HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?

Over lunch the other day, I asked one of our men what he does for his spiritual growth. It became evident that other than attending church and quizzing his children as to what they've learned at Sunday School, he is not doing much. I can understand this since he is just "coming back" to church attendance after years away from the church. He is still dealing with a question as to whether he will become a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
However I can't understand how many seemingly serious Christians "starve themselves" spiritually by their own choice. Jesus said "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." The only fully trustworthy words from God are found in the Bible. If we are to live spiritually and eat enough to keep growing, we must spend time with the Bible.
I am in the middle of Psalm 119 right now. I will read the second half of this psalm tomorrow. What a great emphasis this psalm places on the Word of God. I am so glad that at age 16 I was challenged to memorize vs. 9 - 11. That same summer I was challenged to begin a daily Bible reading and prayer time. That lifelong habit is surely the most important habit I formed as a teen.
If you don't spend time regularly reading and thinking about Scripture, you are starving spiritually. Come on - carve out at least 10 minutes a day. Then after a few weeks up it to 20 minutes. After a while you will find that 30 minutes a day of Bible and prayer is really a minimum to stay healthy.
God is waiting to meet with you daily. Make the time - keep growing!

PROCRASTINATE OR REFUSE

We discovered a significant leak in two of our windows a week ago. Strong rain with strong wind made it very evident that our south facing windows need some significant repair. Unfortunately the management has not repaired them during the last week. The window sill and walls need to be really dry before repairs and we get just enough rain each day or at night to keep things moist. So they have a valid excuse for procrastination. But if we get another strong windy rain from the south, we will be soaking up the water with towels.
Last night I needed to take a short, 75 cent taxi ride to a meeting. I flagged a taxi, got in and told him where I needed to go. He immediately said $2.50. He did not want to charge the meter price because he knew it was a short ride. Fortunately I knew the right price, suggested $1, but he would not budge. I smiled, said goodbye and got out. Caught the next taxi. I am glad it wasn't raining.
I think of these incidents and I remember how often in my life I have said "Just wait" or "No" to God. Sometimes I've felt I had a legitimate excuse. Sometimes I simply did not want to do what I knew I should do. How stupid for a creature like me to disagree with and disobey the One who made me and loves me.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." Psalm 111:10

GOD SENT A MAN

In Psalm 105, the author is recounting God's special ways with His covenant people. He begins by mentioning the covenant he made with Abraham (vs 9) and near the end mentions again the "the holy promise" He gave to Abraham. (vs 42) God had a special role for Abraham's descendants.
What caught my attention today, was the wonderful, mysterious, painful way in which God "sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave." (vs. 17) The author is simply repeating the description of God's action by Joseph himself. Three times to his brothers, Joseph says "God sent me". Genesis 45:5, 7, 9
It was not an easy sending that Joseph went through - sold as a slave at age 17; later on, thrown unjustly into prison. Not for 13 years did Joseph obtain the position as the most powerful man in Egypt next to the Pharoah. Not until his brothers appeared years later did Joseph finally understand that all those years before God, in His Sovereign plan, had sent Him to Egypt for a special purpose. Joseph alone was in the key position to provide for Jacob and his descendants who would become the nation of Israel.
The Bible makes it clear that God places different people in a variety of positions, sent to play the role He has for them. You may not realize it - or at least not yet - but you may be where you are right now because God sent you. He may have you there to influence one person, or many: someone (s) who needs to hear the Good News, or needs special help, or needs godly leadership. God sends women and men: even though from a human point of view it may appear accidental, or even by mistake that you are now where you are. Are you a sent woman? A sent man? Don't miss God's purpose for you this year - wherever you have been sent.

By the way, sometimes I miss a blog day because of a tight schedule. Sometimes (like yesterday) because I am not able to get onto the blogger website. I do my best to write at least five times a week.

AN UNDIVIDED HEART

Personal note: we have had our windows open all day today. Normal temperature these days is 30 - 32 degrees (86 - 90 F). But today with a cool breeze from the west in mid-afternoon it is overcast and 25. How comfortable. What a nice change.
Now to a Scripture for today.

"Teach me your way,Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; 

give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
¹² 

"Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you." (NLT)

"Unite my heart to fear Your name." (NASB)

"Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name."(Holman)   

"Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.

