Sovereignty or Choice?

In both Luke 19:28-35 (the triumphal entry) and Luke 22:7-13 (the preparation for Passover) I noticed something. Jesus tells his disciples exactly how something is going to happen, and it comes to pass just like he said.

In the first example, Jesus says that the disciples will find a colt tied up. He says to untie the colt and if anyone asks what the heck they are doing, he instructs them to say, "the Lord has need of it." Well, exactly that happens. The disciples go, find a colt, untie it, the owners freak, they said it is for the Lord, and the owner lets them have it.

In the second example, Jesus says to go and prepare the Passover meal for them. They ask where, and Jesus gives a detailed account of what will follow - a man carrying a jar will lead them to a house with a large upper room. Verse thirteen states, "And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover."

My question is this: are we merely puppets on God's string? If Jesus had not asked the disciples to do either of these things, they would have never occurred the way they did - so you can't argue that Jesus, being God, merely foresaw the future. It wouldn't have happened had he not arranged for it to. So are we merely pawns in a game that God plays? This is the question that a lot of people bring up when it comes to God's absolute sovereignty.

Psalm 115:3 states, "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." I believe that we need to reevaluate the question we always ask. I suggest that it is not sovereignty or choice, but that it is sovereignty and choice. Do you think the disciples had a choice to do what Jesus asked? God is God, but he seeks our personal involvement. The disciples did choose to do as Jesus asked because that's what they wanted to do.

In Acts we read that Paul is promised by God that the boat that he is on will crash but that no-one will be killed - all will be saved. And yet, when a group of his fellow travelers tried to escape on a lifeboat, Paul recognized it was his responsibility to make sure they did not yet abandon the ship and he warns them that they will surely die if the leave the boat before it crashes. Did Paul not trust God? Or did he recognize that God's sovereignty did not mean he could neglect his personal involvement?

I'm not posing a solution to the question, but I am asking you not to have a closed mind and assume that it is either God's sovereignty or free will. It is not God's plan or my decisions. It's both.

Luke 20:45-47

In the hearing of all the people he [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

I don't know that Jerusalem in the first century had a ghetto, but I'm willing to bet it had some pretty shady people. Thieves. Murderers. Rapists. Alcoholics. These aren't new things, people have regarded themselves as god or found ways to solicit others for their own benefit since Cain and Abel. And yet who does Jesus warn us about? He doesn't say to his disciples, "Hey don't hang around 5th and Lincoln, you might get the junk beat out of you." Instead he says "Beware of the scribes."

Who were the scribes? Originally scribes were those who were trained in writing skills and were used to record events and decisions. During the exile to Babylon, they became heavily relied upon for the handwritten preservation and teaching of scripture. Ezra was a scribe who was called on by God to "study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. " (Ezra 7:10) Doesn't sound like much of a punk does he?

Well, hundreds of years pass and something must have happened for Jesus to dub them dangerous. In this text Jesus reveals their hearts: that being a scribe is no longer so much about honoring God as it is about exalting oneself. The term scribe became a professional title only belonging to the religious elite who loved to bask in their own glory instead of God's. See the tendency of Jesus' disciples is not to become a criminal, it's that our hearts will become proud.

Jesus is saying to beware of pride in your heart. In my heart. Where is it that we can become proud in our lives? The easiest place to become proud is at church. When we begin to think that we are in any greater standing before God than the world around us because of our morality, or the extent of our knowledge of scripture, or whether or not we've read the ancient texts of Augustine, that is when we have already compromised the gospel of grace.

Beware of anything that can lead you into pride and approach humbly the throne room of God.

The Lost Ornament

Luke 6:12-14

In these days [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when the day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom He named apostles.

Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place for time of prayer with the Father. In this instance it was for a specific purpose: who was to be his apostles? According to the Father's will, Jesus picks out twelve disciples and appoints them to be his apostles.

But why these twelve? Jesus had many disciples, why were these twelve special - set aside for the work of Christ?

Maybe you feel called and set apart specifically for Jesus' work to be done through your life. I feel this way, and until we understand why God chooses us we won't be able to trust him in his decision. There are three important truths I find illustrated in this text:

1) It is not according to our good standing before God.

Jesus had many disciples, many of whom surely had a better understanding of the scripture than these twelve. Jesus did not pray for God to reveal the 12 most righteous men and these would be his apostles. How do I know this? Even Judas Iscariot was among them! For God who knows our past, present, and future it would be ridiculous for Him to choose Judas if it was based on merit.

2)It is not because of their great talent and skill.

Jesus did not pick the greatest orators to be his apostles. They weren't the greatest discerners of truth as we see throughout the gospels. No, these were 12 ordinary men coming from humble backgrounds. They were fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots!

3) It wasn't because they elected themselves as nominees.

These men did not come to Jesus, electing themselves to fulfill the position. Rather Jesus prays for the Father's will before he even addresses the disciples.

It thus important to recognize that God the Father sovereignly chooses who will be His teachers and apostles. It is according merely to His good will, so that He may receive the glory and honor. God picks His team - and it's an odd bunch! It's an unlikely group - they don't have everything nailed down! They have vastly different personalities and skill sets! The one thing they have in common is God's call. It is not, then, merely up to them to complete the task given them, but God himself will bring it to completion through them. The same is true in my calling and in yours. May we not look to ourselves but may we trust in the God who chose us.

Caden Sanchez

May 5, 2010. 1:12Am

Caden Christopher Sanchez is born.

6lbs14oz. 20inches. Healthy and Beautiful.

