tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204394152024-03-17T23:03:26.730-04:00anakephalaiosasthai<a href="http://about.me/swayz">about.me/swayz</a>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.comBlogger680125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-71704680007141948282024-03-08T22:57:00.001-05:002024-03-08T22:57:40.702-05:00Both Zealous and Jealous<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica;">Both Zealous and Jealous</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Zeal”</span></strong> is generally regarded as a positive; <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“jealous,”</span></strong> not so much. But in the Bible, “zealous” and “jealous” are actually quite close to one another. We will look at their positive use.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First, we should notice that God describes Himself in the Bible as jealous: Ex. 34:14 — “for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”; and Deut. 4:24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">God is jealous for His own glory.</span></strong> For God, that is a righteous thing, whereas if you are jealous for your own glory at the expense of others, that is a sinful thing. The difference is that God is unique, and He has no rivals. So attempts to “steal” the glory of God are an offense, and stirs God’s righteous jealousy. When you get all worked up because someone has slighted you, you’re just being petty.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is zealous for His glory, moving him to jealousy when that glory is violated. There are some areas where this rightly applies to us. As a married person, if someone violates your spouse, you have every right to be <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">moved to jealousy</span></strong>, and you should have a <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>righteous zeal</strong></span> to recover or protect their honor and to see that justice is done. In fact, if you are not <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">j(z)ealous</span></strong> with regard to this offense, then there is a moral nerve missing from your character.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In addition to moral jealousy with regard to horizontal, human relationships, people created in the image of God (that would be all humans) have <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>a responsibility to their Creator to be jealous for His glory and zealous in cultivating reverence for Him.</strong> </span>Obviously, most do not do this, but those who are Christians certainly should. And this applies to Jesus as well. Peter says, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">We are to j(z)ealous for His honor,</span></strong> to fail to do so is to be missing a core element of being a Christian.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Elijah, a prophet during evil Ahab’s day, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">was zealous for the Lord.</span></strong> He boldly proclaimed God’s honor in the face of powerful, idolatrous opposition. He was involved in the vindication of God’s honor on Mt. Carmel, a lone prophet against the horde of the prophets of Baal. And God revealed His power and potency; His glory. Then .. Elijah ran for his life. Here is his testimony:<strong> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“I have been very zealous for the LORD,</span></strong><span style="color: #ffa400;"> </span>the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” He is asking, “Was it worth it?”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But God gently reminds Elijah that it was indeed worth it; that the story was not finished; that Elijah was never truly alone. And God reminds us of something else. God is not only jealous and zealous for His own glory. <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>He is also jealous and zealous for His people.</strong> </span>He calls us “the apple of His eye:” Zech. 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.</span></strong>” Your eye is a part of you that you instinctively guard most carefully. God’s instinct is to even more carefully guard His children. Jesus shows this instinct as He prays for His disciples and for us in John 17, just before His arrest: “Holy Father,<strong> <span style="color: #ffa400;">keep them in Your name,</span></strong> the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. (v.11); “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (vv.20-21). <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">If Christ is j(z)ealous for me, then I can be j(z)ealous for Him.</span></strong></span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-74013241223245406462024-03-01T10:24:00.000-05:002024-03-01T10:24:13.815-05:00Mindfulness and Prayerfulness Distinguished<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica;">Mindfulness and Prayerfulness Distinguished</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of the many life strategies advocated in print and digitally, one that caught my attention was the recommendation of <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“mindfulness.”</span></strong> I would like rather to recommend<strong> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“prayerfulness.”</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First of all, they are not the same thing. <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>Mindfulness</strong></span> can be practiced by anyone who sets their, well, “mind” to it. What exactly their “mind” is, or how it is equipped to engage in this activity, who knows? When it comes to minds, we are all dealing with a flawed tool.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>prayerfulness</strong></span>, and I am speaking of <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Christian prayer,</span></strong> is much different. First of all, it is <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">a function of the soul,</span></strong> that non-material part of your being that doctors cannot examine but that God can. Similar to physical lungs, the soul’s “breath” is prayer. Sadly, most people’s souls don’t “breathe” much. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Mindfulness need not engage the soul; true prayer does.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Prayer has an object.</span></strong> You are not talking to yourself in prayer, nor the ceiling. You are talking to the <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>Creator</strong></span> and <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>King</strong></span> of the universe, who is also, by virtue of faith in Christ, your heavenly <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>Father</strong></span>. This alone sets it far apart from mindfulness. But also, Christian prayer is mediated by <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>our ascended Lord, Jesus,</strong> </span>who is at the right hand of the Father. He is called <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">our High Priest,</span></strong> and every word or thought of our prayers reaches the ears of the Father through the Person of Jesus. And still more, this ascended Lord, Jesus, has given His Spirit into the hearts of those who believe in Him, that is, every true Christian, and<span style="color: #ffa400;"> <strong>this Spirit,</strong></span> among many functions, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">helps us in our prayers.</span></strong> He inspires us to pray; He guides us to pray aright; He edits our wrong-headed prayers. That is, we don’t pray in isolation, all by ourselves.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now compare this to mindfulness. Since there is no divine element <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>in mindfulness, you are indeed talking to yourself.</strong></span> Think about that. Whereas in prayer, you are talking to the one, true God, in mindfulness, you are talking to the biggest authority that you recognize, yourself. That is, you consider yourself to be your own god (if there are many gods, the “g” cannot be capitalized).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>in mindfulness, you are the facilitator of your own activity.</strong></span> Think back to the Old Testament where only Israel’s high priest could take the offering into the Holy of Holies once a year for the atonement of the people. That is now fulfilled in what Jesus did for us on the cross, a one-time event that completed fully the demands of God’s justice and also salvation for those who come to Christ. But with mindfulness, your messy mind is your own not-so-holy of holies. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">You are fabricating your own redemption</span></strong> through your half- baked thoughts collected indiscriminately from last night’s late show. And you are replacing the Spirit’s “energy” for prayer with an instinct to “reach out” or “reach up,” all the while asserting your own sovereignty and deity that starts and stops with you. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">You are, in essence, saying, “I can fix myself.”</span></strong> God’s Word says otherwise.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now, have I overstated or been unfair? Perhaps. Christians who pray can also be mindful. But, this must be admitted. Christian’s pray. <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>A Christian who does not pray is a contradiction of terms.</strong></span> And when we stand before God one day, Christian prayer is an assurance that we will not be talking to a Stranger. Mindfulness cannot make that claim.</span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-90228201806684807802024-02-23T09:41:00.000-05:002024-02-23T09:41:11.460-05:00<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><strong style="font-family: helvetica;">Heaven is a World of Love</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The title of this post is from Jonathan Edwards and the title of one of his essays. It describes a world in which love is pure and unsullied. <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>Heaven is a world of love.</strong> </span>We don’t have that now.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I would like to address just one aspect of the problem of <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">an sullied love</span></strong> (definition: defiled or tainted, soiled or stained). But first we must remove a common error. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference.”</span></strong> That is a quote that I copied a couple weeks ago. I didn’t keep the source since it is a common observation. Love and hate are not opposites. You can imagine a person, perhaps a spouse, who has been betrayed by his/her partner. They have loved this person, and they continue to do so. But they also hate him/her. Love and hate can coexist in the same person and at the same time. Some would be surprised to note that the Bible calls upon us to love, but it also calls us to hate - to hate the things that God hates.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>the opposite of love is indifference.</strong></span> There were very few Valentine cards shared last week that said, “I love you will all my heart, and I couldn’t care less.” Garrison Keillor from Prairie Home Companion had a sketch where he claimed that it was <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>disinterest</strong></span> that drew him and his wife together in the first place. Likewise, we would never say that <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>indifference</strong></span> is the glue that holds us together.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Can you imagine being a patient in a care facility, perhaps a hospital? And can you imagine that there would be a difference between a nurse or attendant who did their job with clinical efficiency, but with personal disinterest; and then contrast this with another caregiver who functions with the same clinical skills, but who provides that skill combined with love for you, the patient? Would you notice the difference? I believe you would. Why? Because they care. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Caregivers are those who care. They love.</span></strong> It makes a difference.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But caring and loving is hard. It is painful. When you love a person, there is no guarantee that they will you love back. Or, given the illustration above, maybe they will die. I suppose the first, uncaring “caregiver” could say, “Oh well, another one bites the dust.” But not the second. He/she will grieve. