Psalm 51

As I was reading through Psalm 51 the other day, I was reminded of all the times when I sin of how often I tell God that I will repent, but find myself committing the same sin over again later that day or the next. Randy Gunter, Pastor at MeadowBrook, often reminds our church that it is God who saves us, but it is also God who sanctifies us. He does not leave it up to us to live the Christian life in our own power and strength after our salvation.

David understood this. He committed two of the worst crimes that a person could commit, adultery and murder, yet he knew that God was the one who would forgive him AND empower him to repent. I encourage you to read Psalm 51 below, and especially take notice of the bold, underlined verbs where David is asking God to take action in his life.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
  because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
  blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
  Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
  it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
  I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
  and your judgment against me is just.*
5 For I was born a sinner—
  yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,*
  teaching me wisdom even there.

7 Purify me from my sins,* and I will be clean;
  wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
  you have broken me—
  now let me rejoice.
9 Don't keep looking at my sins.
  Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
  Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
  and don't take your Holy Spirit* from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
  and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
  and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
  then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
  that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
  You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
  You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
  rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
  with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
  Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

I don't so much struggle with the phrases like "blot out the stain of my sins," "purify me from my sin," or "forgive me". I know that I am powerless to cleanse myself from my sin, and that Jesus has forgiven me of my sin through his death on the cross and resurrection. But, I often forget that I am also powerless to live in repentance. God must do that work in me, too. Phrases like "renew a loyal spirit within me" and "make me willing to obey you" shows that David knew God must essentially be the one to provide forgiveness AND repentance in his life. David could not do either in his own strength.

This was something that the early church in Galatia struggled with. Paul wrote them, "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" (Galatians 3:2,3) In other words, they trusted in Christ for their salvation, but not for their sanctification. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, must do both of these works in us.

So what must we do? What part must we play? Paul told the Galatians, and tells us today, that we must ask the Holy Spirit to guide our lives, and to produce fruit that will bring glory to Christ. "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:16, 22-23)

Let us be reminded, through the example of David and the Galatians, that it is God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that empowers us to live the Christian life from start to finish. 

Pay It Forward

We all know of the phrase "pay it forward", where someone is on the receiving end of an act of kindness, and it is then their responsibility to do an act of kindness for someone else. We see a biblical picture of the "pay it forward" idea put into practice in the life of King David.

In 2 Samuel 7:18, we see David offering a prayer of thanks to God form taking him from a lowly shepherd boy to the King of Israel. "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" His prayer goes on throughout the rest of chapter 7, and we get a glimpse of the unworthiness and thankfulness he feels in the face of God's extravagant grace that he is experiencing.

In chapter 9, one of the first acts David does as king is to fulfill his vow to his friend Jonathan by showing kindness to family. He finds out that one of Jonathan's sons, Mephibosheth, is still alive, although he is crippled in both feet due to an accident detailed in 4:4. David sends for Mephibosheth to come visit him. To be sure, Mephibosheth had to be uneasy about David's intentions for the visit since he could be considered a threat to David's throne as a grandson to the former King Saul.

Instead, David quickly dispels any fears that Mephibosheth may have. "Don't be afraid! I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king's table!" (9:7) David takes the grace and goodness that God showed him, and shows that same grace and goodness to Mephibosheth. In short, he pays it forward.

What also strikes me is the similarity in the response of David to God showing him grace (7:18, see above), and Mephibosheth's response to David showing grace to him. "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?" (9:8) Both knew that they had not done anything to deserve the grace that was shown to them, yet both of them received it with humility and thanksgiving. "And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king's table." (9:13)

We have been shown God's grace in His Son, Jesus Christ. "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege (or grace) where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." (Romans 5:2) But, as we learn from David's example, this grace is not for us to keep to ourselves. We must share it with others. We must pay it forward.

Living in the New Nature

Proverbs 26:11 says, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness." This is a verse that most of us are familiar with, but I think we only apply it when, for example, we see someone getting arrested multiple times for the same offense. "Oh well, that's just a fool returning to their folly," we might think. But this verse doesn't just apply to those who break the law, it applies to every single one of us, every day.

The imagery of that verse is gross to us as people because it is not in our nature to do that. I don't know why dogs are "wired" that way, but they just are. It is natural for them to do this. So, what does this have to do with us?

