WHAT IS GOD DOING?

Jesus had promised, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised --- in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit". Again Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you ---." Acts 1:4 - 8
So the apostles and the other Christ followers waited and prayed. Prayed and waited. What were they expecting? How would they know when the Spirit came? Would they be aware of what God was doing? What would God by His Spirit expect them to do?
We know that for a few weeks they prayed and waited. We know that they chose a man to take the 12th apostle's place vacated by the traitor, Judas. What we are not told, but I think is certain: they spent long hours studying their Old Testament scrolls and "paging" through the many parts of the OT that they had memorized. They were especially looking for teaching and promises about the Spirit of God. They were preparing through prayer and the Word for what God would do. One brief OT book must have been referenced many times as they waited for the Spirit. God had provided powerful comforting words through the prophet Joel which included a strong word about pouring out His Spirit in the future.
Therefore, when the Spirit came and apparent "chaos" broke out - many believers speaking many languages all at once - they were not shocked. Peter could reference Scripture and explain to the Jewish crowd that gathered: "this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel". Acts 2:16 Then he quotes those powerful prophetic words from Joel, concluding with "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32
Those who know the Bible, can best understand the times and best understand what God is doing. Too often believers are perplexed and asking questions, when Scripture has clearly provided the answers. If we read and study the Scriptures we will increase our understanding of what God has done, is doing and will do. Then, like Peter, we will be prepared.

FULLY LOVED

The prophet Hosea was called upon to both proclaim and act out the amazing love of God. Instructed to marry one who either had already become or would become a prostitute, Hosea is told that this is how God loves Israel. Betrayed by his unfaithful wife, he is told to go and bring her back, to reach out in loving grace and mercy, just as God kept kept reaching out to His disobedient, unfaithful people.
In contrast to God's love, He describes Israel's superficial, disloyal, unfaithful love in Hosea 6:4 "Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears." Love that disappears - how much our society of broken relationships and broken hearts knows about that kind of love.
The book Hosea writes is not all "sweetness and light". However it portrays through Hosea's actions and prophetic words how God keeps on loving His OT people with a tough but tender love. He may bring them through very painful times, those who so often rejected and betrayed God's loyal love. Yet His compassionate love never gives up.
If we know ourselves at all, we know that we don't deserve such loyal, faithful love. To be loved fully, not because of who we are or what we have done is a marvellous gift. To be loved in spite of who we are and what we have done is God's amazing gracious gift to us. This kind of love is what is demonstrated and promised to those of us who respond to God's invitation.
Thank you God for the life and message of Hosea. Thank you Father for the life and death of your Son, our Saviour. "Amazing Love, how can it be, that you my God would die for me."

PURPOSE IN SUFFERING

Entire books are written on the topic of suffering. How can we defend God's reputation for compassion and love when the world He has made seems so full of pain and suffering? How can we explain why some suffer so much and others live what appear to be charmed lives? When will God bring an end to all of the massive amount of pain and sorrow caused by war, slavery, natural disasters? 

Some questions have no simple answer. Some questions may have no human answer that makes sense. Perhaps more than any other issue, the question of suffering calls for great faith because we can at best find only partial answers to some of the questions - personal, theoretical or theological.

However both in the NT and the OT, there is a repeated refrain for believers who must deal with their own personal suffering. Suffering can have purpose in our lives. I am reminded of this in the latter part of Daniel as two words are repeated when talking about suffering to come.

"Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time." 11:35

"Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." 12:10

 I like the results of "refined and purified", but I don't like the process that is involved. When speaking of physical elements being purified and/or refined means there is loss and often great heat, even fire involved in the process.

As  followers of Jesus we want to made more like Him. We know godly character is best for us, best for human relationships and brings honour to our Lord. We want that kind of character. Unfortunately it seems that the process of purifying or refining our character most often involves pain and suffering of some kind. It is not purposeless. Our loving Father, we are assured, is preparing us, purifying us for a life in His holy Presence forever.  

DANIEL AND PRAYER

I've just finished reading the book of Daniel again. What a book. What a godly man. What a God he served! Like many of you, I was raised on the stories of four young men who dared to be different (Daniel 1); of three of those men of faith thrown into the fire (Daniel 3); and of Daniel himself thrown into the lion's den (Daniel 6). Thus we may feel we are familiar with the book of Daniel.
But when you read and re-read the book of Daniel, you cannot help but be impressed with his faith and his commitment to daily prayer. He prays with great humility and great passion; and his prayers are heard in heaven and answered, sometimes immediately. (Daniel 9:21-23; 10:12 - 14)
Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 can teach us much about how to pray. If you can take time to read it now or in the near future, here are a few things to note:
Daniel has a high view of God and of God's love. (9:4)
Daniel confesses the sins of his people. (9:5 - 6) He himself is not guilty but he identifies fully with his people and so prays "we have sinned; we have been wicked; we have turned away; we have not listened." He recognizes that the judgment of God is righteous and just.
Daniel prayed at great length. I am sure what we read in these verses is merely a summary. (9:3)
Daniel pleads with God to answer and act: "hear the prayers and petitions of your servant; Give ear, O God and hear; open your eyes and see; O Lord listen! O Lord forgive! O Lord hear and act." (9:17 - 19)
Finally notice that Daniel like so many of those whose prayers are recorded in the OT, does not pray just for his own sake or for the sake of His people. Daniel is concerned about God's honour and God's reputation. He does not pray with the idea that God must answer his prayers because of his righteousness but appeals to God's great mercy. ((17 - 19)
We can learn a lot about prayer from Daniel's godly example! Thank you Lord, that in your Word, you do teach us to pray.
   

