Benign Belief

“For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him: and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” (Mark 6:20)

        As it turned out, Herod’s fear of John the Baptist was only a mild case, since we know that even though he wished the man no harm, because of a foolish oath prompted by lust, he had him put to death (v.26-27). Actually, we could say that Herod’s overall response to the preaching of John was varied, to say the least. It struck fear to his heart, partly because he knew it was not hypocritical—John was “a just and holy man.” And he was fascinated enough by it to be moved to action on occasion (“…when he heard him, he did many things…”). We could say, in reality, he was glad for the opportunity to hear the prophet. But, as we know, Herod’s fascination with John stopped just short of persuading him to do the right thing in a clench.

        It is easy to find ourselves experiencing mixed emotions when we are presented with Biblical truth, whether through a human instrument or by “direct feed” from the Word of God We may have enough spiritual insight to know we are hearing from God and experience a blessing—even be moved to action at times. But when the chips are down, we may find ourselves unable to make the right decision. And often, like Herod, it is because we want to save face.

        We should be careful about toying with truth. When it comes to a plain directive, it’s not a “see if it feels right to you” kind of thing. Even in the case of a singular, individual direction on secondary things, the proper response is the same for all of us: obedience. To do otherwise is to end up the way Herod did: “exceeding sorry” (v.26).

Some people have never been truly infected with Bible principles; instead, they seem to have been vaccinated against them.

 

Knowing Who's Who

“To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.”  (Acts 8:10)

        Simon had the power of God. Everyone said so, from the town drunk to the town mayor. But, in point of fact, he was really an egotistical sorcerer, who had merely bewitched the people (v.9). This only goes to show just how easily some folks are taken in. Not only did he not have the power of God, for all his so-called believing and baptismal washing (v.13), he had somehow missed salvation by a country mile (v.23).

        I have heard scores of preachers over these half a century and more years of walking with God. All shapes and sizes, styles and statures. A lot of them characterized as having “the power of God.” But as I look back now, I am not so sure. I certainly would not put them in the same category with Simon, of course; yet I wonder if what was perceived to be the power of God may only have been the power of persuasion, or a gift for dramatics, or in some cases, sheer force of personality. When you stop to think about it, wouldn’t you think God would choose to manifest His power where man’s power is least displayed? Indeed, He has said as much, hasn’t He? (Read 1 Corinthians 1:27-29.)

        How, then, can one know when a man or woman is ministering (preaching, teaching, writing, singing, etc.) with what the old-timers used to call “a holy unction?” Probably the best way is to be Spirit-filled yourself. After all, as the Psalmist said, the call of depth is only audible to its own kind (Psl.42:7). The old saying, “It takes one to know one” would seem to apply here nicely. Then, too (but this would not be readily seen, of course), a truly Spirit-anointed ministry could be assumed to outlast the individual himself or herself (Heb.11:4b; Rev.14:13b).

        I guess, what I am trying to say is this: Be careful to whom you attribute the power of God…for your sake and theirs. It is too holy a designation to be given lightly. And when you do encounter it (or, please God, experience it), lift your heart in thanksgiving to the all-powerful God, Who would dare to share some of His power with mortal man (Matt.9:8).

 

      “Don’t follow any leader until you see the anointing on his forehead” ~ A.W. Tozer

Drink Ye All of It

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it.” (Matthew 26:27)

 

         I noticed something one day when I was reading this story of our Lord’s final meal with His disciples, when He initiated what has come to be called “The Lord’s Supper.” In verse 26, when the Savior served the bread to His friends, in anticipation of his broken body, He did not say, “Eat ye all of it,” as He later said of the fruit of the vine in the cup. I think there is significance to this. The “cup” is used as a metaphor for both good and bad in Scripture. For instance, in Psalms, we find David’s wonderful “full and overflowing cup” of blessings (23:5; 116:13); but we also read of a cup of judgment for the wicked in Psalm 75:8.

        In this case, I cannot help thinking that when Jesus offered the cup to the disciples, explaining it was a picture of His own Blood that would be shed for the remission of our sins, He was thinking of His own cup, spoken of later on in the same chapter. This cup—the cup of God’s wrath—He would request three times for His Father to take from Him, only to add, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” He knew that once He began to drink from that awful cup, He would have to drink “all of it.” Sin, judgment, death, hell—all of it. As the song says:

                        

                         He took the cup in dark Gethsemane,

                          And drained it to the dregs on Calvary;

                         Oh, who can know the depths of agony,

                         To which the Savior went for you and me?

       There is always one cup or another in our hands, sometimes good, but sometimes bad. Whichever it is, however, we should remember the instructions of our Lord: “Drink ye all of it.” If it is sweet, savor it to the very last drop; but if it is bitter, drink it to the very dregs. Because, Child of God, when you reach the bottom, you will find the face of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foolish Women

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.”  (Matthew 25:1-2)

     There are lots of them, you know—foolish women, I mean. The Bible speaks of them in at least four different places. In each case, their foolishness cost them dearly, robbing them of something very valuable, perhaps never to be regained. And similarly, each loss was unnecessary. What could be more foolish than that?

— Job’s Wife —

      We read in Job chapter two of this good man’s foolish wife (his own description), who urged him to defy God’s working in his life, even to the point of cursing Him. Some have spoken on her behalf, suggesting she did this in order to hasten his death and end the suffering. But I am not a proponent of euthanasia, however well-meaning its motivation; and, evidently, neither was Job. As he saw it, to willingly accept good from the hand of God, only to turn on Him when evil times befall one, is to exhibit the lowest form of ingratitude and shallowness. In this woman’s case, her foolish advice cost her the respect of her husband. No small loss, indeed. 

