Monthly Archives: August 2024

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

Christian Life, ,

The Bible is a book written from the heart of the language and culture of its authors. It spans some 2000 years, penned by some 40 people in different languages and from the background of a variety of Middle-Eastern cultures.

We would expect, then, that there were many practices in those days that no longer apply now. Does that make the Bible irrelevant to us? Not at all! We can draw principles from their culture that are timeless, and apply equally to us now as they did to them then.

We have already examined some of the ways in which people in Jesus’ day were both to submit to unjust treatment as well as to preserve their own dignity by, for example, turning the left cheek to insult, going the second mile to carry a Roman soldier’s pack, or surrendering one’s tunic when one’s cloak is demanded as surety for an unpaid debt.

Any of these actions would make no sense now but spoke volumes to someone who intended to insult or bully a person of less social standing in Jesus’ day.

Another of these “cultural” riddles is found on Paul’s instruction to women in his letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 11:4-6 NLT
[4] “A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. [5] But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. [6] Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.”

What does cutting hair or wearing a head covering have to do with women today? Is this an instruction for women to obey in 21st century Western culture? Is there a timeless principle in Paul’s instructions for women today?

Some cultures have a law that women must cover themselves from head to toe, even to covering their faces. As a result, nothing of them may be visible except their eyes. Apparently, the reasoning behind this extreme practice is that the sight of any part of a woman’s body is a temptation to a man. Hence, women are treated as inferior to men and must be subjugated to men. Temptation is blamed on what men can see when they look at a woman, not on men’s wicked hearts.

As always, the Bible will explain itself if we listen to the Holy Spirit.

Apparently, cutting of hair or appearing in public without a head covering was the sign of a prostitute. Any man seeking a prostitute’s services would easily find her. Therefore, any attempt by a Christian woman to throw off this cultural norm would be out of line.

Paul said, “Don’t do it because of God’s creation order. He has ordained that the husband is the authority in a marriage. His wife signifies her submission to God in this order and in this culture, by covering her head.

Our Christian faith has introduced another valuable principle into whatever practice reflects a wife’s submission to God’s order. If wearing a head covering means nothing to us now, the Bible turns our attention to the attitude of the heart.

Two complementary passages of Scripture show us how wives, in particular, are to treat their husbands as a witness to their obedience to God’s order in marriage.

Ephesians 5:21-23 NLT
[21]”And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. [23] For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.”

This instruction elevates the marriage relationship onto God’s level for marriage…to be an earthly reflection of a heavenly reality. The church is betrothed to Christ. He loves the church, died for her, and tenderly cares for her until He returns to “marry” her for eternity. The wife is therefore to submit to her husband’s love as the Church submits to her Lord in whatever way her culture dictates. In this interactive way, the two become one.

Peter echoes Paul’s sentiments.

1 Peter 3:1-6 NLT
[1] “In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over [2] by observing your pure and reverent lives. [3] Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. [4] You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT, which is so precious to God. [5] This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. [6] For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.”

Peter draws the wife’s attention to the heart of the matter. How she adorns her body is not as important as the way she adorns her attitude. He refers to her attitude to her husband as “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” that pleases God and that will keep her husband close to her always because, unlike external looks, inner beauty never fades.

So, when we put these Scriptures together, God’s ways emerge. If we rely on whether women cut their hair or cover their heads in obedience to a cultural norm, as a sign of their submission to God’s order, we are tresspassing into legalism.

Paul strongly resisted the teaching of some false teachers, that people must use an outward sign, like circumcision for example, as a way to being right with God.

Galatians 5:2-4 NLT
[2] “Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. [3] I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.”

No one is right with God by trying to obey the law. Even worse…

[4]”For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

Therefore, to think that having long hair or wearing a head covering means that a wife is being submissive to her husband, is equally false.

It does not matter how a woman adorns her body. If her heart is not willingly obedient to God’s Word, she is being disobedient.

If this principle applies to married women, what about single girls and women?

I believe that the attitude girls and single women have towards all men, beginning with their fathers, is a good indication of how they will treat their husbands. Therefore, part of the role of a submissive wife is to teach her children to be submissive to their fathers. This attitude will lay a solid foundation for the future for both girls and boys.

God has instituted a pecking order in the family that works. When the family adheres to the principle, it filters into society, and peace reigns.

To conclude, then, if we look for principles in the cultural norms in Scripture, we will often find God’s ways embedded in them as a guide to godly living.

GOD SPEAKS TO ORDINARY PEOPLE

Christian Life, ,

Where do we get the idea that God speaks to certain people and not to others, that He singles out some for His favour but not others?

