THE LORD SPOKE (July 31)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 29-31

Job gives us in one word the answer to sexual temptation. He says in Job 31:1, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” How do you do that? It starts with a promise to God which includes a plea for His help. Here are some practical pointers that will assist you:

1. Bounce your eyes away. You can’t avoid seeing things but you can avoid looking at them. When they appear in front of you (and the Devil will make sure they do!), divert your gaze immediately.
2. Now bounce them away again, because you just came back for a second peek. It will take commitment! Every time you catch yourself looking back, bounce your eyes away again.
3. When you have to bounce away the third time (or more) tell the Devil to get outta here! Remember? Our instructions in James 4:7 are, “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” It really is possible to make him run.
4. Keep your vision high. If always turning your head away and never looking at someone because they’re improperly dressed becomes too awkward, keep your line of sight elevated. Metaphorically too! Keep your eyes on High. Ask Him repeatedly for help in this area. He will do it.
5. Try this. Use that bounce mechanism to trigger a prayer for that girl. “Lord, help her to find the man you have prepared for her. Help her to seek to please you in her life. If she’s not a believer already, please bring someone into her life who will share the Gospel with her....” Amazing how quickly that prayer dissipates lust.

By the way girls, please help us!

1. If it’s not for sale, don’t advertise it. You cannot be too careful in this area. Your self-exposure leads us to sin. Cover up!
2. If you’re married, help your husband obey Proverbs 5:15-23.
3. Pray for us too. Pray that we will be men of God, devoted to righteousness and to pleasing God. If you’re genuinely concerned about things like that - tight, low-cut, and skimpy clothing won’t be an option for you.

What are the options? God’s Word says (Job 31:12), “It is a fire that burns to Destruction, it would have uprooted my harvest.” The option is, you can lose everything. It can take you through hell on earth and right straight to Hell (“Abaddon” is the name of the angel of the Abyss in Rev. 9:11). That’s not a good option. Paul uses similar terminology in I Corinthians 7.

Do like Job. Make a covenant with God about your eyes. It will take a promise - a commitment on your part - and it will take a lot of His help.

How’s it bouncing today?


New Testament: Hebrews 8

The computer world has all but redefined the word “obsolete”. It used to be things would last for awhile. Now, when you buy a new computer or some software, it’s practically obsolete before you get it home from the store.

In the Old Covenant, also known as the Mosaic Covenant, God made a purposefully limited product which lasted very well for 1400+ years. It was never intended to be permanent. Eventually it reached obsolescence. It’s purposes were limited from the start but it did fulfill them very well:

1. To display the holiness of God and identify the standard of holiness required to have fellowship with Him.
2. To identify and reveal sin.
3. To reveal man’s inability and need of atonement.
4. To condemn sinners (to provide the basis for judgment).
5. To point man to the holiness of Messiah, our Savior (it was a “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ”, Gal. 3:24).
6. To motivate man to obedience and praise.

The Old Covenant was good but the New Covenant is better. It’s better because it provides for:

1. A Superior Interior - It offers internal motivation and power instead of external lists (vs. 10a).
2. A Superior Relationship - It is based on a close relationship instead of one that is fearful and distant (vs. 10b).
3. A Superior Knowledge - It provides confidence and assurance instead of insecurity and uncertainty (vs. 11)
4. A Superior Forgiveness - It emphasizes forgiveness and mercy instead of failure and wrong (vs. 12).

Toward the end of the chapter, the author refers to how this new covenant will make the first one obsolete (Heb. 8:13). It was in God’s plan from the start but it took the progressive revelation of both Testaments to unroll the full plan.


Note on the New Covenant:
Some have taught that this New Covenant refers only to the nation of Israel (J.N. Darby) while others think that the Church has replaced Israel (Lenski, Allis, Covenant Theology in general). Some dispensationalists taught that there are two New Covenants - one for Israel and one for the Church (Chafer, Ryrie, Walvoord). But the extensive quote from Jeremiah 31:31-34 here in Hebrews 8 is a strong argument that there is only one New Covenant, given initially to Israel but applied to the Church also (Scofield, most recent dispensationalists). How can this be? The answer lies in Abraham’s spiritual descendants (Rom. 4 and Gal. 3). Believers in this age have been included in the Promise given to Abraham which is foundational to both the Old and the New Covenants.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 30)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 24-28

Going after wisdom is likened to the effort of mining treasures from the earth. The opening verses of this chapter (Job 28:1-11) are a rich source of metallurgical information and have led archaeologists to some unexpected discoveries in places like the Timnah Valley in southern Israel. Evidence for men dangling in shafts (Job 28:4) and tunneling through rock at the “roots of mountains” (Job 28:9-10) has been found.

But this is not a chapter about archaeology. After the opening Job asks, “Where can wisdom be found?” and then describes its high value with references to precious metals and semi-precious stones (Job 28:12-19). He then repeats the question (Job 28:20), “Where can wisdom be found?” This is also not a chapter about metallurgy or lapidary.

Job begins the answer, learned through his own difficult pilgrimage, in Job 28:23 - “God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells....” There follows a brief description of God’s qualifications:

• omniscience (Job 28:24) - “he sees everything”
• omnipotence (Job 28:25) - “he established the force”
• sovereignty (Job 28:26) - “he made a decree”
• justice (Job 28:27) - “he looked...and appraised...conformed...tested”
• revelation (Job 28:28) - “he said to man”

Did you notice? The Lord spoke! Aren’t you glad? Where would we be if He had not chosen to reveal Himself and speak to man? We’d probably be left to inventing silly stories about man descending from monkeys. Or left to killing our babies to control our population and make our own lives “better”. Or left to encouraging one another to be more loving and accept same-sex marriages and alternate life-styles. Or left to investing ever greater sums of money in prisons and law enforcement so we can hide away (in comfort) all the evil we can catch.

No! God has spoken and He has revealed His standard to man and it starts with this:

The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom,
And to shun evil is understanding. (Job 28:28)

New Testament: Hebrews 7

Have you ever noted how some jobs just don’t stay done? Sometimes they need doing again before you even have a chance to turn around. A mother’s work is proverbial - it’s never done!

Well, that’s not true of Jesus’ work. His work was done once-for-all and never had to be repeated. Nor will it ever need to be in the future. That’s because He offers...

1) A BETTER PRIESTHOOD (Heb. 7:11-14) - It’s a royal priesthood (from the tribe of Judah, not Levi). It’s an indissoluble priesthood (He’s “a priest forever”). It’s an uninterrupted priesthood (it is “permanent” - the Greek term aparabatos is a legal term meaning “inviolable”, “unalterable”, “non-transferable”).

2) A BETTER HOPE (Heb. 7:15-19) - The weakness of the old order is replaced by the wonder of the new order whereby we can draw near to God. It’s the difference between knowing about God and knowing God!

3) A BETTER COVENANT (Heb. 7:20-22) - The Old Covenant could not atone for sin (Heb. 10:4,11), impart spiritual life (Heb. 9:9), clear the conscience (Heb. 9:9), or provide individual, personal access to God. The New Covenant brings full atonement (I Pet. 2:24), true life (John 11:25-26), cleansing of the conscience (Heb. 9:14), and open access to God the Father (John 14:6).

4) A BETTER PRIEST (Heb. 7:23-26) - He is indestructible (“lives forever”, “permanent priesthood”), inexhaustible (“he is able to save completely”), our intermediary (“those who come to God through him”), and our intercessor (“always lives to intercede”).

5) A BETTER SACRIFICE (Heb. 7:27-28) - He is ineffable (“exalted above the heavens”, “perfect forever”), impeccable (“holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners”), inimitable (“unlike the other high priests”), and indispensable (“the oath...appointed the Son”).

All my life-long I had panted
For a drink from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of Life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 29)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 21-23

The last thing in the world that you want is for God to leave you alone! You’ve probably heard someone’s testimony of when they told God to get off their back, as if He were some leech to be flicked away. When He goes, He takes everything with Him. When He forsook His son, even the lights of the world went out for three hours.

Job tells of some who say to God, “Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?” (Job 21:14-15). The result? Read on. Their lamp is snuffed out; calamity comes upon them; they’re like straw in a wind. Eliphaz gets this part right in the next chapter when he refers to these people (Job 22:17) and advises them to “Submit to God and be at peace with him...then the Almighty will be your gold...then you will find delight in the Almighty...” (Job 22:21f).

