THE LORD SPOKE (August 31)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 132-138

In what way is fellowship like olive oil and dew? Psalm 133 is about fellowship; the first verse speaks of brothers living together in unity. That really is a beautiful thing - both to behold and to experience. But when David compares it to olive oil and dew he loses most of us. Probably not many people think of oil dripping in beards as a beautiful thing. So, what is the application of these two similes - olive oil and dew?

Oil = consecration and service

• a holy thing - The oil of Aaron’s anointing was a sacred substance, something set apart for and that set one apart for the Lord’s service. Genuine spiritual fellowship is also a holy thing, something that is offered to but that also comes from the Lord.
• a consecration for service - Fellowship spurs us on to service because we see and hear what God is doing elsewhere. It encourages us to do a better job ourselves.
• a preparation for worship - The oil was applied before worship took place. Likewise, fellowship prepares one for praise; when we hear others’ praise we’re made aware of reasons for our own praise.

Dew = sustenance and restoration

• sustains life - Dew produces health and growth. So also does fellowship with others result in our spiritual growth and healthy believers.
• creates beauty - Mount Hermon’s dew produces everything from alpine flowers, lichens, and moss to mighty oak trees. In a similar way fellowship produce a beauty that others will see and desire. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• results in fruit - The berries and fruit found on Mount Hermon’s slopes attract the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. They flock to its pleasures and, in turn, their young populate the mountain. Likewise, fellowship brings rich increase. It attracts others and spawns more of the same.

David had it right. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.”


New Testament: Revelation 6

Revelation 6-19 is the portion of the book that gives details of the Tribulation. Beginning with a description of the risen Lord (ch. 1) and the letters to the seven churches (ch. 2-3), John has first described the things he had seen and “what is now” (from the outline in Rev. 1:19). Chapters 4-5 are a brief parenthesis which describe the throne room of heaven. Now he passes on to “what will take place later”.

That outline is significant! The term “church” appears 19 times in the first three chapters and then not once in chapters 6-19 which describe the terrible judgments that will fall upon the earth and its inhabitants. The best explanation is that the Church has been raptured from the earth and is in heaven (thus the parenthesis in chapters 4-5!) during this time. It is certainly very odd that the Church is not mentioned once in the 13 chapters which deal with the Tribulation if, in fact, the Church is to go through the Tribulation. This is the primary part of all Scripture which gives us details of that seven-year period of God’s wrath. It’s more than odd that the Church is not even mentioned. In fact, it demands an explanation. The Church reappears at the end of the book (Rev. 22:16) after all the events of the Tribulation are past.

But, for now, back to chapter six. As John watched, the Lamb began to break the seven seals of the scroll in heaven. Each one brought some new and increasing destruction. The first four release the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” and invoke the imagery of Zechariah’s prophecy. Initially, the judgments are in the form of political, economic, or natural phenomena (famine, plague, earthquake). But, increasingly, they are recognized as “the wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:16) and people are desperate to find refuge.

By the fifth seal (Rev. 6:9-11), John takes notice of a growing number of martyrs in white robes gathering under the altar. In the next chapter they will become an innumerable multitude (Rev. 7:9) and will be clearly identified as “they who have come out of the great tribulation”. The heavenly scene is crowded but all attention is on the Lamb as, one by one, He breaks the first six seals. After a period of silence, the seventh seal will unleash a fury even greater (Rev. 8). Meanwhile, John has his eyes fixed on the Lamb.

Do you?

THE LORD SPOKE (August 30)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 120-131

The Psalms of Ascent

There are fifteen of these “Songs of Ascent” (Psalms 120-134). At the main public entrances to the south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, there were fifteen steps climbing up to the platform where the Temple once stood. Actually, there are thirty but in a unique arrangement of one long step plus one short step, making fifteen paired steps. Archaeologists and historians have put the two together and suggested that this was the place where these special psalms were recited by visitors just before entering the compound. No doubt the pilgrim would have thought and prayed through these texts many times at home and during the long trip to Jerusalem. But then, upon arrival, he probably recited them upon approaching his holy destination. These fifteen psalms were most likely on his lips as he climbed those last fifteen steps.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!
Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. (122:1-2)

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore. (125:2)

May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life.... (128:5)

For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling.
“This is my resting place for ever and ever;
Here I will sit enthroned for I have desired it....” (132:13-14)

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.
May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth bless you from Zion. (134:2-3)

Because Jerusalem was at the top of the Judean hills, it was always true that you went up to get to Jerusalem - no matter from what direction you approached. The Hebrew word for “going up” is aliyah and it took on a metaphorical meaning of rising to Jerusalem. The most likely nuance in the term “Song of Ascents” would be going up to Jerusalem for the pilgrim festivals each year. In modern usage it has gained two related meanings: (1) When a Jewish man is called up to the platform to perform one of the readings from the weekly Torah portion in the synagogue he is making an aliyah. (2) The act of immigration to Israel is called Aliyah so that Jewish people today speak of “doing Aliyah” or “making Aliyah”.

There are many other topics tucked into this collection of psalms. It served and still serves as a valuable reminder of how to approach God. Check out the following:

• proper and improper use of the tongue (Ps. 120)
• sha’alu shalom Yerushala’im - pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122)
• how to handle contempt and ridicule (Ps. 123)
• the source/importance of sleeping well (Ps. 127)
• why you shouldn’t keep a record of wrongs (Ps. 130)

About Psalm 131, Spurgeon said, “This is one of the shortest psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn.”


New Testament: Revelation 5

The Lamb is introduced! After the majestic description of the throne room in heaven (ch. 4), the scene is set and our anticipation runs high. An unopened scroll is in the hand of the One sitting on the throne and a mighty angelic crier is calling out for a worthy reader to come forth.

“Behold the Lion!” [drum roll]. Enter a lamb. Ah, but such a Lamb! Freshly slain, “standing in the center of the throne”, yet coming to take the scroll “from the right hand of him who sat on the throne”. Confused? How else could the Trinity be described? He’s three, yet one. All the heavenly realm breaks out in singing praise “to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb” (Rev. 5:13).

The voices number “thousand upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” and with one voice they proclaim the worthiness of the Lamb. He is worthy because He was slain (Rev. 5:9, 12). By His blood He “purchased men for God”. Oh, glory! And He has made them to be a kingdom of priests.

That’s us! The redeemed, blood-bought, men and women since the death of the Lamb are a kingdom of priests to minister before God and to reign on the earth. “Every [other] creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” knows that and joins in one glorious chorus to sing the unsurpassed majesty of God Almighty.

As you read this you are lost in wonder.

When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Oh, that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
Joy like a river around me will flow;
Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 29)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 119

It’s a good way to learn the Hebrew alphabet. Did you know the word “alphabet” comes from Hebrew? See the first two letters? Aleph + Beth = alphabet. It’s an acrostic abecedary! (Look it up - that’s in the dictionary too.) Every group of eight verses begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 Hebrew letters so 22 X 8 = 176 verses in the psalm. Can you imagine eight verses starting with “x”? And it doesn’t sound like Dr. Seuss at all.

More important that structure is the content of this psalm. Though it picks up a number of the subjects common in the other psalms, the dominant theme is the word of God. Most of its lines are addressed to God though many are exhortations to the reader. The very form as an alphabetic acrostic suggests instruction and memorization.

If you will write 176 verses about God’s word, you’ll soon be shopping for synonyms. Even a quick glance at the synonyms used here is instructive. There are eight principle terms used. Is that maybe why the author decided on eight verses in each group? Some of the stanzas actually employ all eight terms:

davar = word, promise (as in “give your word”)
edot = statutes, testimonies
hukim = decrees, laws
imrah = word, promise, saying
mishpatim = ordinances, judgments
mitzvot = commandments
pikudim = precepts
torah = teaching

The semantic range of each word frequently overlaps and none of our English translations perfectly reproduce the nuances. “Law” or “laws” is often the default translation for each of them. For example, torah is frequently translated “law” and the “Torah” is “The Law”, the five books of Moses that stand first in the Old Testament. But if you see them primarily as Law, you’ve really missed it! They contain laws but they also have so much more. The word torah comes from the root word yarah which means “instruction”. True, if God gives instruction it bears the weight of law. But the basic meaning of torah is closer to “teaching”.

