Which Ministry?

2Corinthians 3:3-6 - ...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Old and new, death and life. Hearts of stone or hearts of flesh. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

Tablets of stone=Ten Commandments

Tablets of flesh=law of Christ, within our hearts

God made a covenant long ago with Abraham that He would be his God and the God of all his descendants. Abraham had so much faith in God that he was called righteous. 

In the Old Testament God started out with a list of commandments. Because those commandments could not be perfectly kept, there were sacrifices made continually. God finally chose to bring about one final possibility for permanent solution...His Son, who would be sacrificed and die, like all the animals of the Old Testament sacrifices. 

This same  covenant is for those today who seek Him. We become Abraham's descendants when we come into complete and utter submission to Jesus Christ. The other evening in a Bible study we were reminded that living and being in Christ and receiving His promises is predicated on a whole bunch of "if" statements. If we do this, He will do that. I saw an article once that said the Bible is an "iffy" book! It is. A very rough estimate tells me there are hundreds of if statements. It was this way from the very beginning and is still the same today.

God never changes His ways to suit our desires. We must change our ways to suit His. This concept goes so against our human nature...but IF we follow and obey Him, His promises are for us. God only offers one promise to those who do not...eternal death.

Often I write that it is not by our works, our sufficiency, that we attain eternal life. That would be based on the tablets of stone…the commandments, the law, the sacrifices necessary to atone for sin. I came to Christ through the Spirit of God, who changed my heart’s attitude. He took my heart of stone and made it flesh. My sufficiency now is from God. Giving myself to Him I am part of the new covenant. As stated above, the letter (the works, law and sacrifices—apart from God) kill because it is we who try to work for our salvation. But the Spirit gives life...through God’s grace, His Son, His Son’s atoning blood. In Christ alone.

Christ came to fulfill all those laws we could not keep. The laws are there to show us we cannot keep them. If we cannot keep them, there is but one other choice. We must seek a Savior. We must seek the Savior. In Christ alone. It is through the law of Christ and a heart change. Sincerely seek Him and He will save. He will gladly save the lowest of the low, the most wretched person, which we all are anyway. He is no respecter of persons but wishes that none perish. None. When the choice was before me, I chose the ministry of the Spirit, not of the flesh. 

Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

Oh, What They Did!

Genesis 33:3 - Then he [Jacob] crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Oh, the forgiveness and grace of our Lord. Oh, the humility.

Jacob and his brother Esau were at odds with each other as young men. Jacob fled for fear of losing his life to his brother's hand, even though Jacob had initially deceived Esau. But now many years later, after Jacob had been deceived (what goes around comes around?) by his father in law, God told him it was time to go back home, to his land and his brother; He would deal well with him when he did. 

So, despite trepidation and some precautions, Jacob did return. Despite God's words, His promise that all would be well, Jacob had some fear of the unknown. And when the time came he bowed in total humility before his brother. And his brother was no longer angry.

Isaac, the brothers' father, had unknowingly blessed Jacob, the second son with the inheritance Esau should have had as the first son. Part of that blessing was that Jacob's brother Esau would be a servant to him. So, in this case of deception, older would serve younger. 

I think about Jesus and how He came, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to serve us through His humiliation, mocking and death on the cross...for those who would call on His name to be saved. He came not to be served but to serve. This is our Lord. Once we have gotten to that place of understanding Him as our Lord and bowing before Him, then it is our duty to serve Him and let His story be told. When we bow in total humility before Him, His forgiveness envelopes us. 

It's all about Him, serving and obeying and trusting in Him. We can do nothing in this life on our own, but in Him we can do all things. Later in Genesis we will see how God uses Jacob, whose name by now has been changed by God to Israel. Israel...God's land and His people. 

Matthew 20:26-28 - Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

The One Jesus Loves

John 13:23 - Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John 13 shows us how Jesus was a servant to all. It discusses the washing of feet, a custom in those days. It was done for any guest in any home. Usually a servant would be the one to do the work. 

However, at Passover, Jesus' last supper, there was no servant available and when none of the disciples stepped up to the plate (pride or did they just not think of it?), Jesus removed his outer clothes and did it Himself. 

There was a hub bub when Peter said he would not allow Jesus to wash him because he did not think it was right. He was His servant. Jesus insisted. He did this as an example for two reasons: He may be the King of kings and Lord of lords, God come down from heaven, the highly exalted One, Messiah, but He was also a humble Servant. He came down from His throne in heaven to live among us just so He could die for all of us. We are not to think more highly of ourselves, always placing others ahead of ourselves and love on them. 

