I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Psalm 34:1-2 (esv)

A Rock Speaks

I had a world history class in my 10^th grade year in high school. My teacher was an avowed atheist and was vocal in his atheism and especially in his scorn of Christians and Christianity. I remember him saying “The law says I have to give the views of Christianity so I will briefly cover it.” Very brief it was and he never mentioned it again unless it was in a negative context.

I don't remember much this man taught except for one day when he covered ancient Israel. As he went along I recall one of his statements on the subject that seemed ironic; he said, “The time of King David and his son Solomon were the golden years of the nation of Israel.” I remember thinking 'Yes, and if you read the Psalms you would know why.' Frankly, I was shocked that he even admitted it but eventually came to realize his statement only verified the historical accuracy of the Bible and testified of the blessing God poured out on Israel through the righteous life of David and the impact of his life totally devoted to loving God with a full heart. Without realizing it my atheistic teacher testified to the glory to God's work, love, and grace in King David's life, a man after God's own heart (1^st Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).

We all realize David's life was less than pristine. Yet through all of his rebellious actions God still gave him the promise that a member of his family would always be seated on his throne and it would last forever. Jesus Christ was a descendant of David through His Father Joseph (Matthew 1:1-17) and His mother Mary (Luke 3:23-38). As God's only beloved Son (Matthew 3:17) He would be the promised One who would sit on his father David's  throne in an eternal reign (Luke 1:32).

There's no escaping God's plans even to a convinced atheist glorifying the works of God without knowing it. The age of David and Solomon was indeed blessed but the Golden Age is yet to come at the Second Coming of Christ when He restores Israel and the Jewish people to their promised and honored place among the nations (Isaiah 10:20, Jeremiah 31:7, Micah 2:12, Zechariah 8:23). He will begin an eternal reign of righteous dominion of all things. 

In Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem His disciples went before Him praising God as His anointed Messiah. The religious leaders were incensed and told Him to rebuke them. Christ replied, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 1940). For the Lord of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27). God will not be silenced. He can proclaim His praise and glory in the most unusual places and ways. He can even do it from the lips of a rock-hearted atheist.

Ken

For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! Psalm 117:2

God Is Still Working

I've shared the Gospel with several people in my life who told me they were completely convinced they could never receive forgiveness of their sins from God. Whether or not they were just saying that to put me off I can't say, but to verbalize such a thing revealed their ignorance of the power, grace, and redemptive love of God.

In 1^st Kings 12 and 2^nd Chronicles 10 we read that the nation of Israel split into two nations over a disagreement with the new king. Ten tribes of Israel created a northern kingdom. All of its 19 kings did evil in the sight of the Lord.

But here's the incredible part; God continued to work His grace through the prophets He sent to Israel who boldly confronted the evil kings (and queen) telling them to put away their idols and again follow the commandments of the LORD. They never did, but despite their rebellion and the rebellion of the people God continued to reach out to them for many years.

He will never give up on us no matter what kind of sin we've committed. To say God cannot forgive sin through Christ is to say Christ, as God (John 10:30, 33, Hebrews 1:8) is too weak or helpless to do so which totally goes against Scripture. One of the marvelous attributes of God is He is Omnipotent (all powerful). He can do anything and He never changes. He will work in our lives as He did in ancient Israel's times, regardless of what we've done.

The good news is if you have never believed on Christ for the forgiveness of your sins walking a church aisle or even speaking a prayer is OK. But really all you need to do is believe that Jesus Christ is God's perfect sacrifice for sin (Luke 23:42-43, Acts 16:31) and then do what He commands. He said "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). 

In that is a sureness in a world of uncertainty. The depth of His continuing love and grace when we fail Him never changes and that love and grace always remains truly amazing.

Ken

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 (English Standard Version)

The Opt-Out

There is a word in our vocabulary we can use to get out of something. It's called the 'opt-out.' On the Internet it can be used to stop email newsletters and spam, in banking and insurance companies it can be used to stop your information from being sold to third parties, or it could be used to tell someone you don't want to be involved in their plans. It's an escape clause.

The Gospels teach of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How on the cross He became God's Perfect sacrifice satisfying His wrath against sin. When we read the Gospel accounts of the arrest and crucifixion of Christ we seldom consider that in all He went through He had an opt-out. As He was being arrested Jesus told Peter He could appeal to His Father in Heaven and He would send twelve legions of angels to His aid (Matthew 26:53). The number of soldiers in an average Roman legion was 5,000. Multiplied x12 it equals 600,000 angels. It is interesting that we find in 2^nd Kings 19:35 that one angel of the Lord, in one night, went through the camp of the Assyrian army, camped to attack the city of Jerusalem, and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Imagine what twelve legions of angels could have done to the earth had Christ asked for them!

