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.

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.

Hope over human despair

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟭𝟵:𝟮𝟱‭-‬𝟮𝟲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱?” 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.”

Jesus had astounded his followers by saying that only with great difficulty could the wealthy attain eternal salvation.  At the time, the religious authorities were all men of means, vaunting their wherewithal above those who were poorer.  Earthly wealth was, then, associated with heavenly destiny in the minds of the people.  Not so, said Jesus, quite the opposite.

Logically then, if the rich could not be saved, how much less those who had less?  “Who then can be saved?” was a question aimed at all humanity.  Jesus’ words had effectively disqualified everyone according to their understanding.  The disciples were expressing their despair.  It underscored how lost and hopeless was humankind.  But Jesus gazed at them when they asked it to focus his answer directly to their fear. 

Salvation was and is impossible with humanity’s reason and work.  We don’t earn heaven, God grants it.  All things being possible with God leaves no one out of redemption’s reach.  It is no statement of universal salvation but one or universal invitation and opportunity. 

Salvation is only one of many things people cannot do.  And certainly, people disqualify each other.  People even damn each other.  Not so with God, who desires that no one perish. 

Believing that all things are possible with God should change me as it should change anyone who believes it.  Is my prayer life in sync with this fact?  Do I develop faith that God will do what only God can do?  Do I persist in that faith? 

The draw of hopeless humanity is ever present and accusing, pulling down hope and the great expectations that God would engender.  The impossible riddle goes deep for it is exactly the hopeless ones that God wants to bring his Kingdom.  Yet, they rehearse and practice hopelessness and downward progression.  Let me be encouraged in my faith to counter with love.  In Jesus’ name.

The deliverance of canine Canaanites

Matthew 15:26-27 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

Did the Lord God of the universe really call a woman who was coming to Him for help a dog?

Context is everything in the stories of Jesus.  In this one, a Canaanite woman persisted in asking Jesus to release her daughter from demonic possession.  The disciples tried to push her away.  Then Jesus explained himself, that he was sent to Israel and nowhere else.  Then he said the words above.

Jesus’ priority to redeem Israel was foretold for centuries before his arrival.  That focus was not confusing.  And though faith in Jesus would spread around the world – as it still is – it started very locally.  In that regard, then, a person from outside Israel could be a distraction.  It is interesting that Samaritans were not outside his ministerial range, and historically that aligns with their origin as part of the 12 tribes of Jacob.  But Gentile Canaanites? No.

The inclusion of foreigners in Israel was a merciful part of Mosaic Law.  The people were to welcome immigrants:

Leviticus 19:33-34 “‘When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.  The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Yet, intermarrying was forbidden:

Deuteronomy 7:3-4 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.

So, which is it?  It seems contradictory.  But it’s not.  The difference is decided by the attitude and posture of the foreigner.  Clearly, if someone from outside Israel came into the country to turn God’s people away from their God, that person was an enemy.  If not, that person was a friend.

So, the Canaanite woman came from an unspiritual, foreign culture, one that had no interest in the God of Israel or much that was spiritual at all.  Calling them “dogs” was not uncommon, for if people from that group came to the people of God, it was for personal gain and not as any act of covenant or even relationship.  They were outside and wanted to stay that way.

Jesus, who “knew what was in a man” (John 2:25), called the woman’s people (and NOT her – though by inference it was her) “dogs”.  He was not calling her non-human nor excluding her from grace.  He was testing her loyalties and affinities.  And she was not offended, but embraced the title, and said she was happy to receive whatever blessing she could.  Jesus commended her faith and delivered her daughter from Satan.

Do I cling, in pride, to my cultural identity?  Am I offended if the Lord calls us what we are?  Are we dogs?  If we, people in the larger society, pursue life as canines, we surely are.  Do I have the humility to ask for the crumbs that fall from the table of God? 

I want to assume the role of undeserving servant; it is a fact and my calling in Christ.   I bring no heritage or birthright to God.  I am only saved by grace.  And I will receive whatever God has for me with gratitude.

Note – by no means is calling some people “dogs” acceptable in today’s world. It carries with it a subhuman association, which enables groups to practice discrimination and even commit genocide. In context it was common and understood (even the woman accepted it), but things are very different now.