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">It hurts to lose in love.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And so we have to ask, how was it that Jesus served us? He had the unique ability to provide redemption to sinful humanity because he was both divine and human. Only God can save, and only One can save who can walk in our shoes and die in our place. He had the ability to do the job. Now did He do so with disinterest?<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A1&version=NASB1995"> The beginning of John 13,</a> describing Jesus in the Upper Room just before He was arrested, was described like this: <em><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”</span></strong> </em>There was no disinterest on the part of Jesus.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And so, if we claim to be followers of Jesus; if we claim to be Christians, <strong>we cannot give ourselves over to indifference. <span style="color: #ffa400;">We must love, which will help prepare us for heaven, because heaven is a world of love.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How many couples do you know who continue to live with each other as they grow older, but they live with indifference toward each other? Wouldn’t it be something if Christ were welcomed into their relationship, that they might once again discover<strong> <span style="color: #ffa400;">an unsullied love?</span></strong></span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-38470178431383050862024-02-15T10:34:00.002-05:002024-02-15T10:34:34.604-05:00All Paczki; No Ash<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica;">All Paczki; No Ash</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was interesting to me that Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday both shared the same day this past week. It seems that valentines won out over ashes. But more importantly is the distinction between “Fat Tuesday” and Ash Wednesday. I don’t think that there is any doubt that there were <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">many, many more people with paczki in their bellies than ash on their foreheads. </span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why is it that we think we can choose one and just ignore the other? Paczki may be a Polish expression of the approaching Lenten season, but it clearly has a religious connection, as does Ash Wednesday. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Can you really just take one without the other?</span></b> The only way to do so is to entirely remove the religious element.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Here’s another example: heaven, and hell.</span></b> Many more people talk about heaven than hell. Many more people believe in heaven than hell. But can you have one without the other? If heaven is the place/state of God’s eternal favor, isn’t there then a place/state of God’s eternal disfavor? The Bible is pretty clear about this.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Biblically, this ties in to <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">the distinction between the divine verdicts of condemnation or justification.</span></b> We are not talking about self-condemnation or self-justification. This is about having a broken relationship with God or a restored relationship with God. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">It is something that God fixes for us through Christ,</span></b> thus, justified, or that He doesn’t, thus condemned. Yes, we have a decisive part in this, but God is the Judge, not you, and <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">if you are not one, you are the other, either condemned, or justified.</span></b> There is no middle ground. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ignoring the issue is not a strategy. It is an option, but a foolish one, as if one approaches a debt problem as if it will work itself out all by itself. To drift through life with a broken relationship with God, thinking that it will fix itself, is the height of foolishness. We get frustrated with people when they do not address their foolish financial practices or miserable health habits, but scarcely think about <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">the masses who fail to address a broken relationship with their Creator and their eternal destiny.</span></b> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I wonder if <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">faith and repentance are just a little like paczki and ashes.</span></b> A lot of people talk about faith in rather doughy terms, but have no category for repentance, the practice of addressing wrongs wherein we agree with God about His standards of right and wrong and seriously admit our failings. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">But can you have one without the other?</span></b> True faith in God is only possible when <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">we look to God rather than ourselves because we finally admit that we are broken and damaged people.</span></b> Justification (a right relationship with God) is only possible when we reach out to Christ due a solemn conviction that we are under condemnation without Him. Heaven is our hope only when we understand that Hell is our deserved destiny as those who stand under condemnation and that our so-called faith has been mostly just talk. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Regret over the paczek (singular) or paczki (plural) you consumed on Tuesday doesn’t get you to Wednesday, does it? It goes deeper than that. One must seriously consider not just one’s own appetites and feelings, and consider what God has to say about these things.</span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-46348042484680081892024-02-10T12:10:00.004-05:002024-02-10T12:10:37.704-05:00Thinking Out Loud<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Thinking Out Loud</b></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Baboons don’t think. They may have excellent instincts, but they don’t reason. It is one of the ways that humans are different. I should say, it is one of the ways that humans <em>should be</em> different.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>Not all humans think.</strong> </span>Many of our responses are more reactions than they are reasoned responses, almost more like a reflex. I have noticed some other instances when I’m pretty sure people are not thinking. One is rehearsing. When a person recites for me what they heard on the news show last night, they are not thinking. They are reporting. Now reporters can think, but many reporters just say what they have heard</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also, if you tell me the same story over and over, I don’t think you are thinking. It’s the first thing that comes to mind, and you are telling a story that pretty much bypasses the thought process.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">But how is it that we think?</span></b> Some people are gifted, having developed the interiority of their minds so that they can build a thought structure that continues to get developed over time. Most of us are not like that. We’ve got to write things down. We are helped by talking to others about it. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">We need to think out loud.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also, <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>thinking takes time.</strong></span> We need to turn things over in our minds, and consider other facets of a truth or theory to see if it really works out. Taking time to think is something that our culture does rather miserably because we tend to be in such a hurry.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The other question that I would mention is this: <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">about what should we think?</span></strong> And the answer it limitless. We live in a world that begs to be examined, to be thought about. What makes a person righteous and what makes a person wicked is worth thinking about. The role of the sovereign and infinite God over against the roles of temporary, finite humans is worth thinking about (and, we tend to overestimate ourselves, and underestimate God, both damaging errors). And we should think out loud about these things. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Find people with whom you can actually talk something serious.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I would hope that churches are places where this can happen. Hopefully, the person up front isn’t just reading what he got off the internet or now, ChatGPT. Hopefully the people will engage with one another over more issues than health and politics (though I admit that health and politics are worth thinking about - but there’s got to be more than that). <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Let’s use the minds that God gave us for their intended use.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you only think about the weather, you’re probably not really thinking. If you only think about money, maybe you are just counting and measuring. If you bypass the wonders of the world and the deep things of God, then it seems to me, you are living more like a baboon.</span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-84760375940865240372024-02-01T10:46:00.001-05:002024-02-15T10:52:39.634-05:00The Christian Economy<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica;">The Christian Economy</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This article is not about money. It is about “household rules,” which<br />is what the Greek word, transliterated, <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>economia</b></span>, means in the<br />New Testament. Oh, it might have a bearing on what money is and<br />how it is used. But it is about the way that a family, in this case, the<br />family of God, conducts itself.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jane and I listened to a podcast while driving. A man interviewed is<br />participating with others in seeking to construct <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>an alternate<br />economy</b></span> where the products are home-grown, and thus the<br />purchases benefit local people and thus our own society.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what struck me is how this speaker is seeking to do what<br />Christians have always been meant to do: <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">living as Christians in<br />an ungodly world.</span> </b>We are to carefully adopt Christian values<br />using Christian patterns of speech and utilizing Christ-like<br />relationships to accomplish lives and service that glorify Christ.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have been very sloppy about this. There seems to have been too<br />much to gain by imitating the world in <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>the pursuit of “the good<br />life”</b></span> for us to diligently follow the Christian text and Spirit and<br />marry it with distinctively Christian practices, or, to pursue <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>“the<br />God-life.”</b></span> Now, when I say that we have been very sloppy, I<br />understand “sloppy” is not a Biblical term. The Bible doesn’t say<br />“sloppy.” It says “sinful.” When we are more intent in profiting from<br />the world’s economy than <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">living according to God’s<br />“economia,”</span></b> we are guilty of being involved in, as the Old<br />Testament says, spiritual adultery.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Humility rather than arrogance. That’s part of God’s economia.<br />Love the things that God loves, and hate the things that He hates.<br />Be bold in faith, but show restraint in how we express ourselves,<br />being careful to live pure and holy lives. Serve the Lord before or<br />instead of serving self. Love people even when they do not love<br />back. Forgive, and forgive again. Repent, again and again. As you can<br />see, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">God’s economia is different from the world’s economy.