What an amazing honor and blessing - that God has made me a father. If God is a Father, who am I to follow suit? My God, Caden is Yours and I am a humble vessel. Thank you for placing me in a position of honor and responsibility; Just as You are a Father of grace, love, mercy, faithfulness, wisdom, and righteousness, may I be to Caden all that You have eximplified to me. Not only is it an honor, but a great blessing. Despite the stress and pain for Angela and I at delivery, despite the long nights, I am so happy to be a dad. I am excited about where God is taking me. I am anxious to tell Caden all about Jesus and to watch him grow in character and form. Thank you Lord for this child.

Waiting...

For 9 months now my wife and I have been expecting a child. For months we have been telling people: April 28, April 28, April 28... Well here it is, but no sign of Caden yet! I must tell you, I am extremely excited - more than a little nervous for the delivery, but very happy that soon I will have a son. Life will certainly change, and to what degree I cannot imagine. I can only pray that as God has loved me as my Heavenly Father, I too will love Caden and raise him up to acknowledge Jesus as his Heavenly Father. But for now, I wait.

Habakkuk 1:11

[The Babylonian] hordes advance like a desert wind
and gather prisoners like sand.
They deride kings
and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
they build earthen ramps and capture them.
Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-
guilty men, whose own strength is their god.

What is an idol?

Do you and I have the propensity to worship false gods?

The classic view of idol worship is bowing down to a "god" created out of our own two hands - one thinks of wooden idols and carved images, which is talked about much in the Old Testament. In addition, Jeremiah 44:3-5 tells us of the sacrifices the Israelites were making to foreign gods, "[Israel] provoked me to anger by burning incense and by worshiping other gods...Again and again I [God] sent my servants the prophets, who said, 'Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!' But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods."

God utterly hates and despises false worship. God alone is able to recieve glory, He commands us in the first two of the ten commandments, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." (Ex.20:3+4a) This is a serious matter - more serious than any other. It is for idol worship that God destroys nations and punishes His children. But what constitutes idol worship?

In this passage in Habakkuk we read that the Babylonians were not only worshiping false dieties, but they had made their own strength into a god! Worship is sacrificing something for the sake of a person or thing which you hold in a position of glory. The Babylonians valued strength more than Yahweh, more than humility, more than compassion, more than anything, and they sacrificed resources, time, human lives, and character all for the sake of strength. What did God do? He despised them! He hated their sin! Eventually, He destroyed them for their sin. Even in a time where there were many false religion and dieties, the Old Testament accounts for "gods" outside of the classic definition of an idol. How much more so do we bow down to these types of gods in our lives?

Our society is one full of worshippers. Everyone worships. Everyone places someone or something in a position of power or respect in their lives. It could be power, money, status, career, relationships, sex, or a person, spouse, boss, or political leader. Do not we make sacrifices for these things? Do not men spend countless hours toning up in the gym so that they can get laid? Do not women give up having a family for the sake of status and a career? Do not people give up money, time, and hope, for their favorite presidential candidate?

What are you sacrificing? God says, "YOU SHALL NOT HAVE ANY GOD BESIDES ME!" His wrath will be poured out on sin and sinners when they worship creation rather than the creator; when they worship themselves rather than Jesus. Stop believing in morality. Stop looking to behavior modification. Stop self-medicating through alcohol abuse, pornography, drugs, and the like. Start recognizing that you have a worship issue. Who or what are you holding in a position of glory? Only God is worthy.

Ezekiel 28:2-5

“Son of man [Ezekiel], say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“ ‘ In the pride of your heart
You say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of the seas.”
But you are a man and not a god,
Though you think you are as wise as a god…
By your wisdom and understanding
You have gained wealth for yourself
And amassed gold and silver
In your treasuries.
By your great skill in trading
You have increased your wealth,
And because of your wealth
Your heart has grown proud.’ “

The king of Tyre was a good businessman. He used the geographic location of the seaport town of Tyre to his advantage, and although Tyre was slightly north of the kingdom of Israel, God had blessed this city greatly and put the king in a position of prominence and respect. In verse 12 God grieves over what this king has become, “you were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty… [but] your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom (v.17)” God had delighted in blessing Tyre, but now that blessing led to great despair and God resisted and rebuked the king’s pride.

Has not God given us many blessings? How many of you have found yourself in the right place at the right time to capitalize on a situation? Maybe you have been elevated to a position of power in your workplace. Maybe it is the blessing of raising Godly children. Whatever it is, never forget that it is from the hand of Jesus and not of our own doing. Whenever we begin to say, “Look at what I have done!” we are displaying a heart of pride. Our society is one that encourages us to become “gods”. Everything we see is somehow presented to us like we deserve more power, more prestige, more money – we are told we are rulers over our own lives. As Christians we must look to Jesus and recognize that every good gift comes from our God; let us praise Him who gives freely and takes away.

Ezekiel 18:21-23

If a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

In reading the Old Testament, many times we can get caught up wrath of God and forget about His compassion. This happened to me: I began my Christian walk by reading mostly New Testament books of the Bible and when I turned to the Old Testament I was shocked.

Colossians 1:15 tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. All of the Old Testament is a foreshadowing, and set-up for the salvation to come to the world through Jesus Christ. We must remember this as we read of God setting the stage through the struggles of a nation called Israel. However, we also must remember that God is not just a God of Love and Compassion, but a God of wrath towards sin and sinners.

