At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country….Then the land had rest from war. Joshua 11:21a & 23b
The first five books of the Old Testament, aka Torah (aka Pentateuch, aka five books of Moses) are clearly distinguished as the first major section of the Hebrew Bible. These books are represented by the “T” in TaNaK, which stands for Torah, or Law (followed by Nevi’im, or Prophets and Ketuvim, or Writings). Yet, though it stands alone as a unit, the Torah is not left alone. Even an initial read through of the very next book, the first book of the prophets, makes clear that in Joshua the action continues! More than a sequel, Joshua fulfills much that is anticipated in the Torah. In Joshua, we find Israel entering the promised land, the land which God called Abram to “go to” (Gen. 12:1), the land flowing with milk and honey which God promised Moses (Ex. 3:8), the land which the people of Israel refused to enter out of fear for the giants in the land! All but two of the spies who returned from their recon mission gave a bad report about Canaan land, “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there” (Num. 13:27b-28). Following this bad report, the people of Israel devolved into a bunch of whiners. They grumbled. They complained. But worst of all, they did not trust in Yahweh to defeat the giants in the land. Remember, these are the same people who had just witnessed the unleashing of unthinkable plagues which led to their freedom from captivity in Egypt. These are the same people who had just witnessed the waters of the red sea parting so they could walk through on dry land, the same waters which swallowed up Pharaoh’s army. Yet, these are the people who are now afraid to take the land God had promised to them out of fear for a handful of jocks. Don’t they realize that all the steroids in the world couldn’t make an army big enough to stand against Yahweh?!? Sadly, they don’t realize the simple truth that “God + one” is stronger than any, or all, of the armies of man. So, they balk, they grumble, they whine. And God, being a perfect gentleman, doesn’t force the issue, but allows them to go their own way and take a tour of the desert. More specifically, he causes his people to wander in the desert for forty years. This is no Rick Steves’ European vacation, mind you. This is a trek that would make the worst migrant story seem like a walk in the park. Yet, it was through this trek that God the Father was teaching His people His ways. It’s not too surprising, then, more than 1,200 years later, that God the Son would use three years of wandering with His disciples for their instruction and development prior to the establishment of His church. But Israel’s unwillingness to trust their God did not rattle their God’s determination to bless His people. Not only did Yahweh God bring them into the land, just as He had promised, but He gave them victory over the giants in the land. And it wasn’t because Joshua was John Wayne, Rambo or the Terminator, it was because their God was with them. Joshua did as Yahweh commanded and victory was achieved. It is God’s strong, faithful, merciful presence that leads to the conclusion of Joshua 11, “Then the land had rest from war.” Even so, the coulda, woulda, shoulda side of me wonders what might have been if Israel had trusted God forty years earlier? Of course, human inability to trust in God is nothing new. In truth, it is the crux issue which dominates not only the Torah, but also the Nevi’im (prophets) and the Ketuvim (writings). It is the same inability to trust that causes the disciples to scatter following Jesus’ arrest, even moving Christ’s #1 to deny knowing Jesus at His darkest hour. And it all goes back to Adam and Eve’s willingness to question whether or not God had their best interests at heart leading to expulsion from “the Land” God had prepared just for them and alienation from their Maker. Truth is, we all face giants. Not only this, but we are all tempted to doubt whether or not God’s got our back. But story after story in the Bible is there to provide for us a foundation of faith in Yahweh God. We have a choice to make: will we give in to doubt or will we choose to believe in Him? In this world where feelings reign supreme and we are taught to let our imaginations be our guides, it may seem counterintuitive to denounce our feelings and refuse to follow our imaginations. But the life of faith does require us, at times, to respond to unhealthy self-talk with the truth of God’s Word. It’s the example set for us in Psalms 42-43, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Believers, don’t trust your instincts, your cleverness, your strength. Put your hope in God. He is merciful! In spite of the fickleness of our love, God’s love is unshakable. He is able! The God of angel armies is stronger than anything this world can send our way. He is faithful! Not a promise He has made goes unfulfilled and no one who trusts in Him will be put to shame. As this section concludes, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:45). There may be giants in the land, but no one and no thing is greater than our God!