I have heard several conversations recently from people who claim to know Christ, but who are reading books, watching movies, or being involved in things that obviously do not glorify God. For whatever reason, whether it's because of the "everybody else is doing it" excuse, or maybe just the thrill of finding out what will happen, like Eve taking a bite of the fruit, these people do not realize or have forgotten what God's Word says about the new nature we have been given in Christ. 

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul told them that "you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature (literally 'the flesh') urges you to do." (Romans 8:9,12) Also, 1 John 2:15 - 17 says, "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (emphasis mine)

My point is this. When we as Christians sin, in God's eyes it is just as bad, if not worse, than what a dog does as described in Proverbs 26:11. Just as it is in a dog's nature to do certain things that we might find repulsive, it is in the Christian's nature to find sin repulsive. If we have been forgiven and freed from sin, it shouldn't make sense for us to go back to it. Am I saying that we should be perfect? Absolutely not. As it says above, our flesh is urging us to sin each day, and I will be the first to admit that I sin and succumb to the flesh's urgings more than I should. But, through the Holy Spirit living within us, we can put these urgings to death. (Romans 8:13) So who do we turn to when we obey the flesh and sin? 1 John 2:1,2 says, "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins - and not only our sins but the sins of all the world."


In closing, the nature we now possess through the Holy Spirit is not just about not sinning. It is about doing. "Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God." (Romans 7:4,6) When our faith is in Christ, we don't serve Him out of trying to be perfect, or "obeying the letter of the law" as Paul said. We serve Him out of gratitude for His forgiveness and grace that He gave to us on the cross. Let us live each day in the new, life-giving nature He has given us!

Living Water

It has been a dreadfully hot summer here in Alabama so far, and rainfall has been few and far between. Experiencing these drought-like conditions made me stop and think when I read through the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.

Today, we take water for granted. If we are thirsty, we can go to a faucet or sink in our home and fill our glasses with as much water as we like. It wasn't that easy in Jesus' day. "In Israel, people were keenly aware of water sources and water quality. Springs and rivers that ran all year were few, so the land relied on cisterns to catch and store the winter rains and wells to tap underground water tables." (NLT insert) Needless to say, as I am currently drinking a Dasani bottled water that says it is "enhanced with minerals for a pure, fresh taste", I am grateful for the time and location in which I live!

When Jesus told the Samaritan woman that he would give her "living water" (John 4:10), I've never known the significance of what that statement would have meant to her. "In Jewish culture, 'dead water' referred to standing and stored water. 'Living water' referred to moving water, as in rivers, springs, and rainfall. Such water was precious because it was fresh." (NLT insert) It then makes since why the woman would question Jesus about where he would get this "living water". She wanted to be satisfied and refreshed!

Of course, she was thinking about earthly, physical water that "anyone who drinks will soon become thirsty again." (4:13) Jesus, as he does throughout the book of John, uses this earthly example of water to reveal something spiritual about the Kingdom of God. "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." (4:14) Jesus makes this same declaration to the masses in John 7:37 - 39. "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.' (When he said 'living water,' he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)"

For those of us who have put our trust in Christ, we have this "fresh, bubbling spring" within us in the Holy Spirit. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, satisfies our spiritual thirst in every way, so let us never abandon the "fountain of living water and dig for ourselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all." (Jeremiah 2:13) Basically, how foolish it would be of us to look for spiritual satisfaction in any other source but Jesus now that we have tasted the "living water". But, let us also be reminded that others are in need of this water, too. People are thirsty for the truth, and we can be the one to lead them to the source of "living water".


So, the next time you are physically thirsty in this hot, Alabama summer, let it be a reminder of the "dead water" that once filled you, and of the "living water" that now springs up within you.

How Can A Hyssop Branch Point to Christ?

If you have read through the Old Testament, you have no doubt come across several scriptures that mention hyssop, or a hyssop branch. What is hyssop, and why is it important in the bible? Hyssop is a perennial flowering herb with aromatic, or fragrant, flowers. It belongs to the mint family and can be found growing in the wild. It has tall stalks with narrow leaves. In biblical times, they didnt have detergent, and the hyssop branch had detergent properties to it. It was used to clean clothing and temples.


Below are some Old Testament scriptures describing how hyssop was used. Hang with me, the point is coming at the end.


In the first Passover...


Exodus 12:22 "Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning."




In purification ceremonies...


Leviticus 14:49, 51 "To purify the house the priest must take two birds, a stick of cedar, some scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch. He will take the cedar stick, the hyssop branch, the scarlet yarn, and the live bird, and dip them into the blood of the slaughtered bird and into the fresh water. Then he will sprinkle the house seven times."