Imagine that there was a man who continuously tried to break into your house and hurt your family members. Would you not tell him that that is not a very nice thing to do, and you do not appreciate it - of course you would! You may tell him that you are a gracious person and you want him to know Jesus. You tell him you will give him another shot, but he continues to threaten the lives of your family members. At this point would it not be unloving to the one's you claim to love if you do not take action against this man? You would call the cops and have him arrested. Our sin is like the thief who comes to destroy and God is like the loving Father who will only tolerate injustice for so long.

This is the picture that the Old Testament paints for us. God wishes that no-one perish, but that all would turn from their wicked ways and turn towards Him. If we open our eyes we cannot help but see God as a Father of Love, Grace, Forgiveness and Compassion over the children of Israel.

Lamentations 3:37-39

Who can speak and have it happen,
if the Lord has not decreed it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?
Why should any living man complain
when punished for his sins?

All things are from the Lord. When you are taking out a loan for your first home; When you are finishing up the last payment on that mortgage; When you get that new iPhone; When you land that job you've been waiting for; All things are from the Lord. Conversely, times when you have little; times when you lose what you thought was yours; times when relationships are strained; All things are from the Lord.

What does this mean? Is God responsible for all of life's decisions or is God a Father who lets His children decide their own way?

Yes.

God is both providential and overseer. Who can speak and have it happen, if the Lord has not decreed it? This indicates that God is not always solely responsible for the content of our conversations, but we can have them only if He allows, and even commands, it. God is in control, and nothing comes from ourselves, but instead from what God gives us. So how does this lead to the question of discipline and Man's response to punishment for sin?

If we are not careful, we begin to see our righteous deeds as exactly that: our righteous deeds. We believe God is using us, but we think it is because we are the most valuable player. We tend to attribute to God the glory, but ourselves the benefit. This results in confusion when things start to fall apart. "God, did not I speak well of Your Name?" "God, did not I work hard for so many years to build this church for You? Why then are you now tearing it apart?" "God, did not I parent my children to fear You?" When the benefits begin to fall, our true hearts are revealed. We may have said that it was God who worked in us, but did we really attribute it to His alone?

God may we be a people who understand that all things are from You. That, if not decreed otherwise from You, our sins would overtake us. For we are not able to lift the weight of the world, we are not able to lift the burden of our sin, we are not able to lift the crop from the seed. All things are in Your hands, and we submit ourselves to You, despite the outcome.

Jeremiah 31:31+33b-34

“The time is coming, “ declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
With the house of Israel
And with the house of Judah.”

“I will put my law in their minds
And write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
And they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
Or a man his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
Because they will all know me,
From the least of them to the greatest,”
Declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
And will remember their sins no more.”

This constitutes the new covenant, when God promises that we will no longer be required to live by a set of regulated restrictions and rules, but that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit. What an amazing promise it is that God would become a man, die a substitutionary death for our sins, tear the curtain of God’s presence from top to bottom, rise again, and give us the Holy Spirit as our guide. He is God within us, giving us access to Him through prayer and revealing His message in scripture for us.

The phrase ‘from the least to the greatest’ means there is no longer any hierarchy among believers. This is where the Catholics have been misled. There should not be a level of authority over the universal church. Within our local churches we recognize that there is no Senior Pastor besides Jesus Christ. We acknowledge church leadership where it is selected and voted upon by local church members, but there should be no hierarchy among elders – every elder’s vote is to hold the same weight, whether lead pastor or any other elder.

Lastly we see the eternal implications of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus was the perfect and spotless Lamb of God, the one and only able to take away the sins of the world. It was God’s act of grace and promise, forever forgiving us our wickedness and remembering our sins “no more”. What a God; what a promise.

Jeremiah 23:1

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.

There are many who claim the name of Jesus and don’t represent Him and His character at all, even those who call themselves shepherds. Many times it becomes about me and my agenda. Where this happens most is when God’s sheep are not in the scriptures, protecting themselves from false teaching. A great example of this is found in the Roman Catholic church before the time of the reformation. Because people did not have direct access to God’s word, they were subject to the teachings of one fallen man instead of from the mouth of God. The priests began highlighting only portions of scriptures and mandating indulgences, thereby oppressing God’s people by the apparent use of scripture. As shepherds and as sheep we need to check our teachings with scripture.

Some people destroy and scatter the sheep by making it almost impossible for people to come to God. This happens when we becomes legalists over the methodology of a church. Sometimes it becomes a matter of holiness based upon whether or not you tuck your shirt in. Sometimes it becomes a matter of holiness based upon whether or not the music is pleasing “to God.” Sometimes it becomes a matter of holiness based upon what translation of the Bible you use.
What has happened is that in order to preserve one thing, we become the exact thing we were trying not to become. i.e. In order that we don’t lose the true message of scripture we must not change anything, including our methodology. The problem is that no matter what, you are in some way contextualizing the message – the question is to what time period and culture. Jesus used examples that were relevant to the audience He spoke to. Paul talks about contextualizing the message based upon the audience he spoke to. In our efforts to preserve the teachings of the Bible let us not become scatterers of sheep based upon our preferences and opinions of methodology.

Members and attenders are just as much a part of this as pastors. Jesus talks not only of false teachers in the position of pastor or shepherd, but also among the sheep. He says in Matthew 7:15, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Many times those in our congregations will sacrifice the kingdom of God for the kingdom of comfort and tradition. Are you destroying the sheep of God’s pasture because of a personal preference? Are you asking the type of questions that undermine God’s authority? Are you leading people to Jesus, or are you pushing them away? Many times wolves think they are just misunderstood shepherds, but the scriptures are clear – you are worse than the unbeliever.

