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Christians Can!

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Woman Admiring Sunset

What I heard as a church-going youth was what Christians can't do. If you were serious about being a Christ-follower, there were things you had to stop doing or never even try. For an example, at my church, we couldn't smoke, drink, dance, watch R-rated movies, do drugs, be sexually active, gamble or curse, for a start.

My focus was not on what Christians can do. But that is where the good news lies.

Sharing in Jesus’ Life

There are some things that those who share in Christ's life can do that others can't.

Personally encountering the Spirit who raised Jesus from the grave enables such believers to act in concert with God's order, displaying his unique grace. They can obey his commands out of a heart of love rather than fear. In fact, they can see that each of his commands is an invitation to express the life they now share with him. Commands become opportunities to experience the supernatural nature of eternal life in daily interactions.

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Some would have us believe that Christians have no greater grace to deny sinful passions and unconditionally love their neighbor than unbelievers. Such a belief will inevitably lead to a disappointing effort to practice a holy life, and it offers an excuse for slip-shod ethics on the part of the believer. It places too much hope in human virtue apart from the special grace of regeneration.

Only those born of the Spirit can see the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:3) Only Jesus has lived the human life as it was designed. Only as we share his life now by the Spirit can we hope to imitate him.

We Needed a Champion

Human life was deeply flawed by the sin of Adam. Out of the disorder of that condition comes all sorts of chaos and destruction. We cannot rely on the virtues of a race of people characterized by enmity with God and ignorant of his ways.

Humans cannot win the battle against evil in their own strength. We are continually being confronted by an enemy who already has the scalps of innocent Adam and chosen Israel hanging from his belt. There had to be a champion who could represent Adam's race and Israel's nation.

He was tempted like Adam in the garden and Israel in the wilderness, but faced down the devil's whole arsenal of temptations. He then defeated the devil personally by fulfilling justice, erasing sin's penalty, killing sin's tyranny, mocking death's threat, and ascending to the place of original human stewardship.

We have died, been raised, and established as God's human agents of mercy. Our identity comes from his story, not ours.

The devil is not a rival to God's authority nor that of his agents. He is an imposter claiming power that he has lost and seeking to intimidate the children of God.

Let’s Do What We Can

Because we are his agents on earth, we shall be tempted by the cosmic enemy, but we do not identify ourselves by our temptations, not matter how insistent they are. We will be fed lies about our identity, our victimization and our value, but we have exchanged our personal story for his.

We have died, been raised, and established as God's human agents of mercy. Our identity comes from his story, not ours. We can admit our vulnerabilities, confess our sins, forsake our patterns of unbelief. We can forgive another from the heart. We can love as God loves. We can fulfill the law of Christ by bearing the burdens of others. We can rejoice at all times. We can give thanks in all things. We can prefer others above ourselves. We can please our Father as we humbly walk by faith.

Christians can. Let's do what we can do.

I Need Help

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Praying on Mountian

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." -- Psalms 121:1-2

We all need help. Some are aware of it and others trudge on as if they are completely sufficient for every possibility. Those who are aware are faced with where they will look for help. The crowd of Israelites marching to Jerusalem to worship sang the song as recorded in Psalm 121. While it was common for people of that time to believe that their gods ruled from the majestic mountains that towered above everything, the people of Jehovah trusted the God who made the mountains.

He is not our maid who does what we demand. He is our Father who hears our cry and acts in our behalf in the best way at the best time.

He does not compete with the imagined gods of other religions. He is in a class byHhimself. He alone created all things. He alone governs what He created. He has a name. He is the God who made covenant with Israel. By His own initiative, He has assumed responsibility to be a Father to them. Without His watchful care, they will surely stumble and fall. He alone can establish them as secure. The song says, "He will not let your foot be moved." Israel can stand their ground because of the commitment of their God.

He is not a projection of human imagination -- a bigger version of man. He does not sleep. His care is perpetual. He provides shade from the rigors of the sun's heat, and protection from the mysterious influences of the moon and planets. He rules the day and the night. He ensures the sustainability of His people's faith. He watches them as they come and go. He is their God, and He cares about every detail of their lives.

A New Covenant Cry for Help

As we New Testament believers sing the song, we have further understanding of this dynamic. We cry for help from the One who not only made a covenant but ratified it by fulfilling the conditions we could never fulfill.

Jesus as our covenant mediator has kept covenant with the Father, and we are blessed with the fulfilled promise made to the obedient. We have no reason to look anywhere else for our help. He is our God and He cares for us. All the resources in creation are at His disposal to be used as He directs. We can stop looking to the gods that our culture has adopted for our help. We have a helper who waits for our call.

He is not our maid who does what we demand; He is our Father who hears our cry and acts in our behalf in the best way at the best time. If you are ready to admit you need help, look beyond the mountains to the creator and Father, and call.

