Proverbs 11:18 - Patient Goodness

Proverbs 11:18

The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. 

Message: Patient Goodness

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: "For all have sinned." - Romans 3:23. No one is perfect. I asked AI what percentage of the population is wicked and one of the responses was that 10% of the population is wicked. It seems we all want to be good people. I don’t think many want to be wicked. 

And as Solomon does often he contrasts the wicked and the righteous. The bad and the good. As a reminder to me I think we volley at times between being good and bad. And so this text is a reminder of the results of our actions. Another one of the responses from AI was that 10% of people are inherently good and 10% are inherently bad and 80% can be swayed in either direction. My feeling is all are sinners and all can be swayed. 

“The wicked earns deceptive wages.” The gain of wealth by a wicked person means something has been earned improperly. Obviously someone that steals may see a reward but that person being found out for their law braking always looms and makes it hard at times to thoroughly enjoy the earning.

I think of my own life and maybe cheating on tests and not getting found out. I think I did get found out 1 or 2 times, but it seems rare. Speeding and not getting caught. Getting caught happened a couple of times and got in the accident in the summer of 1990 on Candelaria. But overall for most people it is rare. Lying too many times and not getting found out. Looking at pictures that I should not look at and not getting found out. 

In all of those situations of doing wrong, something was gained but it wasn’t honest so it didn’t feel good. It didn’t feel right. I was deceiving myself but not getting caught reinforces a little that it’s okay. So in all of those situations I earn deceptive wages. I could even say working my job and at times not working but doing other things is deceptive earning. If I think about it the standard is high for perfection. And my failure is frequent. 

And so the opposite is true. “Sow righteousness and get a true reward.” I like to think that I do good things. Could I say for the most part in life I am trying to sow goodness and do things right? I hope that this is so. Perhaps the failures are the exception and so it is what I remember lately. Yesterday I felt like I did some good things in making food for our Coral Group and then taking care of my dad. And worked on the Pergola and filling in the cracks. Sure I thought I did something wrong with it, but that's my own insecurity. And for the most part, my work in the office has been pretty good most of the time, feeling like I am trying my best. And I do the ministry online and reach out to people. I think I get payback and appreciation from others. I appreciate Tyson's hugs he initiates always and Megan. Derek does say thanks but it has diminished quite a bit. He used to do it much more often when he was dating Nichole. 

The word here for doing something is sowing for righteousness. Sowing is a metaphor and metaphor's I am learning are very common in the Bible. This is one for agriculture. Sowing was a critical activity that required patience and faith, as the results were not immediate. That is an interesting twist on this verse. Patience and Faith and not getting immediate results. Sin often gets immediate results. Acting in an unrighteous manner often gets immediate results. Doing things right means doing them over longer periods of time and in the long run the results will be good. 

Prayer: God, what an illuminating verse and idea this is for me. When I understand the word and the power of the word sowing this verse comes more alive. Sowing requires patience and faith. This is hard Lord, but true. Doing things right and well doesn't have the immediate impact that sin has in life. I can sin and immediately get a result that often will feel good in the moment but deliberately doing good may take a long time for a good result. And it needs patience and faith. Lord, I need help with this. I feel like I am struggling more and more with patience in different activities. help me to stand firm in my activities and do the right thing. I need your strength God. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

My Utmost for His Highest - March 23rd - Am I Carnally Minded?

for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? - 1 Corinthians 3:3 

No natural man knows anything about carnality. The flesh lusting against the Spirit, that came in at regeneration, and the Spirit lusting against the flesh, produces carnality. "Walk in the Spirit" says Paul, "and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)"; and carnality will disappear.

Are you contentious, easily troubled about trifles? "Oh, but no one who is a Christian ever is!" Paul says they are, he connects these things with carnality. Is there a truth in the Bible that instantly awakens petulance in you? That is a proof that you are yet carnal. If sanctification is being worked out, there is no trace of that spirit left. 

If the Spirit of God detects anything in you that is wrong, He does not ask you to put it right; He asks you to accept the light, and He will put it right. A child of the light confesses instantly and stands bared before God; a child of the darkness says--"Oh, I can explain that away." When once the light breaks and the conviction of wrong comes, be a child of the light, and confess, and God will deal with what is wrong; if you vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.