The context of the book seems to indicate that the words of Job’s worthless physicians and miserable comforters are mere theory. Though they sometimes get it right (not everything they say is false), theirs is not the advice of one who’s been through the fire. Job speaks out from the crucible of divine testing. From the midst of his struggles he can say,

He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold...I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. (Job 23:10-12)

He is true gold and He produces His gold in us. Have you treasured His words today?


New Testament: Hebrews 6

One commentator says it is “one of the most disputed [texts] of the New Testament”. Another calls it the “Rubik’s Cube of the Bible”. Hebrews 6 is one of the most notoriously hard passages of Scripture.

First, it helps to look at what these people have done (Heb. 6:4-8). In their doctrine, they are “slow to learn” (Heb. 5:11) and “not acquainted with teaching” (Heb. 5:13). In their duty, they “ought to be teachers” (Heb. 5:12,14). In their diet, they should have moved beyond “milk” to “solid food” (Heb. 5:13). In their destination, they should by now be able to “go on to maturity” (Heb. 6:1). Instead, five participles define where they are spiritually:

• “once been enlightened” = regeneration (used thus in 10:32)
• “tasted the heavenly gift” = experienced (Christ “tasted” death in 2:9)
• “shared in the Holy Spirit”
• “tasted the goodness of the word of God”
• “[tasted] the powers of the coming age”
• “if they fall away” (there is no “if” in Greek)

The Greek term parapipto is not the normal word for “apostasy” (apestate - see Heb. 3:12 where it is used!). This “falling away” is used only here in the N.T. but it is used eight times in the Septuagint for the Hebrew term ma’al, which means “to act unfaithfully”. Therefore, this does not mean that these people have lost their salvation. It means that they have drifted away from Christ.

So, who are these people? There are four different primary views in answer to this:

1. These are saved persons who subsequently lose their salvation. These are terms we would use to describe believers, not unbelievers. But look at Romans 8:28-39; John 10:28-30; and Hebrews 8:12. There is no such thing as being saved a second time.
2. This is a hypothetical argument to warn immature believers. If they could fall away (which is impossible to do), it would be impossible to bring them back to repentance. But, what kind of “warning” is it, if it can’t really happen? (Furthermore, there is no “if” in the Greek text.)
3. These are professing Christians whose apostasy proves that their faith was not genuine (I John 2:19). They are “enlightened” but not on fire; they “tasted” but did not digest; they are “partakers” but not possessors. But: these are not descriptions of an unregenerate person!
4. They are saved persons who backslide to the point of divine judgment. It involves a decisive refusal to mature. They are nothroi (“sluggish”, “slow to learn”, and “lazy” in Heb. 5:11 and 6:12.

What about me? I need to move on to good deeds (Heb. 6:9-10) and I need to move on with great diligence (Heb. 6:11-12). As a believer, I can fail to achieve God’s purpose for my life and can forfeit earthly blessings that He has planned for me.

May it never be!

THE LORD SPOKE (July 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 17-20

Though Job seems to have taken a wrong turn in his interpretation of the events of his life, his description of them (Job 19:6-22) is truly distressing:

• I’m stripped of my honor (Job 19:9)
• everything around me is crumbling and falling down (Job 19:10)
• I’m under attack from every direction - even God himself (Job 19:11-12)
• all my family and friends have abandoned me (Job 19:13-17)
• my wife won’t let me kiss her (Job 19:17)
• even little kids won’t have anything to do with me (Job 19:18)

Sometimes the best thing you can do in such a situation is to return to one rock-solid truth and start all over again. Sometimes it’s the only thing you can do. Find one absolute certainty and rebuild upon it.

Francis Schaeffer told of the time he had to do that. Even after years of ministry, first as pastor in America and then as evangelist/apologist in Switzerland, he faced a crisis of faith and had to get away and start over from scratch. During several days alone with God and his Bible in the Alps, he reexamined and rebuilt his hope in God.

Here’s my rock-solid starting point:

1. There is a God.
2. He has chosen to reveal himself.
3. That revelation is found in Scripture.

The Bible is the self-revelation of the eternal God. He has revealed himself in nature but that is primarily sufficient to understand that He exists and that He is powerful (Rom. 1:20 & Ps. 19:1). There are some truths about Him that will be known only in eternity but the Bible is sufficient for every need we have.

However, Job didn’t have the Bible yet. In fact, he probably lived in the patriarchal days, some 600 years before the first words of Scripture were ever recorded. His statement of rock-solid faith probably came by direct revelation from God:

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.... In my flesh I will see God...with my own eyes.... How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

New Testament: Hebrews 5

WHY ARE WE SO SLOW TO LEARN?

There’s been enough time. By now we should be in spiritual college instead of still doing ABC’s in kindergarten! Unless you’ve only recently been saved, there’s no excuse for still being unskilled in using the Word.

There’s been enough teaching. Maybe you’ve only gotten milk and very little solid food. If you’re still eating baby food, it might be your own fault - you get what you demand. Too hard? Is it hard because of the difficulty of the revelation? or because of the density of the reception?

There’s been enough truth. Just a glance at the list in Hebrews 6:2 should bring some conviction. Where do you stand on those doctrines? Could you explain them to someone else satisfactorily? Can you “distinguish good from evil”? That can only come from “constant use” (Heb. 5:14).

IT’S TIME TO GROW UP!

Don’t be dull. The meaning of “slow to learn” in Hebrews 5:11 is “dullness” or “sluggishness”. This is something that comes upon the believer gradually. The process is described in previous chapters: drift (2:1-3) leads to doubt (ch. 3-4), which leads to dullness. Being dull prevents further understanding. It is unproductive and requires being taught all over again (Heb. 5:12).

Move on to maturity. Though it’s part of the next chapter, Hebrews 6:1 is linked with a “therefore” and must be kept together with what we’ve been seeing here in chapter five. Maturity is defined as being trained by constant use of Scripture to distinguish good from evil. Actually the part about “go on to” is passive and means to “be moved along to”, i.e. not personal effort but personal surrender to an active influence.

Maturity is...

• teaching vs. being taught
• coming to understand vs. struggling forever
• seeking unity vs. promoting disunity
• studying for yourself vs. accepting others’ opinions
• active faith vs. apathetic coldness
• confidence vs. fear
• using God’s Word vs. deciding for yourself

THE LORD SPOKE (July 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 14-16

Time! We all have exactly the same quantity. Rich or poor, you can’t buy any more. Not even Bill Gates can purchase more time. He can figure out ways to use it better but so can we.

Today’s texts have a lot to say about time:

• Job 14:5 - “Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
• Job 14:6 - “put in his time”
• Job 14:13 - “set me a time”
• Job 15:7 - “brought forth before the hills” (= “as old as the hills”)
• Job 15:20 - “all his days...all the years stored up for him”
• Job 15:32 - “before his time”
• Job 16:22 - “Only a few years will pass before I go on the journey of no return.”

Minutes are a precious commodity. They are an asset that is deposited in our account every day. We must use them wisely. What we squander, we lose. Or worse. We can cast them onto the debit side and will have to make up for them later. In the end, we will give an accounting for all of them.

They are also like a coupon book. We can turn in a few and get a better deal. They can be invested wisely and bring rich dividends later. We can “redeem time” by filling it with good.

“Thank you Lord for giving me time to accomplish everything You intend for me to do. Help me to use it wisely and well. Help me, above all, to use it for You.”


New Testament: Hebrews 4

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:12-13)

What are the qualities that make for a good sword? It must have...

• good steel - so it won’t break easily under stress
• a sharp point - so it will penetrate the toughest skin
• a razor edge - so it will slice and divide asunder
• a solid grip - so you may hold on to it firmly

How is such a weapon rendered most effective?

• you must be thoroughly familiar with it (know how it works, know all its various parts well)
• you must be prepared to use it (a weapon can’t do it’s job without someone to wield it)
• you must use it properly (otherwise, it can be a danger both to you and to others)

How does the Bible stack up in this evaluation?

• it is “living” = able to produce life (regenerate)
• it is “active/powerful” = energetic (from energes), able to transform
• it is “sharp” = for defense and punishment
• it is “penetrating” = piercing (a bad attitude, a closed mind, a rebellious spirit, a lustful heart)
• it is “discerning” = dividing and judging (from kritikos) both thoughts (what) and intents (why)

How do you rate on weapon usage?

