Category Archives: Christian Life

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Christian Life, ,

Enough is an open-ended word.
Enough, for some people, is what they need to live a comfortable and carefree life. For others, the operative word is “more”. “Enough” is just around the corner or just over the horison, making their lives a continual struggle for more, even if it means climbing on another’s head to get there.

The Bible has much to say about enough in a variety of contexts. Let’s look at just three uses of enough which are most relevant to us as humans.

Take first, for example, the issue of contentment. A good rule of thumb  puts “enough” like this: “He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” Now that’s a healthy way to look at life!

Perhaps the most relevant for us is the way Paul relates enough to contentment.

Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
[11] “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Contentment and enough go hand in hand. For the person who is contented to trust God in every circumstance, enough is what He provides whether it is much or little.
Contentment takes the stress and struggle out of everyday life. Instead of fretting and scheming in times of lack, contentment rests in the goodness of God and learns to live within the boundaries of His provision.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT
[6] “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

God’s character and promises take care of the “enough” of our daily lives.

Matthew 6:31-32 NLT
[31]“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.”

Enough also covers the privilege of helping others in need. God miraculously evens out enough and  not enough in His family as we use our sufficiency to help others.

2 Corinthians 8:14-15 NLT
[14] Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. [15] As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

He provides excess for one to meet the need of another until the tables are turned. So, in God’s family, we do life together, pooling our resources so that everyone will have enough in the end. The way to use what He has provided is to hold it lightly.

The second important use of “enough” in Scripture deals with the question, “Am I good enough?” A wealthy young man approached Jesus with this question “What can I do to be good enough for eternal life?” Jesus reply brushed aside every consideration the young man thought was relevant.

“Keep the commandments?” That didn’t work because the enquirer still had doubts about whether he had done enough. He had no confidence in his own achievements to gain eternal life by obeying the law. After all, despite all his efforts, he still had a history of disobedience about which he could do nothing. There had to be more, but what?

Only one change in this man’s life would cut it for him. “Change your allegiance”, Jesus told him. His life was dominated by “enough” or “not enough” money and possessions. He was a slave to the wrong master. “Cut all ties with your slave driver and connect with me.”

The young man walked away because, for him, the price of eternal life was too high and the value too small.

The truth of the gospel is that, however hard we work at “being good”, it will never be enough because we fall too far short of God’s holy standard to be acceptable to Him.

Romans 3:23 NLT
[23] “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Only what Jesus did by His death on the cross was enough to appease God’s wrath against sin, satisfy His demand for perfection, and make us acceptable to Him. Only by entrusting ourselves unconditionally to Jesus, can we be forgiven and restored to God’s family.

The third “enough” involves God’s way of dealing with the mess we have made of our world.

“There is a point at which God says ‘Enough is enough!’ A point where the sin, the evil, the suffering, has reached saturation point. A point where the judgement must and will fall.”
www.godswordforyou.com/Enough  is enough!

2 Peter 3:9-10 NLT
[9] “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”

God acted once in terrible judgment on the whole earth with a universal flood, saving only one family and animal pairs to make a new beginning.

Genesis 6:5-7 NLT
[5]”The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. [6] So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. [7] And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.”

On another occasion, He rained down judgment on an incredibly wicked city.

Genesis 18:20 NLT
[20] “So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.”

Genesis 19:24-25 NLT
[24] “Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. [25] He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.”

If God did, in the past, what He said He would do, He will do again, in the future, what He said He will do.

Revelation 21:1 NLT
[1]”Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.”

He will set up His eternal reign on a new earth, under the rule of His chosen King.

Psalms 2:6 NLT
[6] “For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT
[6]”For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

Only as we receive by faith the gift of eternal life, and live in the contentment of God’s “enough “, will we have a part in that eternal realm where Jesus reigns over His new earth in righteousness and peace.

GOD AND BABY SPARROWS – 2

Christian Life, ,

We have come to understand that God cares more about us than He cares about baby birds and yet…He cares enough about them, and all creatures, to provide suitable food for every species.

Jesus assured His disciples, and us, that the Father knows what we need before we ask Him. However, He requires far more from us than He does from birds and animals. There is a huge implication in His promise to meet our needs.