The disciple John called himself the one whom Jesus loved five times in the Book of John. The question we can ask is if we think he was being arrogant. It could seem as though he were. As children of God (and Jesus called these disciples His children in verse 33), we should unabashedly say the same thing! I think John just had a much deeper understanding of who Jesus was than the rest of the group. He hung on His every word. He worshiped Him in a way the others might not have.

We are all the ones whom Jesus loves if we have submitted our lives to Him. Foot washing was a dirty, humbling job, cleaning a very dirty part of the body. How many really like the idea of someone else washing our feet!? Eeeewwww. 

Maybe that's what Peter felt. No, Lord, you will not wash my feet. That's beneath you and I'm not worthy of it. Oh, but we are worthy if Jesus, who first chose us, wishes to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. He's the One who made it possible for all the filthiness of our sad lives to be washed away. 

What we must remember is if Jesus was willing to love us so unconditionally, we should do the same for others. Remove the planks from our eyes and humble ourselves to accept others for who they are. This can sometimes be hard. Love on them. Forgive their weaknesses. Don't think more highly of ourselves. Be servants to all (a lesson for me!). There is a phrase often used. It's not biblical but it is part of a truth: Jesus loves us just the way we are. It doesn't stop there, though. He might love us just as we are, but He loves us too much to allow us to stay in that place. He changes us. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Reminds me of this verse from a hymn called Man of Sorrows. We are born into sin, unrighteousness, filthy and He came to wash away the sin and guilt by His precious blood:

      Guilty, vile, and helpless we; 

      Spotless Lamb of God was He; 

      "Full atonement!" can it be? 

      Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

There are people who cannot receive Christ because they believe He could never love them as they are...like Peter. That's just not true. He loves us all so much. But there's a condition. receiving Him. Living apart from Him, not knowing or receiving Him...doesn't take His love away, but it saddens Him that there are those who are too ashamed, too proud, too much in control of their own lives, to look up to Him.

Remember, we are all the ones whom Jesus loves if we have received Christ. Let us lean on His bosom. Let us let Him cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Only He is able and He's not too proud to come and wash your feet, so to speak.

Romans 5:8, Galatians 5:20, Romans 8:37 - but God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...therefore...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me...and...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Perfection

Daniel‬ ‭1:3-4 - Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

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The King of Babylon invaded the land of Judah. God allowed this. They had turned away from God. As you can see, this king only wanted unblemished, good looking, gifted, knowledgable people to learn of their ways.

Hmmmm, sounds familiar. Good figure, no handicaps or unusual features. Beauty is of utmost importance. Talented individuals are looked up to, idolized, like sports figures, musicians, artists. Those with higher IQs, having knowledge in science or philosophy are looked up to also. So gifted. And if we're not? Then what? Where does it place us?

What does God look for? 

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1Samuel‬ ‭16:7)

"For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." ‭(Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬)

Add to these those characteristics listed in the Beatitudes: poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness' sake. I am reminded of the scripture which says that God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. 

David was a boy who slew a giant with no more than a sling and a stone. God pared down Gideon's large army to 300 to gain victory over an enemy's army of thousands. Many mocked Noah for building this huge ark for the rain they had never known before and his small family were all that was left of a corrupt world to repopulate. It's all to prove the power of this amazing God. Nothing is impossible with Him. Imperfect men and women became His disciples and followers. He ate with sinners. He changed their lives!

God doesn't need perfection. He needs a person willing to empty himself and learn the things of God. He will perfect us imperfect beings as much as we will allow. That perfection only comes through Jesus Christ. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians‬ ‭1:28‬) If we feel we need to do for God's approval, we are wrong. He wants submission. But this submission is not the way the world thinks of it; it lifts us up to a godly standard, not an earthly one.

We have an amazing God who so wants the best for us. But His ways and His blessings aren't always in ways we think they should. He knows best what each of us needs. Sometimes what we think we want might be the very thing that would hinder our knowing Him more deeply. Lean on His understanding. Trust Him. He's working to perfect us if we have received Him as Lord and Savior.

Hebrews 10:12,14 - But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God... For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

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Israel's Resistance

Micah 6:2 - Hear, O mountains, the LORD's complaint, and you strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a complaint against His people, and He will contend with Israel.