                                                                  (The Message)    

Every disciple of Jesus needs to pray this kind of phrase regularly. "Lord, please give me an undivided heart, purity of heart, one heart and mind, undivided. I am so prone to organize my thoughts, goals, values around other things or people instead of you Lord. I know you should be the center of my universe for you are the Center of the Universe. But I so easily move myself back toward the center, and when I do, everything becomes unbalanced; like a spinning top that wobbles because its with weight is not centered." 

I want to keep first things first. I want to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. I know that if my heart is undivided then life will not wobble.

¹

¹² 

HAS GOD FORGOTTEN

Yesterday a brief look at doubt about whether loyalty to God and His ways is worth it. Today a brief look at doubt about God from Psalm 77. The psalmist was in turmoil. He experienced so much stress that he could not sleep. And he wondered if God had rejected him.
"Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?" Psalm 77:8, 9


But like you and me, like all people of faith, he and we know better. God cannot change. We know our God's loving, merciful actions have been displayed in history. Our faith is in the God who acted in and through the nation of Israel. He is the God who acted in and through our Lord - Jesus Christ. In history He has displayed his love, His mercy and His power.
Therefore, when life is painful and God seems distant, we need to return to Scripture. We need to listen to music that conveys biblical truth. We need to reflect on what we know of God and His loving actions in history - and in our own lives. Then we are able to join with the psalmist as he comes out of his doubting and depression and says:
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?" Psalm 77:11 - 13

FEET ALMOST SLIPPING

We are moving into rainy season here in Hanoi. While the entrance to our apartment is very nice, the smooth steps and the smooth cement, when wet can be very slippery. The psalmist says that his "feet had almost slipped" and "I had nearly lost my foothold". I suspect he was using the picture of climbing a steep hill and starting to slide.
He uses this picture language to speak of losing faith; of questioning his loyalty to God. Why? Because he was noticing how good life seemed to be for those who paid no attention to God. They seem healthy, wealthy, care free and independent. They don't seem to suffer yet they live with no loyalty to God.
So it seemed that it was vain to live a morally pure life. Why be honest?  Why be a person of integrity? It doesn't seem to make a better life. The life of the unbeliever seems better than the life of a committed believer.
The first half of Psalm 73 puts into words what many Christians in moments of discouragement or loss really feel. It is common yet also frightening to feel that your faith in God is slipping. What good is a life loyal to Christ?
In this and several other psalms, it is clear that the author is painfully honest with God. It is also clear that he regains the biblical perspective, the spiritual perspective, the long range view of life and eternity. Yes, those who ignore and/or oppose God may prosper; they even seem to have all that life offers. But that is only a sensual and momentary perspective.
A relationships with God provides much deeper meaning and deeper joy. The psalmist regains this perspective and writes: "And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25, 26
When you feel like you are "slipping" it may be you've lost an eternal and spiritual perspective. You need to get your eyes once again firmly fixed on the One who has gone ahead of us. Hebrews 12:1 -3 

PRAYING FOR GOD'S BLESSING

Psalm 67 begins with words that everyone has ever prayed - or at least we have prayed the sentiment.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—" 
² 

We want God's blessing and His smile. If God blesses us we know our lives will be full and content. So we pray this for ourselves and for our loved ones - perhaps every day. But how often do we pray the sentiment of the next sentence in Psalm 67?

"- so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations."

What a large view of life the psalmist has. His prayers are so often God-centered. So he prays for God's blessing in order that others will be blessed through him and those with him (probably meaning the nation of Israel). In effect he prays, "God bless us so that many others will come to know you among the nations."
As God blesses you, your family, your faith community - are you frequently praying that His blessing will flow through you to bless others? How is the health, the skills, the opportunities, the money that you and yours have been given - how is it being used so that others will come to know our God - where you live and among the nations?