• are you thoroughly familiar with it?
• are you prepared to use it?
• do you use it properly?

THE LORD SPOKE (July 26)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 10-13

Can you “talk back” to God? If your answer to that question is “no” then you’ll have to do some explaining to Abraham, Moses, and David. And to Job.

As our children grow older, there comes a point at which we encourage them to talk back to us. Not in rebellion but in mature interaction. Healthy engagement is part of growing up. It may not always be easily definable but there is a red line over which they may not cross. Both they and we can sense when things have gone too far. An outsider (like Zophar in chapter eleven), hearing our conversation might not understand. The words and/or tone might convey the wrong idea.

So it is with Job and his conversations with God in this book. Don’t forget God’s evaluation of Job in the first two chapters (1:8 and 2:3). We’re dealing with a very mature child of God here. We’re being allowed to eavesdrop on an interchange that builds all the way through chapter 37. Then the heavens split open and justice rolls down in Job 38. At times Job gets dangerously close to the red line. Sometimes it even looks like he crosses it but the Heavenly Father lets him keep talking. We learn some things about prayer in the process.

(1) The purpose of prayer is not to change God but to change us. Prayer changes things? Yes! It changes us. We don’t change God’s mind. Though He chooses to listen to us, we don’t change the way He does things. We don’t change the outcome of things. Would we if we could? How presumptuous to even think so. Instead, we want to submit to His will in all matters. Prayer helps us to bow before Him appropriately and acknowledge His sovereignty.

(2) The process of prayer is more important than the words we use. If Job could edit the book written about him, I’m willing to bet he’d take out some things. He’s probably embarrassed by some of his own words and wishes they weren’t flapping in the breeze for everyone to read. I don’t want everyone to hear me when I bare my soul before the Lord. Job shows us that it’s okay to pour our heart out to God. He already knows but He has encouraged us to do it anyway. Sometimes the very articulation of those thoughts to Him helps us see things more clearly.

(3) The power of prayer is evident in the slightest of answers. It’s always hardest when God says “later” rather than giving an immediate yes or no. Job had to wait it out but God was actually answering prayer long before Job felt he got his answer. Even the on-going conversation with his miserable comforters was part of God’s way of answering Job’s prayer. Job was being used of God even as he waited.

It’s like the Murphy’s Law calendar page: “They said, ‘Cheer up, things could be worse.’ So I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse.” Even when things got way worse, Job didn’t give up. He says, “though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (13:15). Prayer can do that for you.


New Testament: Hebrews 3

A few years ago now, Hank Williams, Jr. had a song with an [unintentional] spiritual application:

Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Your cheatin' heart will make you weep
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
When tears come down like falling rain
You'll toss around and call my name
You'll walk the floor the way
I do your cheatin' heart will tell on you

The author of Hebrews speaks of a hardened heart (Heb. 3:7-11). God’s sentence for Israel’s sin was because they provoked God when they:

1. didn’t hear His voice
2. hardened their hearts (c.f. vs. 13 & 15)
3. rebelled
4. tested and tried Him
5. went astray in their own hearts
6. never really knew Him

Or, you might have a straying heart (Heb. 3:10,12-14). You need to protect your heart (vs. 12 - “see to it”). You need to help each other (vs. 13 - “encourage one another daily”). You need to persevere (vs. 14 - “hold firmly till the end”).

What you must especially guard against is an unbelieving heart (Heb. 3:12,16-19). This can be the result of the deceitfulness of sin (vs. 10), the disobedience of rebellion (vs. 8,15,16), or the doubts of unbelief (vs. 12,19), but it must be dealt with. Put the stethoscope of God’s Word to your heart! Has stress and anxiety raised your pressure lately?

Remember this:

1. Faithfulness flows from a clear and healthy view of Jesus. It involves the INTELLECT.
2. Faithfulness involves choosing obedience based on trust in God. It involves the WILL.
3. Faithfulness grows from an encouraging association with the community of faith. It involves EMOTIONS.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 25)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 7-9

How good we are at self-defense. Just look at some of Job’s rationalizations, whining, and self-serving arguments:

1. Few people have gone through what I have. I have a right to complain. (Job 6:1-7)
2. Sometimes I wish God would just take me home. There’s really not much reason for me to still be here anyway. (Job 6:8-13)
3. No one seems to understand what I’ve been going through. I don’t have anyone I can unload on. (Job 6:14-21)
4. I don’t ask for much. You’d think a person could expect a little more consideration. Instead, all I get is condemnation from you. (Job 6:22-30)
5. Life is so hard. Sometimes the days seem to drag and sometimes I wonder where the time has gone, but one thing’s sure - it’s messed up either way. (Job 7:1-10)
6. Get off my back! Will you just lay off for awhile? I’m sick and tired of this. (Job 7:11-21)

Have you heard these things before? Have you been guilty of saying or thinking some of them yourself? Doesn’t it tire you out even to just read them? We’ll have to wait until the end of the book to hear God’s answers but, for now, consider the following advise:

1. Stop and listen to yourself. Would you like to hear that coming from someone else? Would you put up with it?
2. Develop some thicker skin. Let some of this stuff slide off. Don’t take everything so personally.
3. Get yourself a project. Get your eyes off your own problems and help someone else who’s really in need.

Indeed, Job’s response to Bildad (chapter 9) demonstrates some spiritual maturity:

1. I know you’re right. I just need to get my eyes back on the Lord. (Job 9:1-10)
2. I need to shut up for awhile. I know He’s in control and I just need to listen to Him again. (Job 9:11-24)
3. Life is too short to live this way. I don’t want to blow it. I don’t understand some things but I know you can help me Lord. (Job 9:25-35)

As the Jewish saying goes, “From your mouth to God’s ears!”


New Testament: Hebrews 2

If you stop to think about it, it is pretty amazing. That the Son of God, God himself, should call us “brothers” is nearly incredible.

Nearly, but not. It’s not incredible because God tells us it’s true and anything God says is eminently credible. In this case, He also give us a reason why it had to be that way. Since Jesus came not to help angels but to help Abraham’s descendants, “he had to be made like his brothers in every way” (Heb. 2:17).

The topic of Abraham’s descendants had already received significant attention elsewhere in Scripture. Paul developed the fact that Abraham has physical descendants (the Jewish people through Isaac and Jacob) and spiritual descendants (all who believe God’s promise as Abraham did). Galatians 3 and Romans 4 both speak of Abraham’s offspring being heirs of the Promise. Both explain how Gentiles have been included in the Covenant.

But the author of Hebrews is writing to a Jewish audience for who being a descendant of Abraham is a precious truth but not a new concept. Rather, they would be deeply moved by the thought that God became a man and dwelt among us. This was such a foreign idea to them that it needed some serious explanation and proof. Jesus had to be made like us - as a brother in every way.

Why? This passage in Hebrews gives us three initial reasons:

1. “that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest” (Heb. 2:17b). For most of the rest of the book this truth receives attention and further explanation. He was able to enter the Holy Place once and for ever to obtain our eternal redemption.
2. “that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17c). By offering Himself as the spotless Lamb of God, He accomplished full atonement for us. The last Adam gives life (I Cor. 15:45-49) and we who “have borne the likeness of earthly man...[will] bear the likeness of the man from heaven”.
3. that He might be “able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). Since He was “tempted in all points like as we are” (Heb. 4:15), but didn’t ever sin, we can “find grace to help in our time of need”.

Yes, if you stop to think about it, it is pretty amazing that the Son of God should call us His “brothers”. It’s nearly incredible. Nearly, but gloriously not.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 24)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 4-6

Eliphaz didn't get it all right. Early in his first counseling session he says, "At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish" (Job 4:9). He uses lots of words like "crushed", "destroyed", and "broken". Perhaps true, but hardly the thing his friend needed at this moment. Eventually he joins the ranks of the "miserable comforters" too. But there are moments of insight in his words and one comes in Job 5:17 when he reminds us all:

Blessed is the man whom God corrects;
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Do you remember the dread? Dad would say something like, "Okay, go to your room. You're getting a licking." There you'd sit waiting for the executioner's footsteps outside your door. Maybe you'd do something foolish like stuffing newspaper down your backside. The anticipation hurt almost more than the whipping itself. You knew you were guilty. You knew you deserved what you were getting. When it was finally over, quite often your immediate reaction was to throw yourself into Dad's arms. The flood of emotion and sweet relief that it was over and that the relationship with Dad could be restored brought joy again. You couldn't hug him fast enough.