In David's repentance after committing adultery with Bathsheba...


Psalm 51:7 "Purify me from my sins (Hebrew: Purify me with the hyssop branch), and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."


Jesus, after his resurrection, told his disciples "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled." (Luke 24:44) Who knew that this would even include a hyssop branch? John's detailed account of Jesus hanging on the cross takes on an even deeper meaning when we keep in mind how hyssop was used in the Old Testament. "Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, 'I am thirsty.'A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, 'It is finished!' Then he bowed his head and released his spirit." (John 19:28-30)


I've heard it said that Jesus doesn't just fulfill the Old Testament, he "fills it full". The hyssop branch is a great example of this. Just as God used the hyssop branch as a small part of rescuing the Israelites from the Egyptians in the first Passover, God used hyssop in the crucifixion of Jesus as He rescued us from death and has given us life. And just as hyssop was used to clean people physically, it is a reminder of the spiritual cleansing from our sins that Jesus has provided. 


The kicker for me, though, is that hyssop is a aromatic, fragrant flower. What does that have to do with anything, you ask? Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:2 to "live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Yes, just as hyssop was a pleasing aroma in Old Testament sacrifices, Jesus was a pleasing aroma to God when he sacrificed himself for us. And since Jesus now lives in us through the Holy Spirit, we are the fragrance of Christ among everyone that we come in contact with each day (2 Corinthians 2:15).


I certainly didn't think I would blog about hyssop of all things, but I think it is incredible how God uses things like that to remind us of what Christ has done for us.

Authentic Faith

When I was in college at Alabama, my church back then (Calvary Baptist) would hold a Fall Retreat and Spring Retreat each year. It was simply a weekend to get away from the rigors of study to worship God and hear from His Word. Often, our speaker on those retreats would be Neil McClendon, who now pastors a church in Texas. One of his talks during our Fall Retreat in 2002 was recorded, and I listen to it occasionally on my iPod. This particular talk is entitled "Authentic Faith", and in it Neil shared some solid truths pertaining to living out who the Bible says we are in Christ.

I wanted to share this message with you, so that you might be blessed by the truths he shares from God's Word. Even though he is speaking to college students at the time of the recording, it applies to both young and old in every walk of life.

Just click play on the video and it will begin. The talk is about an hour long, so if you can't listen to it in one sitting, that's fine. I usually have to listen to it in parts myself. But, I think it will be well worth your time.

The Different Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Christian

I have been reading through the book of Acts recently. Chapter 8 details the ministry of Philip, who was one of the first to take the gospel to people outside of Judaism. There was a particular section that, though I had read it several times before, God brought to my attention. 

"As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, 'Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.' So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and walk along beside the carriage.'" (Acts 8:26-29, emphasis mine)

It is that last sentence, when the Holy Spirit gives specific instructions to Philip, that convicted me. Too often do I forget that the Holy Spirit is a person, and as such, He wants to speak to me specifically, just as he did to Philip in the verse above. Too often do I assume that the Holy Spirit will give just a general direction for me to follow in my life. Too often do I get so consumed with the business of life that I don't stop and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to me and fill me.

I am far too ignorant of the Holy Spirit's power in my life. I think that the Church as a whole is the same way. We seem to know about God the Father, and God the Son, but how much do we know about God the Holy Spirit? I want to repent and reflect upon, be knowledgeable of, and know the roles that the Holy Spirit plays in my life every day. Below are some of the different roles that He fulfills in the life of the believer. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but it is a good start.

Advocate

"If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth." (John 14:15-17) 

Some translations of this passage call the Holy Spirit our Comforter, Encourager, or Counselor, which are all true, but the most literal translation is Advocate. The Holy Spirit acts as our defense in the spiritual realm. Much like an attorney will defend their client in a court of law against accusations, the Holy Spirit defends us against false accusations that the enemy throws at us. It is also important to note that the Spirit "leads into all truth". People may say they feel the Holy Spirit "prompting" them to do this or that (just watch the majority of religious t.v. shows), but if their actions do not fall in line with scripture, they are only following their own desires.

