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.

Logs and specks

Luke 6:42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Fault-finding putdown artists are actors (hypocrites), says Jesus.  They have no intention of facing up to their own shortcomings, but only delight in point those out in others.  There is a preadolescent mindset that begins with the discovery that demeaning others makes one feel powerful and superior.  It’s a lie, says the Lord, for it leaves out the most important ingredient of all – humility.

Motives are cleansed by allowing God to convict and correct.  The trouble is that fault-finders cannot distinguish conviction and condemnation.  They count on condemnation disqualifying and eliminating others, so they cannot allow any scrutiny to be applied to their hearts or lives.  No, says Jesus, “first take the log out of your own eye” – let the truth penetrate your life, be forgiven and freed, THEN you will understand conviction and freedom for others.  At that point, when you remove THEIR speck, it will be out of love and desire for their best.

The teaching does NOT negate care to remove other’s specks.  My own log – however huge and ugly – does not make me unable to help others with their (albeit smaller) issues.

If I am in the business of the putdown of others, I then need to ask about my own state before God.  I can trust this – it’s a leading indicator of my own need for conviction, forgiveness, cleansing/healing and freedom.  If and when my motives are pure – that is, I am no hypocrite but instead fully acknowledge my own imperfection and struggles – I can love people enough to confront them with things they may not see in themselves.  For it’s no mistake the analogy involves the organ through which we see – we cannot see through a speck.

I rejoice in the freedom God gives me and all his children.  It never comes without struggle and the first person’s struggle I deal with is my own.  And then there is victory for us all!

Cry of the beggar

Mark 10:48-49 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”

Bartimaeus was a blind beggar.  His trade was dictated by his physical state; there was no program to help the poor and afflicted in Roman-occupied first century Israel.  As part of the beggar-underclass of people, he was very used to raising his voice for alms and any mercy that he could get to come his way.

There’s also little doubt that Bart knew about Jesus – one who didn’t just give alms but who healed blindness itself.  If that could happen, his entire life would change radically.  He could be a productive person.  It’s hard to consider all the possibilities and plans he had imagined for his entire life that could transpire if he could only see.

But when he raised his voice, calling on the “Son of David” – a well-known name for Messiah, that those around him thought he was only begging as usual.  They told him to be silent, thinking perhaps that common beggars had no business involving Jesus.  Begging was not his intent, though, and their chiding and squelching his voice had the net effect of keeping him blind and poor.  Their pushing him out of the way was oppressive and cruel.

Jesus stopped and would ask him what he wanted.  Bart could’ve asked for great riches, to have his calluses healed or anything else.  He asked to see.  And see he did.

Do I

1. Assert myself when I have a real need only Jesus can meet?  Bartimaeus gave voice to the yearning of his heart and would not be silenced.  Do I do that, or slink back into a beggarly life of want?  Can the voices of others, perhaps bothered by my very presence, shout me down and scoff me underfoot?  Hear the (perhaps annoying) cry of the poor man, O my soul!  Do not be silenced!
2. Find my myself among the annoyed, insisting the loud beggar cease his/her rantings?  For sure there is dysfunctional entitlement.  But there is also a need to be heard and listened to.  Do I listen?  Do I pause to hear the stories of the poor one?  Or do I instead call his/her voice a distracting bother, with no substance behind the noise that fills my ears?  O my soul, learn to listen, for the stories you’ll hear will inform all mercy and wisdom.

So be it.

Turning towards the good news

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭:𝟭𝟰‭-‬𝟭𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱; 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹.”

Mark 1 covers a lot of history of Jesus’ life in just a few verses, but this statement from the Lord at the beginning of his ministry is both terse and deeply engaging.

The time being “fulfilled” provides the historical context for the life and ministry of Jesus. It happened exactly when God determined it would, and all things were set in place. From the dire spiritual state of the nation of Israel to the rule of Rome, with all the roads and travel lanes that had opened, the point of Jesus’ entry onto the scene was ordained.

The kingdom of God being “at hand” announced what was now available through Christ. Humankind would be touched as never before with miracles, teaching and opportunity to walk out lives directed and blessed by God the Father in Heaven. “It’s right here” says Jesus, come and get it.

There is no translation of the Greek word for gospel – εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced euangelion) – means anything gloomy or burdensome. It simply means good (“eu” prefix) news or message (angelion). Jesus repeatedly urges people to believe it – that there is good will from God for them in life – both to save and restore and give hope and a future. It makes all the difference in how people live.