What is the proof that carnality has gone? Never deceive yourself; when carnality is gone it is the most real thing imaginable. God will see that you have any number of opportunities to prove yourself the marvel of His grace. The practical test is the only proof. "Why", you say, "If this had happened before, there would have been the spirit of resentment!" You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.   

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

- carnality - of the flesh, material, worldly
- trifles - something of little value or importance
- petulance - impatient or irritable, especially over a petty annoyance 

A Decision that Led to Disaster - Abraham, Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Study Guide

Genesis 13

In my own words - Abram and Lot separate. They were traveling together and both had become very wealthy with many flocks and many tents. Seeing this, Abram mentions they should separate. Abram gives Lot first choice as to where to settle. Lot went to east, possibly because of the fertile, well-watered land, but he also ended up close to Sodom - a very evil place; the land was attractive, the people were evil. Abram went to the west, to Canaan. Following their separation, the Lord speaks to Abram, giving him a blessing of this land to Abram as far as his eye can see. His descendants, God says, will be numerous, as far as the eye can see. Abram followed this up by building an altar to the Lord. 

Wealth tests our decisions

The text says "and the land could not sustain them while dwelling together." Lot and Abram were between Bethel and Ai and as they grew in property something caused them to struggle being together. In our world, our borders are clearly defined - property lines do this to denote the separation of property and land. Where I grew up was at first an open area (Sandia Heights at the base of the Sandia Mountains) but as people came more in abundance, settled property lines were present but not clearly marked and I saw some people feeling a need to build walls while others left the open space as long as there was a clear distance between their area and others. 

Consequences follow our decisions

The text states that Abram stopped to spend time at the altar of the Lord (13:4). At times Abram has not made wise decisions but here the text brings attention to the fact that Abram goes to the altar of the Lord. He stops and spends time with God. Following this and the anxiety that he sees tells Lot he can choose the land he desires. And even after Lot chooses his land (looks good, but is near Sodom which will be an evil city), Abram then goes the other way and settles there and once again builds an altar to the Lord (13:18).  Application - I am encouraged to go to God when I am a crossroads and after sensing God's provision. Start with Him. End with Him. 

The title of this lesson is 'a decision that led to disaster' which speaks of the decision that Lot made in choosing the abundant that looked good to the eye. The decision he made on his own led to disaster. But Abram sough the Lord several times, before decisions and after decisions and God blessed him. In this text, both parties were already wealth with possessions. But what Abram received from God was a blessing of descendants and that the land that he would dwell would be fruitful. Abram received something that went beyond wealth. And again, what is most important to me in this passage is he went to God. 

Start with Him. End with Him.   

Mark 14:10-11 - Premeditated Betrayal

Mark 14:10-11
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 11 They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

Message: Premeditated Betrayal

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - It is 2 days before the Passover as Jesus is headed to the cross. The religious leaders are out to get him but with the Passover many will be in town so they wonder if this is the right time. Jesus is in Bethany and visiting Simon the Leper's house and someone in the house (Mary) breaks open a bottle of perfume and pours it on Jesus' head, signifying an anointing. Jesus remarks that this act was significant. 

In the Gospel of John, at this point, Judas is already on the scene and it states he was the one that questioned the use of the perfume that Mary had poured on Jesus, though the text does not attribute it to him in the book of Mark. Judas had remarked that the money could have been better served by selling it and giving it to the poor. But, Mark did not attribute those words to Judas. Perhaps Peter (who Mark bases his book on) didn't remember it was Judas or perhaps at the time Peter did not think it was important. At this time Judas is known to have left the twelve in order to betray Jesus.

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. I am sure Judas knew, as all the disciples knew, that at this point the chief priests were looking for a way to seize Jesus. Something motivated Judas at this moment to do this act. Perhaps his faith all along was weak. The disciples questioned Jesus at various times in His ministry and Judas might have been part of those groups, wondering why Jesus would be talking about death and resurrection, as it didn't make sense given how popular he was to the people and them. Perhaps Judas was motivated by money and feeling inside that the money could be used for other purposes, like helping those in need.

Judges 17:6 remarks that people without a king, without a leader directing them, these people did what was right in his own eyes. Paul says in Romans 1:21 that people began to turn away from God and started to not give thanks and in the process became futile in their own thinking. The human condition is interesting. Often, we do things for our own best interests and not for the benefit of others. We have many scriptures that have to remind us to trust in God and thank God or people and Jesus even said we must live for others. We have to be reminded continually to not do right in our own eyes. 