I have discovered that God speaks to anyone who will listen. Yes, He had His chosen prophets to whom He gave messages for the king and the nation in the Old Covenant. His Word is full of prophetic messages designed to call the nation of Israel back to Himself and to encourage and guide them towards their destiny.

However, does He still speak to people today? We know that He is continually speaking through His written Word. The Holy Spirit and the Word are powerful witnesses to His will for His people but…does He still give specific instructions, or words of encouragement, or even promises to individuals on their journey through life?

I believe He does!

Psalms 25:14 NIV
[14] “The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”

The Hebrew word translated “confides” implies a secret shared in the intimacy of a close relationship.

“Strong’s h5475

  • Lexical: סוֹד
  • Transliteration: sod
  • Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
  • Phonetic Spelling: sode
  • Definition: council, counsel.
  • Origin: From yacad; a session, i.e. Company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy, consultation, a secret.”

Let me share two such messages that came to me out of the blue which proved to be both prophetic and accurate.

On two occasions, as I was praying, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me in response to my petitions. The first was when load shedding was at its worst. I asked the Lord to intervene. To me it seemed an impossible request. Would God magically work a miracle to put Eskom back on its feet? I clearly heard these words in my spirit, “If my people pray, I will keep the lights on.”

That was all! No “how” or “when”, just a simple promise! I communicated the message to my church family. No doubt, many of God’s people around the country were praying. Looking back at my “mustard seed” of faith in that promise, I recognise God’s faithfulness, not in response to my faith but to His Word. Our country is not only, in the main, enjoying an uninterrupted power supply but we are also astounded at the sudden and apparently permanent turnaround. What happened?

Despite the officials at Eskom claiming the accolades for the sudden end of load shedding, we can give God the glory for honouring His promise, no matter to whom He spoke it.

The second message came in the form of a “vision”, a kind of mental picture of a huge ship slowing down and turning around, accompanied by these words, “The juggernaut is turning around.”

The dictionary definition of a juggernaut is “a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force.”

A few days later, I read an article in the “Daily Friend” magazine that recorded the words of a message by the president to a communist party gathering, referring to our government as “the ship of state”.

In the light of God’s word to me, I was electrified by the confirmation from a secular source. Months later, come the 2024 elections, the ANC party crashed to an under 50% outcome, forcing the party into a GNU.

What is happening in our country now? The “juggernaut” is being forced to slow down and turn around. God has put in place men and women who are resolute in their determination to steer the ship into calmer waters.

0The high-handed decision-making is being challenged. A greater measure of consultation and, albeit reluctant, concensus is happening, slowly but yet surely bringing hope and the promise of our “ship of state” moving in a better direction.

Does God still speak? Most surely, yes! Does God speak to anyone? Again, yes! He speaks to anyone who will listen, who will ask for a promise in any situation and will believe what He says because He is always faithful to His Word.

One important lesson I have learned from these two (and many more) times, when God spoke, is that God always honours His Word which sometimes results in a miracle, not the other way around. When I need help and call on the Lord, I ask for a word, not a miracle. Then I can be sure that He will always honour what He has said.

HE RESTORES MY SOUL – 2

Bible Study, ,

David, at some point in his young life, began to understand that his relationship with God was affecting his “soul”. Something inside of him was helping him to come back into balance. His mind, emotions, and will, and his spirit were in contact with God, restoring order and affecting his view on life and the way he responded to his circumstances.

So, as he reflected on these things, David began to pen his perspective. How did this transformation come about?

As a young boy, the youngest of eight brothers, his role was to care for his father’s sheep. This was a responsible task, and often a dangerous one, for a teenager.

He had to care for the health and well-being of each individual sheep as well as to seek out suitable pastures and a safe water supply for the flock.

He had to protect them from injury, from preditors, and from danger in rocky terrain. He had to rescue those who wandered away, and to herd them together as they moved from pasture to pasture.

It was a full-time job. On those occasions when the sheep grazed quietly in a safe pasture, David had time to reflect on his own life. No doubt he was steeped in the truths of the Torah from birth. He was no stranger to the faith of his ancestors. He was learning to trust the God of his fathers as he navigated his role as a shepherd. He needed God to help him carry out his daily tasks.

God was never far from his thoughts when he gazed into the night sky and pondered on the majesty of creation.

Psalms 8:1 NIV
[1] “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.”

Songs of praise and worship formed in his mind. He played his instrument and sang to the sheep on the hills outside Bethlehem.

Slowly he began to see God’s place in his life as he pondered on his own shepherding role. He was a sheep in God’s flock. The divine Shepherd was personally responsible for him. His care took many forms, always doing the best for him.

