NEW OLD COMMAND

I concluded reading through the book of Joshua this morning. Joshua gives a rousing farewell challenge to Israel and its leaders as he prepares "to go the way of all the earth". (23:14)
I was struck by how he puts together two themes that are found running throughout Scripture but are especially emphasized by our Lord Jesus - obedience and love.
“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Lawof Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left." 23:6
^"So be very careful to love theLord your God." 23:11
At present in our culture, we prefer an emphasis on the soft warm theme of love. Everyone is in favour of more love, even though it is a very ill defined word. Not so popular is the seemingly harsh, demanding, uncomfortable word "obedience". Yet a thousand and more years before Jesus, Joshua puts obedience to, and love for God in the same paragraph, in the same challenge. The Bible consistently puts these words together. We humans would like to hold closely the seemingly soft word and ignore the obedience word.
Jesus insists that the one proves the other. How many who call themselves believers either don't know this, ignore it or blatantly refuse to believe it. How many will sing enthusiastically and speak warmly about their love for Jesus, but disobey much of what He taught. Jesus says, no, the proof of love is obedience.
 “If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15 (see also vs. 21 & 23)
So Joshua had it right, 1000 years and more before Jesus. It is totally correct to keep the close connection between love and obedience. Two thousand years later, we must resist the watered down, wimpy definition of love that is so common and continue to keep these two close together in our living and in our teaching. We will continue to demonstrate to Jesus and the world, our love for Him through  our willing, humble obedience to his commands.

STEP INTO THE WATER

The story of Israel crossing the Jordan is filled with significance. The miracle of the water parting would establish Joshua as a great Divinely appointed and affirmed leader. Perhaps not as great as Moses, their recently deceased leader. Yet nonetheless leading them in a miraculous crossing just as Moses did at the Red Sea.
The crossing is significant of course because on the other side lay the long awaited land of promise. God had told them while in Egypt that there was land waiting for them, land He would give them. Land that He would help them possess as they conquered the present residents.
They had seen God supply their needs via numerous miracles since they left Egypt. They had seen Him lead them to victory over several enemies. They had heard from the spies that the residents of Jericho were waiting fearfully for the invasion. Those in Jericho had heard of the great things the God of Israel had already done.
It was time to cross the Jordan. Scripture records that it was the rainy season, the time when the Jordan flooded, so it would be running deeper and wider than normal. (Joshua 3:15) The Israelites had been desert dwellers for decades. Their experience with rivers was quite limited and the Red Sea crossing was a distant 40 years in their past. My guess is that none of them could swim. Possibly none of them had ever forded a river.
Now it was time to cross and the priests were leading the way. The promise of God was that when the priests' feet touched the water, the river would cease to flow. All the preparation was completed. It was time to act in faith and step into the water. Did any priest hesitate? I wonder.
When we face challenges, many of us are pretty good at praying and planning. We can talk about what needs to be done: the difficulties and the potential. We may do very good cost analysis and evaluations. But sooner or later we have to decide: is this the time? Should we step into the water. More important: do we have the faith and courage to step into the water? Some Christians never take risks. Even though the Spirit of God and the needs they see are prompting them to move ahead, they never take the risk, never take those steps. And as a result, they never see God do something very special in and through them.
Only when we take those steps do we give God an opportunity to prove He is at work here and now. The priests risked looking foolish; maybe risked even being swept away in the flood waters. But God had made it clear: if they were to receive the miracle, they had to step into the water.
Don't let your fear of getting wet prevent you from doing the will of God.

NEVER HEARD

I recently read through the book of Isaiah and am preaching from the Servant Songs of Isaiah on Sundays. God several times predicts that those who have never heard will one day hear His Good News.
Jan has a weekly study in Luke with a couple of local young women who are quite new Christians. Yesterday the newest believer texted to ask if she could bring a friend to last night's study. She had shared a little with her friend about being a Christian and said her friend was interested. So of course Jan wrote back "sure"'. When they arrived (arrival time is always flexible - sometime between 6 and 7 or later) we had pizza waiting for them.
I went down to our apartment lobby; and Jan suggested instead of a Bible study they watch the adaptation of the Jesus film especially for women. So they watched it together in Vietnamese. Given our lack of language, it is good that Jan is very familiar with the story line. :)
It was obvious that the "Jesus story" was totally new to this 22 year old woman. Jan said that when in the film "Jesus" was being nailed to the cross, the young woman "kind of hid behind her Christian friend". Then she asked "Why did he die?" At that point Jan paused the video to explain. On the way out Jan offered a NT and it was eagerly received. The woman seems keenly interested in learning more.
What an exciting privilege to share Good News with someone in this big city who has never, ever heard it before. And to think there are a few million of our neighbours who also need to hear.
Isaiah, inspired by God writes in chapter 50 about the "beautiful feet" of those who bring the Good News. Since we believers are the Body of Christ, in a sense we get to be the beautiful feet of Jesus. How great is that?!