Jeremiah 15:19+20

This is what the Lord says:
“If you repent, I will restore you
That you may serve me;
If you utter worthy, not worthless words,
You will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you,
But you must not turn to them.
I will make you a wall to this people,
A fortified wall of bronze;
They will fight against you
But will not overcome you,
For I am with you
To rescue and save you.

God wants to use you. God wants to use me. He wants to set us apart from this world, while at the same time delivering us to them to be His spokesman, just like He did with Jeremiah.

When I went to Bible College, my first year was pretty rough on me. I wasn’t where I should’ve been spiritually – I wasn’t fully obeying and seeking the Lord. I began to compare myself to those around me – you know, the “Christian Elite” (not that they gave themselves that title, but because I did) – and felt even more spiritually dead. I began to believe Satan’s lie that Jesus wouldn’t want to use someone like me. I believed that His grace might keep me out of Hell, but not be enough to make someone as jacked up as me one of His spokesman. So I quit. And there would have been many reasons I would have told you that I did so, but this was the real issue: inadequacy.

What I didn’t understand was God’s sanctifying grace. This is the grace that keeps us going even when we fall on our faces, stumble into sin, or turn our back on God’s kingdom. In Luke 8, Jesus tells the parable of the sower where a farmer goes out to sow his seed; some falls on the open path, some on the rock, other among the thorns, and still other on the good soil. This is how he explains the difference between that which falls among thorns and that which falls among good soil, “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

My perspective prior to this year was that there were those who fell into thorns and those who fell among good soil and that was it: there is no changing where you seed fell. So I thought that God called me and gave me a desire to serve as a pastor in His kingdom, but He didn’t make a very good choice because I fell among thorns. But what Jesus is asking for in this passage is repentance - just as He is in Jeremiah 15! He says to hear the word, be in your Bible. Retain it, don’t just read for a checklist of holiness, internalize it and remember God’s promises. Lastly, and what changed my perspective, Jesus says “by persevering” you will produce a crop. Yes hard times will come. Yes you may fall into sin. Yes you may doubt God’s call in your life. But take hope and persevere.

We see this in Jeremiah 15, God says, “Repent, I will restore you.” Who is he talking to here? A new Christian? No! He is talking to the prophet Jeremiah who was one of the few holy men in all of Israel in those days! This means that even Jeremiah had a rough day or season of life every now and then, but what does God say? Persevere! Keep speaking the truth, you will remain my spokesman. Keep yourself from there wicked ways, but engage them that they may come to you to hear the Gospel. “For I am with you to rescue and save you.” Praise be to God for His sanctifying grace. Don’t give up; don’t give in: Persevere – You belong to Jesus.

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Isaiah 57:14 + 62:10

Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.

Pass through, pass through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway!
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner for the nations.

How often do we set up obstacles for the unbeliever rather than tear them down? The truth is that sometimes (and I would argue many times) we get so hung up on the things that really don’t matter, we’re blocking the road to Jesus! At our church doors, are we encouraging everyone to enter, or are setting up guards who make sure that everyone’s got their shirts properly pressed and tucked in? Do we look in contempt if they smell like smoke? Does their political beliefs cause us to question them? What sinners we are! “Pass through, pass through the gates!” should be our heartfelt plea!

Even inside the walls we bicker over the most ridiculous things. We tear each other down as if our way is the only right way – so quickly forgetting that Jesus’ way is the only right way; and whatever removes the obstacles for as many people as possible is what we’re commanded to do!

This means we are going to have to contextualize our message for the culture that we live in. This doesn’t mean that we change the truths of the message. We hold our core theology in a closed hand but our methodology in an open hand – open to change and adaptation according to the culture we are in. And don’t think that there is a church out there that doesn’t do this – every church contextualizes, the question is to what culture or year? See, pews weren’t put into the church until the 13th century – before that everyone had to stand. The King James Version of the Bible was recorded in the 17th century according to the language of the time. The list could go on and on. Today there are more TV’s in America than people! To not make use of the technology of today would mean losing our foothold in the culture and would result in the viewing of church as outdated and it’s message inapplicable.

Build up, build up, prepare the road! Don’t block it.

Isaiah 49:6

[The Lord] says:
"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

There has never been a time where God questioned what He was going to do with humanity. His plan has never been thwarted, nor has anything ever caused Him to doubt. The Almighty, Sovereign God, who we rebelled against, willed in His heart to save many and call all to His heart.

God is just in everything He does; For the first half of history He decided to use His people, Israel. That God pursued us at all is a statement of His love for us. Just three chapters earlier He makes this promise to Israel, "I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)

But that is not the end of the story; God willed to enter in to human history through His people Israel as the God Man: Jesus Christ. Jesus, born of God through the virgin Mary, lived a righteous and just life; in every way acceptable to the Father God. Then He did what God had planned for thousands of years: He died, crucified on a cross, for our sins. But death could not overtake Him and He rose again on the third day, bringing victory over the powers of sin and death. And here why this is so pertinent to Isaiah chapter 49: Christ died for everyone. Even the Gentiles, who were not the chosen of God through the first half of history. He died that, through the tribes of Jacob and the line of Judah, salvation in Christ Jesus would come to the ends of the earth.

Praise the Lord that He has overcome death and called us to be His sons and daughters for eternity. But it doesn't stop there; just as we can have life through Christ because He used a chosen generation, so we are a chosen generation that God wills to take His message to the ends of the earth. And just as He promised to sustain Israel in Isaiah ch.46, so He promises to sustain us.

Truly, Truly the Lord Loves. Jesus Loves us all.

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Isaiah 38:1-8

In those days Hezekiah bacame ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and whith wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

"'This is the Lord's sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.' " So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.

