Rebelliousness

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My refrigerator door appears to have a mind of its own. When I want it to stay open, it closes. When I want it to close, it stays open. Not wide open, but open just enough that food could spoil if it went unnoticed. And it seems that the older the refrigerator gets, the more the door wants to stay open when I try to gently close it. What’s with that? I guess I didn’t realize that refrigerator doors can think for themselves.

I close the refrigerator door thinking it’s closed shut, and then I turn around to see it standing open. It seems to taunt me to push it harder. But in the past only a gentle push was necessary. And it’s not that I’ve lost my strength. It seems that the door just needs a harder push. But why? When did it change? And why did it change? I don’t understand.

I like to think that I’ve always treated my refrigerator well. But. There is the fact that I don’t clean it out properly on a regular schedule. But I do sometimes wipe smudges from the door. And I keep the fridge full of food. It doesn’t ever stand empty. At times it’s even overflowing. So, what’s the problem? I’m sure I’ll never know.

Do the hinges on refrigerator doors need to be tightened over time? If so, who does that? How would that even work? The rest of the appliance seems to be in good working order. So why not the door?

The door doesn’t realize that as the owner, I am the one who decides if it stays open or closed. I choose to keep the door open so I can load and unload food or clean it out. Or I choose whether to close it to keep the food from spoiling. It’s my decision. The door has no say in the matter. It must do as I choose. I guess I should be thankful that it can’t open and close on its own. Or there would be trouble.

It may seem strange that I’m writing about unruly refrigerator doors. But imagine if I was writing about a rebellious teenager. Or a screaming toddler. Or an obstinate employee. Or a wayward spouse. Or a sinner who constantly turns their back on God. Or myself. How would the scene be different?

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. Romans 8:7

It isn’t surprising that the world is full of rebellious people. We are a rebellious lot. We have a stubborn streak. A selfish streak. A know-it-all streak. A mean streak. You can call it what you want, but we’re full of trouble. We have sinful desires and impulses that cause us to make bad decisions. On our own, we live in hostility to God. We don’t honor him. We disregard his commands.

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

If we have not allowed God to be the God of our lives, then we are hostile to him. Our sinful nature is at war with God Almighty. You may ask what the sinful nature it. It’s that inherent part of a person that sins and disobeys God’s will. We all have it. We’re born with it. We can’t cut it out of ourselves. And it will dominate us if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to control us in every way. We will be under its control.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. Romans 8:5-8

The problem is that we can’t remove our sinful nature. But when we surrender our lives to God, we can refuse to let it dictate our lives. We can follow God’s lead as we live out each day. The power of the Holy Spirit in our lives is greater than the evil spirit can ever be. As children of God, we can live free of the pressures of our sinful nature. When we bow in submission to our Savior, Jesus Christ, we allow him to be the driving force in our lives. If you haven’t already, surrender your life to Christ and repent of your sins. Don’t let sin control you.

The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4

The Representative

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Some people say that being good is good enough. Yet the Bible tells us that we’re only evil all the time.  Evil doesn’t come from God. It comes from the evil one, Satan himself. So regardless of how good and kind and nice we may be, if we aren’t living in step with God we’re walking in step with Satan. It’s that simple. The truth is hard to swallow. We don’t want to believe that we’re inherently bad.

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. Genesis 6:5

Satan masquerades as an angel of light, so his advances in the life of one who isn’t living for God may be enjoyable. It may be full of good things. Satan makes life without God appear attractive, because he wants your soul. Satan has no love for anyone, so he will fool even the kindest, most gracious person into believing they can live a fulfilling life without God.

Even Christians have a longing for more. We know deep down that our deepest longings won’t be satisfied this side of heaven. So we long for eternity with Christ. That will be the ultimate fulfillment of every longing we’ve ever had. But unrepentant nonbelievers who are attempting to fulfill their longings on this earth in any way possible without God are sadly marching straight into an eternity in hell. 

When God created us, he said his creation was good. When we are living against God’s will, we are God’s goodness distorted. Original sin is born and bred in each of us. There’s no way out of it. God didn’t intend for those made in his image to fall into sin, but Adam and Eve’s sin can’t be reversed. And it has impacted the lives of everyone born since then. The intent to sin is a part of our human nature.

While watching a tv show recently, I heard one of the characters say “We can do a whole lot of good by breaking one little rule.” It got me thinking. We can justify wrong behavior anytime we want. But does that make it right? In this made-for-tv situation, the act of breaking a rule would save someone’s life. So in the medical drama, the doctors broke the rule and saved the life of one who would have died. But does that make it right? Are we ever justified in breaking the rule or law in order to do good? Some would say yes. Others might say no. That’s an in-depth discussion for another day.