Check out how many times the psalmist says that his delight is in the law of the Lord. Here are some other favorites:

Ps. 119:9-11 - “How can a young man [it works for old men too!] keep his way pure? By living according to your word.... I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Ps. 119:105 - “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Ps. 119:130 - “The unfolding of your words give light, it gives understanding to the simple.”

Try unfolding some of Scripture today!


New Testament: Revelation 4

Apocalyptic literature! In one sense it’s gotten easier for us to visualize such scenes with the advent of modern cinematography. Special effects have given us many more visual images to work with and it isn’t hard to create a mental picture of apocalyptic proportions. Film series such as Lord of the Rings even give us some graphic cosmic magnitude.

On the other hand, special effects have also tended to make us skeptical. When we see something fantastic we try to figure out, “how did they do that?” Our dubious bone has grown and we’ve become cynical or even agnostic towards anything that might seem fanciful.

That’s a real problem when it comes to reading the book of Revelation. John is describing as best he can the things he saw. Words and human language often fail him as he attempts to chronicle his inspired visions. We might tend to block out or do a reality check on the sensational details. Our sales resistance kicks in at the sight of such “special effects”.

When that happens, we view the scene as something less than real. But God and His throne in heaven are very real! The majesty of His throne room is staggering. With flashes of lightning and peels of thunder, the throne (it’s mentioned 11x in this and the next chapter!) is set before a crystal sea and shrouded in a rainbow. Numerous creatures, human, angelic, and otherwise chant without end the praise of the One who sits on the throne, for it is not empty.

All the focus is on that One. He is thrice holy, eternal, and worthy. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. To Him are ascribed glory and honor and power. We’re not there yet but we can sing...

O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth.
O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth.

O Lord, we praise Your name!
O Lord, we magnify Your name;
Prince of Peace, Mighty God,
O Lord God Almighty.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 117-118

Baruch habah. That’s how you say “welcome” in Hebrew. Literally, it means “blessed is he who comes” and is derived from Psalm 118:26. While today it is a common greeting used for anyone who might appear at the front door or step off a plane, in biblical times it was clearly used with messianic overtones.

In Matthew 11:3, from his prison cell John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come?” Jesus sends them back with the glad report that He was indeed the fulfillment of the messianic expectations of Isaiah 61:1.

Quoted by the crowds that followed Jesus at His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem, this phrase is included in all four Gospel accounts (Mat. 21:9; Mk. 11:9; Lk. 19:38; Jn. 12:13). It was the high moment of Jesus’ presentation as Israel’s Messiah, the Son of David, to whom loud “Hosannahs” were due.

Jesus himself quoted it and placed it in a yet future context (Mat. 23:39; Lk. 13:35) when He spoke of the desolation of the Jewish people in the last days. That will finally lead to His second coming and the relieved shout of this messianic greeting once again, “Blessed is He who comes!”

In the Last Day we too will shout “Blessed is He who comes!” In Revelation 19:9 we read of that future event when it is said, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” When He comes to sit down at that table, blessing will fill up blessing to the point that we will shout “like the roar of rushing water and like loud peals of thunder”...

Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come
and his bride has made herself ready.
Rev. 19:6-7

Are you ready for that? Are you ready to shout, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”? Baruch haBa b’Shem Adonai!


New Testament: Revelation 2-3

They were seven contemporaneous churches in John’s day. He’d probably visited or at least knew them all since his time spent at Ephesus. The order of the seven churches is actually the same as that which would have been followed by a postman making mail deliveries. Each letter begins with a commendation (with the exception of the last one, Laodicea). Each letter then voices a complaint (with the exceptions of Smyrna and Philadelphia), followed by a recommended correction.

By way of application, we can also observe that all seven represent types of local churches that have existed throughout the history of the Church. They demonstrate characteristics which are observable in all periods - from John’s day right down to the present. Consider, for example...

Ephesus (2:1-7) - It started so well under Pastor Paul and Pastor Timothy, but thirty years later it had lost its edge or, as John puts it, “forsaken [its] first love”. Coldness was its problem.

Smyrna (2:8-11) - It struggled from the beginning because of poverty and the strong opposition of a hostile Jewish population. This little church suffered persecution early on. Christ was its joy (there’s not one word of condemnation).

Pergamum (2:12-17) - Persecution was strong here too but the church did not renounce its faith. They remained true to the Lord. But, they let some damnable heresies creep in. Concession was its problem.

Thyatira (2:18-29) - This church had continued to grow and was known for its love, faith, service, and perseverance. But in doing so it had chosen to tolerate bad doctrine and immorality had crept in. Compromise was its problem.

Sardis (3:1-6) - It was located in a city of great wealth and fame and the church had become infected with the same concern for appearances. Substance was lacking for the most part. Contamination was its problem.

Philadelphia (3:7-13) - More than any other, this church was known for its missionary activity. Though its own strength was limited, it didn’t fail or give up but stood as a pillar in the worship of God. Commendation was its reward.

Laodicea (3:14-22) - Equivocating from the start, this church was too content with “life as usual”. Unaware of the needs or the dangers around them, they thought everything was just fine. Complacency was its problem.

So, where does your church fit into this picture? Are you a part of the faithful ones who are commended by the Lord of chapter one?

THE LORD SPOKE (August 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 111-116

“He will have no fear of bad news” (Ps. 112:7a). Does that sound like you? Would you be interested to know how that could be true? Just back up to see who is the antecedent of “he” and you’ll find the clue: “him who is generous and lends freely” (Ps. 112:5a). Keep backing up and you’ll find that it’s the man who fears the Lord (Ps. 112:1a). Take a look at his characteristics:

• finds great delight in the Lord’s commands (Ps. 112:1b)
• righteousness (Ps. 112:3b, 4b, 6b, 9b)
• gracious (Ps. 112:4b)
• compassionate (Ps. 112:4b)
• generous (Ps. 112:5a, 9a)
• just (Ps. 112:5b)
• unafraid (Ps. 112:7a,8a)
• trusting in the Lord (Ps. 112:7b)

That’s quite a listing! Are those qualities you’d like to have characterize your life? Take a second look. Twice it links righteousness with being generous (Ps. 112:4-5,9b). Twice it says he will have “no fear” (Ps. 112:7,8) and twice that he will have a strong heart (Ps. 112:7,8). Does that also include the physical heart? Take another look at the list of benefits:

• children who also love the Lord (Ps. 112:2)
• wealth and riches (Ps. 112:3)
• good in a variety of forms (Ps. 112:5)
• honor (Ps. 112:9)

All that and more is promised to “the man who fears the Lord” (Ps. 112:1). So how can a person access that truth?

1. Start by thinking of Him at all times. He should be a factor in every equation of your life.
2. Learn all you can about Him and His ways. This comes from the Bible. So you should read some Scripture every day. Read consistently; read meditatively; read hungrily.
3. Speak often to Him. Tell Him what you think, what you fear, what troubles you. Ask Him to help you.
4. Determine to follow through on what you’re discovering and learning about Him. Obey His commands; follow His ways; think His thoughts.

New Testament: Revelation 1

Any portion of Scripture will bring a blessing to those who read it but this part of the Bible makes a special promise to that effect. First to the reader but even more so to the one who “keeps” this prophecy. How do you “keep” prophecy? After reading it, you “take it to heart” (NIV), meaning, you live it out expectantly. You look for His coming and you long for the fulfillment of that which is promised.

Revelation 1:13-16 provides the only physical description we have of the Lord Jesus anywhere in the Bible. A few clues can be picked up in the Gospel accounts (He didn’t look strikingly different from others, He had a beard) but not much is known before this point. What we’re given here is a view of Him already in His glorified state, after His return to heaven. Jesus was...

dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Rev. 1:13-16)

When John, His best friend on earth, saw Him (Rev. 1:17), he fell at His feet as though dead. We’ll likely do the same. His blazing eyes will see right through us (could that be the fire of I Cor. 3:13-15?) and His thundering voice will rattle us in a way we’ve never yet experienced. What glory that will be!