Why did God send word through Isaiah to Hezekiah saying, "You are going to die, you will not recover?" If God knows all - past, present, future - then He would have known that this truly was not going to happen.

Hezekiah, upon hearing of his imminent death (from God himself, not just a doctor with a Ph.D), humbled himself and cried out to God - weeping bitterly. God heard his weeping and and prayers and gave him 15 added years of life. That's a great story of healing. I hope that all of us can experience such a powerful sign of healing; but I find it interesting and I have a question:

Was it because of Hezekiah's response that he was healed?

If we answer 'yes' to that question, we must ask ourselves, "What do I need to do in order that God might save me from this?" Or we have the mindset that if I respond in humility and faith, God will show grace to me. But soon we will begin to see that this isn't a simple math equation (more faith + more humility = more blessing) because there are sometimes when healing just doesn't come. And we begin to ask more questions, "Why do some people die even when they respond to illness in humility and faith? Why is God not fair - I thought He loved all of us equally?" If we hold this belief we will start to say that God is not good and loving.

Was it because of Hezekiah's response that he was healed?

No.

I submit to you that God took Hezekiah through this trial for the sake of correcting a view that he held. We have established that Hezekiah rightly went before God and cried out to him in submission, but what specifically did he say? Verse 3, " ' Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in Your eyes.' " (emphasis mine) Did it take God by suprise that Hezekiah was a faithful servant of His? Had he forgotten what Hezekiah had done for Him? No.

In 2nd Kings 18:5 -7a we read, "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given to Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook."

Hezekiah was a good guy. God knew this. He didn't need Hezekiah to remind him of what a good follower he was. Rather than show me that all I need to do is remind God of all the good that I've done for Him to remember to bless me, Hezekiah's prayer shows me the beginnings of something in Hezekiah's heart: pride and self-righteousness. He was beginning to think that God was on his side no matter what; that because he was such a faithful dude, God would bless everything he did. This wasn't right and it was time for some humility in Hezekiah's life.

God humbled Hezekiah. He showed Hezekiah that Hezekiah wasn't in charge. Hezekiah wasn't in a position of leadership. Hezekiah wasn't in control of the outcome - God was. God is in charge. God is in the position of leadership. God is in control of the outcome, and He doesn't need any of us. Hezekiah was not an indispensable asset to God's team. So what did God do?

God let suffering come to Hezekiah.

Now, it was never in God's head that He might actually have to let Hezekiah die. God knew Hezekiah - He knew how he would respond. Hezekiah's healing was not based on his response to suffering but on the fact that God was teaching him humility. Sometimes God will take us through seasons of life that are meant for instruction and correction, and sometimes it won't be a season at all and death will take us from this world. Either way, God will get the glory - not me.

The answer to suffering is not always, and hardly ever (unless the reasons are obvious and self-inflicted) to do something. Yes, if I am now lonely because I burned all my bridges by talking about people behind their backs, I need to go to them and ask for forgiveness. Yes, if I am suffering from an STD there is an obviouse action step: stop having sex outside of marriage! But if I suddenly found out that my husband is cheating on me and wants a divorce - that is not my fault and it is in God's hands, not mine. If I just got back the test results for skin cancer that are positive, there is nothing I need to do to remind God He shouldn't have let this happen to me or to somehow prove my merit to God! If you lose your job while being an honest and hard working employee, recognize that it is God who gave you the job in the first place, and apart from His unconditional blessing there is nothing you can do to earn it back.

This passage is not a reason to remind God of all the good that we do, so that He might remember to not bring suffering to us. The point is to remember who God is, and who we are not. This is the good news of the Gospel: In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. In that while we are all ill-deserving of God's glory, He chooses to use us in this life for His glory, while others are taken to God's glory a little sooner. Either way, it is a blessing. God is good. And whether or not I live a life of health and wealth or I live a life of pain and suffering, He has counted my name in the everlasting kingdom of God.

Isaiah 28:12-15

[God] said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
and, "This is the place of repose" -
but they would not listen.
So then the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there -
so that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.
Therefore hear the word of the Lord you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement...
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.

God hates religion. Religion says "Do and do, do and do, rule on rule," so that we are careful not to fall out of favor with God. It says that in order for God to love me and not exercise his wrath on me, I have to do something for Him; ultimately the measure between me and God comes down to my actions, not God and His heart of Grace, Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness. This is the source of self-righteousness and God hates it.

This text says that this results in oppression of the less 'holy' so that, "they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured." By running to religion instead of God we are entering into a "covenant with death." We use rules, regulations, and religion as a refuge from evil and a hiding place from God's holiness, but He says that it is a lie and a falsehood.

When we understand that there is nothing we can do to deserve God's grace and love, we understand there is nothing we can do to make that grace and love go away. It is not about me; It is all about Jesus.

Isaiah 10:1+2

Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,
to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.

For years I thought that by sinning less I grew closer to God. Every time I sinned I turned away from Him and was distanced from Him by my own doing.

There is truth in saying that turning to sin distances you from experiencing the goodness of God in everyday life; sin is rotten goodness and consequently has a bitter taste. But I am no farther from God than when I first began. See God reaches down to all of us, despite our total depravity.

The moment I begin to think that I can do anything that will cause God to smile on me more and give me grace, I have undermined the Gospel. It is out of this mindset that we turn to legalism and religion. Any justice administered by an unjust judge is, by nature, injustice.