The thing is. Without God, our natural bent is toward evil. That doesn’t mean we’re all capable of murder or some other horrible crime in our current state of mind, but if we give in one temptation at a time, who knows the level we are capable of stooping to and calling it justified. We are selfish, self-centered people when we choose to live without God.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:1-2

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:28-32

The apostle Paul tells us that as believers we are representing Christ. So if we aren’t believers, we’re representatives of Satan. There is good news! We can change sides and start representing Christ. It’s a simple matter, but it’s an act of self sacrifice and obedience to Christ. The dividends are out of this world, though.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Those who haven’t chosen to represent Christ can do so today. Confess your sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. He will wipe your slate clean and will never remember your sins. You are a new child of God, and you represent Jesus Christ your Savior. Do it today while there is still time. Eternity is just around the corner.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:10-14

Sons of Abraham

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God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. The only problem was that Abraham and his wife Sarah had no children. And a nation can’t be built without children. The other thing. This couple was past their prime. As in, the woman’s childbearing years were behind her. But God told them that they would have a son. He just didn’t give them a timeline for when to expect this baby. And the years continued to roll on with no child.

So. One day Sarah thought of a brilliant idea and shared it with Abraham. She suggested that he sleep with her maid, Hagar, to see if they could have a son. So Abraham foolishly obliged his wife. And a son was born. Hagar named her son Ishmael. And, of course, as time would have it, Sarah and Hagar had words. After their falling out, Sarah begged Abraham to send this servant and her son away. Abraham loved his son, but he sent them out into the desert to fend for themselves.

Twelve years after the birth of Ishmael, God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah came to pass. Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety when their only son, Isaac, was born. God’s promise was fulfilled. Now the promised nation had begun.

After Ishmael was born, God had promised both Abraham and Hagar that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation. Just to be clear, this was a different nation than the initial one God had promised to Abraham. Abraham’s descendants formed two different nations. Two warring nations. The two brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, appeared to be civil to each other in their day, but history has shown that their descendants are still at odds with each other to this day. Ishmael is viewed as the father of Islam, and Isaac is the father of Judaism. Interesting, huh?

What went wrong with the brothers? The first was conceived outside of God’s plan, and the second was God’s promise fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah stepped outside of God’s timeline, and the result was a nation that would not exist today if they hadn’t taken matters into their own hands.

You can read this story of Abraham in Genesis 15-21.

Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:6

When we consider the cultural, political and theological differences between the Muslims and Jews, we can get a clearer picture as to why there is so much upheaval in the world. Throughout history, not only the Muslims have been against the Jews, but other nations have joined the fight against God’s chosen people.

I wonder. If Sarah hadn’t made such a ridiculous suggestion to Abraham and if he hadn’t acted on it, would there have risen another nation to take the place of Islam? Am I just fooling myself thinking that perhaps a lot of the discord and turmoil we hear about today in the Middle East could have been avoided if that son had never been born? Is that too simple of a solution?

It doesn’t mean that the Jews would have been deeply loved and valued by others throughout the years if Ishmael had never been born. Others have come along to try to erase them from the face of the earth. The Egyptians tried to destroy the Jews, but God ensured they grew to be a strong nation. Hitler wasn’t a Muslim, and he sure did his part in trying to move the Jewish nation into extinction. Still today, there are many forces working to depopulate the Jewish race. But here’s the secret. God won’t allow that to happen. Once God makes a promise, he keeps it. And it doesn’t matter how long it takes to fulfill the promise, he doesn’t go back on his word.

God loves the Jewish nation and wants the best for them, even though they have strayed from him. They have not remained faithful in following his commands. Sure. There is a remnant of faithful Jews, but they still don’t believe Jesus was the Messiah. But the day will come when the remnant believes and they will be saved.

God promised that he would destroy nations that come against Jerusalem. He says that the nations who come against Jerusalem will only hurt themselves. We must seriously consider the ramifications for our country if our leaders do not stand with Israel. We must stand with Israel at all costs.

On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves. Zechariah 12:3

For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:9

If you don’t know why there is so much hatred toward the Jewish nation, you might consider reading the entire Bible from cover to cover. I would suggest buying a chronological Bible to take you through the events as they occurred in order. Understanding the history of mankind is an important part of understanding today’s cultural moment.

Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. Romans 9:6-8

Christian Obligation

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King Saul. Oh. He was the first king of Israel, and he was a complicated man. He never asked to be king, but he was chosen by God to serve his nation. He didn’t know how to be a king. And he blew it big time. He blew it so bad that God instructed the prophet Samuel to tell him that the kingdom would be taken from his family. None of his sons or anyone in his family line would ever be king of Israel. A different family line would be placed on the throne after Saul. What a blow to an arrogant man’s ego.

