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 (February 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Numbers 11-13

Complaining is contagious. It can also be terribly destructive. For some of the Israelites it was fatal. When God heard their grumbling “his anger was aroused” (Num. 11:1) and a fire licked at the edges of the camp. Some died.

But still it didn’t stop. When God gave them food in the wilderness, the complaining turned to “we never see anything but this manna” (Num. 11:6). For sixteen months they had eaten it in every imaginable format (manna burgers, manna waffles, manna bagels). They wanted meat. So God gave them meat, so much that they wailed again. This time the Lord became “exceedingly angry” (Num. 11:10). Still more died and the number of freshly dug graves increased.

This wasn’t about food. It wasn’t even about Moses and his leadership. The real issue was that they had “rejected the Lord” (Num. 11:20).

The complaining reached to the highest levels. Even Aaron and Miriam were caught up in it and God had to give them a rather harsh lesson (Num. 12). Had there not been this corrupting influence of complaining and discontent - a lack of trust in the Lord - perhaps the entry into the Promised Land would have been far different. As it was, a majority of the selected leadership also lost their grip on the reality of God’s presence among them. Instead of seeing God as bigger than the giants they were facing, they led the people to further complaining, resistance, and outright disobedience (Num. 13: 31-33).

It’s amazing that God didn’t strike the whole lot down. He certainly had reason enough to do so. It’s interesting that, though their names are recorded permanently in Scripture, there’s probably not a man alive who could recall the names of all the cowards. Who ever heard of Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, or Geuel?

But Joshua and Caleb? Now there’s a memory worth remembering! Two strong, uncompromising, faithful men who trusted God. Makes you want to be like them, does it not?!


New Testament: Luke 14

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Vell, I’ve learnt to hold everytink loosely, because it hurts so much ven God pries my fingers apart and takes tem from me.”

As He closed His discourse on the cost of being a disciple (Lk. 14:26-35), Jesus said, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Ultimately, the rewards are great but there is indeed a cost to being Christ’s disciple. There is a price to pay if you’re serious about following Jesus.

• It will cost you time. This won’t happen in spare moments. It’s not a matter of checking an agenda to see where you might be able to fit it in. Jesus requires total commitment. He wants your life.
• It will cost you money. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” but the reverse is every bit as true. If you’re holding back in your pocketbook you are not Christ’s disciple.
• It will cost you self-indulgent pleasures. Your values and personal ambitions will change. Things you treasured before will look like trinkets. What seemed so important yesterday will pale to nothingness with eternity’s values in view.
• It will cost you major effort. This is not a game that we whittle away at in spare moments. It requires forethought, careful planning, wise use of resources, and sustained effort.
• It will cost you misunderstanding in some cases. Someone is sure to ask, “who do you think you are?” Your changed lifestyle will be an affront to someone who will be convicted by what they see in you.

Is it worth it? Listen to the promise of Jesus:

I tell you the truth...no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.... (Mk. 10:29-30)