Every week I watched a show that in this clip is fondly remembered. Nothing better than a story of good vs evil, family fealty, and true love. You could compare this show to Robin Hood, created over many years of folk tales in the Middle Ages. There’s a bad king, his corrupt sheriff, a hero, the hero’s stalwart true friend, a specially skilled companion, a band of merry men, a countryside of safety, money to steal, money to return, a beautiful maiden, and a wise old man. There’s horse riding, leaping on the saddle, jumping over creeks, and even archery with flaming arrows. The good guys wear blue jeans and plaid armor and the bad guys wear funny hats and costumes like court jesters. Honor drives action that goes beyond the possible. Best of all, the family name of the good guys is a royal title. A tale as old as time?
It’s Friday. Finally Friday. TGIF. I’ve been working for the weekend. Soon it will be Saturday night, and I ain’t got nobody. Lynn’s in Tucson visiting her mom. I do have money, though. Spending some of it at Discount Tire on TPMS for Lynn’s SUV. No, it ain’t jewelry, nor is it romantic. But it does show love. I think. At least the red light on the dash will no longer be visible.
Summer hours at work give us a 1/2 day off on Friday. I made a list at 8:00 am of all the things I need to do today. So far I have 12 of 26 marked off. One of the tasks was to visit Costco to check out cheap eyeglasses. I figured I would have a healthy lunch at the cafe — $1.50 for a large hot dog and a Mountain Dew. With Lynn being gone all week, my food choices are certainly limitless.
At Costco, you have to order at a kiosk. I guess it is more efficient, but it is soul-less. While paying for the meal, I noted an older gentleman there. He was wearing a crisply ironed plaid shirt, and a stunning Western string tie. The medallion was a deep ivory, with a gold inset symbol, and a gold filigree setting. The strings were tan, with a woven pattern. No, I wasn’t lusting after it. Just admiring it!
The hot dogs (wait, I forgot to say I ordered TWO — I was hungry!) came after a few minutes with the typical yell “Order 754!” Except there was only one. She went back to get the second hot dog. I slathered one with mustard, one with ketchup, and dolloped the sweet relish on both. But, with the Friday crowd, there was no place to sit. I decided to use a baby high chair as a table, set my iPhone on the garbage can lid, and stood next to the men’s room door to enjoy the repast.
“Sir, if you’d like to sit down, there’s room here…” I looked over, and saw the older gentleman sitting alone at a table for four. He had a big pizza box, with one slice out on a styrofoam plate. I gladly sat down, and we said howdy.
“What brings you to Costco?” I asked. “I need a pail of tomatoes,” he replied. “That’s a lot of tomatoes!” “I like to eat a lot of salads.” I shared that my healthy lunch was a reward for jogging the Corporate 5K race the previous evening, and that I was shopping for eyeglasses.
“I haven’t been doing a lot of cooking since my wife of 62 years passed away, four months ago…”
I knew then why we were there. Why he was at Costco, the same time as me. We were there, for each other.
I asked his permission to offer a prayer, that moment. He agreed. I prayed for his sorrow, that his memories of 62 years together would continue to brighten his days, that God’s love would be evident to him in the love of family and friends, and that God would strengthen him in the days to come. Thanking Him for our food, I opened my eyes at “Amen.” He was crying, just for a moment.
We continued chatting over bites of lunch. It’s always amazing to me how these encounters go. I asked how he met his wife.
“We met at church. I was leading the singing. She came with a family, visiting the church. I saw her from the front, and knew I had to meet her.”
You can’t help but be amazed at God’s Providence in our lives.
“We married after I had a couple of years of college. I was 20, she was 18.” “She was my helpmeet.” I replied that she reminded me of the verse Genesis 2:18, where God’s Word tells us that it is not good for man to be alone, with a smile. He nodded in agreement. They married in 1960, after two years of dating.
He related a bit of his life story. I just wanted him to share, to unpack emotions, if any. To memorialize his wife, however he needed. Four months is not a lot of time to grieve, and he has a long journey before healing is complete. The two of them served God in a number of churches, in a number of ministries, in Christian schools, as a liaison to the Virginia legislature, and all over the US. He told me of his original plan, to be a church pastor, but that God showed him a different calling. I affirmed that we plan, but God directs our steps, mentioning how the Apostle Paul wanted to visit one church plant, but God prevented the trip with a Spiritual prompting (Acts 16:5-6). It was clear that my lunch friend was always listening to God’s voice.