Jesus has done a great thing for us. He has died for our sins to restore our relationship with the Father. We are counted as His people if we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, if we have decided to be content in Him, follow Him and His commands, trust in Him and remain in Him.

The Old Testament talks all about Israel, the LORD and His people. If we are in Christ we understand that anywhere these words are written they are words for us also. Israel is a nation, a people. They are the LORD's chosen people. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. (Exodus 19:5). In the New Testament that relates to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. We have become part of His chosen people. The entire Bible is intertwined. 

So this complaint in Micah...is a complaint even today, for the nation of Israel and for all His people. God is not done with Israel. There will still be a struggle ahead for this nation and these people. When things look like the very end of this nation, which seems to have been in the crosshairs of many enemies over the years, God will intervene. The Bible tells us there will be a time when even the Jews will look and see and realize that Jesus IS and was the Christ they rejected so many years ago.

Here the LORD continues to speak through the prophet Micah. God asks what has He done to us (that we should reject Him). I ask, what has He done for us? In Micah the answers are He has delivered them out of Egypt, captivity. In the New Testament He delivers us out of the sin of this world, those sins we are trapped within until we receive Christ. In both cases He has allowed us to know His righteousness in our lives. (Micah 6:5)

The other day I mentioned that so often people want to prove in and of themselves that they are good before God. But God does not recognize that. What He wants more than anything else is our humble devotion to Him. (Micah 6:6-8)

  

One can't know God without spending time with Him in prayer and in the Word. That's how He communicates to us. It's how we know what our future holds. We learn from the past. Further in Micah 6 the LORD has the prophet suggest that without the righteousness that comes from Him He cannot stand with them. He does not recognize the things of the world which is filled with wickedness, deceit, lies and abominations. It's not about flesh and blood but those spiritual things unseen in the heavenlies. Only through Him will all things be good and secure.

We learn from the Old Testament. Things are no different today than back then. There are followers and non-followers, His people or the world's people. There is life or death. There is humble submission or proud/rebellious resistance. God loves us all but He has His standards. They are all set forth in His Word. Do you know them? Do you know His desires for you? There is only good for you when you do. You too can be part of His chosen people. To be set apart by God is a privilege. 

There will be a remnant in the last days, those who have stood by God and refused to be swayed by the world views, which are becoming greater each day. You can be part of that remnant. He will watch over you. The rewards are great, the promises sure. You know the phrase that's so popular these days, life is good. In Christ it is better than good. Can you say you are part of His people? Remember, Israel = all His followers.

Isaiah 43:1-3 - But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... 

What Does the Lord Require?

Micah 6:1-8 - Hear now what the LORD says: 
        "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, 
        And let the hills hear your voice. 
        Hear, O you mountains, the LORD's complaint, 
        And you strong foundations of the earth; 
        For the LORD has a complaint against His people...

        "O My people, what have I done to you? 
        And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.         
        For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, 
        I redeemed you from the house of bondage; 
        And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 
        O My people, remember now...
        That you may know the righteousness of the LORD." 

        With what shall I come before the LORD, 
        And bow myself before the High God? 
        Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, 
        With calves a year old? 
        Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, 
        Ten thousand rivers of oil? 
        Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, 
        The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 

        He has shown you, O man, what is good; 
        And what does the LORD require of you 
        But to do justly, to love mercy,         
        And to walk humbly with your God? 

Micah 6:8 has been a verse that has cropped up frequently lately for some reason. Maybe it's a message for me. What I do know it is a message for all of us.

The title in the Bible of this section I read was The Obliteration of Nations. Don't we seem to see obliteration of a lot of things these days? Power struggles, evil, threats of terrorism, outright terrorism, protesting and senseless killing. Let's face it, we cannot look around us and say all is well.

In these scriptures Micah is telling the people of Israel to listen to what God is telling him to tell them! The nation or people of Israel then were God's people. This would be like those today who say they belong to God. Egypt, I've mentioned before, is a type of the world, a form of captivity. People who live according to their own idea of how they want to live, apart from God.

So God had a complaint. As was brought up, again, in Sunday school, the Old Testament, where Micah is, is just as important as any book in the New Testament. Don't let anyone tell you only the New Testament is necessary. 1Corinthians 10:11 says: Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

God remains the same today as He was then (Hebrews 13:8). There is no shadow of turning with Him (James 1:17). What He says in the Word He means. He doesn't change His mind because society or culture thinks it should. It's so hard to convince people of that. If He said something is a sin, it is. As our pastor said in church yesterday morning, sin is not a mistake, an accident, slip up...it's a sin.