— Women in Proverbs —

     There are two mentions of foolish women in the book of Proverbs. In the first instance (Prov.9: 13-18), we find a woman foolish enough to think that illicit lovemaking is “sweet” and “pleasant.” Solomon characterizes her as being simple and unknowing. Or, as you and I might say, she was just plain stupid! And it is not surprising that the kind of men attracted to her are just like her (v.16). Obviously, such a foolish woman will not only lose her virtue, but also her self-respect.

     The second foolish woman in Proverbs is found in the first verse of chapter fourteen. This is the wife who is a home-breaker instead of a homemaker. This can be accomplished in more than one way; and the old saying notwithstanding (“There are two sides to every story”), there are some foolish women who seem to be able to manage it all by themselves. This woman’s loss is obvious: her home.

— The Virgins —

     This brings us to our story of the wise and foolish virgins, as cited here in Matthew. All ten were given the chance to meet the coming bridegroom. All carried lamps in case the arrival was after dark, which would make added light necessary for the path. But evidently, five of these women were willing to gamble on the assumption that the bridegroom would come before dark, since they did not bother to bring oil for their lamps. What good is an oil lamp without oil, right?

     And you know the story. Sure enough, the bridegroom did not appear until after dark; and sure enough, the five foolish virgins were not ready for him. While they were scrambling to buy the oil they should already have had, they missed the bridegroom and the wedding. The whole “shootin’ match!”

     Call this a parable illustrating those unprepared for the Second Coming, if you like; but one way or the other, the thing that was lost here was an opportunity. In this case, an opportunity they were never able to regain, which is true of most opportunities worth anything.

     Well, would you not admit these four unflattering pictures of foolish women were given for our instruction? And would you not also say that those who fail to learn from them are doubly foolish? 

Glory, Glory, Glory!

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me…” (Jeremiah 9:23-24a)

     Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself, some things that are a big hit down here are old news in Heaven. A revered philosopher, a super-athlete, or a multi-millionaire may gain praise and ovation in this life, but he’ll be doing good if he can draw even polite applause from the saints in Glory. We earth dwellers (Christians included) are so easily impressed, after all. Singers who can’t sing, celebrities whose lives are less than celebratory, politicians without core values, and pulpiteers passing off as preachers—these and others are held up as examples and gloried in.

     God is not saying (nor am I) that the attributes mentioned in verse 23 are questionable in themselves. On the contrary, wisdom, might, and riches can be found among Bible saints (Solomon, Joshua, and Abraham, respectively). None of them will get you to Heaven or ensure a living relationship with God, however; and for this reason, on balance, they’re not much to brag about.

     Well, what can we glory in, then? Jeremiah, anticipating our question, as it were, has told us that the only thing worth glorying in is a vibrant, knowledgeable relationship with God. Here now is something to legitimately admire in others and acknowledge with satisfaction in ourselves. We may not know all things but we can know and understand what is most important: God. If the wisdom I have is “from above” (James 3:17); and my true might is “in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24); and I am rich with the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph.3:8), then I have a whole lot to glory in.

      And, by the way, so do you. 

If It Be Thou

“And Peter answered him [Jesus] and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. - Matthew 14:28

      Jesus was continually being pressed to prove himself to friend and enemy alike. Beginning with the devil (“If Thou be the Son of God…”), until finally, as He was languishing on the Cross (“If thou be the King of Israel…), over and over, He faced doubt concerning His true identity. The only Man in all of history who knew completely who He was (Jno.13:3), and who was exactly who He claimed to be, was subjected to relentless skepticism. It would have been maddening for you or me, since most of us are never completely sure who we are half the time, and the other half pretending to be who we are not.

     When it comes to Jesus Christ, however, there is no “if.”

     Plato said, “Know thyself,” which sounds good theoretically and philosophically, but people can spend a lifetime going in circles trying to find out who they are. The truth is, although our core values should remain constant, we may find ourselves working them out in many different roles throughout our lives. Same head, different hats.

      In the end, it isn’t nearly as important for me to know who I am as it is for me to know who He is. He is who He is, no matter who I am. All I need to know is this: Being a Christian means that Christ lives within me (Gal.2:20), and “in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9); therefore I am able to say of myself, I am “complete in him” (Col.2:10). No “if’s” here, either!

 

Those Good Ole' Paths

“For thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they say, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

     I’m all for progress. New, innovative ways of doing things—new looks even. Christians like David Livingstone, who are willing to blaze new trails, often turn out to be true pioneers of the Faith. The Bible warns us against sentimentalizing the past to the point that anything new, simply by virtue of its “newness,” is never able to measure up in our estimation (Eccl.7:10). Still, it is important to remember that new is only profitable if it’s better, or at least, as good. If it’s inferior, it does not represent progress.

     It is obvious this verse is not speaking of salvation, which is limited to only one path or way (Jno. 14:6). Here we are considering “paths” and “ways.” To my way of thinking, it is personal conduct and interpersonal dealings—our code of ethics, if you will—that is being considered here. You see, we must remember that some new paths are really dead-ends; and if true happiness and “rest for [our] souls” is the desired end, there should be a sign on some paths reading, “You can’t get there from here!”

   Here, then, are some “good ‘ole paths” you and I would be wise to stick to:

    INTEGRITY: truthfulness, honesty, fairness, making the hard decisions

    FIDELITY: remaining true to God, family, and our Bible-based standards

    PURITY: respecting the body God has given us, as the temple of the Holy Spirit

    SANCTITY: making sure every part of our lives is set apart for God and His glory

     This may only be a beginning, but it’s enough to keep me busy! Of course, you and I are free to make the same choice Israel did: “We will not walk therein.” But, if so, we’ll meet with similar consequences.

      So, walk the old paths, friend of mine. Say…let’s walk them together.