Saul didn’t start out in a royal kind of life. He was from the smallest family of the smallest tribe of Israel. He seemed to start out on the right foot in his kingly life, but things went downhill. He had great military success. Wherever he turned, he was victorious in battle because God was on his side. After all, God chose him out of all the other Jewish men to lead the nation. But Saul got ahead of himself. He didn’t remain faithful to God and refused to obey his commands. God rejected Saul and was sorry he had made him king.

In one particular battle, God commanded Saul through the prophet Samuel to kill every living being. This meant every man, woman, child and animal should be wiped out. This may sound like a harsh command, but God knew that anyone from the opposing side who was allowed to live was a threat to his people. But Saul decided to keep some of the best animals for himself, and he captured the opposing king and let him live. Oh. Saul defeated the other king’s army and slaughtered everyone and everything else, but he didn’t fully obey God.

Samuel stopped by to check in with Saul. Saul greeted him with open arms and proclaimed that he had carried out the Lord’s command. But Samuel asked why he could hear animals. Oh. Saul said. We saved some of the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord. And then Samuel laid him out right there. He told Saul that because of his disobedience, God had removed his blessing from Saul. But Saul insisted that he had obeyed God. Samuel said no. Obedience is better than burnt offerings and sacrifice. He told Saul that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

You can read this story in 1 Samuel 15.

Saul’s disobedience cost him and his family the royal throne. While Saul thought that partial obedience was obedience, it really wasn’t. It cost him his soul. His obligation was to fully obey God to the fullest extent. And he didn’t. He had a rebellious streak that he pitted against God. Rebelling against God is never a winning strategy.

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? Psalms 116:12

If we call ourselves a Christian, we have certain obligations. Oh. We may not like to hear that, but hear me out. To call oneself a Christian means that we have confessed our sins to God and repented of them. We turn our back on sinning and begin to walk in the teachings of Christ. We are Christ followers. And what Jesus Christ did for us before we confessed our sins was to die on the cross. He did that willingly and in accordance with God’s plan. Because once Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, God offered a plan of redemption so we wouldn’t be doomed to hell for eternity. He offered us a way out of living in sin. And when we are forgiven, we are freed from our past. We can live forgiven, and we are no longer under a death sentence.

But is a free gift really free? The gift of salvation came with a huge price. Jesus died for everyone else’s salvation, so no one else would have to die. Christian faith costs something when we pick up our cross and follow Christ. The cross represented suffering, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anyone flippant about Christianity isn’t serious about their faith.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Some may think Jesus is cool without ever taking their beliefs into consideration. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we have to be cool. Because very often, the Christian will be on the low end of the coolness meter, according to those on the other side of the fence. Christians don’t need to be cool. They need to be humble. Humility is a symbol of bowing to one’s own desires and submitting to the will of our heavenly Father. Obedience to the Father’s will is liberating.

We want to learn from Saul’s lesson of disobedience. Partial obedience is not obedience. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t just obey God fully when it pleases us and then turn around and partially obey. Dying to ourselves requires full surrender to God’s will and commands.

Religion is not a warm electric blanket, it’s the cross, and the cross holds the suffering of the world. This is a very profound symbol of human suffering and failure of community, that they can be presented with the child of God and crucify him. We live in a fallen world. To make it all nice and to make it all warm and fuzzy, you’re not really talking about faith.

Ethan Hawke

Proclaiming the Glory of God

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In seven days, God created the heavens and the earth. We read the account of his work in the book of Genesis. It’s a fascinating story, to say the least. There are those who believe every word written about the creation, and there are those who cut it apart and put it back together in an unrecognizable way. But regardless of what someone believes, the earth rotates once every twenty-four hours in relation to the sun. The sun rises and sets in precise timing. And as if on cue, the earth continues to spin in perfect rhythm. Who but God can orchestrate such an act of precision? No one. I dare to say.

And some wonder who is in command of such happenings. I dare to ask, how can one doubt who is in charge? It seems plain as day to me. Why not to everyone?

The handiwork of God is precise. It is exact and calculated. God is the architect and designer of the universe. The design and craftmanship are beyond measure. Man, of his own abilities, could perform no such feat as to design a constellation of stars, a planet system, four seasons, and food sources enough to feed every mouth on this earth. No man can do that. What man can do and should do well is care for this creation, because it isn’t replaceable.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. Psalms 19:1-4

Many eyes were drawn to the skies this week as a solar eclipse made its way across Central and North America. Some saw it in its totality, and others viewed it partially. Eyes were guarded with special glasses. Even for the tiniest moment in time, many eyes were focused on the sun. As if the sun were a god. As if time could stand still just for the moon to pass between the sky and earth and the skies to fade dark.

