Accountability Ignored

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Pete

Okay, not sure why this hits the radar this morning. Not sure that my application is warranted. But here’s what I’m chewing on as I hover over Judges 13 through 15, something that clearly involves a very complex parent/child dynamic.

I’m back in Judges. I’m back to considering the pitfalls of power. And what jumps off the page are Samson’s parents.

Unable to conceive a child, they are visited by the angel of the LORD and told they would have a son, and a pretty special son at that (Judges 13). A son who, from birth, God would set apart for Himself so that he would “begin to save” Israel from the oppressive power of the Philistines that had ruled over Israel for 40 years. But what catches my eye this morning is the degree to which the scriptures make sure that we know that Samson’s parents stay pretty engaged in his life as he rises to power.

Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there. He went back and told his father and his mother, “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?”

But Samson told his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

(Judges 14:1-3 CSB)

Now I don’t know a lot about ancient courting/engagement dynamics, but I’m going to assume the level of engagement by Samson’s parents in helping him pick a life partner is appropriate. He goes home and says he’s found “the one.” They question whether she’s really “the one” as they know God’s command (Deut. 7:3-4) and Joshua’s warning (Jud. 23:7-13) to not intermarry with the people of the land. They seek to hold Samson accountable for his feelings with the facts. But Samson wouldn’t have it.

Read on in Judges 14, and not only is Samson coming to age as to his feelings for the opposite sex, but he’s also becoming aware of his own body and the strength it possesses. He goes down to Timnah to see his fiancé, along with his mother and father, and at some point, when he’s alone on the journey, he’s ambushed by a young lion and he tears it apart with his bare hands. And the Spirit ensures the record shows specifically that “he did not tell his father or mother what he had done” (Jud. 14:5-6). He had told them of his passion and didn’t like their counsel, now he chooses to keep from them his power — perhaps because he didn’t want them speaking into that as well. The accountability structure which could have been in place through his parents is weakened by his lack of transparency.

Then, on the return trip to Timnah for Samson to marry his bride, he visits the sight of the lion carcass and eats honey from a beehive built within it. A violation of his holy, set apart state before God. Eating anything unclean was forbidden (Jud. 13:7). Not only does he eat of the honey, but he also gave some to his father and mother to eat (who accompany him again). And again, the Spirit makes sure we know “he did not tell them that he had scooped the honey from the lion’s carcass” (Jud. 14:9b). Not only has his accountability been kept in the dark, but now it is defiled as well.

Is Judges 14 about power and the need for accountability? Probably not. But is there a secondary application here? I wondering . . .

Last mention of Samson’s parents in Judges is after Samson starts playing reckless games with the Philistines and sets them up with a wager and a riddle. The Philistines threaten the newlywed’s bride to get the answer for the riddle or die. Samson’s response to her after her persistent questioning of him?

“Look,” he said, “I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”

(Judges 14:16b CSB)

I’ve ignored my God-given accountability, Samson says in effect, why should I be accountable to anyone else?

Mom and dad, engaged by God, but kept in the dark by their son.

Accountability ignored. Accountability defiled. Accountability unable to do its job of holding a leader accountable.

Hmm . . . something here to noodle on?

I’m thinkin’ . . .

By God’s grace. For God’s glory.

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He Loves the Place!

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Pete

It’s not that it’s unfamiliar to me, but this morning it struck me as unusual. After all, the LORD loves people not places, doesn’t He? His affection is sourced in grace not geography, isn’t it? So how come the LORD loves Zion?

The city He founded is on the holy mountains.
The LORD loves Zion’s city gates
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said about you,
city of God.
Selah

(Psalm 87:1-3 CSB)

The psalm is about a place. The entire song about a city. This morning I’m chewing a bit on why God is so enraptured with this city on a hill. After all, isn’t the meta-mission of scripture about redemption? Loving on the lost? Why’s this mega-affection on a locality?