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“Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord. Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who makes you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 22:31-33
Leviticus and Numbers are two of the toughest books in the Bible to read. Many a “read through the Bible in a year” plan has met its demise in these third and fourth books of the Bible. Such plans are always promising at the start, with the captivating book of Genesis. Then comes Exodus and the rich story of God’s redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt, even if the tedious descriptions of the Tabernacle and sacrifices in the second half are daunting. But it’s nothing compared to Leviticus, that goes into even greater detail on a variety of offerings, then moves on to such fun topics as clean and unclean foods, infectious skin diseases and cleansing from mildew (especially relevant for those who live in the Pacific Northwest). This is in addition to the laws, laws and more laws! If, for some unknown reason, we get through Leviticus, we are then confronted by Numbers. If you share my lack of love for mathematics, the name itself may be enough to stop you in your tracks. Certainly, there are intriguing stories in this book, but it’s the lists and numbers, in addition to more instruction on offerings and laws, which wear you down. Even the more engaging stories are less than inspiring as God’s people, time and again, give into fears, fickleness and faithlessness. It boggles the mind as to why the chosen people, the recipients of divine redemption, would be so quick to turn away from their God. Which raises the question, why? What’s the point of these books? Historical value? That doesn’t seem a credible reason for inclusion in the Holy Bible! And the recurring themes seem far too purposeful to simply write off as mere history. So, what is the point of these two lengthy narratives that form books three and four of the Torah? First, they point to the holiness of God. As we see in the quote above, God’s very name is holy, sacred, worthy of reverence. This makes the three-fold repetition of His holy name, LORD or Yahweh, all the more significant in these three short verses. We serve a holy God! In a world which persistently seeks to profane anything and everything deemed holy, from sexuality to the life of the baby in the womb, these books stand as a testament to the holiness of our God and, by extension, His commands. Second, these books reveal the reality and cost of human sinfulness. We see this not only in the stories of rebellion and their destructive results, but also in the emphasis on the sacrifices necessary to pay for human sinfulness through the laborious and gory sacrificial system. Third, Leviticus and Numbers point us to God’s provision for sin and the call to holiness. “Keep my commands and follow them….I am the LORD (Yahweh), who makes you holy.” God is both the source of and means to our holiness. We who serve a holy God are called to be a living witness to His holiness by choosing to live in a manner honoring to Him. Yet, when we sin, it is God who provides the means for our forgiveness and reconciliation to Him through sacrifice and special days and feasts, not the least of which is the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32). As my old Hebrew professor, John Sailhamer, writes: But God is a gracious God (Ex. 34:6). In spite of Israel’s repeated failures, he continued to renew their covenant. He himself provided a means of substitution whereby the death rightly due sinful human beings was transferred to an innocent animal. God accepted the blood shed by the innocent animal as a substitute for the blood of the guilty sinner. Throughout Leviticus, that system of sacrifice is assumed as God’s gracious gift to atone for sin. These books neither diminish the necessity for God’s people to walk in holiness nor preclude the ability to be cleansed of sin. Yet, as we see throughout the Old Testament, the failings of God’s people, combined with God’s love and faithfulness, ultimately look to a more profound provision for sin in the sending of His one and only Son. These books point us to God’s plan for sin’s payment “through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). As followers of Jesus, then, the message of these books is powerful. It reminds us that the God we serve is holy and worthy of our trust and obedience. It reveals God’s loyal love and faithfulness to His redemptive purposes. And it reminds us of the costliness of sin and, viewed through the cross, the great price paid on our behalf through the sin-conquering death of Jesus. What is our response to Leviticus and Numbers? Deeper trust in our faithful Father, growing obedience as His holy people and heartfelt praise for His gracious work of redemption! Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” Exodus 33:12-15
It’s astounding to me how events which took place thousands of years ago on a tiny strip of land halfway around the globe among a people whose language and culture is immeasurably different than my own, can resonate so powerfully with me today. I cannot possibly begin to understand what it would have been like to have experienced slavery in a foreign land, to have been freed by Yahweh God by plagues of frogs or water turned to blood, and to have fled on foot with millions of my people. What could I possibly have in common with them? Yet, when I read Moses’ words to Yahweh, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here,” I cannot help but say, “amen!” This is the very same prayer I have for our church. True, we’re not actually traveling by foot, as a body, across the middle east. But we are “entering” another year. And we are seeking to advance the Kingdom of God. And we are moving ahead toward our ultimate heavenly destination. So, we also pray…unless your presence goes with us, we don’t want to go. Unless God is with our congregation, it doesn’t matter how great our programs are or how many people shuffle through our doors. Why? Because He is both our source and our destination, the means and the goal. