Unexpected Mercy and Love

At about 2am this morning I woke up and had a thought pop into my head almost immediately, and it had to do with the woman caught in adultery, found in John's Gospel.  This is definitely not a common first thought on waking, nor was I dreaming anything related, that I can remember, nor had this topic come up in conversation anytime within the last few years..  Thus, I must conclude that the Lord is sowing some inspiration and revelation into my spirit, which excites me.

Here is the story as John, likely an eye witness, reported it - John 8:2-11 NIV:

[2] "At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. [3] The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group [4] and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5] In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” [6] They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 

[7] When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. [9] At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 

[10] Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 

[11] “No one, sir,” she said. 

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

I love this story and have reflected upon it many times, and the thought I had this morning had never previously entered my thinking.  Here is how I remember that thought that popped into my mind, actually more a statement: "When I gave the men accusing her of adultery the opportunity to walk away, I was having mercy on them, for if they had judged her, I would have judged them!"  

I must say, that statement really surprised me, not that I disagree, but rather that this was one of the things that apparently Jesus was thinking about at that moment.  The situation was clearly a tense situation and they had carefully laid a trap for Jesus in front of a large crowd of people in the very temple of the Lord!  It is clear that they had concluded that Jesus, in His ministry, was operating beyond the law ( can't think of a better way to say that He wasn't constrained by the Law) and tended towards mercy rather than judgment (Oh, that we would all be accused of being more merciful than judgmental).  They were trying to get Him to blaspheme in the temple in front of a bunch of witnesses, and the law said to stone those who blaspheme (Lev. 24:14).  Thus, this was a life or death situation for Jesus.  They rightfully believe that Jesus when confronted with a person caught in the very act of adultery, for which the sentence according to the Law was death (Lev. 20:10), would have mercy rather than execute judgment. What they didn't realize was that Jesus would be concerned for them as well as for the woman!

Early in Jesus' ministry, He had spoken of judging others and made this statement - Matthew 7:1-2 NIV:  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. [2] For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  He also had taught the following concerning adultery - Matthew 5:27-28 NIV:  “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  

I am not sure if in the moment of this tense stand-off, while He was writing in the sand, if the Holy Spirit, in His mercy, was ministering to each of the men standing there, allowing them to recall to mind either these words of Jesus, or memories of their own sinfulness, but something clearly broke the tension.   When Jesus made the statement in verse 7 above - “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” they all started to walk away, knowing that they were all guilty as sinners, and Jesus was left with the woman, who now had no accusers.

I had never thought of God's mercy really being extended to the men before, but now as I reflect upon this, I see that He was indeed being merciful, allowing them to understand the Father's heart towards sinners.  He doesn't desire judgment, and always provides us the opportunity to repent, to ask for forgiveness.  James tell us regarding judgment and mercy,  "...judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." ( James 2:13 NIV).  God's mercy does triumph over judgment, for His mercy has been extended through Jesus' sacrifice and blood, to all who would accept this mercy, which includes just payment for any judgment that would have been demanded, and thus has triumphed over that judgment! 

Jesus, in allowing the men to walk away, allowed them the opportunity to choose mercy over judgment, and provided them the opportunity to experience God's mercy rather than His judgment!  We know there are always at least two sides to every situation, and Jesus had managed to address both sides mercifully, and done so in love.  I am sure that in addition to the woman to whom Jesus said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”, that many of those men had a new appreciation for God's mercy!  

My prayer is that those who meet me would experience God's mercy, rather than my judgment.  My desire is that I might express the same love and compassion for all regardless of their mindset or attitudes towards me!  I see in this story Jesus living out His own teachings recorded by Matthew 5:43-44 NIV:

“You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".  Jesus clearly has demonstrated His ability to love His enemies, extending them mercy and compassion when they certainly didn't deserve it, in the midst of their planning to trap Him that they might kill him!  Wow!

As I reflect upon this story, if causes me to stop and ponder how Jesus loved those who crucified Him, those who beat him, those who flogged Him, and those who condemned Him!  He was paying for their sins as well as those of all other men!  He was extending them mercy, love and forgiveness in the midst of their judging and condemning Him!  

Oh, what a great and merciful God we serve!  Oh, the beauty of Jesus' heart and His love for all people!  Oh, the wonder of this all, His unexpected mercy and love! 

Amen and Amen!

