The undergirding word

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀 𝟮𝟵:𝟭𝟴 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁; 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The “revelation” in this verse denotes a prophetic vision – a word from God concerning the current times and circumstances of the people. There are many instances of the Lord speaking through prophets, and it was often a word of correction or judgment, in response to sin or the ongoing obstinance of the nations. It happened in addition to the written Law of Moses. And the Law of Moses – the first 5 books of the modern Bible is what “wisdom” is in the verse (the word is “Torah” – Hebrew for Law).

Taken together, the lack of a recent, fresh prophetic word is taken by people as a signal to walk away from following God, to cast off restraint, give in to temptation or go after other pursuits. It is a dangerous proposition (as the KJV states – “the people perish”).

But blessed, or happy, is the one – now pointing to the individual – who remembers the eternal word of God and maintains restraint.

In the practice of corporate faith, there is an ongoing “vogue” of the latest thing spoken and heard. The fresh word from a prophet has a crisp feel to it; a relevance and personal, contemporary touch. There is a vibrant, vital preaching or worship ministry happening, and it captures hearts and attracts many followers. Growth may be exponential and blessing abundant and rich.

But, invariably, the season ends. The Lord ends it, if for no other reason than people start to depend upon it. As Keith Green sang – “nothing lasts except the grace of God by which I stand in Jesus”.

As a result, there can quickly develop a “what have you done for me lately?” accusation towards God. But God is not duty bound to provide a constant flow of special words for people or sustain any given movement or ministry. We have been given another, more eternal and powerful word already. That is what the blessed one has, undergirding it all.

Firstly, it is necessary test for any sermon or prophecy to align with the given Word of God. Secondly, to experience prophetic words and in-season messages and on-fire ministries should not be a source of pride; yet that can and does happen. With that pride, when the experience ceases, so do faith and obedience. Being rooted and grounded in the Word is critical at those points.

And likewise, there is no room for pride among those to heed wisdom’s instruction either, for wisdom demands humility. And there is blessing or happiness in being kept safe and in faith.

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).

The tipping point and the cross

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟮:𝟮𝟬-𝟮𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗦𝗶𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀.” 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀.

Jesus’ notoriety and reputation were spreading. While we don’t know the intentions of the Greek Jews who desired to see him, one possibility is certainly to offer an invitation to travel and bring his ministry to the diaspora, the spread-out Jewish community outside Israel. If that was NOT their intent, their request was certainly a way for Jesus to become more famous and potentially increase his influence.

Jesus would have none of it. He answered: “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱.” (verse 23). It was not long before he would be crucified. None of his followers had a clue. Jesus said “no” to the request for an audience with him by the Greeks.

John 12 cites the “tipping point” of the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus in swaying the masses to follow Christ. It was so persuasive that the Jewish rulers planned to kill Lazarus to cancel its impact. As a celebrity, Jesus’ popularity was at its zenith.

Yet, he shut down those – including his immediate followers – who would scheme to promote him even further. For certainly, with his increased influential power their standing in the community would also benefit. Jesus constantly quashed his promoters and their plans for him.

He had bigger things to accomplish, though none of them would have bought into his future direction had they known. The bigger things involved ignominy and horrible suffering. His opponents would have their brutal victory for a few days.

As a follower of the crucified One, let me learn to question and pointedly ignore efforts to boost public opinion by market means. It is not an eschewing of all communication that would serve to invite people into the Kingdom or advance discipleship. Motivation is crucial in that. Word of mouth, shared experience and testimony will naturally attract people. But staying on point requires a veering away from publicity for the purpose of fame., I desire to make only one person famous, the one who went to the cross for me.

God doesn’t share his glory because he’s insecure; humans cannot bear its weight. And the one who would usurp comes to no good end. Let my heart then glorify its liberator alone.

Danger of a soul’s drifting

Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

From the beginning of the account of David’s tryst with Bathsheba there was abuse of power – “In the spring time when kings go to war”  (but David did not, instead sending his army without him).  He summoned Bathsheba into his bed, schemed and conspired to cover up his actions and finally had Joab arrange for Uriah’s death on the battlefield so he could lie about whose baby Bathsheba would bear.  In short, David sinned against a LOT of people.

Psalm 51 was written after David’s sins were spelled out publicly by Nathan the prophet.  The song was his confessing lament, and he spells out his sorrow and profound sinfulness (i.e. “from birth”).  The verse above points to the core of the matter though – “Against you, you only” – when it was against many others as well.

The notion is that all sin flows from sin against God.  A soul’s intents, when yielding to the blessed and bountiful purposes of God, will by nature run from sin.  David would go to war with his army, would look away from Bathsheba and would confess sins rather than covering them up.  That didn’t happen, says David, because of rebellion against God.  All the years of seeing God’s faithfulness, deliverance and goodness displayed vividly in remote and desolate places, seemingly were for naught.  When the right temptation came, David took the bait and fell.