So anyway, God is asking His people Israel, who have repeatedly turned their backs on Him and sinned against Him, what has He done that they should do this? He might ask us as well, those of us who have received Christ and call ourselves believers yet live as we desire. Didn't He deliver them from captivity...didn't He save us from our sins through the blood of Jesus? Didn't He save Israel to show His righteousness to them...doesn't He do that with us? Doesn't He cloth us in righteousness upon receiving Christ?

And Israel missed it. They adhered to their sacrifices as their religious leaders called them to do frequently. Yet none of all those sacrifices were really what God desired. Same today...He doesn't want what we think are good deeds so that God will be pleased with us. What He wants is what verse 8 says: ...to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Then those deeds have meaning because they are done for His glory, not our own.

Some churches today adhere to beliefs or laws that are not biblical. Jesus said He came to not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. All those sacrifices...rolled into One. All He asks is that we follow Him, do what He commands. That's all He asks. I think we can all say we try to do justly and try to be merciful, but it means nothing if we are not walking humbly with God. To me humbly is acknowledging Him daily, submitting to Him over self. Oh, I need to hear this myself.

This verse was the one verse that was beautifully and gently spoken the day I received Christ as Lord and Savior April 18, 1999. I can still hear the pastor's voice! This is what He requires. He wants us. He wants all of each of us. Not that He can be a puppet master and pull strings. No, He wants relationship with us so that He can show us all He has done for us and all He will do for us if we are willing to give of ourselves to Him. You can't have relationship if you don't want to know Him intimately through His Word and devotion to Him. Hold nothing back. We need to ask for Him to reveal any wicked ways, any pride, judgment, selfishness...you name it...that prevents us from being the very person God wants us to be.

Being what He desires is not a bad thing. It's freeing. When we do as He requires life runs more smoothly. If we do not, we run into troubles. We will not be without trouble, but with God we can get through it in His strength. Without Him those struggles will be a burden. With God we have peace. Without Him we flounder.

It takes only a desire to know this great God, be willing to submit to the highest Authority. He desires to use us in a way He has created each of us to be used. He will use our strengths and weaknesses; He has equipped us each with certain talents. When we do as He requires we are successful, to use terms we recognize. Our success comes from His hand. And our success is for His glory because He placed in us what we have. I'm sure it can seem inconceivable doing God's will over our own is the way to go. But it is.

Lord, create in me a clean heart. Show me my faults, my improper desires. Empty me of me that You might fill me to overflowing so I can share what You have for me with others. There's plenty to go around! You must increase that I may decrease. Do this, Lord.

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭24-28‬)

The World Has Not Known You

John 17:24-26 

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.


Jesus finished His prayer to His Father for His disciples and for the world. He desires...that we see His glory.

I say it over and over. It's all about Jesus. It's all about God, the Father. Jesus shows it's all about His Father: they, whom You gave Me; My glory which You gave Me; the love You have for Me...the love which I have shown them...it is Your love.

An email discussion I had with a woman recently showed me something. She wanted my opinion on an email she wanted to send out. She asked if she should drop it or send it. Clearly she was angry about a situation. I know that anger...I've had it myself. It comes from being hurt by someone. Thankfully that doesn't happen often, rarely, these days. But how we want to cling to unforgiveness sometimes. (I suggested she drop it! She did.)

Our pride can get hurt. Pride is the root, I believe, of all sin. If we know the Lord, it is our responsibility to love as Jesus loved. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, as to the Lord. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. (Ephesians 5)  We are to love our neighbor and our enemy. We do it without expecting anything in return. Jesus loved His Father no matter what...even knowing what death He would face. He loved His disciples, followers and the sinners. We can only love unconditionally through Christ. Yeah, it's still a struggle sometimes because we have this tarnished, blackened heart.

Why is there so much hatred in this world? Why is there even so much disunity politically? Because the love of Christ is not there. It's all about Jesus! If we all agreed with the Word of God, believed what it says, lived it out, this would be a better world. But it starts with knowing Jesus. A better world is a utopian idea. Utopia will only come to those in Christ after He returns to reign on earth with believers, His people...and then in heaven where all injustice will be gone: He will swallow up death forever. And the LORD GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 21:4) A promise from both Old and New Testaments.