In order for the earth, the moon and the sun to be in perfect alignment at the exact moment in time, a hand much larger and more precise than man’s was at work. Perfect alignment is an exact science, not trivial guesswork. Conditions must be met. Timing counts. This same God who perfectly aligned the three orbs this week also knows the number of cattle in a field. He also causes rain to fall and plants to grow.

It appears that we have survived this mighty act of God. What was predicted by some as potentially catastrophic and a cause for concern has turned out to be a seemingly quiet affair. God’s acts of brilliance don’t have to be thunderous and loud in order to be magnificent. An act of God can be as quiet as a gentle breeze on a warm day. God doesn’t always thunder his presence and power.

This magnificent event was called by different names. Cosmic coincidence. Emotional experience. Absolute transcendence. Strange phenomena. How about an act of God? That’s the more precise description we should give. Who else could align the earth, moon and sun at the exact same time and darkness cover the earth in designated places?

What if, for one tiny moment, all eyes would focus on the God who created the sun and created this spectacular event? Imagine if we focused on the Creator instead of his creation. Oh. His handiwork is something to see. But his gift of forgiveness and salvation are eternal.

There are those who pretend to be God and work by their own efforts to change weather patterns and events. Oh. They seem to be successful. We see their results. And at times, they may have us fooled into thinking the catastrophic event was natural. But only God knows for sure what he’s done and what he’s allowed in those moments.

Regardless of what one thinks of the eclipse or creation itself, the God of the universe orchestrates each moment in time and each circumstance. Others can attempt to play God, but their efforts will fall far short. And over time, it will be obvious who the true God is. It will be obvious whose works are unmatchable and whose are false attempts at greatness.

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!

Abraham Kuyper

Unexpected Interruptions

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His day didn’t go as planned. What was meant to be a quick lunch turned into an afternoon of frenzy. He always leaves the office during lunchtime so he can reset his mind and renew his energy. And before going back into the office, he’ll check his text and voice messages. This day turned into a chaos of events. While turning onto the busy street, an oncoming car traveling at top speed hit him. Front and center. His car spun in a full circle ending back in the direction he was headed. Air bags deployed. Glasses flew off his face. He was in a daze, to say the least. Fortunately, he suffered no physical injuries.

This man’s car would never start again, but the other driver drove off undetected to most. However, one eyewitness saw the driver escape and reported it. Police officers arrived. Questions were asked. Facts were gathered. Stories of the event were shared. Broken glass and debris were swept off the street. The car was towed. A ticket was written. A rental car was acquired.

He called his wife and shared the bad news. She arrived to take him home. He asked if she had learned mercy from the incident. When she said yes, she asked what he had learned. Humility. He said.

There was no need for harsh words or reprimands. There is a time to be silent and merciful in a difficult situation. When someone is shaken up and remorseful all at the same time, they don’t need to hear belittling words. Kind words and reassurance go a long way to heal a troubled heart.

Be still, and know that I am God! Psalms 46:10

In the midst of the life’s turmoil, we can learn contentment. Momentary peace comes from having a working car or an accident-free record. Sustaining peace comes from knowing God. Life will throw us curveballs when we least expect them. And we must be able to punt and do the next right thing. Whatever it looks like, life will continue on. Oh sure. A working, drivable car is a very good thing. And an accident-free driving record keeps the insurance rates lower. What we call necessities of life may only be things we should strive for and not demand. There are things we shouldn’t take for granted. We seem to miss them only when we need them and don’t have them.

The car may be totaled. The body may be shaken and the ego bruised. The soul can still be at peace through every circumstance. We know that the tests of life come to build our faith. It may not seem that a minor traffic accident could be a faith builder, but knowing that God’s hand of protection was surrounding the scene is a great comfort. Knowing that no one was injured brings peace of mind. Knowing that another car can be found brings stability. Hindsight is sometimes 20/20.

Life is full of chaos, sometimes caused by oneself and at other times caused by others. Life is basically out of our control. The events of daily life can be overwhelming, but we can learn resilience through a consistent walk with God. Because when circumstances in life are challenging, God is faithful. God makes his presence and power known when we stop and take a moment to dwell on his goodness. Even in the midst of unexpected, awful events, God is still good.

When Death is Gain

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We’re all alive but we’re heading for death. When we take our first breath, we are inching toward our last. We know we’re on a collision course with the grave. It’s a fact of life and death.  Every day we’ve been given to live is a gift to live for Christ. If we live for anything else, are we even truly living?