John tells us that he was “in the Spirit” on “the Lord’s Day” when this happened (Rev. 1:10). This is most likely a reference to the day of Jesus’ resurrection (i.e. Passover season), not any given Sunday. That use of the term “Lord’s Day” comes into Christian practice much later. At this point, it referred to a yearly observance of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, not simply the first day of the week. Being in exile on the island of Patmos because of his witness for Christ, John was commissioned to write what he had seen (chapter 1, and everything that preceded in his Gospel account), what he was seeing (chapters 2-3), and what was yet to be seen (chapters 4-22).

What follows is the most staggering vision of the future that has ever been given to man. For 2000 years it has kept us captivated and wondering at many of the details. We see “through a glass darkly” something of what the future holds and we stand in awe. We tremble. We wait. And we say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

THE LORD SPOKE (August 26)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 107-110

Psalm 108:1-5

“The best thing about waking up, is Folgers in your cup.” So rang a little advertising ditty a few years ago. But there’s something better yet. The greatest way to start the day is before dawn with a song and with your thoughts directed toward God.

Maybe you don’t play the harp and lyre (vs. 2) like David but you can buy yourself a hymnal. Or pick up one of the old ones at church when they purchase new ones for the pews - does anybody do that anymore? Work your way through the whole book taking a song a day. It will put a melody in your heart!

Look some more at Psalm 108 for other ideas:

1. Put new strength into your life by thinking God’s thoughts first thing every morning. (“my heart is steadfast, O God” - vs. 1a)
2. Use music; sing to the Lord; create your own melodies using Scripture; work your way through the hymnal. (“I will sing and make music with all my soul” - vs. 1b)
3. Start early - first thing in the morning. Get up before the sun to do it right. (“I will awaken the dawn” - vs. 2)
4. Share your thoughts with others. Tell your family what the Lord is teaching you. Let your friends know. Speak of God wherever you go! (“I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations” - vs. 3)
5. Do it outdoors, or at least near a window where you can look out and see God’s wonderful creation, especially the expanse of the sky. (God’s love is “higher than the heavens...reaches to the skies...over all the earth” - vs. 4-5)

Here are some more suggestions for that hymn book:

• Take one song every day and read through all the stanzas like a poem; sing it if you know it or learn it if you don’t.
• Use the table of contents to follow the logic of the collection in the hymnal.
• Use the table of contents to find doctrinal themes within the collection. This is a very good way to internalize truth but make sure they’re doctrinally correct!
• Use the indexes to find songs that are from other centuries (it will give you a sense of our continuity with beliefs from the past) and from other countries (it will give you a realization that we are part of a large, multi-ethnic family).
• Use the index of authors to find your favorite or other famous authors (Fanny Crosby, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, Bill Gaither) and composers.
• Use the index to find songs centered around a theme you’re currently studying or that are appropriate to the occasion (Thanksgiving, Christmas, patriotic).
• Use the musical index to find songs that are metrically compatible so you can trade tunes and words. It's a great way to help people (including yourself) pay closer attention to the words.

If you do this, you will put feet to David’s words in vs. 5, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.


New Testament: Jude

Another one of the postcards of Scripture, this little book wastes no time diving into some of the deepest doctrines of Scripture (salvation and sovereignty). Jude is a master of metaphor (e.g. six in two verses, 12-13) and uses many inspired illustrations from Scripture to illuminate his points. Like a skilled craftsman, he composed one of the hardest hitting chapters in all the Bible.

While Jude was eager to write about salvation (vs. 3) he found that he really needed to address the problem of certain immoral teachers who were trying to persuade others that they could get away with sinning. They were convinced that being saved by grace somehow gave them a license for immorality (vs. 4) and Jude wanted to squelch that idea from the git-go.

To do so, Jude reminds his readers of several biblical examples of God’s swift and stern judgments upon sin: angels were “tartarized” (probably means “chained in outer darkness” as usually translated in vs. 6); Sodom and Gomorrah were vaporized (vs. 7 and Gen. 19:24-25); Cain was penalized with a permanent “mark” (vs. 11a and Gen. 4:15); Balaam was marginalized and lost his ministry (vs. 11b and II Pet. 2:15-16); and Korah was terrorized and swallowed alive by the earth (vs. 11c and Num. 16:31-34).

Jude spares no condemnation for these ungodly men and musters six graphic images from daily life and nature to describe them:

1. “blemishes at your love feasts” - blots where you should expect beauty
2. “shepherds who feed only themselves” - irresponsible and selfish
3. “clouds without rain” - disappointing and full of unfulfilled promise
4. “trees without fruit” - sterile and unproductive
5. “wild waves of the sea” - full of flotsam, without any clear direction, yet full of destructive force
6. “wandering stars” - shooting off in any direction and eventually self-destructing

With a final flourish, Jude describes them as ungodly (four times!), harsh, grumblers, faultfinders, evil, boasters, and full of false flattery. In stark contrast he encourages his “dear friends” to be vigilant in the following ways:

1. remember what you’ve been taught
2. build up your faith
3. pray
4. keep yourself in the love of God
5. wait expectantly for the Lord’s return
6. be merciful with others
7. fear to fall

Did you know that the word “enthuse” comes from two Greek words, en + theos? The root meaning then is to be “in God”. That sounds a lot like #4. How are you doing?

THE LORD SPOKE (August 25)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 105-106

It’s not a pretty picture. When Israel’s story is told, they don’t come out looking very good. This dual narrative of the exodus from Egypt and the years wandering in the wilderness leave you wondering why on earth God didn’t just have done with them and pick someone else. Take a look at some of the distressing descriptions of the chosen people:

105:28 - “they...rebelled against his words”
106:7 - “they gave no thought to [his] miracles, they did not remember [his] many kindnesses”
106:13 - “they soon forgot what he had done”
106:14 - “they gave in to their craving”
106:20 - “they exchanged their Glory for an image”
106:21 - “they forgot the God who saved them”
106:24 - “they did not believe his promise”
106:28 - “they yoked themselves...to lifeless gods”*
106:39 - “they defiled themselves by what they did”
106:43 - “they were bent on rebellion”

Were we any different we could cluck our tongues, wag our heads, and turn away in disgust. But Israel’s story is our own. The only difference is that we have their miserable example to learn from, and still we don’t. Happily, Israel’s God is also our own. In stark contrast to our unfaithfulness, look at what God does:

105:8 - “he remembers his covenant forever”
105:24 - “the Lord made his people very fruitful”
105:43 - “he brought out his people with rejoicing”
105:42 - “he remembered his holy promise”
106:10 - “he saved them from the hand of the foe”
106:43 - “many times he delivered them”

With joy we can join the psalmist and praise Jehovah (“LORD” in English) in saying:

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD.

________

* God’s name is not “Allah” and we don’t know him through Mohammed. The god of the Koran is not the one true God, whose name is “Jehovah” (16x in these two psalms). He revealed himself to Abraham, with whom He made an eternal covenant, and through Abraham to Isaac (not Ishmael) and to Jacob (105:6).


New Testament: III John

Gaius is commended (III Jn. 1-8). He was a faithful man and it brought joy to John’s heart to see his progress. He was generous and hospitable, helping the missionaries who came through his area. He was known for his “faithfulness to the truth” and walked in a “manner worthy of God”. Maybe the highest commendation that John gives him is that his “soul is getting along well”. How’s your soul getting along?

Diotrephes, on the other hand is condemned (III Jn. 9-10). Condemned for his high-handed treatment of others. He was a malicious gossiper. Condemned for his dictatorial attitudes. He wielded power as if the church was his own little kingdom.

So Gaius is exhorted (III Jn. 11) to be different. We do well to steer clear of the bad example of those who practice evil. They can’t show us the way to God because they’ve never seen Him themselves. Instead we need to look for and imitate godly examples of how to conduct our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Demetrius is held up as a good example (III Jn. 12). Everyone recognized his sterling character and John was happily able to hold him up as an example worthy of being followed. Is your life worthy of being followed? Can people see something that is different about you? Does that difference lead them to God?

