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.

Kindness for the controller

𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 11:21 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨, “𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙.”

The would/could/should haves – part of our entitled commentary to God about our take on life after events happen. While it’s perfectly understandable and good to review things that went wrong in order to prevent them from going (as) wrong next time, it’s presumption to read God the riot act. We simply don’t have the equipment or certainly the authority to instruct the Lord of our lives as to how things SHOULD have gone.

For Martha, this was completely in character. Though she followed this statement with “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (v 22), that was a self-perceived consolation to the sovereign will of Martha. This was the person who bossed her family around – taking umbrage that her sister Mary would not help her do her frantic, frenetic (and never ending) preparation, cleaning and (re)ordering of things for the guests. No, said Jesus, you can be like that, but Mary will certainly be allowed to sit and listen regardless.

It’s miraculous Jesus did up upbraid Martha – cut her down to size and knock her off her high horse. But he did not. As always, Jesus knew what was in a person, and Martha was hurting inside. We have no history regarding her past, but the need for control and intolerance of things not going according to plan is well understood even in our own lives. Martha had just lost her brother. Among the spectrum of things going wrong, that would be a biggie. Her pain in watching a loved one get sick and die is a well-known human experience. One of the earliest expressions of grief is anger – which blames. There’s little question that Martha had seen loss, along with personal criticism and shame. She felt things deeply.

It would seem a suitable emotional reaction to put Martha in her place, to let her know how selfish her manipulative control really was. But Jesus didn’t do that and it’s remarkable. Instead, Jesus grieved with her and then showed real sovereignty – that of Almighty God – and raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. That’s how God moves in the lives of the bossy, controlling, bullying people – shows them goodness in the dearest way.

It is so easy to sting back the people who dig and weasel and push and scratch their way into ordering your life according to THEIR program. Jesus shows what they need. Hardly acquiescence to their insistent wranglings but kindness in spite of them and in response to them. As usual, Jesus turns the world upside down and heals it. He’s glorious.

Stories that span generations

𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟳𝟭:𝟭𝟴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘆, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲.

The old are discarded. That is nothing new. They are disregarded. Though they tell stories of their adventures, it’s presumed that they are either delusional or exaggerating. And sometimes they ARE. Their view of the world is assumed to be as the world was, not as it is. And sometimes their perspective IS dated like that.

It is easy, then, for an old person to think God has also cast him/her aside as yesterday’s news and an artifact only of how things were. That person can grow to expect only impoverishment of spirit and death. The slow descent into bodily decline can be seen to mirror one in the spirit. “Not so!” says the psalmist.

The lessons learned and experiences had are of vital importance to the next generation, without exception. The verse says nothing about the reception the declaration of God’s power will be received by those who are younger – and the old person will do well to consider how s/he received the same testimony. The acts of God among the lives of humans is BEST passed on by eyewitnesses, as it is an ongoing narrative for those of any age who believe.

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴:

Stories may be dismissed as hyperbole and myth. If you’re old and have seen, tell them anyway. The speaker may be maligned and humiliated due to ageism and prejudice. God’s stories find their way across the generations nonetheless.

Nor is the immediate response of the younger listeners a gauge as to net effect of the testimony of the old. It never was. Nor is the complete embracing of all that is said, for it is only God’s Word that doesn’t return void, not the word of humans. As the trustworthy statement goes – “God has no grandchildren”. Faith is not passed on via DNA. God will touch whom he will; be in prayer that he amplifies the word of your testimony, O veteran of spiritual warfare. God has not abandoned you, don’t you abandon his work in you. 

Scourge of the unfaithful

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟮:𝟰𝟳‭-‬𝟰𝟴 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Peter had asked whether Jesus’ parable of readiness for his return was given for the disciples only, or all people. Jesus responded by describing the phases of judgment that will occur when he returns for his bride, the church. The overall advice to draw from the passage is “Be Ready”. That is, fight any temptation to slough off and become lax or negligent in one’s responsibilities. The picture is of diligence.

The word for “beating” means to flay or scourge – to whip, that is. It’s punishment in some form. The servant in this case is a believer in Christ who has not maintained a life directed by what s/he has learned and practiced. The shirking or malpractice of a life Jesus has saved will be punished to varying degrees. It’s hard to know what form it will take – if this refers to judgment that occurs after this life. If it is in this life, the blows can take many forms, including loss and removal from prominence.

The blows to be rendered to the disobedient servant is a clear warning to desist in abusing or ignoring what has been formed in the life of the servant. That admonition should be enough to get the believer’s attention.

The final sentence (“Everyone to whom …”) both predates and corrects the following Marxist statement:

“𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑”

.. as that translates into redistribution of goods by the state. The oppression wrought by forced acquiescence to that iron-fisted edict has physically killed millions.