</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Titus 2:11-14 instructs Titus how to lead a group of Christians on the<br />ungodly island of Crete: “For the grace of God has appeared,<br />bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">deny ungodliness<br />and worldly desires</span> </b>and to <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">live sensibly, righteously and<br />godly</span></b> in the present age, 13 <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">looking for the blessed hope</span></b> and the<br />appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14<br />who gave Himself for us to <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">redeem us from every lawless deed,</span></b><br />and to <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">purify for Himself a people</span></b> for His own possession,<br /><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>zealous for good deeds.”</b></span></span><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-66669842608171271922024-01-26T15:37:00.003-05:002024-01-26T15:37:48.393-05:00Vanity and Vapidity<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><strong style="font-family: helvetica;">Vanity and Vapidity</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don’t know if you like words, but you should. Thinking carefully about words can help us see things from a fresh perspective.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So let’s start with <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“vanity.”</span></strong> Ecclesiastes begins “vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” The dictionary gives a 3rd option which fits this passage: “Worthlessness, pointlessness, or futility.” We are not talking here of “conceited” or “arrogant.” We are thinking about <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">people who are regarded or are occupied with worthless or pointless things.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Abel was born to Eve, a second son, and she named him <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>“worthless.”</strong> </span>“Abel” is from Hebrew whose only given meaning in the lexicon is our definition above. It seems that Cain was Eve’s prize. I think Eve thought that Cain was the “seed” who would triumph over the serpent and restore order to the world. As it turns out, Cain only brought about greater disorder, murdering “worthless” Abel. But it is Abel we will see in heaven, not Cain. A quick point here: just because someone is named or regarded as worthless doesn’t mean that he/she is worthless.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our next word is <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">vapid: “lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit: flat, dull.”</span></strong> This can apply to the can of Coke that has been sitting on the counter too long; or it can apply to the person with whom you are caught in conversation. It may be a person who can only think about petty concerns; or, it can apply to a person who has filled his/her mind with small-minded things, and their minds have shrunk to accommodate the quality of its content.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You may think I’m being rude and uncaring. But that’s not my point. My point is that <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">human beings are to be neither vain in the worthless sense, or vapid in the shallow sense.</span></strong> Humans are the most interesting thing on this earth (and Jesus, since He walked this earth, is the most interesting Person who ever lived here). <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Humans are more interesting</span></strong> than any (other) animal; more interesting than inter-galactic theories, more interesting than microscopic mysteries. Humans are created in the the image of God, and are created to pursue ideals and to argue for what is better and what is best. Monkeys don’t do that and never will.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>because humans are worthwhile, and are found to be interesting, than they ought to <em>be</em> interesting.</strong></span> Certainly each one is interesting in their own way, but they should not allow themselves to be boring, with no flavor or scent or, interest. And that will only happen as we <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">consider higher thoughts and bigger things</span></strong> than ourselves. It only happens when we consider the One who is bigger than us, and the One who made us to be worthwhile, and interesting.</span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-3477742080440349482024-01-19T20:00:00.001-05:002024-01-19T20:00:31.219-05:00Why is it that You have Contrived this Deed in your Heart? (Acts 5:4 NAS95)<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><strong style="font-family: helvetica;">Why is it that You have Contrived this Deed in your Heart? (Acts 5:4 NAS95)</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I killed a mouse recently. I named him Ananias. I was pretty sure that he wasn’t working alone, so I re-set the trap for Sapphira. They played dirty in the wrong house. Both are now dead and gone.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the fledgling days of the New Testament church it was essential to get off on the right foot and stay on the right track. The “right foot” would be <span style="color: #ffa400;"><strong>the power of the Holy Spirit,</strong></span> and the “right track” would be to live in <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">humility and holiness.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was true in the Old Testament as well, as Israel entered into the Promised Land. They needed to follow God’s lead and do things God’s way. This is why Achan’s sin in stealing some of the spoil from the destruction of Jericho was so bad (Joshua 7). It was under God’s ban. And this is why Ananias’ and Sapphira’s sin was so serious (Acts 5), with serious consequences for all involved</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the beginning of the New Testament era, people were “all in.” Here is a statement from Acts 4:34, just prior to our story: 34 “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, indeed sold land and claimed to have given all to the Lord, though they kept back part for themselves. I do not believe it would have been wrong to have kept back some. Their offense was to falsely claim they were giving all. What was involved in this sin?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">First</span></strong> would be the word in our <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“critical question”</span></strong> in the title:<strong> <span style="color: #ffa400;">they “contrived.”</span></strong> It was premeditated. It was not a mistake or an oversight. They wanted to look “sacrificially heroic” before others.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Peter also implies a couple of other things in his cross-examination. He asks Ananias, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?”</span></strong> That is parallel to the human action of contriving or plotting. They were not walking in the Spirit, but were coopting with the devil. Later, to Sapphira, Peter asks, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?”</span></strong> As if they could “pull one over” on Him. As if any of us could.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We would excuse such behavior. At least they gave something, right? But can Jesus’ church excuse those whose hearts have been filled with Satan rather than the Holy Spirit? Can we excuse putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test? I don’t think so. Ananias and Sapphira - they played dirty in the wrong house. Both are now dead and gone.</span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-18957324590046760942024-01-12T15:40:00.002-05:002024-01-12T15:40:29.451-05:00By what power, or in what name, have you done this? (Acts 4:7 NAS95)<p><b style="color: #ffa400;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By what power, or in what name, have you done this? (Acts 4:7 NAS95)</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">The critical question</span></b> in the title of this piece refers back to a fascinating story told in Acts 3. The apostles have received power after the Holy Spirit descended upon them. They are preaching in the Temple; many people are believing in Jesus, and then Peter and John come face-to-face with a lame beggar in the Temple. Peter says,<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!”</span></b> (3:6), and the crowd reaction is one of joy and amazement.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is not that the apostles are seeking attention for themselves. They are <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">promoting and preaching Christ.</span></b> Peter later says, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?”</span></b> (3:12); and, “on the basis of faith in His name,<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man</span></b> whom you see and know” (3:16). </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This, of course, is just too much for the religious leaders of the Temple and the temple industry. They are losing their constituency to this group of ragamuffin, uncredentialed apostles, and they are determined to put a stop to it. The temple guard puts Peter and John in jail, and the next day they are brought before the “rulers and elders and scribes,” along with the father-son high priests, Annas and Caiaphas. If you are familiar with Jesus’ story, these are the very same guys who conspired to put Jesus to death: hiring Judas, taking Jesus before Pilate; and demanding crucifixion. They and the devil had seemingly won, only to find that <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jesus’ influence is now seemingly compounded.</span> </b>And so they ask the question above: <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“By what power, or in what name have you done this?”</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well, it wasn’t in their own name. They were not seeking to make a name for themselves, as do many of our present-day religious titans. Nor were they acting in the name of a church, marketing the latest-best-place to go to get inspired and thrilled. They were filled with the Spirit, but they didn’t talk about the Spirit. <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>They only wanted to talk about Jesus.</b></span> Because it was (and is) Jesus’ power, and Jesus’ name, that changes lives, both of the beggar, and the lives of thousands of repentant sinners who are introduced to Jesus, and find that they have no other place to turn.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">We need a return to the promotion of Jesus,</span></b> not preachers and leaders and organizations or high-profile churches. Preachers and leaders do not save. A college or a camp does not save. Churches do not save. <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>It is Jesus, and Jesus alone, who saves.</b></span></span><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-57765800276881329042024-01-04T18:33:00.003-05:002024-01-04T18:33:28.025-05:00 The Un-Spiritual Gift of Destruction<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><strong style="font-family: helvetica;">The Un-Spiritual Gift of Destruction</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We live in the age of <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">take-downs</span></strong>. We like to see the mighty fall. We hear the stories of a giant’s faults, and then we tell them over and over, whether or not the story that we heard was true. We learned this skill, this unspiritual skill, from the media. But then, we already know that they, in large part, are not Christians. Why, then, do we as Christians, in large part, go and do the same thing?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In fact there is a whole “Christian” industry dedicated to examining the faults of Christian leaders and Christian organizations. I won’t mention any names, because I don’t to give them any more notoriety, but I believe that <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">what they are doing is un-spiritual.</span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is a wonderful word in the Bible for building people up. It is called <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“edification.”</span></strong> That is, you find someone who is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, and you seek to “edify” them, to build them up through teaching and encouragement and perhaps some face-to-face correction. But that would be the opposite of what I have described above. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">The opposite of edification is destruction.</span></strong> Christians practice edification. Destruction is the work of the devil, and I have drawn the conclusion that this “Christian” internet industry of the take-down of brothers and sisters in Christ is the work of the devil.