God created people for Himself.
He designed us to be His human family of sons and daughters who have a specific purpose and function here on earth. This human family, living under God’s direction and in obedience to His instructions, is to be on earth what we will be in His forever family, sons.

To be a son in Hebrew culture meant much more that being biologically connected to a father. Since their understanding about time was different from ours, they viewed time, not as a straight line for each person, but as cyclical…the birth, life, and death of every generation forming an ever-ongoing cycle. Every person’s life came from their parents and produced the next generation.

This meant that each child was to learn to be a son by submitting to, obeying, and learning the father’s business to carry the heritage and continue the legacy of that family. Unlike our culture which panders to the child and permits our offspring to go in any direction they choose, Hebrew sons were expected to “continue the house”, the very meaning of “son” in ancient Hebrew script.

For example, Jesus found young fishermen brothers, James and John, working with their father, Zebedee, at their trade. Jesus Himself, as a Jewish boy, joined His earthly father’s “building and maintenance” business until He left home to begin His ministry as a rabbi.

The same principle applies in the spiritual realm. Even as young as twelve, Jesus was aware of a connection with His heavenly Father of greater significance than with Joseph and Mary, His earthly parents. However, He learned the lessons of submission and obedience to an earthly father in preparation for His greater role as the Son of God.

God, the Father in heaven, stamped His approval on Jesus at His baptism, sending Him out with His blessing to do the Father’s business of re-establishing His kingdom on earth by His life, death, and resurrection.

Mark 1:10-11, 14-15 NLT
[10] “As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”…
[14] Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. [15] “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Jesus made it clear to all, especially to those who opposed Him, that He was the Father’s authentic son by His absolute submission and obedience to the Father’s will. He did nothing to contradict the Father, either in His words or works, and eventually died a cruel and ignominious death by the Father’s will.

Isaiah predicted….

Isaiah 53:10 NIV
[10] “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”

And Jesus enemies carried out God’s plan…

Acts of the Apostles 2:23 NLT
[23] “But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.”

For Jesus, the Father’s business was the kingdom of God. The Father appointed Him to be the supreme authority in His kingdom because of His submission and obedience.

Hebrews 5:7-9 NLT
[7]”While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. [8] Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. [9] In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.”

Through Him, the kingdom would be established on earth.

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9]” Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Acts of the Apostles 10:38-43 NLT
[38] “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, [40] but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, [41] not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. [43] He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Jesus perfectly satisfied His Father’s requirements for a son.

What was required of Him as a son is required of us as God’s “sons”, both male and female. Through submission and obedience to the Father, we learn to be true sons and are qualified to participate in God’s kingdom and carry on the Father’s business.

Now, two implications, as they relates to God’s care for baby sparrows, are simply implied in Jesus’ teaching.

Matthew 6:33 NLT
[33] “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

  1. If we live according to the requirements of God’s kingdom, obeying His Spirit and living by His Word, His promise to take care of our needs is guaranteed.
  2. If we disregard God’s instructions, living as we choose and living by our own standards, God’s promise does not apply.

So, this is the implication, then. Yes, God cares about baby sparrows. Yes, we are of greater value to Him than birds and animals, but…unlike baby sparrows, we have an obligation to live according to the ways and requirements of His kingdom as sons. If not, He is not obliged to take care of us….

But,in His mercy, He does.

GOD AND BABY SPARROWS

Christian Life, ,

We have a massive wild fig tree in our yard. Apart from the many birds that visit when the tree has fruit, it is home to a family of hadidahs that roost in its branches, raise chicks year after year, and feast on the bounty of worms in our lawn. Hadidahs are big birds, visible and vocal. They are expressive in their ways and there is no missing their presence in our neighbourhood!

My dog loves to chase the hadidahs when they feed in the mornings. They fly off, just in time, with loud squawks of protest. It’s all a game, really, nothing personal!

But what about sparrows? In my area of experience, these are very small, opportunistic birds that take advantage of food sources around grocery stores and restaurants. They hop nimbly between cars and even shoppers, without a sound, pecking up the smallest morsels to nourish their tiny bodies. Unlike hadidahs that need big food, these little creatures get along well on scraps.

God has things to say about sparrows in His Word. It seems that He loves sparrows. Let’s look at a few examples.

Psalms 84:3 NIV
[3] “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.”