He introduced himself, in a way, as he shared his life story. He gave his first name, but in a few minutes of more conversation, I learned he was Dr. Jack Knapp. His wife, the love of his life, was named Judy. Servants. Going where God directed. Preaching at churches wherever requested. And, still serving, as best he can. I could tell being without his wife that serving was harder. He related that Judy was a long-time sufferer of heart disease, with several operations resulting in a total of seven arterial stints. In the end, he stated that she was stricken by a reaction to an antibiotic, making her bedridden for the last two years of her life. Jack cared for her, faithfully, until the end. The funeral was in their home, and only fifteen attended. Family. Important people. Kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
Judy was a person filled with humor. In planning for their final resting place, a double above-ground columbarium, Jack highlighted her humor as he told me of the plaque at their site. Introduced as Jack and Judy in their ministries — well, people often thought of Jack and Jill. He quoted her humorous inscription on the plaque as:
Here are Jack and Judy
Not Jack and Jill
We went to up heaven
They went down the hill
Today, he bought a a big pizza. $10. He ate two slices, cutting each piece with knife and fork, and plans to freeze the rest. When the grandkids come over, he dresses up the pizza and shares it with them. He can’t see a cheaper way to entertain, and really likes the $10 Costco pizza. I can imagine how he looks forward to their visit. I hope they visit often.
It’s hard to believe that I had lunch with such a man…a man that surrendered everything to ministry. 62 years of marriage. 62 years of serving. Faithful to one wife. Faithful to one calling, to be a minister to the church, the bride of Christ, and to share the gospel with anyone, at any time. It was a privilege to meet Jack, and to share a simple meal. May Dr. Knapp’s story inspire me to be faithful to my calling.
For the past six months I have been in pain. It’s really nothing, compared to the pain of many truly suffering. But the pain, constantly intermittent, has been a learning experience.
I don’t like pain. It obfuscates my outlook. It alters my attitude. It influences my identity.
One of my physical pains has been in my right heel. As a dedicated jogger, this makes exercise excruciating. You have to go on. But the day after a run, I would hobble. I found myself impersonating Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein, dragging a leg slowly to avoid placing a direct load on the heel. Most everyone has a solution for such pain. Ice. Heat. Tennis balls. Rollers. Stretching. Rest. Dr. Google has conflicting reasons for pain, symptoms for each condition, and as usual, isn’t much help. So for the past six months, I soldier on.
Running Riverside Drive one Saturday morning, each heel strike creating that twinge, I thought a lot about pain. I was alone in my thoughts, as the fast runners in my group were way ahead of me, and the slow runners behind. “Why, God, am I in pain?” God listens. “Can You fix this?” Sometimes when I talk to God I feel better. In the rising morning sun, I realized that there is pain, and there are trials. I think it is important to understand the differences.
The source of pain is inside us. It can be a physical pain. It can be an emotional pain. The pain could be sporadic, occasional, or continuous. How we deal with pain varies.
I think most of us try to ignore pain. At least initially. Surely this pain will go away. It’s not that bad. It’s a normal part of aging. I’ll be okay tomorrow. But tomorrow, the pain says “Good morning! Time to think about me again!” So we try to suppress pain. There are a lot of ways to suppress it. We can abdicate, by not doing whatever causes the pain. We can medicate, with pills or potions. We accept pain. We change our expectations about living without pain. We overcome pain. This of course is most challenging. Overcoming pain requires treatment, and that treatment is often long and painful in and of itself. Overcoming pain requires purpose, direction, and motivation. Overcoming pain is lifelong, particularly for wounds of our spirit.
I wondered if my pain was a trial. With each step I realized how pain is part of a trial, but how a trial is not pain alone. The Bible teaches that we may experience trials, sharing examples of people like us. Sarai, Hannah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, Joseph, Job, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, Paul…the names are endless and the stories are so memorable.
As we think about pain and trial, we can look to Saul and David, their story told in the books of Samuel and Chronicles. Saul, the first king of Israel, lived a life of episodic emotional pain, and in response, tried to kill the persons he thought caused the pain. Saul ultimately ended his own life at a battle. David was brought from a lowly shepherd role to that of a warrior king, and in the lifelong journey David took each painful experience to the Lord. David experienced trial after trial, with wounds of both physical and emotional distress. Why would we characterize Saul’s experiences as pain, and David’s as trials? I think the difference is clear as we look at the outcomes.