As believers, we are called to die to ourselves. That death can be very painful as we dislodge our desires from God’s. When we turn our life of self indulgence over to following God, the shackles fall off. When we turn our backs on sin, we gain everlasting life. When we allow our personal desires to be replaced with God’s will, we live in surrendered peace. When we die to ourselves, we live only for God.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Paul had been thrown into a prison in Rome. Oh. He hadn’t committed any crimes and he hadn’t been formally charged, but he found himself in prison anyway. There had also been a death threat against Paul because of his teachings. And those who disagreed with his teaching that Jesus had risen from the dead were replacing truth with doubt when they told their story in the courtroom. They were calling him a troublemaker, but they didn’t charge him with any crimes. They knew he wasn’t guilty of any crime but they wouldn’t set him free. By keeping him locked up, the Roman leaders thought they were appeasing the Jewish leaders. And Paul wouldn’t take a lesser plea just to get out of prison.

Paul knew he was unlawfully placed in prison. He knew he was being wronged, and he suffered for someone else’s wrongdoing. But his faith didn’t waver. He preached the gospel to governors who kept him locked up for years. He proclaimed his innocence when others tried to hijack his case. He even shared his testimony in front of a king who claimed he was out of his mind. He demanded to face trial in front of Caesar. That’s how he found himself in Rome. He had appealed to the highest court.

Paul didn’t fear death, because his hope was in Jesus Christ.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

I recently watched a short video where a man who searches for truth said that most people will do anything to survive. They’ll survive at any price. So he asked what was the right price to accept to remain alive. He asked. Is it ten million dollars? Twenty million? One hundred million? Then the next sentence he said stunned the audience. He said that if you are a truthteller, the price must be your life. Otherwise, you are for sale. And if you are for sale, then you’re not looking for the truth.

This man said that if I follow my conscience, I may die. But I can lie, and I will live. Truthtellers are strong. Liars are weak. Courage is contagious and intimidating at the same time. To those who are willing to take up the badge of courage, there are as many others who are afraid of those who speak truth. So have no fear. If your life is your price, then take pride in that fact but let it humble you at the same time.

And he’s right. If we can be paid off for keeping silent about the truth, then we’re not really looking for the truth. We’re looking for safety. We’re looking out for number one. Ourselves. But if the price is our life, then we’re willing to forfeit all we have to do the right thing. Telling the truth is costly. Oh. Not always. But in today’s world, the truth is spun so fast that what spills out looks nothing like truth. And it isn’t truth. It’s lies manufactured to make you safe and to put others out of the reach of safety. When if the truth were told, it would be the other way around. Your life could be at risk and others would be saved.

We know that death is not defeat to the Christian. The result of death is a win for those whose sins have been wiped clean. Death ushers forgiven souls into the presence of Jesus Christ for eternity.

Consider Daniel’s three friends. When commanded to bow before an image of the king, they refused. They said no. They would bow only to the God of the universe. So when they were given a second chance to bow, they still refused. Their punishment? They were thrown into a fiery furnace where the flames leaping out killed the ones tossing them in. But God honored their faithfulness, and they survived. Before being thrown into the fire, they said they would not recant their faith in God even if they didn’t survive the fire. Their faith was their priority in life and in the possibility of death. Their life was the price they were willing to pay for truth.

Read the story of Daniel’s friends in Daniel 3.

There was a life that was sold. Except the owner of the life didn’t make the financial exchange. It was one of his twelve closest followers. This follower was obviously living on the fringe. And in a moment of utter weakness, he approached the enemy and offered the life of the man he called Lord. And he sold that friendship for thirty pieces of silver. And when the guard came to collect their prize, Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek as a sign he was theirs for the taking.

Oh. The man who received the kiss knew the betrayal was coming. He knew his life was on the line. During the three years of his ministry, he spoke the truth plainly but eloquently to anyone who would listen. And he offered to them free of charge the gift of salvation and eternal life. It was his physical life that was on the line, though, as the sacrifice for the gift he offered. And as he hung on the cross, he paid the ultimate price. The truth of his message wasn’t silenced by his death. It spread like wildfire around the world, and it’s still spreading today.

The loss of the physical life of Jesus was our gain. Jesus’ death on the cross paved the way for our sins to be forgiven and our worth redeemed. Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe.

You can find the story of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus in Luke 22:47-53.

Work Observations

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I’m bored with my job. Oh. It may not show at work, but I stare at the computer and wish I didn’t have to be there. I don’t always have enough work to do, which makes the matter worse. I’m not interested in the work. It’s numbers, after all. I’m more into words. But I sit there entering numbers and paying my employer’s bills. I work in Accounting, and an accountant I am not. I always wonder if I will be found out. So far, no. But it’s a part-time job that I took when I retired from full-time work a couple of years ago. So I guess I could quit at anytime if I wanted. I’m seriously considering it.