From a distance, John is doing what he can to build up his good friend Gaius. No doubt, this little word of encouragement went a long way in strengthening Gaius’ resolve to stay the course. It’s one of the postcards of Scripture and is given to us as an example of how a little word fitly spoken can bring such refreshment to a weary soul.

Who should you write to today? Do it now.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 24)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 102-104

We know by experience that thinking God’s thoughts can be pleasing to us but did you ever realize that He’s interested in your thoughts (Ps. 104:34)? What goes through your head can be pleasing to Him? One thought that pleases Him every time is our delight in His creation. How easy is that! We marvel at the things He has made. Take a look as some of creation’s glories that the psalmist admired:

Ps. 104:2 - “light...stretch[ed] out [in] the heavens”

God’s magnificent handiwork observed in a sunset is a marvelous display that leads us to declare, “My Father is so fantastic - He painted that.”

Ps. 104:3-7 - “clouds...winds...thunder”

God’s awesome power exposed in a storm can be a frightening experience that leads us to whisper, “My Father is not afraid - He made that.”

Ps. 104:6-10 - “the deep...the waters”

God’s gracious provision of the earth’s water supply seen in the ocean’s depths can be a humbling thought that leads us to remember, “My Father is so wonderful - His love for me is deeper than that.”

Ps. 104:11-12, 17-21 - “beasts...donkeys...birds...the stork...goats...coneys...lions”

God’s infinite variety of creatures found in nature is a captivating thrill that leads us to proclaim, “My Father is so incredible - He invented all of them.”

Ps. 104:14 - “grass...wine...oil...bread”

Ps. 104:16-17 - “trees...cedars...pine trees”

Ps. 104:19-20 - “moon...sun...darkness”

Ps. 104:23 - “man”

(Have you ever considered the intricacies of the human hand - the muscles, joints, fingernails in the right place, protective and restorative skin? What a useful tool the Father has given us there! Imagine how much one would cost at Home Depot.)

If you dig, you’ll find much more in this psalm. In fact, if you pursue it in Creation, you’ll never exhaust the possibilities.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Meditate on God’s creation and rejoice in the Lord today. In the process, your thoughts will put a smile on His face!


New Testament: II John

This is love; that we walk in obedience to his commands. (II Jn. 6)

John has been saying this “from the beginning” (see, for example, Jn. 14:15 and I Jn. 2:3,7). It is a mark of the believer to do the Father’s will. When we love someone, there is an immediate and long-lasting desire to do what pleases him or her. In fact, if our love for God doesn’t produce a changed life-style and a new set of activities, there’s good reason to doubt that love. How real can it be if it doesn’t produce the outward evidence of a changed life?

There are those who “run ahead” in these matters (II Jn. 9). In John’s day he was dealing with Gnostics who believed they had surpassed the teaching of the apostles. They had a “higher knowledge” but it amounted to a denial of Scripture. In our day, we have some who have added to the Scriptures in other ways, making unbiblical requirements of people. They have added personal preferences to the commands of the Bible and have saddled others with a legalistic code of obedience. But it’s no longer “obedience to His commands”.

Sometimes we tolerate such people but we should take care. In doing so, we might be guilty of just what John is warning us about. By accepting them, we become participants in their error (II Jn. 11). We’re told to not welcome them into our circles. We may and should be congenial but we must not aid and abet. Our foremost concern must always be that our lives and doctrine match up with Scripture perfectly.

Let us concern ourselves with knowing God’s Word thoroughly and let us be careful to distinguish our personal preferences from what the Bible teaches. Personal preferences are fine, so long as they are not contrary to Scripture, but let us recognize them as such - personal preferences.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 23)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 95-101

What does the Bible have to say about TV?

I will walk in my house
with blameless heart,
I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil. (Ps. 101:2-4)

Okay, so David wasn’t talking about TV. But it fits doesn’t it? What is certain is that he links the heart and the eyes. That which enters through the eye gate has the power of affecting the heart so “be careful little eyes what you see....”

External influences that affect the heart can come from many different sources but the eye is particularly effective (and affective!) because, like a photograph, it records an image that can live in the memory forever. Did you get that? Some mental pictures are never erased. How careful we must be to fill our heart with good things. Whether they come in through the eyes or the ears, whether they are things we read or things we listen to, we must consciously and actively put out the bad and take in only the good. Just look at some of the action words David uses to describe how to do this:

Ps. 101:2 - “I will be careful to...”
Ps. 101:4 - “I will have nothing to do with...”
Ps. 101:5 - “I will put to silence...I will not endure”
Ps. 101:7 - it won’t “dwell in my house...[or] stand in my presence”
Ps. 101:8 - “I will put [it] to silence” and “I will cut [it] off”

That shows a clear pledge and a constant vigilance to not allow the presence of evil in my pursuit of moral integrity. Who is sufficient for such things? Is there any one who can “lead a blameless life” (Ps. 101:2)? You may not be a king with civil powers to put down evil in the way David describes in Ps. 101:6-8. But you are a child of the King who has been granted such powers through the indwelling Spirit. With God’s help - and that’s the key! - you can succeed. So why don’t you ask Him to help you right now?


New Testament: I John 5

You don’t need I John 5:7-8 to prove the Trinity from the Bible. It’s stamped on every page and there are many other places where you will simultaneously find the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in joint activity. For example, look at Matthew 3:16-17 (Jesus’ baptism); John 14:17 (Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit, coming from the Father); I Corinthians 12:4-6 (distribution of spiritual gifts); II Thessalonians 2:13 (Paul’s Trinitarian thanksgiving), and I Peter 1:2 (the involvement of the Trinity in our salvation).

For there are three that bear record [in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth,] the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 Jn. 5:7-8)

The inserted text in I John 5:7-8 is unnecessary. “Inserted text”?? That’s exactly what it is. It’s not found in any Greek manuscript before the 1500's! Some very late Latin manuscripts have it and around 1520 it was back-translated from Latin to Greek. When Erasmus was preparing an eclectic Greek text in 1522 he inserted it at this point but with a footnote that he was suspicious of the text.

Since the King James Version was based in part on Erasmus’ Greek text of the New Testament, the insertion was included and has appeared in many later English versions ever since. However, it may be stated categorically, it is not part of the inspired text even though, based on other Scriptures, it is inspired truth. Though what it teaches is a precious truth, the inclusion of this text constitutes a willful twisting of Scripture. It may be twisting in a good direction, but it’s twisting nonetheless.

There are not many such cases in our English Bibles and those that are there are very well known (e.g. John 7:53 - 8:11 and, perhaps, Mark 16:9-20). It constitutes a strong argument for the student of Scripture to dig deeply and to be knowledgeable of the biblical text. It may also be an argument for learning the original languages, but knowing Greek and Hebrew wouldn’t solve this particular problem. It certainly is an argument for not being dependent on the English text alone (à la the “KJV only” movement).

Simply put, the Bible wasn’t written in English! Therefore any translation is just that: a translation. The moment you allow that, you have the potential for human error. So, even though it can be terribly confusing at times and we could wish for greater uniformity, the fact is that the plethora of English versions is really a blessing in disguise. Assuming that each translator did his homework carefully (and that may be assuming too much), we can benefit greatly from comparing the different translations. Though it may take longer and the process may be messier, the outcome is going to be better and the process will even prove to be beneficial.

Holy Bible, book divine
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came;
Mine to teach me what I am.

Mine to tell of joys to come
And the rebel sinner’s doom;
O thou Holy Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 22)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 90-94

Did you hear about the man who, praying to God, said, “Lord, I know that with you one day is like a thousand years. So, maybe, could you just give me a hundred dollars to help me pay my bills.” The Voice came back, “Sure, just wait a couple minutes.”

Time. What a precious commodity! Every one has exactly the same amount. You can’t store it up. You can’t buy more of it when you run short. You can’t ever get it back if you waste it. But you can use your time wisely. You can redeem it. You can make it count for eternity.