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A New Kind of Strength

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Boy Flexing Muscles

Our two-year-old grandson likes to flex his biceps and boast to me of how strong he is. He is a picture of the desires we all have. We would like to be strong in every area. It is our weaknesses that scare us. We instinctively try to hide or at least cover our vulnerability.

The problem lies in the true definition of strength. For many it is more like bullying and intimidating. The room gets awfully noisy when everyone is boasting of their own strength.

Jesus offers a new model of strength. To those who didn't get it, he looked like a victim, but he demonstrated what being strong is all about when he defeated death and ascended to rule over all.

Strength That’s Available to You

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth describing the new kind of strength found in the shared life of the resurrected Jesus. It is known as Second Corinthians. He uses five illustrations to get his point across. First, in the introduction he mentions that God has used the weaknesses of his servants as an opportunity to give them a kind of comfort that is beyond human capability.

"Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:4)

They don't need to see how strong we are in ourselves. That only discourages them since they aren’t us. They need to know of a strength (comfort) that is available to them.

Since we are his image bearers, we are privileged to reflect a level of strength that is only made evident when we are weak in ourselves. We must get comfortable identifying what looks like weakness as strength. When we are weak he is strong. This gives hope to others who are weak and helpless. They don't need to see how strong we are in ourselves. That only discourages them since they aren't us. They need to know of a strength (comfort) that is available to them.

Captive for Christ

Second, he describes us as captives who emit an aroma of victory.

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." (2 Corinthians 2:14)

The picture is of a conquering general leading his army, and the captives of his victory, through the streets of his city. To mask the smell of war, the air is filled with pleasant smells of perfume. The captives become a part of the parade. Paul is saying that we have been captured by the Lord and have no rights to demand. But we are made into his sons and enlisted in his mission to spread the aroma of hope to the whole world. We must get accustomed to being his captive. It is how we rule.

Shining God’s Light

Third, he describes us as earthen vessels that contain the treasure of his life. When we are broken in the presence of a world of death and darkness, his glory gets out.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

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We should not be surprised to learn that we are led into places of affliction and suffering. Just as it was with Jesus on earth, we live for the sole purpose of extending his influence. We do not lose heart, because we are not measuring things the way the temporal world does. Like Stephen, we might get stoned while some unsuspecting "Saul" is watching -- and is later converted by the same light and life he saw on Stephen's face.

Refusing to Bring Reproach on the Gospel

Fourth, he says that we are only limited in our freedom by the desire to promote a clear gospel to those around.

"We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities.” (2 Corinthians 6:4)

Since we don't live to please ourselves, we refuse to bring reproach on the gospel by anything we might do to distract others from the pure truth of God's word.

Rejoicing in Weakness

Fifth, he declares that boasting on our part should be about our weaknesses rather than our strengths. This is after Paul had prayed that his thorn in the flesh would be removed. He knew God to be good, powerful and interested. So, he prayed for deliverance from some debilitating circumstance. God answered that his strength is magnified in Paul's weakness.

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." (2 Corinthians 11:30)

Comparing our afflictions and weaknesses to glory is an eye opener. Afflictions are light and momentary. Glory is forever.

God does deliver us from all kinds of trouble. Sometimes he transforms the trouble by supplying more grace than the trouble can supply pain. After all, it is his grace that we want magnified, not our personal ease.

There is peace through strength -- when the strength comes from overwhelming grace. It is worth getting accustomed to. It is our calling. There is an entire eternity to enjoy the glory that shall be revealed. Comparing our afflictions and weaknesses to such glory is an eye opener. Afflictions are light and momentary. Glory is forever.

We Hold the Key!!

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Key Hole Light Unlocking the Door to the Kingdom - 900

We are experiencing a suffocating wave of despair and loneliness in these days. Many are wringing their hands wondering where we are headed. While rancor and violence are on display, voices that could offer solutions are either silent or ignored. Political parties offer to solve the problem, but are obviously a major part of stirring it. But there is some good news. It is in fact, great news because it has the authority of heaven behind it.

We Hold the Key!

We hold the key! America's moral future is in the hands of Christians. It is our time to shine in service to our culture. We have no time for being personally offended by those who don't understand. We are not victims of a darkness that cannot be penetrated. We are vessels of mercy in the hand of our God who loves all people and wants societies to flourish. Jesus declared us to be lights in a dark world as we reflect him. We are sprinkled in society as salt for the preservation of truth and the establishment of peace.

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We have been given the great privilege of knowing the Father through the Son, thereby having access to both his wisdom and his life. We can not only know what to do, but do it, as we are energized by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

We have kept silent while those who deny the existence of the creator have tried to find a way to run the world. With no creator of order, and no discoverable order, there is no right way to structure life. We cannot stand by while such nonsense permeates the public sector. We have the word and the voice that offers hope.