Now that I’ve been in the job for a while, I have a clearer picture of the company I work for. By the way. I’m not an employee of the company. I’m actually an employee of a staffing agency. The company where I do my work has never offered me a permanent position. At first, it was indicated that would happen. And I kept waiting for that day. But now. Now I’m glad that offer was never made. I’m free to go when I want without any repercussions on my part. But I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t just walk away without giving a notice. It’s just not in my nature. Unless, that is, I was expected to do something immoral, unethical or illegal. That would be an entirely different situation.

I’ve noticed in this company that not everyone is fully honest. Oh. They make sure that the company is abiding by all appropriate laws and regulations. They don’t want to put the company at risk. Nothing underhanded is happening. But there is one who has a position of some authority who will tell their small white lies. If small white lies are really a thing. But this individual tells them when it suits their situation. And this individual confesses the lies to me that they’ve pushed onto others. It’s not like they’re hiding their thoughts or plans from everyone. Their lies are an underhanded way to get their way. Perhaps they think others don’t notice. Perhaps they think I don’t notice. I do. And this individual will underhandedly treat people they don’t favor a little more harshly than they treat others. I could be the only one who notices and knows these things because of my position. But it happens. And it bothers me.

Another individual complained about someone else at work. His words, which I fully agreed with, could have been the start of a gripe session between the two of us if I had taken the bait. I didn’t. I just listened to his words and got away from the conversation as quickly as I could. I want no part of badmouthing anyone I work with. Because ears may be listening. Tongues may start wagging. And I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a difficult conversation. It’s just not worth it. And besides. Gossip is evil.

One individual recently had major surgery. In their preparations for being out of the office, it became obvious that they didn’t want to let go of their responsibilities. Oh. It’s good that they take their work seriously. But they were holding on just a bit too tightly. This person is past the age of retirement but has no immediate plans to stop working. They work more hours than anyone else at the company. And they just can’t let go of anything. In other words. The person is a control freak. It’s become more noticeable to me over the past few months as they prepared for their surgery. And to be honest. Their controlling nature has become the bane of my existence at a place where I don’t have to be.

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Proverbs 18:15

This person doesn’t want to bring the company into the current century as far as adopting new procedures. The old ways are very comfortable and they’ve voiced their thoughts that change will have to wait until they’re no longer around. Meanwhile, the company is suffering from antiquity. The problem seems invisible to most, because there are several others there who are in the same age group. I’ve realized that when this person is no longer employed, the one who replaces them will come in and make sweeping changes. This will be very uncomfortable for most everyone. Some will fight it. Others will leave. And a few may be relieved. I don’t plan to be around at that point.

I’ve realized that this individual’s unwillingness to make changes could slowly and silently send the company into a death spiral. Not necessarily financially or in any obvious way, but change needs to happen regardless of one’s opinions or comfort level. A company can’t wait to make multiple large changes at one time just to keep the old guard satisfied. When leaders resist change, it’s time to change leaders.

One of my responsibilities is to post a listing of all the birthday and anniversaries each month for everyone to see. As I was working on the flyer for the upcoming month, I noted that one individual has been with the company for over twenty years and another for over thirty years. There’s nothing wrong with longevity at a first glance, but longevity breeds complacency. These two individuals are resistant to change. And they’ve lost the drive to work hard. They just show up to collect a handsome paycheck. And it shows in their work ethic.

Why am I documenting all this on this page? I’ve realized that it’s easy to become complacent and comfortable with our lives. We all need change at times. We become stagnant, unfulfilled and boring if we live the same life we’ve lived all our lives. We need to continually challenge our minds by reading well. We need to continually move our bodies in order to be able to move them as we age. We need to continually grow in our faith or it will stagnate and die. We weren’t meant to sit idle all day and do nothing. We weren’t made to live thoughtless lives.

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon says there is a time for everything under the sun. Change is one of those things that we must be willing to make. Whether we like it or not, change can be good for us. Oh. It’s always better if we’re the instigator of the change. If change is our plan, then we’re fully onboard. If it’s someone else’s idea, then forget it. That’s what we say. Sometimes change happens when we least expect it and we have no say in the matter. We have to go with the flow, because there’s no choice. Life is tough.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I know of someone who recently learned that he will be losing his job. He’s been with the same company for many years. He is paralyzed with fear. He doesn’t know what to do. To make matters worse, he’s close to retirement but not close enough. Relocation is a possible option, but that would mean uprooting his entire life. What if his family isn’t onboard with that? But what if moving is his only option other than the unemployment line? The man has some uncomfortable decisions to make in the near future, and I hope he gets wise counsel.