Jesus' mission was to reveal Himself to us. He started with twelve average men and some countless others along the way. Eleven of those men and a few more revealed to others, who revealed to others, who revealed to others...who eventually revealed to me...and I hope I to you.

Are we made perfect on this earth? No. We still struggle with sin. But we are covered by the blood of Jesus and His love sustains us, if we submit to Him. As He does, so we are to do. A lesson to be learned!

But the world in general does not know Him. They do not know His peace. They do not know His love, nor His wisdom and power, nor they way He works. They will live in discord until they do. They will have burdens they cannot release without Him. There will be disunity. Jesus says: Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am... I pray that anyone who needs to be counted as a part of they whom You gave Me would submit to God. Submit to receive His love, see His glory in their lives and then turn around and do the same for others. 

John 14:27 - peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to You. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This is Commendable

Romans 13:1-2 - Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

I did a little study on submission and spiritual authority. I understand the biblical view of it. I understand how right and wrong came to be in this world. I understand also how hard it can be. And I had no idea I would have so much to share.

It started with Lucifer, determined to be greater that God, wanting his posts to be higher than God's clouds and stars. Impossible! What arrogance! And where did it take him...completely separated from God. He has become the ruler of today's world, satan. And he is fighting tooth and nail to get us to believe he was right and somehow that God is wrong. Well, it ain't gonna work.

GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL. Many people are rebellious against God; yet some understand the act of submission He requires. And that some may be a very few. He knows better than we. He knows what we need better than we do because He knows what is in store for us. He also holds our eternal future in His hands based on this principal of submission. This goes for every person. This goes for me.

I think some believe in submission, to a point. In the world they might be willing to submit to some authorities in their lives, but not all and don't talk to them about the ultimate submission...to God. After all, who can see Him? Who can say what He commands us to do...especially when we don't pay enough attention to Him and His Word? We may not have not come to a point where submission to Christ is understandable, but we can see a boss, a husband, a military authority, even a president.

We are inherently rebellious. It's all about me. It's all about what I want to do, who I see myself as, how I have gotten where I am. At a certain time in a child's growth even he understands how to get what he wants. It starts early. It's called pride, which I think is the greatest of all sins.

I remember using these words years ago after I bicycled Europe: I got from Point A to Point B under my own power; that was quite an accomplishment and I'm proud of it. Who gave me that power? Today I see who gave me the strength to overcome obstacles during the ride, the long hours, the sore bottom and over-pushed leg muscles, illness, even the personality differences. I see the determination He gave me, the confidence. I even see where He protected me when I might have been in a bad situation. His eye was on the proverbial sparrow!

Imagine how different anything in our lives might be if we were totally under God's submission. The heights and depths of circumstances and how He got us through. When we are submissive to God only good comes of it. It's not easy though when we are so strong-willed, naturally.

In the world we can think we are greater. We can resist authority because we believe we have more to offer than "this guy." But we are still called by God to submit to all authority, whether right or wrong. Seems illogical, but that's part of being a Christian. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. (1Peter 2:18)  And it's not just about servants and masters today. It's about any authority. It's all about trials we go through...and how we go through them. Remember, many were, and still are, martyred who followed Christ. It's why His ways are along the narrow road. The world takes the wide path, but it will ultimately lead to destruction. So much still to learn...

So what happens when authority is wrong? According to what I read in His Word, we are still to submit. Even our grumbling and complaining, our seeing others' faults, which we ALL do against authority, is not submitting to God. Ugh. We can bring up our grievance, but if it is struck down, we must submit to whoever the authority is. It's a hard thing.

I read this: Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor who spent fourteen years being tortured in communist prisons said the following about spiritual authority. [And this may not be the type of situation we might be faced with, although it could.] "Christians are soldiers who belong to an army. They have commanders, and must obey them. Christ Himself  'gave some apostles...some pastors and teachers.'  Nobody can be a Christian and declare Jesus as his only pastor, just as nobody can obey a general while refusing obedience to the captain, or even the sergeant, though these are much less competent than the commander-in-chief." (If Prison Walls Could Speak) Yes, Jesus is our highest authority, but we have others in this world as well, unless we are completely cut off from the world.

While we might recognize something that is out of place, a wrong thought, a wrong dealing, we do not have to like it, but we might still have to be obedient to that authority. God will deal with that authority in His time. He will see us through if we are obedient to Him, even if we are wrongfully treated. I can't even imagine being in a situation like this in some grand thing, but Jesus was accused of an awful lot and He paid the price with His mouth shut. Others will pay for their wrongdoing; it's up to us to stay clear of it, being submissive to the authority.