FAMILY ALTARS

I write this blog with hesitation. I am not an expert on ancestor altars nor Buddhist altars. I may us improper terminology. However this blog is really anecdotal, demonstrating how different life can be in Vietnam and SE Asia. How so many things are touched by religion and superstition.
For example: family altars are very common in a number of Asian countries, including Vietnam. In larger homes they may be given an entire room. In extreme cases they may be given the house.
One friend who works for an NGO told us of small emergency houses they provides for families whose houses had been destroyed. The temporary dwellings were adequate but had only one room. To the astonishment of the westerners in the NGO they found some of the families choosing to live outside rather than in the house provided. When they questioned the families they found that the family altar had been placed in the one room house. Therefore the family must not "desecrate the room" by sleeping there.
Recently one of our friends found a very nice house to rent. They requested that the family altar be removed from the upper room if they were to rent it. The landlord refused. Better to have no renters than to move the altar.
An NGO we know has a contract to rent a villa and use it for their required office space. They stipulated to the landlord that the altar needed to be removed and he agreed. One week prior to moving into the house, the landlord informed them that the altar cannot be moved out of the house. It can be moved into a storage room but must remain in the house. The contract may be broken over the issue of the altar.
The reality of opposing spiritual forces is very real in every country. However in some countries it is simply more evident, more out in the open. North Vietnam has had communist rule for 50 years. Especially in the past decade there has developed a younger class whose faith seems to be in materialism. Yet there are spiritual beliefs and practices that demonstrate spiritual bondage that is very real: temples, household altars, company and store altars, tiny shrines in taxi cabs, many mediums and fortune tellers.
In the midst of this dark spirituality, Vietnamese and expat Christians are ambassadors of Christ who can bring freedom from all spiritual bondage. 

NO MAN CAN

It is an affirmation of helplessness. True of the wealthy and powerful as it is true of the rest of humanity. The psalmist has just mentioned those who are wealthy and who boast of their great wealth. Then he writes:

"Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough." Psalm 49:7, 8

No man or woman can. No human power or wealth can save us from death nor save us from God's judgment. We are all destined to die and then give an account to God. In light of this it is a plaintive cry "no one can ever pay enough." We cannot offer to God enough sacrifices or good deeds to satisfy his holy standards. We can never buy or earn eternal life in the presence of God.

But then we come to a nearby psalm, very likely written by David. Here David cries out for God's mercy flowing from His unfailing love and great compassion. David confesses his own sinfulness and need. He makes no attempt to offer anything for the forgiveness and spiritual cleansing he requires.
David simply affirms his faith that God can "wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Again he asserts that God can "Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:1 - 7
Unknown to David, one thousand years later Jesus "the Lamb of God" would come to provide the sacrifice for all sin past, present and future. David could be cleansed as he trusted in God's forgiveness. Jesus was the perfect God-man who could "redeem the life of another". Jesus alone could pay the costly ransom required that all who believe could "live on forever."
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow." Thank you. Lord.

FOUR PLUS ONE

In the early verses of Psalm 37 we are given four positive imperatives or commands (actually several of them are repeated in different ways) and one repeated negative imperative. They are life changing if only we would put them into action daily.
The negative "Do not worry" is repeated three times in the first 8 verses.  The psalmist is warning against the frustration God's people may feel as they watch evil people prosper, succeed and seem to enjoy life. It is the age old concern voiced numerous times in Scripture: "If God is in control, why do evil people seem to live with no punishment? Where is justice?" The psalmist says simply "Don't worry about them, keep the long range view. God's judgment will even things out."
The positive commands are underlined in my Bible. I hope you've highlighted them in yours. Think about these wise guidelines today. "Trust in the Lord. Delight yourself in the Lord. Commit your way to the Lord. Be still before the Lord." There could be a long sermon preached on each of these. I suggest you simply take these four God focused words with you and repeat them to yourself during the day. Trust! Delight! Commit! Be still!
Have a great day.

GOD OF TRUTH

I paused this morning as I read these words in Psalm 31:5:
"You redeem me, Lord, God of truth."
In comparing translations, there is an almost even split between translating "faithful God" or "God of truth."My one semester of Hebrew, decades ago, prevents me from commenting on which translation is best. Both are likely fine translations, both are true of God, and are not much different in meaning. However in this postmodern era, the phrase "God of truth" deserves our attention and moves us to worship and rejoice. (My Bible is the "old"NIV. The newest NIV uses the word "faithful")


This same descriptive phrase occurs twice in Isaiah.

"Whoever is blessed in the land will be blessed by the God of truth, 

and whoever swears in the land will swear by the God of truth." (65:16)


Many today are unsure that there is any ultimate truth. In a large number of cultures (most, all?) it is best to  assume that someone doing business with you is not telling the truth. What you read and what you hear is probably partial truth at best. Then of course there are those who feel there is nothing that is absolutely true - it is only true for you.
We who receive Christ have linked our lives to this One who said "I am the way, the truth and the life." Our God: Father, Son and Spirit, is the God of Truth. He cannot lie for by very nature He is truth. How wonderful to know that because of this He is our totally dependable, trustworthy, faithful Father and Friend.
So this morning I paused to praise the One who is the truth; to rejoice in His truthful character. I also had to confess to Him that too often over the years I have been hesitant to tell the whole truth. I knew that "truth" might cost me a few dollars, or embarrassment, or cause a project dear to me to be blocked. I renewed my commitment to be a man of truth; called to follow the example of Christ. He was "full of grace and truth." May it be so in my life, Oh God of truth.