Immediate thought? ‘Cause it’s about presence and power. The place of God’s presence and the seat of God’s power. In Zion was the temple, the place where the glory dwelt, the place of God’s earthly presence. In Jerusalem was the throne, the throne of David, the epicenter of a promised kingdom of earth which would be the glorious reflection of the kingdom of heaven. The LORD loves Zion’s city gates as He anticipates that day when all who enter them, all who are born in them, would know the presence of God and the power of His kingdom. Psalm 87 must be looking forward to a future day, the day of the King’s reign.

And as I noodle on it a bit more, while perhaps not as glorious as Zion, YET, there’s another place where God’s presence is found and His power is active. Actually, many places. Every place where God’s people gather as the church, God’s holy temple, God’s seat of power. And the LORD loves the church.

She isn’t what she’s gonna be, but she is the dwelling place of God by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22). She isn’t as glorious as she wants to be, but one day He will present her to Himself “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that” (Eph. 5:27).

The LORD loves the church.

He loves the people. And, wherever they gather, He loves the place!

For there, in their midst, is found His glory. For there, in their midst, is seen His authority.

The church, such as she is, is an outpost of the kingdom of heaven. A precursor to Zion of the future.

As such, she’s worth singing about.

Singers and dancers alike will say,
“My whole source of joy is in you.”

(Psalm 87:7 CSB)

A work in progress? Certainly. Worthy of praise? Evidently. A place you want to be? Absolutely!

For the LORD loves the place where His glory dwells, His power is apparent, and His people are present.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Three Years

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Pete

Another reading in Judges. Another story of power. Power in the world’s way. And what’s caused me to pause this morning is that it seemed to work, and seemed to work for a pretty long time — three years. Three years, that’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

The seat of judge over Israel was vacant after the death of Gideon (aka Jerubbaal). If they were looking for someone to fill it from the immediate family, there were 71 sons fathered by Gideon to choose from (Judges 8:30-31). Judges 9 tells the story of one of those sons, Abimelech. The son who decided to be “proactive” and not leave things to chance.

Some would have considered Abimelech a lesser son as he was born of one of Gideon’s slaves and not one of his many wives (Judges 8:31). Nevertheless, he possessed the bloodline to take over the family business of judging Israel. He just needed a little support. So, he goes to the people of his mother’s clan who lived in Shechem and politicked them to win their favor. Not only was he kin, but he also appealed to logic and pragmatics — the logic of the world, the pragmatics of the ways that make sense to men.

“Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you or that one man rule over you?”

(Judges 9:2 CSB)

One guy calling the shots, or seventy (not that anybody was campaigning for the 70)? A quarterback or a committee? What makes more sense, asks Abimelech. And the way of the world says, “One of course. And who better than someone from our tribe?” So, they finance Abimelech to hire some mercenaries, and Abimelech & Co. go to the city of Gideon’s people, and they kill all but one of Gideon’s sons — only Jotham, the youngest, was able to hide and escape the slaughter (9:4-5).

Then all the citizens of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together and proceeded to make Abimelech king at the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

(Judges 9:6 CSB)

His dad was a judge over Israel who served faithfully. Abimelech would be king over Israel and came to power treacherously. And, it seemed to work. At least for three years.

When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully, so that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.

(Judges 9:22-24 CSB)

God is not mocked; what a man sows he will eventually reap (Gal. 6:7). God who is just will ensure justice. Vengeance and vindication are His (Deut. 32:35-36).

Though for three long years Abimelech’s worldly way of securing power seemed to have worked, God, in His timing, would work behind the scenes to take down the house of cards Abimelech had built by the wisdom of man and by the blood of his brothers. If there’s a big idea in Judges 9 it might be that God never ceases to work among His people, thus, in the end, justice will prevail.

But like I said, I’m noodling on what it was must have been like to watch worldly ways apparently “win.” For three years Abimelech ruled over Israel. For three years the power he had sought he had attained. For three years his treachery was untouched. For three, long years Jotham, the surviving brother, survived as Abimelech prospered. Three anniversaries passed as Jotham remembered that day when he suddenly went from having a large family to not having any family at all, all because of the man who would be king — the man who in fact was king. The man who had wielded power in a worldly way and who seemingly had won.

