In His Confidence

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Pete

Not gonna lie, I’ve always liked being on the inside. Jazzed by being around the table. Not necessarily having to be the one who makes things happen, content if that’s left to others, but also not wanting to be that guy who all of a sudden looks up one day, gives his head a shake, and dumbfoundedly asks, “Uh, what just happened?”

I don’t think it’s a power thing. It’s an engagement thing. I don’t think it’s FOMO, fear of missing out, but more like FOMOO, a fear of mindlessly opting out.

If someone’s gonna let me into their inner circle, I’m in. If someone’s willing to take me into their confidence, I’m good for the taking. Especially if that Someone is the God of creation!

Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in His confidence.

(Proverbs 3:31-32 ESV)

The upright are in His confidence. Chew on that for a bit. Let that sink in. Talk about being on the inside!

In His confidence. Literally, invited into secret counsel. Part of the family conversation. Received as an intimate friend. Talk about your seat at the table!

The psalmist says we should bless the LORD and forget not all His benefits (Ps. 103:1-2). Being in His confidence is one of those benefits. Let’s not forget it. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Think about all the stuff we know which we would have never known apart from being in His confidence. Stuff about creation and how it reveals the Creator. Insider knowledge as to the real reason all people matter, because they are image bearers of God. A practical understanding of where things went south and a confident answer, along with a working knowledge, for how things can be restored.

Not only do we have a handle on the macro picture of history, we’re also prophets able to talk confidently about the future. Optimists, even in depressing and cynical times, because we know who wins. Having been brought into the secret council of heavenly happenings, we’ve got the tools to go out and be of maximum earthly good.

And that, because we are the upright. Not in ourselves, but in His Son. Not because of our best efforts, but through His finished work on the cross. Not because we deserve it, but because — and this we know via insider knowledge — He desired it!

No need to look around and wonder what’s happening. Instead, we look up and confidently declare, “I know the One who’s making it happen!”

For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear His word, or who has paid attention to His word and listened?

(Jeremiah 23:18 ESV)

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.

(Psalm 25:14 ESV)

Again, not gonna lie, I like being on the inside. Joy at having a seat at the table. Blessed by being in His confidence. How about you?

Only because of His grace. Might it always be for His glory.

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His Perfect Patience

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Pete

Thank God I’m not Jesus. Or I think there may have been fewer synagogues left standing at the end of the day or, at the very least, fewer synagogue rulers.

Reading in Luke 13 and, for some reason, I’m particularly enraged at the hardness of heart of one particular “ruler of the synagogue.” While Jesus confronted his sin, calling him a hypocrite, I think I’d have been tempted to call him home . . . if you know what I mean.

Jesus is teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. And there in front of Him is a woman unable to stand up straight, disabled by a demon. And while this might be the first time Jesus sees her, the folks at “church” have seen her attending meeting this way for eighteen years. Eighteen years! Looking at her toes 24/7 for eighteen years! And when Jesus sees her, He calls her to Himself, and says to her, “Woman you are freed from your disability.” And, after laying His hands on her, she stands up straight.

Praise God! Right? A miracle! True? Best Sabbath at church ever! Ya’ think? No wonder she glorifies God. But wait . . . before anybody else gets a chance to offer an “Amen!” or “Hallelujah,” an alternate perspective is offered.

But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

(Luke 13:14 ESV)

What?!?! This woman, a daughter of Abraham, who had been bound by Satan for eighteen years (13:16) is standing there tall and free, and this guy is indignant? Displeased? Grieved in his heart? Vexed in his soul? Because Jesus worked a miracle on a non-working day. Give your head a shake, man! Unbelievable!

Like I said, good thing it wasn’t me who had to deal with his hardness of heart. My immediate inclination would be to do more than just call him out on his hypocrisy.

But, lest I think that the Spirit was helping me experience some “righteous wrath”, I then turn to 1Timothy and realize that the Spirit was actually setting me up for some “perfect patience.”

I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. . . . But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life.

(1Timothy 1:12-14,16 ESV)

The ruler of the synagogue was a hypocrite. A real jerk. But Paul was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent opponent. A real threat.

The woman in the synagogue received healing, and stood up straight. Paul received mercy, and stood up for the Lord.

How? By the Savior’s perfect patience. Through overflowing grace.

So that all who are crippled by sin — whether a stooped over woman, a cynical synagogue rule, or a self-commissioned persecutor of the church — might have the opportunity to hear the Savior say, “Come to Me.” Be healed. Be made whole. And stand before the Son of God, face to face.

