Today’s reading: Malachi 1

I have begun doing a bit of early morning Bible hopping.  This is not the suggested method of Bible study for most folks, but I’m doing it just to mix things up a bit.  So… the window is open, the sun is rising, the birds are singing, the world is revolving…

If I were a betting man (I am not), I’d be willing to wager up to a nickel – even a dime if I really got out of control – that when you mention Malachi to your average, Sunday morning church going Christian, one word comes to mind: tithe.  And, if that is your perception of the last book of the Christian Old Testament canon, you are missing so much.  In many ways, Malachi really sets the scene for the New Testament.  Chapter one alone gives us a feel for why (perhaps) God was silent for four hundred years before the arrival Jesus. 

Read Malachi 1 and you will see that the LORD is not talking in legalistic terms.  His people are technically – technically – fulfilling what they see as their legal obligation.  They are bringing animals for sacrifice.  But, the animals being offered are of low quality.  They are the worst of the fields, the meat they themselves wouldn’t eat or offer to any other person.  This meat makes those hamburger patties with the pink goo in them seem like grade A beef.

What we are seeing is the same old cyclical behavioral pattern that keeps playing out, time and again, throughout the OT and throughout humanity’s history: 

1. God’s children are faithful.

2. Their focus begins to move away from the LORD.

3. Pretty soon the sin hits the fan and they find themselves facing unpleasant consequences.

4. God, Who is faithful throughout, corrects and ultimately rescues his children.

5. Back to step one, where the cycle begins anew.

Sound familiar?  Bear in mind that, within that cycle, every “they” is “we.”  We do the same things – individually and corporately.  We get distracted – work, spouse, kids, ball games, this thing and that… We get to a point where we go to church on Sunday.  But, really, it’s just another obligation.  Now, do not misunderstand me.  I am not saying, “Don’t let your kids play hockey.”  Enjoy life!  But, whatever you do, do it with the right priorities.

In other words, put God first.  Not in a legalistic manner.  But, rather, in your heart.  Don’t give God the scraps of your life.  He is our Father.  He is GOD.  He deserves better.  Do what you do with Godly purpose.  If what you do hinders your walk with Christ, cut back or stop.  Make sure God is not just on your list.  If Jesus is truly Lord of your life – which means you willingly let Him call the shots.  As Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God – His will, His ways, His Word.

Scripture: Isaiah 30.  Yes, the whole chapter.  Take a few minutes and read it.

We all know the feeling.  The weariness.  The dread.  The anxiety.  The niggling doubt.  We cling to Scriptures and prayer, looking for God to move in our situations.  Yet, He seems stone silent, unmoving. We cry out, “Why?  Why me?  Why this?  Why now?”  We question what we have done to turn God against us.  We wonder if the Lord is unhappy with us, or does He love us, or does He even hear our cries and prayers.  We look for direction, for answers, for relief.  And it simply does not materialize.

So, what do we do?

We take matters into our own hands.  God isn’t working fast enough.  He isn’t responding to our prayers.  This pain has to stop.  This trouble has to go away.  This situation needs resolving now.  We begin seeking answers on our own.  We start wandering away from God.  We reach a fork in the road and, without reading the signs, we turn toward Egypt.

Now, I have no doubt that Egypt is a fascinating place to visit.  All that history.  Besides, I like fish, leeks, melons, onions and cucumbers as much as the next guy.  But – and here is where we get ourselves into trouble – if God says, “Don’t go back to Egypt,” then don’t go back to Egypt!  You’ve been there before.  God has rescued you from that prison of hopelessness.  Why do you want to go back?

The words used in the NIV rendering of Isaiah 30:1 are “obstinate children.”  We are stubborn.  We think know what we need.  Moreover, we think we know what we want., when we want it, where we want it, and how we want it served.   And we get restless when life doesn’t go our way.  But, as Christians, Paul points out the reality of our (assumed) independence:

¹⁷ Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. ¹⁹ For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. ²⁰ Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. ²¹ Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) ²² For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. ²³ You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. ²⁴ So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (ESV)

“I thought we had freedom in Christ…”  We do.  Freedom from sin.  Freedom from hell.  Freedom from worry and doubt and fear.  Freedom to do what God has called us to do (which is really not as complicated as we often make it, but that’s another article).  Freedom to be claim every promise of God and cling to every word of Jesus Christ with great confidence.  Freedom to know that, whatever our current circumstances, they are not our permanent circumstances, because we are now God’s children, we are saved and cleansed by the work of Jesus Christ, completed on the cross for all of us.  So, do not confuse “freedom” from “independence.” While we are free, we are not independent.