They (the priests) were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time. So we have the priests that were happy to hear about the betrayal. Most scholars state that Judas had already left the area. But the verse also mentions that Judas was planning when he would betray Him further, at the right time. This betrayal is interesting. While Judas is himself responsible for his actions—his actions ultimately were part of the plan of God for Jesus to be arrested, scourged, beaten and die. That's the puzzling dichotomy at times for me - man chooses, but God uses man's choice to accomplish His purpose. I read that and understand those pieces but still don't comprehend why it is that way. Perhaps I think it is that God creates, man departs from God, their are consequences, and while God knows the events that will occur and knew that things would end up in His son dying on the cross, it was more of a coincidence that it all worked out in this way. I mean, if there was no Judas it would have happened but maybe another way? I'm not sure.

Granted, in this instance Judas is responsible. John Calvin writes, "Judas was inflamed with the desire to steal; long practice had hardened him in wickedness, and now when he meets with no other prey, he does not scruple to betray basely to death the son of God, the Author of Life, and, though restrained by a holy admonition, rushes violently forward."

Summary - Judas was there watching Mary pour the vile of perfume on Jesus. Perhaps he cringed over this waste when he saw the worth of the vile and the money that could come from it. Meanwhile, Jesus is 2 days from Passover and is preparing for death. And now it seems the Judas is involved in that death. It is something God knew all along, but we are finding out now.

Promise: When evil desires creep up in us, we can indulge in them or turn from them. Consequences will result in each choice, one glorifying Man and his ways and the other glorifying God. Choose life.

Prayer: Lord, I read and understand this scene whereby Judas betrayed you. From my vantage point money was more important to him. And Lord perhaps I don't understand completely your sovereignty and I wonder if Judas was not the one would there be something else to get this carried out. Could Judas have chosen differently? Those are questions I have God and asking You for wisdom in understanding the answer. Meanwhile, I remain yours and seek to trust in You and Your ways, to love You and love my neighbor. Help me today in this. I'm struggling with that love toward others and how in fact to put them first while being fair. Work challenges me in my faith. And I look to you for guidance. Thank you for this time in Your word.

Mark 13:21-23 - False Signs and Wonders

Mark 13:21-23
21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; 22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.

Message: False Signs and Wonders

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is giving now what mean have called the Olivet Discourse. He is on the Mount of Olives and pronouncing a prophecy centrally about the destruction of the temple, something that occurs in AD 70. He is preparing the disciples for events that will occur and their faith should not bend, they can continue to trust God for the outcomes. But, Jesus is being specific - false teachers will be present, religious leaders will also persecute believers, but we are to continue proclaiming the name of Jesus, and finally the believers will need to flee the city of Jerusalem for their lives to be spared.

In verses 5 and 6 Jesus mentions See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many, giving a warning about false Messiahs. This is a warning even in our own day. At several times in scripture we are warned of these false teachers:

• 2 Timothy 4:3-4 - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
• Acts 20:28-30 - Be on guard for yourselves...I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
• 2 Peter 3:17 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness
• I John 4:1-3 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

False teachers will always be present in our age. These are teachers inside our own churches and outside. I think God has given people a desire for spiritual things, but salvation is also a personal thing and Jesus is clear we are not only born physically, but we also must be born of the Spirit by the Spirit of God (John 3). That birth is personal and requires personal evaluation, but we are also relational people and we tend to often run with what others are doing rather than evaluating ourselves. Thus, we listen to quickly often to others who many times have selfish reasons for their positions. Jesus has been calling attention to people's motives recently and how we must be careful. 

No one is exempt from this, as Jesus mentions in verse 22 - in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. Even the elect will try to be led astray. Jesus talks also about signs and wonders, something that Moses echoed in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. People will be drawn away by miraculous looking events - for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders. I believe this is becoming more and more difficult. One we have the enemy drawing people away by preaching that he is king of this world and we are focusing more on entertainment, safety, comfort, a life free of diseases, and ease. Then we also have the danger of those selling truth and in spiritual ways leading people away. It take great effort to not just acquiesce into the many forces swirling around us, but to remain firm in our faith. 

Summary - This passage is primarily to the Jewish Christians at this time for after the Romans invaded the city, false teacher would implore them not to flee, but to stay. Many were following Jesus because of His signs and wonders and these events would be duplicated, but Jesus had a more significant message of love, forgiveness, faith in God, repentance, person contrition and obedience that they couldn't miss. And we need this truth today as well. 