The word is the truth that sets people free from the deceptions that paralyze them. It declares that God has acted to restore us to the humans he envisioned in creation. As humans who can know and be known by God, we are capable of being his partners in earth's development.

We Have a Voice!

We have a voice. There are still millions of ears eager to hear the sound from God's body on earth. There is a lot at stake. We can no longer shrink back from criticism or fear of losing tax status. God addresses moral issues and if we are faithful witnesses, we do too. There are several issues that we have a right and responsibility to address.

(1) He endowed humans with a dignity that is not determined by public opinion. Humans are persons whether in the womb or outside, with the rights of all humans. That is not political. That is moral.

(2) God gave personal property as a means of developing our managing skills. It is to be protected.

(3) God gave some more than others to ensure human sharing. He wants to the strong to care for the weak.

(4) God is the source of our provisions, and governments that deny that are sure to fail. All cultures that refuse to recognize the distinction between creator and creation are doomed to deception and destruction. It is impossible to ignore the source of truth and hope to find truth.

It is time to stop with the complaining and criticizing and get on with our commission. We are sent into the world as God's vessels of mercy. We represent the ultimate authority and it will not be toppled. We will suffer persecution, but that is not a deterrent. Amid persecution, we shall display a kind of peace the world does not now know, but is desperately longing to find. The key is in our hands. Let's stop wringing them and use them to hold up our Lord. 

Am I a Bigot?

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Holding Worn Bible Sunlight Reverence - 900

The guy in the t-shirt promoting abortion, the sexual revolution, social victimization, and open borders said that I was a misogynist, legalist, and racial bigot because I did not agree with his t-shirt. Am I?

Honestly, I felt the arrow. Maybe I harbor hidden bias. Perhaps I don't love the world as Jesus does. Then I remembered some verses from the apostle John that give perspective.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. -- 1 John 3:18-19 (ESV)

Our own hearts are not infallible in evaluating our standing in righteousness. God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything. His verdict is the one that matters. (Now, there is a t-shirt for Christians: God's verdict matters.)

What Does Love Look Like?

What does it mean to love the world? Well, we know God does. What does his love look like?

First, he didn't allow the world to define love or what was needed. He looked beyond the deceptive thoughts of people bound in sin, and blind to true beauty, and gave the only gift that would free us and restore the glory of humans. He gave to meet the needs we had misidentified, so we could enjoy a greater liberty than we could imagine.

In order to prove my love, do I have to agree with everyone? It would be anything but authentic love to promote what I believe is destructive.

Second, he gave himself at great cost. It wasn't just a theory he was promoting. He didn't give a new ideology or fresh idea on how to structure society. He came into our dilemma and accepted the eternal consequences of our condition so that we could enter his condition as righteous before God.

Third, he loved us as people. Each of us has a unique story of need, though we share a common alienation from God because of sin. Jesus doesn't deal with us as a subset of society classified by our ethnicity, sex, or social standing. He loves persons!

Authentic Love

Someone asked me if my biblical worldview prevented my loving the LGBTQ community. Instead, it compels me to love the people who may identify or be classified by those letters.

I know and love many people who have been classified in this subset -- and I am eager and willing to love many more. I am just not sure what loving a subset of society means. In order to prove my love, do I have to agree with the particular agenda of that subset? It would be anything but authentic love to promote what I believe is destructive. If Jesus had loved like that, he would have abandoned us to our own wishes, consigning us to the misery of self-delusion forever. I can respect their right to believe without affirming their belief to be right.

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Jesus' love was expressed in that while we were yet bound in deception and ignorant of our desperate condition, he did what was necessary to set us free. (See Romans 5:8.) Love is costly, and it expresses itself in actions. It cares more for the condition of another than for our own comfort and ease. (See 1 Corinthians 13.)

If I listen to the angry voices telling me who I am, I will either shrink from being real, or I will strike back and lose my sense of peace. Either way, I will be weak and cowardly. Confidence comes from knowing God's verdict and accepting it as final. That frees me to see any person as created in the image of God, valuable and worth loving. It also releases me to hear God, my Father when he lovingly tells me that I have hidden bias he wants to eliminate. I like being loved like that, and I want that for everyone.

Christianity Works Only in Its Most Radical Form

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Man carrying Cross Walking Christianity Devout Serious - 900

After 30 excruciating minutes of expressing deep frustration with his personal life, Peter confessed, "I gave up on Christianity during college days. It just didn't work." He went on to describe how hard he tried to stay inside the moral boundaries as outlined in the teaching of the Christian church he attended, but never could. In an effort to be authentic, he decided to abandon the standards and live like most of his friends.

