Monthly Archives: November 2024

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… “

AUTHORITY, WHAT IS IT?

Apologetics, ,

Authority” has several meanings, and applications according to the dictionary definition.

“First, authority is the freedom to decide or a right to act without hindrance. All such authority begins with God, for there is no authority except from God ( Rom 13:1 ). God has the right to mold the clay as he wishes ( Rom 9:21 ) and to set times and dates ( Acts 1:7 ).”

In this article, since authority is a big subject, let’s look at Jesus’ authority and the way it impacts us as His followers.

Jesus said and did things that baffled and angered His religious opponents.

One of the big issues the Pharisees had with Jesus was authority. In their culture and religion, authority was everything. To them, Moses was the great authority. Whatever they believed and taught had to be in line with what Moses wrote (even if they failed to obey in the spirit of Moses). They constantly referred to Moses in their clashes with Jesus.

Matthew 21:23 NIV
[23] “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

The first five books of the Bible, the Torah, written by Moses, form the foundation of the Jewish faith. Every child learned the Torah from its earliest days. The Torah was the textbook of early childhood education. So, every Jew was thoroughly immersed in the teachings of Moses.

Jesus’ teaching shocked the Jewish leaders, not because He overturned the Torah but because He exposed its deeper meaning in both its revelation of God’s holiness and His mercy.

Their big question was, “Who gave you the authority to do this?” Jesus was generally recognised as a rabbi with “sh’mikah” (authority to interpret the Torah, and to create His own “yoke”, His way of doing life according to His interpretation). There were two other rabbis with “sh’mikah” at this time in Israel, Shammai and Hillel, Shammai a stricter interpreter of the Torah and Hillel more liberal.

The Pharisees often tested Jesus by trying to discover which rabbi’s teaching He supported.

Matthew 19:3-8 NIV
[3] “Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” [4] “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ [5] and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? [6] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” [7] “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” [8] Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.”

Jesus refused to be drawn into their debate. His authority to interpret and teach the Torah was superior to any rabbi, even if they had “sh’mikah”. Instead, He took His opponents back to the beginning, where God’s Word exposed the root of His intention.

“But it was not this way from the beginning.”

Matthew 7:28-29 NIV
[28] “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, [29] because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

This way of teaching the Torah angered the religious leaders since Jesus` interpretation exposed a side of God’s nature they didn’t like…His mercy and compassion.

The Pharisees once tested Him by setting a trap. They brought a woman caught in adultery (where was the guilty man… possibly one of their own?) to Him for His judgment, knowing that He leant towards mercy in the face of the Torah’s instruction to stone her.

Jesus’ action, by writing (probably their names) in the dust, revealed both His judgment on them and that He knew both the Scriptures and their names.

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.”

They slunk away, guilty, leaving Jesus, without witnesses, to forgive and free the woman.

So, what was this conflict over authority all about?

First, Jesus insisted and acknowledged, on numerous occasions, that His authority came from God and was given to Him by God.

John 3:34-35 NIV
[34] “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. [35] The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.”

He established His authority by His words and actions on different occasions.

For example, He proved His authority to forgive sins by healing a paralysed man. Who, but God alone has the authority to forgive sin?

Matthew 9:2-7 NIV
[2] “Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” [3] At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” [4] Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? [5] Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [6] But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” [7] Then the man got up and went home.”

Jesus demonstrated His authority over nature to His disciples by calming a violent storm and walking on water.

Mark 4:36-41 NIV
[36]”Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. [37] A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. [38] Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” [39] He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. [40] He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” [41] They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Even disease and powerful demonic spirit obeyed His word.

Mark 1:32-34 NIV
[32] “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. [33] The whole town gathered at the door, [34] and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.”

Jesus showed His authority over Satan’s most powerful weapon…death.

John 11:41-44 NIV
[41]”So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” [44] The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

First, then, Jesus’ authority on earth came from God. God is the source of all authority. He alone has the right to delegate His authority to whom He chooses.

Since no one, not even the Jewish leaders, though they refused to believe, could deny Jesus’ authority, we must ask, next, “How did Jesus exercise His authority?”

From Scripture, the answer is clear. Jesus’ authority lay in His spoken word. Probably the person who showed the clearest understanding of Jesus’ authority was the Roman officer…

Matthew 8:5-9 NIV
[5] “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. [6] “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” [7] Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” [8] The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But JUST SAY THE WORD, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Jesus Himself explained to His opponents that His authority to judge lay in His word.

John 12:47-50 NIV
[47] “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. [49] For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. [50] I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

The Apostle John acknowledged Jesus’ powerful role on earth, the Word of God.

John 1:1 NIV
[1] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God’s eternal Word, the one through whom God speaks on earth, became human, the spoken Word of God clothed in a human body, not only to speak God’s Word but to BE God’s Word to the whole world.

The implications for the world and the church are huge!

God has spoken His final Word through Jesus. He has nothing more to say!

Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV
[1] “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, [2] but in these last days HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. [3] The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things BY HIS POWERFUL WORD . After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

God has invested all authority in Jesus. To Him has been given the power to direct all the affairs on earth…for the sake of His church.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT
[22]” God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. [23] And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”

Jesus authorised His disciples to go in His name with His message to all the nations on earth.

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
[18] Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God the Father authorised Jesus, the Son, to wrap up history by His Word.

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT
[11] “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. [12] His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. [13] He wore a robe dipped in blood, and HIS TITLE WAS THE WORD OF GOD . [14] The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. [15] FROM HIS MOUTH CAME A SHARP SWORD TO STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS . He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. [16] On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”

The implications for those who believe in Him are also huge.

Obedience to Jesus’ teachings has the power to set us free from everything that keeps us in bondage, both the lies we believe and our sinful ways. Embracing, knowing, believing and obeying Jesus’ yoke guarantees His rest from every burden we carry.

Matthew 11:28 NLT
[28] “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

John 8:31-32 NLT
[31] Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. [32] And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Since all authority has been given to Jesus, and He exercises His authority by His spoken word, if we do not obey His word, first, we do not believe Him…

Luke 6:46 NLT
[46] “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

…and second we do not love Him.

John 14:21 NLT
[21] “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

The outcome for all who reject His authority and refuse to obey His Word is….

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. [22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ “

1 Corinthians 16:22 NLT
[22] “If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed…”

We must be sure that loving and obeying Jesus is the e centre and source of our lives if we want to spend eternity with Him.

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.

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!'”