Monthly Archives: November 2024

REST, IN THE PURPOSES OF GOD

Christian Life, ,

When we set out on a journey, it helps to know our destination! Imagine going to the train station and climbing on the first train that comes by without any idea of where its journey will end!

Many people treat life’s journey in this way.

Some believe that life ends at death. Death snuffs them out and that’s the end, so why bother about the way they live now? Despite a witness deep inside of them to what is written in God’s Word, they deny that death is not the end but the door into another life.

Others believe that, after death, they will return in another form. From where does this notion come?

The Bible states that..

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
[11]”…He has planted eternity in the human heart…”

If we believe that this is true, we must also believe that what we do now has great significance for us in the life to come. We cannot leave unprepared for, or to chance, so great a future life that God has prepared for us.

What can we do to ensure that we are ready for the new life in God’s eternal realm? Does the Bible give us any indication of what God is planning and how we can prepare?

Apart from one overriding requirement, to be faithful in the small, routine tasks in life, like eating and drinking, God has not given us a list of detailed instructions for us to follow. What He has given us is the goal of our lives and some of the ways in which He is working in us to reach that goal.

You see, God dare not leave anything to chance. If He were to give us a long list of do’s and dont’s, we would fail. He did that for His people in the Old Covenant, and it didn’t work. All He got was stubborn rebellion and disobedience.

His plan was always far more simple. However, since He could not trust us to be what He has planned, sons and daughters in His divine family who perfectly resemble Jesus, He undertook to carry out His plan in us, for us. The only one He can re-form us into the image of Jesus is through His Spirit in us.

However, God uses ways to re-form us that are often uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes even seem cruel. Trouble is, we can’t see the big picture, so we buck against His ways or accuse Him of being unloving or untrustworthy.

Let’s look at some of the ways in which God works to recreate us in the likeness of Jesus. There are two things we must do to facilitate His work in us.

Step one, we must recognise that the enemy is within us…our old sinful nature, and deal with it with the help of His Spirit.

Colossians 3:8-11 NLT
[8] “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. [9] Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. [10] Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. [11] In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”

Through the Holy Spirit in us, God has given us the power to stop our sinful behaviour by following the Holy Spirit’s leading….and to put the old nature to death…

Romans 8:12-14 NLT
[12] “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

Step number two, we must learn to think the way God thinks by filling our minds with His Word.

John 17:17 NLT
[17]”Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

God uses His Word in us to show us the right way when we are confronted with choices and decisions that impact His work of re-forming us into the image of Jesus.

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.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
[16] “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

This is a kind of swimming-against-the-current way of living. Learning to do the right thing no matter what the world’s way might be, is not easy but God promises us the strength to do life His way.

How do we reflect the image of Jesus in us? By learning to trust the Father in whatever happens in our lives. Jesus had a goal, to go to the cross as a perfect sacrificial “lamb” because this was God’s will for Him. To do that, He had to trust and obey the Father implicitly. He had to be the perfect son, always living in perfect submission to the Father’s will. He focused everything He was, said, and did, towards that end.

Hebrews 10:8-10 NLT
[8] “First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). [9] Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. [10] For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”

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.”

Mark 14:36 NIV
[36] “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Hebrews 5:7-9 NIV
[7]”During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his REVERENT SUBMISSION. [8] Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…”

The greatest training of all is learning to submit to the Lord, no matter what happens in our lives, good or bad, without resistance or protest. Again, it’s Jesus who is our model.

1 Peter 2:23-25 NIV
[23]”When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
[25] For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

God is able to do His work of transformation only when we rest in His love and goodness, and allow Him to shape us, through discipline, hardship, and suffering, into the same attitude as Jesus.

Philippians 2:5-7 NLT
[5]”You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form…”

When we give God the freedom to work in us, trusting Him no matter what, and submitting to His will IN ALL THINGS…

Romans 8:28-30 NIV
[28]”..We know that IN ALL THINGS, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

Only then can we reach God’s goal for His children TO BE LIKE HIM

1 John 3:2-3 NIV
[2]”Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see him as he is. [3] All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”

AN APPRENTICESHIP OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE

Christian Life, ,

Luke 16:10-12 NIV
[10] “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. [11] So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? [12] And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”

How many of God’s people realise that we are serving an apprenticeship during our earthly life? No one is here by accident, whatever the circumstances of their birth. No one is an aimless nomad in this life regardless of their place or function down here. All are called to a life of preparation but, sadly, few by comparison respond to this call or even know they are called.