Hungry Followers of Jesus

This morning I felt led to read from Matthew's Gospel, which is probably my favorite synoptic Gospel.  Anyway, I started reading chapter 12 and was immediately  captured by the first verse.  I am going to add the following verses, as I think they are clearly related.  Anyway, here are the verses - Matthew 12:1-14 NIV:

[1] "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. [2] When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 

[3] He answered, “Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? [4] He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread---which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. [5] Or haven't you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? [6] I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. [7] If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. [8] For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 

[9] Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, [10] and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 

[11] He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? [12] How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 

[13] Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. [14] But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."

I have read this verse many times, and just always pass over the first verse, without thinking much about it, as it sets the stage for the next 14 verses.  However, today when I read it the significance of Matthew's narration hit me, the disciples were hungry on the sabbath!  They were so hungry that they were picking heads of grain to eat.  In other words, their sabbath preparations had not been sufficient to tide them over to the following day!  

We don't think much about preparing meals on a Sunday, but the Jews, if living strictly by the Law, were supposed to have done all that work the day prior to the sabbath, so that they would do no work on the Sabbath day, which included cooking or baking and gathering of the food necessary, which were included in the 39 prohibited activities (See references to the Mishnah Shabbat 7:2 ).  The disciples clearly had not accomplished this correctly and thus they were hungry!

Think about that for a minute, the followers closest to Jesus were hungry for food.  Jesus could have provided food himself with a couple of loaves of bread or fish, but instead they were allowed to become hungry.  Often times I don't think much of the need to feed and shelter a whole group of followers, and little is mentioned about that in scripture, other than the few miracles of multiplying food for the large groups.  The series "The Chosen" actually includes some images of the group having to set up and tear down their camps, and I thought that was helpful, for we can sometimes overlook the practical needs of Jesus and His followers.  Paul speaks about his being hungry (Phil 4:12) and it was clear his missionary life was filled with difficulties, but I just never spent much time thinking about the daily realities the disciples and Jesus faced regularly.  

As Jesus was clearly the leader, one would think that He took caring for his followers very seriously.  We have several scriptures where He speaks of just that, and in John 10, He speaks of His role as the Good Shepherd - John 10:14,27-29 NIV:

[14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--- 

[27] "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand."

Clearly, He took his responsibility to His "sheep" seriously.  A shepherd's primary role was the feeding and caring for the sheep, leading them to places they could eat and drink, and find shelter if necessary, and providing protection.  In light of this, I guess, I just always figured Jesus had a plan and would direct His disciples on where to procure food and shelter for them, when needed, much as I think the same way about God as my provider.  We see in the Old Testament, God providing manna and quail to eat, water to drink, etc. for the 40 years they were in the desert.  I guess I always figured that Jesus as the Father's representative and exact representation (Heb 1:3) would have taken a similar approach to providing for His followers.  While we can't know for sure and apply this scripture to all 3 years, we can at least say, they were allowed to become hungry one sabbath, and that should give us pause for reflection.

Our own hunger, be it physical or spiritual, is not a sign that that God isn't caring for us correctly!  Our hunger should drive us closer to the Lord, rather than away from Him.  Sometimes I allow my disappointment over my hunger for provision (often the fruitfulness of my labor) to cause me to doubt my relationship with Jesus, like its all His responsibility to keep me well fed.  Jesus called people on the carpet for following Him just to get fed (John 6:26-27).  He is after followers who are hungry for relationship, not for food (either physical or spiritual).  He knows our needs, and He is the Good Shepherd after all, but He is more interested in friends, those who know Him and can represent Him (John 15:15)!  We must allow our hunger to cause us to turn our eyes toward Him, to recognize that hunger is not a bad thing, but that it causes us to open our eyes, turn toward Him and encounter Him in new ways!

Continuing the reflection, Jesus then leads His disciples to the temple where he proceeds to confront the sabbath rules by healing a man who, as far as we know, wasn't even asking to be healed.  Jesus was demonstrating His relationship to the Father, His authority over the Law, and the teachings of the Rabbis, and His love and affection for those who needed Him, even if they didn't know Him!  He was showing the disciples that there was more to relationship with Him than just following the rules of the Law, but that His concern and care superseded the Law. He is the Messiah, He is the Son of Man, and He is Lord over the Law!

Our invitation is to follow Jesus into relationship, into the place of friendship!  This is beyond the rules of religion, beyond the practice of our faith, into the place of intimate relationship!  Our physical hunger and our spiritual hunger are meant to draw us to Him, not for the filling of our hunger but for the encountering of Him relationally!  

Oh Lord, help us to look to You, to meet You and to experience Your love for us!

Amen!