Promise: The truth of a teacher's words is determined not by the feats he can perform but by the orthodoxy of what he teaches (Tabletalk, October 10, 2016)

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth that You reveal to me and giving me a discerning heart. Thank you for the many wonderful teachers you have given us from previous generations, that have given true meaning to the scriptures. Help me to stay careful of who I listen to and direct me to those that are upholding truth correctly. I pray that everyone will have this same quest. Remove the deception from my family and friends. Train us in Your Word. Keep me on the alert. 

Mark 13:5-8 - False Messiahs, Wars, and Natural Disasters

Mark 13:5-8
5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Message: False Messiahs, Wars, and Natural Disasters

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been in Jerusalem speaking to the disciples following his time at the temple. Upon exiting the temple area, some of the disciples remark that the temple structure is huge and impressive. Jesus has just spoken to them about how we often stare at people's large giving or wealth and think what they do is more impressive than a poor person, yet the poor widow gave everything she had as an offering. Jesus responds that the temple will one day be destroyed and no stone will be left. The disciples ask the question of wanting to know when this will occur.

In response to the question that the disciples asked in verse 4 - Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am!’ and will mislead many. Many people will come disguised as authority, with the idea that they speak for Jesus. Jesus' response here in 5-8 has come to be known as the Olivet Discourse and has been a challenge for many to interpret.

Jesus in these words is wanting to provide some discernment to the events of the future, but also give the disciples some comfort. The idea that Jesus understands the future and will take of things is a comfort to the disciples and present day followers. Jesus first says that they need to be careful as many will try to mislead them. They need to be careful because it will happen - people will try to mislead you for personal power or pride or gain. And these that come will have success. They will mislead many. I can't help here to think of Joseph Smith, someone that came with the same sort of authority of Jesus or even Muhammad -- and in the process many have been misled. Many will say that Jesus was a man or even God but they will also want to come alongside Him and have the same authority as Him and this is something the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Islam appears to have done. Those adherents have been misled.

Jesus then says - When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. The warning again is to be careful because wars and rumors of war will occur and take place. It is not as if they may or may not happen, but they will happen. But, our response to these will probably be different from how others respond. Jesus tells us to not be frightened. People often think that wars and rumors of them should not be occurring if we have a God of love. Obviously, they don't understand his purposes and also don't understand sin. We need to remain firm in our faith during these crazy times.

Our country is experience shootings in an alarming rate currently. In the last week there has been a shooting at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh in which a man walked in and opened fire, killing 11 people. Last night there was a shooting at Yoga studio in Tallahassee. These shootings are becoming a weekly phenomenon. People seem angry and want their way over others. People seem to be quick to place blame on others rather than looking within. We have built a culture of toleration and yet complete toleration is somewhat impossible. Our media is quick to show us controversy and take sides among leaders. We have a culture that is often angry and doesn't know how to deal with that anger. Again, Jesus says, do not be frightened. 

He remarks then that nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. As time marches on we have more countries and nations than ever before. It is somewhat amazing to me that we still only have 50 states in the US and places haven't tried to divide themselves further. The rest of the world continues to do this. In the last 100 years the total number has gone from about 80 to about 190 now. So it is growing.

There will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. The number of natural disasters is increasing. But we are not to be frightened or misled or bothered by the earthquakes and famines which occur. We need to keep our focus on the Lord. Unfortunately, more trouble is on the way.

Summary - Jesus is probably still at the Mount of Olives, outside of Jerusalem. He is responding to some of the disciples saying that temple structures are large, but then Jesus says they will be destroyed and then the disciples ask when and Jesus provides a response to be careful to not be misled or frightened. Natural disasters, wars, and deceptions will occur, but we can take solace in the promise of God and continue to Trust Him.

Promise: We do not know when Christ's final return will be. There will be signs. What we know is we are to trust God and not be frightened and wait for His time.

Prayer: Lord, I am always thankful for the clarity of Your Words. You know the future and you know men's hearts. Help me to keep reminded of this and keep my eyes focused on Your truths. Thank you for your great love. I believe in You.