Saul’s kingship began with great fanfare, and ended with ignominy. He knew what he should do, and did not. He knew who he should listen to, and did not. He was anointed a leader, given a kingdom, and he lost it in acts of disobedience. His focus, even at his final moment, was on his self. He wanted to end his life to avoid dishonor, asking others to kill him, attempting suicide, and ultimately dying by the hand of the enemy he feared. Saul rejected the truth, and chose to find answers in lies. Saul lived a life of pain.
David, throughout his life, faced death time and time again, and each time he focused outwardly on the Lord. From his first experience fighting Goliath, at the death of a newborn, at the loss of a grown and rebellious son, David relied on God. David recorded his experiences and his emotions in many of the Psalms. His musings speak of hurt, fear, sorrow and anguish. His writings also express joy that most cannot understand, a joy that led him to shout, sing, and dance. In writing songs and poetry to release those feelings, in seeking counsel through a spiritual dialog, David treasured a life of trial.
Are our pains trials? Sometimes. I think most of the time pain is just pain. Our bodies have limits, and when we exceed those, pain results. Most often pain is the outcome of a poor personal decision. Can pain be a trial? Sometimes. If pain is a trial, though, its cause is most often outside our control.
What characterizes a trial? Purpose. In the modern legal system, a trial has a singular purpose, to bring forth the truth. In our lives, each trial has a purpose. The trial brings pain, and yet the trial points to the most important truth. No matter what, God loves us. His love soothes the soul. His love binds up the brokenhearted. His love strengthens the weak. His love is a light in the darkness. His love saves.
Our trials can be quick, or they can be lifelong. Our trials can be physical, or they can be emotional. In our trials, though, we are never alone. God is with us. God knows our condition, completely understands us, and loves us anyway. We can do nothing to keep God away.
The best part? All God wants is us. He wants us. There is a word for this — faith. Faith in God. In our trials, may we look to God and place our faith in Him. The trial has only that purpose. Faith.
So today as I step gingerly on the right foot after another Saturday morning jog, the pain continues. I don’t think it is a trial. But today I hope the pain reminds me that in any trial, God is there. God will never leave me. God loves. In your pain, in your trial, may God become ever more real to you.
You know how sometimes you wake up just enough in the middle of the night. Something makes a noise, or maybe you have to get up. On June 19, 2018, sometime, in the darkness, a thought came to me, as I was not fully awake, but not asleep…
When love ends, judgment begins.
I hope that I can remember this, and when I sense myself judging someone else, that I try my best to stop and love them.
The Bible gives us these commands:
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
Do not be judged, or you too will be judged. (Matthew 7:1)
And, as we wonder how to love others, the Bible teaches us:
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)
May I know God more today, that I may love others like Him.
As an elementary school student, I looked up to the older students who served as “safety patrol.” There on the sidewalk of Shannondale Elementary Bryan and his brother T.J. directed students away from the danger of parents driving around the parking lot, while wearing an orange belt with a shoulder strap diagonally across their chest emblazoned with a silver badge. During the day patrol members wore their belts neatly rolled up, dangling from their waists. I was privileged to join the patrol later, and learned the proper way to roll up the belt so that the badge was protected in the roll. That badge meant a lot to me. Wearing a badge then led to Bryan and T.J. wearing real badges later, as long-serving members of the Knoxville Tennessee Police.
At Vanderbilt University, I needed a little spending money, and most of my friends were employed by the university security department. I joined up, and served about three years. Instead of an orange belt and strap, I was given a full uniform to wear. I proudly donned the grey pants, sky blue shirt with dark blue epaulets, and pinned on badge number 14 through the special grommets in the shirt. The uniform belt was broad, black, and capable of supporting a five-D-Cell flashlight, oak nightstick, and two large rings of keys for various campus buildings.
When I joined a large electronics retailer headquartered in Richmond, VA, I had to visit the county police headquarters to fill out some paperwork. There I saw a brochure about a volunteer program. I couldn’t believe that a real police department would have a unit of volunteers, and applied for membership that day. Soon enough a background check was initiated, and in time, a six-week training academy began. After the chief swore our class in, I was given a full uniform complement. The trousers and shirt were dark blue, woven of what felt like iron, and the shoulder patches announced that I was part of the county police. A matching ball cap detailed my role as motorist assistance. The black leather belt circled my waist, carrying a flashlight in a ring, a pouch for medical gloves, a stainless steel multi-tool, and the all-important police radio. Listening to the radio on duty, I heard dozens of calls for service for citizens in trouble, and for citizens who caused trouble.