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is not to say that Christian leaders and organizations are not to be held to account. There is a wonderful place for that to happen, described in the Bible, and it is called <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“the local church.”</span></strong> We all need to answer to someone. And the trouble is, some have gotten so large, people with common sense and Biblical sense are no longer in charge. Pastors of large churches are no longer accountable to the congregation, and instead answer only to a Board of Directors. They may be called “elders,” but if the pastor is “too big to fail,” that is, if your weekly attendance and cash flow depends upon the pastor’s continued popularity, then the elders will most likely act more like directors, and then, there goes the New Testament.<br />Para-church organizations are worse. Built like corporations, they start with a Board of Directors whose main job seems to support the “face” or “personality” of the organization who keeps the machine humming. It is a problem, and it needs to be corrected, but where? And how?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Not on the internet.</span></strong> Not by <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">self-appointed faultfinders</span></strong> who themselves answer to no one, and who can traffic in all kinds of half-truths, leaving the rest of us to religiously read their garbage and repeat it at our church fellowships. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Like I said, unspiritual.</span></strong></span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-47086110395006176632023-12-14T16:05:00.006-05:002023-12-14T16:06:16.183-05:00An Un-celebrated Christmas<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">An Un-celebrated Christmas</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was reading up on some of the backgrounds of “The Messiah,” written by Handel, a performance that Jane and I attended recently. It was an exceptional presentation and I was surprised at the drama of it all, following the story of the birth of Jesus and His death and resurrection and His coming in glory. It is not really a Christmas story. It is <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">a Jesus story, a Christ story, spanning from Incarnation to Glorification.</span></b> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So why is “The Messiah” performed mostly at Christmas? It seems that in London at one time, there was trouble getting up any enthusiasm for the Christmas holiday. Can you imagine? It was Christmas, and there was absolutely nothing going on. No decorations. No gift-giving. No parties. No Christmas music. So what did they do? <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">They stole “The Messiah.”</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I don’t know why Christmas wasn’t being celebrated, but I can hazard a couple of guesses. My first thought would be <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“no money.”</span></b> It is hard to celebrate Christmas without money. Special gifts. Special clothes. Special meals. It costs a lot to make “special.” Of course, this answer runs crossgrain with the actual Christmas story. It appears Joseph and Mary scarcely had two denarii to rub together. All the essential elements of that first Christmas were heavenly gifts, given as true gifts are, free of charge: <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">the angels; the star; oh, and the Child. All freely given, for free.</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now that I think about it, maybe money is one of the things that actually <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">diminishes the true celebration of Christmas.</span></b> We buy so much stuff that we have little time or attention for the wonders that have been given completely free of charge. Maybe the people back then, as now, had too much, and were otherwise preoccupied.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another reason for <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“an uncelebrated Christmas”</span></b> might be a loss of hope. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Hope is lost when the promises are forgotten.</span></b> Promises are forgotten when the Bible is not read and taken seriously. God had promised to Adam and Eve and Abraham a Seed; He had promised through Balaam a Star; He had promised to David a Son who would reign forever; He had promised to Isaiah “a child will be born, and a Son given.;” to Micah that the insignificant would prove to be great. But all of those promises are of little value to those who do not listen or heed, hell-bent as they are on, you know, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">un-celebrating Christmas.</span></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, in London, they needed “The Messiah” to help people focus on Christmas. And today? <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">We need to focus on the Messiah.</span></b></span></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-57167687218877424632023-12-07T11:31:00.000-05:002023-12-07T11:31:03.682-05:00 An Open Heart leads to Open Pockets<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <b>An Open Heart leads to Open Pockets</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">John doesn’t pull any punches:</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>1John 3:17</b></span> <b>“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Charity</span></b> seems to abound during the Christmas season, and that’s a good thing. But let’s review just a bit the Biblical setting of this critical question from John to make sure we are thinking properly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">First of all, John is speaking more specifically in this passage about love of the “brothers.” I don’t believe this excludes “sisters,” but it definitely directs us to <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">the care of believers and those who need help in the believing community.</span></b> Most of the discussion of gifts and giving in the New Testament have the community of faith in mind. This is not to say that we should not give to those outside the faith. But we should remember the priority.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But more importantly, let’s notice<b><span style="color: #ffa400;"> the connection between our hearts and our pockets.</span> </b>The verse above does not reference the pocket, because the issue is the heart. Certainly a closed heart will result in a closed pocket. But we must also admit that, in our age of plenty, it is quite easy to share with others, even though our hearts may be rather closed. We can open our pockets for reasons other than having <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">a truly generous heart,</span></b> whether it be to salve the conscience, or impress other people.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">These “brothers” are those around the world that we don’t know personally, but those with whom we are <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">more closely related than any earthly relation.</span></b> Think of that. You have a “brother” in Indonesia that you have not yet met, perhaps in great need, with whom you will spend eternity. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Is your heart open, or closed?</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The verse also mentions what we “have.” It does not say what we “own,” because, for the believer, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">everything we “have” is given as a stewardship, not for ownership.</span></b> It is God’s gift to you to be used as God sees fit. It seems that having an open heart to God is connected to having an open heart to those of God’s people who have needs.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Finally, let me borrow from another passage and remind that <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">true Christian generosity</span></b> is not merely the sharing of leftovers, but is often sacrificial. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mk+12:41-44&version=NASB1995"><span class="s2" style="color: #000087;">In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus tells the story of the poor widow</span></a> who gives “more” than the rich. It seems <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">she had an open heart.</span></b></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-30615291257943834772023-12-02T11:23:00.002-05:002023-12-02T11:23:48.339-05:00A Narrow Window<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">“But now for a brief moment grace has been</span><i style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> shown</i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: large; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(Ezra 9:8 NAS95)</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A Narrow Window</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The verse above begins with the words, <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>“But now - for a brief moment - grace has been shown.”</b> <b>A narrow window of grace.</b> </span>Let us not miss this moment by drawing the curtains. Let us not waste this opportunity.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What were the circumstances threatening to close this window.?The text tells us: we are “an <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">escaped</span></b> remnant.” Against all odds and expectations, a <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">small</span></b> group of Israelites had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Most others were dead or had assimilated into the (now) Persian culture to the east. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Only a few</span></b> were seeking to make the most of <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>a momentary opportunity</b>. </span>Also, the text says, “to give us a peg.” What does that mean? It will hold <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">only so long.</span></b> We might say today, “We are hanging by a thread.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And yet God brings into our lives <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">opportunity</span></b> to see the truth afresh in certain moments, but perhaps only at those certain moments. If you miss it, you may never see it again. A guide told our group in the UP that when we get to this ridge, shinny up the tree and look. None of us did. He said, “Well, then, you missed it.” Let’s not miss <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">that glimpse of grace</span></b> that God brings, unpredictably and unexpectedly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There are narrow windows from which to see; narrow windows to believe. There are narrow windows to listen to a story that you will never hear again, or to speak a truth only when those ears are present and attuned. There is a time for a prayer that can be prayed at no other time; time for a deed that will only work right now or be lost forever. Lord, what do you have for me <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">right now, in this brief moment,</span></b> to see or say, to pray or to do. What in this brief moment of grace?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Perhaps the greatest sins exposed at the judgment seat for Christians are those missed opportunities because we have lived with such dulled, selfish and worldly senses. Paul says, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">opportunity”</span> Col. 4:5. </b>And,<b> “</b>So then, while we have<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">opportunity</span></b>, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” <b>Gal. 6:10.</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The other phrase in our text above is this: <span style="color: #ffa400;">“a little reviving.”</span> God, in His grace, gives “a little reviving,” if we would receive it. We must be awake, not asleep; tuned in, not distracted; directed by the Spirit, not the flesh; open to God’s gracious entrance into our lives, and not considering it to be an interruption or intrusion. Thank you, Lord, for <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">this narrow window of grace.