But God is not mocked. Vengeance is mine says the Lord (Rom. 12:19). So, for three years Jothan would need to find rest in knowing the sovereign God was also a just God and justice would, some day, prevail.

Waiting isn’t easy. The flesh doesn’t take well to waiting, especially when it comes to suffering injustice. There’s a reason patience is the fruit of the Spirit. It’s also the fruit of faith, of trusting God with all our hearts and leaning not to our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6).

And that’s true power. The power of God available to the people of God if we’ll but wait on God.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Our Strength. God’s Power

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Pete

The story’s about power.

Context? The Judges cycle: Israel sins; Israel is judged through enemy oppression; Israel cries out; God sends a judge to deliver them; there is peace until Israel again idolatrously abandons God; repeat cycle. Specifically, the context is Judges cycle, round five. The oppressor? Midian. The deliverer? Gideon. The point of it all? Like I said, power. Particularly, whose power?

The Lord turned to [Gideon] and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!”

He said to Him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”

“But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”

(Judges 6:14-16 CSB)

Go in the strength you have. That’s what caught my attention this morning. Even though he was the youngest son in the weakest family of his tribe, Gideon had strength. He had vitality. He had ability. He brought something to the table. God says to Gideon, the reluctant deliverer, “Go in the strength you have.”

Doing battle is about power. And, at a certain level, it’s about our power. God could have dealt with Midian apart from Gideon, but He chose not to. Instead, He enlisted Gideon. Gideon and his strength, however that stacked up to others in Israel, however that stacked up against the enemy.

It then get’s a little comical in a way. At least I find it so.

Gideon thinks, if it’s gonna be about my strength, let’s use some of that strength to rally some troops. So he sends messengers throughout Manasseh, and Asher, and Zebulun, and Naphtali calling others to join him for the battle (Judges 7:35). And they come. 32,000 come (7:3b). Okay, maybe now Gideon’s feeling a bit better about going in the strength you have. Sure, he’s still out-numbered by over 4-to-1 (Judges 8:10), but he doesn’t know that. What he does know is that he has a lot more strength than he initially had. Now he’s ready to go in the strength you have.

Yeah, but it’s about power. Our strength, sure. But God’s power.

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for Me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over Me and say, ‘I saved myself.'”

(Judges 8:2 CSB)

I want you to go in your strength, says the Lord God, but I don’t want you to forget that you go in My power. I want you to win the battle, but I don’t want you to believe that you won it apart from Me. So the Lord whittles Gideon’s army of 32,000 down to just 300 fighting men (8:7). Now Gideon’s out-numbered 450-to-1. And now, according to the Lord of Hosts at least, Gideon has those Midianites right where God wants them.

We are to fight the good fight (1Tim. 6:12, 2Tim. 4:7), but the battle is the Lord’s (1Sam. 17:47). We’re to bring everything we have into the ring of our supernatural wrestling match (Eph. 6:12), but we do so knowing that His power is made known in our weakness (1Cor. 12:9). The victory is sure, but there’s no boasting in our ability to secure it. Any victory we know is to be regarded as victory in Jesus, and in Jesus alone.

Yup, it’s about power. Our strength. God’s power.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Good News in the Midst of Bad Stuff

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Pete

Met someone for coffee yesterday, someone I had only met casually before. This was to be our first “real conversation.” And real it was.

We could have talked about March Madness and the college basketball that had just finished. Or, we could have talked Mariners and the baseball season which was just beginning. Instead, pretty quickly he wanted to talk about why, if God had something that was so good, did those who follow Him have to deal with so much stuff that was so bad?

This is gonna be quite a coffee, I thought to myself. And it was. ‘Cause we talked about Jesus and the dynamics of faith. We talked about good news in the midst of bad stuff.