Being associated with law enforcement, I often find myself watching TV programs that portray the realities of life on the road. Today a popular show is called “Live PD,” which illustrates what happens by recording multiple police departments hard at work and bouncing the viewers through all the exciting moments. Most often, I am left shaking my head as the “bad guys” are rounded up, time and time again. It seems that every car with a broken taillight that made an improper lane change could be the stop of an officer’s career.
In an episode from March 6, 2020 one such stop resulted in the arrest of three felons who had four handguns, drug smoking pipes, and a large quantity of poor quality methamphetamine. Obviously being a felon and incarcerated for some time did nothing to prevent future drug abuse and crime. Other segments highlighted mental instability, the abuse of women, vigilante justice, and ongoing drug abuse.
During the show, I found myself wanting to end all this crime by changing the way those arrested were processed and punished. As handcuffs are applied, it is obvious that people do not fear or respect authority. And, since most people on the show are repeat offenders, with outstanding warrants, it is also clear that incarceration does not change the individual. In my work with the county police, at road checks for driver sobriety, I see myself how many citizens are in some way misbehaving and a potential danger to the community.
How do we end substance abuse? How do we eliminate the danger from weapons used in crimes? How do we restore respect for marriage and all it means? How do we bring emotional stability to those who cry out in pain?
It may be best that we look at the particular crimes we see in each episode not as charges that would be filed against a statute, but as evidence that each individual is in need of God’s transforming power. God offers that to us, if we can accept His grace.
For people who abuse alcohol and drugs, we find in the Bible this admonition in Ephesians 5:18:
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
For people who take the possessions of others, through force and intimidation, we see in the Bible these words in Leviticus 19:11:
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
For people who abuse the marriage relationship, we observe these principles in Proverbs 6:20-29:
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life, keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman. Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.”
For people whose mind is emotionally troubled, we find common threads in Bible heroes like David, who wrote these intense words in Psalm 38:5-10:
“My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.”
It seems clear that people who are able to draw close to God have a chance of living in hope. In this life, no one is without sin, yet those who trust in God find ways of restoration through His grace. Life remains challenging, at times searingly painful, yet in that pain those who trust in God are anchored by His love.
So while the police valiantly and courageously interact with people who need God’s love, can we serve alongside them, wearing a uniform and belt? In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, in verses 6:13-19, we read:
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Wearing the belt of truth, we can stand ready against the forces of evil, and like Paul, ask to be fearless:
“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
Only God’s gospel can break the power of the evil we see in our world. Let us be fearless as we share His good news with anyone in need.
Today, Lord, we ask that You be ever more present for those facing the unknowns of this Covid-19 virus. For those who have the illness, for those who are caring for someone with the illness, for those who must work regardless of the virus, and for the many who remain isolated because of the virus, we pray.
We remember in Your Word “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuternomy 31:6)
We also know that You are our Healer, as You showed many times “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (Matthew 8:2-3)
We know that when we don’t know what to do, You will show us the way. “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16).
Today and every day, until this terrible pandemic ends, we call on You in faith, expressing our pain, our fear, our sorrow, and our hope. Be with us now. We pray in Christ Jesus’s name. Amen.
I have never experienced the emotions like I have these past six weeks. I’ve resigned myself to being locked in my home like a prisoner. I’ve cried over the losses the world experiences. I’ve run the streets in anger, pounding the pavement with all the force and duration I can muster. I’ve smiled through the pain of not knowing when this will all end. I’ve raged at the loss of fundamental liberties. I’m sure you share these and other feelings.
As we struggle through what may be the strangest time in our lives, I am reminded of foundational verses we read in God’s Word, in Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
I learned these verses many years ago, in a discipleship study created by The Navigators called “The 2:7 Series.” My church singles group pastor, who studied under the founder of the Navigators, encouraged all of us to participate. It was a two-year small group study, requiring a strong commitment to completion. I had never been in a study quite like it, and remember the weekly meetings and going through the six workbooks and dozens of memory verses even today.