</span></b></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-63820980492226730842023-11-25T14:11:00.003-05:002023-11-25T14:11:50.577-05:00 That for which I Am Not Thankful<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>That for which I Am </b><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>Not</b></span><b> Thankful</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Paul says, “In everything, give thanks.” That sounds unreasonable.<span style="color: #ffa400;"><b> Is there anything for which we should </b><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><b>not</b></span><b> give thanks?</b></span> Perhaps.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Let me clear the deck first. I’m a bit grumpy this morning about people coming late to the Christmas parade but still insisting on free parking in places that are not parking spaces, driving over snowplow stakes to get there. Yes, I’m having a little trouble being thankful for that one. But Paul, I’ll come around, I promise.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Maybe we can be thankful for things eternal, and not so much for things temporal. But that’s not right, is it? Many things that are part of our current blessings will <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor+7:31;+1+Jn+2:17&version=NASB1995"><span class="s2" style="color: #000087;">“pass away.”</span></a> It doesn’t mean that we should be too “spiritual” to give thanks for them.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">I am not thankful for sin.</span> </b>Sin is not one of God’s blessings in this “passing away” world. But even here, it’s not that easy, because God uses sin and the lessons of sin and sin’s consequences to teach us a great many things. But we can be thankful for our God who can even use something that He hates for good.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">I am not thankful for Satan.</span></b> And yet, Satan is an integral part of the story of redemption. He is the foil against which the glory of Christ shines so brightly. Are we to be thankful for Satan? No. But Satan is indeed one of God’s creatures (not human, but angelic), now confirmed in opposition against God and jealous of His glory. But no, I’m not thankful for Satan.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">I am not thankful for death?</span> </b>Well, almost. I am thankful or life, both physical life and spiritual. And, physical death is the portal through which the believer passes to eternal rest. And so death is often welcomed by the aged saint who desires to be in the presence of Jesus. But, Paul says<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor+15:26&version=NASB1995"><span class="s2" style="color: #000087;"> “death is the last enemy that will abolished.”</span></a> So perhaps I can say I am not thankful for eternal death, - but, it is ordained by God for those who have rejected Christ, and therefore even eternal death somehow contributes to the glory of God. So, that’s a hard one. Note these verses</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="s3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Psa. 97:10</b></span> Hate evil, you who love the LORD,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="s4" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><sup>11</sup></b></span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Light is sown<i> like seed</i> for the righteous<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And gladness for the upright in heart.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="s4" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><sup>12</sup></b></span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And give thanks to His holy name.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I am thankful for righteousness, and the gift of Christ’s righteousness. <span style="color: #ffa400;">I am not thankful for evil.</span> I think that is Biblical.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-21502979982985141802023-11-16T20:15:00.001-05:002023-11-16T20:15:15.481-05:00 What Must I Do to be Saved? (Acts 16:31; 2:37)<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <b>What Must I Do to be Saved? (Acts 16:31; 2:37)</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When Peter preaches his first sermon upon receiving the gift of the Spirit, along with the other disciples, He preaches Christ, and Christ crucified, and Christ risen again. The question that is posed to him by the throngs is this: <b>Acts 2:37</b> “Now when they heard<i> this,</i> they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“Brethren, what shall we do?”</span> </b>In light of this man named Jesus being both “Lord” and “Christ,” <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">what shall we do?</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When Paul and Silas are miraculously delivered from the bondage of prison’s chains and locked doors by a divine earthquake, the prison guard was set to take his life due to the prisoners’ escape. Paul stops him, and the man asks, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“What must I do to be saved?”</span></b> Whether Peter or Paul, and whether a large crowd, the answer to question is quite simple: Believe. Believe in/into/upon Jesus. Throw yourself upon Him because of His sacrifice for you, and because of the mercy that He promises to show those who call upon Him.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Isn’t it really quite simple? We go through life trying this, that, and the other thing - all for naught. We fail to find the meaning for which we are searching, the purpose, the happiness, the satisfaction. All those things are elusive as we try and find for ourselves the key that unlocks what is behind the doors that we cannot find.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But to dive into Christ, so much so that we are immersed in Him (if I can let my Baptist bias slip in a bit), that seems to be last thing, the hardest thing for us to do. Why? Because we want to do it ourselves. We want to do it our way. We find ourselves to be theologically committed to self-salvation.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">It is not that we have tried too hard.</span></b> It is that we have not tried hard enough. If we had supremely struggled to achieve these things and acceptance with God, we would have more quickly come to the end of ourselves. But we live in a culture of half-hearted searching, distracted from the search to look at our phones or go shopping or watch a game. If we had honestly and zealously pursued self-salvation, we would perhaps have found “the last resort” more quickly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Those gathered around Peter in Jerusalem as he preached were there because they were serious - seriously seeking God through slavish obedience to the Law. And they found that they could not. They needed someone other than themselves to be their Savior. That prison guard in Philippi was trying to have a good life for himself and his family as a prison guard - faithful; hard-working; honest. But the Roman government could not provide that for which his soul yearned. Until, finally, Paul answered his question: <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“What must I do to be saved?”</span></b> And, he believed.</span><span style="font-family: Hoefler Text; font-size: 12px;"><b></b></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-77016176961477870112023-11-11T20:06:00.001-05:002023-11-16T20:12:17.090-05:00 Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:22<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <b>Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:22</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">John, the young disciple of Jesus, but now an old man, is <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">fighting</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">for the life of the 1st century church.</span></b> The apostles have</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">preached and thousands have believed, but there are also sinister</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">teachers that are leading people astray. Why? Perhaps they have</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">good intentions, and are just in error. More likely they have not only</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">false knowledge but also malicious intentions. They have seen the</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">attention and honor the apostles have received, and they may want</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">to make a name for themselves by creating a distinctive following</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for themselves. Don’t be fooled. This is not just a 1st century</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">occurrence. It still happens today.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">John runs through a few arguments to teach the Church what to</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">look for in “real” Christianity. In our text, John asks the question,</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Who is the liar?”</span></b> The answer lies not with obscure doctrines and</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">fine points of disagreement. His answer:<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“He who denies that</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jesus is the Christ.”</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“The Christ” is the One anointed and appointed by God</span></b> to be</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">the Point Man in the mission to create “the people of God.” The</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">people cannot do so themselves, and must be redeemed, saved, by</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One who stands firmly in God’s holiness but who is also able to bear</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">man’s sinfulness. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jesus Christ, the God-man,</span></b> is the One, the only</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One, who is able to do so.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The Jewish people, in large part, accept the hope of a “Christ” or</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Messiah,” but they do not accept that Jesus is that Person. Jesus, in</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">their eyes, was a problem, an imposter, who led people away from</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">proper attention to and obedience of the Law of Moses.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But it is not just unbelieving (in Jesus) Jews who fall into the “liar”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">category. It is also any other religion who does not see and accept</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jesus as the central figure in procuring our salvation. Moslems share</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">some heritage with Jews, but they do not accept Jesus as the Christ.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cults may adopt many features of the Christian faith, but in some</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">way diminish <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">the perfect necessity of Jesus Christ being both</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">fully God and fully man.</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When Jesus met the Emmaus Road disciples soon after the</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">resurrection and spoke with them without their knowing that He</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">was indeed the risen Lord, He asks them, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Was it not necessary</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into His</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">glory?”</span></b> Isaiah 53, in particular, in the Old Testament, makes clear</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">that “the Christ” would be a Servant who would suffer for the</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">people that He came to save, who would then become God’s own</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">people. It is a central truth; central enough that if you don’t agree,</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">you are a liar.