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, we have nothing. As for Israel, there was a very specific reason why Moses had to plead with God to go with them. God’s original plan and promise was that His presence would be with Israel. However, then came that little incident involving a golden calf. Mind you, it happened while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the ten commandments from God. Kind of hard to imagine God’s people so egregiously breaking two of the ten commandments through unfaithfulness to God their Redeemer even as Moses was in the presence of Yahweh receiving divine instruction. Talk about fickle and faithless. As a result, God says to Moses in Exodus 33:3, “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” Why does God’s presence matter so much to Moses? Well, first of all, we must remember that God’s presence, or the lack thereof, is a central aspect of the earliest human tragedy recorded in Scripture…the Fall. In Genesis 3 we find that Adam and Eve go from having God’s presence with them in the Garden to being evicted from the Garden and removed from God’s presence. The presence of God with the people of God is important. It is for this reason that Moses says, above, “you have not let me know whom you will send with me.” Moses knows very well why God has said he will not go with him. Yet, Moses is offering God some prayerful pushback. Why? Because he knows just how important it is that Yahweh God is with His people as they move forward. He has tasted the sweetness of the God who knows His people by name, the sweetness of the favor of Yahweh God. Moses knows that it’s their own sinfulness that has put them in this position, yet he also knows that it is God’s nature to redeem sinful people! It’s the same for us today. We too make choices that rob us from experiencing God’s favor. Yet the same God we see in Exodus who longs to forgive, longs to heal, longs to bless, is the very one who came as a man to be “God with us.” The incarnation of Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s presence with His people. Not only this, but the Son who came became the Savior who died to purchase our redemption so that His presence might go with us and give us rest! Yet, our experience of that rest in daily life is impacted by our obedience and walk with God. So, we pray with Moses, “teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” As we begin this new year, may we be quick to repent of sinful ways. May we recognize the inestimable value of the presence of Yahweh God. May we pray, with Moses, that He will teach us His ways so that we may know and enjoy His presence and favor in our lives. And may we intentionally find ways to share this blessing in our homes, our church, our workplaces and our neighborhoods. “Thank you, Lord, that you know us by name!” As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11
I first taught this passage as a pastoral intern the summer of 1992, more than 30 years ago. I remember it clearly because my teaching created a bit of a stir at the week-long high school Christian camp where I was one of the Bible teachers. Why the controversy? Because of my emphasis on the connection between love and obedience found in John 15…a connection evangelical Christianity usually seeks to play down. I will confess…I was a bit of a rabble-rouser in those days. I liked to push against popular theology in the face of Scriptures that did not fall into line. This was certainly one of those Scriptures. Jesus said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.” The implication seems to be that if we do not obey Jesus’ commands, we will not, or do not, remain or abide in His love. You can see how this teaching aroused not a little controversy. Honestly, we all struggle to understand the relationship between love and obedience. Yet, what must NOT be denied, in the face of the verses above, is that there is a relationship between love and obedience. Having said this, we also must refuse the temptation of proof-texting, of taking these words out of Biblical context, and acting as though love and obedience are purely transactional, quid pro quo. God is not a parochial teacher who gives us high marks if we’re good or low marks if we’re bad. Nor is he a banker who credits our account when we make a deposit (do right) or debits or account when we make a withdrawal (do wrong). And he is certainly not a parent who only loves the well-behaved child and despises the naughty one. All of these pictures severely misrepresent the love of God we find in Scripture. In what way? First of all, God’s love always takes the initiative. It’s right there in the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loved. God gave. He takes the initiative. As we read in 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.” And Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Second, this divine love that takes the initiative is the means to our obedience. God’s love changes us. And it is only through this transformation that we are enabled to obey. In other words, the obedience that is an expression of genuine love for God is only truly possible for those who have been changed by the sin-conquering love of God. Jesus commands us to love God and love others, but He is also the means by which we are enabled to obey this call to love, by the indwelling presence of His Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26). Third, God’s love is not something we can ever earn or deserve. It’s what we read in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Well, you might say, that passage doesn’t say anything about love. But if you read it in context, you find it is actually entirely about love. Verse 4 reads, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” What is the impetus of this salvation introduced in