Not that righteous wrath isn’t deserved for jerk church keepers. But praise God that many don’t get what they deserve because of Christ’s perfect patience. Not willing that any should perish (2Pet. 3:9). Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Ex. 34:6). Rich in forbearance. His patience, His kindness leading lost souls to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1Tim. 3:15). Hard-hearted synagogue rulers. Heavy-handed church persecutors. Even devotional writers quick to judge.

Thank God for His perfect patience.

Because of overflowing grace. For His unending glory.

Amen?

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Stir It Up

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Pete

It’s one of those verses in Scripture that, for me, spikes the awe-o-meter. But not because it’s reveals explicitly the glory of God, or describes directly the nature of His holy character, or chronicles thoroughly the mighty work of His hands. Rather, its focus is a pagan king, who acted in a not-so-pagan manner — because of a glorious, holy, mighty God. And “all” God did was stir it up.

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”

(Ezra 1:1-2 ESV)

The LORD, God of heaven, stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. Literally, He wakened it. He opened the eyes of his heart. He roused the sensitivity of His inner being. Just as God had moved a pagan king 70 years earlier to be the means to judge His people and rip them from their land, so He moved again in the spirit of a powerful political figure to restore His people to their land, giving them the task of rebuilding the place where the glory of God had dwelt. Amazing!

We’re not told exactly how God did this with Cyrus. Was a it a dream? A vision? A word from a trusted counselor? Safe bet that Daniel had some influence, been used of God in some manner to make the God of heaven known. But specifically, how the king came to the conclusion that he was being directed to let the people of Israel go and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem is unknown.

But another reading this morning perhaps offers a clue.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

(Proverbs 1:7a ESV)

The fear of the LORD, says Solomon, that’s the starting place. Mark that as your true north, and the Spirit of God has something to work with in leading someone down the paths of life. Start with humbling yourself before God, and it greatly increases your chance of being led by God. Acknowledge a sovereign, all mighty God who reigns supreme, and it has a way of bringing clarity to the life you’ve been given to steward.

And I think Cyrus, however it came about, knew the fear of the LORD.

The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth . . .

Cyrus was a big kahuna throughout the known world, but He confessed that there was a God who was LORD over all in an unknown realm beyond his world. Cyrus, by His military might and means, had conquered all the kingdoms of the earth, yet he acknowledged that, ultimately, they had been given to him by a God, according to His purposes, who sovereignly and powerfully ruled in heaven. Cyrus knew he was a big deal, but he also confessed we wasn’t the biggest deal. And that, I think, is at least a part of what it means to fear the Lord.

And that’s what God had to work with. With that acknowledgement, with that posture, the Spirit of God was able stir the spirit of a man to do the will of God.

Humility which acknowledges the rule of God has a way of awakening an individual towards the mind of God. Being real about who I am in light of who God is, can rouse the soul to desire to walk in the ways of God. To confess that all I have He has given, can prime the pump for the Spirit’s work in directing how to steward what I have.

Fear the LORD. And He’ll stir it up.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Interpret the Present Time

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Pete

Wrapping up Luke 12 this morning. Don’t know that I’ve ever read these past few daily readings with such an awareness of their connectedness (that’s one of the dangers of parsed out, daily readings). But I’m thinking the Spirit has intended for me to see something of the progression of thought through this teaching sequence of Jesus.

Yesterday, the emphasis was on those blessed servants whose head was in the game when the Master returns. Those who were awake. Those who were faithfully occupied with the Master’s work. Who did not see the Master’s delay as reason to eat, drink, and be merry. But, knowing that the Master would “come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does now know” (12:46a), the blessed servant labored diligently knowing he would give an account for what had been entrusted to him (12:48b).

And this morning Jesus deals a bit with the Master’s coming and the need to interpret the present time.

[Jesus] also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

(Luke 12:54-56 ESV)

Jesus told the story of the rich fool to the crowd to warn them about being caught up in the material and temporal. He then turned to His disciples to talk of ravens and lilies and the propensity for even needful things to distract from seeking first the greater things. Exhorting the twelve toward wakeful faithfulness in anticipation of one day giving an account to the Master. And then, today, He turns again to the crowd and talks about the weather.

They were bright enough that when they saw clouds rising in the west, from over the Mediterranean, they knew that rain was coming. Cared enough to take note of southerly winds blowing to prepare for a soon-coming heat wave. But have the Son of God in their midst — the promised Messiah . . . teaching as no one had ever taught . . . performing signs and wonders . . . healing and casting out demons . . . doing works obviously sourced in the divine — and they were clueless. Adept at interpreting “earth and sky”, they were oblivious when it came to interpreting the present time.