Today as I woke up from a peaceful sleep, I asked God to give me words to encourage others in our unusual and unsettling times. In this moment, Psalm 119:9-11 were the first words that I recalled. For whatever reason, I found myself climbing the attic stairs as quietly as possible while my wife slumbered, and retrieving my 2:7 workbooks from a bin marked “Chip’s Ancient Books.” There, I found in Course 6 “The Hand Illustration,” which had come to mind along with the verses in Psalm 119.
The hand illustration was meaningful to me. It describes a journey to greater and greater dependence on God, leading to a powerful indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the illustration, each finger is associated with one of five disciplines. Looking at each finger, we see how each of the five activities has the strength of that finger, and from little finger to thumb the activities have more and more impact on us.
The five disciplines are based in God’s Word:
Hear [Romans 10:17]
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Read [Revelation 1:3]
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Study [Acts 17:11]
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Memorize [Psalm 119:9-11]
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Meditate [Psalm 1:2-3]
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers
No matter what, God is with us. God alone can carry us through this. God wants us to rely only on Him, in His providence and in His love. The principles of this hand illustration give us steps we can take to bring us greater and greater spiritual peace, even now. Let’s challenge ourselves to hold on to God’s Word in new ways, trusting Him in everything.
A few months ago we learned of an associate who unexpectedly experienced a heart attack over the weekend. Only a week ago a colleague’s new truck was robbed after a window was smashed. As conversations about suffering often go, we learn of even more pain among our family and friends. With the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering and death have become daily intrusions into everyone’s lives. These incredibly difficult experiences bring questions to mind that we have all heard, and many of us have asked ourselves. The questions usually begin with “Why…?” The questions naturally fit into two broad categories…
Why does God allow suffering?
Why does God allow evil?
When we try to answer these questions, we are left in an uncomfortable position. We end up, usually, with a disconnect. When we experience suffering, we doubt that God is merciful. When a horribly evil act is seen by everyone, we wonder if God is really in control and truly powerful. We find ourselves trying to answer these questions and most often failing. Here, in our failure, it seems that we can only move forward if we question the question.
The words of our question are important. Sometimes we use words we know make sense, but fail to realize what the words communicate. Looking at the three words found in our questions we see…
Why — the word suggests that we are unaware of a cause that truly exists
God — the appellation describes an omnipotent being of infinite capability
Allow — the verb describes a permissive decision by one in authority
The nature of our questions reveals two foundations. First, we express that we do believe in a supreme Being, who holds ultimate power in all things. Secondly, we identify that there is an ideal that is not achieved.
What about the structure of our questions? People who study language as well as people who program computers often find the structure to be vital to good communication. If we use logic words in our language, our questions would look something like this
IF God is all powerful yet suffering is not desirable THEN God allows suffering
IF God is all powerful yet evil exists THEN God allows evil
The Bible gives us the truth, as only the Bible can. We can ask “Is God all powerful?” and see clearly that God is. In Romans 1:20 we read
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Likewise we can inquire if suffering is likely. In Job 30:27 we find
The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.
We can wonder “does evil truly exist?” Genesis 6:5 offers this evidence
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.
In our questions, we reach that point where the conditional “IF” statements lead us to “THEN” results that can shatter our beliefs about God. Naturally, we struggle with what appears to be an inescapable conclusion. Most often, we find ourselves either choosing to ignore the inquiry or stating that it is an inexplainable mystery. In truth, we can explore what troubles us simply by adding one key logic word to our concerns…
IF God is all powerful yet suffering is not desirable THEN God allows suffering AND …
If God is all powerful yet evil exists THEN God allows evil AND …
AND is a small but powerful logic “operator.” In computer programming, AND allows us to move beyond conclusions based only on the IF-THEN statements. Let’s again look at the words of God in the Bible that might follow the word AND…
IF God is all powerful yet suffering is not desirable THEN God allows suffering ANDin our suffering, God both identifies with us, and restores us.
Christ Jesus, while on earth, experienced everything we do. His life of trouble was predicted in Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
God promises to hear us in our suffering. Psalm 22:24 tells us of our God who listens to us
For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
As we suffer, God offers comfort and a vision for our future. In Psalm 119:50 we read
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
If God is all powerful yet evil exists THEN God allows evil ANDin a world of evil, God strengthens and preserves us.