Might our arguing bring strife? Might it make us look to be troublemakers? Wow, a fine line for us to submit to authority even if it is wrong in our eyes. I think of Jesus' words from an earlier blog...What concern is that of yours? Or even these words He spoke, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You must follow me." (John 21:22)  I think in our worldly bodies our prideful, rebellious nature so wants to be right in our thinking. Don't we just have all the answers? Not!

God knows the outcome and will deal with all parties based on their ability to do, or not do, what He requires, part of which is submit. Submit to God's authority for He ultimately, if He is in complete control, placed that person in authority...again whether right or wrong. There were good kings and bad whom He put into power. It's all about each of us individually and our response in all situations. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (1Peter 2:19-20)  Commendable.

Jesus is to be our highest authority. But like Wurmbrand said, we still have worldly people with whom we are to submit. That might be an unbeliever or believer. Do we ever always get it right? I'm sure we don't. God will show us; He might even bring conviction. It might come from one in lesser authority or even in one in whose higher authority we should be submitting to!

If we submit to our boss we are looked upon as being a good employee. We might get a raise and accolades. The outcome is good. Think of God as our boss. We do as He says and the ultimate outcome will be "well done, good and faithful servant." It is God who is the ultimate righteous judge. We are just called to submit. ...Easier said than done...

Acts 14:22 - strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

There is a Way That Seems Right...

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Hah! Talk about the power of the Holy Spirit! There was something I've been itching to purchase. I struggled with the idea day after day. I even took the time to do research and go to a store where I could buy this object of my desire. 

But something kept me dragging my feet on this. As much as I would fuss in my mind about it, as much as I was determined...emphasis on I...I just couldn't do it. There IS a way which seems right...although this example may not lead to death, it could very well lead to unrest and especially disobedience to God.

Over and over I told myself I had a right to get this thing! BUT my husband said I didn't need it! That was a stab in my heart. Even friends said, "Oh, just go and get it!"

So one day I went to my chiropractor. He is a Christian and since this was my stop before going back to the store to retrieve this "thing" I had to have, I brought it up. The words that came out of my mouth in a way did not surprise me. I said this thing keeps rising up strongly within me and I know it's the Holy Spirit telling me no! This was not accusingly, but with a loving firmness. 

Now the world would think, if you want it, get it. But let me tell you, when the Holy Spirit rises up like it did, it's definitely something you don't want to ignore. 

There is this thing in God's word about submission. This submission is not like the world's idea of submission. It's a form of godly obedience. In this case it was being obedient to what my husband believes. Oh, I'm sure any woman reading this who does not understand this concept will bristle! However, this is something all women who call themselves followers of Christ are to do. I know that in the end peace will come of it...and most importantly an obedience to God. Usually the blessing is greater when we listen to the Spirit.

So, as it left the chiropractor...it was as if my car was automatically going to head for that store despite everything. The urge was strong. In the back of my mind, however, I knew I wasn't to go. I resisted and won! I ended up somewhere else. The urge had subsided. Yes, today I still think about that need, but the peace that comes from not going against that pricking in my spirit is even better. 

Again, to some women this may seem illogical. To some men, they might say, "Aha, see! You should listen to your husband." It's far more about being in God's will than being outside of it. It will produce much more abundant blessings in the long run, but it's your choice to make. 

Although I shared a personal experience, this Proverb also is meant to be about our relationship with Christ. Many people think: "I don't need Jesus. I don't need church...to tell me what's right and wrong, to make me feel convicted, to steal my valuable Sunday mornings...if this is part of being in God's will, I don't want it." That is the way that seems right. Without this relationship with the Lord, death is surely the way. Jesus only brings life. Live with the blessings of God and the freedom in Christ or dwell forever in unrest apart from God. 

Galatians 6:8 - For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Whose Arms Uphold You?

3John 1:2 - Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Here we go again! Another discussion and more delving into the meaning of physical healing. After spending time in discussion with a few friends on this subject, I wondered why I was back on this subject, almost as if I was being thrown back into pondering this for some reason.

Where most of Christ followers believe that the most important healing is of our souls, which is salvation, there are always those who hold out for "but, God also wants our bodies to be healed." 