verse 4 and expanded on in verse 8? His great love for us!!! And God’s love, expressed in salvation, is a gift…by grace. You cannot earn a gift. By definition, a gift is not based on the recipients worth, but the giver’s graciousness. It is in view of this wider witness of Scripture that we see the impossibility of viewing Jesus’ statements in John 15 as a formula by which we earn God’s love. As one scholar writes, “Protestant scholars may feel uncomfortable with the condition of obedience for God’s love in this passage, but throughout John the initiative comes from God, who then provides more love in response to human obedience and perseverance; what is portrayed is…not a formula but a developing relationship.”1 That really is the key, isn’t it? Salvation is not about a formula or a transaction, it is about a developing relationship. Jesus’ aim, here, is not to present God’s love as something we can earn or deserve, but to embed growing obedience in the context of a growing love relationship with our Redeemer, the lover of our souls. As one of His final words to the disciples, Jesus challenges them, and us, to lean into a love relationship with God that naturally expresses itself in growing obedience to God. Growing obedience, then, is not the means to getting God’s love, but a reflection of the fact that we are partakers of and participants in God’s love. With what result? Joy! Not just joy, but full joy, complete joy. It may be an over-simplification, but I appreciate how it’s expressed by the old hymn, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” 1 Keener, C. S. (2012). The Gospel of John: A Commentary & 2 (Vol. 1, p. 1003). Baker Academic. “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matt. 16:28
The juxtaposition of living for the kingdom that is “already, but not yet” AND living in this world creates a strange, strained tension for the follower of Christ. Certainly, space needs to be made for food and shelter, friends and family, seasons and change. Yet, more significantly, space must be made for that which matters for Christ’s kingdom and which has eternal consequence. Sadly, I am prone to emphasize the former and marginalize the latter. I have no doubt that Jesus understands this tension. It is for this reason that He goes to such great lengths to open the disciples’ eyes to kingdom realities, kingdom purposes, kingdom mission. Like you and me, they were far too earthly minded and struggled to truly see the import of Kingdom Come. It was this earthly mindedness that caused Jesus to tell Peter, “Get behind me, Satan” after Peter “rebuked” Jesus for prophesying his suffering and death at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law. At first blush, Peter’s zealous response to this prophecy seems praiseworthy, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” You have to appreciate how protective Peter is of Jesus. It may make Jesus’ response seem a bit over the top, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Yet, we should remember that it was Satan who sought to tempt Jesus with a shortcut to glory in Matthew 4:8-9, “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” Jesus’ response, “Away from me, Satan,” is awfully similar to his response to Peter, “Get behind me Satan!” Both Satan and Peter had presented a means to avoiding the cross, the very purpose for which Jesus had come to earth. In fact, as we see in the verses that follow in Matthew 16, not only would Jesus be called to carry His cross, but the disciples, including Peter, would be called to carry their own crosses, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Matt. 16:24). This provides some insight into the intensity of Jesus’ response with Peter. Jesus knew that the temptation to avoid suffering for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom was a temptation all disciples would be susceptible to. Honestly, all of us, as Jesus’ disciples, are tempted to prefer our comfort over taking up our crosses. That is why we need Jesus’ words just as much as the first disciples. We too need to catch a vision for Kingdom mission and heavenly reward. It is this reward Jesus mentions after calling the disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matt. 16:27). It is after this promise of eternal reward that we read the enigmatic words quoted above, ““I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (Matt. 16:28). What does this mean?!? This question has aroused more controversy than one might suppose. Is this pointing to the transfiguration in the next chapter? Christ’s crucifixion? Christ’s resurrection? Christ’s ascension? The launch of the church at Pentecost? The answer that I find most compelling is, “yes!” One of the most respected New Testament scholars alive today, D.A. Carson, writes, “It seems best to take 16:28 as having a more general reference—viz., not referring simply to the Resurrection, to Pentecost, or the like, but to the manifestation of Christ’s kingly reign exhibited after the Resurrection in a host of ways, not the least of them being the rapid multiplication of disciples and the mission to the Gentiles.” I agree with Carson that Christ’s focus, here, is not about a single event, but about a complex of events. He is seeking to impress the disciples with the significance of the Kingdom work that is just about to be unfolded in the birth and rapid growth of the church. They are witnessing the beginnings of Kingdom Come! The challenge this teaching presents is the same for us today as it was for Jesus’ original disciples, to help us see the unseen, eternal Kingdom of God as we dwell among the kingdoms of men. May Christ give all of us a greater passion for those things which make a kingdom difference. May we enjoy the good gifts He provides in the here and now without letting them be our be-all, end-all. May we learn to keep earthly joys in proper perspective so that we can see and further the eternal Kingdom of the living God while we await Jesus’ return. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1