That conversation may been the filter that set up what caught my eye this morning as I entered into the book of Judges.

These are the nations the Lord left in order to test all those in Israel who had experienced none of the wars in Canaan. This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before. These nations included the five rulers of the Philistines and all of the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the Lebanese mountains from Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath. The Lord left them to test Israel, to determine if they would keep the Lord’s commands he had given their ancestors through Moses.

(Judges 3:1-4 CSB)

You read the opening chapters of Judges and it quickly becomes apparent that what should have been “Operation Occupy the Land” devolved quickly into “Operation Share the Land.” The land had been given to them as the Lord had promised. Theirs was to continue to move into it by evicting the previous inhabitants. Though warned against living side by side with the previous owners of the land, Israel quickly went from “could not” defeat their enemies because of iron chariots to “did not” remove their enemies because of apparent inconvenience (Jud. 1:19-21). And so, the Lord left the nations in order to test Israel.

He left opposition and struggle in their lives to see how they’d respond. Testing them not in order to “pass or fail” them, but testing them in order to prove them, assay them, purify them. His objective was not to show them up as having fallen to failure, but to teach them how to fight by faith. How to stand amidst the struggle. How to practically enter each day trusting the God who had brought them into the land to enable them to actually possess the land.

Had they allowed it to be so, the struggle could have been redemptive. The suffering used to secure their salvation. Their difficulty a road to knowing in a deeper way their Deliverer.

I told my first-time coffee friend that while I didn’t know the why of bad stuff in the lives of good people, I did know the what. The ultimate prize is always Jesus. A deeper trust in Him leading to a deeper relationship with Him. God allowing our faith to be tested so that we might prove the sufficiency of His grace for all our trials and the reality of His power in all our weakness. Daily battles making real His eternal promises.

And that’s good news in the midst of bad stuff. Amen?

By His grace. For His glory.

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We Will Worship the Lord

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Pete

This year I’ve switched to the CSB translation of the bible for my reading plan instead of the ESV I’ve used for the past several years. And this morning, what a difference it makes.

“Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

(Joshua 24:14-15 CSB)

I’m guessing that for many of us that last sentence in verse 15 rings a bell of familiarity. Yet, something’s different. Chances are that you learned that “me and my family” part a bit differently.

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

(Joshua 24:15b ESV . . . and NIV and NASB and NKJV)

Other than Peterson’s MESSAGE bible, of the translations I go to for cross-referencing, the CSB is the only one that goes with “worship” rather than “serve.”

Hmm. . . starts me chewing on the difference — or not — between serving the Lord and worshiping the Lord.

Our western church culture might have us immediately associate worship with singing rather than serving. You know, we go to church, and we worship, we hear the word preached, we give our offering, then we go home. So, what’s the CSB implying by using the word “worship” synonymously with “serve”?

The context of Joshua’s charge is Joshua’s final address to the Israelites, the people of God, those who have entered the promised land and divvied up their promised, God-given inheritance. The over-arching topic of this final address is obedience and loyalty to God (Joshua 23:6-8, 11, 16). So, in the midst of an exhortation to obedience, Joshua talks about “serving” God above all other gods. Or, as the CSB would have us process it, “worshiping” God above all other gods. Who we serve is who we worship. Who we say we worship will be verified by who or what we serve.

Seems in line with Paul’s exhortation to the Romans.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

(Romans 12:1 CSB)

True worship goes beyond singing. It’s certainly not less than continually offering a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips (Heb. 13:15), but it is equally certainly so much more. True worship, worship that is in Spirit and truth (John 4:24), is worship that involves the whole body — all its faculties, all its extremities, all its activities. True worship is evidenced in an authentic desire to be obedient. True worship is manifest when all that we do we do for the glory of God (1Cor. 10:31).

As for me and my house, we will worship the Lord. Easy, if all I’m thinking about is participating in the “prelims” on a Sunday morning before the message. A little more challenging if it’s about serving God 24/7. It’s downright intimidating if it’s about presenting my body as a living sacrifice.