Deserts and Abundance and Seeking God

Yesterday I started meditating on Psalm 63, and again this morning it felt like a good place to start.  I love this psalm.

Psalm 63:1-8 NIV:

[1] "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; 

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 

[2] I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 

[3] Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 

[4] I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 

[5] I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 

[6] On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 

[7] Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

[8] I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."

We are told that David wrote this Psalm when he was in the desert of Judah, and that certainly makes sense with the opening line.  I like to think that there was a physical need and experience that opened his eyes to his deeper spiritual need.  I think this is often the way of our spiritual journey's ebbing and flowing as our needs are more or less obvious.  I find that in times of need my heart more easily turns toward the Lord.  I don't feel bad about that, I think it is partly the way we all operate.  

The Lord, in His communication to Israel before they entered The Promised Land, warned them about becoming complacent, and even distracted as they experienced the abundance of the land.  Here are the verses - Deuteronomy 8:10-18 NIV:

[10] "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. [11] Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. [12] Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, [13] and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, [14] then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. [15] He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. [16] He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. [17] You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” [18] But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."

There is something about wealth and abundance that can cause us to forget the blessing of the Lord, and He calls it out here, describing it as a sense of our own provision and strength.  Rather than being grateful and thankful for the blessings, we can so easily take on a prideful mindset, that all we have has come from our own efforts, forgetting that our gifts, talents and abilities are all gifts from God initially.

As I mentioned earlier, the times of need in our life, allow us to peel back these kind of prideful mindsets and helps us open our eyes to our need and reliance on the Lord.  We are made for communion with God, for relationship with Him,  and sometimes we need to be reminded of this fact. 

Additionally, the Lord wants to call us to a deeper place, a place of encountering Him in His Glory!  He wants us to experience His Love to such a deep level that it develops a hunger in us that can only be sated by Him!  He wants us to be changed by our experience of Him, by seeing His Glory, by gazing up on Him!  He wants us to be so changed that it is impossible to forget about Him, as He warned the Israelites. 

Oh, that we would encounter Him in this way!  Oh, that we would be changed, that our hearts would be so enflamed with love, loving Him and knowing His love for us that we never falter or fade in our pursuit of Him.  Oh, that we would be aware of His closeness, His protection and His holding us in His powerful right hand!  We are who we are because of You, because You breathed Your life into us, because You created us!  

You are my God and earnestly I seek You!!

Amen!

Pursuing the Promise

This morning I am reading about an interesting bit in Joshua where the daughters of a sonless man, receive his inheritance of land.  Here are the verses - Joshua 17:3-4 NIV:

[3] "Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. [4] They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord's command."

Now I should note, that if the book of Joshua is somewhat in order timewise, the request above came when Joshua was old, and most of the battles to occupy the promised land had been completed.  I thought this was an interesting bit, just for its uniqueness, but as I dug a bit deeper I realized that this is really about diligence, perseverance and pursuing that which the Lord has promised.  

The truth is that these sisters had made their request years ago, before Moses died (See Numbers 27:1-11).  When they made their request, Moses took the request to the Lord, and He commanded that their request be granted. This was before they entered the promised land.  The tribes on the east of the Jordan were required to help their fellow Israelites drive out the people from the lands to the west of the Jordan, before they were allowed to fully settle their lands (See Joshua 1:12-15).  Thus, it was many years between the original request and the final receiving of the inheritance.  

Additionally, their receipt of an inheritance was brought up as an issue, in case they married outside their tribe (See Numbers 36:2-13).  Moses had to inquire of the Lord once more to get His decision, and again the Lord spoke into the situation and said the daughters of Zelophehad indeed had to marry within their own tribe, and actually extended that regulation, as it pertained to the inheritance of land to all of the tribes.  The daughters obeyed this command, and thus were rightful in their claim for the inheritance.

So why am I reading this and reflecting on these obscure but related verses this morning?  Good question!  As I noted above I believe it has to do with  perseverance pursuing the promise!  Some of the promises of the Lord take years to be fulfilled, and our hearts and minds need to stay engaged and we need to continue to hold onto the promises, even reminding ourselves and others of these promises.  As is the case for these daughters, they received the promise and held onto the promise until the final day when the lands were being allotted.  They had maintained their rightful claim, they had waited patiently and they had never let go, or given up.  Their pursuit was significant enough that it made it into the scriptures 3 separate times (a 4th time they are listed in 1 Chron), and their pursuit of the promise resulted in a changing of the ways of all the Israelites. 

