Natural lawlessness

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟲:𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟭 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, “𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗜; 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱.” 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Enroute to Capernaum, the disciples set out in a boat across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was not with them. He followed on foot, and on water, towards the same destination. The sight of a human form defying the laws of nature – in particular the human body being more dense than water – terrified them. Jesus identified himself and they took him aboard. The boat was then translated to (or gained such speed that it instantly arrived at) its destination.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line and Jesus walked that line. The fact that it crossed water was inconsequential to the Son of Man. There is no evidence that he didn’t regularly walk on water.

The terror in seeing such a thing showed how used to the normal reign of the laws of nature people had become. Doubtless they had known people who drowned in those waters that were firmly under Jesus’ feet. There was and is some resolute comfort in the limitations of those laws. Bodies sink, gravity pulls, the dead stay dead. If/when God broke the rules – and there is no reason given here other than Jesus’ desire to go to Capernaum – it violated that comfort. Since the Savior could stroll on the waves, what other expectations would be breached? Indeed, many.

Have I walked so long in natural law “normalcy” that I cease to ask for God’s intervention? Do I limit my prayer by those laws? I mean for salvations and healings and deliverances and restorations and edifications.

Jesus nonchalantly walking on water was visible proof to his disciples of WHO HE WAS. He wasn’t showing off; he was doing what the Son of God freely does. And, it was part of their salvation testimony as we read it in multiple gospels.

No, I will not attempt a sea water power walk. Only Peter tried it among the disciples and he needed rescuing (see Matthew 14:30). Bending nature’s ordinances is God stuff. Believing God can and will do it is disciple stuff. Undivided, resolute faith is a requirement (per Matthew 21:21), but the invitation to possess and exercise such faith is wide open. It’s not for show but according to God’s purposes to save, heal and restore.

May I (and may we) believe and see natural lawlessness, that the name of Jesus be lifted high!

Resignation with a wink

Luke 20:24-25 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus had been asked a trick question, and one very loaded with national and cultural baggage. Should the people pay Roman taxes? It was a sore point because taxes were high and the collectors were notorious for adding their own fees on top, such that the people hated the Romans and the traitor collectors. So, acquiescence to paying taxes would be treasonous and politically treacherous.

But Jesus had an answer equally astute to the query meant to trap him. He asked about the national origin of the coins they were using. Of course, they were Roman. So, yeah, the Romans will levy taxes and you should pay them. But the people knew there were also Syrian and Jewish coinage in use. So his answer had a way of marginalizing Rome. It was resignation with a wink.

Roman taxes were unjust and cruel. Jesus knew that. But he also knew that rebellion against Rome was no way to be rid of the occupiers. We know he desired salvation for them. There is, then, a deeper and longer lasting desire in God’s heart even for those who profit from his people’s suffering. Jesus would go on to die on a Roman cross, with attending soldiers proclaiming his deity.

The divisive and conspiratorial accusations of tribal groups can and do inflame. Indeed, should we pay taxes? Should we support the group of people in power or fight them first with our words then our deeds, even unto armed rebellion? It’s hard to be dogmatic, for Thomas Jefferson’s suggestion for the motto for the United States Seal (not adopted) does hold scriptural weight – “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God”.

But Jesus points to the things that people do have – their our own identity, currency and culture – in the din of tribal wranglings. What do I think it means to love our enemies? I might be quick to point out that I was never called to be a doormat, yet those words are lies, for I do serve a doormat Savior. This doesn’t negate oppression, injustice and suffering. It redeems it and spreads the Good News of Jesus as a counter-cultural undercurrent. There is no culture on earth like the kind that Jesus lives and spreads.

As enabled and prompted by the Holy Spirit, I will pointedly love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. Grant me that strength O God.

“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.

A deeper reconciliation

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱: 𝟭𝟳-𝟭𝟵 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝘀!” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

The layers of hatred and evil that were in play throughout the Passion of Christ were the perfect background for his death. Pilate had released Barabbas, continuing an annual tradition to placate the occupied nation of Israel during a time of heightened national fervor. The religious leaders who had handed Jesus over to him insisted that he crucify Jesus, using that fear of uprising to get their way. And the Roman soldiers, who hated the nation of Israel in return, took it out on Jesus. As it says in Colossians:

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟮:𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

There were those in every group and position in the hierarchy of group that would one day turn in faith to Jesus. Reconciliation in the Body of Christ would undo the destruction in which they had participated and advocated for. When Jesus said “Forgive them Father, they don’t know what they are doing” he certainly spoke of his own agony on the cross. But the embroiled resentment between people and nations was certainly in need of forgiveness as well.

Also in Colossians, Paul wrote

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟭:𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟬 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

… it was an “all things” reconciliation. This is no statement of universal salvation, but of the far reaching effect of the death of Jesus, right in the middle of the most bitter of antipathy between people. The peace made between things starts with individuals who know full well their own sin that was paid for. It spreads and encompasses all creation.

The soldiers, levying out their own punishment upon their hated assignment and the people in the land, were accomplishing the exact opposite of what they thought. A short time later, a centurion guarding the crucifixion, would utter (Mark 15:39) “Surely this man was the Son of God!” And others would believe later. It was not the end, but the beginning.

Do I regress and devolve into tribal hatred? Do I refuse to see the overarching of Christ’s reconciliation, even as it has overtaken my own life? Let me regain the vista of peace that falls upon the whole earth. And rejoice in all that has been forgiven and redeemed.

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!

“Your faith has made you well”

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟬:𝟱𝟭-𝟱𝟮 “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺, “𝗚𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆; 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹.” 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

The blind man, whose cries the crowd tried to squelch, nonetheless came before Jesus. Now it was obvious he was blind, but wanted him to say he wanted to see. It’s not that anyone – including Jesus- expected the man to want an extra tunic, say. Our requests for healing and deliverance and all other things must proceed from our mouths. It’s part of the healing process and makes us confront any self-deprecating and destructive ideas of deserving our maladies and expecting no more from life than our limitations all the while seeing God’s restoration available.