Yet, it’s absolutely possible through the power of the gospel which gloriously saved me and now patiently sanctifies me. As it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). No longer I who serve, but WE who serve Him together. No longer I who worship, but the Spirit who worships through me.

We will worship the Lord. Me and Jesus in me. Me and the Spirit through me.

Me, by God’s grace. Me, for God’s glory.

Amen?

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Verse 28

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Pete

Would it be safe to say that because we are quick to focus on the one verse we might under appreciate the other? That’s what I’m thinking when it comes to the one sin which never has forgiveness overshadowing the all sins that do.

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” ~ Jesus

(Mark 3:28-29 CSB)

I read these verses this morning and immediately find myself running through my head what I think about the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and the dynamics that make it the unpardonable sin. Then, I start thinking about how I could jot that down with few enough words to fit in a post and yet enough words to adequately explain it. And then, a light bulb goes on illuminating the verse before it and I say to myself, “Wait a minute, self! What did I just totally skim over here?”

There’s been more than a few opinions tendered on exactly why the unforgivable sin is unforgivable, more than a little ink put to paper to work it through. There’s even been more than a little consternation expressed by those who fear they may have crossed that unforgivable line (which, I’m thinking, is a first indicator they haven’t). We read those two verses in Mark and I wonder how often we tend to focus and fret on verse 29 rather than rejoice and rest in the truth conveyed in verse 28. We set our minds to trying to figure out why speaking evil of the Spirit is the one sin which can’t be forgiven rather than marveling at the fact that every other sin can be forgiven.

People will be forgiven for all sins. Chew on that!

Who we talking about here? People. Well, I’m people. Verse 28 applies to me then.

What sins will be forgiven? All sins. All is in all? Yup, all as in all. Every one of every kind. From what seems to us the least transgression to the worst we can imagine, and think couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be forgiven. Those sins we have known a measure of victory over and those which continue to beset us like a thorn in the flesh, keeping us humble. Those in our past, those in our present, those that are sure to be in our future. People will be forgiven for all sins.

Forgiven? Like how forgiven? Forgiven as in so dealt with they are forever filed away, never to be brought to our charge — as in, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). Forgiven as in the debt owed a holy God for unholy behavior has been wholly paid in full. Forgiven as in the separation caused by sin is so dealt with that it results in reconciliation. And not just reconciliation, but in regeneration as we become new creations in Christ. And not just regeneration, but in adoption as we are born again as holy sons and daughters of God. That’s pretty forgiven! Amen?

But keeping chewing . . .

And how is such all-encompassing forgiveness possible for all sins? Through the cross, that’s how!

The Holy Son of God, come to earth in flesh, gave Himself as the once forever sacrifice for all sins. His perfect life given for our less than perfect life. His blood shed to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. His buried body raised from the dead that we might know sin’s bondage has truly been broken and death’s curse has assuredly been defeated.

Sure, we need to noodle on verse 29, but let’s not do so at the expense of basking in verse 28.

People will be forgiven for all sins!

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

What amazing grace! To God be the glory!

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Radical Stuff

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Pete

Hovering over the first part of 1 Corinthians 6 this morning. Some pretty radical stuff here. Not sure what to do with it except to just observe it. As for applying it? Did I mention it was kind of radical?

We’re gonna judge the world. Yup, you read that right, “the saints will judge the world” (1Cor. 6:2a). What’s more, our “jurisdiction” won’t be restricted to earth alone. “We will judge angels” too (6:3a). Pause. Consider. Meditate.

What manner of people will we be when God’s saving, sanctifying work is complete and our union with Christ is without competition of the flesh? People who, in Christ and with Christ, are able to judge matters of heaven and earth, that’s what manner.

But while this is mind-blowing to think about, this isn’t the radical part. In fact, Paul just mentions it matter-of-factly in order to emphasize something else that the saints — those in the church, a local body of believers — should be judging. And that, right here and right now.