Matthew 22:14 NIV
[14] “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

An apprentice is a novice who learns a profession or trade through hands-on practice. When he has passed the tests of theory and practice, he is licenced and released to carry out his function without close supervision.

My grandson spent five years at university learning the theory of law and two years in a law firm, practicing his profession under supervision. Now he is an accredited attorney, doing the job he spent years training to do. This is his reward for seven years of faithful apprenticeship.

So it is in life.

What is the “eternal profession” God is preparing us for when we graduate from this life? Without giving details, He has assigned His people a mind-bogging role in His kingdom, each individual according to our response to His input.

God has promised us an inheritance and the responsibility of managing our inheritance in partnership with Jesus.

Romans 8:17 NIV
[17] “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Revelation 20:6 NLT
[6] “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.”

As vague as this is for us now, God has outlined a life for His people so awesome that we cannot imagine what it can be.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7, 9 NLT
[6]” Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. [7] No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began…
[9] That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

How do we know what this apprenticeship entails and how do we serve it during our stay on this planet?

Although the Lord has not specifically written a chapter or two in His book to give details of our function as apprentices, He has left us enough simple instructions, scattered throughout His story about Himself and people, to show us what He wants us to do.

One word sums up our entire lives as we prepare for eternity, faithfulness! Faithfulness means that we stick to our post, regardless of obstacles, hindrances, tests, failures, successes, etc., or whatever we encounter on the way that would throw us off course.

It’s not about where we serve or how important or menial our function is…it’s about how well we do what God has assigned for us to do.

Jesus left us with a few simple principles to guide us through this process.

Luke 16:10-13 NLT
[10]“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. [11] And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? [12] And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? [13] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

How simple is that! First, little things…like eating and drinking.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
[31] “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

That’s simple enough for us to do.

Gluttons do not eat or drink for God’s glory. They stuff themselves to satisfy their fleshly desires. “Enough” is the not the operative word for them. Eating and drinking to God’s glory is about what we eat and how much we eat to satisfy hunger not greed.

Second, money! It’s all about the way we handle our money.

Money is our reward for the work we do, and money is what we need to stay alive. We could say that money is as basic a need as air, food, and water. Problem is, money can easily become our master if we allow money to dominate our lives instead of keeping us alive. How
much is enough?

God’s principle is “enough for you and others”.

Paul’s advice is, again, simple…

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 NLT
[13]”Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. [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.”

Instead of learning to use money for the purpose God intended, we hoard it for a “rainy day”. Money is a resource. like food and water, that we all need in the correct amount, to share with others wherever there is a need as well as to serve our own needa. When we hoard food or water, it spoils. When we hoard money above our needs, it is vulnerable to theft or decay.

Jesus told us where to store our money, in His heavenly bank account where no human has access except you through Him. In this way, He has our account from which He can meet our needs, when we make a withdrawal.

Matthew 6:19-21 NLT
[19]“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Why would God choose the way we handle our money to test our faithfulness to Him? Our attitude to our money is the simple test that reveals who or what rules us. If money rules our hearts, it is impossible for us to serve the Lord. If we are not faithfully serving the Lord here on earth, how can He trust us with greater responsibilities in His heavenly kingdom?

God made His apprenticeship simple so that no child of God is excluded from His training programme. No matter where we are or what we do in this life, God calls us to be faithful to our duties, our “little tasks”, like caring for our families, and with our resources, like feeding or clothing a brother in need. He promises sufficient grace to do what He calls us to do and to endure what He allows us to endure.

When we are faithful in this life, He can assign to us the greater honour of sharing with Jesus all the wonders of His eternal kingdom in the life to come.

Matthew 25:21 NLT
[21]“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!'”

MOLLY AND ME – BELONGING

Christian Life, ,

Molly belongs to me. I bought her from the breeder when she was 46 days old. The moment I paid for her, she became mine. I took over the responsibility to love her, care for her, provide for her, and protect her. I do everything for her that she needs, as a little dog, to flourish.