Oh. Unemployment isn’t fun. I know. I’ve stood in that line three times. But each time I was involuntarily placed in that waiting season wondering if I would ever be employed again, I learned not to take so much for granted. New jobs can be found at most any age. New habits and patterns can be formed. New skills can be learned. New friendships can be formed. Life can be good again. It’s just that, instead of placing our trust in God, we place our reliance on that thing called a paycheck. It is necessary, of course. We were made to work. But God is in the business of providing, and we must lean into his goodness and timing.

My intent is not to complain. I realize life is good. I also realize that life is unsteady and weaves through unpredictable cycles. Our strength and trust in God is learned through the tests and trials that come our way. If we only stay in the lane we’ve always been in, we may not be as prepared for the waves of unpredictability as we would be if we allowed the changes of life to shape our faith.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

When the Forsythia Blooms

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It’s March, and I see the yellow blooms of the forsythia in my yard. But it’s not the first time this year that I’ve seen this phenomenon. The forsythia bush started waving yellow during a warm spell in January. The bush must have become confused by the sudden turn of weather in a month that is typically frozen and snowy. As the temps cooled down again, the forsythia stalled in its attempts to force its bright color upon us. But now. Now that it’s March and warm temperatures are again teasing us, the forsythia is once again attempting to bloom.

It’s pretty safe to assume that its efforts this time will be successful, since the days of the year are moving along. Is it safe to say that spring is just around the corner? I think so. But lest we be fooled into thinking that warm temperatures are here to stay, the weather has once again turned from warm to crispy cold. It’s a game that the seasons play on even the most weathered individuals. Each year, we face the same teasing of cold to warm and then back again to cold. Until one day, the cold is gone.

I find that life is the same as the forsythia bush. We see the much anticipated days of goodness ahead and try to rush headlong into them before it’s time. We’ve just survived our latest hurdle, and now another is on the horizon. The weather of life snaps, and we find ourselves in the midst of a heavy, burdensome load of trouble. We wonder if life will ever be good again. And so we wait. And then one day, we see the first sign of our burden easing and we breathe a little easier. Will it last? We’re not sure. But our hope is rising. And then one day, we find the burdensome problem has been resolved and we’re free to be carefree for a time.

Oh. If only life was simple.

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalms 84:11

In the ninth chapter of Daniel, Daniel writes of a glimpse of hope for his people, the nation of Israel. He apparently took advantage of the great libraries and learning centers of Babylon and read many books. After all, he had been living there since he was a teenager. Oh. It wasn’t his idea to move many miles from his home in Jerusalem, but he had been captured and taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And Daniel had been forced to work in Nebuchadnezzar’s royal palace after he underwent an intense three-year re-education program.

For the rest of his life, Daniel worked in the royal palace of Babylon. He served many kings, as they would come and go. At times, he was placed in very powerful positions if he was favored and respected by the king. Some of the kings had a very high regard for Daniel’s God-given wisdom and intuition and trusted his advice. He would interpret their dreams and then give all the credit to God, for it was God who had given him the ability to understand and interpret dreams. However, other kings demoted him to lower positions and didn’t even know his name or past accomplishments. There were times in his service to the kings that his life was threatened. The possibility of bodily harm was a natural fear to have while serving people in high places. One wrong decision or word could have your life coming to a dramatic end. As Daniel served the kings, God watched over his life and once spared him from an untimely death when thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel didn’t waver in his faith and devotion to God. He honored his commitment to God and prayed faithfully each day.

But back to the ninth chapter of Daniel. He had somehow received a copy of Jeremiah’s prophetic letter. As he read it, he realized that God had sentenced his people to seventy years of exile in Babylon. Daniel was living this prophecy in real time. And he realized that the seventy years were soon coming to an end. Instead of being ecstatic about a possible return to his homeland, he fell on his knees and repented of his and his nation’s sins. He cried out to God to forgive the nation of Israel for defying God and turning their backs on him. As he read Jeremiah’s letter, he saw how God had punished them for their belligerent actions against an almighty God who had given their nation a favored status above all other nations. And they had rejected God’s favor. Daniel cried out in horror that his nation had been so blind and unrepentant.

Daniel realized that he was receiving the punishment due his forefathers for their sins of disobedience. His generation was the one to receive the just penalty of a ruined nation and exile to a hostile, foreign land. Oh. Daniel didn’t beg God to let him return to Jerusalem to live out his final years. No. He never said those words. He asked for forgiveness and mercy instead.

We may not understand why the forsythia gets confused when the weather wreaks havoc on its blooming cycle. But we do understand that eventually the forsythia will bloom once the conditions of spring are met. And then its beauty will shine forth. Daniel, too, realized that his nation’s punishment would soon end and his people could return to their homeland. Hope was on the horizon.