So… what do we do?  What is the answer to our dilemma?  How do we find rest from our trials, relief from our burdens?  “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…’” (Isaiah 30:15a, NIV).  The answer is faith.  With God, everything has purpose.  Even our circumstances.  There is no situation so lousy, no pain so intense, no trouble so uncomfortable, that the Lord cannot use it to bring Him glory.  Maybe God has you at that lousy job because of the positive influence you have on a co-worker.  Maybe you haven’t been healed because someone else has the same disease and needs you to inspire them through Christ.  Maybe you were meant to meet the tow truck driver who is hooking up the car you just wrecked.  Who knows what God’s purposes are?  Often we figure it out later, so have faith.

Whatever you are facing today, have faith in Jesus.  Let God be your hope.  Your situation is not hopeless.  You are not hopeless.  If in debt, don’t go to the casino.  If in doubt, don’t go to another “god.”  If in pain, don’t go to the bar or the dealer or the medicine cabinet.  If afraid, don’t run to the comforts of your past.  "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18, NIV).

Whatever you do, don’t go back to Egypt.  The momentary “relief” isn’t worth the eternal price.  When feeling weary or tired or unsure or confused or tempted or hurting, don’t run for the nearest pleasure to narcotize the pain.  Run to your prayer closet.  Run to the Word of God.  Run to Jesus.  KNOW that He hears you.  KNOW He has a plan for you.  You may not feel it, but don’t rely on fickle feelings.  You may not hear Him, but don’t rely on faulty self.  KNOW that God is with you, and you are eternally safe and secure in His capable and willing arms.  And, in Christ, find your peace, your direction, your equipping, your comfort, your joy.

It is a danger that can snare a person in an instant, when they least expect it.  One moment you’re swimming along just fine.  The next, you find yourself flailing and drowning.  Ask anyone who’s ever been caught unexpectedly in a rip current – they are no fun.  Makes “Jaws” look like a picnic (which, in the eyes of the shark, I guess it was a picnic…)

Rip currents form when the tide erodes a portion of sand bar near the shore.  Water pours through the gap at speeds of up to eight feet per second, swiftly pulling the swimmer out to sea and far away from the safety of the shoreline.  It all happens so fast that the swimmer often panics and, in a vain attempt to save himself, turns and begins swimming back the way they came – against the swirling rip tide.  The swimmer becomes the victim when he exhausts himself of his strength, fighting the losing battle alone, and drowns. 

Many beaches post signs warning people to stay out of the water due to dangerous rip currents.  But not everybody heeds the warnings.  Some folks jump in anyway, and end up paying the ultimate price for their folly.

Sadly, those who drown do not understand that salvation from the rip current is fairly simple.  Just turn away from it.  Do not swim against it or into it.  Turn and swim out of the speeding current’s stream.  Once you are free of the rip tide’s pull, you will find the waters are calmer.  You can then swim back to the safety of the shoreline, avoiding the rip current so as not to get pulled back in.

Sin works in much the same way as a rip current.  It can snare you in an instant, and hurriedly hurl you into the depths before you know what hit you.  Try to swim against in on your own power and you will drown.

Consider Judas Iscariot.  He is the poster child for rip current sin.  Think about it: John goes to great lengths to make sure we know exactly which Judas this guy was: “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…” (John 13:2, ESV).  Just as Christ was not Jesus’ last name, nor was Iscariot Judas’ last name.  It probably means simply that he is from Kerioth.  In other words, John is telling us that it was Judas, the one from Kerioth, the one who was Simon’s son.  “Oh… that Judas!”  Truly that is one case of mistaken identity one would not wish to be the victim thereof.

Judas had a weakness for money, and that weakness got the best of him.  Satan used it to tempt him into doing the unthinkable (betraying Jesus, whom he had followed closely for three years).  This is how the devil “put it into the heart of Judas” to do such a heinous thing.  All for a bag of silver coins.  The bait is taken.  Jesus even gives Judas one last out in offering up the morsel of wine-soaked bread to be eaten by the one who would betray Christ.  Note that John once more carefully identifies the betrayer: “So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.  Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly” (John 13:26b-27, ESV).

Bait swallowed.  Hook set.  Reel him in. 

Judas did not learn the lesson Peter had when walking on the water.  Take your eyes off Christ, and you will drown.  Judas had let Satan tempt him to a horrible fate.  Before he knew it, he was in the rip current, violently pulled away from the safety of the shoreline, unable to fight against the current and never quite turning away and swimming out to the safety of salvation in Christ.

He fell for the enemy’s lie.