Coupled with the word for “gospel”, “repent” – meaning turn and go the other way – refers to mindset and faith that is “bad news” or at least laced with that. Rather than thinking about this sin or that, the call is to change our minds and believe that God loves and cares for us. All other actions and thoughts related to believing the bad news simply fall away – though some certainly die hard.

Let me then believe, practice and thus preach the good news where and when God enables and opens the door. He loves me and loves us and wants the best for us.

The Banquet of the Secondary invitees

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟮:𝟴‭-‬𝟭𝟬 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, ‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆. 𝗚𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱.’ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱. 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀.

In the story Jesus told, there was a wedding feast given by the king of the land. He announced the opulent food and ambience of the event as he invited people to come. But they refused, even mistreating and murdering those the king sent to invite them. The king was furious and concluded that his original intended guests were not worthy of the invitation and that he would invite ANYONE who would come. Guests of all types were gathered and the hall was filled.

The story was directed squarely at the religious rulers present at its telling. They were certainly invited to the feast of the Most High God, and knew all about the joy of fellowship and the delights offered in eternity. Yet the person of Jesus was odious to them; they would not receive instruction or even advice from him. Their highbrow positions were more important than hearing the very Word of God they purportedly held to.

For them, Jesus was a servant inviting them to the wedding feast. They would refuse the invitation and kill that servant in their obstinate pride. Meanwhile the common people, whom they lorded themselves over, would accept the invitation and inherit eternal life and a place at the feast. Jesus was saying that the Kingdom of God turns humankind’s caste systems on their head. Society’s oppressive hierarchies are in opposition to God.

If I am angered or insulted by God’s invitation extended to people deemed unworthy, dirty, sinful or “beneath” me in any way, I place myself among the gnashers of teeth, excluded from the banquet. The story does go on to speak of one removed from the banquet because he was not in wedding attire, but my action is to “Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find”, for that is the heart of the Lord. And may I learn to love and serve all so gathered.

Mercy, not sacrifice

Matthew 12:6-8 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The religious rulers in Jerusalem at the time of Christ were sensitive to keeping the letter of the Law.  They believed, and it was not without reason, that lawlessness would be the downfall of Israel and there would be a catastrophe akin to the exile to Babylon 600 years prior.  However, as Paul would later write:

2 Cor 3:6 … the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

For the former lawlessness was not born of relaxing a tight-fisted observance of Mosaic Law, it was born of hateful and selfish hearts.  While the Law spelled out a litany of crime and punishment couples, it was always in God’s heart to forgive.  Penitent, soft and caring hearts that echoed that of God were the outcome the Lord sought.  THAT was the Israel founded through Moses, and THAT was the Israel Jesus sought as well.

Mercy over sacrifice is a clear ordering of attitude.  It’s God’s attitude toward humankind, and it SHOULD be the attitude of people towards one another.  Jesus’ saying he was Lord of the Sabbath puts the Law in its place.  His saying that someone greater than the temple was a shocking revelation of Emmanuel, God with us.  Jesus is greater than any moral code, for mercy triumphs judgment.

Let me, then be merciful as I receive mercy.  May I let God’s light shine on the darkness in my life and heart and be set free through the blood of the Lamb.  I need mercy to triumph, as we all do.

Scourge of miserable comforters

J𝗼𝗯 𝟭𝟲:𝟭 “𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲; 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂!”

and

𝟭𝟲:𝟰-𝟱 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲; 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂; 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳.

The lion’s share of the book of Job contains the theories, platitudes and high brow criticism towards Job concerning the disaster that had befallen him. Certainly, his state terrified them; he was well-known as a righteous man and yet cataclysmic circumstances had destroyed most of the good things he had in life. The book of Job is a profound story of bad things happening to good people.

The reaction of his “friends” – the onlookers who came to his side amidst his suffering – was to sully his reputation and to trumpet God’s justice as invariably meted out through circumstance. In their minds, bad things could NOT happen to good people for if that were true, they were certainly doomed.

Job didn’t remain silent in the midst of their attack. His words above were completely appropriate. For with “comforters” like these, who needs tormenters? Retroactive human judgment is as easy as it is erroneous. And the damage it does is as deep as that done by the trial it claims to justify. Job’s friends were miserable to him at this point. Kicking someone when s/he is down is cruel and childish.

Job then described what he would do in their place – and there is no reason to discard this as an egotistical boast, for Job had the goods in his character to rise above the temptation to tear others down. He also knew what he needed – encouragement in place of their brutal teardown.