Out of this comes a heart of evil, opposing love and grace for we begin to become blind to that fact that it is solely because of God's love and grace that He sees us at all. I am humbled by this truth and compelled to worship a God who love's beyond what I deserve. I cannot run from God. I cannot run to Him. He is - despite my struggle and despite my victory - He is.

May God's goodness become fruit in our lives and not a platform from which to oppress the poor and needy.

Persecution

Are you ready to get real with God? Are you giving everthing you've got with the time you've got right now?

Being a Christian gives us no assurance of tomorrow.

Today I had an experience with mild persercution for my faith. I did nothing that others have not done before me. I did not put myself out there in a way in which one would expect hostility, and yet some people have a focused anger and aggression towards Christians and you never know when someone like this will cross paths with you.

While I was not harmed and probably had no reason to expect that I might be, I felt fear. This is incredibly humbling because I recognize the length to which so many have gone before me to proclaim their faith and sometimes simply love in the name of Jesus Christ - unto the point of death. The early church planters and ministers operated in an extremely hostile environment. Throughout the ages there have been Christians who suffered perserverance to a much higher level than I did today. Many were killed.

It made me ask the question: what is the difference between me and them?

The truth is there are Christians today who are laying down everything they have for the sake of Christ. Am I ready to do that? How much time do I have? Am I giving my everything? I realized that I need to get real with God. Not tomorrow. Not later. Now.

Have you asked yourself those questions? Isn't it time you get real with God as if every moment counts? It is for me.

Isaiah 2:22

Stop trusting in man,
who has but a breath in his nostrils.
Of what account is he?

In Genesis 2:7 we read, “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Jesus is the source. He is the one who gave us breath that we may speak; and yet, so often we find ourselves trusting in the words of man instead of in the Word of God.

Our culture is obsessed with idolizing people. We elevate and expect people to be something that we are not, and then when we find out that they are like us – we curse them for it. Think of the recent fall of Tiger Woods - a man who has talent beyond compare on the golf course, elevated as a hero and inspiration to kids and golfers around the world. And yet, he is a man – fallen as each of us are. This fact was illuminated and magnified in the recent events revealing his sex addiction which resulted in several affairs. He never asked for our trust, and yet we were quick to give it. Should it really be any surprise that he let us down?

Perhaps you have trusted in yourself and your own abilities. Maybe you have trusted in a man you perceive to be Godly – a pastor or a grandfather. Maybe you trust in a coworker who you assume will always have your back. We are creatures looking to trust. We need someone to run to. Someone to look up to. And someone to steady the stormy waters of life.

The truth is that everything changes. People are people, and our words are just words.

But God is God. As He was, He is. As He is, He always will be. His Word never changes. Until we anchor ourselves in Christ, we will never know peace in our lives. Until we lean our ladder on Him, we will reach the top with disappointment. Who are you trusting in? Creation or Creator?

Ecclesiastes 7:20

There is not a righteous man on earth
Who does what is right and never sins.

How much sin is pleasant in the sight of God? How much more does God love he who sins less? Two men come before God, one who has committed a lie to his spouse, and the other who has not lied for a number of days; will not God smile on the latter?

Not one is greater than another. Not one can come before God upright. No, not one is righteous on earth.

It is not the acts of man that serve to please God. It is God alone who loves and gives grace. He defines the righteous and He defines the wicked. This verse in Ecclesiastes is a great qualifying verse for the many Psalms referring to the wicked and the righteous. The truth is that there is not one who is righteous, but that God has made atonement for him; that is that God has relieved his burden and placed it upon Himself.

Look not to the righteous. Look not to the wicked. Look to the God who saves.

Proverbs 15:31+32

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.

He who ignores discipline despises himself,
But whoever heeds correction gains understanding.


Over and over in the proverbs of Solomon we find the theme of humility in correction. Solomon himself was the wisest man who ever lived, filled with knowledge beyond compare. He was a king who was more rich than any king before him. Anything Solomon wanted, it was his. If we were in that situation, just how humble would we be? It is hard to imagine someone rebuking Solomon – and yet Solomon, if it came from a credible source, would have heeded the wisdom of others. We read that Solomon set up a council of elders who advised him through every decision; even Solomon listened to advise from Godly counsel.

How do you react to correction? Do you get defensive? Impatient? Angry? Or are you humble and accepting of rebuke? Proverbs says to love wisdom is to love rebuke. Proverbs 19:20 says this clearly and succinctly, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” None of us have this all down. None of us are a finished project - God is still working on all of us. He was still working on Solomon. Be slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen. Who do you have to correct you in your life? Do you accept instruction? You will never know wisdom if you have neither.

Proverbs 11:7

When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

What are you investing in? Our culture is obsessed with status and material possessions. We exalt those who overcome the odds to accomplish much in regards to their business, their finances, where they live, and who they get to hang out with. But what did it cost them in the process? Family relationships? Integrity? Humility? Their faith? If it is any of these or many other things of eternal worth, they are a fool - for what promises in this life, perishes in the next.

So I ask you again, what are you investing in? Will it follow you into eternity, or will it die with your body? Don't think simply on a large scale either; how much time are you spending trying to get that next level up in your favorite video game versus the amount of time you help out around the house, expressing gratitude to a parent or spouse? How much time do you spend looking at yourself in a mirror at the gym instead of working out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) - are you in your Bible? How much of God's money are you spending on that new outfit that will affirm your financial status to your friends versus giving money to those who have little - are you loving those who God loves or are you loving yourself?

You get the picture. There is somewhere in my life and in your life where we are investing our time, money, or energy into something that is perishing. Where can we make the best investment possible with what we've got? We need to think eternal, not temporal.

