walked on water and the minute He came into the ship, the storm had ceased! "Amazed in themselves beyond measure" suggests being in a state of ecstasy "as if it were a new and unaccountable thing, as if Christ had never done the like before, and they had no reason to expect He should do it now" (Matthew Henry). But then Mark added a compelling sentence: "For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened" (v. 52).  In other words, they had forgotten what Jesus had done before!
 
Isn't that so much like some of us? When we are confronted with challenging situations, we are in awe when God comes through for us. It is as if we have forgotten who He is and the miraculous works of His hand, not just in the Scriptures but also in our day-to-day lives. Whatever we are going through, we ought to remember that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and so what He has done before, He can do again.  There are no limits to His power; no circumstances too difficult for Him to handle. We are never too far our for Him to reach; He will walk on water if He must. Our challenge is to remember or we risk entering into states of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.  On the other hand, remembering who He is and what He has done provides us with assurance and comfort.  Not only does it change our perspective in our circumstance, but we will walk in expectancy that He will do for us all He says He can and will do.
 
How much of who He is, what He has done and what He is capable of doing do you know? How much of it do you remember?

"I Saw the Lord"

Have you ever wondered how Isaiah felt when He saw the majesty and glory of God as recorded in Isaiah 6? It was in the year that King Uzziah, an interesting character, died in which Isaiah "saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple" (v. 1, KJV), and that was only the start. He continues: "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" (vv. 2-7). WOW!

What if that was you? What if God in His grace were to show you a glimpse of the heavens and the throne of God, could you handle it? What would your reaction be? Isn't it interesting that when Isaiah saw the Lord, he immediately recognized his sinfulness? There is no room for pride or self-centeredness when we get a glimpse of the holiness of God. His holiness is like a light that shines and reveals our nature and character, but in a moment of surrender He not only takes away our iniquities but also purges our sins. God can do a lot of things in an instant!

The apostle John reminds us, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9). While most of us may not have the same vision as Isaiah, those who spend time in God's Word come face to face with Him as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures. We too see Him in His majesty; we are confronted with His holiness. Yet how do we respond? We can both confess our faults and allow Him to do His work in our lives, or we can be like the one who "beholdeth himself [in a glass], and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was"(James 1:24).

When we "see" the Lord, things should not remain the same. Our lives, our attitudes, and our characters should be transformed by the power of His Spirit. We should become more like Him.

When was the last time you "saw" Him?

“The Problem is Me”

The prayer was simple but rather profound. Eight words that zeroed in on the problem. "Dear God: I have a problem. It's me." There is no doubt that in our Western culture we are more individualistic than in other cultures. Generally speaking, things are centered on ourselves - the things we like or don't like, our desires, our needs. It is said that the three big issues facing our generation are consumerism, individualism and a sense of entitlement. Everything around us seems to reinforce that message - our individual rights to this, our individual rights to that. "What about me?" "How does this or that affect me?" "What is it in for me?" are just some of the questions we ask ourselves when faced with certain situations. It is as if we are wired for selfishness.

Not surprisingly, we take the same attitude into our spiritual lives. If we are not satisfied with what is happening in our places of worship, it’s "their problem" because our attendance is dutiful and we come only to be entertained and be served. Let someone else work with the children, including ours. Let someone else be a ministry volunteer. All of this while we sit critically of those who are giving of themselves, finding fault with what they do, how they do them, while thinking to ourselves we could do it much better. If only we had the time or the interest.

Jesus calls us to live above ourselves. In Luke 9:23-24 we read: "And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." In another instance Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:24-25). The words “verily, verily” underscore the importance of the truth of His Words. Though speaking of His death, we can apply the very same principle to our lives. As long as we live for ourselves, individualistically, we live alone. It is only when we die to self and start living for God and others that we bring forth much fruit.

"Dear God: I have a problem. It's me." My self, my ways, my desires, my attitudes. Isn't it time we yield to His lordship over our lives and allow Him to live through us? A time to surrender ourselves to His will and His ways? In the words of the hymn writer, “Let me lose myself and find it Lord in thee.” It is only then that our lives will be transformed from being centered on ourselves to being sweet smelling fragrances of God’s grace. How are you living?

“Sweeter than Honey & the Honeycomb”

Recently I saw something rather interesting. Well, to me it was. On my morning commute, a lady across from me took out her Bible, read for two minutes, promptly closed and put it away. Then she took out one of the daily tabloids and read for the remainder of the journey. I should point out that the journey lasted about 40 minutes. Of course, there could have been all kind of reasons for the disparity in reading times. However, what made the whole thing interesting for me was that almost immediately the words of the Psalmist came to mind: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:7-10, KJV).

The word translated "law" may be understood as meaning all that teaches us true religion, and therefore it is no exaggeration to agree with Matthew Henry that the Word of God "is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe, or the light of the sun." When received by faith, it is more precious than gold; it is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. Honey is often touted not only for its sweetness and fine taste, but also for its curative (healing) effects. The honeycomb is often mentioned, for it is considered superior in flavor, sweetness, and richness to honey that has been exposed to the air for a time. It is no wonder the proverb states, "Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and a healing to the bones” (Pr 16:24; 24:13, 14).

If the honeycomb with all its sweetness is a healing to the bones, how much more the Word of God is a healing to our spirits? Bible Commentator John Gills observes: "They [the words of God] are the means of curing the diseases of the mind; of healing wounded spirits, and broken hearts, and broken bones; they make the bones which were broken to rejoice; what heals the bones strengthens the whole man, a man's strength lying much in his bones; these strengthen the inward man, cause believers to go from strength to strength, and to hold on and persevere to the end."