Joy? Yes, our passage says "blessed is the man" but the Hebrew phrase (hine ashrei enosh) is closer to "how happy is the man". It's the same as used frequently in the psalms and is the Hebrew thinking behind the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 ("how happy is the man who..."). It really is pure joy in the deepest sense when we revel in the restored relationship with our heavenly Father. Can we indeed "count it all joy" when the Lord disciplines us? (See the rest of James 1 for some similar context.) Yes, we can because...

1. It's proof that He really loves us. Otherwise, why would He care? The worst possible thing would be for Him to leave us up to our own devices. An abandoned kid is usually a brat clamoring for attention and that usually leads to foolish actions that need discipline.
2. It's a reminder that He is watching. How we act and what we say is important. What we do affects others and He will hold us accountable. Remember when Dad would say, "don't forget who's kid you are"? God's discipline is a reminder of who's kid we are.
3. It's a restatement of the truth that He is God. It is the Almighty who calls the shots, not us. He is in control and is to be obeyed. He has set the standards and does not allow deviation.
4. It's a course correction by the One who drew the map. We can hardly figure out today. Forget about tomorrow. But He sees all things from beginning to end because He is the master of time and the fountain of all knowledge. We can trust His wisdom and happily follow His direction.

So, when it comes to following His ways instead of our own, Solomon gave similar advise in Proverbs 3:11...

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

The only thing better is to not need the correction and discipline in the first place.


New Testament: Hebrews 1

The Lord spoke. He spoke to our forefathers. We may or may not be Jewish but, if we have genuine faith in God, we are descendants of Abraham to whom God spoke as a friend. We have a spiritual heritage in Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Isaiah, and Daniel. He spoke to and through all of them.

The Lord spoke. He spoke through the prophets. Those men received direct communication from God and wrote it down under His superintendence. They saw things at times that others have never been allowed to see and described them for us.

The Lord spoke. He spoke at many times. This wasn’t a matter of one moment. Repeatedly over the course of some 1500 years, God spoke to man and took care that it should be accurately recorded so that those who came later could hear and learn from those many times.

The Lord spoke. He spoke in various ways. Sometimes it was out loud and others heard too. It took the form of dictation on a few occasions. Twice He even wrote it out Himself (Deut. 9:10; 10:4; and maybe Dan. 5:5). Sometimes He revealed Himself audibly to crowds but most often it was to chosen individuals who were responsible to record and transmit it to others.

The Lord spoke. He spoke to us by his Son. Some had the privilege of beholding His glory and gave us eyewitness testimony (Jn. 1:14; I Jn. 1:1-3). We have four inspired records of His words and works. Through them the Son continues to exegete the Father to us (Jn. 1:18). He is the living Word of God to us.

The Lord speaks. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. We know all of the above because of what is written down for us in Scripture. Apart from that there is very little else we can know of God. Yes, the heavens declare His glory (Ps. 19:1) and all of creation tells us of “His eternal power and divine nature” (Rom. 1:20). It even does it in some form of universal language or “speech” (Ps. 19:3-4). It is true that God speaks to us outside of the Bible. But it is not audible and it is not in stated propositions. He leads us, He gives us moving impressions, His providence guides us, and He brings clear direction to us but it is not audible and it is not in states propositions. For that we must go to the Bible.

Aren’t you glad He gave us the Bible?! We can always go back to it and receive its messages again and again, just as they were first given in that form. It doesn’t depend on anyone’s memory or someone else’s experience. The Bible is every day the means by which the Lord speaks to us.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 23)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Job 1-3

(This reading was inadvertently deleted. Sorry for the inconvenience!)


New Testament: Philemon

Martin Luther pointed out that this little epistle was a picture of a much greater story and one that is very personal to every one of us. “Even as Christ did for us with God the Father, thus Paul also does for Onesimus and Philemon.” Paul’s argument in this book is the same that our Advocate uses before the throne of God when pleading our case.

Paul’s appeal is carefully constructed. After the opening salutation (vs. 1-3) he builds rapport with Philemon (vs. 4-10) before making his plea (vs. 11-19). In the conclusion (vs. 20-21), he presses for a response and then closes the brief letter with a normal greeting and benediction (vs. 22-25).

It’s noteworthy that he doesn’t even mention Onesimus until his seventh sentence and then doesn’t repeat his name again. When he does use his name (vs. 10), he makes a delightful wordplay out of it. “Onesimus” means “useless” in Greek. (How would you like that for a name?) Paul tells his friend that this run-away slave is a useful and very dear brother (vs. 11,15-16).

That’s what the Gospel can do. It can take a low-down, Lord-denying, lazy dog crook and make him a regenerated, Christ-exalting, clean cut Christian. It can change your crooked path. It can wash you whiter than snow. It can turn dust and ashes into a bright gem, fit for the Master’s use.

Though he might have been slow to admit it, Philemon needed that just as much as Onesimus did. He’d let himself get hard. He’d gotten to the point where he too needed a fresh flow of God’s mercy and grace. How about you? Where are you today?

Grace, ’tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first inscribed my name
In God’s eternal book;
’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace taught my soul to pray
And made mine eyes o’erflow;
’Twas grace which kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine,
All my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 22)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Esther 9-10

Whenever an attempt has been made to annihilate the Jews, it has resulted in another holiday (and some more good food):

Pessach / Passover - 1446 BC
• oppressor = Pharaoh and the Egyptians
• deliverer = Moses
• food = matzo ball soup, gefiltefish, horseradish, charosset

Purim / Feast of Esther - 460 BC
• oppressor = Haman and the Medo-Persians
• deliverer = Mordecai
• food = “Haman's Ears” (cookies)

Hanukkah / Feast of Dedication - 165 BC
• oppressor = Antiochus and the Seleucids
• deliverer = Maccabees
• food = potato latkes, jelly doughnuts

Yom haShoah / Holocaust Day - 1939-1945
• oppressor = Hitler and the Germans
• deliverer = the Allied Armies
• food = everything tastes better after that horrible time

Purim, the holiday that came from the time of Esther, is still celebrated annually by all the Jewish people. And well it might. Had such a thing never happened subsequently, maybe it would today be just a musty old festival. Instead, it is a yearly reminder of the world's on-going antisemitism and persecution of the Jews. Mordecai, under the Holy Spirit's direction, recorded the story and established the holiday so that:

...the Jews took it upon themselves to establish the custom that they and all their descendants and all who would join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants. (Est. 9:27-28)

Today in synagogues worldwide the entire book of Esther is read and every time the name of Haman appears there is such a racket and clatter of groggers and other noise-makers that his name is blotted out. On the other hand, Mordecai's heroic effort is remembered and he is "held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews" (Est. 10:3).

The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) applies here. It has never been rescinded. It applies to the physical descendants of Abraham but it also has application to we Gentiles when it says, "...I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you". You have a choice. You can be like Mordecai or you can be like Haman. But remember, he who touches the Jews touches the apple of God's eye (Zech. 2:8).


New Testament: Titus 3

We’ve let the cults and false religions rob us of some good biblical practices. Because of their strong emphasis on doing “good works”, we’ve shied away from the very biblical practice of doing good. We know it’s not the way into heaven so, by and large, we’ve chosen just to skip it entirely. We certainly don’t make any conscious effort to make good works a regular part of our normal practice.

But three times in this short chapter Paul commends us to do good works. Actually it begins with two references in the previous chapter:

• Titus 2:10 - We should “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive”. The KJV says it so well: We need to “adorn the doctrine of God”. Good works set its beauty on display.
• Titus 2:14 - We should be “eager to do what is good”. It’s not a matter of compulsion. It wells up out of a heart full of God’s grace. It’s a natural expression of what’s inside.
• Titus 3:1 - We should be “ready to do whatever is good”. Being ready means we’ve calculated and carved out the time, the energy, and the resources to do it.
• Titus 3:8 - We should “be careful to devote [our]selves to doing what is good”. Being careful means that we’ve got a plan. It’s not hit-or-miss, tacked on, or left up to chance. We’ve actually made a plan.
• Titus 3:14 - “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what it good.” It's a learned trait. Perhaps some people come by it more naturally because of something in their general disposition. But this isn’t just for some people - it’s for all and it can be cultivated and improved by practice.

