All Scripture …

𝟭 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝟯:𝟭𝟲-𝟭𝟳 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱-𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

The Word of God, the Bible, has been denigrated. It has been assigned as a noteworthy set of writings, perhaps useful in their time. It has been the subject of humiliation and abrogation, canceling any importance it could have in the lives of readers. There are, of course, passages that are both puzzling and in need of contextual explanation. There are popular misinterpretations that have been co-opted to justify even the evilest doctrines and actions.

None of that sullies its intent and overall accomplishment in the lives of people of faith. It arrests sin, does not promote it. It corrects, does not condone. The righteousness it engenders testifies to the voice that speaks through the human lives used to record its words.

Paul was describing only the part of the Bible we call the Old Testament. He had the equivalent of a modern day PhD in theology and the Tenach (with the Jewish Talmud – rabbinic teachings) was his specialty. He had no way of knowing his letters to Timothy and the early churches would be incorporated into the canon – the books making up the New Testament. Yet his words here apply to his own writing.

Critics of the Bible – and they are nothing new as a group – harp on things like details (where the oral tradition was not as concerned) and historical accuracy (erecting their own criteria). All the while, combining their reading of the text with faith and being inquisitive as to its ability to teach and correct is avoided for reasons of fear (Hebrews 4:2). If the Bible had those attributes, it would imply change and repentance. Those things are not acceptable to devoted critics.

It is the proposition of scripture that humankind NEEDS teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness – and that, only from the hand of Almighty God. We are not righteous in ourselves, indeed so sinful that Jesus needed to die to set things right with His Father. That story is the primary one to allowing scripture to do its work – or rather, we could say it is the first work scripture does.

The sorrow of the unrealized fruit waiting for anyone who neglects the jewel which is the Bible is great, but it’s also waiting patiently to be discovered for all. I remain eternally thankful for its work in my life.

Finishing the project

Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Jesus described the all-too-familiar problem of lowballing estimates for projects.  In a corporation, it’s common practice to preach cheap to management then ask for leniency when there are cost overruns.  And given the miserly control and fear of investment among C level executives, it is arguably the only way to get anything meaningful and substantial done.  Projects are treacherous ground even so because funding can be pulled any time.  Monies are counted quarterly no matter what projects are happening.  I will personally testify about 60% of my projects being canceled before completion, with people who were vital to those projects summarily laid off.

But this mini-parable is applied to a life following Jesus.  The level and cost of a lifelong commitment is often underestimated.  If you’re going to put parents, family or life’s pursuits ahead of your devotion to Jesus Christ, don’t bother saying you’re his disciple.  The balance here is that devotion to Christ will make you love your family even more.  It’s a matter of what reigns supreme.  And in this passage, Jesus stresses the long-term nature of a life given to him.  If your weariness causes you to abandon following him, you failed in your original estimate of cost.  Those around you who said it was only a phase are proven right in what they said.

There is no management to appeal to in order to increase corporate commitment to the project called my life.  Jesus paid for that life on the cross once for all.  It’s never the case that there isn’t help for me to continue in my following him or in all he’s called me to.  But there is also a giving up I can fall into if I try to do things on my own too much, things don’t go my way or my resilience is so low that fatigue makes me simply walk away.  Following Jesus, carrying my particular cross and letting him mold me into all he wants me to be is a lifelong project.  Indeed, I am his project.  For life.  May I finish (or be finished) well.

Affirmed by rejection

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟬-𝟭𝟭 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: “‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱’𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀’?”

This analogy of the builders with the rejected stone (see Psalm 118:22) has much more than meets the eye. The building experts, trained and experienced in their craft, get things so fundamentally wrong that they discard the most important piece of the foundation of the building. Far more than an expose of human ineptitude, which is in all honesty a healthy part of growth in any field of endeavor, the metaphor speaks to a more profound rejection – one motivated by hurried expedience, misguided attraction or outright jealousy.

Jesus HAD to be rejected by people or he would not have been the Messiah:

𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟱𝟯:𝟯 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗻, 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁.

Jesus was referring to himself in the quotation, directly confronting his accusers and detractors to their face. Yet he is the Cornerstone, the foundation upon which lives of faith are to be built.

His rejection did NOT stop him from continuing his ministry, and walking out his destiny of death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. THAT is what is marvelous in our eyes! Persistence, unceasing love and movement towards God. Despite rejection.

Can I own this? Can I be rejected by people of various types, particularly by those in authority and power, and still walk the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24)? Retracting and retreating from who I am and what I am called to do based upon God’s call is the desire of the kingdom of darkness. This is not an ambitious thrust into prominence; indeed it might be encouragement to stay obscure and yet powerful in ministry to God and others.

Rejection is affirmation if we listen to the right voice. It cements us as the beloved into the house of God, constructed of living stones as a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). For the One who will never reject us sees His building blocks with the keenest of eyes and knows the end from the beginning.

Let us rejoice, for it is marvelous in our eyes!

Shepherds and Harvest Workers

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟵:𝟯𝟲-𝟯𝟴 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘄; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁.”