Mark 6:14-16 - The Allure of Holiness

Mark 6:14-16
¹⁴ And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” ¹⁵ But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”
 
Message: The Allure of Holiness

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus arrives in Nazareth, about a 3 day journey from Capernaum. He has made it to his hometown and he speaks in the synagogue, as he has done elsewhere. Many of his people did not accept him; he continued to heal, but maybe not to the extent that he could because of the unbelief present in Nazareth. The message still goes out. Jesus commissions his disciples with the message and send them out with nothing on their backs. Their needs will taken care of on their journeys. But the message of the Gospel--repentance--must go forth.

This passage centers on what happened to John the Baptist, who hasn't been on the scene since chapter 2 when John is mentioned as fasting along with the his disciples (John is not one of the 12 disciples). And King Herod heard - this is Herod Antipas, who inherited one-fourth of his father's kingdom after the death of Herod the great. As the message of the gospel of repentance goes out Herod hears of it - for His name (Jesus) had become well known. Perhaps what people were hearing was a man doing great things. 

And people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

What is clear is people are fascinated with spiritual men. Even though Herod beheaded John the Baptist, at the request of his daughter, he knew that he was a spiritual man. Even though he had him killed, he still knew he had something special in him. He may have rejected him, but there was still an allure about him.

Our world today is continually marveled at spiritual men. On the heels of the death of Billy Graham, many men, some of faith, some not, have been interviewed and their remarks of Billy Graham are all similar. This passage also reminds me that people everywhere try to come up with explanations for spiritual things that are often not accurate. There are many messages of untruth that get presented and communicated throughout our world regarding spiritual things. We need to be people of discernment, to look to scripture and let it define the truth. I think we all must be careful about attaching to certain people that they are people of the Truth. Just because someone speaks of him does not mean they have a relationship with him. 

Summary - As the message goes forth, we need to realize that many will jump on board. There is an allure to Jesus as a great spiritual leader to some, but his real message is one of repentance and self-denial and following him in our every day life. We must always come back to the scripture and lean on the Holy Spirit and allowing the Truth to shine.

Promise: Even the most ardent skeptics are quick to admit that Jesus is a compelling figure. 

Prayer: Help me Lord to be discerning. Thank you that there is truth and excitement and majesty in who You are. There is a special allure that you have. This is real. Help me to be a person to testify of the truth of who You are. Equip me. Keep me a disciple of truth. Give me understanding and wisdom of who You are as I want to be one who testifies of who You are.  

Mark 4:18-20 - The Thorns and the Harvest

Mark 4:18-20
18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

Message: The Thorns and the Harvest

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Now I look at the next 2 surfaces:
3. Among the thorns
these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
4. The Good Soil
they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.

3. The second surface received a temporary message and then when hard times came, the message faded from their lives. Here, the distraction is in the form of the worries and pressures of the world. In addition, there is the quest for riches above all and the overall desire for other things to the point that it is unfruitful.

I remember a friend making a comment once that he went to church, followed the Lord, but good things didn't happen to him. He didn't get the Christian wife, he didn't get the good job, religion didn't merit the results he had in mind. And he sort of punted the faith. We live in such a world of comparison where our eyes are constantly viewing what our friends have, our other family members, and we often get distracted. I get distracted. I have been provided everything I need and yet, all too often, I act like it isn't enough. Because others have something I think I must have it. Money isn't the key to happiness, but it sure is nice to have plenty of it. There is that deceitfulness of having lots, of riches. Do my desires for other things prevent me sometimes from seeking God and His word and telling others about him? Do I ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit because I am more concerned about other things?

The temptations of the world are compelling. They are most attractive. I am often thinking of my correspondence with James Lumbuku in Tororo Uganda. His life is about survival, working hard, and ministry. They have a simple goal often and that is to not go hungry and yet they often have long periods of starvation (months). They live in a hot climate and yet they are farmers, again, for the purpose of survival. I just checked and on this January 14, 2018 day it is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. There crops are basic - corn, potatoes. Perhaps these two items can somewhat make it in the heat. He has real struggles and yet he is so focused on ministry. He is a pastor, a shepherd of his flock, so that would make sense. As I listen to his stories, I am at times compelled to give him money. He desires to get his children through school. One of his children is a Compassion funded child. While they struggle for survival, they are rich in love and mercy toward one another and the temptations of the world don't even seem plausible.

