John 19 – Consistently in Christ

“After [Jesus' crucifixion] Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

Joseph had been a secret disciple of Jesus because he feared that being a public disciple would ruin him. It was only after Jesus had died that Joseph was willing to publicly align himself with Jesus. It was not until he believed Jesus to have failed that Joseph was willing publicly proclaim faith in Jesus. We know nothing else about Joseph of Arimathea. I have often wondered what happened to him after Jesus resurrection. Was he one of the multitudes in the upper room on the day of Pentecost? Was he one of the disciples who ultimately deserted Jesus? We do not know.

It is not good for us to wait until a moment of failure to publicly proclaim our faith in Jesus. On Monday we need to be the same person we were on Sunday. In public we need to be the same person we are in private. In failure we need to be the same person we are in success.

Do not wait for failure to publicly proclaim Jesus. Live every moment of your life so that everyone can see the light of Jesus in you.

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John 6 – Finding balance

“A large crowd followed [Jesus], because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.”

For the most part Jesus did three things while he was on Earth: he preached repentance, he entered into relationship with those around him, and he cared for those in need. These are the same three things the Church is called to do. We need to be sure that our church communities have a healthy balance of these three activities. If we are not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ AND living lives in relationship with the lost and the saved AND caring for the needs of others, then we are failing. i need to consciously align myself with people who will enable US to meet all three needs.

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Joshua 24 – When have we failed you, God?

“Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.’ The people said to Joshua, ‘No, but we will serve the LORD.’ Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’”

One way of reading the Bible is a series of conversations between people and God that goes something like this…

God: I will bless you if you obey me.
People: We will obey you.
G: Okay let me help you
P: Come on God, it’s us, we can do it ourselves.
G: I can make it easier for you.
P: God, we got this.
G: Are you sure.
P: You are just like our parents.
G: I just want you to succeed.
P: God, it’s us…when have we failed?
G: (silence)
P: Come on God we got this.
G: You’re sure you want to do it yourself?
P: For the last time God, we got it.
G: I’m going to hold you to that.
P: Don’t worry, we are totally in control.

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Joshua 23 – To whom do you cling?

“You are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. For the LORD has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God. For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.”

With these words Joshua instructs the nation of Israel as he nears death.

Joshua offers two options for their future: they can cling to God or they can cling to “the rest of these nations”. The Israelites can live in fellowship with God or they can live in fellowship with the world around them. One of these options offers prosperous life and one offers death and destruction. Who will they choose to cling to?

Who do we cling to? Do we cling to Jesus? Do we cling to comfort? Do we cling to God? Do we cling to man?

With apologies to Robert Zimmerman you “Gotta serve somebody”.

You may be a construction worker working on a home,
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome,
You might own guns and you might even own tanks,
You might be somebody’s landlord, you might even own banks

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride,
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side,
You may be workin’ in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair,
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

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Joshua 22 – A blessing

“‘Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.”

This is very similar to the commandment in Deuteronomy and the Gospels to love God with all you heart, mind, strength, and soul. Let’s break it down:

Love the Lord your God and…
1) Walk in his ways
2) Keep his commandments
3) Hold fast to him
4) Serve him with all your heart and soul

With this instruction the Joshua blessed the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

This weekend may you walk in the ways of Jesus, keep his commands, hold fast to Jesus in all your circumstances, and serve Jesus with all your heart and soul.

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Joshua 18 – In the hands of God

“And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel according to their divisions.”

If we made decisions in our churches today by casting lots I think there would be a scandal. It just isn’t the way things are done. It smacks of gambling, and irresponsibility; doesn’t it?

The other side of casting lots is that, to a certain extent, it places the outcome in God’s hands. It seems to me that a hard-core Calvinist, who believes that God is directly in control of everything that happens on earth, would be comfortable using this decision making method.