Guide and Power for Evangelism

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere -- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Several times in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit empowered Christians to spread the gospel (see Acts 4:8,31, and 8:4,29) It is important that we do not try to minister, disciple, or evangelize in our own power, but ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and be our guide. Also, often times worrying that we will not say the right thing keeps us from witnessing or simply speaking God's Word into another person's life. Jesus' words to his disciples still speak to us today. "And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said." (Luke 12:12, emphasis mine) 

Identifies Us As Children of God

"So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, 'Abba, Father.' For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children." (Romans 8:15,16)

Some days, we may not "feel" like children of God. For whatever reason (sin, trials, hardships, heartache, etc.) God may seem miles away. But our feelings do not affirm us as God's children. The Holy Spirit does. If you have trusted in Christ alone for your salvation, the Holy Spirit has identified you and sealed you as God's child forever (see Ephesians 1:13,14).

Prays God's Will For Us

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will." (Romans 8:26,27)

What an incredible promise, and what freedom and confidence this passage should bring us when we don't know what to pray. The Holy Spirit is always interceding on our behalf, praying the perfect will of God for us. While we live on this earth, we are limited in our words and vocabulary when we pray. The Holy Spirit is not limited in any way. God is not waiting on us to pray or say exactly the right thing in order for Him to answer us. He knows our heart, and He knows what is best for us. How comforting to know that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

 

Look! I am creating a new heavens and a new earth.

How often do you think about heaven? More specifically, how often do you think about the reality of heaven? It's a question that's been on my mind this week, especially after I read Isaiah 65:17. God said through the prophet Isaiah, "Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore."

Personally, I get so caught up in the things of this world, specifically in two ways. First, the troubles and trials of this life bring frustration that can consume my thoughts and attention, and anyone who is reading this blog can relate. Jesus said "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Jesus didn't say "if" we have many trials and sorrows, he said that they "will" come. One of my favorite authors, Andy Andrews, once said correctly that all of us are either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or heading toward a crisis. So, it shouldn't surprise us when troubles come, but we can take heart as a Christian because He who is in us is greater than this world, and anything in it. But, how does this relate to heaven? How do our current problems size up in comparison with what we will experience in the new earth that God will establish? 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" Or, to put it like the prophet Isaiah did above, we won't even think about the problems we had on this earth once we experience the new heavens and new earth that God has in store for His children.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the "good things" that this world offers can also consume my thoughts and attention, to the point where I think things like, "This is as good as it gets! How can anything be better than this?" What a foolish way to think! First of all, our lives here on earth "are like a breath of air; like a passing shadow" (Psalm 144:4) in comparison to the length and scope of eternity. Take some time and try to wrap your mind around the thought of living forever, around how long eternity lasts. We talk about eternity at church, but how much serious thought do we give to the notion of truly living forever? I can't comprehend it, I can't fully wrap my finite mind around that truth, but I think that's how God wants it. It makes me realize how short this life on earth truly is. I have quoted 1 John 2:16-17 before, but it bears repeating. "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything people crave" (emphasis mine). Or, to put it like the prophet Isaiah above, we won't even think about the things we loved that the world offered us once we experience the new heavens and new earth that God has in store for His children.

God commands us to live out Colossians 3:1-3. "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God" (emphasis mine). Let us stop thinking that heaven is some distant world, and since we can't see it right now with our own eyes, why should we set our hearts and minds on it? Heaven is a reality (and so is Hell for the unbeliever, by the way), and the new heavens and new earth will be what we experience much, much, much, much, much longer than what we experience, good or bad, here on this earth.

Don't Think Like Everyone Else Does

A prayer I find myself praying often is "Transform me into a new person by changing the way I think." This is based on Romans 12:2, which says "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Everyday I am "prone to wander" as the old hymn says. As Romans 12 warns, there are behaviors and customs in this world that entice me and too often win my affection. So, what are these behaviors and customs that the world has to offer us? "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave" (1 John 2:16,17).

It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world, and to think about things like everyone else thinks about them. The command that God gives to not copy the behavior, customs, and mentality of the world is not just a New Testament command. In Isaiah 8, the people of Judah were fearful of a potential attack from King Rezin of Aram, and King Pekah of Israel. Instead of trusting in the Lord for protection, they trusted in their alliance with Assyria (Assyria would soon turn on Judah and all but destroy them). But, God's message to Judah through the prophet Isaiah is the same message He has for us today. "The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does (emphasis mine). He said, 'Don't call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don't live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven's Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe" (Isaiah 8:11-14).

So, if you find yourself copying the behavior and customs of this world, ask God to transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (basically, repent). Do the same if you crave the physical pleasures of this world, crave things that you see and covet, or take pride in your possessions and achievements, believing you are a self-made person. And, don't think like everyone else does and live in fear and dread. Make God holy in your life. Let Him be your Hiding Place.