That’s not your average Baptist Sunday School class. We’re better at doctrine than practice. We’re better at defining the Gospel that we are at adorning it. We’re better at telling everyone what to believe than we are at showing them how to live.

Let’s change!

THE LORD SPOKE (July 21)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Esther 6-8

HAMAN - How not to do it. That's what we can learn from Haman. Though he rose high in the Persian kingdom before this book begins, you wonder how he did it. His bungling throughout this book doesn't seem like much of a commendation for high political power. The hint is probably found in Est. 3:9 where we find that he was independently wealthy to the point that money was not an object. He could afford to buy anything he desired, including political power. It gets him into murder, plotting, deceit, racism, graft, bribery, boasting, and pride (Est. 3:6-9). His wife unwittingly gets it right: "Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him - you will surely come to ruin." (Est. 6:13).

KING XERXES - Not much better. His public exposure (read everything into that phrase) of Vashti, hedonistic choice of a new queen, stupid choice of Haman as his main adviser, frequent drinking bouts, easy acceptance of bribes and slander, carte blanche for murder, and vain and unkept promises ("up to half my kingdom") aren't a very pretty resume for a ruler. No wonder he had insomnia (Est. 6:1). That's what led eventually to the unfolding of the story of Esther. One sleepless night, he had a musty old history book read to him (that would put most people to sleep!) and discovered some unfinished business with Mordecai. It led to one of the most humorous foils in the book - Haman's "honoring" of his nemesis - and sets the stage for Queen Esther's salvation of the Jews.

ESTHER - She ever appears as the young, innocent-bordering-on-naive, sweet princess. But, between chapter four and chapter eight, she grows up quickly. Caught in a ticklish and potentially dangerous situation, she makes the right choice. Casting herself upon God's mercy, she risks everything to do the right thing - not a frequent characteristic of the rich and famous.

MORDECAI - From start to finish, Mordecai presents us with a rock-solid example of doing what's right:
Est. 2:7f - raises his orphaned cousin Hadassah/Esther to be a godly woman
Est. 2:19-23 - positioned himself to be of service to God and king
Est. 3:1-5 - stood for truth and righteousness though it was risky to do so
Est. 4:1-17 - used his resources, though meager, to serve the Lord's cause
Est. 8:1-10 - handled new wealth and power well and for the benefit of others, not himself
Est. 8:15-17 - creatively used his position and current events to turn others to God

Interesting how a short little history book from 2500 years ago, that doesn't even mention God by name, can teach us so much about human character and our relationship to God, huh?


New Testament: Titus 2

“Personal discipline is the indispensable key for accomplishing anything in this life.” (R. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man, p. 11). From music lessons to mortgage payments, or from athletics to art, it takes discipline to get the job done. Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci once drew one thousand hands?!

The call to train ourselves for godliness (I Tim. 4:7) will require a large measure of discipline and self-control. That receives a lot of attention in today’s Scripture reading. Paul lays out a total church program in Titus 2 and, in doing so, four times he refers to self-control. Titus was to teach self-control to the older men (Tit. 2:2). The older women were to teach self-control to the younger women (Tit. 2:3-5). And Titus was to provide the example of self-control to the young men (Tit. 2:6-7).

Self-control is what it takes “to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live...upright and godly lives in this present age” (Tit. 2:12).

The call to train ourselves for godliness also suggests directing all of our energy towards godliness. Paul pictures this elsewhere: “Every one who competes in the games goes into training.... Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave” (I Corinthians 9:25-27). Intense, energetic sweat! We should singularly note that a sentence later in the context of Paul’s command to “train yourself to be godly,” he comments on the command and the intervening words, saying “for this we labor and strive.” “Labor” means “strenuous toil,” and “strive” is the Greek word from which we get “agonize.” Toil and agony are called for if one is to be godly.... No manliness no maturity! No discipline no discipleship! No sweat no sainthood! (Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man, p. 14-15)

Self-control not only makes your life worth living here below (Tit. 2:12), it also prepares you for heaven. It’s what you’re to do as you wait for “the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). It’s that hope that makes us “eager to do what is good” (Tit. 2:14) and leads us to “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Tit. 2:10; the KJV has “adorn the doctrine of God”).

There’s a watching world that is waiting to see that.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 20)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Esther 3-5

The Amalekites were already Israel's enemies 500 years before the time of Esther. Haman is identified here as an Agagite and Agag was the king of Amalek (I Sam. 15:20). He had faced off with King Saul of the tribe of Benjamin five centuries previously. Now Haman faced another Benjamite, Mordecai, and he wasn't happy.

Wasn't happy? "He scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews..." (3:6). He was so enraged, he wanted to "annihilate all the Jews - young and old, women and children" (3:13). He was willing to pay for it up front (3:9) but saw the opportunity to get enormously rich by plundering their goods (3:13). What year are we in? 1939? By the way, Haman had a wife to match. After hearing the gory details of his "final solution", she contributed her own ideas and advised, "Don't worry - be happy." (5:14).

Why do people so hate the Jews? The closest thing to a stated reason here is because their "customs are different from those of all other people" (3:8). But many others have odd customs. Jingoists everywhere have despised those whom they think are odd. That's not enough to explain why the Jews have been singled out throughout history for "special treatment". Antisemitism is, in the last analysis, a hatred of God. Because He chose the Jews through whom to work out His purposes, they represent His righteous requirements for all mankind. Their existence and history reminds man that there is a sovereign God, that He has established a standard of right conduct, and that every man will answer for his actions. But men are lovers of darkness, rather than lovers of light (Jn. 3:19). The Jews, who are to be "a light to the nations" (Is. 42:6 et al.) serve as a reminder that a God of justice demands a reckoning and every man will be held accountable. So, in an attempt to escape Him, they turn their wrath against the Jews.

That's why He won't let the Jewish people go down. Ever! They keep popping back in history, not because of their own resilience or resourcefulness (though that is great), but because of His sovereign grace and plan. This was Mordecai's advice to Esther, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place..." (4:14). At that time, there was no other place from which help could come. The Jews were in captivity. Tiny numbers and oppressed conditions were not going to produce a mighty deliverance. They had no king or army and none were for hire, especially not to them. God was their only possible source of deliverance and He is never without means.

Esther was faced with the opportunity to be His chosen vessel for that moment. So are you.


New Testament: Titus 1

“Sound doctrine.” It’s a major concern of the Pastoral Epistles where Paul mentions it eight times (and nowhere else). Sound doctrine is both commended and commanded, defined and demanded, proposed and practiced. Consider this:

1. There is such a thing! There is right and wrong, black and white, sound doctrine and bad doctrine. We’ve been so conditioned to being neutral that we’ve lost sight of that. Today you’re supposed to be accepting of everyone. Avoid being confrontational. Don’t be critical of other points of view. Not true! There is right teaching and there is wrong teaching and all wrong teaching is to be refuted (I Tim. 1:10).
2. It is definable. It is the “sound instruction of Jesus Christ” and “godly teaching” (I Tim. 6:3). That means it comes straight from Scripture. No add-ons and no omissions. Every proposition must have a biblical base and nothing may be avoided or disregarded.
3. It is preachable. Some won’t put up with it (II Tim. 4:2-3) but that makes no difference. It is the basis for correction, rebuke, and encouragement and must be sustained “with great patience and careful instruction”.
4. It is meant to be held up as a standard of judgment. It is a pattern meant to be fulfilled (II Tim. 1:13). Those who disagree or trust it in any way are to be refuted (Tit. 1:9). It is a measuring rod, a straight edge, and a standard.

The opposite of having sound doctrine is to be “robbed of the truth” (I Tim. 6:5). Some people have sound doctrine taken from them by false teachers. How do you deal with that? Turn that radio station off! Get out of that church that isn’t preaching truth - all of it.

Others are missing sound doctrine by their own actions. Whether through laziness or through inattention to detail, they are not getting a well-rounded diet of biblical teaching. Stop it! Don’t let yourself be content with a milk-only diet. Dig deeper. Look for nourishing spiritual food that is based on sound doctrine.