Evil remains here, for a time, but as believers in Christ, we find God there with us. Psalm 41:2 offers us solace with this thought
The Lord protects and preserves them — they are counted among the blessed in the land —
In 1 John 5:18-19 we are encouraged with
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
For anyone who has suffered, for anyone who sees evil face to face, the question “WHY, God?” no doubt will come out with groans and screams of pain. Your pain is real. No one can truly know your pain. AND, God is with you in your pain. The Bible promises that in our suffering and amongst all the evil in the world, God is with us. In Romans 8:31 through 39, the Bible offers us hope
What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In all our circumstances, in all our troubles, in all our pain, when we question “IF God…,” let us remember to add “, … AND God.”
As a parent, I often had to offer guidance to my kids. At times, I had to remind them of a rule. In rare occasions, I had to reinforce my words, restating them with some emphasis. At those moments, I sometimes felt angry. When words are repeated, it’s probably best to listen carefully.
In the Bible, God speaks to us. The words we read are directly inspired by God, and the human author writes as if God’s hand wraps around his own, just as we teach our tiny children to make letters on a page. One striking example of God’s inspiration can be seen in Psalm 95. The Psalm opens with words of praise, recognizing God as our salvation, our creator, and our sustainer. In verses 8 and 9, we read:
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.
What happened at Meribah and Massah? We read of this event in Exodus 17, verses 1 through 7. Here, the Israelites faced an uncertain future, one of extreme concern, the lack of drinking water. In their complaint, the people showed no faith in God. The people rebelled, threatening to kill their leader with stones.
In response to the complaint, the leader demonstrated his faith, by immediately turning to God. He “cried out to the Lord.” He shared his deep despair, and the fear for his life. And he waited for God’s response. The leader went to a place where the Lord met him, with a few others from the group. God rewarded him with flowing water from a rock. On top of a mountain. Where no rainwater could collect. Where no underground stream would flow. There is no doubt as to who provided the water! The leader used a wooden staff to strike the rock, noteworthy as the staff used to separate a dry land path for the people in the midst of a sea as they fled oppression. And from the rock, water flowed.
In a common Hollywood ending, we might expect for the flowing water to be the unbelievable highlight of the movie, where the leader is rewarded with cheers of the crowd for somehow bringing water to their number. In God’s Word, though, the water is not the story. We see this when we find the words of the Psalmist brought back to life in a well-written letter to those curious about Jesus Christ, in the book of Hebrews. The words of the Psalm are directly quoted, in Hebrews 3:7-11. They are that important. As children, we are hearing the words of a Father again. We didn’t listen well the first time! What does our Father say?
Do not harden your hearts. Do not harden your hearts.
When we think back about our passage through life, no doubt we can think of a person once a friend, and now, well, not a friend. On the playground in elementary school, one of your friends didn’t choose you for his kickball team, and that was it! In high school, it was the person who left you all alone to face the wrath of the principal for bringing alcohol to the big game. In your first real job, it was the person who stole your great idea and took it to the boss for credit. Each time, our hearts were hardened towards the person. The relationship ended, in emotional trauma, most often anger. Sometimes forever.
Just like our relationships ended with certain people, the entire nation of Israel was separated from fellowship with God in a wilderness, as a result of their lack of faith. Even the place names were changed to reflect what happened! Massah means “testing,” and Mariah means “quarreling.” Their lack of faith angered God. Just like the person who left you holding the bag of liquor at the high school game angered you.
In His righteous anger, God decided to keep the nation away from “His rest.” To these people, that meant a particular land “flowing with milk and honey.” Forty years later, God opened that land to His people, just as He promised. In a similar way, forty years later, at the high school reunion, you saw your old friend who left you under the stadium and reconnected over a glass of Merlot. The relationship was restored. Your disappointment from Friday night long ago was softened by a realization that a deep friendship was still possible, once you talked it over.
God doesn’t want us to be separated from Him for forty years! There remains only one thing that separates us, and that is sin. Sin prevents us from a relationship with God, even as believers in Christ. Sin finds us struggling to find our way, instead of seeing God guide us effortlessly. Sin finds us in fear, wondering how we are going to survive financially, instead of relying on God to provide. Sin finds us alone, in a darkness borne of shame, instead of in community, where our true needs are met. The writer of Hebrews offers this admonition in 3:12-15:
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Even today, God is speaking to you. He is promising a life of incredible richness and complexity. He offers joy and peace. He provides everything we need, and more. Will we let sin’s deceitfulness harden our hearts against our loving Father?