LIKE RAIN AND SNOW

There have been some large snowstorms this year in North America. One is presently sweeping through the mid-western States. Those in areas that have been suffering from drought are very happy to receive the moisture.
I don't know why because there are no crops in the field right now, it is winter. Snow and rain falling in February won't help crops grow in April or June, will it? Oh, right. Rain and snow don't have immediate effect. However over time, that moisture makes a huge difference.
God uses that picture from nature to make a very important point that we forget to our great loss.
As the rainand the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seedfor the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I don't usually experience any immediate life changing effect when I read the Word of God or hear it preached. However like rain and snow, it has made huge changes inside of me over five decades and more. So please keep letting the Word of God fall into your mind and heart: if you respond, it will make you "flourish".
Speak Lord, your servants are listening.

LISTEN UP

I've been reading Isaiah for the past week since I'm preaching a few sermons from Isaiah for Lent. The section, chapters 40 - 66 is filled with such wonderful theology, challenge and comfort. It is a wonder that more Christians don't read it every month - like the many who read Psalms and/or Proverbs every month.
Anyway, I was wondering this morning if there is any other chapter in the Bible that so often demands attention as Isaiah 51. Of course all authors want attention paid to what they write. Isaiah surely expects his readers to be attentive throughout the book and God who is inspiring the author certainly wants all of us to listen carefully. Yet in this chapter is, I think unique because - well let me list several brief quotes:
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut ---." 51:1
"Look to Abraham, your father ---." vs. 2
"Listen to me my people, hear me, my nation ---." vs. 4
"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath ---." vs. 6
"Hear me, you who know what is right ---." vs. 7
"Awake, awake ---." vs. 9
There are several more I could list, but you see what I mean. God really wanted Israel to make sure they got His message. So in this passage, at least ten times words are used to in effect say: Listen up. Don't miss this. Pay attention. Do you copy?
And I wonder: how often (every day?) would God from His perspective, say to me, "Nelson, pay attention. You just missed an opportunity I gave you; or, my Spirit just nudged you to speak to that person and you were too preoccupied to notice; or, I wanted you to see that person's hurt and pray for them, but you were not "awake"."
I hope with each passing year I am more alert to what God is doing and saying; more attentive to others needs rather than my own; more responsive when God prompts and leads by His Spirit.
Did you really listen to what I just wrote? How awake were you when you last read Scripture? Will you pay attention to God's still, small voice as you walk through this day?
(There may be other biblical passages that demand attention as often as Isaiah 51. Maybe it just seems unique to me because a few years ago I circled in my Bible all of the above attention demanding verbs.)

MEMORIZE TO MEDITATE

The Season of Lent began last Wednesday, Ash Wednesday. While we did not hold an Ash Wednesday service, I along with others in our congregation did begin to fast, as is the custom for the Season of Lent. I've done some type of fast during Lent for now, perhaps 7 or 8 years. While I came late to this practice, I've found it to be a helpful and needed additional discipline in my own spiritual life.
This year, as part of my Lent discipline, I am also memorizing a portion of Scripture. This does not come easily to me which means for me, it takes serious effort.
 If you spend much time with me, sooner or later you would hear me bemoan my sad lack of a great memory. Some people lose their good memory as they grow older. I've just never had that kind of worry - not much memory to lose. :)
Sometimes even I have been amazed at important incidents and people meaningful to me that I have forgotten. I have tried not to envy those who remember people and names easily; who can recall details of what they've read months or years ago.
I hold onto two great advantages of a bad memory: first, it is pretty easy for me to forgive and forget offences; second, I can enjoy a movie or book a second or third time quite easily.
However a bad memory is no excuse for not memorizing some Scripture. It may not stick with me long term, but at least in the short term it fills my mind with God's truth. So, in this season of Lent I am memorizing 12 verses. Some of you could do that in a day or two. It will probably take me at least a couple of weeks to get these verses word perfect.
Why do this? I have not memorized any Scripture for quite a while. For me, it is an overdue return to a good discipline. Memorizing verses greatly improves my meditation. Instead of thinking about general truths of God, recalling parts of a verse or some lines from a worship song, I can keep running these specific verses from God's Word through my mind.
When is this especially helpful? I don't normally fall asleep quickly. So in those minutes (sometimes many minutes) while I am trying to go to sleep, I can review my passage for Lent, wonderful words to consider. Great thoughts with which to end the day.
Is memorizing God's Word difficult? For some of us, it sure is. Is it worth it - of course we all know it is. The problem in my life and likely in yours? The absence of discipline, spiritual discipline. So I am thankful for Lent and enjoying the natural flow from memorization to meditation.
Yes, you can check on me in a few weeks to see if I mastered all twelve verses word perfect. Better yet, you can ask my wife. 

LIKE A SHEPHERD

A few days ago I quoted the comforting words of Moses found at the end of Deuteronomy, where he speaks of God's "everlasting arms."I mentioned that I picture the arms of a father or mother with an infant whenever I think of that verse.
The Old Testament often speaks about God in terms of a shepherd. One such place is Isaiah 40:11.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

For those in Palestine, 2,700 years ago, the picture of a shepherd carrying a lamb, leading his sheep would be a very familiar one. If not every day, surely every week anyone living in Israel in those days would see shepherds taking care of their flocks.
Most of us may never see first hand a shepherd carrying a lamb. But in photos or on the screen, we have seen it. What a wonderful tender picture: God as our shepherd carrying us close to his heart, like a gentle shepherd.
We know that Jesus described Himself to his followers as the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. How wonderful to know that if we fall or when we are limping, He will carry us. How good to know that we have a tender yet all powerful Shepherd.
In the words of an old hymn we pray:
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.