The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV
Some people take issue with the idea of fearing God. Isn't He the God of love? Isn't He always compassionate and kind? Doesn't He forgive all my sins? Yes, but He is also the God that loves us enough to not let us wallow in our sinfulness and destructive behaviours. As a parent, if my child is in imminent danger of being hit by an oncoming car, I will speak sharply to him to get his attention and, in that moment, he fears me enough to stop and listen to me. Is that cruel or unjust? After the danger has passed, I will give him knowledge about the situation so that in future he can stay safe. He will understand how to avoid being hit by a car. To fear the Lord is to acknowledge his authority and to realize that He can strongly affect our life if we don't listen to him. He does this out of love. He doesn't want a car crash. Fear him and trust him.
I pray that I will remember that God always wants what is best for me. Sometimes I just want to eat life's candy but He wants me to have turkey dinner - good food that will strengthen and nourish me. I know He will not hesitate to discipline me when I am going the wrong way and need to be redirected. The more I learn about him, the more I appreciate his direction and cherish his ways.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Unlimited Return
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her,"Will you give me a drink?"..."the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:7,14 NIV
Jesus blessed the Samaritan woman in several ways when He met her at the well. First, He affirmed that she was significant enough for him to speak to her. Because of her lifestyle, she was looked down on by the villagers and she came to the well when her fellow villagers weren't there. Even though the Jews and Samaritans were antagonistic to each other, Jesus was polite to her and engaged her in meaningful conversation. He taught her about the spiritual water that God gives that leads to eternal life. When He questioned her about her husband, she felt safe enough to be truthful with him about her relationships. Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah and she returned to the village to share this with the villagers. They believed her account and come out to see Jesus for themselves. Through this event, the woman was brought back into fellowship with her community. Jesus asked for a drink of water. In return, He gave her a sense of worth, courage to be honest, healed relationships and eternal life.
Sometimes Jesus asks us to get a pail of water. Do I begrudge it? Do I complain about helping another person, especially someone not of my "tribe"? Jesus is always gracious and merciful, and He blesses us many times over for the little acts of goodness that we do because He asked us to do them. I will try to remember the Samaritan woman and how getting one drink of water for Jesus had so many positives outcomes.
Jesus blessed the Samaritan woman in several ways when He met her at the well. First, He affirmed that she was significant enough for him to speak to her. Because of her lifestyle, she was looked down on by the villagers and she came to the well when her fellow villagers weren't there. Even though the Jews and Samaritans were antagonistic to each other, Jesus was polite to her and engaged her in meaningful conversation. He taught her about the spiritual water that God gives that leads to eternal life. When He questioned her about her husband, she felt safe enough to be truthful with him about her relationships. Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah and she returned to the village to share this with the villagers. They believed her account and come out to see Jesus for themselves. Through this event, the woman was brought back into fellowship with her community. Jesus asked for a drink of water. In return, He gave her a sense of worth, courage to be honest, healed relationships and eternal life.
Sometimes Jesus asks us to get a pail of water. Do I begrudge it? Do I complain about helping another person, especially someone not of my "tribe"? Jesus is always gracious and merciful, and He blesses us many times over for the little acts of goodness that we do because He asked us to do them. I will try to remember the Samaritan woman and how getting one drink of water for Jesus had so many positives outcomes.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
The Invitation
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19:6 NIV
It's interesting to see who is named in the Bible. Here is a story about the chief tax collector, a man who would have been despised by most people of his town, and yet he is given the honour of being named in the Scriptures. Although he was a man of power Zacchaeus probably had few, if any, friends because of his occupation. Something about Jesus intrigues him though and he climbs a tree to get a view of Jesus. Surprisingly, Jesus invites himself to eat at Zacchaeus' house and Zacchaeus gladly accepts. Had Zacchaeus been longing for someone to show him some kindness and friendship? Was his heart aching for someone to see him as a person and not just a tax collector? The grace and mercy that Jesus shows Zacchaeus brings a quick response and Zacchaeus promises to give half his money to the poor and to repay fourfold anyone he has defrauded.
I pray that I may follow Jesus example and be sensitive to people who live on the fringes. They might be poor or rich. I hope I will extend an invitation to spend time with them so that I can get to know them in a meaningful way. I don't want to just smile at them and wish them a blessed day. I want to share life with them just as Jesus did with Zacchaeus. A heartfelt welcome will draw people to the Saviour.
It's interesting to see who is named in the Bible. Here is a story about the chief tax collector, a man who would have been despised by most people of his town, and yet he is given the honour of being named in the Scriptures. Although he was a man of power Zacchaeus probably had few, if any, friends because of his occupation. Something about Jesus intrigues him though and he climbs a tree to get a view of Jesus. Surprisingly, Jesus invites himself to eat at Zacchaeus' house and Zacchaeus gladly accepts. Had Zacchaeus been longing for someone to show him some kindness and friendship? Was his heart aching for someone to see him as a person and not just a tax collector? The grace and mercy that Jesus shows Zacchaeus brings a quick response and Zacchaeus promises to give half his money to the poor and to repay fourfold anyone he has defrauded.