Jesus is speaking of willful giving – heaven’s purposes surely do require more from those with more. But it is out of the obedient heart of the servant and as directed by God that the “more” proceeds. It is to God that the servant of the gospel reports, and it is for (and truly, to) God the well-endowed servant gives. The demand is an expectation of love.

The passage is stark in its declaration of judgment for believers. The servants described are NOT those outside of Christ. It’s chilling in its duty-bound cause and effect proclamation, but what do I expect to happen to abusers within the Kingdom? Or do I judge them as not part of the Kingdom because of their bad words and actions? I am not the judge, I beat no one and can look on no one with an eye for revenge or payback. That’s God’s job.

For me, the message is to remain diligent in my relationship with Jesus and my fellow believers. Do NOT let my love grow cold and keep trusting God for all he will do.

The vast treasure of the little flock

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟮:𝟯𝟮‭-‬𝟯𝟰 “𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝘀. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼.

After pointing out God’s glory in all creation – in birds, flowers and grass and saying how trite they were – even in their existence – to human beings, Jesus gave the “therefore” passage above. It’s both supremely endearing and challenging, even convicting.

The “little flock” is nonetheless the object of God’s pleasure and recipient of the very Kingdom of God. This flies in the face of any “big flock” mentality. Small is good in this passage, and of course Jesus was speaking to the small band of original believers. As the church grew, “little flock” would no longer describe it, except in comparison with the overall population.

A strong part of Jesus’ description of the creation was God’s care for it. It was and is God who waters the earth, sends sunlight to plants and provides food for all the animal kingdom. This is an indication of his care for people, whom God cares about more. There is hierarchy in the creation, and humankind is its apex.

The instruction to sell possessions and give to the needy implies that one has possessions and one is not needy. Far from any human socialistic system, this is generosity after God’s own heart.

And once exercised, there is a new treasure obtained. This is a restatement of the proverb:

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟭𝟵:𝟭𝟳 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲.

… which is an almost scandalous truth concerning the heavenly economy. God becomes the debtor to human kindness and generosity. A reward is kept in eternity for the generous.

The final statement – “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” – shows that giving one’s possessions takes them off the throne of one’s life. You cannot worship something you give away and even renounce. Once done, the heart of a person – his/her intents and purposes – are directed and reside in heaven.

So, who is needy around me? Hands would go up if the question is asked. But clearly, there is godly counsel to be gained in this. Do I give grudgingly of any resource – finances, time, energy, etc. ? If so, that needs cleansing and correcting. I have freely received; get over yourself O my heart.

Do I demand notice and reward for my acts of kindness in this life? If so, Jesus says I have received my reward in full. That is NOT the treasure described in this passage. Give and I will prime the pump of blessing in my own life; that is very true. Let me be God’s conduit – his pipe – of blessing. Let it flow.

Abandonment and loneliness

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟲:𝟯𝟴‭ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵; 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲.”

…

𝟰𝟬 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿, “𝗦𝗼, 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿?”

Jesus’ request of Peter, James and John was both for their benefit and his. He appealed to their overcoming future temptation – a good reason for prayer for anyone. But Jesus also wanted their company because of the personal ordeal he knew was coming. He wanted his friends to keep vigil with him.

Surely, being abandoned was part of Jesus’ suffering. On the cross he later quoted David’s psalm, saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Anyone who has suffered knows that having someone present can make a big difference. It was part of the reason the writer of Hebrews would say that believers do not have a High Priest who’s unable to sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

“Abandonment issues” stem from parental negligence. A person with a pattern of being left alone – by people whose role and job it is to be there for them – is very sensitive to any situation where s/he lacks company when it’s needed or desired. Yet, this is a situation where Jesus can provide company, for he knows what it’s like. It’s unavoidable to feel abandoned at some point – there are things we must go through alone.

Providing companionship for the suffering – aka the ministry of presence – is a powerful testimony to the presence of God. May I listen to God’s voice and provide that when prompted, knowing just being there speaks love.

And should I find myself in an abandoned or even lonely state, let me know Jesus went before me and will NEVER abandon me through the Holy Spirit. His grace is sufficient.

Mountains and faith

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟳:𝟭𝟵‭-‬𝟮𝟬 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁?” 𝗛𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻, ‘𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲,’ 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”

After some protestation, Jesus had cast a demon out of a man’s son. The disciples had tried and failed, and Jesus’ words disparaging their generation were clearly aimed at them, not the man nor his son. Jesus’ emotions showed disappointment at the spiritual development of his followers.