Another thing to note is that Joshua was fully aware of this regulation, as were all the other leaders, but the daughters had to go and make their request again.  I am not faulting the leaders, or Joshua, as I don't know the proceedings or process they were following, but I will note that the daughters weren't going to rely on the leaders remembrance of their promise, they were going to pursue that promise themselves until they saw it fulfilled, and because of that determination, they did receive their full inheritance.  

This morning I am encouraged to look at my life, to review the promises of the Lord and to see if I have abandoned any for lack of perseverance, or diligence on my part.  I am encouraged that the Lord's promises do sometimes take time, and see their fulfillment in unanticipated ways, or through my own perseverance.  I  am encouraged that my heart determination can affect my experience of God's promise.  I am reminded of Paul's dogged determination as he described His pursuit of the Lord in his letter to the Philippians 3:12-14 NIV:

[12] "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Amen and Amen!

Jesus, Name Above Every Other Name!

Yesterday during worship at our church, I felt that I was being invited to reflect on the centrality of Jesus in all, to see Him as the focal point of our worship, as He is in Heaven!  This morning I opened my Bible, and it turned to Hebrews 1, which has the following subtitle in my Bible "God's Final Word: His Son"  Definitely a fitting continuation of the theme from yesterday.  Here is all of Hebrews 1, as it is worth reflecting upon - Hebrews 1:1-14 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. [4] So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 

[5] For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” ? 

Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 

[6] And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.” 

[7] In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” 

[8] But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 

[10] He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [11] They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. [12] You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” 

[13] To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” ? [14] Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

I often quote Hebrews 1:3, about Jesus being the exact representation of the Father's being, and while this is a critical understanding, there is so much more!  The author of this letter is writing to the Hebrews and so is drawing upon their knowledge and worldview in his presentation, and begins, with what they have held as the defining characteristic of their nation, the Lord's leading and guiding of them through His prophets.  Jesus is so much more than just another prophet, the whole universes was created through Him!  

Secondly, in case the Hebrews, or any of us become too enamored with the angelic, thinking in some they are similar to Jesus, beings like Michael or Gabriel or the whole heavenly host, we are reminded how much greater than angels Jesus is, how superior His title and and role!  Not that the angelic are bad or anything, they just don't compare at all to Jesus!  

I am reminded of the picture of the heavenly throne-room given to John in Revelation 5:11-14 NIV:

[11] "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 

[12] In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 

[13] Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 

[14] The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped."

Jesus, the Lamb of God, is He who is worshipped by every creature in heaven and on earth, under the earth and on the sea!   Every thing that has ever lived or given voice worships Jesus!  He is so much more than just the prophet among prophets, the great teacher, a great human, a heavenly being, He is the Son of God, and He is the reason every voice that has ever been created sings!

Oh Lord, help us to raise the level of our worship for You are worthy!  Help us to join our voices to every other voice, proclaiming Your greatness and Your Glory!

Amen and Amen!

Prophetic Visions and Intercession Rather Than Judgment

Last week I was reading the the Book of Amos, and came across some familiar passages, but felt a bit of fresh revelation concerning them.  Here are the verses, which capture a very interesting back and forth between Amos and the Lord - Amos 7:1-8 NIV:

[1] "This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king's share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up. [2] When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small! ” 

[3] So the Lord relented. “This will not happen,” the Lord said. 

[4] This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. [5] Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small! ” 

[6] So the Lord relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign Lord said. 

[7] This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. [8] And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos? ” “A plumb line, ” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer." 

There are a couple of things that I  found quite interesting in this bit from Amos.  First, he clearly is a prophet/seer in our modern lingo, and in these 8 verses he records three separate visions of coming judgments that were coming upon the Kingdom of Judah.  As I read these judgments, I thought about how similar visions to these for America would be handled by the prophetic that is operating in the church today.  In my mind, the response of many would be to embrace these visions as sure judgments and they would be broadcast to any that would listen, proclaiming judgment upon the land for our evil ways!  However, the issue is that we are not under the Old Covenant any more, the Church is under the New Covenant, and God will engage with us through that Covenant, which is set in place by the Blood of Christ Jesus, who took the judgement and punishment for all sins upon himself.  

Secondly, my heart was captured by Amos's response and the Lord's reaction.  Amos didn't proclaim these words on high, calling down the judgments he saw, rather he cried out to the Lord, instead interceding for the kingdom, asking God to have mercy!  The part that really got me thinking was that this actually seemed to be what the Lord was after, Amos's engagement and intercession, it seems like He was looking for someone willing to step into the gap, for His response was to relent!  One wonders if maybe the prophetic voices calling for judgment, should instead be calling for intercession and prayer?   