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-61167360479817750952023-11-04T19:58:00.001-04:002023-11-16T20:06:01.844-05:00 Do you Love Me (more than these)? John 21:15<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <b>Do you Love Me (more than these)? </b><b>John 21:15</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This is <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">a critical question</span> </b>that Jesus asks Peter, and it is a critical</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">question that Jesus asks each one of us. He calls us by name, as He</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">did Peter (Simon), and He asks, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Do you love Me more than</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">these?”</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jesus actually asks Peter this question three times. Some say that it</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">is in response to the fact that Peter denied the Lord three times</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">during His trial, before the crucifixion and resurrection. Now the</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">risen Lord addresses this Peter, bringing him back into the fold, and</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">commissioning him for the work that is ahead. And, it seems,</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">loving Jesus is critical to the mission,</span> </b>for all of us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It is only in the first question that Jesus includes the words, “more</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">than these.” And yet, I think these words are helpful for all of us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Love in general can be quite abstract. Love in relation to other</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">things becomes much more objective.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Whenever we sin, we do so because we want to. We do what we</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">want. It is the action of our will, our “want to.” <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">We sin because we</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">love something about that sin,</span></b> not necessarily everything about</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">it, but there is something that we love that moves us to do it. When</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I sin, it is because I love something about the sin more than I love</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jesus. That’s the question Jesus asked. And here is the ugly answer. I</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">prove over and over that<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">there are things that I love more than</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jesus,</span></b> at least with that issue, in that moment. And it is called sin.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As believers, we want to love Jesus more than anything, and we</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">assume that we do. But assumptions can be wrong. That is why this</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">question must be applied to ourselves, and we must examine and</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">answer carefully. In that failure, or moment of unfaithfulness, or</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">selfishness - whatever it was, let’s <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">identify what it is that we love</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">so much that we were willing to transgress one of the</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">commands of Jesus.</span></b> Because we know, don’t we, and we take it as</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">fact that love is shown by the keeping of His commandments - <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">John</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>14:21</b> “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">who loves Me.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Lots of people say “I love you,” but it is just words and they fail to</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">love in deed. Love is proved as we say “yes” to the things that we</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">should say “yes” to; and “no to the things that we should say “no” to.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If we say “yes” to things that are not in keeping with a walk with</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Christ, in agreement with His will, when we should have said “no;”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">or, conversely, if we say “no” to things that are in keeping with a</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">walk with Christ, to which we should say “yes,” but fail to do so - we</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">have to ask,<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“Do you love Jesus more than these?"</span></b></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-77287002704956468012023-10-26T11:19:00.005-04:002023-10-26T11:19:44.627-04:00 A Yoke Too Heavy to Bear (Acts 15:10)<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <b>A Yoke Too Heavy to Bear (Acts 15:10)</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Someone has said that the job of the preacher is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. There may be an element of truth, but I would say that <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>the job of the Gospel preacher is to lighten the load.</b> </span>We are not to heap up guilt and obligation, but to point to Christ who has borne our penalty and our pain for us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On this Sunday before <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Reformation Day,</span></b> celebrated each year on October 31 (often forgotten due to something else going on that day), we think again of the truth and blessing of something called <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“justification by faith.”</span></b> We all want to be justified, but there are different paths by which people try and get there. There is self-justification, as opposed to God-justification. There is justification by works, or accomplishment, or effort, as opposed to justification by faith. There is justification in the eyes of people, doing whatever is necessary to gain their favor, as opposed to justification in God’s eyes, not gaining it, but receiving it as a gift through faith in Christ.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Justification is a legal issue, and God is the Judge. We, His creatures, have offended His holiness in more ways than we know, and for us to seek to stand before the Judge and claim that we have gone ahead and justified ourselves, well, that’s just not going to fly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But the most common approach to God, or to “the gods,” is <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">to try to justify ourselves</span></b> before the deity so that they would be no longer mad at us. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">It is yoke too heavy to bear.</span></b> And in Jesus’ day, it is how the Jewish religion had devolved into a “try harder” religion by which one could (hopefully) secure God’s favor by sufficiently(?) keeping the Law (which no one could do perfectly).</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And so Paul confronts Peter, recorded in Acts 15 and asks<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">this critical question</span></b> about testing God and putting a yoke on the backs of disciples who had been saved by grace through faith, but now were to revert back to having to earn God’s favor by practicing old laws that no longer applied. Paul, a good Gospel preacher, was saying, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Let’s not break the back of the disciples.”</span></b> Yes, let’s not.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I like to say that <span style="color: #ffa400;"><b>Jesus has done the heavy lifting for us.</b> </span>He carried the cross that we deserved. He bore the penalty of our sin that would have required eternal punishment for us. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">He bore the yoke that was too heavy for us to bear.</span></b> So we are to substitute nothing in our Gospel understanding that replaces Christ. And it can happen easily. But now, we walk with Christ who leads us in lives of freedom, a freedom that loves to love and to serve.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-89649868298902214462023-10-19T15:22:00.004-04:002023-10-19T15:22:44.569-04:00 What is Truth? (John 18:38)<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b> What is Truth?<span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">(John 18:38)</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We were talking on the sidewalk in front of Starbucks, as we usually do most days of the week, about one thing or another. Israel and the Palestinians and Hamas came up, and I recounted what I remembered from a study that I had done in the past - that the word “Hamas” is actually the Hebrew word for hate. Afterward, I decided to check that, and guess what, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">I was wrong.</span></b> I don’t know how that thought got into my head, but I shared wrong information as fact. Did I lie? Well, it was a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>mistake. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">But did I lie? Yes.</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We lie when we tell an un-truth. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">When we quote a liar, we are in fact lying.</span></b> We should watch the sources from which we quote. In my case, it was my own memory. Evidently, not to be trusted. We are liars when we quote even people we trust, who are quoting someone who has lied or, perhaps, has mis-remembered. But when we speak an un-truth, no matter how respected a source, we are lying.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When Pilate asked this question at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jesus’ trial,<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“What is truth?”</span>,</b> it almost seems rhetorical. The Jewish leaders were speaking facts that he knew not to be true. He was a politician in the Roman Empire, having a Play-Doh view of truth that can be shaped into most anything imaginable. But there was something different about <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jesus’ view of truth.</span></b> He spoke the truth. And, He lived the truth.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">You have reason not to trust me when it comes to the Hebrew background of words that we use today, but <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“truth”</span></b> in the Old Testament not only speaks of factual accuracy, as in “true” or “false.” It goes beyond that and speaks of <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">fidelity between the statement and the person.</span></b> Truth might be defined as an accurate description of the reality of things, but then it goes on to describe <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">a person’s right living in the midst of that right reality.</span></b> So when Jesus stated that God alone was worthy to be worshipped,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was not caught worshipping a boat or some earthly experience or money. <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">He stated the truth, and He lived the truth.</span></b> And if He had failed to live the truth, He would have been a liar.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And that reaches to us as well. When we state that Christians are to love their neighbors, and we don’t, then the truth that we state is confounded by our conduct, and, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">we are found to be liars,</span></b> not so<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>much by our words, but by our conduct.