Well, would you look at that! Sparrows in God’s dwelling place! God allowed this little bird to nest in His temple! No human was ever permitted to make the temple his home, literally. There was no place in the temple for squatters to camp…but sparrows and swallows, yes!

What does this say about God? He cares about the tiniest, most insignificant of His little birds.

Jesus amplified this thought in His encouragement to His disciples to trust the Father…

Matthew 10:29 NLT
[29] “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”

If God knows about the smallest detail of a nestling sparrow, how much more does He know and care about people whom He made in His image.

Matthew 6:26 NLT
[26]”Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

No matter what we think, Jesus attributed even the care of birds and animals to a loving God.

Psalms 147:8-9 NLT
[8]”He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures. [9] He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.”

Incidentally, how often I have read about or watched video clips about caring people who have rescued abandoned or trapped animals, some even at the risk of their own lives. Was that God putting them there at the right moment?

Sparrows, in Hebrew culture, had their uses. They were permitted as food or sacrifice for poor people who could not afford more.

According to Google, during Bible times, sacrifices were offered at the Temple. Sparrows were actually sold for this purpose.

God and baby sparrows are worlds apart. As humans, we don’t care very much about baby birds that fall from nests, or sparrows that peck around our vehicles, or even hadidahs that dig worms out of our lawns…but God does! Imagine that!

So, Jesus said, why should we be so concerned about tomorrow? There is another concern of much greater importance than food and clothing.

Matthew 6:25, 28-33 NLT
[25] “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?…
[28] “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, [29] yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. [30] And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? [31] “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Our concerns that consume us, about food and clothing are not legitimate as God’s sons and daughters. As God’s beloved children, we need to change our perspective and pay more attention to what really matters, God’s kingdom and God’s glory. If we take care of His business, He promises to take care of ours.

To be continued….

A NEEDY PEOPLE

Christian Life, ,

Despite our arrogant self-sufficiency, we are a needy people, like an animal needs air and a fish needs water.

Psalms 40:17 NLT
[17] As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.

David, King David, favoured by God, the model king of Israel, the king against whom all other kings of Judah were measured…this David…saw himself as poor and needy. How did he reach this diagnosis? He measured himself, not by other people or even by his own achievements or his standard of righteousness, but by God Himself.

Despite his status as king in Israel, David knew that he was as ordinary as any other person. His office as king did not make him better, more righteous, or holier that his fellow Israelites. He was just as capable of sinning as the next person.

As he mused over the wonders of the night sky, David viewed himself and all humans as infinitely small and yet of great significance in God’s creation.

Psalms 8:3-4 NLT
[3] “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— [4] what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”

What produced this attitude of humility in this man?

First, David knew himself. He didn’t entertain grandiose notions of who he was. He was the youngest son of his father, Jesse, an ordinary citizen in Israel. He was only a shepherd, an outdoor boy who spent his days caring for his father’s sheep. They were not even his own sheep.

He was not self-appointed; God chose him to be king and Samuel, God’s prophet anointed him for his role.

Psalms 78:70-71 NLT
[70] “He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. [71] He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own people, Israel.”

1 Samuel 16:13 NLT
[12] [13]”So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”

David had every reason to be proud and elevated above his fellow-Isaelites. As little as he was to begin with, he became great by his godly and faithful life… and yet, he recognised his own state before God.

For years he had fled from King Saul’s murderous intentions. There were moments when he was only a hair’s breadth from death. He lived as a fugitive with a group loyal men who depended on him for leadership and provision. These were years of training during which he learned to depend on God. He had no fixed home or source of supply apart from the Lord.

David also had experience of his own inner rottenness. His fall into gross sin awakened him to his potential for evil. How else could he conclude…

Psalms 51:5 NLT
[5] “For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.”

He knew that, by his own efforts, he could never change who he was. He could only cast himself on God’s mercy to forgive and restore.

Psalms 51:1-2 NLT
[1] “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. [2] Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”

Psalms 32:1-2 NLT
[1] “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! [2] Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!”

David exulted in his experience of God’s grace. He could never forget, king though he was, that he had fallen from his pedestal, and tasted the bitterness of guilt, betrayal, and alienation from his God. He also knew the joy of forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.