Peter is an example of the thousands of former churchgoers who now identify on religious surveys as "nones."  The now have no affiliation with a church. Some wear that identity as a badge of freedom from religion.

A Broken Form of Christianity

It is now coming to light that the form of Christianity that has been promoted for several generations is not the form that Jesus taught and lived. From the Roman Catholic's sex abuse scandal to the slowly dying Protestant congregations, to the garish consumer-driven spectacle affecting Evangelicalism, the evidence seems to suggest that something isn't working.

Spiritual Readiness Logo - 400

Disciples like those who brought transformation to cultures in the early days of the church are few today -- and rarely noticed by the church culture. The model disciple today seems more interested in gaining and maintaining relevance to the culture, rather than offering an alternative to the steady march toward meaninglessness.

The agenda of secular society is gaining momentum while we Christians try not to be perceived as contrarians. We must not offend. We must not confront. We must lose or ignore our convictions. We must change our core beliefs. All the while, millions are fraught with life-destroying addictions, dysfunctional relationships, and twisted identities.

Only Full Abandonment Satisfies

When the popular brand of Christianity eliminated the power of transformation from its core, multitudes were doomed to live in their spiritually defective condition with nothing stronger than willpower to confront their afflictions. It is no wonder we have normalized behavior that is prohibited by both Scripture and common sense. If we can't change, we must adapt. We now call that progress.

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Early Christianity offered radically changed lives, as evidenced by the apostle Paul's comments:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

-- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)

The early church was not a gathering of good people trying to be better. They were captivated by the One who was raised from the dead. They had been transformed by him.

But radical Christianity is not just for the extreme outcast of society. Even regular church attendees are often beset by disappointment with their level of spirituality. They are discovering that a partial buy-in cheats the seeker. Any hold-back denies the bounty of grace. Only full abandonment to God's love satisfies the yearning of the human soul, which was designed to be loved fully.

Living By the Spirit

Jesus describes a life far beyond external standards and man's ability to achieve them. He spoke of forgiving your enemies. Turning your cheek to insults. Eliminating hatred, anger, lust, greed and vengeance. He described disciples as lights in the darkness, salt in society, and houses built on a foundation that no storm can topple.

He commanded people to do things they couldn't so he could do those things for them and through them. "Stretch forth your hand," he commanded a man with a withered hand. "Lazarus come forth," he said to a dead man. Later, his apostles followed suit, giving instructions that can only be obeyed by those born of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from death. "Love without hypocrisy," "outdo one another in showing honor," "bless those who persecute you," "live in harmony with one another." The implication is that when a Christian does these things, it is coming out of his new life -- the one he shares with Jesus by means of the indwelling Spirit.

Those who are born of the Spirit are infused with a radical love that demonstrates a radical alternative kingdom.

These displays of love have death-defying power in them. This kind of love cannot be defeated. It annihilates hate. It exterminates fear. It will not stop at the edge of human hardness. It will still be reigning when all the ideologies of history lie bankrupt in the pit of shame.

It Took a Radical Act of God to Redeem Us

The form of Christianity that settles for theological propositions, transcendent principles, altruistic projects, and moralistic practices doesn't work!

It took a radical act of God to redeem us. It required a costly death, a miraculous resurrection, and a glorious ascension. Nothing short of that would have solved our problem. The radical act of grace demands a radical response of faith. God's grace toward us does not produce a half-hearted moralist who is trying to get better. Those who are born of the Spirit are infused with a radical love that demonstrates a radical alternative kingdom.

Our world desperately needs the hope that comes from the One who offers his life now and forever. 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Watch That Vending Machine!

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Woman buying with a vending machine.

I was surprised to discover that some 1700 people are injured each year from vending machines, including 2-4 fatalities. But after some thought, I can identify. I have shaken more than one and even kicked a few. After all, those menacing thieves just take your money and stand there with no apology, and they offer no recourse.

Then, I thought about the people I know who have perceived of God as a vending machine. They have kicked him, shaken him, and finally rejected him just because he didn't belch out the goody they thought they were getting when they did their part.

It is easy to see why so many view God in this way. We live in a transactional world. We have been sufficiently warned that there is no free lunch. You get what you pay for.

Sadly, the message of the church is often a transactional one. We hear it often, as some spokesperson for God reminds us that if we only put in the right coinage, God will spit out the blessing we have selected. We merely need to know the currency that he accepts and identify the buttons to press.

Kicking the Vending Machine

Myrtle was a handful. I'm told she was once the beauty of the town. Now, however, she looked hard and hopeless. She demanded her way in the local church, the community and in her dysfunctional marriage.

When a counselor asked why she was so negative, she revealed that God had let her down. She had prayed for her sick child to be healed, but the three-year-old girl had died. "Prayer doesn't work." She said. "God is a hoax. If he were any good at all, he would hear the prayers of hurting people like me."