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Truth is difficult for us. It was not difficult for Jesus, because not only did He he speak truth, but He also lived truth, and, as the verse says Him, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:6&version=HCSB"><span class="s3" style="color: #000087;">“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”</span></a></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-9860305177851549932023-10-15T15:20:00.012-04:002023-10-19T15:32:45.524-04:00Do you wish to get well? (John 5:6)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Do you wish to get well? (John 5:6)</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On the face of it, this seems like a rude question. A man has been sick for thirty-eight years, laying by a pool and begging. “Of course I want to get well! What kind of question is that?” But I believe Jesus intends for us to think about this a bit more carefully.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">First of all, the man does not respond to a “yes” or “no” question with either a “yes” or a “no.” He comes up with, “there is no man to help me.” Now, this is a man who certainly needs help. But <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">help</span></b> will not <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">heal</span></b> him. He’s been sick/lame/weak/paralyzed for all these years, and <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">helpfulness is not the same thing as healing.</span></b> Care-giving is a wonderful thing, but it does not solve the problem. It seems as though Jesus is asking the question, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Do you want this problem solved?”</span></b> And the man does not answer directly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">More philosophically, we might ponder, does he really want to get well? This is his life, for thirty-eight years. He has somehow learned to manage and survive in this system. His social circle is here. Life is far from perfect, but it is the life that he knows. Does he really want his life to change dramatically?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Of course, we must ask this of ourselves. Many of us have lived for more than thirty-eight years. We have our patterns and circles and support systems. We live with our liabilities, and have learned to live in spite of them, even coming to co-opt them in some ways. Do we want the kind of encounter with Jesus that changes our lives dramatically, freeing us from the current bondages to which we have become accustomed and are perhaps in love with, so that we might begin a new life in which Jesus is Lord?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jesus steps in and gives the command:<b> <span style="color: #ffa400;">“Get up, pick up your pallet, and walk.”</span></b> The man does exactly that. Jesus does not wait to be asked. He initiates a profound change in this man’s life. How does the man respond? He does not know Jesus’ identity, but later, Jesus having revealed Himself to him, the man goes back to the religious authorities and identifies Jesus as the man who broke the Sabbath, and perhaps, the man who broke the debilitating cycle of life in which the man was mired, but in which he was at home. Perhaps in the eyes of this man, Jesus had healed, but he did not see it as help.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The man seems not to have wanted the healing that he received. Jesus’ words to him are this: “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man had been released from his captivity, and was now challenged to enter into a new life that would be free from a sin that Jesus knew about, and that the man knew about, but that has not been identified for us, the readers. It seems that the ungrateful man was unwilling to embrace Jesus; unwilling to embrace his wholeness; and resentful that he had to figure out a new life, alone in this world, all by himself. It seems that this story teaches us of <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">the great peril in being “saved” and yet to not be willing to embrace the Savior and the salvation that He offers.</span></b></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-70048410062616582372023-10-05T17:49:00.001-04:002023-10-12T17:52:07.993-04:00 Lord, are there just a few who are being saved? (Luke 13:23)<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b> <span>Lord, are there <i>just</i> a few who are being saved?</span><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">(Luke 13:23)</span></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Biblical context is an interesting thing. A word should be understood in its paragraph, and a concept needs to be understood against the backdrop of the book of the Bible. A theme can find its context in the Bible as a whole. There can be geographical context; chronological context; or context of theme.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And so our verse, where the disciples ask, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”</span></b> should be answered carefully. Certainly the opposition against Jesus seemed formidable, such that conversions would be difficult. Misunderstandings of Jesus did abound. And, when God had saved from judgment in the Old Testament, Peter would later write that only <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet+3%3A19-20&version=NASB1995">“a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (I,3:20).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus speaks of the small mustard seed which later abounds, or the hidden leaven, which eventually leavens all the dough. In light of those references, “few-ness” should not be surprising, nor distressing.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Later in the same chapter, Jesus mentions “the narrow way,” also mentioned in Matthew 7’s later part of the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew says, <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">“few there be who find it.”</span></b> That seems a bit more discouraging.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But God has always started out with just a few. Think of Abraham, son-less for years. Moses later says, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut+7%3A7&version=NASB1995">“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">fewest</span></b> of all peoples (Dt 7:7). </a>Or God winnows down His people to a remnant: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps+105%3A12&version=NASB1995">“When they were <b><span style="color: #ffa400;">few</span></b> in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,” Ps 105:12 (ESV)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">God says to Paul in unfriendly Corinth: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A9-10&version=NASB1995">“Do not be afraid<i> any longer,</i> but go on speaking and do not be silent; <span class="s3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><sup>10</sup></b></span> for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” </a><b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A9-10&version=NASB1995">Acts 18:9-10.</a> </b>He says to His disciples,<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jn+10%3A16&version=NASB1995"> “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock<i> with </i>one shepherd. <b>Jn 10:16</b></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 6px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We seem to be at a point in the West where the growth of the church is stunted. Oh, there are churches that grow, though I am not one to put much stock in market-driven growth, but am glad when the Gospel finds hungry hearts and draws crowds. My point is that we should not be discouraged. What we must be is diligent in sharing the Gospel, in sharing Christ.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-75854422498766567392023-09-28T15:52:00.005-04:002023-09-28T15:52:56.476-04:00Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? (Luke 9:54)<p><strong><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54)</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As the pressure mounts in Jesus’ ministry, both from people’s expectations and the religious leaders’ opposition, the disciples are trying to discern how to posture themselves. They struggled to provide right answers, but often they got it wrong. They tried to express great faith, but often wrongheaded. And that’s what we have here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A group of Samaritans did not properly honor Jesus. Never mind that Peter, just previously, had put Jesus on the same plane as Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration. But Jesus is no mere man, and Peter is rebuked from heaven. Or, the disciples approach Jesus and ask for special honors in the coming kingdom. This pays little regard to the price that Jesus will pay to redeem their sorry souls (and ours) from the penalty of sins, theirs and ours. You see, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">we are much more keen to point out the sins of others rather than our own,</span></strong> and when we notice the Samaritans failing to show honor, we seem completely blind to the ways in which we have done the very same thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And so the disciples, in the voice of the young “sons of thunder,” James and John, ask the question in our title: <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”</span></strong> And Jesus answers, “No.” <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">He said “No.”</span></strong> It is not our job to command fire from heaven to consume Jesus’ adversaries, or ours.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The truth is, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“fire from heaven” is what we all deserve.</span></strong> Every single one of us. The distinctions that we make between our sins the the sins of others are indistinguishable when we stand in the light of God’s holiness and at the bar of His justice. Condemnation is what we deserve. All of us. And so for us to even think that we might call God’s fire down on someone else is to completely miss the point of who God is as holy, and who we are as sinners.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Being saved by grace through faith does not change the equation. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Saved sinners are not all of a sudden qualified to mete out God’s justice on those not-yet-saved.</span></strong> Rather, we are to be those who smell like the Gospel, and not reek of self-righteousness. We are to be those who love, not specialize in showing disdain. Yes, there are people with whom we disagree. And we, like Jesus, love them anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Of all the questions recorded in the Bible, I think this is one of the <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">critical questions.</span></strong> Should we call down fire from heaven? The answer is “No.” It comes not from the Spirit of God, but from some other spirit.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-63547108157390498802023-09-23T00:31:00.004-04:002023-09-23T00:31:53.307-04:00Planting with Hope<p><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Planting with Hope</span></strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4429 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" height="300" loading="eager" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" src="https://i0.wp.com/milfordbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FullSizeRender.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/milfordbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FullSizeRender-scaled.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/milfordbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FullSizeRender-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/milfordbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FullSizeRender-scaled.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&ssl=1 1152w, https://i0.wp.com/milfordbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FullSizeRender-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C2048&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/milfordbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FullSizeRender-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w" width="225" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On our re-visit to the Pacific Northwest, Jane and I circled down and
around to the Olympic rain forest and the hiking trail by the Quinault
Lodge. We read the story of its construction back in 1926. The whole
structure was framed from June to August of that year. They put a rush
on it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But not everything was rushed. There was a picture of the original
structure, brand new, with a bare front yard. The three trees in the
picture above were planted four years later, in 1930, or 93 years ago.