If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases? Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life? So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers? Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers!

(1Corinthians 6:1-6 CSB)

Those who have no standing in the church . . . that’s where these believers were going for the wisdom to settle their disputes. That was their default, go to course of action. Those with no standing in the church . . . that’s who they took their cues from. And Paul says, it’s “to your shame.”

But try and imagine in our current culture a world where something comes up (a pretty serious something) between a couple of folks at church and they recognize the authority of the church to such an extent that they look there to settle the matter. What’s more, they submit to someone in the church to act as arbiter between them who will settle things. Just try and imagine that. Noodle on the implications. And tell me that isn’t radical.

In light of their future sanctified reality, says Paul, the saints at Corinth should have been living out some present sanctified realities. But they wouldn’t. Or they couldn’t — maybe there wasn’t “one wise person”, one mature believer, among them (see 1Cor. 3:1-4). But even if there were, would they dare to model something of their future reality by placing their present prosperity in the hands of those whose primary credential was that they had “standing in the church”?

A judge behind the bench, or a wise brother in pew? Who you gonna turn to? A lawyer with a well-known firm, or a sister with a well-worn bible? Who you gonna seek counsel from?

Like I said, I’m not exactly sure what the application is, but somehow, I think the observation is worth chewing on.

Whatever the church is to be, it’s a pretty big deal in the kingdom of heaven’s economy. How ever the saints are to function, it’s only gonna happen by faith as we trust the Head of the Church to know best what leads to living into the implications of our salvation — not just as individuals but as a community.

Not because we’re superstars. But because we have standing in the church of God and wisdom according to the word of God.

Radical stuff? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Only by His grace. All for His glory.

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God and The Community

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Pete

Trying to get a head start on the grandkids this morning, and two of today’s readings come together to form a thought that I’m not sure I can clearly put down in a few words. But here goes . . .

First, Joshua 7.

The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord’s anger burned against the Israelites.

(Joshua 7:1 CSB)

Jericho defeated and razed. The plunder — all of it — was to go to the Lord, that was clear (Joshua 6:16-19). Amidst the chaos of cleaning up after Jericho’s defeat, one guy . . . ONE GUY!!! . . . takes “a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter” (7:20) and stashes it in his tent. Did I mention that ONE GUY did this? And yet, the holy record states clearly that the Israelites were unfaithful, and that the Lord’s anger burned against all the Israelites.

Come on! In our current day of “I need to own my stuff and you need to own yours”, this sense of community identity and accountability screams against our natural sensibilities, doesn’t it? But God so viewed His people as one people that when one of his people disobeyed, the whole community of people was tainted with the sin. Talk about a little leaven leavening the whole lump (1Cor. 5:6). Talk about the need to not only watch our own walk but to care enough to come alongside and help with the walk of others. For those who are spiritual to draw near to those who have been tripped up in sin to help “restore such a person” (Gal. 6:1). Not only for that person’s good but also for the good of the community.

And that sets me up for my other reading this morning, and the community of God’s people at Corinth.

The church at Corinth was legit. It was evident that the grace of God had been given to them in Christ as they “were enriched in Him in every way, in all speech, and all knowledge” so that they did “not lack any spiritual gift” as they eagerly waited for Christ’s return (1Cor. 1:4-7). But while they had been given all the tools they needed in Christ, they had not yet grown up fully into Christ. Thus, the God who began a good work at Corinth was also committed to completing that work at Corinth, to “strengthen” them to the end, “so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 1:8). And part of that building process involved an exposing process. For, while they possessed every spiritual gift, they still had a ways to go toward acting as spiritual people.

For my part, brothers and sisters, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans? For whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not acting like mere humans?

(1Corinthians 3:1-4 CSB)

Enriched in Christ in every way yet people of the flesh . . . babies in Christ . . . still worldly . . . acting like mere humans. And the thing that exposed the deep, inner reality of a group that looked so good on the surface? Internal envy and strife over church leadership.