Religion had become a harassing bother to the people the Jesus saw, healed and spoke with. They had no power and were at the mercy of self-promoting shepherds. The picture of God’s people as sheep was not a new idea, and Matthew’s account described a recurring predicament for people in need of godly counsel and direction. Shepherdless sheep are aimless and at the mercy of the elements.

But the people DID have shepherds – teachers of the Law who were to instruct and guide them in righteousness. They were not doing that but instead heaping yet more onto already overburdened lives. In their theology God was unpleasable and so were they.

Since the analogy shifted immediately to the harvest field, these same sheep were those who would be “harvested” through salvation, hearing and believing in the Good News. Their sheer number would require more workers, which inspired the prayer.

Sheep, in Christian terms, come to new life in Christ. This is the harvest. They are born again (see John 3:3), and then made into disciples. Unlike the seemingly easy one-time conversion process, the discipleship of believers takes much more time and patience. The workers, then, are not hit-and-run migrant farmers, though there is surely in the evangelist’s role an aspect of death-to-life, blindness-to-sight transformation.

When a believer prays for such laborers, it is for those who can shepherd God’s people. If one is an answer to those prayers, that person is a shepherd. S/he will almost certainly harvest but Jesus followers are not nurtured with a sickle. That makes them harassed and helpless.

May I know my calling, pray and be an answer to prayer. In Jesus’ name.

Mountains, valleys, crooked and rough places

Luke 3:4-6: … The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

John the Baptist quoted Isaiah 40:3-5 and applied it to his ministry of repentance. Topologically, it reads like one is preparing a landing strip for a large aircraft. Or a railroad bed through the mountains. But John was speaking about preparing hearts to see the salvation of the Lord. So, the valleys and mountains, crooked and rough places pertain to the state of the souls of people. This is profound.

What is a valley of the soul then? A depressed, downtrodden area of shame and abandonment? It would make sense, yes. And a mountain? A proud, too-lofty peak that lords a person over others and even authority. Crooked and rough places are variants of sinful behavior, perhaps known to the person with excuses and justifications such that they were never confronted before.

Repentance takes no prisoners. Sin dies and a person has nothing else to lean on but forgiveness.

But it’s vital to remember that this repentance was in preparation of One who would set captives free. That is, though people may well seek to have sins erased, it is only the work of the Savior that truly frees. Forgiveness and freedom are granted separately, and freedom is of course, a far more hard-fought entity.

It is God’s will that humankind be free from sin, not just forgiven for it. Like it or not, that is a progressive move in the lives of his children. For humankind is deeply bound, realizing it or not.

What, then are my valleys, mountains, crooked and rough places? May the Holy Spirit convict. And how will I be set free, not just forgiven? By God’s grace, accountability and learning to walk a different path, even in my thought life and my words. That God will do it is sure – I’ve seen it for years. Freedom is glorious and worth every step taken to walk in.

Amen.

Foundations and storms

Scripture:

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Observation:

The analogy using the foundation of a home is vivid and resolute. If one takes course of action 1, the house will stand firm amidst the storms and floods. If course of action 2, the house will fall with a “great crash”. The basis of the action taken is the words that Jesus had spoken. It is proper to think of this brief picture applying to all of the Sermon on the Mount. So there are 3 chapters of “words” that need to be listened to and applied. This is core Christian doctrine and it is as counter culture as it is freeing and nobilifying. It is no small body of teaching. So the words Jesus spoke are the key to this analog; they define direction. The “house” is the life of the listener, the disciple. The fundamental beauty and creative potential of human life is celebrated in that comparison. Not that people can’t decide life is awful and start to live decrepit lives of chosen loss and shame. For all who come to faith in Christ there is a rebuilding of the foundation. For no matter how beautiful and ornate the house is, the constant, unavoidable truth is that storms come. Life’s weather patterns are not always pleasant and easily navigable. And when bad enough weather comes, only the foundation will keep the beauty intact.

Application:

The work would seem so immense as to be infeasible except that a foundation is not built instantly or with spotty labor. No, its raw materials and the labor to utilize them are carefully and methodically chosen and applied. Even in this day of specialists, those pouring foundation are the first in to a building site and no one can build on top until they are done. And for the person newly in Christ, a new house is built. Old things pass away and all things become new. The idea of rebuilding can sound scary, but it’s not the person who does the work; it’s Christ. Though the call to salvation is radical in its requisite change, the work of Christ is what sustains it. The friend one finds in Christ is active and constructive always. Let me know this well. And communicate and celebrate it well.

There is instruction here about what to do in crisis. One should not go it alone but instead should draw upon life’s foundation in Christ: His teaching, worship and presence. That will keep the building standing and life’s heavenly progression constant. Though the world around offers all manner of aid and advice, it is founded upon crumbling principles. So when the storm hits, my heart must go to the deep place, to the Rock of my salvation. There are myriad temptations to forsake my relationship with God based on lies like the idea that I suffer because He’s angry with me or the notion that God would want nothing to do with someone in my forlorn state. Those lies are part of the storm; let me recognize them as such.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for this scripture which I’ve known for so long. Let it take new root in my soul and build onto the firm foundation. In Jesus’ name, amen.