Proverbs 7:7-13a, 21-23

I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.

Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him...

With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.

Have you led yourself into the snare? Have you been the simple-minded and foolish man who let down his guard and walked right into sin? Lust, Bitterness, Adultery, Pride - these are the sins of the prostitute; her feet never stay at home, at every corner she lurks.

Many times we have to install personal legalisms into our lives to ensure we don't fall to her temptations. I have mine. One, for example, I must practice every morning. I have had a history of falling into her temptations in the morning, while lying in my bed half asleep, half awake, when my thoughts are prone to wander. So this is what I must do: I must stay away from her doorstep. I do this by getting up when I first awake and, picking up my Bible, immediately begin to read scripture and focus my mind of God. This is important for me; is it essential for everyone? No. It is a personal legalism so that I do not fall to the prostitute's temptations.

Where in your life do you need to apply some personal legalisms? Do not be a fool! Do not walk in the direction of her house! She is calling out to you in a loud voice; but so is Wisdom. Wisdom says take stock of your situation, listen to sound advise, take the long route home if you have to; Do whatever it takes to not fall to the prostitute's snare, or it will cost you your life.

Psalm 138:8a

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.

We often pray to God, asking Jesus that He would guide us in our lives. We ask Him that we would know His purpose for our life and that we can walk in it. These are not bad things, but are we too often focused on what we do to fulfill God's purpose for our life? Instead of always asking God that He would be glorified in our lives, praise Him that He will be glorified no matter what.

I recently heard someone say that we will bring glory to God no matter what - it's what part of God's character we glorify that depends on how we live our life and if we submit to Him or not. See, even those that will be damned to hell for their rejection of Jesus will bring glory to God's unending strength, righteousness, and justice. Those who have experienced salvation through Jesus Christ will glorify God's grace and compassion. Even in this life, many times the continual acts of evil men bring about their own downfall and God gets the glory.

My intent is not that we become apathetic towards the issue, but that we would recognize that it is God alone who directs our path. Psalm 119:91 says, "Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve You." God is sovereign and in control; He will fulfill His purpose for you and for I despite ourselves.

Psalm 97:7

All who worship images are put to shame,
Those who boast in idols-
Worship Him, all you gods!

Let us not think that idolatry is dead. Our society is entrenched in idol worship! Idol worship is elevating anything in creation above the Creator. Perhaps the most widely worshipped idol in America is sex and pornography. We worship images of creation instead of the Creator. More money is spent on the porn industry in the US than on the NFL, NBA, and MLB put together. Pornographic movies gross ten times the amount of all mainstream Hollywood movies! It is an epidemic that is reaching radical proportions. We are called to worship God! Instead we worship the desires of our bodies and fulfill them in perverted ways. Soon God will put our country to shame. He will put us as individuals to shame. We will be judged for our sins and our idol worship. Let us rise above what is the social norm, to what God calls us to be: set apart for His glory, lifting up His name above all other names.

Becoming Lord of the Rings

About six months ago, Angela and I watched all three of the 'Lord of the Rings' movies. While watching I was deeply moved. It became so apparent to me that the ring was a symbol of an addiction to sin in my life.


The reason we sin is because we want to.

The reason Gollum let the ring destroy him is because he wouldn't let it go.


We may feel guilty after acting against the character of God and realize our falleness - but the ring soon calls out to us again. It haunts us until we think that whatever is on the other side is worth a peek. This is especially true with addictions and behavioral vices: alchohol, sex, food, abuse, pornography, drugs, hate, etc.


We all have our own battles - you have yours and I have mine. But God has called us all to be Frodo's. He has given us the role of ring-bearers, traveling through treacherous and desolate lands until we reach the heart of Mordor. It is a land deep within the enemy's territory where we must break the chains of sin. We all must throw the ring into Mount Doom.


I decided that I needed to be reminded everyday to do the right thing; to not turn to false idols and addictions. So I bought myself a ring and a simple beaded necklace. Ever since we watched those movies, I have worn it around my neck as a symbol that I will not compromise my beliefs and my purity. Jesus said, "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27) I must carry my cross until the day of final redemption, when Jesus will throw the ring into Mount Doom, and I will sin no more.

Until then I am on this journey. But I can't go it alone - I need a Sam. You remember him? Throughout the story Frodo has a co-adventurer who is his closest friend and a rock when he needs one. Frodo couldn't do it without Sam; many times he almost fell into the rings temptation but Sam was there to grab him and focus him on his mission: destroy the ring.

We are all on this journey. And we all need a Sam.

Psalm 89:15

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
Who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.

We all have those days when we just don’t want to get out of bed. We don’t want to face the challenges the day faces. Or perhaps we feel guilty over our sin and we struggle to see hope. We are downcast. Many times when we feel this, the last thing we think of doing is worshipping the Lord. Our default is rarely letting out shouts of joy to Jesus. We are lucky if we turn to God at all.
Our society is constantly pushing the idea of independence. It is up to us to be strong and solve our own problems. I feel this especially as a man. Men are not the one to be pictured in the counselor’s office, letting it all out. One way that some are inclined to react is self-disgust – this results in cutting and other self-inflicting and self-medicating actions.

What the Bible says is completely opposite. Not only are we to come to God; we are to come to Him with praises. We are to acclaim His name. Even in the darkness of our life, we are instructed to walk in the light of Jesus’ presence. As I said, this is not our default; however, the Psalmist recognized this and noted that this is a learned process. Have you learned to praise God in the storm? In the monotony of everyday life? Have you turned your face to Him in the midst of shame? Blessed are those who do.