Moses, the author of this psalm, had a lot to say about time. He tells us (Ps. 90:10) that we can normally expect to have 70 years of time or maybe 80, if we’re strong. Moses actually had more than his share of years but spent a lot of them waiting for things to happen. He lived 120 years - forty growing up in Pharaoh’s court and learning the wisdom of Egypt, forty waiting in Midian and learning the wisdom of the desert, and forty wandering in the wilderness and learning to walk with God. The proper Hebrew greeting on a birthday today is, “ad meah ve’esrim”, which means, “may you live to 120” just like Moses.

Take a look at all the descriptors for time found in this psalm: “all generations” (Ps. 90:1), “from everlasting to everlasting” (Ps. 90:2), “a thousand years...like a day just gone by” (Ps. 90:4), “a watch in the night” (Ps. 90:4), “morning...evening” (Ps. 90:6), “all our days” (Ps. 90:9), “the length of our days” (Ps. 90:10), “they quickly pass...fly away” (Ps. 90:10), etc. Do you remember how slowly time seemed to crawl when you were young? At first you were proud to say you were “four-and-a-half years old”. Then it took forever to get to the magical age of 13. In high school and college the difference of one year between you and your sweetheart felt like robbing the cradle or stealing from the grave. Then before you knew it college was over, you were married, and the kids were starting to grow up. Next thing they were gone to college themselves and you had an empty nest again. Where did the time go?

Moses helps us check our spiritual clock repeatedly in this psalm. He reminds us of God’s timelessness and, therefore, why it’s so important for us to see things with eternity’s values in view. In Ps. 90:12 he says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” His concluding petition is that our effort and use of time would have been worthwhile; that God would, in fact, “establish the work of our hands” (Ps. 90:17). Isn’t that what you want? To come to the end of life and feel that it really was worth it after all. Like pennies and dollars, taking care of the minutes will help you take care of the hours that God gives you in this life.


New Testament: I John 4

John used the word “love” a total of 43 times in this little epistle and half of them are right here in chapter 4. The term is notoriously hard to define so you come up with things like “war affection based on kinship or personal ties” when you look it up in a dictionary. Not very satisfying. Not much better than the one a 12th grade veteran of life gave his 9th grade friend: “Love is the feeling you feel when you begin to feel a feeling you never felt before.”

John doesn’t give us a dictionary definition of “love” but he describes and explains love in theological terms because ultimately all true love springs from one Source. Because God is the author of all being, every attribute and every verb begins with Him. (Adverse attributes and verbs are simply the negative image of His positive qualities.)

Twice John brings the discussion to a crescendo when he says, “God is love” (I Jn. 4:8,16). He clarifies this by adding these observations:

• “love comes from God” (I Jn. 4:7)
• “God showed his love” by sending His son (I Jn. 4:9)
• any love we might know or show has come from Him (I Jn. 4:10)
• “we also ought to love one another” (I Jn. 4:11)
• love is the evidence that “God lives in us” (I Jn. 4:12)
• in the end, we must “rely on the love God has for us” (I Jn. 4:16)
• that love produces confidence and drives away all fear (I Jn. 4:18)

He brings it all together by stating plainly that the only way we can know or demonstrate love ourselves stems from the fact that He first loved us (I Jn. 4:19). And then comes the conclusion: “whoever loves God must also love his brother” (I Jn. 4:21).

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav’n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Finish then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory unto glory,
Till in heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 21)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 86-89

Love and faithfulness. The combination is found seven times in this psalm (Ps. 89:1,2,14,24,28,33,49). In human experience, the “spark of love” needs faithfulness to sustain it. Only then does the spark become a flame. God’s love and faithfulness are perfectly co-joined. Together, the balance becomes what is sometimes called a “divine perfection”. Take note of how it’s further balanced with God’s righteousness and justice:

RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE + LOVE and FAITHFULNESS

It’s most clearly seen in God’s covenants (Ps. 89:3,28,33,39) and particularly, in this psalm, His covenant with David. At the time of the writing of this psalm, probably just after Nebuchadnezzar’s attack and destruction of Jerusalem (Ps. 89:38-45), it must have felt like God goofed. It seemed like he had rejected and spurned the whole nation. The “City of David” was broken down and reduced to rubble (Ps. 89:40).

So the psalmist goes back to one sure anchor - God’s covenant with David (Ps. 89:3,28,33,39). II Samuel 7:8-16 is the historical statement of that covenant and, rather boldly, the psalmist tells God to “remember” (Ps. 89:47,50) that “you said” (Ps. 89:3,19) something in the past. The words crescendo to an astounding accusation by Ps. 89:49: “O Lord, where is your former great love which in your faithfulness you swore to David?”

The answer to that question had already been given. It was in the very terms of the covenant and the psalmist had himself just quoted it (Ps. 89:30-37). God’s promise to David is eternal but if his sons failed to follow God’s way they would not receive the promised blessing and security. They sinned and left God’s way so God removed His hand of blessing and the nation fell apart.

Fell apart but didn’t dissolve forever. We are still waiting to see God fulfill His promise to David. But, fulfill it He will! Israel’s failure resulted in our blessing and inclusion in the covenants (see Romans 9-11, especially 11:11-12). But we did not take the place of Israel. God will never forget His covenant with David (Ps. 89:28) which will endure like the very sun and moon (Ps. 89:36-37). David’s greater Son is still God’s “anointed one” (Ps. 89:20,38,51 - Heb. mashiach, Messiah) and...

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does its successive journeys run;
His kingdom spread from shore to shore,
‘Til moons shall wax and wane no more.

God’s love and faithfulness guarantees it!


New Testament: I John 3

Because God has lavished His love upon us (I Jn. 3:1), we are His children and produce the affects of that love on others. It’s a pretty simple concept and one that works.

But what if it doesn’t? What if we don’t love others as we should. The first answer to that is to examine our own life to see if we really are His children for it says, “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother” (I Jn. 3:10b). The very fact that you’re concerned about such things is probably proof that you have been born again. You are, in fact a child of God. If a struggle with sin or a lack of love continues to plague you, you need to look at the next step.

John tells us twice that one who is born of God cannot go on continually sinning (I Jn. 3:6,9). This is not an assertion of sinless perfection, but it does indicate a pattern. A believer’s life is characterized by a rejection of sin and an increasing growth in righteousness. It will be evidenced in his relationship with others. It will also be reflected in an increasing distance from the world (I Jn. 3:13). While this is the work of God in us, we also have a responsibility in the task. We must be actively involved in purifying ourselves (I Jn. 3:3).

Thirdly, the positive side of that purification process involves demonstrable fruit. It’s not just a purging of sin, it’s also a production of good deeds. We’re told to “not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (I Jn. 3:18). Specifically, it says we must use our material possessions to provide for those in need.

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. (I Jn. 3:19-20)

Did you get that? “This is how!” Using your material possessions to bless others is how you flesh out the love God has placed in your own heart.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 20)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 80-85

Psalm 84:5

The Catholics and the Moslems do it. Others also practice some form of pilgrimage. The idea of regularly visiting some sacred space is certainly not unique to any one sector of mankind. The psalmist says, “Blessed are those...who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” Is there some form of pilgrimage that is appropriate for us today?

Blessed. The Hebrew original carries the meaning of happiness. “How happy are those who....” That thought rings throughout the psalm. The doorkeeper at the Temple courtyard has the most exalted position imaginable. Even the little sparrow who finds a niche near the altar is considered fortunate. The contentment and pure joy that comes from such proximity to the living God is something to desire.

Set their hearts. It’s not just like falling off a log. It takes commitment. It costs something to make a pilgrimage. It won’t happen if there is not determination and follow-through. Many talk about it - few make it happen. In Hebrew the expression is more literally, “those who have highways in their hearts”. The meaning is, “the paths to God are embedded in their hearts”. Does your desire to draw near to God include the way to get there and are you on the right path?