Some don’t know any better. They’ve never been taught so they don’t even know what they’re missing. Solution? Get into the Bible for yourself. Start reading and then start looking for answers in the text. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Be no longer content with a superficial breeze through the easy parts. Carve out some time, sit down with paper and pen in front of you, grab a concordance and some other Bible study tools, and start reading the sacred text.

You’ll never be the same afterwards.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 19)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Esther 1-2

We don't have them around today, at least not in an official position. But eunuchs have often held a recognized office in royal history. Chapter one of Esther tells of seven who served King Xerxes (Est. 1:10). They were advisers and royal messengers (Est. 1:15), especially in matters related to the harem which was their special charge (Est. 2:8,15). One from this list of seven men reappears in a later chapter and there are two others not on the list who figure largely in Esther's story:

• Hegai (Est. 2:8ff) - helps Esther "win favor"
• Hathach (Est. 4:5ff) - acts as Esther's emissary
• Harbona (Est. 7:9ff) - suggests "solution" for Haman

As an aside, notice just how favorable Esther is:

• first, she wins Hegai's favor (Est. 2:8)
• (she had obviously won Mordecai's favor long before - how hard was it for him to let her go?)
• then she wins favor "with everyone who saw her" (Est. 2:15)
• and, important to this story, she wins King Xerxes' favor (Est. 2:17)
• but, most important, she has won God's favor and He is happy to use her to accomplish His purposes.

Is there anything we can learn from the eunuchs? It hardly seems like a position people will be lining up for. They probably don't give out lots of job applications. Here's something to consider:

1. Be faithful to the Lord and serve Him from whatever position you find yourself.
2. Be the kind of person that those above you can trust.
3. Be creative with the resources you have at your disposal.
4. Define your position carefully and then be ready to take action when the opportunity comes.

God has His servants in many unexpected places. Sometimes, like Elijah (I Ki. 19:18), we need to be reminded that there are many others around us who love Him and are faithful to His cause.


New Testament: II Timothy 4

What’s a pastor to do? These three “Pastoral Epistles” contain a lot of instructions and answers to that question. Not everything that you read here is CW (conventional wisdom) or PC (politically correct). In fact, you can find “a great number of teachers to say what...[you] want to hear” (II Tim. 4:3).

So, what’s a pastor to do? Start with Paul’s first charge: Preach the Word! All the answers to every question are to be found there. The Scriptures are to be the source of all ministry. The results may not be CW or PC but they will be wise and correct because they’re God-ordained.

What’s a little surprising is the next part of the answer that Paul gives. Two-thirds appear to be rather negative. He says to “correct, rebuke, and encourage”. But he balances that with these words: it must be according to sound doctrine, it must be with great patience, and it must be with careful instruction.

To correct someone, you must know what’s right. That can only come from Scripture, so that’s where the sound doctrine comes in. You better be living it yourself though or all your words will be nothing more than that - just words.

To rebuke a person does little good unless done with great patience. You may deliver a stinging rebuke (“Boy, I sure told him!”) but it will only serve to drive away and embitter the recipient if it isn’t tempered with loving patience.

To encourage someone, you’ll find the greatest success if you do it with a measure of careful instruction. Just a pat on the back won’t go nearly as far as a well-aimed reinforcement. Instead of just saying, “that was great”, name the action you’re commending. “I really liked the way you ____________. You should do more of that! How about if you ___________ also.”

At the end of every epistle, Paul may be seen doing exactly this. His closing remarks always contain some correction, some rebuke, and some encouragement. They always demonstrate sound doctrine, great patience, and careful instruction. That’s why he could say in this, his last letter, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Tim. 4:7).

THE LORD SPOKE (July 18)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Nehemiah 13

Righteous indignation! Before "p.c." we used to allow it. There were certain situations that simply could not be tolerated. Like the time Jesus "made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables" (Jn. 2:15). Hardly fits our picture of "gentle Jesus, meek and mild".

Four times in this chapter (Neh. 13:14,22,29,31) Nehemiah calls on God to remember him and each involves actions which most people might not want remembered. Take a look at what he does:

• "I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room." (Neh. 13:8)
• "I warned them...'If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.'" (Neh. 13:21)
• "I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair." (Neh. 13:25)
• "I drove him away from me." (Neh. 13:28)

Webster defines a pagan as "one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goals". What Nehemiah was up against was pure paganism - living with no regard for God. It can take various forms but in each case related here it amounted to hedonistic decisions and godless living. Nehemiah's zeal was activated by:

I. The Penetration of Paganism into Sacred Space (Neh. 13:1-14)

Eliashib, the high priest (!), had allowed Tobiah, one of the archenemies of Israel (see 2:10,19; 4:7; 6:1,12,17-19), to move into offices on the Temple Mount. He was "an Ammonite official" and had sided frequently with Sanballat and Geshem the Arab in open opposition to Nehemiah. Eventually he wormed his way into the inner circle of Judean leadership (read 6:17-19). As soon as Nehemiah returned to his duties at Susa, Tobiah got himself a position and set up shop in the Temple compound. When Nehemiah discovered this he physically threw him out. No negotiations!

II. The Perpetuation of Paganism in Sacred Time (Neh. 13:15-22)

When people coming to Jerusalem repeatedly desecrated the Sabbath, Nehemiah's righteous indignation again rose to the surface. Week after week they used God's time to practice their paganism - to pursue material gain rather than setting aside a day of rest. Why do people think they can rob God of the time He requires? This reaches all the way back to Creation and it comes right on down to last week. People think they can't get their work (and play) done in six days so they rob God of His sacred time. It made Nehemiah mad and he made it very difficult for them to continue doing so.

III. The Perversion of Paganism in Sacred Relationships (Neh. 13:23-30)

Messed up marriages! Nehemiah compared his day with the utter confusion of Solomon's (Neh. 13:26). What do you supposed he'd think of our times? Marriage is called "holy matrimony" which is just another way of saying "sacred relationship". It is meant to endure for life. If we don't hate divorce like God does (see Mal. 2:15-16), this canker will destroy us. It made Nehemiah mad and he did something more than just cluck his tongue.

"One who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goals." Does that sound anything like America today? Does it sound sadly like our churches today? God send us a Nehemiah to knock some heads together!


New Testament: II Timothy 3

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Tim. 3:16)

The Bible tells you what’s right and not right (“useful for teaching, rebuking”), how to get right (“correcting”), and how to stay right (“training in righteousness”). It is the source of all proper direction in our lives. The failure to follow it is the explanation for all the mess in the world.

Paul paints that picture with some pretty ugly strokes in the opening verses. We could wish it were different but his description in verses 2-4 sounds a lot like modern America. We’re told that this sort of thing will “worm [its] way into homes” (II Tim. 3:6). We now know how!

Stop and think about it. What in the average home is the source of such things as these:

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God... (II Tim. 3:2-4).

Can you think of any source known for just such trash? If you wanted to find out more about such things, where would you look? There’s one or more in nearly every home in America.

What an utter contrast is the Bible! God’s Word is sweet to eat, fully-satisfying, corrective in every way, producing the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

Make it, the Bible, the guide of your home and you’ll soon see the difference. Start by making the Bible the central part of your own life. Read it and feed upon it the first thing each day. The results will be most gratifying.

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 17)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Nehemiah 11-12

Is there an echo in this chapter? Look at what they were dealing with in Nehemiah's day.

• Neh. 12:27 - "songs of thanksgiving" (doesn't sound like praise choruses to me)
• Neh. 12:27,36 - "music of cymbals, harps, and lyres...prescribed by David" (500 years previously - all they need is an organ too!)
• Neh. 12:28,31 - "singers...[in] two large choirs" (all old guys!)
• Neh. 12:36 - "Ezra led the procession" (probably at least in his 60's by now)

What is the value of tradition?

1. It is an acceptable and time-proven means of expressing truth, values, and personal faith.
2. It is a way to honor those who went before us, recognizing that we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.
3. It provides a practical memory aid to connect us to the past and tie us to our heritage.
4. It strengthens resistance to change-for-change-sake or to poorly thought out innovation.

What are the potential dangers of tradition?

1. It can easily become a religion in itself and detract from a proper relation to God.
2. It runs the risk of failing to communicate to the new generation.
3. For some it will result in living in the past.
4. Resistance to change can be a very deep rut and hard to break out of.