I remember, as a child, just how much I despised boredom. I especially think about times when I would visit my father in Portland. (My parents divorced when I was young.) Some days, I’d go to work with my dad, which usually meant driving for hours up into the mountains, spending a few hours watching my dad dig trees to sell to nurseries, then driving for hours back home. But on days without work, of which there were many, given the seasonal nature of tree-digging, we would spend most of the time sitting at home where there was, literally, nothing to do! OK, we did have the peg game, that little triangular wooden board with plastic pegs like you find at a Cracker Barrel. I cannot imagine how many hours I spent playing at that. Occasionally there would be something on TV (on one of the three networks the antennae picked up...we had no cable, dvds, vcrs, or gaming systems). But most of the time we’d sit in the living room listening to 50’s Country & Western on the radio…an absolutely exhilarating pass time for a 10-year-old boy. All this to say, I knew boredom. When I, even for a moment, compare the entertainment options available to kids today with what we had in the 70’s and 80’s…it is mind-boggling. The existence of the smart-phone alone, connected as it is to the “anything and everything all of the time” world of the internet, is about as alien to my up-bringing as would be a space-ship filled with little green men landing in my backyard. And yet…and yet…kids today still suffer from boredom. Or, even more surprising, adults today still suffer from boredom. How is it possible that we, who have so much to distract us, still suffer from this epidemic?!? We could ask the same question of King David. Certainly, 3,000 years ago, long before TV and Country & Western music, a little boredom would be understandable. And yet, he was likely the most powerful leader in the world during his day. He had wealth beyond imagining. How could such a man be bored? The answer is found, at least in part, in the simple verse quoted above. At the time when Kings should be going off to war, David remained in Jerusalem. The underlying indication here seems to be that David, rather than doing his duty as commander in chief, chose instead to avail himself of creature comforts. Of course, in the following verses, we find that David chose to avail himself of a bit more than that, including the pleasures of another man’s wife. And it all begins with a self-induced boredom, “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful…” (2 Samuel 11:2). We know the rest of the story. What’s key, here, is that David’s neglect of the things he should have been doing led to boredom which led to him seeking out things he should not have been doing. But couldn’t we say the same thing of ourselves? Our neglect not only of our responsibilities, but also of just good things, beneficial things, things that matter in the Kingdom of God, leads to boredom, which too often leads to that which is not beneficial. I think, especially, here, of our use of the internet. “But the internet’s not bad! It’s just a tool. It’s what we choose to do with it that’s either good or bad.” Well, there is some truth to that. However, do we ever pause to think that maybe the tool, itself, carries with it inherent pitfalls that render it not quite as neutral as we might believe? Today, I was reading an article titled, “3 Ways the Internet Itself Resembles Pornography,” by author Samuel James. He makes some profound, if not scary, arguments for the intrinsically addictive nature of the internet: Few Christians would dispute that there is much on the internet that harms us. But by divorcing what the internet presents from what the internet intrinsically is, we are fighting against the symptoms of a more fundamental disease that we are failing to treat. “Staying pure online” is a worthy ambition, but defining purity to mean only one thing—the avoidance of certain content—not only misses the richer biblical ideal of wise living, but it ironically makes us more vulnerable to the allure of godless ideas and rhythms of life. It is entirely possible—in fact, all variables equal, it is likely—to faithfully avoid vulgar or explicit content on the web while simultaneously being shaped by it in a profoundly sub-Christian way. I do not have space to plumb the depths of this topic in this article. (I highly recommend James’ article). However, I do think there is strong reason to give thought to our vulnerability to godless ideas and rhythms of life. Now that we are a fair way into the Fall, it might be worth asking if our current rhythms, especially in those things we engage in to stave off boredom, reflect “the richer biblical ideal of wise living.” As Paul writes, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial” (1 Cor. 6:12 and 10:23). I can easily think of some kingdom-focused pursuits we do well to prioritize in our weekly/daily rhythms: time in God’s Word, time with God’s people, time given to serving for the sake of the Kingdom, time given to relationship, time given to prayer. But I also think of just the more beneficial, less vegetative, pass times of creating with our hands or minds, reading a “good” book, enjoying our Father’s world. May we, as followers of Jesus, find rhythms for our free time which help us fulfill our duties as subjects of Christ’s forever Kingdom and which reap genuine benefit for ourselves and others, helping us grow together in Christ. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4
