Monthly Archives: November 2024

AND THE WOMAN?…

Bible Study, ,

John 8:3-11 NLT
[3] “As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. [4] “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5] The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” [6] They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. [7] They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” [8] Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. [9] When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. [10] Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” [11] “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” ———-

I think that this is one of the most powerful and beautiful stories in the New Testament. Despite the fact that it was not in the original Greek text, God designed it to be a part of His written Word.

This story speaks volumes about many things, an intricately woven tapestry of truth about God and people.

Picture the scene. A group of men, scribes and Pharisees, all clad in their ceremonial robes, complete with prayer shawls adorned with extra-long tassels, all dedicated to the study and practice of their religion, representatives of the God they claimed to worship…. triumphantly dragging a half-naked, guilty woman into the public eye. They dumped her down before Jesus for a verdict. (Was one of them wearing his robes over his street clothes…the man she was with in her sin…?)

For them, this was not a case for judgment to rid society of an evil doer. This was a test to snare Jesus into making a wrong judgment. These men might get her stoned but better still, they might get Jesus to act out of character for the sake of the Law they so vehemently defended. Then they could deal with Him legitimately according to God’s law.

Their challenge was noisy, demanding and insistent. “Come on, Jesus! What do you say!” (Implied…you say you have authority. What does your authority say? Your word or the Law of Moses?)

Jesus said nothing. His silence spoke volumes. Was He confused, undecided, wondering how to answer them? No, not at all!

They knew that He came down heavily on the side of compassion. What would He do in the face of so blatant an infringement of the Law ?

These men forgot or ignored one thing…Jesus was God’s Word incarnate, the Word of God in flesh and blood. So, the most natural thing for Him to do was to BE the word to them.

So, He bent down and wrote in the dust…

Jeremiah 17:13 NIV
[13] “Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be WRITTEN IN THE DUST because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.”

In the context of the story (John 7:37-38), Jesus had just offered “living water” to thirsty people, which the religious leaders had rejected. Instead, they sent soldiers to arrest Him.

They waited impatiently while He carefully traced His words in the dust. Then they melted away….

What caused these “witnesses” to slink away in shame and humiliation when Jesus wrote in the dust? What did He write? Their names! JESUS KNEW THEIR NAMES!

Case dismissed! Gone, the witnesses; gone, the accusers; gone, the trial! Jesus was free to forgive, and send her on her way clean, to start again.

These wily, conniving religious hypocrites could not dodge the truth. Jesus, was who He said He was, God Himself, the Son of God, boref deep into their rotten souls and called their bluff!

And the guilty sinner?…

Forgiven, set free from the guilt of her sin, sent home to begin again!

What was in the mind of woman, now a solitary figure lying in the dust at Jesus’ feet?

Never was she so close to death.
Never was she so close to forgiveness.
Never was she so close to a new life.
Never was she so close to real holiness.
Never was she so close to God.

Everything changed that day for her.

She came out filthy, exposed, and guilty… She went home forgiven, cleansed, and free.

As for her accusers, nothing changed!

MOLLY AND ME – HABITS

Christian Life, ,

Our time together, Molly and me, has produced some unusual habits. Habits are good, I suppose, if they contribute to a peaceful life. Some habits are irksome but…we tolerate each other for the sake of love and harmony.

Habits develop over time when we repeat behaviour patterns until they stick. Take Molly’s cute habit, for example, of make a wide detour around the furniture every time I put her food bowl down on the floor. She will never walk in a straight line to her food…always a detour, for what reason? Only she knows?

Another habit she has developed is to do her business in my bathroom when it rains, but she does it furtively, like she doesn’t want me to know… until I discover the evidence. I don’t mind because it’s easy to clean, and always in the same place…never in my lounge or bedroom.

She started a bad habit which I recognised after a few times, and quickly nipped in the bud. She would wake me in the middle of the night to go outside, and then moon around in the garden for quite a while before coming back inside.

Now I know that she has excellent bladder control, so her little ruse didn’t fool me.

Why do we develop habits, some good, some bad? I guess habits help our thought processes. If we don’t have to think about every routine move we make, it frees our minds to engage in more profitable thinking. I don’t know if habits work for Molly but they work for me

One thing I realise, after observing Molly’s funny little habits, is that I also have habits that influence and direct my behaviour. My best habit, practised over many years, is to rise early and spend time with Lord, engaging with Him, uninterrupted, while it’s dark and quiet, before my daily routine begins.

It wasn’t always like this. When my four children were young, school-going boys, mornings began with a bang and a flurry to get them off to school. Then the day rushed on with hardly time or a thought for the Lord.

Now that I have all day on my hands, my daily habit is deeply entrenched… not that I think my day will go haywire if I don’t have a “quiet time” but because these are treasured moments that I would hate to miss.

I have other, lesser habits that generally keep me on track, and habits that Molly and I have formed together that testify to the bond we enjoy, like holding her close every time I sit down on my chair next to her. She and I cherish those together times which are like the grooming that cements bonds in the animal kingdom.

Since we gather habits that are helpful or harmful, it’s up to us to recognise the difference and to break the habits that irk us or others. The best habit of all is to cutivate a God-awareness so strong that it keeps us connected to Him, His will, and His ways throughout our day, whether we are conscious of His presence or not.

I treasure the Holy Spirit presence because He helps me form the habits that keep me from wandering off into forbidden territory, and keeps my heart warm with joy and longing for more of the interaction with the Lord that keeps my anticipation for heaven alive despite the darkness all around.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT
[18] “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.4.18.NLT

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….