How can these dangers be avoided?

1. You need to distinguish carefully and frequently between what is biblical injunction and what is tradition. Tradition is ok but we should never let it become Bible.
2. For the younger generation use the tradition to teach. Tell them what it means. Explain where it came from.
3. Be honest about the past; living in the "good ol' days" wasn't always so good.
4. Nurture a continual willingness to re-think, to re-evaluate, and to re-orient yourself.

Some people have an "if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it" mentality. Others think, "if it ain't broke, break it". The truth is somewhere in the middle. After all, Nehemiah led new people to return to an old city and he led old people to build a new wall. Both found room to rejoice when it was done.


New Testament: II Timothy 2

If Matthew 28:18-20 is the Great Commission, II Timothy 2:2 is the Great Transmission. Four generations in the transmission of God’s truth are laid out here:

1. Paul to
2. Timothy to
3. reliable men (qualified to teach) to
4. others.

That chain is the secret (if it’s any secret at all) to God’s plan for expanding His kingdom. It’s a plan that will work. It has not only stood the test of time (you’re here right now because of it!), it has the stamp of God’s approval. Why is it so workable?

1. It’s edifying. It builds brick by brick, layer by layer. It also builds up each individual along the way. Because the structure is so inter-twined it has additional strength to hold together.
2. It’s effective. Starting from ground level, it’s a blueprint for successfully bringing together an impressive structure. It’s a plan that will work.
3. It’s exponential. It begins with one and passes on to just one - at least, to just one at a time. But soon it becomes plural and before long begins to multiply.
4. It’s energizing. To see the effect of such growth is innervating. It encourages the soul and infuses fresh determination and vigor into the process because we see how it can work. The task is less daunting.
5. It’s easy. Everyone can work with one. That’s not hard. The next step is working with one at a time, i.e. not retiring after the first one.

The chain has remained unbroken for 2000 years, right down to you. Will it carry on after you? Will the transmission of God’s truth through you continue to the next generation(s) because you have been active in keeping the chain unbroken?

THE LORD SPOKE (July 16)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Nehemiah 9-10

It does us good to review our past. That's why it's so valuable to write things down, to keep a journal, to maintain some record of God's blessings. Then, when those darker days of doubt come, when we're facing some difficulty that seems impossible, when we are tempted to give up, then we can remember what He's brought us through in the past.

In the tradition of several of the psalms (see Psalm 78, 105, 106), the author of Nehemiah - probably Ezra - reviews Israel's history as a reminder of God's never-failing grace in...

1. His Majestic Might in Creation (Neh. 9:6)
2. His Precious Promise to Abraham and His Descendants (Neh. 9:7-8)
3. His Remarkable Rescue from Egyptian Bondage (Neh. 9:9-12)
4. His Sustaining Supply in the Desert Years (Neh. 9:13-21)
5. His Gracious Gift of the Promised Land (Neh. 9:22-25)
6. His Repeated Restorations During the Days of the Judges (Neh. 9:26-28)
7. His Warning Wake-up Calls Through the Prophets (Neh. 9:29-31)
8. His Daily Deliverance Even Now (Neh. 9:32-37)

Can you recount those times in the past when the Lord provided in some miraculous way for you? That will be the encouragement you need to remember that He can do it again now. He delights to take care of His children and to give them good things. He's waiting for you to call upon Him in your present distress.


New Testament: II Timothy 1

God has “called us to a holy life”. This is Paul’s “Swan Song” and it’s noteworthy to see what he chooses to emphasize. Famous last words can be inspiring. Or, sometimes not...

• Pancho Villa (Mexican revolutionary, died 1923) - “Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something.”
• Oscar Wilde (writer, died November 30, 1900) - “Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.”
• Paul Claudel (1868-1955) - "Doctor, do you think it could have been the sausage?"
• General John Sedgwick (Union Commander, killed in battle, 1864) - “They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist....”

From jail in his last letter to Timothy or, for all we know, to anyone, Paul’s focus is once again on godly living. Paul reminds Timothy of several examples that he, Timothy, has seen and that should help him understand the importance of what Paul has to say. Negatively, there are Phylegus and Hermogenes (II Tim. 1:15) and Demas (II Tim. 4:10) who had abandoned Paul in the work in Asia Minor. But Timothy, also from central Asia Minor, had seen a better example in his own grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice (II Tim. 1:5).

More important, in his work in Ephesus, Timothy had seen the godly example of Onesiphorus. Paul was “refreshed” by him many times, right up to his last imprisonment in Rome (II Tim. 1:16-18). (Was he the one who carried this letter from Paul to Timothy?)

And don’t forget: Timothy had Paul’s own example to follow also. God had made him a herald, an apostle, and a teacher (II Tim. 1:11) and given him a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline (II Tim. 1:7). There’s arguably (see below) no greater example of one who was “called to a holy life” and responded best to that call.

Throughout the short letter there is a repeated emphasis on two sustaining factors that produce godliness. One is the Word of God which “is not chained” (II Tim. 2:9) and which is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (II Tim. 3:16). It is Scripture that will thoroughly equip a man for holiness.

Second, is an emphasis on Jesus Christ. There really is no greater example to follow than His. After several references to His grace, mercy, peace, appearing, victory over death, and life-giving Gospel, Paul says very simply...

“Remember Jesus Christ...” (II Tim. 2:8).

THE LORD SPOKE (July 15)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Nehemiah 7-8

It was a great day! After the 52 days of wall construction everyone came together to celebrate the conclusion of the project. Beginning on "the first day of the seventh month" (Neh. 8:2), it coincided with Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) or the New Year's Day of the civil calendar. Both Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (Tabernacles) fall in the same month and are alluded to here as well (see Neh. 8:14-18 and Neh. 9:1-2).

Interestingly, Ezra is the one brought to the front to lead the ceremony. That tells you something about Nehemiah. He could have made a case for it being his party but he didn't. And did you notice? There's no mention of King Artaxerxes and his proclamation. There is however lots of mention of God and His Word. Check it out:

• they had it open and placed in front of the people (Neh. 8:1,2)
• they made sure everyone could see and hear (Neh. 8:5)
• the people stood up and listened attentively (Neh. 8:3, 5b) - literally, "they had their ears to the book"
• besides being read out loud so everyone could hear, they gave the explanations so everyone could understand (Neh. 8:8)
• specially trained instructors took it from there (Neh. 8:7,9)
• the result was repentance and confession of sin (Neh. 8:9; c.f. 9:3)
• another result was "great joy because they now understood the words (Neh. 8:12)
• they dug in deeper yet (Neh. 8:13) and found more (Neh. 8:14) and this continued "day after day" (Neh. 8:18)
• they didn't keep it to themselves but went "to proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns" (Neh. 8:15)

Study it carefully, think of it prayerfully,
‘Till in thy heart its precepts dwell.
Slight not its history, ponder its mystery;
None can e’er prize it too fondly or well.

Accept the glad tidings, the warnings and chidings,
Found in this volume of heavenly store.
With faith that’s unfailing and love all-prevailing,
Trust in its promises of life evermore.

May this message of love from the Father above
Unto all nations and kindreds be given;
Till the ransomed shall raise joyous anthems of praise,
Hallelujahs on earth and in heaven. (author unknown)


New Testament: I Timothy 6

A man of God is one who follows God’s ways. Paul has a lot to say to and about a man after God’s own heart and this chapter is one of the best. A genuine man of God is known by:

1. what he flees from (I Tim. 6:9-11),
2. what he follows after (I Tim. 6:11b),
3. what he fights for (I Tim. 6:12), and
4. what he is faithful to (I Tim. 6:14).

One area that deserves and gets special attention is money. There is no sin in possessing riches - sin comes in being possessed by them. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Mat. 6:24). Paul cautions Timothy (I Tim. 6:6-10) that a love of money will bring temptation and ruin. It’s a trap. It leads to many other foolish and harmful desires. Those who become eager for money are likely to wander from the faith.