Psalms 23:1-6 NLT
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

No lack in God’s care for him! He met David’s needs, not his wants. The divine Shepherd always knew what was best for His sheep. No overindulged, spoilt little pet lamb! This lamb had to grow up to become a parent sheep one day, to follow the Shepherd first since he was called to shepherd his own nation.

There is an interesting alternative meaning to the Hebrew word translated “want”, i.e., “lessen” or “decrease”. In God’s flock, no sheep will ever become less, or decrease in God’s estimation and care. He never diminishes anyone who trusts in Him.

[2] “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.”

The divine Shepherd never drives His sheep. He allows them time to rest and munch on the good food He provides. How different from our opinion of God at times! Why do we act as though we are driven? Do we always need to be busy, even about His business? Jesus took time out, “me time”, if you like, to rest, refresh, and regroup.

[3] “He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.”

He restores my soul! He puts my mind, will, and emotions back into the correct order.

David had ample opportunity, during his leisure time while the sheep grazed in the green pastures, to “graze” on God’s world around him, to learn to think God’s thoughts. In the years of his reign over his people, he constantly sought the Lord to help him do the right thing. Where did he learn such wisdom? Was it when he lounged in the green pastures, contemplating God in creation?

[4] “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

David learned that shepherding mindless sheep was no bed of roses. There were times of danger and hardship, drought and want, wild animals and rough terrain, stubborn sheep and wayward lambs. He also learned that he was never alone. As he thought about God, his Shepherd thought about him. Bears and lions were harmless teddy bears and kittens with God’s strength. He and his sheep were seasoned mountaineers by grace. Water and grazing were always somewhere nearby when they needed it. Faith opened the door to the Shepherd’s provision.

[5] “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

There were always enemies lurking nearby, wild animals to pick off the sheep, rustlers to sneak a raid on his animals, unexpected cracks and crevices to swallow a lamb or two….but God was his shield, an impenetrable barrier of protection. Not even fear could block his pathway to God’s plenty.

Not only provision but abundance of blessing and favour! He would return home at the end of the summer season with his father’s flock intact and flourishing because of his divine Shepherd’s care. What a welcome he would receive from his relieved family!

[6] “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Just as he accompanied his sheep with his presence and careful supervision, so David’s divine Shepherd would be with him all the way to his heavenly destination, intact and flourishing. Goodness and mercy hounded him every moment of his journey, like two faithful sheepdogs watching his every step, supplying his every need, protecting him from every danger. They were behind him, guiding him unerringly to his heavenly destination.

The Shepherd was ready for that moment…and his sheep reached home to a place thoroughly prepared for him. What a welcome for a faithful shepherd!

2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV
[5] “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He restores my soul!

2 Peter 1:10-11 NIV
[10]”Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, [11] and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

HE RESTORES MY SOUL – 1

Christian Life, ,

Genesis 2:7 NLT
[7] “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”

A quick reading of this verse gives the impression that God made the first man in two parts – the combination of a material part made from the elements of the earth and a non-material part by breathing His own breath into him. Man became “nephesh”, a living being, or a living soul.

The soul, sometimes referring to the non-material part of a human, relates to God, called, or through, the “spirit”, and to people and the world around us through our mind, will, and emotions.

Since humans are a unit, we cannot compartmentalise ourselves strictly into body and soul since soul can mean more than one aspect of our non-material nature. For example, we use the word “heart” to relate to everything about our inner being, while out “soulish” part drives our actions and reactions.

However, when Adam chose to defy God, everything about him was infected by sin. His body became subject to disease, disabilities, and eventually death . His spirit lost communication with God. He was completely cut off from Him. Adam, the first human who represented the human race, passed on his tainted and corrupted nature to mankind.

Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT
[1] “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. [2] You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. [3] All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”

Our sin nature, pandering to the demands of our ungodly desires, controlled us. Our minds, will, and emotions were out of order, causing chaos in our understanding, beliefs, and behaviour.

Where once the human mind, corrupted by sin, could only think false thoughts, God restored through His grace. Our thought processes are now based on an understanding of the truth, and we develop a belief system which influences our will to do the right thing. Our decisions and actions fall in line with the truth and our emotions follow, confirming the choice of our will. The outcome of the soul’s function in the correct order is peace.

Chaos results when the soul, out of order, reacts to our emotions rather than to the truth. When an unpleasant situation occurs, emotions run amok. Instead of stopping to think the situation through, we make wild, unreasonable decisions based on the way we feel, cand take sinful, often selfish action that exacerbates the situation.

Only God, by His grace, can teach us and enable us to function in an orderly way so that our souls are at peace rather than in a state of emotional disturbance.