For Myrtle, prayer was the coinage inserted into the vending machine god. It malfunctioned.

Charles and Sarah had returned from the mission field. They were not only tired from years of hard service in poor living conditions, but they were also depleted in their souls.

They had been eager to go and serve the poor and lost, assured that God would bless them for their sacrifice. They did not see much success from their work, and their own children had turned against God and the church. "I just feel like God let us down," Charles mumbled.

Avoid the Vending Machine God

We don't do well trying to negotiate with God. We don't have anything he really needs. He has negotiated with himself to provide for us what we really need. God the Father promised some humans unimaginable blessings for their obedience. No one could fully obey. God the Son became a human and obeyed. He received the fulfillment of the promise.

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Our only hope is to be included in the Son's identity. That is exactly what he offers. We buy without money and without price. (See Isaiah 55:1.) It is true that nothing is free. Jesus paid a heavy price for our privilege of enjoying fellowship with God. His radical grace calls for a radical faith that embraces his life as our own. We then find ourselves giving and serving out of his abundance rather than in an effort to gain it.

Avoid the vending machine god. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for us a feast-table in the presence of our enemies. Humbly we accept his invitation to "come and dine." His blessings are beyond number, and his willingness to bless is beyond measure.

Lessons From Elijah on Depression

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Elijah and the Prophets of baal

Considering all the reports about the plague of depression affecting all ages in our society, we are looking for some answers. We just finished up a two-week training course for young men ages 16-25. I was amazed that so many of them describe depression and anxiety as a significant problem for them and their peer group. There is no age group immune to this growing angst. Maybe we can find some help from an incident recorded in Scripture. It is found in 1 Kings 18-19.

In summary, Israel was in rebellion against God and the prophets of Baal were influencing the society in destructive ways. Elijah forced a confrontation with them by challenging them to a god-contest. The god that would answer by sending fire on the altar would be the winner. The Baal prophets went first and spent hours begging their god to respond. Nothing happened. Then Elijah built an altar and even poured water on it and around it. When he prayed, the God of Israel answered by consuming the whole thing, water and all. Israel responded by declaring that Jehovah was the true God after all. The prophets of Baal were slain, and Elijah took off for the capital city. He was pumped by the victory on Mt. Carmel.

But then he learned that Jezebel, the wife of the weakling king Ahab, had put out a contract on his life. This time, instead of running with the favor of God upon him, he ran in fear deep into the desert. He knew he didn't have the right to kill himself, but he begged God to take his life. He was exhausted, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. All the color had faded from his vision. His hope was very dim.

God’s Response to Depression

It is here that we learn of God's approach to this condition.

Your value is inestimable. We need you. Jezebel is not the final word. Her threats are empty.

First, he met Elijah's physical needs. An angel of the Lord baked him bread and provided fresh water. He encouraged him to sleep. We are beings with bodies. We aren't just souls or spirits. Sometimes we must address the physical aspects of our life. Sometimes nourishment and sleep are needed more than going to another church meeting. Of course, there are those who think the physical is all that matters and would treat such exhaustion with chemicals only. Their personal worldview does not allow for us being more than body and mind.

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Second, God met Elijah's psychological need. The angel touched him and talked to him. We are unique beings that include a psychological makeup that needs care. A touch from a friend is a healing balm for one experiencing isolation. We thank God for those skilled in listening and drawing us out of our darkness. But, we are more than minds and feelings.

Third, God met Elijah's spiritual needs. All the talk in the world will not meet the needs that lie behind the psychological. We are spiritual beings. We thrive on truth. When lies have lodged in our minds and doubts have captured our hearts, we need an encounter with the living truth who loves unconditionally.

Hearing the Gentle Voice of God

Being energized by the help of the angel of the Lord, Elijah went down to Mt. Horeb and entered a cave. This is Mt. Sinai, where Moses had met with God. Some say that the cave that Elijah entered was the same as the one Moses was in when God passed by and showed him his goodness. (See Exodus 34.)

Elijah was looking for God. He had seen God do mighty things in the Baal contest, but things had gone wrong since then. Jezebel was not supposed to have happened. Why would God let this wicked woman cause such turmoil? Maybe Elijah had tried putting God in his own mental box. He needed to see the true majesty of God. He can't be bribed with our obedience, coerced by our passion, or contained in our imagination. He can reveal himself in the might of the wind, the terror of an earthquake, or the awe of fire, but he is not limited to those.

God repeatedly asked Elijah what he was doing there. It wasn't because God needed the information. Elijah needed to face his disappointment and hear the gentle voice of God telling him to get on with his assignment. God can't be boxed. He refuses to be bribed. But he is willing to work with his weak and wounded children without rebuke or rejection.