And you have to think, given Jesus’s hard, “hypocrite” rebuke, it wasn’t because of their inability to pick up on such things, but because of their unwillingness. Not because they weren’t able to have eyes to see, but because they preferred to wear a blindfold when it came to signs of the time.

Jesus was in their midst, but they preferred to continue to live for themselves. The kingdom of heaven had come, but they were content to pursue the ways of the world. True righteousness for eternity was their’s for the receiving, but instead they opted “to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25b KJV). It’s not that they couldn’t interpret the present time, it’s that they wouldn’t. For to do so would impact barns and such.

I’ve had more than a few people ask me over the past few months if I think the events of our unprecedented 2020 are signs that Jesus is coming back soon. And my answer, not to be trite or dismissive, has quickly been, “Of course!” Because I believe His return is imminent. But what “soon” is, I have no idea — for “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2Pet. 3:8).

But how do we not look at what’s happening in our world and believe God’s doing something big? Time to wake up. Time to put overflowing barns into perspective. Time to acknowledge God’s faithfulness in putting food on the table, clothes on our back, and to focus our attention on laying up treasure in heaven. Time to stay alert. Remain focused. To keep on stewarding the time, talents, and treasures He has given us.

Could Jesus come back tomorrow? I’m thinkin’. Could tomorrow be a long, long ways away when the turbulence of 2020 is but a few paragraphs in a history book? Could be. Does that change my focus and priorities for today? Shouldn’t.

Seek first the kingdom. Be ready for the Master’s return. Be awake when He comes.

” . . . for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

(Luke 12:40 ESV)

Lord, give us eyes to see and hears to hear so that we are able to interpret the present time.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

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Snoozin’

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Pete

“I’ll take parable connections for 300, Alex.”

“Okay. The common condition of those who, because they are rich, are consumed incessantly with building bigger barns, and those who, because they are not so rich, are preoccupied continually with putting food on their table and clothes on their back.”

“Uh . . . what is snoozin”?”

“Correct!”

Not sure why, exactly, but over these past few days it’s been Luke 12 in my reading plan that continues to capture my thoughts over the other readings for the day. So, here’s part three in stories about keeping the main thing the main thing.

And today’s reading seems to be the concluding story. The story which identifies the dangerous, common condition of those distracted by the material world — regardless of whether that distraction is driven by how to live in abundance or, driven by how to survive amid scarcity.

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. . . . You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

(Luke 12:35-37a, 40 ESV)

After His story about a rich fool (Lk. 12:13-21), and then His story about ravens and lilies (Lk. 12:22-34), Jesus concludes this trilogy of parables with a story about blessed servants (Luke 12:35-48). And who is the blessed servant? The one who the master finds awake when he comes again. The one who’s not snoozin’.

This blessed servant stands in contrast to the rich man who, while he pursued how to maximize the good life, failed to lay up treasure for himself for the after life. Because his possessions ultimately possessed him, he wasn’t ready for the night when his soul was required of him and he was translated into a different economy — one in which the “rich man” was “not rich toward God.” Because, though he was busy accumulating wealth and building barns, he wasn’t “awake.” He was snoozin’.

And blessed servants also stands in contrast to the not so rich, those who are anxious about how they are going to feed and clothe themselves. As such, they pursue what their Father already knew they needed to the exclusion of seeking the Father and His kingdom. Thus, also failing to provide themselves with “treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” And how come? They were so busy earning a temporal living that they fell asleep at the eternal wheel. They too were snoozin’.

But blessed servants are those who are awake when the master returns. Though they are just as busy and preoccupied as the rich and not so rich, they are dressed for action with lamps burning doing what the master has asked them to do while the master is away. Occupying themselves with his charge on their lives. Resisting the temptation to allow the master’s delay to shift their focus away from faithful service towards self-fulfillment. They are not snoozin’. Their heads are in the game. They’re awake.

And that’s why they enjoy the Master’s blessing. That’s how they lay up treasure in heaven. That’s how they become rich toward God.

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!”

(Luke 12:37-39 ESV)

Not snoozin’ . . . by His grace.

Awake, with our heads in the game . . . for His glory.