He did not heed the warnings.  He jumped in anyway.  And he paid the ultimate price.

He was chum.

My five-year-old loves to sing a song he learned at Sunday School: “Be careful little eyes what you see… be careful little ears what you hear…”  I think that, for we adults, that might be a good song to sing as well.  All are tempted.  Jesus endured for 40 days and nights.  Likewise, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).  None of us has hit the mark.  And God knows it.  That’s why He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, that we may be saved.  However, we need to make sure we are focused on Jesus.  Perhaps these words of wisdom from Proverbs will help us set our gaze where it ought to be:

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
² for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. – Proverbs 3:1-8 (ESV).

God’s ways are always perfect and right.  Seek first His kingdom.  Follow the LORD, pursue peace and wisdom and love.  Do not take your eyes off Him.  The temptations of life of many.  Just remember this: it’s the second look that sets the hook. 

The next time you want to go for a swim, if you see a sign warning against rip currents, do yourself a favor: heed the warning.  Don’t be tempted to swim out in dangerous waters.  And, if ever you find yourself being swept away by the rip tide, remember that you can get out by crying out to Jesus, repenting of your sin and swimming out of the current and into the calm safety of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Got up this morning, grabbed my trusty old NIV Study Bible (which I have studied infrequently since becoming an ESV convert) and found my bookmark pressed between the pages of 2 Corinthians 3 and 4.  So, I read chapter 4.  If you ever feel the need to consider your purpose for ministry – or just need some encouragement to carry on in the Lord’s work – this is the place to go.

What did I glean from 2 Cor 4?  In a nutshell:

– Ministry is not a job.  It is not a chore.  It is a gift, given only through “God’s mercy.”  The work of the Lord should be a joy, even when it is arduous or difficult or doesn’t make sense. (v.1)

– For the sake of integrity in ministry – an uprightness the world does not provide, but only comes through God, the author of morality – we are to speak the Truth, and let the Truth do the speaking.  We do not “distort” the Word to fit our ministry ideals.  We let the Lord do the forming.  The Truth will prevail, for it is the Word of God Who “hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” [1 Cor 1:27, KJV].  It is God Who illuminates.  While light can extinguish the dark, dark cannot snuff of the light.  As ministers of the gospel, we are to set aside all darkness and let the light of Christ shine through us. (v.2-6)

– We humans are frail and flawed.  Anything great that we do comes not from us, but the “all-surpassing power” of God working through us.  We are but vessels of the Lord.  And, since is within us and working through us, we are alive in Christ.  There is no suffering on this earth that will overcome us.  There is no trouble too great for God to bear.  It is for us to continue to run the race the Lord has set before us, firm in our faith, knowing that ultimately the victory is ours through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Maintain a servant’s heart – toward God and toward others.  Keep your eyes on the prize. (v.7-15)

– “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”  It is a process, a lifelong series of daily changes, that brings forth our sanctification. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  Serving God wholeheartedly is worth the price.  Count the cost, but be sure to consider the return on investment in the Kingdom of God. (v.16-17).

We are jars of clay, pottery that easily chips, cracks, crumbles and breaks into shards. If we do not live this life with eternal purpose, we do no more than waste time.  If we invest in the eternal, the dividends are incalculable.  So, in the end, what really matters?  Not the troubles we face.  Not the promotion at work or the shiny new car or the amazing vacation.  What matters is Christ – and Him alone.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (v.18).

Hallelujiah!!!

–

Blessed Sunday morning to you all!  Seeing as how it is Sunday morning, I want to give your worship and sense of joyous gratitude a bit of a boost. 

As you probably know, I have started my journey through the entire Bible.  So… my reading for this weekend has been Genesis 1 – the first creation account.  As I read through this passage, I am awestruck at God and His might and ability and infinity.  He spoke, and it was.  He did not toil or sweat.  He did not worry that He might have missed something or could have improved upon His work. 

Now… consider this.  What did God use to create everything?  Where was the plan book?  Where was the building material?  The simple fact is that God created everything ex nihilo – “out of nothing.”  He simply spoke everything into existence.  It is the pondering of this that leads me to God’s eternity.  Before anything existed, there was God.  He has always been, He always will be.  Father, Son, Holy Spirit – all ever-present in relationship throughout eternity, three personages, one God, unbound by time, space and material.  The Great “I AM,” the One Who does not exist, but is existence itself.  Who does not love but is love itself.  The source of all, as we will see more clearly in just a few minutes.