They had allowed division to form within their midst. They were “boasting” in their favorite church leader, and they shouldn’t have (1Cor. 3:21). Some belonged to Paul, some to Apollos, some to Cephas, and for those who were really spiritual, some belonged only to Christ (1Cor. 1:12). But because of the way they behaved toward one another in their “boasting” and “belonging”, they were showing that they still had some growing up to do.

There was division in their community and, if I’m picking up anything from Joshua and the ancient Israelites, they needed to own it as a community. Not everyone in the church was picking a tribe. Not everyone was petitioning for their favorite. Yet, everyone needed to own it — that’s why Paul wrote his letter to “the church” at Corinth and not to “certain individuals.”

God is committed to growing His church. And only God gives the growth (1Cor. 3:7). And sometimes that growing is preceded by bringing to light stuff that has been stashed away and hidden in the tent. So, God in His kindness exposes the “mere human” workings of our hearts and minds so that we can fully live into the ways and mind of Christ. The Father wants to take worldly people and orient them to the ways of a spiritual family. Moving us away from the wisdom of the world and instead infusing within us with the wisdom of the kingdom. Loving us just the way we are but loving us too much to leave us the way we are.

Loving us as individuals. Loving us as a community.

By His grace, as a community of believers.

For His glory, as a community of believers.

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Keep Drawing Near (2008 Rerun)

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Pete

Heading up to the homeland this morning. Grandkids are on spring break, so I’m taking a few days to hang with them (and their parents). This morning I’m digging into the archives. Warming up a meal from 15 years ago to chew on.

You’ve gotta love the candor of the Scriptures. Far from shying away from the tough questions or denying the reality of the human experience, the Father instead acknowledges our failings and frailties and uses them to point us to Himself. Such is Psalm 73 . . . .

Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73, is pretty up front about his struggles. He begins with a bottom-line statement of belief, “Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.” (73:1) This he believed . . . this he knew to be true. However, what we know to be true and what we see as the reality of life sometimes are in conflict. He goes on, “But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.” (73:2-5 NLT)

Some serious doubts here . . . things not lining up with what he expected of the “blessings of following God” . . . almost to the point where he stumbled, lost his grip, cashed it in . . . as he considered that perhaps the way of the boastful and self-sufficient might be the better way. It really bugs Asaph . . . what he knows to be true and what is actually happening seem to be way out of kilter . . . “When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me” (73:16 NKJV) So how do you work through these doubts . . . how do you reconcile things that don’t seem to line up?

“When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me –– Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.” (73:16-17) When Asaph entered the sanctuary of God, then things became clear. And we’re not talking so much of the sanctuary as a place of God . . . but more as the presence of God. I think the idea here is that of getting “up close and personal” with the Father . . . seeking the place of God’s glory . . . boldly approaching His throne of grace. In his doubt and questioning . . . during that time he was near to stumbling . . . Asaph determines to continue to make his way to the sanctuary of God . . . to seek the face of God . . . to draw near in faith . . . to trust that His word is true. And, in that determined pursuit for the mind of God, God answers the questioning of his heart, “Asaph, it’s not about how the wicked prosper now . . . its about what happens then . . . when they stand before Me.”

Oh, how gracious God is to the doubting heart and confused mind if we’ll but determine to continue to seek Him in the holy place. Asaph recognized how foolish and ignorant his doubting was (73:22) as he came to understand in a fresh, real, way, “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.” (73:23-24) God is faithful . . . God is true . . . let all other “realities of earth” be understood and interpreted in that reality. My focus needs to be on “things above” . . . “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ” (73:25-26)

“It is good for me to draw near to God” (73:28) Amen!!!

My Redeemer Is Faithful And True”
(Steven Curtis Chapman and James Isaac Elliott)

As I look back on the road I’ve traveled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
‘There is a place I am preparing for you.
I know someday I’ll see my Lord face to face,
‘Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

And in every situation, He has proved His love to me;
When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me.

My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

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