Knowing the benefits of staying in the Word, it is no wonder the enemy tries to keep us away from it! It is easy to find believers who have no problem becoming engrossed in reading secular novels and other materiel while complaining they find the Bible boring or do not have the time to read it. Yet true worshippers not only take delight in reading, meditating and acting on the Word of God, they also expect the Word to change their lives. In other words, the more time we spend in the Word, the more opportunities there are for the Word to shape our thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes. So let us understand that while reading is a wonderful hobby, we should not neglect the reading of the Word. Once we start to "chew" on it, we too will discover "more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

What has been on your taste buds lately?

A Matter of Standards

Have you noticed how truth seems fairly relative these days? In other words, society would have us believe that truth is whatever a person, group, or culture deem it to be and to some extent, that is true. But what about absolute truth? Things that are true regardless of time, place, or culture? Beliefs that transcend individual and collective perceptions and opinions?

To say that "all truth is relative" is self-defeating because such a statement within itself is absolute. In effect it says, "There is one absolute truth, that all truth is relative," at which point all truth would no longer be relative. The cunningness of the enemy in perpetuating the lie of relative truth extends to the Word of God, and it is not unusual for the absoluteness of divine declarations to be treated with relativism. The prevailing attitude is "that may be true for you but it isn't for me." However, authentic worshippers everywhere understand two truths: whatever is true at one time and in one place is true at all times and in all places, and whatever is true for one person is true for all people. God's Word is not true because we believe it to be true; it is true regardless of what we believe.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, on all three occasions He rebuffed the Tempter with the words, "It is written" (Matthew 4:4, 6, 10). He taught the authority and complete reliability of the Bible in everything it teaches. Whether our generation accepts or rejects it or not, the Bible is still God’s Word and is inerrant in whatever it teaches. Jesus affirmed the Bible’s total inspiration, inerrancy, and indestructibility when He said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35b, KJV). The Bible is still the supreme authority for Christians in all matters. It is not what we think Jesus would do or how we feel He would interpret the Scriptures, but “Thus says the Lord.”

What does all this mean for us today? Firstly, let us recognize that God stands behind His Word. Secondly, when we reject the unique, divine character of the Bible, we reject its authority, too. Thirdly, our attitudes and behaviors should not be informed by the world's standards, no matter how popular, but by the standards outlined in God's Word. The Apostle Peter reminds us that Jesus has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him (1 Peter 1:2-4). In other words, whatever He says is absolute; we don't get a vote. This is not a negative thing; rather we can rest comfortably in the knowledge that the truths of God's Word are timeless and sure. When we stand on the Word, we are not standing on something that is shifting; it is not true for someone else and not true for us. We can all lay claim to the promises of God.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday living, Which standards are you following?

"Not this man [Jesus], but Barabbas"

Originally written on Good Friday

As Jesus stood with Pilate, Pilate looked at Him with disbelief and skepticism. How could this man be the king of the Jews as they had charged? An itinerant preacher moving from place to place in the cities with people who were willing to follow Him was not a crime. More importantly, He was not a threat to Rome. He was not like the other freedom fighters the Roman army had to fight with as they tried to liberate themselves and their nation from the oppression of Roman rule. Albert Barnes in his commentary writes, "He [Pilate] regarded him, clearly, as a fanatic poor, ignorant, and deluded, but innocent and not dangerous." And so being satisfied that Jesus was not a king, at least not in the sense of which He was accused by His fellow Jews, and therefore not a threat to the establishment, Pilate declared Him innocent.

It was the custom then that at Passover one prisoner would be pardoned (John 18:38). Pilate sought to have Jesus release under this custom but the crowd would have none of it. The narrative tells us, "Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber" (v. 40). The last four words in that verse--"Now Barrabbas was a robber"--present an interesting contrast in that He was not just a robber, but one of the freedom fighters. In they eyes of the crowd shouting his name, unlike Jesus, Barrabbas had tried to do something for them. Like the other freedom fighters, he was regarded as a hero. It wasn't that long ago that Jesus was seen as such by some of these same people, for when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, they "took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." (John 12:13). Somewhere between then and that first Good Friday, they grew disappointed with Jesus as the promised Messiah. He failed to liberate them from the Romans and clearly had no such intentions. Faced with the choice between a freedom fighter and the Son of God, they chose the freedom fighter.

Today as we celebrate another Good Friday, we are faced with the same choice. Have we become disappointed with Jesus? Has He failed to "deliver" what we expected of Him? Did we expect that our bank accounts would always be healthy? That hardships would be a thing of the past? That our journey through this life would be easy? Because if that is what we expected when we accepted Him, then we would have missed the real reason He came into the world. John tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (3:16) and so to that end, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). He came to restore, to heal, the relationship between God and man and it was only through His sacrificial death on the cross could this be made possible.

Our outward circumstances may not reflect our inner realities. As we reflect on and celebrate the death of Jesus, let us remember there was a resurrection three days later. But today we look at the cross in the middle with much thanksgiving for in that bloody spectacle is our redemption. We should have been the ones on that cross, but He came and took our place. He paid the debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. He paid the price on our behalf that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Like the Apostle Paul we too can say, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

"Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man [Jesus], but Barabbas." Who is your choice?