Give God the Final Word

Depression is serious. We grieve over lives lost because people gave up hope. There can be many influences that push us there. We must not be embarrassed to acknowledge that we are physical, psychological, spiritual beings that need help. We aren't designed to make it without each other, and certainly not without God. God cares for the whole person. He has angels, both human and spiritual that can help. Please don't give up.

The cave is an excellent place to encounter God's grace, but he will send you out of it to complete your assignment. Your value is inestimable. We need you. Jezebel is not the final word. Her threats are empty. God's word, revealing himself to you, is life-giving and eternal. Listen for the gentle voice of God.   

Being Human is Awesome, but Terrifying

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Hikers helping each other at sunset

I guess the first time it hit me was at 25 years old. We had our first child, David, and as I stood looking through the window to the hospital nursery, I thought, "This child will live eternally in either heaven or hell, and I have been charged with the responsibility to guide him. Oh, my!" Being human is terrifying. What was God thinking to grant such power to humans that we can affect his creation so radically? It is an awesome reality. What is so awesome and terrifying about being human?

Designed to Name and Rule

Humans are creatures made by a creator with the design to rule over creation for its good and God's glory. The fact that we are humans means that we are limited. In other words, we are not the creator. We do not know everything (omniscience), nor do we have power over everything (omnipotence). And, of course, we cannot be everywhere at once (omnipresence). God designed us to rule over creation while worshipping our sovereign and loving creator. It is awesome beyond comprehension.

We have been granted the status of sons of God, conveying our privilege of relating to him as father and being heirs in his family. We are his partners in his earthly work. We are to discover and develop the treasures of creation and structure them to reflect his majestic creativity and love. The first human received the capacity and responsibility to name the animals. That means that we can discern the true nature of things so that we can manage them properly. When we misname, we mismanage.

Designed to Decide

Humans have a design of either male or female. They are equal and mostly the same, but their differences are significant. They represent the constant dynamic of structure and creativity. It has been described as order being challenged by chaos for the purpose of growth. God designed male and female humans to be interdependent. The first female came from the male. All other offspring came from the female. Not only are both essential to life on earth, but their differences are also sacred. All attempts to erase the differences are attacks on reality. The end of such efforts will not be good. It will be less than humanity’s design calls for.

Because of our design, we are decision-makers and our decisions matter. In fact, every decision we make moves the whole world toward chaos or ordered life. There are no inconsequential decisions. We never take a day off from making world-changing decisions. That is terrifying! It means that what I do affects others who don't even know what I am doing.

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For instance, when I disregard a healthy diet, I am affecting my wife, who will probably be the primary caregiver if I am sick. It affects whether my grandchildren will have quality time with their grandpa, which will affect the trajectory of their lives, which will affect their grandchildren. It affects those whose jobs my work provides, which affects their families and future. It affects the entire healthcare system in the nation and the world… ad infinitum. It's awesome. I can change the world today! It might be only a slight change, but it is change no less. I should want desperately to change it for good.

Designed for Purpose Beyond Weakness

There is a problem. Humans are not only limited by their "creatureliness," we are wounded by our sinfulness. Like our first parents, we are burdened with guilt over rebellious actions, shamed by our spiritual nakedness, and fearful of rejection and death.

Sadly, we followed not only the path of Adam and Eve but also that of Cain. He had the choice to confront his error and correct it but chose to see himself as the mistreated oppressed. His resentment led to hostility toward his brother, and finally, Cain eliminated him. Cain demonstrated that one cannot live without gratitude, and resentment makes gratitude impossible. History records the various attempts to live meaningfully without addressing the "fallenness" problem. Millions have died needlessly because some humans tried to manage the creation without considering the default selfishness of all fallen humans.

The burden of being a human beset by debilitating weaknesses, but conscious that our decisions matter is too heavy for many. They want another reality, so they become substitute creators and make up new ones. Some have declared that only a few elite are capable of managing the rest, and have found ways to construct governments which first serve but ultimately enslave the masses.

Designed for Restoration

Some have removed the creator and surmised that the only reality that counts must come from us, so we make our own meaning. Others conclude that there is no meaning to our decisions. They don’t matter in the long run, because no long run exists. We could go on. The proposals are numerous -- all with a guarantee of failure.

There is great news. God, our creator, is also our Redeemer. He has acted in history to restore humans to their original design. He became a man in Jesus and reversed what Adam and Eve did. Like Abel, he offered the proper and final offering, forever removing rejection from those who trust him. We are human again. It is awesome. Let's change the world today.

God is Building His Church. Just Keep the Light On

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Church Lights at Night

When I left my little country church and went off to the university to prepare for my calling as a minister, I felt a little intimidated by those who came from larger churches with more sophisticated ministries. After all, there wasn't much in the way of entertaining church services at my church.