Genesis 1 provides us with a very detailed account of God’s creative work.  It isn’t a scientific text, but it gives us the facts we need.  Light and dark, water and dry land, birds, fish and animals – “everything that moves.”  God said, it became, and He proclaimed it good. 

But the verses that caught my attention as I read through this were 1:11-12.  Here we are, day three, and God is creating plant-life.  But… he isn’t just plopping down trees and sprouting up plants and shrubbery.  The fact that this wide variety of vegetation produces seed is mentioned four times in these two verses.  What is God showing us?  He not only created life.  He made sure that life continued on.  It was fruitful (literally) and multiplied. 

Fruit is important in Scripture.  Consider this passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-20, ESV).

In the garden, there was no death.  There was no disease.  No trees suffered plight.  No crops were destroyed.  It was just fruitfulness.  Everything changed after the fall.  Thanks to the introduction of sin we have to discern the source before we consume of the fruit. 

But we need not concern ourselves with that until chapter 3.  For now, ponder God’s perfection and goodness.  Praise Him for His abilities!  Do you think the God Who created everything – everything – out of nothing, Who positioned the stars and moon and Earth in perfect position, Who centuries later overcame sin and death on a hill outside Jerusalem… do you think He can see you through your circumstances?  Remember, God is not only our Creator.  He is our Sustainer.  The idea of seed points that out.

Think about this the next time you bite into a piece of fruit: you are eating something that is rooted in the garden of Eden.  Everything comes from creation.  Every plant can be traced back to it’s first seed, just like every human can be traced back to Adam and Eve.  Let that thought marinate for awhile and see how it affects your worldview!

God is great, and greatly to be praised!  He is that He is.  Worship God with all your heart this morning – today and every day!

No, I’m not referring to listening to a quirky ‘80s band every morning. I mean “devo” as in devotional – time spent on God’s Word and prayer, time to focus on the LORD, time invested alone with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I treasure this predawn time with God.  There is no daily experience sweeter than communing one-to-one with the Creator, worshiping Jesus and soaking in His goodness, grace, mercy and love.

I must admit that this has always been a struggle for me. “Entering into His presence” can be tough for one with a brain like a runaway train, always rattling recklessly down the tracks. 

Clickity-clackity-clack…

One of my Achilles heels has always been that I am better at starting great projects than seeing them through to fruition.  I have stacks of half-filled notebooks brimming with half-baked ideas, half-written stories, half-hashed plots and plans, that stand as a testimony to my unfocused, disorganized, scattershot thought processes.  Collectively they represent a vast array of incompleteness – everything I have ever not done.  (Well, everything I bothered to write down…)

Here’s an example of my runaway train of thought as I study a passage of Scripture:

“Wow… I wonder what Paul means by that.  I oughta do a quick word study to get some depth of meaning here.  Where’s my Strong’s Dictionary…”

“Hmmm… it sure is quiet in this office.  A little Caedmon’s Call in the background would be nice this morning…”

“Jesus and His disciples walked everywhere, and did so either barefoot or in sandals.  How’d they do that?  Too bad they didn’t have sneakers back then.  You know, when your feet hurt, your whole body…”

“What a beautiful sunrise!  I need to get a photo of that for today’s Facebook post…”

“I can’t remember.  Do I prefer Anjou or Bosc pears?”

“Hope Mamaw’s getting settled in her new surroundings.  Lord, please bless her with great joy in her circumstances…”

“Bet it’s steamy over in Guangzhou today.  Man, I’d love to go back there!”

“Focus, focus, focus… Austin will be up soon.  I hope Jennie’s hairdryer doesn’t wake the boy up…”

“Which one is the red pear?  I think it’s the Anjou…”

“I gotta remember to email people tonight about small groups…”

“The weatherman said we might get some snow tonight.  Wonder if it will miss us.  The snow always goes around us…”

“Oh man!  The van is due for an oil change.”

“I wonder if there is some psychological reason why I prefer red pears over the normal tan ones.  The Boscs are the tan ones, right?”

“Boy, do I have a stack of paper waiting for me when I get to work today.  Lord, please help me through the day…”

“I haven’t talked to mom or dad in a few days.  Better call them tonight.  Oh, and remember the emailing that needs done…”

“I wonder if it ever snows in Guangzhou.  Surely not.  I doubt it ever gets cold enough, seeing as how it practically sits on the Tropic of Cancer…”

“Bosc, Anjou… Bosc, Anjou… If I have one of each pear, I could taste them, compare, and know which one I prefer.  I’m sure it’s the red one…”

I think you get the idea.  It takes a lot of concentration some mornings.

Clickity-clackity-clack.

