Christianity
Doing all the right things
“And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” Luke 1:6-7
There are not many people that the Scriptures name as righteous, but Zacharias and Elizabeth are two of them. They were obedient followers of the Lord, blameless. They were doing all the right things. And yet, they still lacked what was considered the most precious blessing attainable – an heir.
Jewish society of their day looked at barrenness as a sign of God’s displeasure. How painful it must have been for them, year after year, to watch neighbors, friends and family members have children while they remained childless. I wonder if Elizabeth felt ashamed. I wonder if they ever felt that God didn’t see their pain, or didn’t care.
Regardless, they continued to serve Him, doing all the right things even though life had seemed to treat them very unfairly. And all this time they had no idea the privilege God was waiting to confer upon them. Had they known they would be the parents of the forerunner of the Christ, I am certain they would have been able to wait contentedly for the appointed time, serving God faithfully. But they didn’t know….and they still served Him faithfully.
In a day when most people feel entitled to certain things if we are serving God, it would do us good to reflect upon the example of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Even when the life they expected was not granted, and even when they did all the right things and nothing changed, they continued to serve Him.
Will we remain faithful when our expectations are not met, when our desires are not granted, when our longings go unfulfilled? We must determine in our hearts that we will, for this is the way of the true servants of the Lord.
Thoughts on Zacharias and the lot
“According to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.” Luke 1:9
No priest was allowed to burn incense more than once in his lifetime. How many years had Zacharias performed his duty as priest, showing up at the appointed time of service hoping that this time the lot would fall to him to burn incense, only to not be chosen – again? What was it like for him to see new priests get chosen while he still waited? Must have seemed pretty congruent with the rest of his life – always watching someone else get the blessing. But for Zacharias – no son, no incense, no blessing.
Even though this method of casting lots seems random, Proverbs 16:33 says “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Zacharias’ many years of waiting was not his bad luck – it was the very timing of God. There was an announcement planned for Zacharias. The timing was critical and God was holding back the lot until His appointed time. But when the time came, nothing was able to hold it back. And the lot fell to Zacharias.
It is hard enough to wait when you know there are better things on the horizon. For Zacharias, there could not have been much hope of anything on the horizon at this point. An old man by now, Zacharias may have at times entertained thoughts of having been cheated by life. But God was planning something more tremendous for Zacharias than he could have imagined.
Life is no series of coincidences. What an unimaginable frustration life would be if there was no sense of God’s providence in every step. But because I believe He is sovereign, I can trust that even if it seems that good is withheld from me, it is in accordance with His plan and His timing. Each day can be filled with peace as I recognize that because He orders my steps, I can completely enjoy where He has me today as I wait for what is on the horizon, whatever it may be.
Maybe it will be something as significant as a John the Baptist. Maybe it won’t. But I can trust that it will be exactly what He planned, exactly when He planned it.
Joyful sacrifice
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would have done anything to have it? I know some people who are like that about every new piece of technology that comes out. They rush out to get it, spending way too much money, because they absolutely must have the latest thing. And once it has been acquired, they gleefully display it, describing the features and functions in detail to anyone who will listen. They don’t mind the expense, for their heart is set on this new purchase.
Now picture the man in this Scripture….walking through a field his foot hits an object protruding from the ground and he stumbles. Curious, he looks down to see what he has tripped on. He digs a bit and discovers a box. How odd that it would have been left in this field. He opens it, and to his amazement, it is full of gold coins and jewels. The gems catch the sunlight, almost blinding him with their sparkling brightness. He closes the box quickly, looking around to see if he is observed. Stealthily, he hides the box again. He searches for the owner of the field. He must purchase this field, he must have that treasure. The owner names his price – much more than the man has. Undeterred, he sells his home, his donkey, and all his possessions to raise the money to buy the field. All the earthly possessions he has acquired and enjoyed and treasured over the years, gone in an instant. But this man is filled with joy. Because now he has the field. Now he has the treasure.
For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, leaving the glory of heaven to come and die for sinners. And He has set a joy before us – the joy of knowing Him. Compared to this, all earthly joys fade into nothingness and all earthly treasures become dull and lackluster. So let us leave behind the trinkets we have entertained ourselves with and pursue with all our hearts the one true treasure – Jesus Christ.
The hand towel as a way of escape
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
A while back I brought a hand towel to work. I have it in my office where I can see it easily from my desk. This little towel has been my escape on numerous occasions.
Many times I find myself becoming frustrated at work. Deadlines, interruptions, and all the issues that come with being in management – these are the things I deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes they become overwhelming and I can feel the irritation within that threatens to become visible and to spill out on those around me. I feel trapped in an overpowering web of emotions.
Then I glance at the towel. And I remember……
That Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Even Judas.
That Jesus came to serve and not to be served.
That the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
That in whatever role I find myself, my highest calling is to serve.
These things the Lord reminds me of through a hand towel. He makes a simple piece of cloth become a way of escape in the midst of a trying day.
God is faithful. Amen.
This present world
“for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” 2 Timothy 4:10
There comes a point when we must choose where our affections and attention will be focused, because there are two worlds that vie for our attention. And by their very nature, they are mutually exclusive. Those who try to divide their heart between the two will find themselves to be most frustrated.