Pilgrimage. The psalmist is speaking quite literally of visiting the Temple on Mt. Zion but he is also speaking metaphorically of the pursuit of God and the inner joy that comes from being in His presence. His application becomes ours! We no longer make pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem but we can, we should, we must make daily pilgrimage to His presence. We must regularly seek our sustenance from Almighty God. Does your soul yearn for that? Do you feel faint if you start the day without Him?

I met God in the morning,
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise -
Like a glory to my breast.

All day long this Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were torn and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to me a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I, too, had loosed the moorings
With this Presence left behind.

So I think I’ve found the secret,
Learned through many a troubled way,
You must meet God in the morning,
If you want Him through the day. (author unknown)


New Testament: I John 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. (I Jn. 2:15)

There’s nothing subtle about that command! It’s straight and to the point. It’s categorical and comprehensive. “Do not love the world or anything in the world.”

It’s also very intrusive and we don’t like things that get in our face like that. “Legalism”, we cry. “Christian liberty”, we mutter. “Must apply to someone else”, we think. And we do our best to not think too hard about its implications in our own life.

It might mean we have to change our leisure time practices, rethink our shopping plans, curb our television habits, reorder our Internet activity, switch the channels on our radio or the playlist on our iPod, buy a different wardrobe, fix our very thoughts and dreams and passions.

Worldliness comes naturally for worldlings. But a redeemed worldling is a changed person. He no longer follows the desires of his heart because Jesus died to give him a clean heart. He no longer lives to gratify himself. His goals are no longer horizontal. Jesus has made a difference in his life. If you can’t define that difference (and if others can’t see it for themselves) you really need to stop and ask yourself some hard questions.

Here’s a test for you: What dominates your mind and really moves you? What makes your heart beat faster? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

The world does offer some attractive things - otherwise they wouldn’t be tempting, would they? And the individual things are not necessarily the problem. This is not a formula for a specific set of rules or conservative standards. It’s first of all a matter of the heart. Look at what John says next:

For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. (I Jn. 2:16)

Worldliness exists first of all in our hearts. It begins with cravings, lust, and boasting. The outward evidences can take many forms. If John had produced a list, we might even get good at avoiding them but we’d be sure to invent some new ones. Worldliness is the preoccupation and over-powering obsession with anything that takes the place of an all-consuming love for God in our lives. “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 19)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 78-79

Psalm 78:70-72

They Smell Like Sheep. That’s the title of a book written for pastors. Actually, it recommends spending some time with sheep so the pastor gets the smell of sheep on himself. It’s the pastors that “smell like sheep”. Not very flattering. But then, have you ever spent some time around sheep? They’re not easy to flatter. They stink. They’re terribly dumb. They spook and scatter easily. They never seem to go where you want them to go. When they’re frustrated or missing something they just stand there and say, “baaaa.....” (translation: whine). So when it says, “all we like sheep...” it’s not really a commendation.

On the other hand, Jesus had a lot to say about His love for sheep:

• “I know my sheep” (Jn. 10:14)
• “feed my sheep...take care of my sheep” (Jn. 21:15-17)
• “go to the lost sheep” (Mt. 10:6)
• “I lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:15)
• “other sheep I have, them also I must bring” (Jn. 10:16)

Here in Psalm 78:70-72 we find reference to one of the greatest O.T. pictures drawn from sheep and shepherding. David was taken from his job as shepherd boy (I Sam. 16:11-13; II Sam. 7:8) to become a shepherd king. God took him from the sheep pens of Jesse to care for “the sheep of Jacob”, a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel descended from Jacob. And he did a good job! Despite his all-too-human failures, Scripture records that “David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them” (vs. 72).

What is “integrity of heart” and how can it be said that David had it? He was a murderer, an adulterer, and he lost his temper on more than one occasion. Maybe we should start by saying what integrity of heart isn’t. It isn’t sinlessness. It isn’t perfection. In fact, neither of those even exist!

The Hebrew word translated “integrity” is tome. The lexicons define it as “completeness, fullness, innocence, simplicity”. Perhaps it’s those last two descriptors that help us understand the word here. It involves transparency, honesty, and humility. David sinned but David was quick to repent of his sins and to do what he could to correct them. No one is above sin but to live with “integrity of heart” means to be transparent, honest, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Here are some other biblical examples of men who acted with tome/integrity:

• Genesis 31:39 - Jacob in taking care of Laban’s property
• Genesis 39:6-10 - Joseph in resisting Potiphar’s wife
• Numbers 16:15 - Moses in taking nothing from the Israelites for his services (likewise Samuel in I Samuel 12:4)
• Ezra 8:24-30 - the priests who received the offerings for rebuilding the Temple under Ezra
• Daniel 6:4 - Daniel in maintaining uprightness of character under difficult circumstances

Can it be said of you?


New Testament: I John 1

Koinonia. It’s not the name of an Alaskan fishing village. It’s not a wild fixation on money. It’s not even (originally) the name of a Sunday School class.

It’s a Greek word meaning “fellowship” and has to do with sharing with someone a common experience that draws you together. Joint participation in an activity that knits your soul with another person will result in a fellowship or comradery. But fellowship can often take place vicariously. It’s possible to share experiences verbally and thus be drawn closer together.

That’s how John starts this little epistle. As an eyewitness of Jesus Christ, he wants to tell his experience so that we can fellowship with him in it. Here’s one who saw and heard the Lord Jesus personally - touched Him even! He tells us what it was like so that we may participate vicariously in that experience. But then he amplifies it, pointing out that ultimately this leads to fellowship with the Father and the Son. Koinonia is a shared experience with no less than God Himself. This results in pure joy.

John illustrates this with the analogy of light and darkness. Stumbling about in the darkness is replaced by walking in the light when we are in fellowship with God. These represent two very contrasting lifestyles. You have a choice before you. You can walk in the light (“as he is in the light”) or you can continue to walk in darkness. Walking in the light is a purifying experience. It makes you clean! The light reveals your stains and you ask Him to take them away. As that happens, the fellowship you have with God grows and grows.

Why would you ever want anything else?

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus;
Just to take Him at his word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 18)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 74-77

Bewildered. Sounds like Bambi stepping out into the big world for the first time. Sounds like me when I wake up from a nap. Sounds like the psalmist (Jeduthun, in this case) when he doesn’t sense God’s ever-present help. He ends the confused bewilderment of the first section (Ps. 77:1-9) of this psalm with six rapid-fire questions which reveal his anguish. Has God completely forgotten me?

Jeduthun remembers (Ps. 77:3,6) previous times of distress when God did answer but that only produces more anguish because no amount of effort or invocation seems to awaken the Divine mercies this time. Could there be a hint of the problem in Ps. 77:2? “My soul refused to be comforted.” There’s truth to the saying: if you find yourself distant from God, there’s no question as to who moved away. Maybe the psalmist’s nostalgia has produced a certain numbness. Is he looking more for a feeling than for a reality? He’s musing (Ps. 77:3,6) and thinking about former days (Ps. 77:5).

“Then” (Ps. 77:10) he focuses on God’s mighty deeds, miracles, and works of long ago (Ps. 77:11-12). It’s when Jeduthun meditates on God’s mighty acts that the bewilderment melts away and confidence returns. A great anthem of praise (Ps. 77:10-20) is the result. How interesting that “no footprints were seen” (Ps. 77:19) but God clearly “led his people like a flock” (Ps. 77:20). When they stopped looking down and raised their eyes to the level of the Shepherd, they could see the way.

Looking back, looking down, looking as circumstances all around - it’s so easy to fall into those traps and we spend our days floundering in bewilderment. The only backward look we should take is to remember what God has done in the past. Remember how He has displayed His power (Ps. 77:14) and look for His path through the sea ahead of you.

What could that mean in practical terms?

• Write it down. Keep a journal of answered prayer or what God has been doing in your life. Establish some mile markers or memory posts on the trail behind you and remember God’s mighty acts in getting you up to those points.
• Review it often. Use visual or auditory aids (e.g. Ps. 77:18!) to remind you of the past.
• Don’t live in the past. Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? Remember the past but don’t live in the past! Meet today’s challenges head on and quit thinking about the so-called “good ol’ days”. Forge out some future. Write today a page that will go down in the history books of tomorrow.
• Press on now. Don’t pull over to the side of the road to rest. The traffic will pass you by and you’ll find yourself struggling just to catch up again. Be a pace-setter yourself. You’ll love how God keeps showing you the next few steps - usually just a few at a time.