However… if I have a clear-cut destination and directions for my journey, my mind follows along the tracks much easier. With that in mind, and all I have been listening to lately about the Christological approach to theology (Christ-centered Bible teaching that recognized Scripture as a cohesive whole as opposed to a series of parts and pieces, all with Jesus Christ at the center), I have decided to read the Bible.

The whole Bible.

Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.

Creation to re-creation.

Every word.

Even the genealogies and begats.

I am not placing any time constraints on this project, because I do not want to miss anything.  The Bible is not a book to be read quickly.  There is not one wasted word in all of Scripture.  No filler, no fluff.  It is the most economical collection of written works ever scribed and complied.  Speed reading Scripture sorely nullifies the benefits and effectiveness of thorough Bible study.

And, yes, study is the key word here.  I want to know God deeper, understand His will and ways deeper.  This isn’t a race or attempt to impress anybody.  It is just the fulfillment of a desire to read God’s Word in it’s entirety, in succession, as the Protestant canon of Scripture lays it all out. 

Being a theology student for so many years, I have read the entire Bible.  But not necessarily as a whole.  This I what I want to experience: the progressive revelation of God in His Word, in the order it is presented.  I may even throw in some Apocrypha when I finish Malachi, just to get a historical flavor for the 400-year intertestimental period leading up to the appearance of John the Baptist.

How long will this take?  Who knows?  Our Monday morning men’s Bible study group started the Gospel of John last May/June.  We’re just now in John 9.  It may take a year to read the whole Bible.  At the rate I’m going, it may take a decade.  Frankly, I’m ok with that.  I want to absorb it.  So, I’m studying my way through the Bible, not just reading it. 

I want to know the LORD better.  I want a better walk with Thee.  I want to be a workman worth His wage (not that I can earn anything with God, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try).  I want to be a better Christian – a better husband, better dad, better son and grandson and nephew and uncle.  A better friend and brother in Christ.  A better teacher, better writer, better leader… And I know I cannot do these things on my own.  I cannot change me.

Clickety-clackety-clack.

Only God can truly change the heart and mind of a person.  Only God truly knows what I need.  Only God can keep the train from derailing, or put the locomotive back on the right tracks.  So, it behooves all of us to spend time with Him – in Him, through His Word and prayer.

So today I begin this trek through His Word.  I ask for your prayers as I head out on this journey, that I do not get distracted or derailed.  That I grow through this undertaking – not merely knowing His Word but knowing Him – the Great I AM – better, closer, deeper.  That I stay the course in life that He has plotted for me.  That He makes me a more effective minister of the Gospel.  That God uses me in a great and mighty way.  That it not be about me, but about the LORD.

Clickety-clackety-clack… I hear that train a-comin’.

Definitely Anjou pears…

1. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” – Psalms 14:1 (ESV)

Clever.  Very clever.  A group of Minnesota atheists raised $3000 to buy a couple of billboards – one in Minneapolis, the other in St. Paul.  They are designed to look just like the billboards a Christian anti-abortion group puts up, bearing a photo of a happy baby and a pro-life message.  It appears the atheists even used the same font style (or one very similar) for the lettering.

And what is the message these atheists want to get across?  The St. Paul billboard states, “We are all born without belief in gods.  Learn how to be a born again atheist.”   The Minneapolis sign reads, “Please don’t indoctrinate me with religion.  Teach me to think for myself.”

Hmmm…

To my mind, the essential problem with atheism is rooted in a skewed view of reason.  After all, a national atheist group is holding their “Reason Rally,” followed by their national convention in Bethesda MD. (Ironically – or perhaps reasonably – enough, the city is named after Bethesda (or Bethsaida) in Israel – the place where invalids seeking healing gathered at the Sheep Pool, and where Jesus gave sight to the blind man.)

Perhaps we should best define the meaning of the noun “reason.”  So that I’m not accused of dogmatic bias on this, I will use a secular source: the Random House dictionary:

1. “a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.

2. a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.

3. the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.

4. sound judgment; good sense.

5. normal or sound powers of mind; sanity.

6. Logic . a premise of an argument.

7. Philosophy .

a. the faculty or power of acquiring intellectual knowledge, either by direct understanding of first principles or by argument.

b. the power of intelligent and dispassionate thought, or of conduct influenced by such thought.

c. Kantianism . the faculty by which the ideas of pure reason are created (1).”

To an atheist, there is no God – no Deity, no Creator, no Savior.  What is reasonable to them is that mankind is the be-all and end-all of life.  Humanity lives to please ourselves.  People love one another, but not God.  Human beings define truth.