Inasmuch as Psalm 51 provides a warning, I can see the eternal value of paying attention to all God would say and direct me toward in life.  If I never listen and drink in the Word, I will by necessity see my faith erode and begin opening up to my most attractive form of iniquity – something the Bible calls “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1).   For that which attracts me is that which fills a space made for God and his purposes.  There is purity and there is right motive.

In David’s song, there is a recollection of a dry spiritual time in his life.  Blessed beyond all counting, he ceased to seek God like he did earlier.  He let his guard down.

Let that not happen to me, or to us.

From the inside out

Matthew 12:35-37 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

There is such a ring of integrity in these words!  Jesus was countering the keepers of Mosaic Law who had morphed into such a binding set of rules and regulations it truly could not be kept except through appearances.  And the hypocrisy of that practice was so blatant that he called it out by pointing to the secret workings of the inner person – which come out most markedly through speech.

Treasures are those things stored up, whether good or bad.  It’s hardly residual; the blessed or cursed internal collection of memories, emotions and convictions is active and being built and guarded by the free will and discipline of individuals.  Then, given the right opportunity, trigger or other stimulus, part of that hidden treasure is brought out, either for good or evil.

In context, this is given in contrast to the idea that it is what is taken INTO a person that makes him/her unclean.  It’s not that it doesn’t matter; people poison themselves with food every day.  And even as it affects the inner person, ingesting or surrounding oneself with negativity, complaining and criticism will by nature create the bad kind of treasure.

Since it is the treasure inside that needs tending and nurturing, the call is clear to keep building blessing and not collect evil, bitterness or toxicity stored.  I will absolutely be exposed to those and they will enter into my mind in some fashion.  But the benefits of the spiritual disciplines become obvious.  The onslaught of evil in this world as it touches my life needs to be countered, so Bible reading, prayer and prophetic promises (reciting God’s touch points in my life) are suitable and necessary.

And there is the careless word – emanating from deep inside my pained internals – that denigrates, steals joy, stings the soul of others, poisons the air, makes light of the heavy or heavy of the light, brings death by a thousand cuts or discourages the Kingdom flow.  Oh, let me avoid that, loudly announce my guilt when it proceeds from my mouth and undo it through offering its antidote whenever and wherever I (even finally) perceive its going forth.  Let me learn from whence it came, for there is a wound that needs to be healed and a soul lesson that needs to be learned.

Punishment for a good deed

Genesis 39:19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.

Potiphar’s wife had trapped Joseph. We aren’t given the details of their marriage, but we are told that she lusted after Joseph and tried repeatedly to have relations with him. He refused outright. Finally she feigned an attack by Joseph, grabbing his cloak as proof, and made her accusation before her husband and the whole house.

Joseph was a slave, with no rights and even lesser chance of being believed above the word of a noblewoman like Potiphar’s wife (though she was no noble woman). So Potiphar regretted all the kindness and confidence he had shown Joseph and had him cast into Egyptian prison. We aren’t told, but it’s an easy presumption to see how Potiphar would be seen in the court of Pharaoh having a wife making such an accusation. We do know that he burned with anger, believing his wife.

But there was no defense attorney assigned; indeed there was no process for doing so. Joseph was going to prison, the final descent in a life that would end up on top. He endured false accusation and the penalty it brought, though he had done nothing wrong.

Life isn’t fair. Lies get told and are believed and acted upon as if they were the truth. Let Joseph teach me – teach us all – how to walk through darkness like that. Let me hear the words spoken over him by the writer of the book of Genesis “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” For there is the bottom line below all bottom lines. God can be found and worshiped and followed in the worst places. And He grants favor in those places as well, elevating the life and soul of the one who would walk in righteousness.

The accusation against Joseph would stick but only for a while. He would be promoted to become second in the nation to Pharaoh himself – that is, above Potiphar and his wife.

But he would never exact revenge against any of those who hurt him – and they hurt him like none I have ever seen. May grace flow through my life like that. For Joseph could say “This is how they treated me” like Potiphar’s wife but be telling the truth. And he probably did, in prayer. Yet he came through without hatred, without anger and a vengeful heart. That’s how I want to pray. That’s how I want to live.

Wait for it

Scripture:

John 2:10 Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

Observation:

Whether it would indicate poor planning, lack of resource or just bad hospitality, running out of wine at a Jewish wedding in the 1st century was a disgrace. But that was exactly what almost happened till Jesus did the miraculous and turned water into wine.