Psalm 62:11-12a

One thing God has spoken,
Two things have I heard:
That You, O God, are strong,
And that You, O God, are loving.

I am constantly faced with the question: is God a righteous judge of wrath or is He a loving, merciful king. As finite beings we cannot fully comprehend how Jesus can be both. It is the question itself that is flawed, however. David here addresses the issue using the idea of both/and rather than either/or. God is entirely holy, or set apart. He is entirely one with Himself – there is no contention within Him. I am soon to be a father to my first child, my first son. I imagine that punishing him will sometimes be hard because I love him so much, but I know that I have to teach him that actions have consequences. Jesus does the same thing except that there is no question in His heart if He is being a good parent. There is oneness in God. The way we describe His attributes is exactly that – the way we describe His attributes. Truly, God is not merely loving, God is love. God is not merely strong, God is strength. All of His attributes flow out of each other and are in fact one attribute that is probably best described as holy. Holy is the most used adjective of God in the Bible – it is His favorite way to describe Himself. Holiness is God’s set apartedness, it is what makes Him unique beyond our comprehension. When we try to explain Him we are conflicted – but Jesus’ character is not. One thing God has spoken, two things have we heard.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
According to Your unfailing love;
According to Your great compassion
Blot out my transgressions.
Cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

Do you ever feel like your sin is always before you? Blocking the road to righteousness in Christ? Blocking the road to joy and freedom? I certainly have. In fact, if I’m honest, this is what I struggle with most as a follower of Jesus. I am a sinner, continually. Just when I think my sin is dealt with and I could never look back, I am reminded that my sin is always before me. And what’s hard is picking myself back up and following Jesus, knowing that I am ill-deserving of His grace. But it is not over. God is unfailing love. God is great compassion. He will wash me whiter than snow. I am humbled by this grace.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
Or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

David writes this Psalm after he has just committed adultery with Bathsheba. He is broken. He is confused. He is full of guilt. But he has hope. He asks God for a steadfast spirit. The key after sin is not to wallow in it or turn our face from God- but rather, to look Him full in the face, recognizing our absolute depravity and His absolute grace. This bring joy. This brings a willing spirit. This sustains us: when we pick up the scriptures right after we sin; when we pray for a pure heart right after we sin. Don’t wait – time brings ignorance, action brings renewal.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart,
O God, You will not despise.

No matter what we have done, if we come to God with a contrite heart, He will not despise. He will give grace. Notice how David didn’t wait until he could gather his finest lamb to sacrifice to God. He didn’t wait until he could go to the temple. All he did was come to God with a broken spirit. Will we come to God in our brokenness?

Psalm 44

In God we make our boast all day long,
And we will praise Your name forever;
But now you have rejected us and humbled us;
You no longer go out with our armies.
You made us retreat before the enemy,
And our adversaries have plundered us.
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
And have scattered us among the nations.

Sometimes the Lord takes away. Sometimes we just don’t have enough money to pay the bills. Sometimes the ones we love scorn us. Sometimes we are given up to be devoured like sheep. Why would a loving God do this? Had David some secret sin when he wrote this Psalm, causing God’s wrath to come upon him?

All this happened to us,
Though we had not forgotten You, or been false to Your covenant.
Our hearts had not turned back;
Our feet had not strayed from Your path.
But You crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals
And covered us over with deep darkness.

Do you feel that you have been wronged by God at some point in your life, or even right now? Are you being covered by deep darkness, wondering why God hasn’t protected you? These are the things David is going through, and we read that he had been faithful to God and had not strayed. So why did God do this? Was he being unfair? The truth is that if God were solely fair and just, He never would have cast us out of the Garden of Eden. He would have let us rot and die forever in our sin, departing from us forever. He would have never pursued us. But He is also Love; and just as a father doesn’t always give his son what he wants, he gives him understanding through the darkness – not out of spite but out of love. David is brought low, that he might not forget his place under God’s feet. He finishes up the Psalm:

We are brought down to the dust;
Our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up and help us;
Redeem us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 5:3

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.”

How did you start your day this morning? It is nothing new to say that we are of a busy-bodied society. You and I are prone to complain that there are not enough hours in a day to get all of our “vitally important” tasks done. We need to step away from this and be people who are Spirit-led throughout the day, stopping at times when it seems least beneficial and talking to the Creator.

This needs to be a regular task – and I use the word task purposefully. Let us not make of Jesus just another check on our to-do list, but we certainly need to show Him that He is Lord of all, and sometimes that means scheduling in time for prayer. And guess what – He hears our voice. He is not like the arrogant boss at work who only hears what he wants to hear. He is not like the kids who must have everything repeated three times for them to hear it. No, He is the loving Father, waiting patiently for His sons and daughters to speak to Him – and He listens.

He doesn’t always answer right away – most the time He doesn’t. But did you ever consider this is because he wants us to be focused on him throughout our day? He wants us to be of good faith, waiting for that reply. This “expectation” as David writes in this Psalm, causes us to look to God. Isn’t that what God wants above all? And maybe, just maybe when we do that, He will grant us our requests for He is pleased in our response to our own requests. Yes, I believe God looks for our response to our own requests before He responds. How does that change the way you pray?

This time of quietude and seeking out Jesus, presenting Him with our concerns does not have to be in the morning – but doesn’t that give us the best opportunity to seek Him in expectation the rest of the day? Ask Jesus for a calming work environment. Ask Jesus for wisdom in teaching your kids. Ask Jesus to help you manage your time. Ask and wait in eager expectation. What are you asking Jesus for? What does your response to your request look like?