"



"

STRENGTH AND JOY

The encouraging words "Be strong and courageous"are best known as God's words to Joshua as he took the baton from Moses and began to lead the people of Israel. However they do occur elsewhere as does the word strength by itself. God may counsel you today "Be strong" if you are feeling depressed or defeated. However He offers much more than this challenge.
The psalmist writes: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trustsin him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

God provides His strength, inner strength to face temptation, to reject sin, to persist when we feel like quitting, to persevere through pain. The Lord is our strength. His people do find strength in Him. And when we feel that we have no strength? Millions testify that when it seemed all strength was gone, they felt God "carry them".
In a similar way we are exhorted to be joyful and to rejoice. Yet at the same time we would affirm that in the midst of overwhelming sorrow, God can be the source of our joy.
"You turned my wailing into dancing; 
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy" Psalm 30:11

I hope today you are feeling strong in the Lord and clothed with joy (maybe you even feel like dancing!)

GOD CENTERED

There are many passages in the Psalms that demonstrate a life that is God centered. I quoted one verse a few days ago.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11

Another occurs at the end of the next psalm:
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Psalm 17:15

Here is what I wonder. How many Christians would be attracted to life after death if "all that is offered" is the presence of God? Think of it. What is it that many Christians anticipate about life after death? I might say "seeing my father and mother and other believing loved ones who died years ago." Someone else might say "relief from the severe pain I've lived with for the past decade." Others might mention: "relief from persecution or a limiting disability." And some whose lives are comfortable want more of the same: "I hope there are animals, or golf, or fishing, or ---." Now none of these are bad and some are rightfully part of a believer's future perspective.
Yet how many of us enjoy God enough now, so that what we long for more than anything else; what we anticipate more than anything else, is "simply" being in the presence of God. To be able to see Him as He really is; to worship Him with no limitations of wandering minds and sinful hearts; to be able to praise Him without being interrupted by the constant requests we bring to Him. Just to enjoy God. To be "satisfied with seeing your likeness".
Our goal now should be to love God more and more. If our love for Him is increasing, than the sheer joy of seeing God, of being with the One whom we love more than anyone and anything else - that and nothing else is more than enough to make the other side of death extremely attractive.

DEALING WITH DOUBT part three

Doubt and questions about Christian faith are not found only among new believers. They are not limited to young or immature believers. Believers of any age and any spiritual maturity may suddenly or slowly find doubts and questions arising.
Sometimes these need to be dealt with by reading good Christian books, doing online research or getting solid answers from someone who has done the research. Serious intellectual questions need serious intelligent responses. Sometimes the period of doubt lasts for only a brief time: it may have come because of weariness - physical, emotional or spiritual. Sometimes all that is needed besides rest is a time in prayer and Bible reading.
However these three blogs are outlining four perspectives that help our attitude when suddenly faced with doubt or questions. If this is a new experience some people immediately feel "their world is falling apart" or may feel overwhelmed. They may fear that this "crisis of faith" is the beginning of a total loss of faith. So to a group of teens I offered these four guidelines for thinking, or four helpful perspectives.
1. You are not the first.  2. Stay honest with God. 3. Stay centered on Jesus.
4. Remain realistic about the choices.

This fourth perspective has helped me when moments of doubt have occured. I find myself suddenly wondering (as a pastor and teacher), what if this is not true? What if I have taught all these years something that is a fabricated religion? What if Jesus is not real?
I have seldom wrestled with thoughts like this for long. A major reason is because I have identified with Peter as I have meditated on John 6.

"Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked,“Are you also going to leave?”