Paul gives us a simple prescription for life that helps us get our souls back into God’s way.

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
[6] “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

We automatically slip into “worry” or “anxiety” mode when we run into situations outside of our control. Our disturbed emotions upset rational thinking and decision-making. Paul says, “Stop! Don’t do anything. If you believe in God, turn your situation over to Him. When you thank Him, you release your anxiety into His hands. In return, He restores peace in your heart.”

Can you understand the process? God restores peace to the soul when we function in the correct order. Jesus gave us His peace to steady our lives. There is no need to live in a state of mental and emotional disturbance when we approach our challenges with the correct attitude.

There is one more step in this process of restoration in our souls. Paul’s prescription is only fully effective when we do as he says.

Philippians 4:8-9 NLT
[8] “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. [9] Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

We cannot put in place the beliefs1 that influence our choices, decisions, and behaviour unless we fill our minds with the thoughts that shape what we believe. For example, we will not trust God when stuff happens if we do not believe that He is good all the time.

So, says Paul, fill your mind with thoughts that enhance your faith in God. Put another way…

Romans 12:2 NLT
[2] “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Restoration of our souls, then, is not one-sided. It’s a partnership between God and us. When we fill our thoughts with the truth of His
Word, and apply those truths in difficult times, He helps us to react in the right way, turning our anxiety over to Him and trusting Him to take care of the situation. He restores peace which lifts us above the situation to a state of tranquility where anxiety cannot intrude.

And… to crown it all, He will actively intervene to support, sustain, and bless us as He did both Joseph and David in the Old Covenant by His presence.

“The God of peace will be with you.”

To be continued…

RESTORED

Christian life, ,

PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN

  1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
    to his feet your tribute bring.
    Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
    evermore his praises sing.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
    Praise the everlasting King!
  2. Praise him for his grace and favor
    to his people in distress.
    Praise him, still the same as ever,
    slow to chide, and swift to bless.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
    Glorious in his faithfulness!
  3. Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
    well our feeble frame he knows.
    In his hand he gently bears us,
    rescues us from all our foes.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
    Widely yet his mercy flows!
  4. Angels, help us to adore him;
    you behold him face to face.
    Sun and moon, bow down before him,
    dwellers all in time and space.
    Alleluia, alleluia!
    Praise with us the God of grace!

Author: Henry Francis Lyte (1834)

Song available on My.Hymnary

This grand old hymn, based on Psalm 103, highlights the mercy and grace of God in the way He treats humans.

“Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven…” these are the work of His salvation plan, to get back on track His purpose for creating the earth and the human race to occupy and manage it for Him.

God is the great restorer of everything the devil destroyed in his determination to derail God’s plan. He promises restoration to His people, both in the Old and New Covenants, from whatever has broken, damaged, or destroyed them.

What does it mean that God is a restorer?

“Restoration simply means returning something to its original condition. Our belief that God is a God of restoration is the basis of our hope, and it is fundamental to our faith as Christians. We are reconciled to God, and our relationship with Him is restored forever, by faith in Jesus Christ.”

The Hebrew word for restore means “to go up” or “ascend”. What a beautiful way to understand restoration! There are many experiences in life that weigh us down, piling burden upon burden upon us… loss, pain, broken relationships, unfulfilled dreams, disappointment and disillusionment…

God intervenes in our lives with restoration… of hope, encouragement, new dreams and aspirations that enable us to “go up”, to ascend above the burdens to a new level of understanding and living.

God wants us to live above our circumstances, not under them. We choose to live under our burdens only when we keep looking at our problems and seeing them as bigger than God.

How does God restore us?

“He restores us to a right relationship with him through the gift of forgiveness and justification. He is able to restore earthly relationships. And he can even restore days and years that have been lost to the effects of sin (Joel 2:25). That has to be greatest evidence of the extravagant nature of God’s mercy.”

What is the spiritual meaning of restoration?

Spiritual restoration is that process by which God is restoring the image of Jesus in us. Through the tests He allows into our lives, we learn faith, submission, and obedience to Him and His Word that are the hallmarks of a true son. He works, in and through our “all things”, for our good.

Restoration of our lives to order and peace can only come when we learn to view our circumstances from God’s perspective, and when we come under the authority of His Word. Life on this earth will never be smooth or uneventful but…

… our hope is in God to restore everything Adam lost at the fall.

1 Peter 5:10-11 NLT
[10] “In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. [11] All power to him forever! Amen.”

When we choose to put our hope in Him, no matter what He permits in our lives that weighs down, God will restore us through Jesus. We can be sure, through our faith in Jesus, that He will restore us to His determined purpose… sons of God in His eternal kingdom.

To be continued…