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Ravens and Lilies

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Pete

Old familiar teaching. Fresh new meaning. In the past, it has evoked a warm-fuzzy feeling and a sense of profound gratitude. This morning, for some reason (me thinks a Spirit led reason), it provokes a heightened sense of awareness and a bit of soul searching. Who knew ravens and lilies could do such things?

Continuing to read in Luke 12 this morning. And what hits me initially is that, while the audience and illustrations are different, what I’ve just read is but a continuation from yesterday. Then, Jesus was talking to a crowd when He told them the parable of a rich fool. This morning, He’s talking to His disciples, to His inner circle, and tells them stories from nature. And I realize that, in essence, he’s talking to them about the same thing.

His followers weren’t necessarily entrapped by what to do with the harvests of overflowing fields. Their’s wasn’t “the problem” of having such wealth that, on a whim, they could build more barns so they could set themselves up to sit on their keisters, eat, drink, and be merry. No, they were unemployed fishermen, tax collectors, and such. Instead of worrying over how to silo an abundance of wealth, their daily anxieties were more likely to be spawned by how to put food on the table and keep clothes on their back.

And what hits me afresh this morning is that, regardless of whether it’s covetousness for an abundance of possessions (12:15) because you have overflowing barns, or whether it’s covetousness for daily bread and clothing because you don’t have two coins to rub together, either way it can deflect from the main thing being the main thing. From laying up treasure in heaven (12:21a). From being rich toward God (12:21b). From seeking first the kingdom (12:31a). From storing up “moneybags” for eternity (12:33b).

Yesterday, Jesus identified the problem of bad soul talk. But this morning he points to the remedy of ravens and lilies.

And [Jesus] said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! . . . Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!”

(Luke 12:22-24, 2-28 ESV)

Sure, it’s encouraging to know that we are of more value than ravens. And it’s comforting that the God who clothes the lilies which He created, says He’ll clothe the children He has re-created by His Son’s finished work on the cross. But beyond encouragement and comfort we need conviction — that God means it! That He’s got us. That He’s really got us! That our daily needs, in fact, rank high among His daily concerns. That anxieties about what the day may bring — especially these days — need to be given to the One who feeds ravens and clothes lilies, so that we are not tempted to enter so much into self-preservation mode that we cease being in kingdom-seeking mode. That our concerns for daily safety don’t extinguish our desire to store up treasure in heaven.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

(Luke 12:34 ESV)

Hmm. Ravens and lilies. Worth noodling on. The Father’s promise of daily provision and protection. Worth believing in. Heaven’s coming kingdom. Worth living for.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

(Luke 12:32 ESV)

By His grace. For His glory.

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Soul Talk

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Pete

Captured by a phrase this morning which, as I look back through my journal, has captured me before, compelling me to jot down some thoughts in the past. In 2008, 2010, and again in 2017. And each time, the thinking was very similar. That the guy in the story Jesus told was like the guy who had the bumper stick on his car, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Or, like the guy insatiably driven to pack both his house and his storage unit(s) with stuff. But as I hover over it this morning, I realize that it’s not as simple as toys on earth vs. treasure in heaven. That it’s actually more an issue of soul talk.

I’m chewing on the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, the story Jesus tells to punctuate His warning:

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

(Luke 12:15 ESV)

The story’s about a rich man and his land. Not his boats, his cars, his TV’s, or his home furnishings. It’s not about his toys or all the stuff he’s accumulated and put away in heated storage units. It’s not really about how he spent his money, at all. But how he viewed the fruit of his labor and livelihood.

His worked the land. Eventually, he was able to stimulate the economy by having others work the land for him. And the land produced — big time! Jesus said it “produced plentifully.” That, my friends, is a blessing of God.

The problem was with the industrious landowner’s identity, that his life was wrapped up in the abundance of his possessions. The problem was with his egocentricity. That what his land produced was only for his benefit and could be used however he determined. Which all led to some bad soul talk.

“. . . and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”‘”

(Luke 12:17-19 ESV)

Soul, relax! Eat, drink, be merry. You have all you need, now go enjoy it. After all, you earned it. Now go, rest in it. Indulge yourself with it.

I think about that and I think, while it’s perhaps easier and more tempting for a rich man to have such soul talk, it’s just a easy for an average guy with a decent pension or savings account to have the same soul talk. I’ve got enough to last me through my retirement. Time to coast. Time to relax, eat, drink, and be merry.

The problem wasn’t necessarily with the new barns or that they were overflowing. The problem was with the self-centered heart and a view of life that was underwhelming.