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67 - 69

I am not a student of world religions. However I know enough and have seen enough to make a fairly informed evaluation of "competing" religions. I have read the most popular books that argue for atheism. I am not impressed.
On the other hand I have intensely studied the life of Jesus and have read the Gospels at least 40 times. I have sought to live as a follower of Jesus for about 5 decades. Whenever assailed by doubts, my mind goes quickly to Peter's astute answer to Jesus question. Peter has watched as other disciples have walked away, choosing to no longer follow Jesus. To paraphrase his question: "If we don't follow you Jesus, who or what shall we follow? If we don't believe you have the meaning of life, where will we look for that meaning?"
Each of us by being human has to believe something about life and death. Whether we articulate it or not; whether we give it much thought or not, we must live by some kind of belief. We believe in no god or some god. We believe in no life meaning or some life meaning. We believe that there is no existence after death or some kind of after death existence. Each of us must deal with a world of suffering and try to make some sense of it. We must live; and by the choices we make, the life we live, we affirm or at least reveal our world view, our belief system or our non- belief system.
When I look at the choices, there is no contest. No belief system, no world view can compete with what is found in Jesus. To the deepest questions of life and death, no one offers answers like Jesus does. As I try to realistically evaluate the choices, Jesus makes so much more sense; life makes so much more sense. Jesus is so much more believable; Jesus offers so much more.
When I pause to think about this, my doubts quite quickly disappear. I hope this helps you.

DEALING WITH DOUBT part two

It is natural for any thinking person to question some beliefs. In fact it is healthy. Most of us at times struggle with hard questions: Why so much suffering? Why are my prayers not answered? Why does the Bible seem to contradict itself?
In the previous blog mentioned two perspectives that help as we face spiritual doubts and questions. The third perspective I shared with the teens on Friday night was this:
Stay centered on Jesus. No one has answers to all of the questions that can be raised about Science and the Bible; the Person of God; the psychological aspects of religious belief and about Christian faith specifically.
But we do have solid eyewitness accounts of Jesus: what He taught, how He treated people, how He died. We do have solid evidence for the resurrection. We know the early disciples were radically changed almost immediately after Jesus rose from the dead. And hundreds of millions of people have found in Jesus powerful life change. Focus on Jesus. Grow your relationship with Him. Peripheral questions may bother us, but if the Center remains firm, the life of faith is not rocked.
Beware of the evidence that temptation and the sin that easily follows often lead to spiritual doubts. Though I may not admit it, when tempted to a lifestyle dishonouring to God, I will also be tempted to reject some or all of my beliefs. If I can do that, I will enjoy sin more and an ease my conscience. A Christian moving into a sinful lifestyle is subconsciously motivated to deny the faith.
The fourth thing I shared while on this topic was:
Remain realistic about the choices. More on this in the next blog.
I hope you can worship our Lord with other believers tomorrow. 

DEALING WITH DOUBT

I had fun tonight speaking to 20 high school teens from around the world (Nigeria, Germany, Korea, USA, etc.) They make up the youth group of our International Church. I shared four perspectives that would help them when they found their Christian belief enduring a time of doubt and questions. Some of them had already had questions about their faith. Most will some day soon be away from parents and in a university or college. All of them will some day have to deal with a faith that is wavering.
What simple perspectives did I share in one brief talk?
1. You are not the first. Remember this when you find yourselves dealing with questions: about the trustworthiness of the Bible or apparent conflicts between Science and the Bible, etc. Other believers have had the same questions and have found answers that satisfied them. Don't be startled or think the credibility of Christianity is threatened. Assure yourself that you are not the first. You may not have a good answer to the question or issue that is suddenly bothering you - but someone has. Relax, there are answers that will satisfy. You will just have to do some searching.
2. Stay honest with God. God already knows our thoughts. There are no secrets with Him. Therefore we should always pray honestly. There is no sense pretending that we are firm believers when our hearts are filled with doubt. Don't be afraid to tell God that you are overwhelmed with sorrow due to a personal tragedy or a world full of tragedy and it is making you doubt His power or goodness. God is not frightened or shocked when we come to Him with our struggles. What is harmful is if we pray polite, meaningless words to God when He is waiting to hear us share from our innermost being.
Many of God's saints have struggled with questions and doubts. Just pay attention as you read through the Psalms, or Job, or Habakkuk. There is a reason that the Bible records many questions as well as many affirmations of faith. It is very human to struggle with doubt and questions.
I will share #3 and #4 tomorrow.