Two things come to mind when I hear this favorite toddler’s word, “mine.” First, I think of a Beatles song…not a surprise for those who know me…titled “I Me Mine.” George Harrison wrote this song amidst great conflict among the Fab 4 as the inherent selfishness of the members was breaking the group apart. The second thought that comes to mind is that scene in Finding Nemo where Dory and Nemo, a couple of fish, are found flopping on the dock surrounded by countless seagulls hungrily squawking, “mine,” “mine,” “mine.” As we “mature,” we human beings learn to suppress this favorite word of toddlers, seagulls and Beatles. (Though if you’ve ever been at Costco when two shoppers are eying the last scrumptious free sample on the tray at the same time, you realize that we all may not be as “mature” as we’d like to think. Of course, as Christians, we know better. “No, no, no, you take it.” “I couldn’t possibly…” “Really, you were here first.” “Well, if you insist…”) Yet, I have found, in my own life, that there is a big difference between saying what we imagine is the right thing to say, and acting out of a genuine desire for the benefit of others. It is this latter reality that the Apostle Paul is calling the Philippians to. He knows that selfish ambition comes naturally. He knows that we, by nature, seek our own interests above others. Here is the sad truth regarding the inherent selfishness of humanity…it is a condition tenacious in its grasp on our hearts. Recently, I was working with a self-sticking screen door repair product when I found that its stickiness made it nearly impossible to use. After I removed the protective film, even though I did my best to only touch the very edge of the sticky side, I found that once I dislodged my fingers on one side, it became glued to my fingers on the other side. By the time it was applied, I had quite the sticky mess. In the same way, the stickiness of selfishness is tenacious in its resolve…and it also leaves behind quite a mess. It is for this reason that Paul pulls out the big guns for justifying his call to humility. Whose example does he call us to follow? The Creator of all that is!!! “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness…he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Who can argue with this? If the Lord of all voluntarily gave up the glory and privilege due Him to die the most inglorious death for us mortals, who are we to cling to our selfishness? Yet, as persuasive as Paul’s argument may be, no one is changed by persuasion alone. It’s like trying to reason with a toddler. “Parker, you really shouldn’t put in your mouth anything and everything you pick up off of the ground.” Although, when I recently saw him chewing on Grammy’s flip-flop, I was surprised that he actually threw it down when I said, “No, yuck.” But I wouldn’t be surprised if he picked it up again once I wasn’t looking. Like a toddler, we learn to adopt certain behavior patterns when we know someone is looking, but it doesn’t mean that our desires have changed. I confess, when I see these realities at work in my own heart, it is awfully discouraging. Yet, my inspiration for this blog is actually the result of a very encouraging conversation I had with someone recently who has experienced an epiphany regarding the blessing of setting aside selfish desires to serve others. It made me think of my own inherent selfishness, specifically, with regards to my “free” time, my “me” time. We cherish time when we’re not beholden to anyone else and are free to do whatever we want to do. The testimony of this brother, however, was a change in his desires. It wasn’t giving up “free” time because he was supposed to, but because he wanted to. This is not the kind of change that results from “persuasion” of what is the “right thing to do.” This is the kind of change that only comes about by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to align our desires with the desires of God as revealed in His Word. It’s true, all of us struggle with our natural proclivity toward, “mine.” Yet, though change doesn’t come quickly, or easily, it does come as we draw near to and learn from the One who demonstrated the most profound selflessness this world has ever witnessed. May we increasingly reflect the humility, mercy and grace of our precious Savior. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
There is too often too little straining in my life for heaven’s rewards and too often too much preoccupation with the stuff of earth. Yet I find in Paul an amazing role model. Second only to Christ, we find in Paul the most Godly of Christians, the most accomplished of evangelists, the most impactful of leaders. And at a time of life when he should be thinking of retirement, of coasting, of enjoying the fruits of his labors, what is he doing? Straining. Pressing. Longing. I wonder if anyone ever spoke with Paul about his self-care? “Come on, buddy, you can’t go on like this. You’re gonna burnout. Surely, if anyone deserves to sit back, relax, and sip an umbrella drink on a sandy shore, it’s you!” So, where do we find Paul as he writes this missive? Locked up. Jailed. Imprisoned. Not exactly the Bahamas. Why is he in such dire straits? Because the man refused to stop preaching the Gospel of Christ. Paul was consumed with the agenda of Jesus. Then there’s me. What consumes me? My things to do list. Some of it has a Kingdom-focus. But much of it has to do with what I want—my comfort, my pleasure, my stuff. With what result? I marginalize or even neglect the kingdom agenda of a holy God reconciling humanity to Himself—the very agenda Jesus passed on to all of his followers, including me. It is for this reason that I need Paul’s challenge in Philippians 3:12 and following. After expressing longing to know Christ and His resurrection in the first half of this chapter, Paul reveals that he has not attained this prize, but still strains ahead for heaven’s rewards. How? By setting aside earthly-minded striving after temporal, selfish desires and actively, even sacrificially, pursuing the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. The words Paul uses to describe those who are earthly-minded in verse 19 are evocative, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” What an apt description of our world. Their god is their stomach! Certainly, this applies to our obsession with food. But Paul isn’t just thinking along culinary