Speaking as someone who does not believe that God directly orchestrates the universe, I think we do need to focus on making responsible decisions guided by reason, scripture, prayer, and (yes I dare say it) tradition. However, as I do believe that God does still interact with the universe, there may be times when the best course of action is to allow God to make the decision; whether that be by casting lots, flipping a coin, or throwing a dart. Sometimes that is the only way a decision can be made.

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Joshua 17 – Caring for those in need

“However, Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders, saying, ‘The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.’ So according to the command of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.”

The takeaway I get from this story is that the Lord was more concerned with caring for all of the people than with conforming to the social norms. God’s goal is to take care of God’s people, society can figure itself out.

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Joshua 13 – Preparing at the beginning of the end

“Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the LORD said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years…’”

In every life and in every ministry there comes a time when God leads us to prepare for a future in which we will not take a part. None of us will live for ever and we will all leave behind people who are dependent upon our legacy. We can not continue in a ministry forever and no ministry should be totally dependent upon one person.

In those times when it is the beginning of the end, listen to how the Lord is leading you. What steps are you called to take to prepare for that which will come after you. The beginning of the end is no time to stop listening to God.

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Joshua 9 – Short term gain, long term loss

“So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.”

And because Israel did not seek out the Lord’s counsel, they were forced to share a portion of their land with a people that God would have driven away. Eventually this will cause the people to disobey and fall away from God.

When we do not seek out God’s counsel we make mistakes. The consequences of those mistakes can be harsh and long lasting.

I now I can get impatient and start to make assumptions, but taking the time to talk to God will always benefit me and will always help me make a better decision.

Don’t risk a short term gain for a long term loss. In everything you do seek out the counsel of the Lord.

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Joshua 7 – Making an enemy of my savior

“So the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.”

I have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but I still make God my enemy when I disobey.

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Joshua 4 – Monuments

“Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. He said to the sons of Israel, ‘When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, “What are these stones?” then you shall inform your children, saying, “Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.” For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’”

We learn from the monuments of past generations and we have a responsibility to leave monuments for future generations.

There were generations of Christians who have gone before me. These men and women have experienced trials, difficulties, temptations, triumphs that are very similar to what I will experience. If I do not take the time to learn from them then I am wasting my time and their legacy.

At the same time I need to keep on eye on the future and make it easy for those who come after to me to learn from what I have experienced.

I need to visit the monuments of the past and establish monuments for the future; not because the monument is important, but because the life experience it represents is important.

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Joshua 3 – Waterways into walkways

“Joshua said…’Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.’”

When we allow God to go ahead of us God will turn the waterways into walkways.

Joshua and the people could have gone swimming ahead of God and gotten to the other side. Joshua and the people could have stopped to build boats to make sure they would stay dry. Either of these options would have gotten the people to the other side. But God had a plan of how to get the people across the waterway, and the people followed it.

When we allow God to go ahead of us the barriers are removed; the waterways become walkways.

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Joshua 1 – God knows what he’s doing

Among the first words the Lord speaks to Joshua once he has become leader of the Israelites is the instruction to “Be strong and courageous”.

The people, who may have been a little leery of their new leader pledge to follow Joshua if he will “be strong and courageous!”

The very thing that God called Joshua to be was what enabled the people to have confidence in Joshua.

God’s instructions enable us to succeed at God’s work.

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Leviticus 27 – Thoughts on reading Leviticus

The very last verse of Leviticus reads: “These are the commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.”

Are these commands for Christians? Are these commands for Americans?

No.

How then should we read Leviticus? I would say that Leviticus exemplifies the lengths God will go to, to enable his people to have fellowship with him. The Nation of Israel needed 613 laws in order to have a relationship with God. God gave the people what they needed at that time and at that place.

God gave us one law in order to have a relationship with God: “Yet to all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”.

God will go to whatever lengths are necessary to enable our relationship with him, but God has simplified the process: we must believe in Christ. For some, 613 laws might be easier, but that is not what God is calling us to follow in this time and in this place.