Also, there is faith in Christ – His person and goodwill and abilities – that God uses to heal us. The blind man’s faith made him well.

For 2000+ years, believers have wrangled, accused and proudly asserted formulas and theories and negating condemnations as to why healings don’t happen. We know that they also did not always happen among the disciples at Jesus time, and yes, overwhelmingly often Jesus pointed to the absence of faith. Yet Jesus also helped a desperate father in his unbelief and excommunicated NONE of those of little faith. The message there is that faith grows.

Faith in Jesus encompasses much more than healing. Indeed, faith in Jesus takes healing off the pedestal of proof of any human achievement or possession. It mightily proves God’s intentions for health and human well-being, acting as a spectacular pointer to the person of Jesus.

I am to never stop contending for healing; never surrender the brokenness of this world as the final word or state. Salvation has worked its wonders in my life as it will do so in the lives of all who enter in. Healed wounds without and within are its signature marks; let me take a true and historical inventory of them all as I have seen and experienced. And I will see very vividly that my faith has made me well. I was blind and now I see.

Being “on the way”

Mark 8:24-25 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

This provides a proof text arguing against those who proudly proclaim they have so much faith that they only pray for something once. Their argument is that any more than once would prove their lack of faith. Wrong.

For the recipient, a “trees, walking” state is certainly better than blindness. But also, it’s not the end of God’s work in that person’s life. If healing or spiritual growth or repentance or development of a gift takes time, own it and call it normal. Assess where you are, and persist in seeking the Lord. God’s Kingdom on earth operates through imperfect, “on the way” people and you, as one of those, are vital in the Body of Christ.

Becoming a worthy house

Matthew 10:11-13 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you

To the modern reader, the instruction in Matthew 10:11 is puzzling. What does “worthy” mean? If it’s synonymous with righteousness, the statement runs afoul of the gospel message, that none are worthy apart from Jesus’ blood. We can know that Jesus had not yet died for the sins of the world, so that takes that interpretation out of consideration.

In Middle Eastern culture, to this day, hospitality is deeply ingrained. Empathy extends readily to travelers, who were and are considered vulnerable. This is in force across people groups. This was in practice during Jesus’ time on earth as well. So, a “worthy” house would be one that openly receives visitors.

Against that were suspicious households; who would be fearful of letting in thieving and potentially violent strangers. There is little question that there was and is basis for such fear. Yet, it disqualified a household from a visit by one of Jesus’ closest disciples.

Both postures have fear as their basis. But the worthy house has concern for others, while the unworthy one only fears for itself. This is the very basis of being hospitable.

People and families who have been violated are bound to be afraid of anything that would allow that to happen again. That is normal and understandable. But coming to faith in Jesus involves trust that overcomes the protective layer of isolation. Without that, there is no healing and restoration.

While victims are absolutely right to know and proclaim their pain and personal loss, unless and until an openness to the therapeutic community of Jesus develops, their testimony is blunted and powerless. They become unworthy to receive the blessing Jesus bestows. This is not blaming victims for anything, it is allowing wounds to fester when there is antiseptic and bandages readily available.

Worthiness in receiving Jesus and his disciples is simple, but very hard for some. It means extending care and concern outside self and close-knit others. Heaven itself may be knocking on the door:

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

I want to be healed like that; I want to take in those sent to me. May it be so.

Exhausted and feeling alone

1 Kings 19:18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

The exhaustion that set in for Elijah after the dramatic triumph at Mount Carmel was debilitating.  He had prayed and seen fire fall from heaven to consume a water-soaked offering while the competition – the followers of Baal – had seen no answer to their blood-letting pleas to their god.  It was a Battle Royale, and as a result, the Baal followers were slaughtered (Understand that Baal worship involved burning infants alive as sacrifices).  After that event, which turned the hearts of the people of Israel back to the Lord, Queen Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, issued a warning that threatened Elijah’s life.  He fled in a panic to Mount Horeb where had spent a God-supplied respite from all activity.  When that was over, he was given an action- and power-packed mission to prophetically anoint kings and thus, announce momentous movements that would execute God’s judgment upon current events.

In reply to his objection that there were no followers of the Lord left in the land, God revealed the faithful hearts of 7000 souls that he had kept away from the Baal worship.  Elijah was not alone.  Indeed, some of those who were to accomplish God’s recompense on Israel had remained true to the Lord.

Exhaustion really does follow the battles in life; you can count on it.  One may not even know how tired one is till it comes time to cope with stress, threats and assaults, however they arrive.  The collapse can be utter, dramatic and sudden.  Let that not surprise me or cause dismay.  It’s an unusually stark reminder of the need to establish a rhythm of rest.  We aren’t told about Elijah’s sleep patterns prior to this attack but he certainly was a man of action and the wear and tear was obvious when the threat came.  And its immediate occurrence following a major victory was no coincidence either.  A special vulnerability happens after such a fight.

Also, one of the chief ploys of the enemy of my soul is to convince me I’m alone – that what I have been doing (for him) is of my own design and initiation.  While I can certainly start and progress works on my own or go down rabbit trails of pursuit, I can rely on the surety of this proverb:

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

and somehow and in some way, I am not alone in such endeavors.  Adversaries take many forms, including those only in my own mind.  Yet, there are allies and even beneficial, blessed co-laborers (collaborators) if I allow God to show me.

In sum  – pity parties resolve nothing but they do indicate that I must rest and listen to a higher voice than my own.

Mountains, valleys, crooked and rough places

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.