MORE THAN HAPPINESS

A few weeks ago we celebrated Easter. I don't know when it started, but in Canada it has become common to greet people on Easter Sunday with "Happy Easter" in the same way that on December 25 we say "Merry Christmas." I've never liked this "Happy Easter" greeting. (I prefer Joyful Easter or Christ is Risen.) It seems so in contrast to the biblical message that followers of Jesus may experience many days of unhappiness as they are disciplined toward holiness and/or persecuted because they follow Jesus. We may or may not experience happiness but we are guaranteed joy if we live daily with Christ. Joy now and joy in the future because we have a Risen Saviour. Do you remember how Paul ties our joy directly to our Lord and repeats himself:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

I was reminded of this today as I read Psalm 16. The psalms often include words of dismay, discouragement or questioning. However in this psalm the writer seems to be in a very good place emotionally, spiritually and perhaps even physically. He is thanking God that all is well in his life. At the end of the psalm he makes an affirmation that we all can make, whether things right now are really good and you are happy; or if things right now for you are painful, difficult and making you sad.

We know the One who is the Way, Truth and Life. In Christ we find real joy and only God knows how much pure pleasure lies beyond death for those who are His children. So rejoice!

"You reveal the path of life to me;

in Your presence is abundant joy; 

in Your right hand are eternal pleasures." Psalm 16:11 

WHY DO THE NATIONS?

Israel's King asks the question in Psalm 2. Three thousand years ago, he led the nation that God had chosen to be His Special People. Israel was to serve as a light to the nations; to portray God in a righteous powerful manner so that other nations would want to worship God. They were to be God's ambassador, His representative to the world.

Of course the nation of Israel often failed to follow God's commands. Yet as God's representative nation, they attracted more than their share of hostility. And so Israel's king writes:

Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
² The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Psalm 2:1, 2

Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.Worship the Lordwith reverence and rejoice with trembling.

Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!                                        Psalm 2:10 - 12

This psalm, like numerous OT passages is working on two levels. On one level it is all about Israel, Israel's king and what was happening then. However on another level, it is speaking prophetically and universally. And thus it speaks to us today; to those of us who acknowledge Jesus as our King; to those who sincerely pray "Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven."

Do you ever wonder why government officials, or newspapers, or schools, or others can display such anger and opposition to Christ and His Church? Doesn't it seem "strange, frustrating, irritating" how followers of Jesus seem to attract both verbal and physical abuse around the world? Sure the church now, like Israel in biblical times, is far from perfect. Yes, Christians through unwise behaviour or foolish statements bring just criticism and deserved opposition upon themselves. But we know, as Israel's king knew 3,000 years ago, that there is much more going on than normal opposition. 

We know that the spiritual dimension is huge; That all humans naturally resist God, for He threatens our selfish desires and pride. We guard our personal power aggressively. To submit to His rule means losing this precious personal power. Since this is true on the individual level, we should not be surprised to find opposition to the ways of God and God himself at the local or national level in any and every country.   

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, insists that He is the rightful ruler of the individual and of our world. Only as we "worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling"; only as we "do homage to the Son" will we align ourselves with God and His ways. Only then, as individuals, as communities and as nations will we "get it right". But sadly most of the time, people prefer to do it their way. And so as Jesus warned us, His followers should expect opposition and persecution. If you are living as a loyal ambassador for Jesus, you should not be surprised when you receive criticism or much worse. That  will happen on the micro individual level and it continues to happen on the macro level as well.

Humans naturally feel they know better than God. They feel they can certainly improve on what God tells us in the Bible. The news from around the world announces daily how well we are doing by opposing the One who could, and one day will bring healing and peace. "Lord Jesus, please return soon."

 

³ 

OUR AWESOME GOD

We humans are strange creatures. We so readily criticize each other (in thought or in words). Almost everyone is sure they know how to better run the government, our schools, better coach a popular team, organize their company, lead their church. If we didn't, we would not be so critical and instead would give the benefit of the doubt to those who are leading these various "institutions".
It or we really become either ludicrous or blasphemous when we feel we know better than God! Some seem to think that if they were in charge of the world, they could do better. You have probably heard people in anger or in sorrow say "If that is what God does (allows) than I want nothing to do with Him. Or I can't believe in Him." Their lack of attention to God or choice not to believe in God, certainly does not change the shape of reality nor change God.
It may not be to our liking, but God calls us to bow in awe before Him, to recognize His great power and unlimited knowledge and wisdom, to worship rather than question. This is underlined for us in various passages of Scripture - nowhere more clearly than in the book of Job. Job and his four "friends" all have strong ideas about how God should act and why Job is in his agony of suffering. None of them get it right.
When God speaks, He does not explain why He has allowed Job to go through such terrible pain and loss. Rather their Creator simply reminds them of how far above and beyond humans He is; how awesome, all powerful and all knowing He is.
And Job replies in part: "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. --- I repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:2 - 6
Our awesome God deserves our trust, our obedience, and our humble worship. Sadly, we humans do not offer these naturally or easily.