While there is little question that it was real wine, intoxicating drink made from grapes, its quality was a surprise. There was no wine tasting commission to judge, but the people were delighted at what was brought forth. And they cited the usual custom of getting one’s guests drunk on “the good stuff” then bringing out the wine whose taste was less than stellar but no one would notice. Except that they did notice. So when Jesus’ miracle bucks that trend it was not just a statement that miracle wine is better than non-miracle wine but that keeping the best “until now” is how to throw a party. And how to bestow blessing, chart one’s life and expectations in Christ. Taking advantage of people by making them inebriated never worked – people can’t truly be bought off and not notice, then forced to chug down poor excuse for accommodations. It’s not that they don’t tolerate it – they do. And it’s not to advance snobbery – people should be thankful for anything given by a host. It’s the duplicity of that that host that is laid bare in this verse. And God has better plans.

Application:

If I am in Christ and I haven’t learned to “wait for it” then I should spend time learning that. The Greek word for patience in the New Testament means literally “long suffering” and it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – a life trait given to believers over time. And time is the operative dimension here. The ultimate “wait for it” reward is heaven, of course. Even as I find myself surrounded by triumphant-sounding unbelief and half-belief, a life lived with heaven as its only finishing line is a magnificent one. But even this side of eternity there are rewards that take time to come to fruition. It is the common practice of the world to grab all the gusto, accumulating possessions and toys as soon as possible. But these play things intoxicate, they make drunk their owners. With distraction, pride and time spent that rises to the level of worship. It’s not a call to asceticism – monastery living with the bare essentials – that’s advocated by “wait for it”. It is a call to counter-cultural living that invests or sows first and reaps later. It’s also not a new scheme for a nest-egg retirement savings plan, for though they may change vocation, believers retire in only one place. No,there is vital life flow that comes back to the spiritual investor only in God’s time and in God’s way. The one who keeps “the good wine until now” knows exactly what it takes to give rewards and pay dividends in the lives of believers. Let me learn to “wait for it.”

Prayer:

Father, you know my anxious heart, my activity that can be frenetic towards achievement. Teach me to be content with my portion and with your timing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Cheer from a prisoner – Philippians 1:6 (June 11, 2014)

Scripture:

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Observation:

In his introduction to the letter to the church in Philippi, Paul made the above statement. It’s almost parenthetical in context; Paul had some very weighty discussion that followed immediately, but it serves as a tender yet rock solid promise from a person whose life could have been read to bely its truth. Paul was in a Roman prison, under guard and seemingly lacking any fulfillment of God’s promise in his own life. How could he make such a sure statement about his beloved children in faith in Philippi? Well, he cited ongoing fruit of his labors, the preaching of the gospel by both friend and foe, the faith of the imperial guard (presumably from those who guarded him as he influenced them) and by inference – and stated elsewhere – those in Caesar’s court itself. Plus, Paul had every assurance for his deliverance from the current state. If nothing else, leaving this life would certainly delivery him from imprisonment, but his view of this current season – “the prison years” as it were – was that of a decidedly temporary state. So, the “completion” of the promise he gave the Philippians was completely in sight in his own life as he offered a similar perspective for each reader to adopt.

Application:

And do I adopt it? Do I see my current life as a prison sentence? In some aspects, and in all honesty, yes I do. Well, I am invited to see what impact I am making for the Kingdom, both directly and indirectly, and rejoice that God is not done with me yet – nor have I seen anything like the glorious completion that is in store. So, it’s time to take inventory – how has my life been made into a righteous example? Is that process still going on? How have I been able to communicate the gospel? Do people see it? Have they entertained having and then embraced a life of faith after my witness? And even if I don’t see that I can know that its progress is well underway and nobody’s story is fully told. Unlike the soapbox perched or stage strutting evangelist – and that is a glorious soapbox and stage – my faith is shared as I walk and talk and struggle and overcome. If I can learn the progress in that style of life-on-life then I can both become comfortable in my own skin and see the ability of God to fulfill all things He began in me. And, like Paul, if fulfillment is not to happen this side of heaven, I should be cheered that there is really NO fulfillment this side of heaven to begin with. Not really. And not as God works in eternity. Reflecting in all this, I can walk in a manner worthy of my calling, neither giving up nor resigning to presumed fruitlessness any godly pursuit He has initiated in me. He is worthy and His Kingdom is without end.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for this promise once again. It has cheered me and spurred me on to worship and devotion. May my life bless You, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Fleeing

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Observation:

Paul was writing to people residing in Corinth – a city whose very name was used as a byword among the Greeks. To be “Corinthian” was to be filthy, without morals and conscience. That was the place God had sent Paul to preach the gospel and the place where one of the early churches was located. The people needed lots of instruction though, for in that city of high commerce and trade, the culture around them had turned sex into its own industry and legitimate pursuit, like every other. Paul’s word – “flee” – is strong. Sexual immorality was (and is) something to run away from – as if to say “it’s bigger than you are”. The internal nature of that kind of sin is key to understanding its baseness. In a contrast to the pervasive attitude – Paul pointed out that sexual sin pollutes the person who does it, NOT just the provider of the “service” rendered. When people committed sexual sin, it was their own body that was defiled and their own conscience that was seared with filth. Then Paul went on to say that the body is the property and residence of the Holy Spirit, which was God’s deposit in the life of the believer. Their very bodies which had been given over to sin was the place where God chose to dwell. The inner conflict was profound and very basic, as it is to believers today. And truly, the ownership of their bodies had been established on the cross – if they believed – at great price to Jesus. It followed, therefore, that they were to glorify God by remaining pure – by “fleeing” as Paul put it.