Jesus spoke to His disciples telling them He had authority from God Himself to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:17-18). Before His arrest He prayed to His Father that if possible the cross and His taking the sins of history upon Himself could be avoided then let it be so, but adding “Not My will but Yours be done (Luke 22:42).” It was God's will that Christ die for the sins of the world since before the earth was created (Revelation 13:8) and Isaiah wrote of the suffering Messiah that it pleased God to crush (sacrifice) Him (Isaiah 53:10) to complete His plan of human redemption from sin. And in obedience to His Father Jesus willingly accepted the will of God (John 14:31).

After His arrest and illegal trials, He allowed His enemies to humiliate Him, beat Him, whip Him half to death, and nail Him to a Roman cross. This was all done voluntarily on Jesus' part. Jesus held total control and could have opted to have gotten out of it and destroyed His tormentors and enemies. But He humbled Himself through it for the joy that was set before Him, enduring the cross, despising its shame and afterward being seated at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 12:2). Christ endured our punishment for sin, crushing the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15) and disarming the rulers and authorities making a show of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).

For those that believe on Him Jesus replaces their sin, guilt and shame with the righteousness of God (Romans 5:21). The good news is that God raised Jesus Christ from the grave on the third day after He voluntarily shed His blood and died, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Christ could have chosen to opt-out of God's redemptive plan but He chose not to for our sake. That gives the phrase 'opt-out' a whole new meaning doesn't it?

Ken

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:28-29

A Matter of the Heart

In the Old testament circumcision was required for all Jewish males under the Law of Moses (Brit Milah, or Bris) on the eighth day after their birth. Even Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after His birth (Luke 2:21). Circumcision can be done for health reasons, comfort or even appearance. God told Abraham to circumcise himself when he was 99 years old. So too were circumcised were Ishmael, Abraham's household, his servants, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner as an everlasting covenant in their flesh (Genesis 17:24-27). This included all of Abraham's offspring (all Jewish males, even those yet to be born).

There comes time when some of us need to spiritually circumcise our hearts, cutting away the things that cover the soul.  Christians can cling to irreligious customs and traditions, interpretations of Scripture taken out of context, unloving and severe attitudes put on other believers considered as all the truth there is, pastors “beating the sheep” with condemnation and disapproval, rejection of other believers from fellowship because they do not practice what the one that practices legalism preaches. There are so many more ways legalism can harden the heart. It can even flow over into the political side of thinking or be something as silly as not liking a brother or sister in Christ because they prefer contemporary Christian music over hymns. That's a hardening of the heart.

In the wilderness Moses told the children of Israel; “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn” (Deuteronomy 10:16). He was telling them to repent in their inward sinful attitudes so that they lined up with God's word. He commands us to make Him the focal point of our commitment, purpose, and actions.

Calcification is the slow but steady hardening of an object. That can happen to our hearts over time. It is good to keep watch over our thoughts (Psalm 19:14), and make a habit of a consistent time to read and study God's word and to practice a consistent prayer life. In doing so we seek to know God and have a personal relationship with Him. He is highly pleased with the feeblest attempt to do so. As the saying goes, “Nothing trumps prayer.”

These life disciplines bring joy, peace, and by the Holy Spirit a measurement of the tenderness of our hearts. A spirit tender and receptive to the Lord is what He desires. It comes down to a matter of the heart. Who is truly a Jew? Is it one born to man or one whose heart is circumcised in God's sight? To cut away the foreskin of the spiritual heart and be no longer stubborn is to be a true child of Abraham. It is God's will for all believers and will define their lives. And his or her praise will not be from man but from God.

Ken

And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. (Deuteronomy 28:1)

God’s Provision for Israel

The Israelites witnessed great miracles from the hand of God in their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. But even with the mighty miracles seen with their own eyes they stubbornly resisted God's plan for their lives. There were conditions that would happen if they followed Him with a true and committed heart. In those blessings God would bless them in the city and the field. They would be blessed in child bearing, they would be blessed agriculturally, their herds of cattle and the young of the flock would increase. Their food would be increased and they would go out and come in blessed and without fear. The LORD would defeat their enemies. He would command the blessing of their barns and all they undertake. He would establish the Jewish people as a holy (set apart) people to Himself. 

All the peoples of the earth would see they were called by the name of the LORD and be afraid of them. He would make the Jewish people abound in prosperity. He would send rain for their crops and bless all the work of their hands. They would lend to many nations but borrow from none. He promised if they served Him with a whole heart they would “be the head and not the tail.” He would do all these blessings for them if they faithfully served Him. But if they rebelled just the opposite would happen to them (Deuteronomy chapter 28).

Unfortunately Israel chose to rebel against God and were finally scattered throughout the nations of the earth in God's judgment. However God in His compassion and mercy said even if they were at the ends of the earth He would bring them back to the land (Deuteronomy 30:4). He did so during Israel's history especially regathering many of them after the Holocaust of World War II. Afterward He amazingly delivered them through 4 major wars.