New Testament: II Peter 3

Talk about global warming! Peter’s description of the last days speaks of a fiery holocaust that “will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (II Pet. 3:12). That “day of the Lord” has been long delayed, in man’s way of thinking, but God’s timetable is not the same as ours (II Pet. 3:8-9) and, once it begins to happen, the end will be swift.

Just as the flood in Noah’s day caught men by surprise and unprepared to avoid destruction (II Pet. 3:6) so will the coming of this day of the Lord. The delay has caused many scoffers and doubters to arise. Truth be known, many good people have wondered. It does seem that “everything goes on as it has since the beginning” (II Pet. 3:4). But this way of thinking is the result of forgetting God’s Word. It is the result of forgetting what God did in the past. It is the result of forgetting that God is God and in perfect control of all things.

God has made a promise and that sacred covenant included six eschatological developments that we should be looking for:

1. Jesus will return just as the OT prophets and the NT apostles prophesied (II Pet. 3:1-4).
2. A final judgment by fire will take place just as the flood in Noah’s day presaged (II Pet. 3:5-7,12).
3. God’s measurement of time might be different but it is certain. Absolutely certain. Everything is taking place according to a pre-determined timetable (II Pet. 3:8-10,15).
4. Though the present heavens and elements will be destroyed, there will be a new heavens and a new earth (II Pet. 3:10,13; c.f. Is. 65:17-25 and Rev. 21:1).
5. This life is transitory so people who would live holy and godly lives must fix themselves upon God’s promise (II Pet. 3:11-12).
6. Living holy and godly lives will actually speed the coming of the day of the Lord (II Pet. 3:12).

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him. (II Pet. 3:14)

THE LORD SPOKE (August 17)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 70-73

Ever notice how much time we spend talking? Sometimes it’s mindless drivel. Sometimes, if it weren’t for traffic and weather, we wouldn’t have much to talk about. Sometimes we’d do well to shut up and listen to others rather than talking so much.

The writer concludes this psalm by saying, “My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long” (Ps. 71:24). Now there’s a topic that will keep you occupied for a long time! Take a look at the variety of terms used for how we can/should speak of our God:

• “I will ever praise you...my mouth is filled with your praise” (Ps. 71:7-8)
• “my mouth will tell of your righteousness” (Ps. 71:15)
• “I will proclaim your mighty acts...I will proclaim your righteousness” (Ps. 71:16)
• “I declare your power to the next generation” (Ps. 71:18)
• “I will sing praise to you “ (Ps. 71:22)
• “my lips will shout for joy” (Ps. 71:23)

What with eating too, that should be enough to keep our mouths busy for a long time. In fact, there shouldn’t be much time left for slander, back-biting, derogatory remarks, cursing, grumbling, or any of the other things that often come out of our mouths. As James 3:9-10 says: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

Instead, let us resolve to use our mouth to honor God. What a magnificent tool He has given us. Imagine how difficult life would be without the gift of speech. If all your communications were limited to written messages and sign language, how much harder it would be to express ourselves. So, let us express our gratitude to God always and tell of His mighty acts. Determine today to say at least three things in praise of the One who gave you a mouth to do so.


New Testament: II Peter 2

Vilification and vituperation! If we were to list all the terms Peter uses in this chapter to denounce false teachers, we’d have to write out the entire chapter. He spares no judgmental term upon them. He wore out the page in his thesaurus. If you’d used all those words at school you’d have found yourself sitting in the corner.

But the question is, was he right in doing so? Was there just cause? Did/do the false teachers deserve such treatment? Indeed they do! Take a look at what they do and are responsible for:

1. they often go about their shady business secretly (II Pet. 2:1)
2. what they do is destructive to others and to themselves (II Pet. 2:1)
3. it amounts to denying the Lord Jesus and His sacrifice (II Pet. 2:1)
4. they lead others astray (II Pet. 2:2)
5. what they do is shameful (II Pet. 2:2)
6. they bring disrepute on the truth (II Pet. 2:2)
7. they are exploitative and greedy (II Pet. 2:3)
8. they make up lies (II Pet. 2:3)
9. they are twisted by sin (II Pet. 2:10)
10. they despise authority (II Pet. 2:10)
11. they’re arrogant (II Pet. 2:10)
12. they’re slanderous (II Pet. 2:10)
13. they’re blasphemous (II Pet. 2:12)
14. they’re harmful (II Pet. 2:13)
15. they’re besotted (II Pet. 2:13)
16. they’re adulterous (II Pet. 2:14)

And that’s just the warm up! The second half of the chapter goes into even greater detail.

So, back to the question. Did Peter do the right thing in condemning them? What about us? Do we do right to condemn false teachers in our day?

Standing firm for the truth demands it. It’s not enough to just be positive. A doctor must do more than give you vitamins - he also needs to cut out the cancer. This isn’t a call for a negative ministry. Look at all the good and the positive that Peter gives us in the remainder of his two epistles. But balance and honesty demands that we counter and confront false teaching. In this case, the old adage, “If you can’t say something positive, don’t say anything at all” is patently false.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 16)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 66-69

Psalm 68:18 - “Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever?”

Does God “dwell” in any one place? There are numerous verses that speak of God dwelling in Jerusalem, specifically on Mt. Zion, and they frequently say He does so forever. Those must be taken quite literally even though we may have some difficulties in understanding them.

But isn’t God omnipresent? Isn’t God everywhere? Indeed, but omnipresence does not mean God is equally present everywhere. Theologians talk about the “immediacy” of His presence. There are many verses that indicate that His Presence is focused in certain specific locations or at certain specific times:

• references to the Voice - in the Garden of Eden, at Jesus’ baptism and at His transfiguration, the book of Revelation
• many descriptions of the Ark of the Covenant or the Tabernacle and Temple - “between the cherubim”, at the front of the children of Israel as they marched, filling the Holy of Holies
• in relation to individuals in Bible times - at the burning bush, on Mt. Sinai, in the cleft in the rock as a still small voice
• references to heaven as the Father’s House - “in” or “from” Heaven, “on” the throne

One word of caution: It’s not perfectly accurate to explain omnipresence by saying, “He is everywhere”. That can lead to pantheism or pan-entheism (God is in everything). It’s better to say that there is no “where” that is outside His presence. If you say, “He is everywhere”, that makes every “where” a boundary of sorts and it’s as if God fills it up. Omnipresence does not mean that God is diffused throughout the universe as if part of Him is here and part of Him is there. He has no boundaries or spatial limitations. Rather, it is more accurate to say “there is no place anywhere that is outside of His presence”. He is bigger than any “where”.

That is exactly what David says in Psalm 139:7-12. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” If you’re looking for a place to hide, that can be a fearsome thought. But, if you’re delighting in God’s presence in your life, you can take great comfort in the truth that He will never leave you or forsake you.


New Testament: II Peter 1

What if you had heard the very voice of God? Not only heard Him speaking through Scripture but you heard an actual voice. Peter recognized the great privilege and awesome responsibility of being an eyewitness, or, in this case, an ear-witness of Majesty (II Pet. 1:16). That voice was forever sealed in his memory - when he heard those words spoken by God the Father: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (II Pet. 1:17; from Mat. 17:5; Mk. 9:7; and Lk. 9:35).

Very similar words were spoken on another earlier occasion - at Jesus’ baptism (Mat. 3:17). And there was also a third time when that Voice from heaven spoke audibly, confirming the Son’s position. Shortly after His triumphal entry when Jesus prayed and predicted His own death, the Father confirmed His glory (Jn. 12:28-29). It’s likely that Peter was there that day too. “The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.” In any case, Peter was profoundly and permanently moved by what he heard. His concern here is that we would “always be able to remember these things” (II Pet. 1:15), so he took pains to write them down.