Application:

People in various cultures have attempted to rewrite the moral code of the gospel. The list of activities under “sexual morality” grows and morphs with the creative perversion of each generation; it only makes sense to say – without hatred or tribal invective – that sexual activity is only sanctioned within the confines of heterosexual marriage. Do I find that too strict? Do I make my own rules because I “know better”? Many have and many do. But if I honestly survey the results of ignoring the danger, of walking my own way, then I will invariably agree with the definition while remaining safe and pure. As the analogy goes: “Sex is like fire, in a fireplace it gives warmth and light. Anywhere else, and it burns the house down.” This may sound too simplistic, restrictive and general, but if I want the Holy Spirit to dwell prominently in my life, I need to know that which defiles me. And sexual compromise defiles me as well as anyone else it touches (and I touch). So the exhortation is not just to resist. It is to flee. Do I take temptation lightly? Do I tell myself stories about how I haven’t gone too far? Jesus said that looking could be going too far! I need to flee, bounce my eyes away from what provokes, walk briskly away, even if it was the product of someone who wanted to provoke, for I am not the only one with desire that can run amok. And let me not discount the warning for it is given by God and people who love me in particular and want the best for me. I’m no prude but I do my best to remain pure because it’s worth it.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You once again for this warning, though it is repetitive and so counter to the culture and practice of the world I live in. Help me flee, knowing You are with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Suffering that makes whole – Hebrews 2:10, 18 (July 5, 2013)

Scripture:

Hebrews 2:10, 18 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. … because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Observation:

The perfecting and perfection of the Son of God is a mystery that the book of Hebrews mentions multiple times. It is common and sound doctrine to believe and know that Jesus lived a perfect life, without sin. It was the only perfect life like it ever to be lived throughout the history of humankind. His purpose was and is what this passage says – to bring many sons and daughters to glory. That is a statement of destination, not of current or original location. For it is part of the human condition to live in a place of un-glory, an existence fraught with indignity, frustration, abuse, violence and suffering. In that experience, all humans sin. The notion that Christ was made perfect through suffering is best understood by knowing the Greek word, translated “perfect” (pleroma – p????µa) has the aspect of meaning “complete” or “full”. In a sense, Jesus was proven to be fully Messiah by how He went through and handled suffering. So, as the passage says, “it was fitting” that Jesus would go through the same conditions as those He came to save. As verse 18 says, temptations were and are a form of suffering. And Jesus had temptations we know nothing of, yet He withstood them all which enables Him to help all who are likewise tempted. The net sentiment here is one of supreme empathy, where God’s people can completely trust that they have Someone in the heavenlies who knows what they are going through. The “help” He offers is aid necessary for survival, with salvation and deliverance being only a prayer away.

Application:

Where am I suffering? Do I even know? Or am I just content and think it proper to be a brute beast, given to anger and howls of pain at my points of trauma? Such expression is blunt and aimless, hurting anyone who dares console me (usually my dear wife). It shouldn’t take long for me to realize that there is a different reaction that can arise from these areas of my life. I can, as Christ was, allow them to complete me, to help me identify with the rest of humanity, living with whatever suffering besets them every day. It is just as “fitting” for my life as it was for His while He walked the earth. Now, the topic of the role of suffering gets light airplay among evangelists. Oh, there is a promise of being healed, and Jesus is absolutely the Healer; let me receive that as truth and substance. But let me also receive and teach the truth of this passage, that suffering makes a full disciple, a completed saint. Let this be part of my invitation to faith – that Jesus will help us all suffer well, because suffer we will. He redeems our suffering, makes it mean something and accomplish more than it did before. And let me never hold back on seeking the Lord during my times of pain; the very reason He came in human form was to know how I feel. I am leaving a vital untapped resource if I do not take advantage of this offer for fellowship and healing. Finally, let me be that resource, touching people in their pain, withstanding the violent words and deeds of raw agony, answering wrath with gentle answers and a touch that does not condemn but heals. Truly, Jesus knows and He has anointed me for this.

Prayer:

Father, it’s easy to see this in the abstract, separated from that which hurts. Let me learn to put this ever more into practice. For You are high above all this and I give You the glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.