So may I never take this as license to disqualify someone on the basis of ethnicity or tribal origin. The gospel is for everyone and there is no distinction.

Filling the house

Matthew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Evil can be removed by deliverance or conquest, but unless it is replaced with virtue and righteousness, it will come back in greater proportions.  Jesus regularly cast out demons.  The behavior and effects those spirits caused was personally and socially destructive. 

The phenomenon of their returning to their former hosts is chilling and shows the need for a second spiritual act to be sure that the “house” is NOT empty.  That is, Jesus must fill the “house”.  The Holy Spirit, infinitely more powerful than any demon, will not cohabitate with any other spirit.  In God there is no darkness.

And Jesus did not leave the story with a single person re-possessed by the devil.  He concluded by saying this was also the tale of his evil generation.  In that sense, his ministry to that generation of people did accomplish the advent of the Kingdom of God, but if unbelief persisted, it was only temporary.   Believers went on in their liberty from the Evil One, for they obtained an infilling that left the “house” full and redeemed.

Salvation is not always readily noticed.  Sin can persist along with all the sickness and trials of the human condition.  (Guaranteed divine health is a proud travesty)  So if I look at the valleys of life and forget with whom I am filled, I may need reminding of the permanent state of my deliverance, ongoing salvation and destiny.  Though I may struggle, there is no “re-entry” of evil.  That battle is won.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

The reward of the cheerful heart

𝟮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟵:𝟲-𝟳 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆. 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿.

Paul was collecting an offering for the Jerusalem church, the spiritual “mother church”. There was a bad famine in Israel and people were starving. From the more affluent Gentile believers, Paul issued a pointed and passionate challenge – Give generously and you will see reward in your life. Period.

While the call is not to abandon reason in one’s giving, it absolutely entails taking reason off the throne of heart and adopting compassion that opens the wallet or makes available the resource.

To be sure, there is wisdom to know that the appeal has integrity and the funds and resources will actually go where the gatherer says (e.g. gifts to poor nations routinely go through corrupt regimes and leaders, with little or nothing getting to the needy). And giving that enables destructive behavior is not what this passage describes.

I’m challenged to name the ways generosity is threatened, because truly these do overrule the appeal in myself and others if we let them:

𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. I don’t want to give good money after bad. Put more vividly, will I give to an ungrateful, snarling grouse whose hunger (in my exalted opinion) is self-inflicted? I should know that if I do not, my own ungrateful, snarling soul will remain bereft of the promised reward. I do not have the equipment to gauge the outcome in the life of the recipient. Those who receive don’t need to earn generosity.

𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. I (or someone else) want(s) to look generous as an ulterior motive. Or, giving only to people and causes that align with my political sensibilities. Donations to causes are FINE, but not to be confused with generosity. The reward for that is far from certain and dubious from the outset.

𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. No, the freedom to give or not give is implicit in the process. There is no inherent punishment for withholding, though a miserly heart does get its own dark “reward”. But appeals that project attitudes and pronounce dire consequences to raise funds carry an element of sales ploys.

𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵. For sure there is reward promised in scripture, and experienced in the action itself. But if that payback becomes the motive for giving, it puts the giver in a seat only God can fill. Despite the current popular and pervasive teaching, we do not name our reward in substance or detail of its delivery. Our lives become blessable through giving, no more.

It is stunning what giving does in heavenly accounting books:

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

… and there is certainly enough promise and fulfillment to make us the “cheerful giver” that God loves.

“How”, not “when”

Luke 17:20-21 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

The question was a “when” question that Jesus answered with a “how” answer. And in his answer how, he answered the “when” question with “right now”.

Having seen the miracles Jesus performed and listening to his teaching, many in Israel thought he would bring the kingdom of God as a political force that would rule the world from Jerusalem. There was no shortage of national pride in that expectation.

This was not the reign that Jesus was to bring. Instead, it was conquest of the human soul, a personal transformation paid for by his own sacrifice, the very opposite of the actions of the ruler they expected. They were both unwilling and incapable of understanding and experiencing the kingdom in their midst.