and gastric lines here. He uses the most basic of earthly urges, food, to represent the various urges which drive us each and every day. Urges reflect our longings and become our agendas. I cannot help but think of the saddening story of a woman killed in the wee hours of the morning on a busy Seattle-street recently. As if a car hitting and killing a pedestrian were not tragic enough, it was rendered even more tragic by the fact that she was not hit by just one car, but by multiple cars. Worst of all, no one stopped. Even when other pedestrians ventured into the roadway to protect her…drivers refused to stop. What a picture of the destructive impact of the pursuit of self-centered agendas, whether its achieving the next high or getting to work on time. Not all earthly agendas have such tragic results. In fact, many of our agendas are laced with good and beneficial things. It’s the recreation we invest time and energy in that allows for increased emotional and physical health. It’s the aspirations we have which center around our family and produce healthier, more well-adjusted members of society. It’s the enjoyment of simple pleasures that bring smiles to our faces and joy to our hearts. Certainly, such agendas can be very good and beneficial. The problem is when such agendas become our gods, the gods we allow to subvert our submission to the God who made us. According to Paul, it is the agenda of the Kingdom that is supreme. Of course, this concept didn’t originate with him. We see it in the simple, powerful words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God loves to bless us with good things on this earth. However, we must not let the good things overtake the best things. What are the best things? To know Christ (Phil. 3:8-10; Luke 10:38-42) and to make Him known (1 Cor. 9:19-23; Matt. 28:19-20). Brothers and sisters, let us strain together, press on together, grow together, in the relentless pursuit of the prize for which God has called us heavenward. Let us enjoy the good things of this earth, those that are beneficial and pleasing to God our Maker, but let them be secondary to the greater work of Christ and His Kingdom. Why? Because “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). “The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” Isaiah 39:8
The story of King Hezekiah is befuddling. If you are familiar with the history of the kings of Israel and Judah, you know that Hezekiah’s righteous rule was heads and shoulders above that of other kings, many of whom were absolutely wicked. In fact, we read in 2 Kings 18:5, “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” And yet, the conclusion to Hezekiah’s story is both bizarre and disappointing. For we read that when envoys from Babylon visited, Hezekiah happily showed off “all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them” (2 Kings 20:13). Showing all Judah’s riches to a foreign empire would be like proudly inviting a thief into your home to see where you keep your most prized possessions. It’s hard to know what Hezekiah was thinking when he did his little “show-and-tell,” but given Scripture’s reference to “the pride of his heart,” you cannot help but think that it was driven by boasting. As a result, God sent Isaiah the prophet to let Hezekiah know that all the riches he so proudly displayed before the Babylonian envoy would be carried off as loot by Babylon itself. Such irony! Worse than that, his descendants, his “own flesh and blood,” would become “eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (2 Kings 20:18). What was Hezekiah’s takeaway when he heard that he’ll be ok, but future generations would end up in exile? “Better them than me!” That is the essence of Isaiah 39:8 above. As a father, my first thought is, “What is this guy thinking?” What he’s thinking is that his main concern is his own peace and comfort. If his sons after him fail, that’s their problem. As a father, and now a grandfather, such a self-centered mentality is disturbing. What do I want for my children, my grandchildren, except that they should grow deeper in Jesus and experience the riches of His blessings to a greater extent than I could have ever imagined! What does it matter if we have peace and security in our lifetimes, while leaving a legacy of godless, sinful selfishness for the next generation? It is for this reason that we, as Christ-followers, must not merely shrug our shoulders as social engineers subject our children to the dystopian confusion which places individual expression as the highest value and utterly rejects righteousness as defined by our Maker. This is not about culture wars or political ideologies, it is about helping the next generation see that there is truth outside of the modern self, there is meaning beyond the pursuit of selfish pleasures, and there is hope in the God who made us for the glories of His forever kingdom. We must teach our children about the hope we read of in Isaiah 40:31, the hope that follows on the heels of Hezekiah’s disappointing complacency, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” I see application here not only as a parent, but also as a member of a local expression of Christ’s church. It has been such a blessing, in recent years, to be part of a church approaching its 90th birthday that is experiencing revitalization. I recall being courted by a church planting guru while in seminary who asked, “why put up with all the baggage and resistance in an older congregation when you can just go plant a new church?” I also recall the question I asked in response, “So, do we simply give up on established churches?” I must confess, he was right about one thing…it is hard for a declining, older congregation to experience revitalization. The many who have invested sacrificially in our church for so many years know this to be true. However, I don’t think this church planter realized just how sweet it can be when God, in His mercy, takes such a congregation and infuses it with a