“God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

(Luke 12:20-21 ESV)

It wasn’t that he was rich, or that his land produced plentifully, or that he built new barns to receive the harvest. That problem, it seems to me, is that he laid up treasure on earth to the exclusion of laying up treasure in heaven. His desire to use his riches, whatever they were, for his own ease, comfort, and self satisfaction, blinded him to the possibility of leveraging those riches toward God.

You get the sense he was cheap and not generous. You get the sense that he saw his wealth solely as his well-earned reward for working the earth below, and not ultimately as a stewardship provided by a generous God in heaven above. “Fool!” says Jesus.

Rich toward God. That’s a thing. Treasure laid up in heaven. It’s a reality. How to invest now in light of eternity. That should be our soul talk.

Barns are a means of storing crops, not the ends for accumulating wealth. Wealth is a blessing of God and, as such, should be invested for God. Not simply a retirement benefit from God so that we can relax, eat, drink, be merry and serve ourselves.

Oh, that God would help us guard against covetousness. That He would give us a heart for treasures in heaven. That his Spirit would grant us a desire to be rich towards God and direct us toward kingdom focused soul talk.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Uncle J.

Posted on July 13, 2020 by Pete

There’s no way that the life of Joash, the kid king, isn’t a warning for those who have ears to hear. That his life isn’t a shot across the bow that clearly illustrates Paul’s cautionary charge to the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals'” (1Cor. 15:33).

His was the dramatic beginning of which legends are made (2Chr. 22:10-12). Had a crazy grandma who, when his dad the king died, conspires to kill all her grandsons so she can claim the throne of Judah. But Joash’s aunt hides her one-year-old nephew from her sister-in-law’s murderous rampage. And she and her husband, Joash’s Uncle Jehoiada the priest, raise the boy in secrecy for the next six years while crazy grandma reigns over the land.

But, say the Scriptures, in the seventh year, Uncle Jehoiada “took courage” and decided it was time for the kid to be king. Time for the rightful heir to be put on the throne. And the rest of 2Chronicles 23 tells us how that happens. Then we read this:

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

(2Chronicles 24:1-2 ESV)

The kid king would reign for 40 years. That’s a pretty good stretch. And under the kid, some pretty impressive reforms were undertaken — the most impressive was his determination to restore the temple which had fallen into severe disrepair. But if you know the kid’s full story, those words, “all the days of Jehoiada the priest”, have an ominous ring. And that phrase, all the days of Jehoiada, is repeated twice in 2Chronicles 24.

As long as Uncle J. was living, as long he had the kid’s ear — even as that kid grew up — Joash pursued the things of God in the way of God. But Uncle J.’s don’t live forever. And at 130 years old, the faithful priest died (2Chr. 24:15-16). And a void was left in Joash’s cadre of counselors. And voids have a way of being filled by something.

Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.

(2Chronicles 24:17-18 ESV)

What happened?!? From temple restorer to temple abandoner. From doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD to serving the Asherim and the idols. From knowing God’s favor from birth to bearing God’s wrath until his death. What changed? Simply, those who the king listened to.

Sure, you can make the case that the king’s faith should have been enough his own that he should have been able to stand on holy ground with his own two feet. Not gonna argue that. But, at the end of the day — at the end of his days — it was who had his ear that determined so much of what King Joash did. So be warned, says Paul, bad company can ruin good morals. Or, as another wise man puts it:

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

(Proverbs 13:20 ESV)

We have Jesus living in us through His Spirit. We have the word of God in front of us able to transform us through the renewing of our mind. But let us not think ourselves so strong, in ourselves, that who we have around us will not influence us. We need to beware of the voices which have our ears. We need to surround ourselves with “good company” if we want to continue to walk with “good morals.”

We’ve been brought into gospel community not just as a benefit of the gospel, but also as an integral dynamic through which the gospel continues to have it’s reign over us. So let’s leverage gospel community for kingdom living.

‘Cause I’m thinking we all need Uncle J.’s in our lives.

They’re part of God’s grace. They help us to live for God’s glory.

Amen?

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Consider What You Do

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Pete

Written for the ancient people of God, but preserved for the current people of God. Spoken to a specific group of men so that they might hear and obey, but recorded for all men and women so that we might listen and apply. I’m no judge in Judah, but I am a servant in the kingdom. So I’m thinking I’d do well to pause from time to time and “consider what you do.”

Jehoshaphat, sixth king over Judah, was a reformer. He “sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments.” As such, the LORD, the God of his father, “was with Jehoshaphat” (2Chr 17:3-4). It would appear that Jehoshaphat actually did what the kings of God’s people were commanded to do, he read the Scriptures and sought to live and govern according to the Scriptures (Deut. 17:18-19).