The problem is that these ideas are not reasonable.  Look around you: you see evidence of a Creator all around you!  Blue skies by day, a brightly lit universe at night.  Trees.  Rivers.  Animals.  People.

People – humans – beings who can think and feel and see and taste and hear and comprehend and write and draw and do. 

And reason. 

But as humans, we are not as smart as we think we are.  Hence, our abilities to reason alone are hampered.  This is why some simply can’t see the forest for the trees when it comes to God.  They reason that if they cannot the Lord, He must not exist.  They will accept such nonsense as Darwinism and not entertain the reasonable view that all of creation must have been created, and thus there must be a creator, and that Creator must be higher than we are.  Some claim it is all “intelligent design,” which basically means there is a God but, to save face, we can’t admit He is God.  How reasonable is that?

What sense is there in living for one’s self?  How can we reconcile that with loving the people around us?  By definition, love is putting the interests of others above self.  How can we prefer ourselves over others and prefer others over ourselves at the same time?  How reasonable is that?

And what is truth?  Truth must be absolute, otherwise it is merely opinion.  Without truth, we have no morals.  Without truth, we have no basis for reason.  So, to be reasonable we must have absolute truth.  And, since humanity is so flawed, we simply are not intelligent enough to fully outline – let alone fully comprehend – what truth really is.  How can man, who does not know everything, possibly be the definer of ultimate truth?  How reasonable is that?

The simple truth is that there is a God – a loving Creator and Sustainer of all.  And that God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit of the Bible.  He Created all this world and the universe around it.  He sustains life on this earth.  (Think about it: your heart beats, your brain functions, your lungs inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, all without you having to think about it.)  And reality – concrete reality – exists, therefore truth must exist.  And that truth comes from the One Who is Truth Himself: God.

2 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?” – Psalms 14:2-4 (ESV)

The Hebrew word translated here as “understand” is śākal, which basically means to intelligently consider – or, thus, to reason.  If you think about it, it is only reasonable to figure out that God exists, that He is in control of all, and that we had all better be seeking Him. 

Look at verse 4 above.  “Have they no knowledge?” can be translated as “Are they blind?”  (Again, atheists, Bethesda – irony or God?  I know what I believe…)   To truly believe in no belief at all is the epitomy of blind ignorance.  Atheists cling to a faith in no faith.  How sad.  How unreasonable.

5 “There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.” – Psalms 14:5-7 (ESV)

Living a life that is true and reasonable requires faith in the God Who is Creator and Sustainer of all, who is Truth Himself (and, therefore, Existence Himself), who is Love Himself (for only Love in its purest could bear sinful humanity and, considering all the horrible things man does to his fellow man, we cannot – as a whole – bear one another and, therefore, do not possess the ability in an of ourselves to truly love anyone). 

There is no reason for atheists to claim they believe in liberty of belief yet want to deprive Christians of their rights in the process.  If, as an atheist, one chooses not to believe in God, that is their choice.  I wish it were not, but it is.  However, such a choice does not entitle them to try to take away the rights of Christians (which some have been systematically and legally trying to do since 1959).  And, Christians, don’t despair.  God will have the ultimate victory.  So will those who follow Him.

The simple truth is that our battle is not against atheists, “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV).  We know all too well where the root of such non-belief in unbelief lies.  As Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, ESV).  Robbing people of faith – the ultimate endgame of atheism – is spiritual larceny on a grand scale. 

Still, it is far better to be stronger in standing up for our faith in Christ, as opposed to standing against atheists.  We need to let God’s love shine through us, being merciful and kind – being salt and light.  Remember that dark cannot put out light, but light can certainly illuminate the life out of darkness, exposing the lie that it is. Now that is reasonable!

Source: (1) "reason." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 28 Jan. 2012. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reason>.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV).

This is for my Mamaw Day.  Praying you are up and around and feeling better soon.

Pills.  When I was a kid, I hated them.  When I was sick, I was all for the “bubble gum medicine” – that thick, pink liquid that looked like Pepto-Bismol but tasted like Bazooka Joe gum.  But pills… no thanks.  If one of them got caught in my esophagus or, worse yet, went down the wrong pipe and dropped straight into a lung… I shuddered to think of the medical consequences that could befall me at such a young age. 