renewed sense of Kingdom purpose, Gospel passion and love for God. Granted, everyone loves the “overnight success” story…while it’s still succeeding. Yet, how many of these stories end in disgrace? When growth in numbers surpasses growth in spiritual maturity, the results of such success can be disastrous. Yet, even a seasoned congregation who has worked and waited on the Lord for years before finally experiencing revitalization is not free from Hezekiah’s temptation—the temptation to self-satisfaction, complacency, and pride over what has been accomplished. What we must remember is that the point of the blessings of growth are not so that we can simply enjoy the fruit! God blesses His people with good things so that we can reinvest these talents for the sake of continued health, growth and vitality as we look to future generations. We must not give into a spirit of self-satisfied complacency. But we must, instead, keep our eyes on the prize…and keep pressing on. We should follow the model provided by Paul, a seasoned apostle, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). What was this prize Paul pressed on to attain? The enjoyment of his own successes? No! As we read in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” Paul knew what mattered was the legacy he left behind. Believers, let us live to leave a legacy. Let us not content ourselves with today’s victories, but let us keep growing, keep working, keep pressing on so that we will have a continuing impact for the Gospel until the day that Jesus returns. “…and Yahweh remembered her.” 1 Samuel 1:19
I have been more forgetful lately. I might blame it on the worst cold I’ve ever had which kept me down for three weeks. Or maybe the fact that it followed on the heels of one of the worst flu bugs I’ve ever had. Or it could be that this has been just an insanely busy time in life and ministry. But no matter the reasons, I have been struggling with forgetfulness more often than usual—and it’s more than a little frustrating. It’s part of the human condition, is it not? And it’s ironic because we have all of these wonderful means of reminding ourselves. We have phones that buzz and chirp, computer calendars with pop-ups, not to mention phone call and email reminders. But still things slip through the cracks. If you’re like me, you also deploy old school methods in tandem with our new-fangled means. I occasionally put sticky notes on my smart phone screen since it is too easy to ignore the buzzes and chirps. And though I keep lists on my phone, I also feel compelled to keep lists on my desk, all in a desperate attempt to keep from forgetting. But as we struggle to keep our mundane things in line, here is a wonderful piece of news…our God is not forgetful. Our God is the God who remembers. We see this communicated as a theological principle in various places in God’s Word, like Psalm 98:3, “He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” We also see this theological principle in Isaiah 40 where Israel complains, “My way is hidden from Yahweh, my cause is disregarded by my God” (v. 27). Then God answers, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom” (v. 28). Our God is not forgetful…He knows what we are going through. The theological message we see throughout the Bible is our God is a God who remembers! However, I don’t think there is anything in Scripture that conveys this truth more powerfully than in the way we see God “remembering” individuals. We see it in Rachel who watched her sister and maidservants give birth, but was barren. Then we read in Genesis 30:22, “Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.” Our God is a God who remembers, and longs to bless, His children, not just on the grand scale, but in a personal, intimate way. There is another story involving barrenness where we see that God “remembers” in an even more powerful, personal way…the story of Hannah in the first chapter of First Samuel. Here is this woman of God who, like Rachel, is struggling with barrenness while her rival, Fertile Myrtle, is not. And her rival was not shy about rubbing it in, “And because Yahweh had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat” (1 Samuel 1:6–7). We see, in Hannah, deep sorrow. And yet, this was not a sorrow that Hannah simply kept to herself. Her sadness drove her to pray, “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to Yahweh” (v. 10). So passionate was her prayer that Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk. The truth is, there are times in life when our anguish feels unbearable. There are times when we wonder if God even hears our prayers, if He even knows what we are going through. There are two ways we can respond in such times, either by faith or in disbelief. Faith doesn’t mean we put on a happy face as if everything’s ok. But it does mean that we keep turning to God, pouring our heart out to Him, trusting in His provision. This is exactly what we see in the prayer of Hannah, “O Yahweh Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to Yahweh for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head” (v. 11). The promise to never use a razor on his head signifies a vow in which her son would be consecrated to God. But what we see, in Hannah, is that in the midst of deep waters she displayed an even deeper trust in the Lord, that He would “remember” her. Of course, if you remember “the rest of the story,” you know that “Yahweh remembered her” (vs. 19) and provided her with a son. What did she name this boy? Samuel, a name that sounds a lot like “God (el) hears (shema).” Our God is a God who hears the prayers of His people, who knows what we are going through, who remembers! May we learn, more and more, to be a people who, like Hannah, are faithful to turn to Yahweh, to honestly and persistently pour out our hearts to Him, and trust Him to provide as He knows best. |
Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
June 2022
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