Today, and every day, turn to God! Look for His blessings. Share God’s love with your friends and family to encourage each other to live holy lives, full of grace and truth.
And, trusting God for everything, enter His rest. He loves you more than you will ever know.
At my church, our senior pastor related twelve gospel statements in a sermon. One of the statements is “You are given grace and peace.” As we gladly accept this good news, we might wonder “Why have I been given grace and peace?”
God’s Word states that our nature is sinful. As much as we want to think of ourselves as a good person, with few moral failures, the Bible is clear. In John 3:23, we read “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” The Bible also highlights that “surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” in Psalm 51:5.
Sin continues to dominate our lives. No matter how hard we try to avoid sin. No matter that we know of godly men and women who serve as examples for us. In Hebrews 12:1 we read “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Sin is both unavoidable and inescapable. Worst of all, sin entangles us in a life of more sin.
In the New Testament, thirteen books were written by Paul. Paul’s life was transformed from a person seeking to kill believers in Christ to a man who died proclaiming Christ. Paul met Christ in an extraordinary encounter on a journey to find and prosecute believers in Christ, and in that moment he realized God’s incredible gift of salvation in Christ. As an apostle and missionary for Christ, he traveled the region extensively, later giving guidance and encouragement to the many churches he helped to found. In these letters, found now in the Bible, Paul offered the phrase “Grace and peace to you…” in every letter. We see this phrase in Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Every letter ascribed to Paul. As an introductory phrase to all thirteen letters, we know that Paul’s gospel — his good news — was best summarized by these words: Grace and peace to you…
Imagine reading one of Paul’s letters, in a church like this. Today, it would be like watching a sermon from a pastor somewhere far away on a big screen in our church. We would sit quietly in the auditorium, the band would leave the stage, and the lights would dim. The face of a pastor would smile from that screen, and the first words we would hear are “Grace and peace to you.” Being in church, believing in Christ, we wonder why every message begins with the same words. Aren’t we OK with God?
Believing in Christ, who died on our behalf, we might think all is well. But, the battle against personal sin never ends. In the ancient church traditions, continued by many traditional Christian denominations today, the church service includes a time of corporate confession, followed by moments of silence for personal confession. Afterwards, the church pastor turns to the congregants and offers a reminder of God’s forgiveness and absolution. We rarely see this in our typical church services today.
Why should we confess sins in prayer? And how? The Bible reminds us of four elements of an ongoing relationship with God:
Contrition Micah 7:9 Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.
The Bible reminds us that we remain sinners. In that sin, we bear the Lord’s wrath, until He Himself acts as our attorney before the judge. Our sin is personal, and takes us into darkness. The Lord’s actions alone move us from darkness into light. Can we gain a deeper and deeper awareness of personal sin, and how it grieves the Lord and merits wrath? Our ability to see His righteousness is magnified as we are saddened by our personal sin.
Confession 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Confession of sins brings to mind scenes from many movies, where a person speaks with a priest in a small dark box. We don’t have to do that! Confession of specific sins simply means we are to pray to God about the specific sins we recognize. We pray to place them on the altar before the Lord. In so doing, we are given a great weapon to avoid such sin in the future, as He again takes action and purifies us from our unrighteousness.
Cleansing Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.
It is not always easy to recognize that sins are actually rebellion from God. Such rebellion separates us. God cannot have a living relationship with us in our rebellion! What is amazing is that God wants a continuing relationship with us, and He alone chooses to and has power to cleanse us.
Celebration Romans 7:24-25 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The battle with sin, which never seems to end, brings us to a recognition that we are truly wretched. Even though we are well-dressed, greet one another with a smile, and share pleasantries with friends, we are actually living as if we were on death row. Our garments are ragged, dirty, and mark us as condemned with stripes that show our guilt. We are trapped in a dark cell, surviving on moldy bread and dank water rather than filet mignon and merlot wine. The singular sacrificial act of Christ leads us to exclaim “hallelujah!” in thanksgiving for our rescue.
So today, what would your prayer of confession be? Can you confess your sins, recognizing that God alone chooses to act to save us? Can you share with God your sorrow over your sin, your recognition that it separates you from Him, your desire to return to fellowship with Him, and your gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice? Can you ask God to purify you?
If we do, we will live in a continuing state of celebration, in which we recognize the gospel of grace and peace in our lives. Because of our sin, we need grace. With God’s grace, we live in peace with Him.
Seeking To Understand 