The disciples then asked of Jesus why they had failed. His answer was that they lacked faith. It wouldn’t have taken much, for a mustard seed is very tiny, but faith is a necessary ingredient in any action taken or prayer against evil, suffering or concerning the affairs of human beings. The basic fact is that going through the motions, using human will and/or activity or posture is vain in having God accomplish the miraculous or even the beneficial.

The metrics of humans have muddied this fact horribly. Retroactively, religious people have become critics of the unaccomplished miracle or unanswered prayer. It was never a given that all prayer or laying on of hands would instantly result in God’s move. Indeed, sometimes prayer is a long, long journey. And sometimes prayer is answered in the negative. Though we can spur one another to deeper faith, only Jesus can judge the heart.

Everyone in this story eventually died. One was resurrected.

So, taking the biblical definition of faith:

𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝟭𝟭:𝟭-𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲.

I can ask myself how sure I are of what I hope for, how certain am I of what I do not see? That provides a clear measure of the faith I/we bring to a request of God. It’s not just a case of God doing things regardless of what I can sense, I often sense the exact opposite of what I ask God to do.

Fundamentally, I can call on God’s goodness, power and pure purposes with confidence over all else. May I pray like that; may we all.

Of yeast and faith

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟯:𝟯𝟯 𝗛𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱.”

You can’t see leaven, yeast, in flour once it’s kneaded in. Yet its effect is readily apparent once the yeast starts to ferment, producing carbon dioxide which causes the batter to expand, or rise. And there are many things whose growth and development is undetectable by the naked eye.

Spiritual growth and maturity is largely unmeasurable. Seed is sown, watered but the Lord grants the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). It is a fool’s errand to gauge growth by human-visible development. And it is a marvelous truth that though nothing is seen, the Kingdom and its effects grow in individuals and nations.

Doubt goes both ways – one can doubt in God’s existence and involvement with the world AND one can doubt that doubt. It is simply true that the Holy Spirit moves upon hearts in ways we cannot see.

I am invited to give up both rose-colored and despairing perspectives. It is simply true that I do not know how God is moving and can only operate in faith that the Kingdom IS growing like yeast in rising dough.

Often it requires pure and persistent faith to do this:

𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟲:𝟵 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽.

And I do well to find that faith and let it reign this day.

Opposition endured

Hebrews 12:9 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Opposition is to be expected.  The claim the Jesus is God the Son will be abrasive to those who say there is no God and those who believe God having a Son to be blasphemous.  They will do whatever they can to discredit, disqualify and marginalize the message of the Gospel.  They will overplay grace to the point of eliminating sin from consideration.  They will overplay judgment to the point of becoming God’s agents of wrath.

To contrast this opposition to modern polarized battles of culture wars, if I’m not careful, the imbalance of both sides will penetrate my own thinking.  The over-reliance and -emphasis of policy will dull the edge of the sword of the Word.  Platforms and ideologies that allow or punish whatever groups think are evil blur the redemption Jesus accomplished.  All can be forgiven.  All can be made righteous and holy.  Human reason and its formulations have forever opposed God’s purposes.  It’s easier to back a candidate or party or ideologue than follow Jesus.

It’s hardly that Jesus stands for lawlessness or lack of conviction.  That’s absurd.  But his compassion goes deeper than those confronting him as does his heart-searching conviction of sin.  Laws cannot be made to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it’s something only the Holy Spirit can do.

As the passage implies, weariness and loss of heart are real dangers.  The arguments Jesus had (and there were many) – challenging his authority, identity and actions – show the nature of the opposition and his radical clinging to justice and grace.  To be sure, that opposition led to his death.  Before that, it was assassination of his character and denunciation of his message.  He endured it all and won.  May I (and we) do the same.

Humble genealogies

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭:𝟯,𝟱,𝟳,𝟭𝟲 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿

..𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘇, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗯, 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘇 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗯𝗲𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝘁𝗵

.. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗨𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲

.. 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗵.

Genealogies demystify the past. Some cling to them in pride, sure that they establish a purebred human line. Others make discoveries that bring the family down to earth, showing the base results of the human condition.

The lineage of Jesus Christ featured moral compromise like that of many others. There was no purebred claim to be established. . Even Mary, the mother of the Lord, would endure suspicion of adultery because of the way Jesus was conceived. There is a thread of grace and mercy. The humble and shamed produced offspring that would be part of a royal line, no matter what had happened along the way.

No doubt this list would have invited scorn from some holding to a proud heritage – and there is nothing wrong with righteousness in a family’s past. But there is everything wrong with a claim of superiority based upon that. For God’s Son came from a line of sinners, to save an exponentially larger line of sinners.

There is therefore no disqualification or special status given to anyone. It’s grace or nothing that saves and establishes righteousness, one generation at a time. God has no grandchildren.