4. They hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Something different has happened now - these hear the word and accept it. The turning point is acceptance. They receive it into their lives and make it a part of themselves. By accepting it, something happens, they bear fruit. It is automatic, it happens. If the plant is watered appropriately and receives the nourishment it needs, there is no more effort, but waiting to see the fruit. This last surface is rather simple, actually.

Promise: The result from the word landing on good soil and being received is a harvest. None of us can anticipate the size of the harvest that will be produced, but a harvest will come. We may not even see the result in our lifetime. But, fruit is inevitable. It will come.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the clarity of your message. Thank you for calling people to yourself. It is thrilling to see the harvest take place and the way it does multiply. Continue to change hearts and uproot soil so that many more can come to accept your truths.

Job 5:17-27 - Understanding God's Discipline

^{Job 5:17-27
17} “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
¹⁸ “For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.
¹⁹ “From six troubles He will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.
²⁰ “In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
²¹ “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
²² “You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
²³ “For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
²⁴ “You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
²⁵ “You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
²⁶ “You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.
²⁷ “Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”

Message: Understanding God's Discipline

Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.

What the Lord is Saying:

From the Bible, wisdom involves knowing truth and then rightly applying that knowledge (from TableTalk). And truth is key here as a word for it also means that what you are seeking to know is the truth. There are many religions in this world that have their origin not on truth and not on truth from the Bible. And for those people what is often a tragedy is their application, albeit good has a non-truth origin. This has been one of the key tragedies of life. People spend much of life in application mode but rooted in the wrong place. 

But, back to the idea from TableTalk, once you know truth, one must rightly apply the truth in life. To me, it also interesting how many people side with the truth of the Bible and will quote verses and yet apply them in situations that are outside the context of the verse. But there isn't always necessarily a 1:1 ratio in regards to truth. The same truth may be applied differently, depending on the situation.

In the passage today, Job is on the aftermath of experiencing heartbreak, having lost his possessions and the people in his life and even his own health and dignity. He still praises God and still believes that God is over him, but he also begins to wonder why he was even born. God will be God no matter what. 

Job's friends enter and we start off with Eliphaz. In chapter 4, Eliphaz presented the idea that bad outcomes are because of good sowing. Life may have this appearance at times, but it is not always the case. In fact, I think many people see the complete injustice of there being a God with they see bad outcomes from good people, thinking that God is only allowed to be the God we want or think he should be. 

Here in chapter 5 is another instance of misapplication.

Verse 17 and 18 speak the truth that the Lord's discipline is something we can accept. Discipline reminds us we are God's children.

Now, just a note here, the issue with Job was he was being disciplined despite the presentation that he hadn't done anything wrong, per se, to have that discipline. I don't think any of us struggle with being disciplined when it is direct result of sin; the issue here is discipline that doesn't have to do with sin.

The word here in verse 17 is “correcteth” (יכח yâkach ) meaning to argue, convince, reprove, punish, and to judge. Does God sometimes ordain pain in our lives? Does God discipline people or correct them, not because they have done something wrong, but just because? I believe he does. Jesus was scourged for our sins and yet he did nothing wrong. Some people in life get a lot of good things just because.

God shows his love for us in that while we are sinners he dies for us. God overwhelms us with good despite the fact that we have been bad. We freely accept this, but not the reverse, receiving bad when we haven't done anything to merit it.

Promise: When the Lord disciplines us, it could be the result of sin, but it may be also to show us that he is sufficient. 

Romans 16:18 - Signs of the False Teacher

Romans 16:18 - For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Message: Signs of the False Teacher

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Background
After Paul gives greetings to various people in the first 16 verses of Chapter 16, he now turns his attention to a warning for the congregation in Rome. He asks them to take notice, continually, of false teachers. Where there is truth, there is also falsehood. And so, as a believer in Christ, I need to be careful about the people that are claiming to be members of the family of God, for their motives may not always be pure.

Serving our Lord Jesus Christ
Paul states that the real motive or intent of those individuals is not to server our Lord Christ. Therefore, that is my chief desire. It is to serve the Lord Christ in all I do. It is the reason for everything I do. I am doing it throughout my life. And I admit that sometimes I can't handle the stress, but I want to look to God for help. I pray that my persona and attitude would not be downward. It has been downward lately. It has not been up. My serving has become a burden at times. I have become anxious, instead of waiting for God to take care of the outcome. I have, instead, predetermined a poor outcome. Forgive me Lord.