Finally, as I am sitting here typing this blog post, there was a commercial that came on television that promoted a show called "Long Island Medium" on TLC. It showed the "medium" in the grocery store, beauty shop, and other places telling people about their past and giving them messages from loved ones who had passed away. I think it's interesting that in the same chapter I wrote about above, Isaiah 8, it says, "Someone may say to you, 'Let's ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.' But shouldn't people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from dead? Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark" (Isaiah 8:19,20). I am thankful that I don't have to consult a god or person who is dead, but I have a living God who hears me when I pray. God's Word is as relevant today as it ever has been.

Encourage Others

Pop quiz: Name a relative or a friend who has encouraged you lately. Got somebody in mind? Yes? No? Maybe? It's a question that I thought about this past Sunday at church. My Sunday school class at MeadowBrook Baptist began going through the Gospel of Luke. The lesson focused on chapter one of Luke, in which the angel Gabriel foretold the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. John would be the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who "were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations" (Luke 1:6). Before God blessed them with the birth of John, "they had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old" (Luke 1:7). On the other hand, Mary, who happened to be Elizabeth's cousin, was very young, probably a teenager when she received the news that she would give birth to the Son of God.

A few days after Mary is told this Good News, she travels approximately 100 miles (at least a 4 day journey at that time) to see Elizabeth. "At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, 'God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said'" (Luke 1:41). Did you hear how encouraging, uplifting, and honoring Elizabeth was toward Mary? Her words encourage Mary to give praise to God, which she does through a song of praise called the Magnificat in verses 46 - 55.

Elizabeth basically put into practice what Hebrews 10:24 tells us to do for each other. "Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds." The encouraging is not so that we all can think highly of ourselves and get a big head, but its end goal is to glorify God and magnify what He has done. Through Elizabeth's encouraging words toward Mary, God received glory and praise.

A song called "More Than You'll Ever Know" by the group Watermark really paints a good picture of Hebrews 10:24. As you read the lyrics, who are the first couple of people that come to mind?

Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...

CHORUS:
'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know,
More than you'll ever know,

You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be...

You have carried me
You have taken upon a burden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you
A hundredfold

Now that you have thought about those people who are the "Elizabeth's" in your life, make the choice to be that in other people's lives. And it is a choice we have to make daily, because it will not come naturally in our sinful flesh. We like to be honored, but we don't like to shower honor and blessings on others all the time. But, I want to strive to be that kind of person. Let's all be creative and "think of ways" to bless and encourage others, so that they would glorify our God in heaven.

"If only there were a mediator..."

Most of us are familiar with the story of Job. As a man, "he was blameless - a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person [in the land of Uz]" (Job 1:1-3). Satan, the Accuser as he is called in Job 1, asks God for permission to test him by taking away his family, his possessions, and his health. Even after all of this is taken away from Job, he never blames God, but instead says "'should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?' So in all this, Job said nothing wrong" (Job 2:10).

The thing that sticks out to me about Job, though, is his realization of a need for a Redeemer. Job lived around 2000 BC, well before Israel was even a nation. As the insert in my bible states, "With Job, we return to the beginning of history, when mortals first struggled to know God and understand the world." So with this in mind, listen to the foreshadowing of Christ in these statements made by Job...

"If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength" (Job 9:33-35).

"Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high. My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends" (Job 16:19-21).

"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (Job 19:25-27)

Again, it is amazing to think that Jesus' coming was still 2000 years away, yet Job knew in his heart that there was someone who would fulfill this role of being the mediator between he and God. Here we are today, 2000 years after Christ came to earth, and the words of Job still hold true. As Paul told Timothy...

"For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity - the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time" (1 Timothy 2:5,6).

Who Will Show Us Better Times?

As Emily and I are getting ready for work in the mornings, we usually have Good Morning America on the t.v. playing in the background. In recent weeks, politics have dominated the discussion on that show. Who will get the Republican nomination? Can our next President, Obama or someone else, finally fix the economy? Who will create jobs? Will our relations with other nations improve? In short, who will show us better times?

Funny you should ask. The bible has something to say on that subject in Psalm 4:6-8. "Many people say, 'Who will show us better times?' Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." I smirked a little as I read verse 6, because the question that many people were asking during David's day thousands of years ago is the exact same question that so many are still asking today, is it not?