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Leviticus 21 – Forsaking your in-laws

“A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother, or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband– for her he may make himself unclean. He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by marriage, and so defile himself.”

When we are called by God to follow Jesus, sometimes we are asked to set aside some of our earthly relationships. Are we willing to do what God demands of us?

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Leviticus 11 – Why God gets to make the rules…

“I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.”

God brought Israel out of Egypt; God brought us out of sin.

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Friendly Theology: Barclay’s Catechism – Chapter IV (part 3)

CHAP. IV. (cont.)

Of the New Birth, the Inward Appearance of Christ in Spirit, and the Unity of the Saints with him.

Q. What is the Preaching of the Cross of Christ?

A. For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish, Foolishness; but unto us that are saved, it is the Power of God [1 Cor. 1:18].

Q. What Effect had this Cross in the Apostle? and how much preferreth he the New Creature to all outward and visible Ordinances and Observances?

A. But God forbid that I should Glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the World is Crucified unto me, and I unto the World: For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcision, but a New Creature [Gal. 6:14-15].

Q. What speaketh Christ of the Unity of the Saints with him?

A. At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you [John 14:20].

Abide in me, and I in you: As the Branch cannot bear Fruit of it self, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much Fruit; for without me ye can do nothing [John 15:4-5].

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their Word: That they all may be One; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be One in us, that the World may believe it, that thou hast sent me. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be One, even as we are One; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in One, and that the World may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me [John 17:20-23].

Q. What saith the Apostle Paul to this Purpose?

A. For both he that Sanctifies, and they that are Sanctified are all of One, for which Cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren [Heb. 2:11].

Q. What saith the Apostle Peter?

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The Cross of Christ is the power of God. Never was there a more important statement. Crucifixion was the ultimate act of humiliation. You were powerless, completely at the mercy of the state, hung naked, bleeding, in pain, knowing you were going to die; but that death was slow in coming. God took this humiliating experience upon himself and made it the power of God.

It is by being united with the power of God that we are able to do any good work in the world. Without the power of God we are powerless.

We are partakers of the divine nature of God, through Jesus Christ. We are led away from corruption and toward God’s sanctification and perfection.

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Leviticus 10 – Strange Fire

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.”

Strange fire is an offering that was probably intended for good, but was out of line with God’s expectations for us.

I’ve seen “strange fire” place before the Lord. Strange fire is when words of hate are preached under the guise of holiness. It’s when offerings are given with the ulterior motive of gaining favor or power. Strange fire is when a musician’s heart is focused on the show and not on worship. It’s when we meet the needs of people, but fail to show them Jesus. It’s also when we show people Jesus, but fail to meet their needs

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Psalm 26 – Perfectly in balance

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders. I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Your altar, O LORD, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders.

The purpose of being pure is to be a trustworthy witness for God. If we are living lives filled with wrong actions, thoughts, or words then we are not capable of being a witness to the glory of God. We are called to walk in truth, lovingkindness, innocence, and far from evil doers so that when we sing praises to God we can be seen as reliable witnesses.

There is a careful balance that must be maintained in our lives: we are to live with the goal of being perfect while recognizing that we will never achieve our goal and not being discouraged by our failure. When we get out of balance we get in trouble.

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Psalm 17 – Beholding the face of God

[The wicked] is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places. Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword, From men with Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes. As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

I suspect that David is speaking of awaking from death in the last line, but I am not certain. My first reaction was to ask myself what I was thinking of when I went to sleep last night, and what I was thinking of when I woke up this morning. Have I ever been satisfied with the likeness of God when I awake? How far do I get into my day before I think about God?

I suspect it would be a good practice to end each day by attempting to fall asleep while meditating on God. I suspect it would affect your sleep, your dreams, how you awake the next morning, and how you interact with God throughout your day. The struggle for me is taking the time to remember God. I need to make my encounters with God more daily and less when-I-get-around-to-it.

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