Serve their own appetites
Paul states that the motive people have is to please themselves. It is to nourish themselves. Instead of "Give this day our daily bread" and being thankful for what God has provided and realizing that it is God who provides, these people instead are interested in serving their own appetites. I am always reminded of that verse in Proverbs 3:5 that says, "Do not lean on your understanding." The problem with this false teachers is they lean on their own understanding.

I see this with a friend who is an Atheist and talks to me. He is leaning on his own understanding and being defined by it. It is easy to do and while it amazes me, I should not ever be-little him for those thoughts. This world I live in trains us with messages of "Have it your way" or "Just do it." We are trained often in the idea that our appetites and serving there are what is most important.

Smooth talk and flattery
The false teachers presentation is smooth. The false teacher knows how to use the write words to coerce people. This is the other hard part of all of this. People get duped. People get swayed easily. People don't think, they just go along. These teachers have smooth talk and flattery. They know what to say and how to say in order to get their appetite served.

The false teacher is often very charismatic, showing a lot of emotion. They move away from the true doctrine in very subtle manners, often hanging on to key doctrinal points. And if they are attacked, they spit back the Bible with words of "Do not judge" or "how is this showing unity."

Deception
This is the scary part in all of this. This is not just momentary swaying of people in a certain direction. But this is deception. Deception is seeing a lie as truth. And once something gets defined as truth in a persons life, it is difficult to be swayed in another direction. Both of sides of the truth, deception and not, stand at either end amazed that the person on the other side can believe what they believe. That is the scary part of deception. It is holding onto what you think is the best way, with the hope it is the best way. And it reminds me that people will only be drawn to truth when God draws them (John 6:44). The believer in Christ, therefore, has a duty -- to pray for God's drawing of people or persons.

The hearts of the naive
People are naive. Or people can be naive. It is the naive that we must be most sensitive to in the preaching of the gospel. I must be careful that I am not more focused on the intellectual person rather than being focused on the naive. It is hard to change the heart of a hardened person, but the naive can be swayed easily. And the problem is, once they are swayed they become deceived and it will be hard to get them back.

Promise: Let us seek to speak the truth. And have the wisdom to run from those that, we feel, are walking away from it.

Romans 3:5-7 - Is God Unrighteous?

Romans 3:5-7 - 5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

Message: The Fourth Objection is offered: God isn't really righteous, is He?

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Background

Paul is using a diatribe in his writing thus far. This is where he is speaking like he is having a conversation with an imaginary objector. Chapter 2's focus was not on how God judge saves, but how God judges and he gives no free pass to any man based upon their affiliation. So, the Jew as God's chosen people don't get a free pass, not because of their affiliation with the recipients of the Law nor because of their act of circumcision. God is not partial to anyone. He judges everyone equally. A man must be justified by his perfect obedience to the standards that a person has received. For the Jew, that is the Law; for the non-Jew, that is the standard the person knows (i.e. conscience). 

And so now in chapter 3 Paul clarifies that there is something special about God choosing His people. They do have a responsibility before God to care for the commands of God. They have a responsibility to live a life worth living and represent Christ on this earth. Not to save themselves through those acts, but they live in a righteous way in response to God making them righteous. God is God and he is not simply God because of a person's righteous behavior or obedience. He is God no matter what. 

The Fourth Objection

Paul poses the fourth objection from his imaginary accuser in verse 5. If a person's unrighteous behavior (practicing sin) then causes God to be shown as righteous, then how can that person receive wrath? 

Unrighteousness is adika, a dike or "without what is right." It is injustice behavior that injures another person, such as theft, fraud, sexual crimes, deceit, or lying.

Why is God responding to our unrighteousness with wrath when it actually seems that we can then more clearly see that God is righteous?

This is another very important question to examine here because this is a question or statement that often comes up in our lives. Men take commandments of God and then make them out to be something they are often not. Satan's desire is to do anything he can to take the focus off of God and sometimes what he does is very subtle. Sometimes it is very apparent, but other times it is very subtle. I think of the phrase, "money is the root of all evil" which is quoted from I Timothy 6:10 and man often uses this to say evil is the result of a love for money when in actuality God is simply saying that evil can spring forth from a love of money. Money doesn't cover all evils, but it is a root or it plays a part in evil, but not all parts. It is important always to read God's word in context. And even here Paul is showing the tendency of the Jew to take his words and then sort of twist them. Isn't this what Satan did when he tempted Jesus?