Second, David knew God. His utter dependence on the Lord taught him to trust in a powerful and faithful God. All his experiences as a young boy, a young man, and an elevated king, led him to believe in and trust a God who always met his needs. How else could he have penned the words of Psalm 103?

Psalms 103:2 NLT
[2] “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”

This psalm is an expression of David’s true place before God. Forgiveness, provision, grace, mercy, patience, covenant love… all this and more formed his experience of the God he so fervently worshiped.

Without God, David was nothing. Everything he was, everything he had, and everything he experienced had God slap bang in the centre. It’s no wonder he could confess, with absolute honesty and conviction,

Psalms 40:16-17 NIV
[16] “… May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” [17] But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.”

Why are we also poor and needy?

Like David, we were born sinners, and can do nothing to save ourselves from self destruction. Like David, we need God’s forgiveness and grace to overcome our sinful ways. And, like David, we are dependent on the Lord for everything in life, no matter how important or self-sufficient we think we are are, even for the air we breathe.

Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.”

What if we also, whatever our station in lfe, whatever our achievements, successes or failures, were to stand beside David in his conviction, and confess with him,

” But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me… “

FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS

Christian Life, ,

Luke 18:1-3 NIV
[1] “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [2] He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. [3] And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “

How often Jesus told stories to illustrate the vast difference between God’s way and people’s way of doing things. In this parable, according to the Hebrew understanding of prayer, a widow approached the judge, the one who had authority to respond to her need, for a solution to her problem.

The judge eventually gave in to her request because of her persistence, not because it was his duty to intervene.

Luke 18:4-5 NIV
[4] “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”

By contrast, Jesus explained, God is our Father. He will act on our behalf because of who He is, not because He wants to get us off His back. Persistence and perseverance in prayer are not intended to get God to do something for us. Rather, they are evidence of our faith in our heavenly Father to answer our prayers.

Luke 18:6-8 NIV
[6] And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. [7] And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Jesus concluded His story with a telling question…

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Jesus’! question has a note of frustration and sadness in it. Was He remembering the history of His own people, His long years of wrestling with stubborn disobedience, rebellion, and idolatry? How few of His own people, in the Old Covenant dispensation, were true to Him? Despite His grace, forgiveness, and patience with them over the centuries, they still went into exile for their disobedience and, up to the time of His own life on earth as the Son of God, they still acted outside the heart of His covenant.

Habakkuk 1:2-4 NIV
[2] “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? [3] Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. [4] Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.”

God’s covenant requirements, detailed as they were, had one goal.

Micah 6:8 NIV
[8] “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Instead, cruelty, injustice, wickedness prevailed among His own people.

Jesus’ unanswered question must lead us to take stock of our own hearts. If and when our prayers are not answered when we utter them, what is our heart’s response?

Did Jesus ask this question with with two related issues, faith and faithfulness, in mind? In the end, faith and faithfulness are inseparable. One cannot be faithful without faith, and one cannot have faith without being faithful.

The issue is…does God’s apparent tardiness in answering our prayers, immediately, reveal His reluctance to help us or does it mean something different about God that we find difficult to understand?

Somehow, we think that seemingly unanswered prayer is about God’s attitude towards us. However, Jesus points us in a different direction. Isn’t God’s delays exposing something in us? Do God’s delays strengthen our faith in Him and enhance our faithfulness to Him or do they cause us to become disillusioned and give up?

You see, faith and faithfulness are pivotal to our final destiny.

Matthew 24:13 NIV
[13]”…but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Starting well is imperative but finishing well is the acid test. It seems that our response to God’s delays weeds out true believers from freeloaders. If we keep trusting God when nothing changes, when He seems deaf or indifferent regardless of who He says He is, our confidence is in His Word, not in our feelings.

This is vital for our present and our future. Unwavering trust in Him now will be rewarded! If we can trust Him for today, we can trust Him for all our tomorrows. Why?

2 Timothy 2:11-13 NIV
[11] “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; [12] if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; [13] if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

The lesson is clear. Our faith or lack of faith is not about us testing God. It’s about God testing us. Without faith, we have no connection with Him and no guarantee that we belong to Him or that He has any obligation to answer our prayers.

Faith in His faithfulness, guaranteed in His Word, is our only link with the Father. Without faith, in Him, regardless of what He does or does not do for us, we have no connection with Him.