On a side note, this brings into question the whole idea around false prophets, for clearly Amos had seen an accurate vision, and understood accurately the purpose of the Lord in it, and still it didn't occur.  Some would likely have called him a false prophet, instead of recognizing that he was fulfilling the roll of intercession as well, and was the reason the Lord relented (if we take this story simply at face value).

Lastly the vision that the Lord actually fulfilled was the vision of the plumb-line, and while that is a judgment, it is designed to allow correct alignment rather than destruction.  The heart of the Lord, shown in the previous two promises to relent, is seen here as well.  He is not after destruction, but rather repentance and right alignment with His Word!  

I see here an interesting prophetic challenge, can the call be made for repentance that does not rely on the threat of destruction?  Clearly in the New Testament we see some prophets providing warning words, but it seems they are more for guidance, direction and preparation!  Take for example the following verses from  Acts 11:28-30 NIV: 

[28] "One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) [29] The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. [30] This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul."

Normally I would read verses 28 and 29 & 30 as separate things being recorded together, but this morning as I was reading them, I believe that Luke was recording the prophetic word and response of the people to that word.  The church, rather than proclaiming destruction and judgment and waiting for God to smite them, actually stepped into the role of intercession, and even took it to the level of practical intercession, giving help in the form of an offering.  What a wonderful example for us to follow!  

In summary, I am encouraged to view God's engagement with us through the New Covenant, rather than the Old.  I am encouraged to look at my heart and thoughts towards those I think are in sin, recognizing that Jesus took upon Himself the punishment and judgment for their sins, just as He did for mine.  I am encouraged to view such prophetic warnings as calls for intercession and action, rather than judgment.  Oh Lord, help us to embrace Your heart as revealed most perfectly in the life of Jesus Christ, Your Only Son, and the perfect representation of Your being (Heb 1:3).

Amen and Amen!

Faith, Love and Mask Mandates

This morning I was reading in Romans 14, and couldn't help but feel this was helpful for the Church today, in light of the impact of Covid, and the many different responses we see to the different mandates concerning masks and rules for meeting.  I am encouraged by the Lord to read it with a soft heart towards my brothers and sisters, many of whom would disagree with my thinking about all this.  My prayer for you is that you might read it with the same heart.  Here are the verses - Romans 14:1-21 NIV:

[1] "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. [2] One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. [3] The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. [4] Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 

[5] One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. [6] Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. [7] For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. [8] If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. [9] For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 

[10] You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister ? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. [11] It is written: “ 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' ” [12] So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 

[13] Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. [14] I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. [15] If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. [16] Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. [17] For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, [18] because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 

[19] Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. [20] Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. [21] It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall."

I believe, that while these verses have to do with questions of religious observance, we can apply the principles to our present mask mandates, and rules for gatherings.  The facts around much, while based on science, are in my opinion inconsistent at best, and often questionable in efficacy.  However, that is not the issue here, the issue is our approach towards our brothers and sisters who have a different view, different opinion and even different health related issues.  

When I used to read these verses, I wasn't happy that Paul was recommending that I adjust my life-style or my beliefs to compensate for the "weaker" in faith, or so that my brother or sister might not fail (v 20).  I was judging myself to be more mature and healthy in my perspective, and felt that anything less was somehow embracing weakness or a lack of faith.   Now, however, especially in light of this present situation, I find my heart moved with compassion for those who are living in fear of the virus, for whatever reason.  

Paul's question in verse 10 seems to get to the heart of the matter for me, and I certainly don't want to be one to pass judgment on a brother or sister, and certainly not treat them with contempt.  Paul encourages an approach that we would do well to emulate, one of making every effort to do what leads to peace and MUTUAL edification. 

Let us not destroy the work of God, the building up of the Body of Christ, and the increase of the Kingdom of God for the sake of a mask, or no mask, or any mask mandate!  Let us embrace one another in love, and mercy, giving grace to those who see things differently for whatever reason.  Let us pray for those in church leadership who must pastor the flock through these difficult times.  Let us pray for a complete eradication of this virus, and healing for those who have been affected.  Let us pray for one another, that we might be strengthened in our pursuit of the Lord, and not forsake the gathering together, however that might be possible.  Finally let us not judge one another or hold another in contempt for a different opinion, belief or faith.

May the Lord Bless you with Peace and Joy, and intimate communication with Him.

Sam