RELATIVE HEAT

We have "enjoyed" a heat wave recently. Daily temperatures have been running about 37 or 38 celsius (that's right around 100 degrees F.) Riding on the back of a motorbike does not cool you off at that temperature. Some long time residents say that this is almost a record for Hanoi. It should not get this hot until late May.
This temperature in Thailand and Laos is normal - I was just there. And then I read of a friend who is serving in an African desert for a couple of weeks. The temperatures there are averaging 40 - 45 degrees. Heat is relative, isn't it? I remember days in a Canadian Spring when we all would comment on how warm it was when the temperature rose above 10 degrees!
Thinking of relative, how much tax should a person pay? That is a good question to ask in May, because people in Canada and the USA had to pay their taxes last month. I heard a story recently from a neighbouring country. Someone from the tax department called on expats who own a small business. They were told that they owed $3,000. USD (translating from the local currency.) They were startled and said "We can't afford to pay that much."
The tax department person thought for a moment and then replied: "Well then, how about $2,000. USD." The tax was paid and everyone went away happy! Wouldn't you like to deal with "relative" taxation rates like that?
That reminds me of why tax collectors were so despised in the days of Jesus. You remember that they were Jewish people collecting money for the occupying foreign power, Rome. But worse than that, everyone knew that Rome demanded the tax men collect what Rome wanted.  Anything above that amount was what the Jewish tax man could keep. So the tax rate was as high as the Jewish tax man/entrepreneur felt he could get away with. Not a very popular way to make money.

SAFETY

We live in a new, modern 20 storey apartment building. We have an electronic door lock, we never use a key. From our window we can see the gleaming new 72 storey commercial office/hotel building that rises above our city skyline. From certain vantage points in a developing country, things can seem almost the same as in a developed country.
Except for example, things like safety standards that still lag far behind. I heard yesterday that during the construction of the 72 storey building, almost 30 construction workers died. In many developed countries,  if two or three had died, the project might have been suspended for significant investigation.
I look out our window and see workers on the top of the 8th floor of a small building under construction and on the top of the 6th floor of a construction site next to us. It is 37 degrees today so they all have hats on to protect from the sun, but none wear safety helmets. Often they are working on the edge of what is for now at least the top floor. No one wears a safety harness and there is no safety net.
Until you spend time in a developing country, you can forget how over the past century in most  developed countries, our safety standards have increased. Yes, we pay for endless bureaucratic safety regulations. Yes, we may grow tired of endless calls for more and more safety. In developed countries their can be an unhealthy desire to protect everyone from every possible risk. Our regulations  can sometimes seem "way over the top". But we have eliminated so many unnecessary traumatic injuries and accidental deaths.
Older people remember the day when no one wore a seat belt while driving. We can be excused if we wonder: how many times must car seats for children have their safety standards raised? Yet here, where children ride on motorbikes through busy streets, wearing no helmets and with nothing to hold them on the bike except their little arms hanging on to the driver; and here where no one knows how many serious work site accidents occur every day,  we look forward to increased safety standards. Life is too cheap here and in many countries.
And we who are believers look forward to the Perfect City promised in Scripture where there will be no more tears and no more death. Perfect safety with our Perfect Saviour.

I KNOW

If you have often listened to Handel's Messiah (a favourite Christmas Concert in the West), then you can probably finish the title line of this post. One of the many scripture based pieces in the Messiah is taken from Job, including the line "I know that my Redeemer lives."
We live in a world of uncertainty. It is a world in which truth is ever harder to discern. For example watching a movie, I don't know if what I see is "the real thing" or has been digitally altered or digitally created. When I read something on the internet - even if it is spreading throughout the electronic world - I may learn tomorrow that this was false information.
More than this, there are millions who live with the world view that there is no ultimate absolute truth. What you believe or know as truth is not the same as what I believe and know. You have your truth and I have mine. Truth is relative.
So what do you really know? With Job I want to affirm every day, "I know that my Redeemer is alive". I know it from the historical evidence recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I know it from the post resurrection changed lives of those earliest followers of Jesus. I know it from the history of changed lives down through the centuries. I know this truth from the testimony of many I have met - from a variety of countries, ethnic groups, social backgrounds, educational levels. And I know that my Redeemer lives because of what He has done in and through me.
Job was living in days of despair. He was questioning many things about life and about God. Yet somehow, in the midst of those dark days, he breaks through with these wonderful words of affirmation. May this knowledge be your firm foundation; may this testimony be yours, even on the worst days of your life. May it comfort you and fill you with joyful anticipation.
 I know that my Defender lives,
       and in the end he will stand upon the earth.
 Even after my skin has been destroyed,
       in my flesh I will see God.
 I will see him myself;
       I will see him with my very own eyes.
       How my heart wants that to happen!
                                                        Job 19:25 - 27 New Century Version