The Antagonists Response to the Objection

In the remaining part of verse 5, the antagonist actually gives an answer to his own question, but again it is falsehood basically saying, "So, Is God doing something wrong here as well?" This Jewish antagonist is trying to punch holes in Paul's arguments. Paul uses the statement, "I am speaking in human terms" to show that natural man is always making attempts through natural man's thinking to rationalize a holy God. To go back to Romans 1:25, "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." Man thinks he can rationalize the things of God. Man uses man language to try and describe God. 

I Corinthians 2:14 states, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." Man must submit or surrender to God first and then God will reveal Himself to man. Only then can we understand God's mysteries. 

The Real Response to the Objection

Verse 6 begins with "May it never be" which I saw in verse 4 to mean basically, "that's impossible." Basically, the objection that is raised is man stating he does not like to be judged. The verse that men over and over take out of context is "don't judge me." Man is stating over and over, don't throw a light on me and tell me that I am wrong for what I am doing. Again, they take a phrase in the Bible and they use it as they see fit. And people everywhere don't want to see that they have done anything wrong. I see it everyday at work and even at home. Responsibility for one's actions is very hard for some people, but everyone shy's away from it. Adam himself in the Garden stated, "The woman that Thou gavest me led me astray." 

God administers justice not because man is unrighteous, but because God is just. God is righteous. God must judge, condemn, and punish because He is Holy. So Paul is saying, "Man, don't try and bridge the two (man's sin; God's righteousness), for they are separate. God is just. God must punish sin." 

The quick response to the Response

In verse 7, a quick response by the objector to Paul's response, in a way setting up verse 8, is that through my lie (or unrighteous act toward my fellow man as learned in verse 5), God is shown to be true, why am I being judged. Again, I look here at natural man. And he hates the target on his back. He hates accountability. 

I have been in a men's accountability group now for the last 8 years and through that time I have encouraged other men to do the same. I have seen what value there is in men meeting with other men and sharing their sin and their praises and seeking scriptural help from other men to correct their behavior and be accountable. And through this process, other men I approach to be in a group dodge this accountability. They don't want it. They run away from this. They think of every excuse possible so as to have to meet with other men. They don't want to be accountable to other men. I often don't want to be accountable. I can show up at times at my meetings thinking, "I don't want to share the sin I have been in this week." But sometimes I do because of the transparency of others. And sometimes I continue to try to frame myself as different that who I really am.

I watched the movie Phone Booth this past weekend. While I know the director didn't mean anything scriptural when he directed this story written by another, the content yet was very biblical as this man was basically being held hostage by another and the only way out was to admit his secret sins or the sins he thought he was the only one that knew about. It was interesting to see Hollywood say, "no man can be an island." Man needs to be authentic. It's unfortunate the movie had so much bad language, but the message was still very clear.

I am reminded of this in verse 7, even after the answer was given in verse 6, man quickly responds with another quick objection giving the impression now that my lie results in God's glory and yet I am being judged a sinner? God is good. Man is not. They are distinct. It is not that God is good because man is not. God is holy and demands perfection. Man is unholy and lawless. God is always the answer to man. Yes, God can be glorified through man's sin, but this doesn't exempt man from judgment nor from his sin.

Promise: God always judges righteously.

Zechariah 11

Message: The Lord Jesus Christ is to be rejected as the King at His first coming

Time: Written after the Temple Was Completed circa 480-470BC

What the Lord is Saying:

People are often deceived by falsehood and yet people willingly go along for the ride. God is there, eager to pull them back and yet as they continue to go in the direction of please themselves, God eventually gives them over (Romans 1) to the desires of their hearts. This appears to be the picture here. Could the cedars be people that have been well rooted and established and yet now are burned to the ground because they continue to wallow in the wrong direction? 

But the true shepherd rescues the deceived people. He cares for them. They were not careful, but He cares for them. As a shepherd, he had two staffs--1. Favor or Grace and 2. Union. And he got rid of the evil. And he broke the staffs into two, possibly signifying that the original covenant God had with Israel had now been broken and the Gentiles would also receive the blessing He has. Israel continued to forsake the message and devise their own methods of spirituality.

And one day, the Lord will provide a worthless shepherd, a false shepherd (Antichrist). As a shepherd the people will look to it and yet this shepherd will do them no good whatsoever.

Promise: Follow the True Shepherd