I love David's response to the question of the people. The answer isn't in a political figure or an economic plan. No, David simply says "let your face smile on us, Lord." The Lord smiling on his people connotes that His favor is being shown to his people. All David needed was God's favor, and that was enough. It is enough for us today, too. If we have put our faith in Christ, we have God's favor on us.

Does this mean health, wealth, and prosperity is ours for the rest of our lives? No. David said, "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine." I'm no biblical scholar, but I'm thinking that the equivalent to "abundant harvests of grain and new wine" for us today would be things like a surplus of money in our bank account, a healthy retirement plan, and the newest material items that the world has to offer. These things are fleeting, and those who God is smiling upon will have "greater joy" than those whose hope and faith are in the things of this world.

Not only will God's people have joy, they will have peace. It seems the worries of this world tend to bear down the strongest at bed time, when everything is quiet and it is just us and our thoughts. But, for the Christian, it can be different. "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you, O Lord, will keep me safe." Since our faith isn't in worldly things that change from day-to-day, or even minute-by-minute, we can have peace because God never changes. His favor always rests on his children because he sees Christ in us, and Christ fully pleases God. Spiritually, we are safe in His arms; nothing can take us out of His hands.

So, as you hear the political debates and commercials over the coming months, let it remind you of God's Word in Psalm 6. Who will show us better times? We can experience it every day as we trust in Christ who gives us greater joy and peace.

What are you delighting in?

I delight in numerous things in my life. I delight in my wife, who makes me smile everyday (and, who I've been married to for almost seven months now!). I delight in my family, who makes me laugh and has surrounded me with love for 28 years. I delight in music, particularly drums and rhythms. Emily laughs when I try to beat box or play a rhythm on the steering wheel, but I am constantly thinking of different rhythms and songs throughout the day! I delight in Alabama football, which hopefully will bring me, and all Crimson Tide fans, much delight this coming Monday night...RTR! I delight in helping high school students with their college and career choices. It's gratifying to help them overcome hurdles to get them where they want to go in life.

Psalm 1:1, 2 says, "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night." (emphasis mine)

As I read these two verses that begin the entire book of Psalms, I felt the Holy Spirit ask me, "You delight in many things. How much do you 'delight in the law of the Lord' throughout your day and night?

Delighting in the law of the Lord has wonderful benefits. People who do "are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do." (Psalm 1:3) That's what I want my life to look like. I want to be like a tree with "roots [that] grow down into God's love and keep you strong." (Eph. 3:17) I want to bear fruit each season, whether that season brings sunny days and good times, or stormy days and bad times. I want my life to be prosperous for the kingdom of God. I want these things, but how much do I delight in God and His Word in comparison with the things of this world that are fading away?

I hope you will take a moment to stop and think about the things you delight in. They can be good things...very good things. I enjoy delighting in the things I listed at the top of this post. But, also think about how much you delight in God's Word. Day and night, let us meditate on it, talk about it, share it, ponder it, pray it back to God (see my previous post), and delight in it.

Prayer and Action

A few days ago, I wrote about the obedience of the Israelites after their exile from and return to Jerusalem. The man who led them during this time as their governor, Nehemiah, was an incredible leader. While it's easy to focus on his actions of leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and gates in just a matter of 52 days, it's his prayer life that really stands out to me.

In Nehemiah 1:4, he says that "for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven," after he heard about the Jews return to Jerusalem, and the city walls and gates being destroyed. God puts a plan in Nehemiah's heart to go to Jerusalem and lead his fellow Jews in rebuilding the city walls and gates (Neh. 2:12), but he must get King Artaxerxes' permission first since he was the king's cup-bearer. Nehemiah then prays a prayer that stands as a model for our prayer life as well. I've broken it down into four sections: Adoration, Confession, Praying God's Word, and Supplication.

Adoration

"O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer. Look down and see me praying for your people Israel." (Neh. 1:5, 6)

Confession

"I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses." (Neh. 1:6, 7)

Praying God's Word

"Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'" (Neh. 1:8, 9)

Supplication

"The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me." (Neh. 1:10, 11)

We tend to be good at the Supplication part of praying, but when we realize who we are praying to and tell Him who He is (Adoration), readily admit our sins (Confession), and remind God of His very own promises (Praying God's Word), our desires will begin to line up with God's desires for us.

Nehemiah prayed in all situations, when facing kings (Neh. 2:4), in the midst of mockery (Neh. 4:4, 5), and while taking action (Neh. 4:9). Let us follow his example and let prayer cover our decisions, our actions, and our lives.