Mr. Jack would lead the congregational singing, but many of the hymns seemed to drag unnecessarily. Mrs. Mildred would play the piano in a kind of staccato style. The same deacons took up the offering every Sunday. The pastor was in training at a Bible school and came to the church field only on weekends. Well, you get the picture. I was tempted to be embarrassed by my church.

But, we must remember that God has not made provision for a plan B. It is his Church, and he is committed to its success.

God is Building His Church

It seems there are many today who embarrassed by the Church. It takes a beating in the media, which is to be expected, but it also is being dismissed by its own. Some are even demanding it catch up with the culture as if the culture were the norm for truth and morality.

It is easy to find things wrong with churches and even the Church at large. After all, it is made up of humans who have confessed to being sinners and needy of God's grace. The Lord we worship is perfect, but all the rest of us are in-process, discovering more of his love and being transformed at different paces.

But, we must remember that God has not made provision for a plan B. It is his Church, and he is committed to its success. He is building it. When all other social structures have fallen, it will still be standing.

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Keep the Light On

Here's the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey used to say). It was a Wednesday night prayer meeting at my country church. The usual 15-20 people were there. The same folks were praying similar prayers. A visitor slipped in. Of course, in such a small, tight-knit group, he stood out. You could see whispers during the prayer meeting as members were asking each other who it might be.

Finally, just before the benediction, he stood and asked if he could say something.

You don't know me, but I am a traveling salesman. My route brings me by this church on Wednesdays twice a month, on my way to Atlanta. I have been doing this for most of twenty years. I did not go to church as a boy and have not seen the need for whatever churches do. But, I always noticed that regardless of the weather there was a light on here. I have been by on cold rainy nights when only three cars were parked, but your light was on, and you were here.

I've had some hard times lately, and in the middle of it all, I have come to know Jesus as my Savior and Lord. One of the reasons I could never fully dismiss the reality of God was my memory of this church and the light always being on. Thank you.

Not perfect. Not sophisticated. Not highly trained. Not entertaining. But they kept the light on. So, will the Church of the living God.

Scratching the Adam Itch

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Man Itching Arm

Recently, I have been bothered by a foot fungus like Ring Worm. It seriously itches! Finally, I consulted with a doctor and progress is being made. Also, I have learned something about an itch. It begs to be scratched, and it feels so good at the time -- but it doesn't help the cure. I first heard the term, "Adam's Itch" from Alan Bias when he was referring to our tendency to gravitate toward the Law rather than the Spirit.

Since the shame of the Garden of Eden, humans have sought to regain glory by striving to live up to a standard of acceptance. That is what the apostle Paul called "flesh." It is futile and egregious.

For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. -- Romans 8:7 (ESV)

It reveals a blindness to the depth of sin and gives rise to efforts to make up for our wrongs. Sin is much more than a violation of a standard. It is the choice to yield to the mastery of evil. We continue to sin because we are slaves to the evil power behind it. The existence of the Law is not sufficient to overcome it.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. -- Romans 7:15-17 (ESV)

As I referenced earlier, an itch begs to be scratched. The Adam Itch is no different.

The Adam Itch

The tendency to rely on human efforts to qualify for blessings also reveals a misunderstanding about relating to God on the basis of Covenant. The "If you will obey, I will bless" concept from the Old Covenant is undoubtedly true. God cannot bless disobedience. If we either deny his order in life or ignore it, we will move into disorder. But obedience must be complete.

When it was evident that God's vessels of mercy couldn't fully obey, God instituted another covenant in which Jesus as our representative obeyed and received all the blessings of the fulfilled covenant. We are blessed in him alone. Our efforts to gain personal blessings apart from trusting him are dead works.

As I referenced earlier, an itch begs to be scratched. The Adam Itch is no different. People like to hear formulas for success based on something we can do. We love doing more and trying harder. We rush to listen to the newest sales pitch about how to get God's favor by practicing a new approach to obedience.

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The Fast God Has Chosen

One of the texts that many use as a formula for success is Isaiah 58. It addresses the people of Israel as they are practicing their worship activities with vigor. They are scrupulously doing what the instructions said regarding temple worship, including fasting and praying for guidance for their own direction. Yet, God is not responding.

They are perplexed. They have pulled the lever of religious obedience, and he is not delivering the expected blessings. They are practicing "Israel's folly." They have interpreted God's selection of them as an end in itself. They are oblivious to the needs of the society around them. They evidently believe "God chose us for us." Fasting was an extreme form of showing sincerity and zeal. They were serious about getting God to act in their behalf (much like alarmed Christians in today's culture). They had chosen a severe fast, but it had to do with their efforts to qualify for God's intervention. Through the prophet Isaiah, God explains that the fast he has chosen is not the same as the one they have chosen. He chose Israel to be vessels of mercy to bless those around them. He will act consistently with his own mercy towards the Israel that chooses that fast.