REMAINING SINGLE

Jan and I heard a portion of a woman's journal read today. In it she said that people regularly asked her whether she was going to marry. Was she disappointed to still be single? Was she praying for a husband?
In her journal she simply wrote (paraphrasing from memory) that she simply wanted to be in the centre of God's will. Her first love and allegiance was to Christ. She did not know if God would give her a husband but for now she would serve Him with all her focus as a single woman.
The woman who wrote that was 38 years old. It was written in 1997. The following year she felt led by God to go to Vietnam and serve the Vietnamese people. Last month she died at age 53. She never married; never had a husband and never birthed a child. Her close friend read that journal entry to us today at her Memorial service.
Many in this country mourned her death. Many Vietnamese would call her their spiritual mother who loved them, served them, prayed for them and shared Christ with them. She was deeply involved in orphanage work here, among other things. God only knows if she would ever have come to Vietnam had she married. God only knows if she would have had a fruitful ministry had she married.
One thing was clear to all of us at the Memorial service today. She did not lose by choosing to make her love for Christ and obedience to Him the foundation of her life. And dozens, no hundreds of people here in Vietnam gained because she invested her life here for 14 years. 

OLYMPIC PERSPECTIVE

Jan and I have watched more table tennis, archery and badminton over the past few days than we've ever watched.
Of course we have followed the Olympics in past years and spent hours in front of the TV like perhaps a billion people around the world. And yes, we could get ESPN network in Canada and the USA. But we have never watched the Olympics before from SE Asia and via ESPN international.
The Olympic coverage we have seen has included a little gymnastics and swimming. But apart from China and Australia, not many athletes from this part of the world are among top competitors in those sports. So what is the focus here?
Archery, where several Asian countries have excelled. Badminton where most of the best singles and doubles are from Asia. Table tennis which again is primarily dominated by Asians.
So what? Well it has reminded me again that perspective and interests affect how we see life and live life. I have an increased interest in the previously mentioned sports because Asia is home right now. My interest and perspective have changed because of where I am investing my life. Most Americans and Canadians would be amazed to discover that a huge portion of sports watchers in the world are more interested in badminton, archery and table tennis than are interested in gymnastics or swimming.
Spiritual parallels and lessons from this abound. There is kind of a parallel with what Jesus said: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." What I really value captures my interest, my attention, my heart.
In the Olympics our interest naturally follows our often nationality and/or our adopted country. In spiritual things my interest follows who or what I really love and where I am investing my time and my money. I hope you are competing for the rewards that last forever!!

LIFE, FOOD AND HEALING

The end chapters of Ezekiel (40 - 48) are understood in several different ways. There are good points made and questionable points made by each approach to interpreting these verses. It is wise to stay tentative in whatever our own conclusions about the temple and the sacrifices described in these chapters.
However no matter how puzzling we may find this section, there are verses within these chapters that give us an enlarged view of God. Other verses remind us of what God has done and what He will do. One section that does the latter is found in Ezekiel 47. There a river is described that flows from under the Temple of God. In numerous ways it reminds us of the river described in Genesis 2 and the river in Revelation 22.
I note just three things about this marvellous river. It is powerfully life giving. When it flows into the Dead Sea (vs. 8 - 10) it overwhelms death with life! The Sea in which nothing can live becomes abundant with fish and other aquatic life. The river also provides life for trees that line the riverbanks. (vs. 7, 12). The trees are so abundantly sourced with water that they bear fruit, not once or twice a year but monthly! And the leaves of these trees provide healing!
Now it can be argued that this is figurative language not describing a real river and real trees. Or it can be argued that this is an actual physical rive that will appear in the Millennium or when we are ushered into the eternal New Heaven and New Earth including the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
While scholars and lay people disagree as to how to best interpret this chapter, one thing is clear. In fact it is one thing that runs like a river throughout Scripture. Our God is a life giving, life providing, wonderfully healing God. He has sent us a Saviour who offers Himself to us as "the Life", as the Bread of Life and as our Healer. The River of God is already flowing. (Hmmm, sounds like a worship song!) Only God truly knows whether one day we may be able to wade into an actual, very special river. What we know for sure is that we have in Christ all we need for the present and the future.