God's promise to Israel is that they will be brought back to their faith in Yahweh and their calling and mission in the future under their Messiah Yeshua. He will reign in Zion (Jerusalem) and restore the Jewish people to become a people set apart (holy). The whole earth will be redeemed during the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 23:3-8, Luke 1:32). 

His promises to Israel and to all believers in Christ should excite and encourage us. There will be no more curses for Christ will rule the entire earth with a righteous rule (Revelation chapter 21, Isaiah Chapter 11). The Jewish people will be blessed above all nations (Daniel 2:44, Zechariah 14:16-21)). Yeshua's provision will overcome Israel's failure. What a promise. What a God. 

Ken

Set your affection on the things above, not on the things of the earth. Colossians 3:2

Priorities

Sometimes circumstances bring emotional, physical, or spiritual pain. It is right to say these things should not be ignored. But sometimes it's easy putting our focus only on earthly measures instead of putting them on things above and trusting God to intervene in His own way and His own timing.
 

I laughed at a statement a pastor once made about how after people have exhausted every avenue to deal with a problem say, “Well, I guess we should pray” when that should have been the first thing they should have done.

Acquaint thyself with your God is a call to prioritize a life of intimate fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus made this promise; “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If we stay in Him, putting our trust and hope in Him alone, He will make our lives full of blessing, strength, peace of mind, encouragement and the promise that He is everywhere present. He is as close to us as the air we breathe knowing exactly what we are facing.
 

Job had that kind of faith. He was a very rich man who lost everything including all his children. On top of that his body became covered with boils. His wife, apparently in exasperation told her husband “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) Job did not curse God of course and instead later made the amazing statement about Him, “Though He slay me yet will I hope in Him. I will argue my ways to His face” (Job 13:15). In all the terrible things that happened to him he kept his eyes on things above and his hope and trust in God.
 

 

Priority on keeping our mind on things above is of the essence if we are to have peace of mind in the times that try us or seem impossible to overcome. Who do we have in heaven except Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us to God the Father (Hebrews 4:15)? Christ is above and above all things. He is our one and only priority.

Ken

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of the firstborn was Joel, and the name of the second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. 1^st Samuel 8:1-3

A Parent's Pain

There are some Christian parents who have provided for the physical and spiritual needs of their children, teaching them to love and serve one another, and to observe the commandments of the Lord. Some of these parents have found their sons and daughters have chosen not to live a life of obedience to God. That can be very painful to a godly parent. The prophet Samuel was a parent that experienced that kind of pain. He served the Lord from the time he was 13 years old to an estimated age of 110. His sons, appointed as judges over Israel, chose to go after money and gain through taking bribes and corrupting justice.

I have found that members of my own family have chosen to make moral choices yet have refused to allow God to be at the center of their lives. It has been a great source of grief and sorrow to my wife and I. My family certainly wasn't taught to resist the Lord yet that is how things have turned out for my children and grandchildren. Speaking to them about it, exhorting them to change, encouraging them to seek God in their lives have been met with opposition and at times open hostility.

What can a parent in this kind of pain do? Not giving up on God and loving their children where they are is a wise choice. And be ardent in prayer for them. I take time everyday to pray for my loved ones. I've been doing it for years without seeing change and I do get disheartened at times. But that doesn't mean the Holy Spirit isn't working in their lives. In my prayers for my loved ones I ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for me on their behalf (Romans 8:26) asking that He will deal with their minds and hearts according to His perfect will. I take solace in knowing the perfect will of God is being accomplished in their lives through Him.

The promises of God are true and steadfast. His Word tells us that He fulfilled all the promises He made to the children of Israel when He led them 40 years in the wilderness (Joshua 21:45). Other verses on God's faithfulness in keeping His promises you can refer to are Jeremiah 1:12, Ezekiel 12:28, Philippians 1:6 and Galatians 6:9 which tell us not to give up. While God cannot promise that our loved ones will definitely turn to Him He does exhort us to pray without ceasing (1^st Thessalonians 5:17-18). 

A parent's pain for those choosing to walk outside the will and precepts of the Lord can be agonizing indeed but there can also be peace and rest as we remember just how faithful God is in His working in their lives. We can remember that He works every time we pray for them and His word does not return empty (Isaiah 55:11). He has given us all free will that works in our own lives and the lives of our loved ones that at times hinders godly decisions. But the Lord in His faithfulness is not willing for anyone to perish (2^nd Peter 3:9). 

He works through our prayers and He is faithful to His promises. His promises can also be a comfort to us and able to help relieve a parent's pain. If you are a parent in pain be encouraged in His fathomless Faithfulness. The wheel of God moves in His own timing but let us praise Him that it does move.

Ken