Peter knew the human proclivity to “follow cleverly invented stories” (II Pet. 1:16) and the tendency to ignore or misinterpret prophecy (II Pet. 1:19). Besides taking care, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to write it down for us, he also delivers here one of the most important texts in the entire Bible to explain how inspiration works: “...men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Pet. 1:21).

The prophets did the speaking (or the writing) but they were not the source. They were not mere recorders but God so superintended and controlled the process that what was produced was His word. The product, not the people, was inspired. Paul’s word for this was theopneustos, “God-breathed” in II Timothy 3:16. The end result was a perfect record of what God wanted us to know because these men were “carried along by the Holy Spirit”.

THE LORD SPOKE (August 15)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalms 59-65

Belt and suspenders policy. Ever heard of that? In many cases, it’s a very wise policy. If the ripcord on your parachute doesn’t work, you for sure want a backup plan. If the automatic shut-off valve doesn’t function properly, you better have a manual valve to turn it off.

Having a Plan B is a good idea. Except when it comes to God. He will have no others before Him - or behind Him either, for that matter. He will share His space with no other. That’s why David says, “My soul finds rest in God alone...He alone is my rock.... Find rest, O my soul, in God alone” (Ps. 62:1,2,5).

What do people usually turn to in place of God, or alongside of God? What backup plans do they often use just in case He doesn’t “kick in” at the right moment or in the way they expect He should? Here are the substitutes people use:

• fortresses (Ps. 62:2) - a safe place where problems can’t penetrate
• friends (Ps. 62:4,9) - safe people who will tell them what they want to hear
• finances (Ps. 62:10) - a safe plan to provide a shelter in the time of storm

It’s like the first un-piloted passenger flight from New York to Los Angeles. After take-off a voice came on the intercom announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to flight 777. We have just taken off from JFK without a pilot in the cockpit. The plane will be flying for the next five hours entirely by instruments. We will be landing at LAX without a pilot, for the cockpit is empty. But there is no reason to fear because nothing can go wrong...can go wrong...can go wrong....”’

David’s testimony is that a fortress can be shaken and will crumble, friends may turn against us and may even curse us when we need them most, and finances may increase but then they melt away all too quickly. The “impenetrable” strongholds we erect for ourselves are, in fact, no guaranty of security. Our band of brothers may, in fact, let us down in our hour of need. That nest egg we’ve laid away for our future may, in fact, actually be cracked and already draining out without our knowing it. There is only one sure Security and He will share His space with no other.

How are you doing on that score? Have you hedged your bets? Are you depending on suspenders to do what the belt might fail to do? Are you trusting God and _______? It doesn’t matter how you fill in the blank. If there’s anything after the “and” you’re headed for a crash landing. Only one Pilot can get you through the storms of life.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
Pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge. (Ps. 62:8)

New Testament: I Peter 5

Sometime between John 21 and I Peter 5, the fisherman became a shepherd. The jobs are quite different, you know. For one thing, the relationship between the fishermen and the fish is not at all the same as that between the shepherd and his sheep. The fisherman doesn’t get down among the fish and speak to them to calm them down. Fishermen have been known to talk to themselves while fishing but they don’t lead the fish to greener water. They spend most of their time trying to figure out where the fish are! A fisherman rarely makes up endearing names for the fish he catches unless maybe he has a big one mounted and put on his wall. A shepherd never does that.

This passage is one of the two that use all three New Testament terms for a spiritual leader. (The other is Acts. 20:17f.) Peter begins by addressing the elders (presbuteros). He tells them to be shepherds (poimein) and refers to their service as overseers (episkopos). This is important to note because he is speaking in all three cases to the same people. These are not different offices but different functions of the same office. Some churches have distinguished between pastors and elders. Neither Paul nor Peter does that. When addressing the church at Philippi, Paul makes it clear that there are only two offices in the church: pastor and deacons (Phil. 1:1). It’s clear from passages such as I Timothy 5:17 that there may be different functions among the pastors/elders/bishops, such as teaching, administration, shepherding, etc. but the three terms are used consistently for one office. (Note: two offices also excludes a separate office of “deaconness” in the church. Women may serve, of course, but not in an official position.)

Peter doesn’t involve himself with giving a list of qualifications for the pastor/elder/bishop like Paul does in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. However, in the process, he does make mention of several important qualities for the position:

• willing disposition (I Pet. 5:2)
• generous (I Pet. 5:2)
• servant spirit (I Pet. 5:2)
• submission (I Pet. 5:5a)
• humility (I Pet. 5:5b-6)
• dependence upon God (I Pet. 5:7)
• self-control (I Pet. 5:8a)
• spiritual vigilance (I Pet. 5:8b-9a)
• faith and faithfulness (I Pet. 5:9b)

None of those qualities are the exclusive domain of a pastor. Far from it. Each finds ample emphasis throughout Scripture and apply to every believer. Every one of them should characterize the believer who is committed to the Lord.

How do you stack up?

THE LORD SPOKE (August 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 53-58

You could call it “David’s Declaration of Dependence”. It’s not the American thing to do. We glory in our independence as a nation but also as individuals. We’re proud to be a “self-made man”. “I can do it myself” and “I did it my way” are our watchwords.

Here is a man chosen by God for great things and he knew it from an early age. Here is the man already anointed by Samuel to be the next king. Here is the man who has already written, under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, extensive portions of Scripture - God’s Word recorded for man. Yet, he’s hiding in a smelly cave (I Sam. 24) with goat droppings, spider webs, and bat dung. He finds himself in a compromised situation. He probably doesn’t know how many of Saul’s warriors are outside the cave but on a similar occasion (I Sam. 26:3), Saul had 3000 to chase David. The En Gedi oasis had real lions back then (it still has four!) but David’s greatest danger came from “men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords” (Ps. 57:4).

Out of the depths, David cries out to El Elyon (“God Most High”). Abram (Gen. 14) had done so 1000 years earlier and Daniel (Dan. 7) was still doing so 500 years later. The reason men have cried out to Him is because He is in the business of...

• showering mercy (Ps. 57:1b)
• providing refuge (Ps. 57:1b)
• fulfilling His purpose in us (Ps. 57:2)
• saving us (Ps. 57:3a)
• stopping our enemies (Ps. 57:3a)
• loving us (Ps. 57:3b and 10a)
• and being faithful in all things (Ps. 57:3b & 10b)

Do you know him? Have you cast yourself upon Him like David? Have you ever made your own “declaration of dependence”? He will be your refuge and put a song in your heart (Ps. 57:7) that will raise your spirits right up to His throne room above the heavens. No more smelly caves!


New Testament: I Peter 4

You’d think it should end at some point. You’d think that once you get to a certain level it would slow down. You’d think that suffering for being a Christian would taper off with time. But Peter seems to indicate just the opposite. Indeed, if you look at the life of the Lord Jesus, it was the other way around. He began with everyone speaking well of Him but, before it was over, even some of his friends and closest associates turned against Him. It didn’t end until they ended His life.

One source of abuse comes from the world. In I Peter 4:1-6, the author says that they think us strange because we don’t or won’t enjoy the things they do. Because we won’t take part in their “debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry” they “heap abuse on us”. Maybe you wouldn’t even think to do such things but take care that you don’t participate vicariously in them - through TV!

Another source of suffering comes from other believers. In I Peter 4:7-11, Peter refers especially to how we need to treat “one another”. Our prayers are hindered when we do not clear our minds and control our selves. Love, hospitality, and the exercise of spiritual gifts should characterize our community with other believers. When our words and our motivation comes from God, we are able to “administer God’s grace” in its various forms to others. In this He is praised and receives the glory.

So, if you suffer for being a Christian, it’s not “as though something strange were happening to you” (I Pet. 4:12-19). It’s actually the will of God (see I Pet. 2:15; 3:17; 4:2,19) and is reason to praise Him because He has counted you worthy to bear the name of Christ (I Pet. 4:16). But what if it still hurts? The answer comes in the last verse. You must commit yourself to your faithful Creator and continue to do good” (I Pet. 4:19). Or, as Paul told the Galatians: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:19).