“Money is one of the most unsatisfying of possessions. It takes away some cares, no doubt, but it brings with it quite as many as it takes away. There is trouble in the getting of it. There is anxiety in the keeping of it. There are temptations in the use of it. There is sorrow in the losing of it. There is perplexity in the disposing of it. Two-thirds of all the strife, quarrel, and lawsuits in the world, arise from one simple cause - money.” - J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion

Paul’s admonition is to pursue “godliness with contentment”. That’s a winning combination that will “treasure up for [you] a firm foundation for the coming age” (II Tim. 6:19). How can we pursue “godliness with contentment” with regards to money?

1. Reach a clear personal understanding of what your needs are. Define what you genuinely need. Paul mentions specifically “food and clothing”. There are probably some other legitimate needs (shelter, community, etc.) but by honestly considering and then narrowing down your own range of genuine need, you will discover just how much is extra.
2. Turn your mind away from money. Money isn’t the problem, it’s the love of money that is a cause of every kind of evil. By dwelling on money, or the lack thereof, we focus on all the wrong things. No wonder the result is grief and a wandering away from the faith.
3. Learn to live with less. You really don’t “need” to stuff your garage with ever more toys and unfinished projects. Practice some discipline. Learn to say no to more stuff. (By the way, it will have an affect on your eating habits too.)
4. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Make yourself a list and check yourself against it daily. Start with this one given by Paul in the next paragraph. How are you doing in these areas? Is there some visible progress? Keep at it!
5. “Take hold of eternal life.” That’s how Paul says it (I Tim. 6:12). Fix your eyes on eternity and all the stuff of this life will quickly lose most of its significance. Don’t put your hope in wealth because it won’t be there when you really need it (I Tim. 6:17).
6. Be rich in good deeds...be generous and willing to share (I Tim. 6:18). That is what creates real treasure!

THE LORD SPOKE (July 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Nehemiah 4-6

The Bible gives us more of Nehemiah's prayers than any other individual in Scripture. There are longer prayers recorded but Nehemiah holds the record for the most. Some are "crafted" prayers which show planning and organization (1:4-11) and may have been written out. Several are sentence prayers (e.g. 5:19; 6:9), uttered spontaneously in a moment of need. Seven tell God to remember something (1:8; 5:19; 6:14; 13:14,22,29,31). Does He forget?

The imprecatory prayers (4:4-5; 6:14; 13:29.31) are interesting because we often feel uncomfortable about praying that way (e.g. 4:4-5 - calling for the destruction of our enemies), but they follow a solid biblical tradition (e.g. Psalm 5:10; 10:15; 31:17-18; 40:14-15; etc.).

A frequent element in Nehemiah's prayers is the emphasis on praying and preparing (2:5; 4:9; 6:9). Like the patriots of the American Revolution ("Pray to God and keep your powder dry."), Nehemiah leads the people by doing everything he could/should to answer his own prayers. God is pleased when we use all the strength and resources that He has given us, but our actions are always to be preceded by prayer (James 4:13-15).

Prayer is a "spiritual discipline" because...

1. it makes me wait (gives me new priorities)
2. it clears my vision (gives me a new perspective)
3. it activates my faith (gives me new power)
4. it quiets my heart (gives me new purpose)

So, why don't we do more of it?


New Testament: I Timothy 5

Such instances are not rare, but in I Timothy 5:18 we have two quotations taken from different parts of the Bible. One is from the Old Testament and, what’s rare, is the other one is from the New Testament. They’re both equated as Scripture and that’s significant since the New Testament had not yet come together as a collection. Various parts were already circulating, in this case the Gospel of Luke, but some had not yet even been written. Still, Paul calls both quotes “Scripture”. At least in some cases, there was near-immediate recognition of inspiration.

Paul’s quote, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain”, comes from Deuteronomy 25:4. He used this same passage previously in his writing to the Corinthians. In a similar context he told them to provide a material harvest for those who ministered among them in spiritual things (I Cor. 9:7-14). The principle had been laid down in OT law: the worker should be paid for his labor.

This was confirmed in NT precept, in the very words of Jesus. He said, “the worker deserves his wages” (Lk. 10:7). It might seem obvious to us that this too is “Scripture” but it wasn’t a foregone conclusion at the time. Luke told us that “many have undertaken to draw up an account” (Lk. 1:1) and there were several spurious “gospels” circulating at the time. Paul’s citation is loaded with significance for a proper understanding of NT canonicity.

But, be sure to remember the point he’s making. The work of preaching and teaching is work indeed. The labor that goes into an hour of preaching has been calculated as equivalent to an 8-hour day of manual labor. The muscles may not be sore but the psyche is often sore at the end of the day and the same amount of calories have been spent. The worker is worthy of being well cared for.

In fact, Paul says the elder should be evaluated and, if he is doing a good job, he should be paid double (I Tim. 5:17). His incentive must come from above but it’s appropriate that there be a temporal reward for him here below.

THE LORD SPOKE (July 13)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Nehemiah 1-3

"What is it you want?" (Neh. 2:4). Who hasn't dreamed of such an opportunity. We've all imagined what we'd say to the genie when he materialized out of the lamp and gave us our three wishes. This royal carte blanche was met by a well-prepared response from Nehemiah. After all, he'd had four months to think about an answer (from Kislev in 1:1 to Nisan in 2:1), during which time he followed a five-step plan to ready himself: he sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed (1:4). The time was well spent to quiet his heart and clear his vision as he identified the problem and involved himself in the solution. The result was a clear plan:

Who? "send me" (Neh. 2:5)
When? now, but with a time limit (Neh. 2:6)
Where? "the city where my fathers are buried [which] lies in ruins" (Neh. 2:3) - it's still a bit sensitive to mention Jerusalem by name
Why? to rebuild the city (Neh. 2:5) - the very thing this king had forbidden in Ezra 4:17-22
What? letters of safe-conduct (Neh. 2:7) and supply requisitions (Neh. 2:8)

Interestingly, upon arrival in Jerusalem Nehemiah kept the people there waiting also. Though expectations were high, he delayed three days before divulging his plan while the people waited in suspense (Neh. 2:11). When they did hear it they bought in and said "let us start rebuilding" (Neh. 2:18). When you announce your intention, you invite attention. Or, as Alan Redpath wrote, "Whenever God's people say, 'Let us arise and build', the devil says, 'Let me arise and oppose'." By the way, Nehemiah's response (Neh. 2:20) to the Arabs who opposed the Jewish rebuilding would not be considered very "p.c." in our day but it was true nonetheless.

What gave Nehemiah such confidence? His prayer in chapter one is a model of ACTS praying: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. As he concluded, he asked for success (Neh. 1:11), then acted accordingly (Neh. 2:8b), and spoke confidently of his expectations in this area (Neh. 2:20a). The results were astounding: the discouraged inhabitants of Jerusalem, beaten down for seventy years, lifted their eyes and fixed their sights on what God was doing and in 52 days accomplished the humanly impossible. Don't you desire that kind of success too? Now you know the secret.


New Testament: I Timothy 4

No one would think of entering a marathon without training for it first. No one is going to run 26+ miles without first having run 10 miles, several times over. And no one will run 10 miles without running many shorter distances first. It’s called “training” and every athlete understands it.

But they’re not the only one. No author ever just sat down and wrote a book without writing several essays first and submitting them for evaluation. No teacher ever jumped in and taught a full semester without beginning first with a few classes, working out lesson plans and gathering materials for the longer course. The first time through was tough. Only after several times through did he make it look easy.

It’s not strange then that Paul should tell Timothy, “train yourself to be godly” (I Tim. 4:7). Godliness is a long-term pursuit that requires skill and stamina. It’s not something that just happens. It requires preparation, lots of practice, and persistence over the long haul.

Paul is giving Timothy just such advice in this letter. Notice his repeated emphasis on attention to the details:

3:14 - “I’m writing you these instructions”
4:6 - “point these things out to the brothers”
4:11 - “command and teach these things”
4:15 - “be diligent in these matters”

“These things” are all related to godliness in five specific areas: speech, life, love, faith, and purity (I Tim. 4:12). It’s assumed that Timothy has learned and is putting “these things” into practice already. After all, he’s not a novice. He’d already been traveling and working alongside Paul for some time and Paul has enough confidence in him to send him to work at Ephesus - not an easy assignment! Paul outlines for him a three-part instruction on how to bring others along in training to be godly. “Devote yourself...

1) “to the public reading of Scripture” = read the text
2) “to preaching” = explain the text
3) “to teaching” = apply the text

Good advice!