And what was good for the king, was certainly good for his kingdom. So, early in his reign, he sought to ensure his people knew the ways of God by sending out his officials who “taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people” (2Chr. 17:9). In order for his people to live according to God’s Law, they needed first to know God’s law. Later, Jehoshaphat would appoint judges throughout Judah to adjudicate according to the Law.

And this morning it’s Jehoshaphat’s words to them which pop off the page and I take as the Spirit’s words for me. Consider what you do.

[Jehoshaphat] appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”

(2Chronicles 19:5-7 ESV)

Their’s was a solemn responsibility. Their’s was a culture shaping accountability. So, they were to serve not merely to feed their families. To serve not only at the pleasure of the king. But to serve knowing their work, ultimately, was “not for man but for the LORD.” It was His law they were to administer. As such, it would be His character and wisdom they were to represent. No wonder the fear of the LORD was to be upon them. No wonder they were to be careful in what they did. Good advice from their king / boss: Consider what you do.

I’m no judge in the kingdom of Judah, but I do have responsibilities in the body of Christ. I’m no officially recognized representative in this land, but I have been called to be an ambassador of a heavenly land. And whatever I do, whether in the church or in the world, I’m thinking I need to be careful with how I do it. Recognizing that, ultimately, I serve and work not for man, but for the LORD. Not at anyone’s pleasure, but for the Lord’s glory (1Cor. 10:31).

So, from time to time, in order to represent the King appropriately, I’m thinking it would be wise to pause, reflect, and consider what you do.

Because of grace. For God’s glory.

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A Truth and A Promise

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Pete

You never know when you’re going to come upon a truth about God worthy of note. And sometimes promises of God show up in the least expected places. This morning both those things appear in a rebuke from God.

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

(2Chronicles 16:7-9 ESV)

Asa king of Judah, a royal enigma.

At one time he knew what it meant to depend on God. Had faced down an enemy army of a million men, 320,000 more men than he had under his command. Had defeated them soundly. And that, because He had cried out to the LORD. Had believed that there was no God like His God “to help, between the mighty and the weak.” Had relied on the Name above every name even as he drew up battle lines against an enemy which thought they had the upper hand (2Chr. 14:9-12).

But then, fast forward to another time. A time after King Asa had known decades of peace, power, and prosperity. A time when another enemy shows up at the king’s door. A time, unlike the previous time, when no prayer is prayed. When no reliance is required. Because it’s a time when the king can simply buy his way out of trouble with the silver and gold at his disposal. No need to cry out to the Lord, because he had things under control. No faith exercised, for his resources were sufficient. Problem solved. (2Chr. 16:1-6).

Problem solved, but opportunity missed. The enemy’s threat was gone, but the enemy remained. God’s people were again safe, but God’s power never showed up. While the money was sufficient to buy an earthly solution, it did nothing to foster and strengthen a heavenly relationship.

And so, the LORD sends a spokesman to rebuke the self-sufficient king. And in that rebuke there is a truth to learn about God. And in that rebuke there is a promise to claim from God.

First, the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth. Chew on that for a sec. Our God is not some passive God. Our God is not a God who has set this world He created spinning on its axis only to sit back, put His feet up, and be amused by how things play out. No, our God is a God who leans over the balcony of heaven and looks down. Whose eyes are searching, roaming, throughout the whole earth. Our God is a God who is “constantly on the lookout” (MSG).

Does God know? Yes, He knows. Does He care? Yes, He cares. That’s a truth to know.

What’s more, His eyes “range throughout the earth” (NIV) looking for opportunities to intervene — “to give strong support.” He wants to strengthen those He has made in His image even as He shows Himself strong on their behalf. And that’s a promise to claim.

So what’s the key to experiencing this truth about God that He’s constantly seeking for situations to be actively engaged in? The key to appropriating the promise of God that His power will be deployed on His people’s behalf?

The key is a “heart blameless toward Him.” A heart “at peace” with Him. A heart wholly devoted to Him. A heart wholly reliant upon Him.

The lesson of King Asa’s life is the lesson of reliance upon the Lord. Of a heart devoted to, and dependent on God.

And in that reliance we are visited by the God who sees. And in such dependence we are strengthened by the God who promises to give strength.

Not by our might. Not through our wisdom. Not due to our merit.

But by His grace. And for His glory.

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