Pills!  How could my doctor be so irresponsible?  The cure was certainly more dangerous than the disease!  Never mind that our cousin and I had seen my little brother swallow a marble without the least bit of gagging (even when our mom lifted him up by his feet and shook him – although his face was a little red from all the upside-down bobbing).  In fact, he passed the marble the next day without incident.  (Ask Mom.  She’s the one who had the unpleasant task of insuring the little glass orb successfully completed it’s digestive voyage.  Ah, the joys of parenting…)

(Mom, if you’re reading this… he acted of his own volition and was goaded in no way at all into performing such a dangerous act.  We were in no way accomplices in the whole episode.  In fact, we begged him not to do it!)

(Matt, my dear brother, if you are reading this… sorry to throw you under the bus like that.  I love you.  It’s all in fun!  And I didn’t even mention Mamaw’s candy dish, which I will now take my fair 10% share of the blame for breaking.  [Just kidding!])

If not for my grandmother, I might never have taken a pill in all my life.  My throat would perhaps, to this day, pucker up and seal off any foreign intruders at the merest mention of the word “aspirin.”  But, my Mamaw Day came up with the solution (and a simple one at that): jelly.

Grape jelly.

One spoonful of the delightful breakfast condiment with said pill tucked in its midst.  The jelly would act as a protective vehicle to fool my throat and carry the offending medicine safely and swiftly to my stomach.  It was a trick she had employed with her kids.  Now I got to be the grateful beneficiary of such wonderful grandmotherly wisdom.

There is something about gratitude that can make even the bitterest pill easier to swallow.  Gratitude – thankfulness – changes our perspective considerably.  We need to realize that we are who we are, where we are when we are, and our circumstances are what they are because of the Lord’s perfect will and plan for our lives.  When we see our lives are safely and securely in God’s hands and realize we have nothing – nothing – to fear or dread (after all, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” [Romans 8:28, ESV), then we can begin to live a life filled with gratitude for all God has done, is doing, and will do. 

True gratitude fixes our gaze off ourselves and onto our Creator and Savior.  It places Jesus squarely at the center of our lives.  Gratitude is the reflection of a heart that realizes, accepts and believes the forgiveness and peace offered by Christ.

And it makes even the worst, most painful, least pleasant events in (and aspects of) life far easier to take.

As an adult, I still immensely dislike taking pills.  But, knowing I am protected makes them far easier to swallow.  “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1, ESV).

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” – John 8:31-32 (ESV)

We are all no doubt familiar – at least somewhat – with the story of John Clayton, the Earl of Greystoke.  He and his parents ended up stuck on the coast of Africa.  His parents both soon died, and Clayton was taken in and raised by a tribe of apes.  John Clayton’s identity disappeared, replaced by his new primate identity: Tarzan. 

Tarzan thought he was an ape himself.  He acted like one.  He swung from trees, ate what the apes ate, acted as the apes acted… probably even ate bugs off the backs of the other apes.

Of course, Tarzan of the Apes is a fictional work by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  But, in reality, stories abound of puppies raised by cats (and vice-versa) who ultimately believe they are of the species that raised them, not the one that bore them.  In a sense, sin has done the same thing to our created identity.  Man was created to commune with God, to live in His pure and holy presence.

Then came the serpent.  And now we are separated from God, no longer enjoying the identity we were created with.  We identify with the world, identify with our sins (past and/or present), identify with our jobs… 

But, the truth is, our identity is found in Christ.  While I realize that is a phrase that has almost become a pat answer, a feel good line that we may not be able to completely identify with or even grasp the reality of, knowing who we really are – who Christ says we are – sets our record straight and puts our lives in the proper perspective.  It is amazing to discover just how free one is in Christ – set free and separated from the false identities we carry.

Simply, sin branded us with a new identity, that of a condemned person with no eternal hope.  How often do we wallow in the mud of our self-pity and doubt and misery because we just can’t seem to get past some event, some sin, some ill-uttered word in our lives.  Someone referred to us as a failure, or worthless, or unable, or inferior.  Someone won’t let us let go of our pasts, our sins, our regretful words and deeds. 

Maybe that someone close to you, someone you love and respect.

Maybe that someone is you. 

We buy the lie hook, line and sinker that who we were defines who we truly are.  Once we become Christians – believing, professing, seeking His kingdom first, walking in the light of Christ, abiding in His Word – all of that old junk is buried.

Gone.

Scrubbed.

Expunged.

Once we believe – truly believe in God through Jesus Christ – the old is cast away, the new comes in.  Our identity is now that of God’s beloved, forgiven, justified child, on the road to sanctification.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)

The use of the word “slavery” in Scripture is a point that may require some clarity.  Because of the United States’ 19th century history, we tend to place certain race-based connotations on the notion of slavery.  While that sad, barbaric practice is truly slavery, the term “slave” in the Bible refers more to an indentured servant – one who had a debt they couldn’t pay, so they worked it off.