There was only one Israelite that chose that fast. He represented the whole people of God when he came as Messiah.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. -- Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

The next time someone is offering to scratch your "Adam Itch," refuse. It feels good for the moment, but it is inflaming the problem.

Blessed to Bless

Since he met the conditions Isaiah had given in chapter 58, he gets the benefits mentioned in the remainder of the text. There are several "thens" listed:

Then, your light shall break forth, and God's righteousness will protect you. (Isaiah 58:8) Then God answers your request with his own presence. (Isaiah 58:9) Then, your original glory is restored. You will be fully human again. (Isaiah 58:10-12) Then, you will live in the delight of the Lord. (Isaiah 58:14)

Jesus lived with such blessings. The good news is that because we who believe in him are in him, we receive such blessings based on his obedience. Because Jesus fasted in this way, we can feast on his obedience. One of the blessings we get but can overlook is vitally important. We get to share his mission. We can't just gather the blessings for ourselves like Israel was doing. He was our representative in covenant with the Father. We are his representatives on earth. We extend his mission by embracing our calling as vessels of mercy, sent to bless the world. We are blessed to bless. God loves those who still endure the curse of sin, so he has sent us with the love that captured us. The blessings continue to flow through us toward those in need.

The next time someone is offering to scratch your "Adam Itch," refuse. It feels good for the moment, but it is inflaming the problem. There is no religious lever to pull. If you want to do something, focus on Jesus. Trust him. Delight in him. Look up and see those around you whom he loves and extend your hand to make the connection. The river of grace flowing through you to others will stop the itch.

Does God Govern in the Affairs of Men?

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Illustrated Hand of God holding World Governments Flags Nations Control - 900

Benjamin Franklin in his address at the Continental Congress expressed his belief that God is active in the affairs of men and that humans who build and administer government must look to him. He said, "I have lived Sir a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of the truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men."

As storm clouds continue to rise in our politically unstable world, many feel like the sky is falling. They might believe in God, but they aren't sure how much he acts to intervene in the affairs of nations. We can find comfort in the story of how God intervened in Egypt in the time of Abraham's descendants.

Sold Into Slavery… For the Sake of the World?

Jacob's favorite son, Joseph, was mistreated by his own brothers, and it led to quite a strange journey for him. Sold to merchants, he was a slave in Egypt. Though he acted appropriately, he was accused falsely, thrown into prison, and forgotten by those he helped. However, when the Pharaoh needed a manager, Joseph was ready.

And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. -- Genesis 45:7 ESV

Joseph spoke these words to his brothers who had sold him into slavery which had caused a lot of pain in his life. However, he became the ruler of Egypt under Pharaoh dispensing the food to those affected by famine. He recognized that God's grace had been ruling even in the sinful and selfish acts of the brothers.

We must not define the grace of God in terms of ease or comfort. God's grace is so big that it rules in every circumstance to bring about God's loving purposes, without violating the dignity of human choice. Joseph knew that it wasn't all about him. God would one day have a nation that would display his order in the world. Joseph was a link in the chain, a sub-story in the big story. Ultimately that nation would be made up of those submitting to the kingdom of God as expressed in Jesus, the king.

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God’s Grace Even Through Israel’s Slavery

God's way includes placing his image bearers right in the middle of the world's crises to rule for the benefit of many people -- and they rule by serving. Joseph is the prime example. He was strategic to God's plan to bless not only those starving in famine but also those who would live centuries later. If Joseph had not been there, Jacob's family would have died, and there would have been no Israel, no kingdom, no Messiah, no salvation.

Grace was working from the big picture of global blessing. What looked like injustice and catastrophe at the time was woven together by grace to bring the Savior to the world.

God’s grace is never uninvolved in time or history. He moves things along toward his goal of displaying his unimaginable goodness.

God even manifested his grace through Israel's slavery. After Joseph brought his family to live in Egypt to survive the famine, they lived there approximately 400 years. But the subsequent government leaders were harsh in their treatment and regarded them as slaves. This abuse prepared the people for a deliverer. Comfortable people don't cry for a Savior.

Because of their harsh treatment, but mostly because God had made a promise to Abraham, God showed his mighty strength to take his people out of Egypt. The whole known world got to see the mighty hand of God displayed in behalf of his people.

God’s Grace is Still at Working Today

God’s grace is never uninvolved in time or history. He moves things along toward his goal of displaying his unimaginable goodness.

He is involved in our lives today. What might look like total disaster, is God's opportunity to reveal his loving control of all things. It is not time to run for the hills in fear. It is time to lift our heads. God has enough grace to reveal his sovereign grace in our day.

We don't faint with fear. We march with confidence. God has a purpose, and he will accomplish it -- and we get to participate. Since He is active, we are.

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