Where most of us believe that God can heal anyone physically if He desires to, He doesn't always do it. Why? We just don't know because God is who He is and we are not and we won't know all the mysteries of God in this lifetime. It doesn't mean we don't pray for it and it doesn't mean that if He doesn't heal us we don't have enough faith. It's God's will whether we be healed or not. If God gave us all wisdom, we wouldn't need Him anymore would we? Not knowing everything causes two things to happen: we either put all our trust and faith in Him or we believe that if He's not going to do this or that, then why bother to have faith in Him at all. 

Our faith in He, who cannot be seen, is the most important thing. Maybe some need to see to believe and a physical healing would be evidence. I don't know....

So the discussion(s) were about healing. How do we feel if God does not heal? Do we complain, do we get angry with God, do we lose our faith in Him? Or do we live our lives with the illness or distress, whatever it is, and trust Him through it all? Do we continue to put one foot in front of the other and follow the path He has laid out before us, not wavering in our faith?

I had to check some commentaries on the subject. Believe me, my opinions on this came before all these words!

David Guzik writes: "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers": John uses a common phrase in his sending of best wishes and blessings to Gaius. Some have wrongly taken this as a guarantee of perpetual wealth and perfect health for the Christian.

Then he adds these two points: 

• Of course, we should always remember that God wants our best, and plans only good for us, and often present material prosperity and physical health are part of that good He has for us - and this prosperity and health are absolutely promised as the ultimate destiny of all believers.
• Yet, for the present time, God may, according to His all-wise plan, use a lack of material prosperity and physical health to promote greater prosperity and health in the scale of eternity.

Huh, lack brings more...what a concept. Isn't that what we are told to do? Give up our lives to gain Christ? Lose our lives that we might live? Humble ourselves and sacrifice...let Him fill us. 

If we were allowed to be physically healed, would we continue to rely on God? How secure would our salvation be? What is the motive for our healing? Would we, as Guzik says, look to the blessing of total healing as "a way to indulge a carnal desire for ease, comfort…?" Our afflictions keep us closer to the Lord that He might give us the strength we need. He is all we need.

We all know how good we feel when we are without pain and discomfort. As we age our bodies change. It's all part of the sin of death we are born into. But our spiritual health overrides all that if we have chosen Christ and His wonderful and glorious gift of salvation, the ultimate healing plan.

Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary states "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. 

Coffman Commentary: The prosperity of the soul is paramount.

Matthew Henry Commentaries  - Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health. A rich soul may be lodged in a weak body; and grace must then be exercised in submitting to such a dispensation. But we may wish and pray that those who have prosperous souls, may have healthful bodies; that their grace may shine where there is still more room for activity. 

There is no reason not to pray for healing. But we must be willing to tack on "if it be Your will." Jesus prayed this three times and God's will overruled and Jesus was crucified. We can still be used of God, maybe even more, in our illness, our weakness. We learn from these valleys of life. 

Some additional scriptures show us that part of our life on earth is in our suffering, that we are to glory in our infirmities, that God's grace is sufficient for us in our weakness. We know also that one of the major expounders on healing was not healed himself…that was the Apostle Paul. He asked three times, like Jesus, to be healed and he was not. But he continued his ministry under God's strength knowing he would come through. We need to surrender to God's will for our lives. If not being healed is part of this, well, what will we do?

Philippians 1:29 - For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...

2Corinthians 12:9 - And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

It's all about what the Lord will do when we give ourselves totally over to Him. Through Christ, in our weakness we are made strong (2Corinthians 12:10). When we are weak and give ourselves over to Christ, we have gained Christ (Matthew 16:25) and can do all things through Him. Our weakness may be our suffering but if we have given it over to Christ, we will be blessed (James 1:12).

I will always stand strong on the idea that our spiritual condition is of the utmost priority. If God chooses to heal us physically, great. If not, we continue to walk under God's power in our lives. Total submission to Him. If we think to ourselves that we cannot do His work because we have this ailment, it's an excuse. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We lean on His arm. We allow Him to work through us in our adversity. It's not about us...and all about God.

Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...

Oh Boy, Oh Boy...

Romans 13:3-4 - For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

My, oh, my. OMG. Yikes. These were the thoughts going through my head this morning as I read these scriptures, which I've read before. Prior to this we are told that we are to be subject to ALL authority...ALL... Why? Because God has placed them in that position. Sometimes we wonder if God knows what He's doing. Yes, He does. He is very aware of what He's doing. We just don't always understand His reasoning because His ways are greater than ours, or we don't know enough about God in the first place. 