WANTED: PERFECT ARBITRATOR

I had a friend who was a lawyer. He regularly represented companies as they confronted union demands. It was interesting to hear him talk about the kind of negotiations, tactics, and attitudes that were displayed sitting around the table. Often it was verbal combat: union against employer; employer against union.

When such combat reaches a stalemate, an arbitrator or mediator is sometimes the best solution. This has to be someone capable and skilled in bringing two parties together.

In the book of Job we find a man wrestling with God as he dialogues with his several friends. Job, in answering a friend, speaks about his dissatisfaction that he cannot interact with God in the way he could interact with another person. God seems distant to Job and God is fearfully awesome. So Job wistfully says:

"If only there were someone to mediate between us, 
    someone to bring us together, 
someone to remove God’s rod from me, 
    so that his terror would frighten me no more." Job 9:33, 34

We who stand on this side of the Cross smile and respond: Job, you were right. We all desperately need an arbitrator or mediator. We need someone perfectly holy so he can connect directly with the Almighty God. We need someone who can bridge the gap our sin has created. We need someone human and sympathetic to painfully fragile, sinful and vulnerable humans. This is why we rejoice in Christ! He is the One!

You didn't know it then, since God's full revelation had only begun to unfold. But Job from your eternal perspective you now know. And you can understand why we Christians sing and live joyfully because our Mediator, our Arbitrator, our Redeemer has died for us and now lives for us, forever.

BLESSED BE THE NAME

How do you praise God when life is terrible? When it feels like you have lost all that matters whether this means relationships, career, health or possessions. How do you keep praising God when the average person would settle into self pity or seethe with anger against God?
Job provides the ancient example of a man who keeps on praising God, even after losing everything that he holds dear in one traumatic day. The final messenger of doom (there were four) brings the last and most devastating report: his ten children have all died in a horrible natural (?) disaster.
Job falls to the ground in worship and says:

            "I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of theLord!”    Job 1:21, NLT

It is the KJV that uses the phrase "Blessed be the name of the Lord"; the phrase Matt Redman uses in his powerful worship song based on this verse in Job. We can praise God in all circumstances when we recognize that all things we enjoy come from the hand of God and that He can at any time take them away. We know, having much more revelation than Job, that God is our loving Father who watches over his children even in their painful loss. He does not leave us alone and His eternal plan for us is best, even when the present moments are tragic and painful.
I want always to stand - or more accurately bow - with Job in the worst moments of life and with Him praise the One who knows and loves us. I may not understand why, but far more important, I know Who is in control. His plan is best.

RESPONDING TO GOD

The book of Nehemiah is often taught when churches are preparing for a building program. It is certainly a story of success in rebuilding Jerusalem under Nehemiah's leadership.
The book also has much to teach us on many subjects. For example, the people of Israel model a wonderful handling of the Word of God and a serious response to it. Ezra opens the book (unrolled the scroll containing some of Moses' writing) and when he does the people stand in respect, then bow and worship the Lord. As Ezra reads from the OT, the Levites instruct the people, explaining the meaning of what they are hearing "so that the people could understand what was being read." Nehemiah 8:5 - 8
The people understand enough that they begin to respond with weeping, no doubt overwhelmed with what they were learning about God's holiness, their responsibilities and their sin. This generation of Israelites had been basically ignorant of God's laws.
However Nehemiah  and Ezra tell the people that on this holy day they should not mourn. Rather, says Nehemiah, you should go and enjoy a great meal, and share with those who have no food. He tells them "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:9 - 11.
The people then depart to eat, drink and celebrate with joy. Why? Because "they now understood the words that had been made known to them." 8:12
Reading later in the book we see that beyond understanding and rejoicing, they commit themselves to respond and obey the Word of God.
Yes, Nehemiah is full of much more than principles about rallying God's people for a building program.