They now tower above me, and I can only guess how deep and high they go.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What catches my interest is that the people who planted them had no
hope of ever seeing them reach this height. They planted in hope, but a
hope that they would not personally experience. They did it for others.
They did it for the future. It was not for themselves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There is an interesting story told in Isaiah about the end of
Hezekiah’s life. God had delivered him from the horde of Assyrians that
were knocking on the door of Jerusalem, and then a terminal disease,
from which he was given another fifteen years of life. God answered
prayer in both those cases. But when the Babylonians came knocking,
Hezekiah opened the storehouse doors and showed them everything. Isaiah
then told King Hezekiah that these Babylonians would carry these
treasures away to Babylon, along with several of Hezekiah’s sons.
Hezekiah’s answer? “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD
which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “For there will be peace
and truth in my days” (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Isa 39.8" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isa%2039.8">Isaiah 39:8</a><a class="rtLibronix" href="libronixdls:keylink|ref=[en]bible:Isa39.8|res=LLS:ESV"><img align="bottom" border="0" class="libronixLinkImage" src="https://www.logos.com/images/Corporate/LibronixLink_dark.png" title="Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)" /></a>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Unlike those who planted the trees, Hezekiah was only concerned with
“peace and truth” in his days, during his lifetime. He wasn’t concerned
for the future of his sons, nor for the future of the nation over which
he reigned.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We plant seeds for the future. We don’t know what is going to grow,
or how big, or how tall. Maybe a good number of the seeds will come to
nothing at all. But we can be assured that unplanted seeds will
certainly produce nothing at all.</span></p><p>
</p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We are not growers of trees or birthers of new Christians. We are not
builders of Christ’s church. Jesus said, “I will build my church” (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Matt 16.18" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%2016.18">Mt 16:18</a><a class="rtLibronix" href="libronixdls:keylink|ref=[en]bible:Matt16.18|res=LLS:ESV"><img align="bottom" border="0" class="libronixLinkImage" src="https://www.logos.com/images/Corporate/LibronixLink_dark.png" title="Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)" /></a>); and as Paul said, some of us plant and some of us water, but it is God who gives the growth (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Cor 3.6-7" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor%203.6-7">1 Cor 3:6-7</a><a class="rtLibronix" href="libronixdls:keylink|ref=[en]bible:1Cor3.6-7|res=LLS:ESV"><img align="bottom" border="0" class="libronixLinkImage" src="https://www.logos.com/images/Corporate/LibronixLink_dark.png" title="Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)" /></a>). May God be pleased to bless our efforts with new believers who are towers/trophies of grace.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-19607021609029610112023-09-06T17:14:00.001-04:002023-09-06T17:14:16.120-04:00 Once in a Blue Moon<p><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <strong>Once in a Blue Moon</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Do you ever sit and stare at the moon? It is much better than staring at the sun, and who has that much time during the day? But in the evenings, or late at night, just to behold it - well, it’s beautiful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Last Wednesday, a week ago from now as I write, we had what they now call a “supermoon.” Super moons are larger than others, but they are all the same moon. And, that same moon is always the same size, except it looks bigger when it is closer. It was closer last week, big, pregnant, and beautiful with its golden glow. I do not know if there is a scientific standard for designating “super moons.” When I was growing up, I never heard of such a thing, so I think they invented the category more recently. The next super moon, according to some standard, will be September 29.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This particular full moon was also a “blue moon,” that is, the second blue moon of the month (though there are other theories). That doesn’t happen often, because the lunar cycle takes ~29 days. The first full moon must occur very early in the month to catch the second. The next blue moon is May 31, 2026.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Living in Michigan, we may not see a particular super moon or blue moon. It doesn’t mean it’s not there, but it is obscured due tocloud cover. Here is our first pastoral application: just because you can’t see it, or understand it, doesn’t mean it is not true.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Another interesting feature is that the moon produces no light. It should really be a dark spot in a dark sky, and thus invisible. But God so designed the moon with its powdery surface that it reflects the light of the sun. The reflection can be quite bright at times, bright enough to even read the words on the page of a book. It means that either the moon is very reflective, or that the sun, which has slipped below the horizon and cannot be seen, is very bright. Or both.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And, the moon waxes and wanes, depending on how much of it is catching the sun’s rays. No, the whole moon is always there, but only a part of it reflects light, depending how much is peeking at the sun around the dark side of the earth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So how much to you reflect the Son’s light? Are you highly reflective? Is your “glow” inhibited by cloud cover, and how would you describe that cloud cover? Is it the fault of others, or your own? We are not sources of light, as Jesus is, but we are to be reflectors, unless we are just a black spot in a dark sky, invisible, which would rob the world of a beautiful sight.</span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20439415.post-68026893425070847772023-08-24T09:05:00.001-04:002023-08-24T09:05:27.903-04:00 Where is He who has born king of the Jews? (Matt. 2:2)<p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <strong>Where is He who has born king of the Jews? (Matt. 2:2)</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I listened from a distance to last night’s Republican presidential debate. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">What would it have been like if Jesus had been there?</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">First of all, Jesus doesn’t share the stage.</span></strong> He is the stage. Remember the Mount of Transfiguration? Jesus took Peter, James and John, and then appeared Moses and Elijah. Peter chose to break the silence, and break it he did. He suggested that they build booths, or, for our “stage” setup, give podiums to each of them, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. This great idea was interrupted by this: <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Matt. 17:5</span></strong> While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” In other words, Peter, “Quiet!” I would have liked to see the bright cloud a couple of times last night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Or do you remember when Jesus was arrested? The gang of soldiers came from the chief priests, and Judas was to do the identifying. I have never understood why simple finger-pointing would not have worked instead of kissing. It just seems to me like a double offense. Here’s what happens next: <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">John 18:4</span></strong> “So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“I am He.”</span></strong> And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” That’s what I would have like to have seen. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">The one anointed and appointed for the position speaks, and everyone else falls to the ground.</span></strong> Now that would be a good presidential debate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We are not going to get any help on the presidential front. I suspect we may find ourselves told to vote for unacceptable options. It is not that there are no individuals who are up for the job. They just may not be on the ballot. And, God can work all that out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We are not going to get any help on the presidential front. I suspect we may find ourselves told to vote for unacceptable options. It is not that there are no individuals who are up for the job. They just may not be on the ballot. And, God can work all that out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But the title above isn’t about presidents. It is about kings. And kings are not about elections. They inherit the throne, and there is no higher throne than the one upon which sits the Son of God, identified in the last passage as “Jesus the Nazarene.” If Jesus is King, and if He is ruler of all, acknowledged or not, then how should I respond to Him? Let’s just use the answers from above. First, it is not so much about what you think, or, these days, feel. It is what Jesus says. That is, as the voice from cloud said, <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">“Listen to Him!”</span></strong> We are to be excellent listeners. Also, we should bow before Him. Don’t wait to be knocked to the ground. Do it now. <strong><span style="color: #ffa400;">Worship the King.</span></strong></span></p>Steve Swayzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04804726525753797672noreply@blogger.com0