I think I will not be liked for today's blog! It depends on who reads it. C'est la vie. I'm posting... I've struggled with these scriptures. I read them over and over, slowly, picking each word apart. And I thought about the authority of this nation. Oh, we've had many instances of poorly managed authority, from the right and the left. No man--or political party--is perfect. The only person in this authority that would be acceptable, at best, would know what's right and wrong. The absolute best would be one who knows and follows the laws of God. 

Why God puts less than desirable "rulers" in charge is another question. A commentary suggested that it was to show what evil is. Ahem. Maybe to get us back to right thinking!?

According to this scripture rulers are not to be a terror to good works, only to evil. They are to stand against evil, not be part of it. If we do good, yet have an "evil" ruler, will he recognize that we do good, or will he see it as a threat and consider it evil? Oh, the questions about these verses. 

He should be God's minister to us for good. We should fear doing evil because our authority will punish us for it because he's the one who is to bear the sword against evil...not cause it. But today it almost seems as though we fear doing good. Or is it that we have grown complacent? We shrug our shoulders and wonder what we can do. That's life; life changes; times change; let's get with the times. Let's turn a blind eye to what once was right. 

No matter who God places in our authority, however, one thing stands out, we are to submit to them. That way God will have no judgment against us. Yet He will also judge the authority and determine if what he has done is right or wrong. But we are to submit..... That doesn't mean that we don't recognize his deeds. 

But how do these fellows get into office in the first place? It is we who elect them. And if we don't know right from wrong...am I getting myself into trouble here...we will put into authority, the one we elected. Like Israel wanting a king after so many years of being ruled by God's priests...by God's authority. They chose to go the wrong direction, they chose to go against God, they chose to ignore His laws. They had God as their Authority, the highest Authority. They were the apple of His eye. In His hands they were blessed. What more could they want? Yet, they chose what the rest of the world had.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...we have turned our backs as a nation on God. Just like Israel. They got what they asked for...and then some. They chose him for his appearance and charm. Saul, who was Jewish and knew the ways of God, knew right from wrong, chose to be disobedient. This has been going on in our country for years and I believe God is finally getting a little weary of our wandering further away from Him. I believe He's trying to get our attention. Will we heed the warning? We can believe God exists, say that we have faith in Him, maybe even go to church occasionally. But if He's not a constant in our everyday life, but only an occasional visitor in our thoughts on Sundays, we're missing something.

Another commentary wrote something I was not prepared for. It's something some will understand. It was written by James Burton Coffman in 1974:

[Verse 3] is a comment upon the effectiveness and success of the state as God's ordained institution that such a statement as this stands as truth. Aberrations may be catalogued and failures noted; but,in the principal part, and in the overwhelming number of examples afforded by history, Paul's language here must stand as unchallenged truth. There has hardly been a state in history where the private exercise of Christian faith has been the object of governmental hatred and punishment. The glaring exception to this is in the ruthless Marxist governments which have appeared in the present century; and, should that type of government gain ascendancy in areas populated by Christians, there could well be another age of martyrs like that which descended upon the first century, shortly after these noble words were penned. The truth of Paul's words here is not contravened [disputed], either by the persecutions of the first century or the threat of persecutions now.

Glenn Beck has been trying to steer this country to knowing what truth is, where to find it, pleading with us to search it out for ourselves. Yes, he believes without God as our Authority in this country...and people in authority who believe this, we are in trouble. The only way someone will know what is right and true is to know Jesus, to understand the Word of God and what is expected of us.  It's not about man's interpretation of what's good; it's not how good we live our lives apart from God. It's all God related...a hard word.

God may very well be trying to turn our thinking around. He's trying to turn this nation back to Him. He may have to use some drastic measures. In the Bible we are warned of these days. Maybe this country will wander in the wilderness for 40 years first. We are to be tolerant these days of other religions, but God is not tolerated here anymore. A country without God... He knows what we need; we do not. He created us; we did not create Him. He has given us the choice to know what's right from wrong; we choose whether we want to know it or not. Thankfully, He is always with those who still look to Him, no matter how the world changes.

God is not some tyrant. He only wants what's best for us. He is saddened by the state of our affairs and how we have lost touch with Him. Sometimes He just has to intervene in some way to get our attention. He has promised us a good life if we choose His direction. 

Romans 2:8-11 - ...to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--[will be inflicted] indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace [will be given] to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.