This present world is loud and sparkly and offers enjoyment for all. “Come and play”, it cries. “There are no rules here. You are free to do whatever makes you happy.” The problem is that all its promises are empty and it fails to deliver the happiness it guarantees. And the world will never tell you that its pleasures are temporary and the payment that is required at the end of your days is your very soul. But for many people, even at that price, this present world is too enticing to tear themselves away from.
Our lives are conducted at such a feverish pace that we do not live in the awareness that these few years we have on earth are quickly passing, with the end of each day bringing us that much closer to our final destination. And before we know it, this present world will be past and all that will remain is eternity. If all you are living for now is this present world, there will be no place for you in heaven and eternity becomes a most unpleasant future for you.
But those who are Christ’s have a different world in view – an eternal dwelling with our eternal Saviour.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” Phil 3:20
We live here in this present world only for so brief a moment. My friends, let us not become attached to the things this world offers, but let us look beyond this present world to our future, and eternal, dwelling. With only one glance upon the face of Jesus Christ, we will forget that there was ever anything else but Him.
Repentance
Now I lay me down to die
At Your altar, here I cry
As Your holy word is spoken
All undone, my heart is broken
Sensing now Your holy gaze
Searching all my thoughts and ways
Unable to give my defense
As You expose each vile offense
Painfully, now it is clear
The sins that I once held so dear
Each one a thorn that pierced Your brow
How hideous they appear now
And crushed beneath the guilt, I hear
A sound so sweetly in my ear
“There is One who yet abides
Christ, Who for your sins has died”
Looking up, through tears I see
The Saviour, on the cross for me
Bowing then with all contrition
Bringing to Him my petition
“Though my heart is black with sin
I hear I may be born again
If I repent and then confess
I may receive Your righteousness
With all my heart I long for this
I pray I might receive this gift.”
Heaven hears, new life begins
Completely new and clean within
Another heart now set ablaze
Another voice to sing His praise
Hearts transformed and lives made new
A work that only Christ can do
And so the kingdom does advance
One by one, with repentance
The answered unprayer
Since the first time I read it, I have been fascinated by the story of Abraham interceding before the Lord for the city of Sodom. It is amazing to me that God was willing to refrain from the judgment He intended to bring upon the city because of one man’s request.
I have recently read the story again and was newly amazed at a detail I had never noticed before. Genesis 19:27-28 says:
“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. “
Abraham awakes to find that the Lord has indeed brought judgment to the cities. What heartache he must have experienced at that moment, knowing that his nephew lived in that city. But verse 29 tells us that “it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.”
God answered the prayer that Abraham had not prayed. He saw beyond Abraham’s words to the desire of his heart, which was for the safety of his nephew, Lot. This brings me great comfort as I pray for those I love, so often fumbling for the right words in prayer. But God knows the very longings of my heart and He hears them, many times, even more loudly than my words.
I don’t have to say it just right. He knows.
Fairness that hinders
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 1 Cor 9:12
In the context of this verse the apostle Paul is commenting on his right, as a minister of the gospel, to receive financial assistance from those he ministers to. But rather than see the spread of the gospel hindered among them, he preferred rather to endure the hardship of going without. What wisdom from God!
Just a few chapters earlier Paul had counseled the Corinthians on their unwise and ungodly practice of bringing lawsuits against one another before the unbelieving world. “Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). How we cringe at the very suggestion of such a thing.
There is something in our human nature that leads us to feel as though we are entitled to certain things. One of those things is fairness. If someone crosses us or treats us poorly we want them to know about. We probably want other people to know about it as well. And we want it to be made right. So we broadcast our offense because we feel entitled to something better. It’s only fair. Thus we reason with ourselves and justify our actions and attitudes.
And the gospel of Christ is hindered because we insist on our “rights”.
My heart aches over the times I have hindered the gospel of Christ because I felt entitled to dwell on petty offenses. What small thinking this is. Let us consider Christ, who of all people was treated most unfairly. Yet he endured the shame of it all. Why? For the joy that was set before Him.
There is for us also a joy that awaits. It is the joy of hearing the very voice of our own Lord Jesus saying “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” For this brief little moment called life there will be the pain of suffering silently, but oh what bliss to know that we have not hindered the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Threatened by Jesus
“And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.” Mark 11:18
Jesus has just cleansed the temple, driving out the money changers and bringing accusation against those who had turned God’s house into a den of thieves. To grasp the significance of this event, picture Jesus ordering a group of hardened-hearted business men away from their profitable occupation. He was certainly outnumbered, but he physically upset their work area, rebuked them publicly and ordered them out. And they went! His actions proclaimed loudly “Not in My house!” This authority is what drew the admiration of the people and the hatred of the religious establishment.
I wonder if the scribes and chief priests had received some financial benefit from the marketplace they had allowed in the temple. People do get angry when you touch their wallet.
Maybe they just didn’t like this “new guy” coming in and making all kind of changes and gaining a following. He wasn’t even part of their group. Any maybe just the fact that He never even wanted to be part of their group infuriated them.
I suppose these things are possible, but they are speculation. The verse tells us that they feared Him because of the reaction of the people to His teaching. And while they may have disregarded some of His teachings, surely they remembered these (to list just a few):
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:9
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:9
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matthew 23:25-26
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matthew 23:25-26
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Mathew 23:27-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Mathew 23:27-28
He is my Delight 