Last week a fin whale washed up on Fenwick Island. It caused quite a sensation, measuring somewhere around 51 feet or more. Looking in his mouth, it was apparent this thing could easily swallow a man. But perhaps their throats are too small, I don’t know. It made me think of Jonah, and the story of him being swallowed by a great fish. Note that the Bible didn’t call it a whale. Agnostics have long pointed to this story as an example of errors in the Bible. But I don’t have a problem with the story at all. From my perspective, if God can create all the thousands of species of fish in the ocean, then making one large enough to swallow Jonah isn’t a big deal.
In our recent study of 1 & 2 Peter, we read we are all going to suffer hardships in life, but that there are two kinds of hardship. One is as a Christian seeking to serve God and the other is from the result of rebellion against God. Jonah was running from God. Maybe he thought he could serve God just as well in Tarshish. Maybe he was just plain old backslidden and didn’t want to serve God anymore. Whatever the reason, the Bible says that God sent a storm that was so fierce it sent the heathen sailors on board to their knees, calling upon their gods for deliverance.
Well, you know the story. The sailors threw Jonah overboard in hopes that God would relent with the storm. And the Bible says that God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. First of all, I believe if Jonah would have gotten down on his knees on the boat and repented, God would have stopped the storm right then. But Jonah would have rather died than do what God wanted him to do. He said “throw me into the sea.” Wow, he really had a hard heart. Secondly, it’s amazing to me that he spent three days in the belly of the whale before he prayed. By that time, even the fish had gotten sick of his attitude.
God is the God of the storms. It’s comforting to know that whether the storm is of our making, or one that we don’t think we had anything to do with, God is always just a prayer away. The disciples experienced fierce storms on the Sea of Galilee. But in every circumstance, we see Jesus coming to meet them. Job experienced a great storm in his life that wasn’t a result of sin. But eventually his righteousness turned to self righteous bitterness against God for allowing those circumstances in his life. When God answered, He answered from a storm, reminding Job that He was God and Job should not question His ways or His purposes. God is sovereign, able to send the storms and stop the storms. We are not to question His will or His ways, only bow our knees to the Sovereign King and recognize His authority over our lives.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Are you tired yet?
The Bible says that before we were born again we were slaves of the kingdom of darkness. True freedom is given to us by Jesus Christ. Yet, so often, the devil uses false teaching to take us back into enslavement. How? By false teachers who "speaking out empty words entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from those who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved." 2 Pet. 2:18,19. In other words, false teachers appeal to the flesh, our senses, our feelings, and our desires for things of this world to enslave us once again by getting us to focus on the desires of the flesh and the rat race of acquiring material things.
An even greater danger is indicated in the phrase "those who barely escape from those who live in error". This speaks of two types of people, those that blatantly reject God, like atheists, and those who may be convicted in their hearts about their life, but rather than accept full transformation by the Holy Spirit, have become merely morally reformed. They know about God and recognize that they need "religion" but in their turning to God are diverted by false teachers into a moral reformation rather than salvation. They become church members. They get baptized. They work in the Sunday School. They tithe regularly. And sadly, they are going to find themselves standing before God one day at the judgment and He will say, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you."
Are you finding yourself feeling like you are becoming enslaved again to the things of this world? Have you been enticed by your desires into things that promised you freedom, but haven't delivered? Satan attempts to burden us so heavily under the weight of this world's "goods" that we become no heavenly good. Jesus says in Matt. 11:28-30, "Come unto Me, all who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My load is light."
An even greater danger is indicated in the phrase "those who barely escape from those who live in error". This speaks of two types of people, those that blatantly reject God, like atheists, and those who may be convicted in their hearts about their life, but rather than accept full transformation by the Holy Spirit, have become merely morally reformed. They know about God and recognize that they need "religion" but in their turning to God are diverted by false teachers into a moral reformation rather than salvation. They become church members. They get baptized. They work in the Sunday School. They tithe regularly. And sadly, they are going to find themselves standing before God one day at the judgment and He will say, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you."
Are you finding yourself feeling like you are becoming enslaved again to the things of this world? Have you been enticed by your desires into things that promised you freedom, but haven't delivered? Satan attempts to burden us so heavily under the weight of this world's "goods" that we become no heavenly good. Jesus says in Matt. 11:28-30, "Come unto Me, all who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My load is light."