Molly knows she is mine. When I need to go away for a short while, I hand my responsibility for her over to a trusted friend who cares for her as lovingly as I do, but… she is not me. Molly is sad and restless until I return, and ecstatic beyond words when she sees me. Every muscle in her body is mobilised to express her joy. Her tail would fly off if it were not securely fastened to her rear end. Even when I leave her for an hour or two, she responds to my homecoming as though I have been gone for days!

This bond is so strong that Molly even trusts me when I turn her upside down to treat her for any ailment. She submits to the indignity of cream on her chest and tummy for itchy skin and even on her paws which she guards tenaciously as a specially personal part of her anatomy.

So it is with God and me.

I remember the story of a young boy who carved a sailboat out of wood, dressed it up with paint and sails and took it to the water to try it’s performance. He was excited to see how the wind filled the little sails and pushed it through the water.

Unfortunately, the little boat did so well that it sailed out of reach. The water was too deep for him to rescue it, and soon it was also out of sight.

The little boy returned home in tears, his prized possession gone.

A few months passed. One day, as he was passing the toyshop in town, he was overjoyed to see his little boat in the shop window. Somehow his craft had been found and offered to the shop owner for sale.

He rushed inside to claim his possession. The shop owner refused to return his boat and he was forced to buy it back at the shop keeper’s price. After months of saving his pocket money, he finally walked out of the shop with the liitle boat in his hands.

“You are twice mine,” he whispered as he walked home. “I made you, and I bought you!”

Twice God’s! He made us…

Psalms 139:13-14 NIV
[13] “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. [14] I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

… and He bought us.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
[19] “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; [20] you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

This belongingness has a double meaning. I belong to God, therefore, He takes full responsibility for me. I belong to God, therefore I am accountable to Him. He has the right and responsibility to train and discipline me so that I learn to conform to His ways just as Molly is accountable to me. When she is naughty, I scold her. Somehow she understands and seeks my forgiveness by licking my hands.

Molly and I live in harmony with each other as much as we can as human and dog. With God as my perfect heavenly Father, it is up to me to treasure this belongingness by living in harmony with Him, trusting His goodness and responding to His discipline. Nothing is more precious than belonging to God.

1 Peter 2:9 NIV
[9] “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

“DON’T LOOK AT ME, GOD”

Gospel, ,

Years ago, I watched a DVD seies on the Christian life by a Presbyterian pastor. One of his points dealt with his attitude towards sin.

He referred to a situation in his life when he had said or done something to offend his wife. Instead of humbly confessing his sin to God and to his wife, his shame led him to run from them, creating an atmosphere of tension and alienation. He summed up the situation with these words, “Don’t look at me, God!”

How often, because we misunderstand grace, we tell God, with or without words, “Don’t look at me, God!” We allow sin to disturb our fellowship with God and people, isolating ourselves by guilt and shame from our family or fellow believers.

We tend to think that everyone around us knows what we have done and judges us for our bad behaviour…most of all God because we have offended Him. We treat God as though He were human.

What does the Bible say to a situation like this?

Of course, there is a difference between an occasional lapse and a lifestyle of offending others. If we persist in selfish behaviour that puts us in the centre of our world, we will offend others by our thoughtless and careless words and deeds.

For a believer, this attitude of self-absorption is foreign to someone who is “in Christ”.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
[17] “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Does this mean that persistently selfish behaviour is evidence that such a person is not “in Christ”? True believers are those who have been born from above by God’s Spirit, have a new nature, and are learning to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Romans 8:14 NIV
[14] “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

They exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in increasing measure in their attitude and behaviour.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
[22] “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Does this mean that a believer can never sin? No! It means that God has a remedy for those times when we do step outside of grace. He knows that, as long as we are in this life, we are at war with our old fleshly, selfish nature. We do give in from time to time.

However, God has made provision for all sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. His death takes care of all sin for all time. Even before we sin in time, He paid the price and has forgiven us. According to God’s Word, Jesus’ sacrifice was planned before time so that it is effective for all sin in time even before He died.

Instead of denying our guilt or hiding in shame, saying, “Don’t look at me, God,” He calls us to come to Him because He has the solution…

1 John 2:1-2 NIV
[1] “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. [2] He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

1 John 1:8-9 NIV
[8] “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Like any loving earthly father, the Father graciously forgives our sin and restores fellowship with Him when we come clean with Him and with one another.

1 John 1:6-7 NIV
[6]” If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”