I pray that I may follow Jesus example and be sensitive to people who live on the fringes. They might be poor or rich. I hope I will extend an invitation to spend time with them so that I can get to know them in a meaningful way. I don't want to just smile at them and wish them a blessed day. I want to share life with them just as Jesus did with Zacchaeus. A heartfelt welcome will draw people to the Saviour.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Love That Binds
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Colossians 3:14-16 NIV
Sadly, the Church has often not been represented by unity. Many denominations have experienced schisms causing many people to feel hurt and even perhaps betrayed. Congregations have split and continued with varying degrees of animosity between the two factions. This is clearly not what the apostle Paul or Jesus had in mind. Above all, live in love with one another is their message. Live in peace with your brothers and sisters in Christ is their teaching. The imagery of the body of Christ makes it clear that division is not God's plan. A body wrenched apart will likely die. Divisions do not occur when we are loving and peaceful. They occur when we are selfish, egotistical, envious, angry, self-righteous and unkind.
I pray that God will help me to keep my ego in check. I pray that He will open my eyes to the gifts that He has given the other members of his body. I pray that He will keep our churches whole, and that He will give them godly leaders and parishioners who will humbly listen to the teachings of the Bible. Our unity will be a powerful witness to a broken world.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Colossians 3:14-16 NIV
Sadly, the Church has often not been represented by unity. Many denominations have experienced schisms causing many people to feel hurt and even perhaps betrayed. Congregations have split and continued with varying degrees of animosity between the two factions. This is clearly not what the apostle Paul or Jesus had in mind. Above all, live in love with one another is their message. Live in peace with your brothers and sisters in Christ is their teaching. The imagery of the body of Christ makes it clear that division is not God's plan. A body wrenched apart will likely die. Divisions do not occur when we are loving and peaceful. They occur when we are selfish, egotistical, envious, angry, self-righteous and unkind.
I pray that God will help me to keep my ego in check. I pray that He will open my eyes to the gifts that He has given the other members of his body. I pray that He will keep our churches whole, and that He will give them godly leaders and parishioners who will humbly listen to the teachings of the Bible. Our unity will be a powerful witness to a broken world.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Wrong Way Around
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6 NIV
When the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, we realize that we are fundamentally sinful or unclean. While we used to believe that we were basically good people who sometimes did wrong things, the Holy Spirit shows us the opposite is true. Our default is to be sinful and to do hurtful and destructive actions to ourselves and others. This is a shocking revelation but unless we face it, we will never see the need for a saviour. Isaiah calls our righteous acts "filthy rags". A rag is often used to clean something but a filthy rag is useless to clean anything or to accomplish any good. Even what we think of as good deeds are tainted by our innate sinfulness unless we are made clean by God.
It can be frustrating when our friends and family brush off any talk of a saviour. Don't they want their sins forgiven? Don't they want to get rid of sin in their lives? Don't they want to go to heaven to be with God? Many of them believe they are basically good and don't need forgiveness. And, sadly, they don't want to be with a holy God. I can pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them because without conviction of sin, they will not turn to Christ.
Isaiah 64:6 NIV
When the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, we realize that we are fundamentally sinful or unclean. While we used to believe that we were basically good people who sometimes did wrong things, the Holy Spirit shows us the opposite is true. Our default is to be sinful and to do hurtful and destructive actions to ourselves and others. This is a shocking revelation but unless we face it, we will never see the need for a saviour. Isaiah calls our righteous acts "filthy rags". A rag is often used to clean something but a filthy rag is useless to clean anything or to accomplish any good. Even what we think of as good deeds are tainted by our innate sinfulness unless we are made clean by God.
It can be frustrating when our friends and family brush off any talk of a saviour. Don't they want their sins forgiven? Don't they want to get rid of sin in their lives? Don't they want to go to heaven to be with God? Many of them believe they are basically good and don't need forgiveness. And, sadly, they don't want to be with a holy God. I can pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them because without conviction of sin, they will not turn to Christ.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
The Truth Test
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
1 John 4:2-3 NIV
So many ideas about religion and spirituality come our way every day. John gives us a very clear and simple way to recognize the Truth. At the center of his test is the deity and manhood of Christ. Philosophies may encourage us to be kind; religions may stress control over our bodies; some, under the banner of Christianity, may say that Jesus was a great teacher, a good man. However, none of these ideologies are true if they do not acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour, and that He came to us as a man. If they do not teach that Jesus is the only way to God and that He is our salvation, then their teachings are not from God and are not true.
I thank God that He has given us such a simple way to know what is true and what is false. Just as a litmus test indicates that something is an acid or a base so the response to the question as to who Jesus is lets us know if a teaching is from God. Thank you, Lord, for your simple guidance.
1 John 4:2-3 NIV
So many ideas about religion and spirituality come our way every day. John gives us a very clear and simple way to recognize the Truth. At the center of his test is the deity and manhood of Christ. Philosophies may encourage us to be kind; religions may stress control over our bodies; some, under the banner of Christianity, may say that Jesus was a great teacher, a good man. However, none of these ideologies are true if they do not acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour, and that He came to us as a man. If they do not teach that Jesus is the only way to God and that He is our salvation, then their teachings are not from God and are not true.
I thank God that He has given us such a simple way to know what is true and what is false. Just as a litmus test indicates that something is an acid or a base so the response to the question as to who Jesus is lets us know if a teaching is from God. Thank you, Lord, for your simple guidance.
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