The lesson is to be a friend like that. Even if there truly are reasons a person has fallen into dire straits, that person generally knows that and picking someone back up is infinitely more useful and good for everyone – including the would-be judge and jury. I both want to be like that and look for people who are like that when I’m going through stuff (and we all do).

Bring me through

Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

The heavenly discussion in Job 1 is unique in the Word of God.  God and Satan have it out over Job, a certified righteous individual on earth.  It is particularly unusual in that the accuser is not the one who mentions Job as a person guilty of this iniquity or that.  No, it is the Lord who brings up Job’s name.  Sometimes I’ve mused that if Job was there and knew what was going to happen, he would protest loudly – “NO!  Do NOT bring me into this conversation!”  For Job would puzzle about all the disaster and theological rankling that would follow.  In all his suffering, his biggest question would be “Why?”

Far from a boasting match between God and Satan at the expense of a poor human, we have in the book of Job a vital picture of the testing of faith.  It is Satan who makes it a petty contest.  All the while God knows his servant’s heart and even his limitations. 

I can read abandonment into the story, or abuse or oppression.  But God never abandons Job, and any abuse or oppression is on the part of the evil one.  It’s a universal script for the human condition.  For it is a constant temptation to blame God for every malady and trial I undergo.  And certainly, he allows these things in my life.  But God also knows what I’m made of – indeed, what God himself is building to this day – and knows the end from the beginning.  It is the supreme lesson of Job’s story that:

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

How could Paul, the writer of the book of Romans possibly have the assurance to say that “we know”?  Only by walking through Job-like experiences.  It’s hardly a desirable path,  but it’s part of being formed in Christ.

So I won’t be a fool and say “Bring it on!” but I will lean in and say “Bring me through!”

Flowing word of salvation

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟮:𝟰𝟴-𝟱𝟬 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲.”

Rejecting Jesus was and is commonplace. He said radical things about himself and the world. His moral teachings were likewise deeply contrary to the norm in human relations and dynamics (e.g. who naturally loves his/her enemies?). His miracles and actions made him harder to ignore, and he made no bones about declaring himself to be God the Son sent to earth.

One who rejects Jesus rejects more than s/he thinks. For it is not just a random voice being silenced, it is the person of the Son of God. Since Jesus speaks from the Father, it is God being canceled in a life.

There is judgment having NOTHING to do with the words or actions of any human. Jesus spoke, and still speaks, the word Almighty God has directed. What he said contains everlasting life – yes, after this life in this body – if I receive and believe it (thus letting it work into my thoughts, words and actions). The new birth in faith is letting the line of communication continue unhindered. It is a flow that saves me.And if I’m honest, I can see it likewise measured towards me from those I have hurt.

That can be terrifying.

Rejecting what Jesus says cancels the only out I have – his shed blood for my sins. And it puts me on the throne of judgment which is a travesty and usurpation of role. I cannot wield such judgment; so I am no such judge.

Jesus spoke, and still speaks, the word Almighty God has directed. What he said contains everlasting life – yes, after this life in this body – if I receive and believe it (thus letting it work into my thoughts, words and actions). The new birth in faith is letting the line of communication continue unhindered. It is a flow that saves me.

Hard encouragement

Luke 22:61-62 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter, impetuous, boastful and proud. Yet, overcome by fear of being arrested himself, he had denied knowing Jesus or being one of his followers three times. Jesus had told him that he had prayed for him to not fall away and then said that he would deny him, as he did. That is, Jesus had seen the whole scene in advance.

And then, Jesus turned and looked across the noisy room of accusers and abusers and stared straight at Peter. The heartbreak and bitter disappointment in himself overcame Peter, and he left in grief. Peter knew the seriousness of what he had done. He had heard Jesus earlier proclaim:

Luke 12:8-9 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”

There was then a schism between everything Peter knew about Christ, all in which he had partaken, and where he stood as one who denies. He had himself seemingly been disowned.

But we know the story and it didn’t end here. Peter persisted in faith and was personally restored by Jesus after the Resurrection (see John 21). From our vantage point, this episode can be seen as a necessary lesson in humility and shame that Peter needed to be the person Jesus knew he would become.

There is hard encouragement here. I (and we) have more than one chance to get it right, even to the point of cataclysmic failure. The stare of the Lord is pointed and personal; it arrests us in our tracks and brings us to know we have hurt the One who loves more than anyone else. Woe to me if I do not mourn my sin; let me never be callous about my careless and self-protective words and actions.

Let me learn, as Peter did, about Jesus who intercedes for me to not fall away but constantly be restored and renewed. I need that second (and third, fourth, etc.) chance. And it is granted me, praise God.