When he was led as a prisoner to Babylon, Daniel didn’t know he would live to be an old man and die there.  He didn’t know that he would never return home to see Jerusalem again. He didn’t know the obstacles he would face. But he had a strong faith in God. He knew that his God would not fail him. And he knew that at the right time and in the right condition, God would strengthen and encourage him when all else seemed lost. Daniel never wavered in his faith. His faith only grew stronger as time passed. Soon, he was an old man and had lived his entire adult life as a servant of kings in a royal palace that rebelled against God.

Daniel didn’t realize that as he was serving in this foreign land, God was also judging the evil leaders of his day. As part of God’s plan, Babylon too would be taken captive and be forced to bow to foreign kings. And through the downfall of Babylon, Daniel stood strong in his faith in God. As the new rulers took their place on Babylon’s throne, once again Daniel was placed in a position of authority serving another ungodly king. His faithfulness to God made him a highly sought after ally for a king needing self-assurance and stability. Even at the age of eighty, Daniel was still a trusted leader.

I’ve read that when people are hurting, the entire world looks bleak. We see no way out of our situation and feel like we’ll be stuck in this never ending cycle of pain. We don’t know when the waves of uncertainty and trouble will enter our lives, and we don’t know how long they’ll last. But we can live in peace and contentment when we are serving God.

We never question if the forsythia will bloom each spring. Our only question is when it will bloom. Because we know it will. Perhaps it’s time for us to use the same logic when we face our own devastations. We shouldn’t ask if life will ever be good again. We should ask how we can accept our situation even when it’s not good. We must hold onto the knowledge that God is good all the time. And all the time, God is good. Regardless of the unfortunate events we have faced or will face in the future, we can rest assured that God is in control. And God always wins. Our hope must be in God alone.

Be Careful About What Offends You

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The Bible is the Word of God. It’s God’s message of love, hope, salvation and justice to everyone. God speaks truth in his word. God’s plan is perfect, so when Adam and Eve hit a bump in the road and disobeyed him, he had a solution for their sin. When they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, God provided a plan of forgiveness. And it wasn’t just a plan to save Adam and Eve; it was a plan for the salvation for all mankind. But ever since then, mankind has been on a collision course with eternity. And each of us needs to fully surrender to God’s free gift of forgiveness and salvation for our sin.

We can read in God’s word about his plan of salvation. We can hear it preached in church. We can see how salvation has changed people’s lives. We have the choice to accept or refuse this gift God is offering to each of us. God doesn’t make us choose to live according to his will. He gives us a choice. We make the decision.

The thing is. God’s word is the same for everyone who reads or hears it. Some people are convicted by hearing about their sinfulness and repent. They choose to become a follower of Christ. Others are highly offended and turn against God. They live in opposition to his commands. But his commands don’t change. God is always constant, and he doesn’t show favoritism.

On a recent podcast, the speaker shared that the same fire that melts wax hardens clay. The same wind that sways the oak tree will uproot the weak. And it’s the same with God’s word, which doesn’t change. The difference is in the hearer.

This podcaster encouraged his listeners not to harden their hearts, but to turn from their sinful ways and follow God. The only one we must fear is God. And that fear isn’t the same as being frightened in the dark. It’s the fact that we respect God’s authority and obey him. The fear of God causes us to bow to his commandments and leading. Our fear of God means we don’t act beyond what he allows. We must have a reverence for God and stand in awe of his power and wrath.

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise. Deuteronomy 10:17, 20-21

In his death on the cross, Jesus represents submission to God, not submission to the authority of man. He represents absolute truth, so when we read the word of God we see our own sinfulness. And we have the choice to be convicted or offended. Sure. The truth hurts. But it also heals if we accept the forgiveness of our Lord and Savior.

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that people no longer fear God. We live for ourselves alone and assume we are our own authority. But the fear of God needs to be seriously considered and practiced. Living in the fear of God doesn’t mean we’re quaking in our boots at the mention of his name. But it does mean that we respect and acknowledge our limits, and we don’t cross the boundaries of Scripture. We must realize that God is God and we are not him. His authority is supreme over anything and everything else.

We see the fear of God lived out in the Bible. When the Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh’s orders to kill all the newborn baby boys, they refused. They had more fear of God than they did of the king. They knew that if they murdered all those babies, they would stand in judgment before God. They knew they couldn’t cross that line. They stood firmly in their faith in God, and God gave them families of their own in honor of their obedience.

You can read the story of the Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1.

In another Bible story, Daniel’s three friends refused to bow in worship to the king. When the king gave them a second chance, they again refused. They said that if God wanted to save them, he would. If he didn’t want to save their lives, then he wouldn’t. And as a result of their refusal to worship the king, they were thrown in to a fiery furnace. And God chose to honor their obedience and saved their lives.

You can read the story of Daniel’s friends in Daniel 3.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6