Jesus went on to explain to his disciples the dire times that would bring God’s kingdom in power upon the earth. It would (and will) not be a desirable period in which to live. Yet, it was not to happen in the lifetime of his hearers.

It is healthy for believers to long for Jesus’ return. There is only One who can deliver this world, and his appearing and final reign is before us all as a blessed hope.

But we should never assume that any man-made or -sustained system on this earth to be the expression of God’s kingdom “in our midst”. It is mine and ours, to have the reign of God within our hearts and the conformation to his image (Romans 8:29) be the signature work of power in this life.

Jesus instructed his followers to NOT chase after predictions of the times of his return (Acts 1:7) yet people act like the Pharisees in their speculation and relentless scheming. Let me stay away from that foolishness and treasure the Kingdom that is in our midst and in me. Amen.

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!

Joy rekindled

John 20:15-16 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Mary of Magdala had come to attend to the dead body of Jesus. She had witnessed his brutal death at the hands of the Romans, all the while being jeered at by those who opposed him and his ministry. She was traumatized and seared with grief. This was a personal time to say good-bye to one who had saved her life.

To discover the body missing would only add to her despondency. When Jesus approached her, she did not recognize him (many did not know the risen Christ until it was revealed to them). So her question was one of desperation, from the tenderest of hearts. In her mind, likely any number of things could have happened to the body, among which was the fact that the tomb was that of a rich person and NOT a place the body of someone like Jesus would have been laid to rest.

When she offered to “take him” it meant collect his remains from wherever they had been moved (likely discarded like rubbish) and at least provide Jesus the best resting place she could afford or arrange. Mostly, she just wanted to see him again.

The gardener would immediately identify himself, greeting her by name after these words and her sorrow turned to bubbling joy as Jesus had predicted. She was, then, the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection. And she couldn’t contain herself, telling the other disciples what she’d seen. In other accounts it says that her words seemed like foolishness to them – a common take on excited speech (slow down, Mary). Where is their grief in my life, where is there fresh or residual sorrow? Where have I left a situation as desperately unsolvable and frozen in that dissolution or brokenness? I am right – I will not solve anything. But I am wrong if I adopt hopelessness as final. It is NOT hopeless. God DOES resurrect, He DOES give new life and revives dead things. While it will never be the same, it may well be better.

Do I allow hope to arise? Do I consider that the “gardener” will call my name, as one in whom he has planted the seeds of salvation which push up a mighty tree from the soil? Awake my soul

Blessing for the outcast

Genesis 21:17-18 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Sarah had given Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to Abraham with whom to make offspring for her (Sarah) because she was barren.  They did the deed and Hagar bore Ishmael.  THEN the promise came from the Lord that Sarah herself would bear a child in her old age, which she did, and named him Isaac (Hebrew for “laughter”).  When the celebration of Isaac’s birth happened, Hagar was in attendance and Sarah saw her laughing.  She was immediately enraged and told Abraham to cast out Hagar and her child from his family.  So he did.

Hagar then went away into the wilderness and decided to abandon her young boy there, leaving him to die.  In anguish she cried out to God, who answered in the verses above. 

The obvious and poignant parallel with the modern anguished decisions to abort a child or give him/her up for adoption is loud and clear.  For abandonment and being cast out from a relationship and all manner of a place to live, raise and care for a child is extremely common in such decisions.  God’s answer to Hagar is tender and full of promise also.  He will make the child a great nation!  Nation-founding will not be the destiny of every child, but destitution and poverty won’t either.  Hope screams from these verses if one is listening.

So, my/our part in the drama is to make the future less frightening.  If someone is pro-life, that person can NOT be just pro-birth, that would be Sarah’s stance and though God granted her request, the great lady hardly stands in righteousness at this point.  For God met Hagar; it’s why we have these verses.  And that counters Sarah’s indignant exclusion with profound grace and mercy.

Culturally, my people and nation have been at extreme odds with the offspring of Ishmael.  God had earlier announced

Genesis 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.

.. which has been fulfilled.  But this scene with Hagar MUST soften my heart towards the Arab people.  God loves them, and so must I.  So I pray for that love to grow, tender yet strong.  For God has made Ishmael into a great nation.