Friday, March 12, 2010
Marks of greatness
When you think of greatness, who comes to mind? Perhaps Mohammed Ali, or Kelly Slater, or Lance Armstrong. Maybe it's some political leader like Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. I imagine all of us, to some degree or another, have wished that we could be recognized as being great at something in our lifetime. Jesus, in Matthew 11, says the following about John the Baptist. ""Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!" What made John great? Well, there are five things we find in scripture that characterize his greatness.
1. Humility: John said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." You might become famous without humility, but without it, you will never become truly great.
2. Conviction: Jesus said, "What did you go out to see, a reed shaken with the wind?" John was firm in his convictions, regardless of the culture. He didn't pander to the world.
3. Self Denial: Jesus said, "Those who wear soft clothing are in kings palaces." John renounced the comforts of this world for the sake of Christ.
4. Accepted his calling: John said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord." There is no higher calling than to proclaim Jesus Christ.
5. Delivered his message: John accomplished his mission, even though it cost him his life. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." It may not be popular, but the message of the gospel is effective, leading people to salvation.
Let's determine to be found faithful when Christ comes back, to be found busy doing the Father's business. And may we hear Christ say, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." Matt. 25:23 I hope you will plan on joining us this Sunday as we continue this study of the marks of greatness as characterized by John the Baptist.
1. Humility: John said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." You might become famous without humility, but without it, you will never become truly great.
2. Conviction: Jesus said, "What did you go out to see, a reed shaken with the wind?" John was firm in his convictions, regardless of the culture. He didn't pander to the world.
3. Self Denial: Jesus said, "Those who wear soft clothing are in kings palaces." John renounced the comforts of this world for the sake of Christ.
4. Accepted his calling: John said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord." There is no higher calling than to proclaim Jesus Christ.
5. Delivered his message: John accomplished his mission, even though it cost him his life. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." It may not be popular, but the message of the gospel is effective, leading people to salvation.
Let's determine to be found faithful when Christ comes back, to be found busy doing the Father's business. And may we hear Christ say, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." Matt. 25:23 I hope you will plan on joining us this Sunday as we continue this study of the marks of greatness as characterized by John the Baptist.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A lot like Lot
Lot had a choice. Up to now, he had just been following his Uncle Abraham around, reaping the benefits of God’s blessing on Abraham’s life by staying in his shadow. But the day had come when their herds had grown too large to continue traveling together. Abraham graciously offered Lot his choice of which direction he chose. Little did Lot realize then that the consequences of his decision would impact his future in the catastrophic way that it did.
Genesis says that Lot looked towards the well watered plains of Jordan and chose that as the land in which he would settle. Eventually, he moved his tents closer to Sodom and then finally moved into the city itself. He chose the luxuries of the world, pursuing the finer things in life, even though the debauchery of the people living there tormented his righteous soul.
The account in Genesis and 2 Peter reveal that the decision Lot made cost him his career, his home, his wife, his sons and even corrupted his daughters who escaped with him but committed incest in order to raise up children. His grandchildren became known as the cursed Moabites and Edomites, cut off from God’s chosen people. 2 Peter tells us three times that Lot was righteous, presumably because it would be difficult for us to believe it based on his life - but while he may have been saved, he escaped only with the shirt on his back, losing everything he had lived for.
Perhaps you too are at a cross roads today. You may have lived under the protection of your parents and are now ready to set off on your own. Or perhaps you are considering a move, or a different career path, or some other important decision. You might do well to remember the story of Lot. Greener pastures aren’t always in God’s plan.
Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. Don’t trust in your own wisdom or what may seem logical or rational. Pro 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Genesis says that Lot looked towards the well watered plains of Jordan and chose that as the land in which he would settle. Eventually, he moved his tents closer to Sodom and then finally moved into the city itself. He chose the luxuries of the world, pursuing the finer things in life, even though the debauchery of the people living there tormented his righteous soul.
The account in Genesis and 2 Peter reveal that the decision Lot made cost him his career, his home, his wife, his sons and even corrupted his daughters who escaped with him but committed incest in order to raise up children. His grandchildren became known as the cursed Moabites and Edomites, cut off from God’s chosen people. 2 Peter tells us three times that Lot was righteous, presumably because it would be difficult for us to believe it based on his life - but while he may have been saved, he escaped only with the shirt on his back, losing everything he had lived for.
Perhaps you too are at a cross roads today. You may have lived under the protection of your parents and are now ready to set off on your own. Or perhaps you are considering a move, or a different career path, or some other important decision. You might do well to remember the story of Lot. Greener pastures aren’t always in God’s plan.
Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. Don’t trust in your own wisdom or what may seem logical or rational. Pro 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
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