“Indentured servant” is a more accurate description of the human condition.  Sin is a debt we can never repay.  We can’t even work it off.  The debt of sin makes paying off a maxed-out credit card look like a cakewalk.  The only way to get out from under the heavy burden of our trespass is to accept the once-and-for-all payment made on the cross by Jesus Christ – perfect, sinless, God-incarnate, dying a gruesome and undeserved execution for our salvation. 

It’s like Bob Dylan used to sing, you’re gonna have to serve somebody: the devil or the Lord.  In John 8, Jesus makes it clear.  Follow His Word (as opposed to the Law) – in other words, accept the free gift of salvation through the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ – and therein find freedom from sin and the identity thereof.  While we may profess one thing, our actions will ultimately betray us.  We will be exposed as either children of God or children of the devil.  God doesn’t work in shades of gray.  He is black and white.  Take Him or leave Him entirely. 

If you are following Jesus and seeking His Will in your life, wonderful!  Your identity is found in the freedom He has given you.  Your chains have been broken, your sin removed, your identity forever changed through adoption.  Like every adopted child, the day comes when you realize your identity hasn’t always been what you thought it was.  But, take heart.  Accept it.  Understand that you are now a child of the Living God, Creator and Sustainer of All Creation.  Including you.

This means you have nothing to fear.

This means you have nothing to dread.

This means you have the opportunity to turn around and follow Christ.

This means you are a child of God, no longer owing the non-repayable debt of sin.  Your account has been cleared.

And, by the way, in case you were curious…  Tarzan found his true identity again as well.  Twenty years after he was abandoned in Africa, Jane arrived – under amazingly similar circumstances (even landing at the same spot as the Claytons.)  Through Jane, the “Christ-figure” of the story, Tarzan discovers he has believed a lie almost all of his life: that he is an ape.  He discovers he is human.  And, not only that, a human of royal descent. 

As are you.

And now you know the rest of the story.  (Wow… that was a real Paul Harvey moment!)

Good day!

I am amazed at just how much stuff three people can accumulate.  Over the weekend, we picked back up on a huge de-cluttering project we started months ago.  Bags of trash are off to the dump, and boxes of usable goods will be heading to Goodwill.  We are simplifying and ridding ourselves of the chaos and disarray that clutters our home.

If we think about it, life is no different.  We can make ourselves miserable, bitter, anxious, depressed, by hanging on too tightly to the wrong things: past mistakes, sins, regrets, feelings of unworthiness or uselessness, pain, anger, worries…

Do you want to know the trick to having a blessed 2012?  It’s no real secret.  It’s not found in resolutions.  It is found in the simple act of bagging up the garbage in your life and tossing it out.  Now is the time to let go of the trash that traps us and walk out our lives in the light of the freedom we find in Jesus Christ.

Are you hanging on to some sin you committed, held back by the belief that what you once did defines who you are?  Let it go! 

Consider this:

1.  …Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” – John 8:1-11 (ESV)

The judgmental ones were prepared to stone this woman for her sin, and try to trap Jesus in the deal as well.  But notice Jesus’ reaction to the Phaisees.  He nonchalantly stoops down, writes with his finger in the dirt, and turns the tables on those who seek judgment: let whoever is sinless and blameless cast the first stone.  Then he bends back down to write in the dirt some more.  Jesus was practically dismissive of the Jewish leaders.  Why?  They were not the true authority.  Jesus is! 

And how did Jesus deal with the woman?  Did He berate her?  Did He read her the riot act for her adulterous behavior?  Nope.  “I don’t condemn you.  Go sin no more.”  She was forgiven.  The slate wiped clean.  So, whatever it is that is keeping you from moving forward in discipleship, holding you back from serving or worshipping or life in general… let it go!  Toss it out. 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. – Romans 8:1-8 (ESV)

Now is the time to prayerfully change your mind, your outlook.  “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2, ESV).  “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:33-34, ESV).

What is troubling you today?  Is it worries about what the future may bring?  Is it condemnation (self –inflicted or otherwise) holding you down?  Is it a sin you just can’t seem to break?  Today is the day.  Now is the time.  Bag it up. Haul it out.  Toss it. 

6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)

God is in control, not you.  Go to Jesus with your troubles and doubts, fears and pains.  Love.  Forgive.  Experience the freedom of Christ.  Don’t take your junk to the Goodwill.  They don’t need it.  Rid yourself of it by running to Jesus and casting it off.

25  At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:25-30 (ESV)

Amen!  Happy New Year!  You are loved.