Women, Resurrection, and Faith

   “Women received their dead raised to life again…” (Hebrews 11:35a)

         In the great chapter of faith, Hebrews eleven, you will find two women named: Sara, the wife of Abraham, and the harlot of Jericho, Rahab. But of even greater significance to me are these words found in verse thirty-five, because in them, God was careful to tell us it was women who had their dead “raised to life again.” Why did He do this, I wonder?

         I will say that of the seven times this phenomenon takes place, three involve grieving mothers (1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 4; Luke 7); another is the brother of two grieving sisters (Mary and Martha); the fifth is the raising of a woman herself (Dorcas in Acts 9); while only two requests come from fathers (Abraham and Jairus). Clearly, there is a connection between women and resurrection (Mark 16:1). Beyond this, we are forced to conjecture as to why it is. I find a clue in one of the mentioned instances.

         In 2 Kings four, where we find the story of the Shunammite woman whose son had died while working in the field, we can reasonably surmise that her husband had reconciled himself to the death; because when his wife asked for permission to take their dead son to the man of God (Elijah), he was baffled  (vv. 22-23). There was no hope. But this mother was like Father Abraham, of whom it was said that he, “against hope believed in hope” (Rom. 4:18). She met hopelessness head on with the shield of faith, and, as you know, was rewarded by seeing her son raised to newness of life.

         When it comes to impossible circumstances, like restoring life to hopeless humanity, it would seem to me that the Bible and history bear this out: God rewards faith; and He especially delights in seeing it played out in the lives of those of those whose only weapon of coercion is the prayer of faith. And Biblically speaking—by a ratio of five to two—it is women of faith who receive their dead raised to life again.

         God, who gives life, is pleased to give to her who brings forth life, the faith to see it restored.

Uncommon "Determinator"

“…for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God…even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) 

         If Spiritual illumination comes only by the Spirit of God, why not just throw out Biblical truths haphazardly and wait to see who picks them up? Why? Because although it is the Spirit that opens the heart, in the vast majority of cases, He uses witnessing, preaching, and teaching to capture the interest. Paul may not have used “enticing words” (v. 4); but he certainly was adept at persuasive language (2 Cor. 5:11). There is a difference. As a matter of fact, each of us is equipped with the ability to reach out to certain individuals in ways others of us are not able.

         Some women and men instinctively understand the thought processes of children and are quickly able to win their confidence. Consequently, they have insight into the best way to introduce these VIP’s in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 18) to the Gospel and spiritual things. If you are blessed with this awesome gift, allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate; but, by all means, also allow Him to use you to initiate.

         God uses some preachers, teachers, musicians, and laymen to warm cold hearts and inspire love among His people. They minister the Word of God to others as a balm, as a means of reconciliation to God and other believers. On the other hand, there are those whose presentation of the Scripture carries the thrust of an Old Testament prophet, breaking up the hard ground of indifference and convicting of sin. Both ministries are called for at different times and with different people. But again, while God may use one individual to warm hearts, and another to stir them, only the Spirit of God can change them.

         For those whose interest is caught and held by intelligent, well prepared, and well thought out arguments, God has gifted some of His children with sharp, reasoning minds, who are able to present the most reasonable proposition in all the universe: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But here, too, without Supernatural illumination, it is just one more hypothesis.

         My thesis here is two-fold: First, God has given you and me the command to present the Gospel and minister His Word to others according to the ability He has given each of us (1 Peter 4:11). If every person were the same, we could all minister to each one the same; but since they are not, we cannot. Or rather, we should not. Second, the thing that is the same—no matter who is preaching, teaching, or testifying—is this: It is all to no avail if the Spirit of God does not open the heart.  This is the common denominator, and He is the “Uncommon Determinator.” After you and I have sharpened our tools and nurtured our abilities, it is He who will determine whether or not our best efforts are successful.

            Who God does not teach, man cannot. ~ Gaelic Proverb

Faith: The Real Thing

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)

         The word “feigned” means to pretend or to be unreal. It is only “unfeigned” faith that wins the day. Faith, like the kind pictured here, that spans generations, and is marked by reality. I am convinced that this kind of faith cannot be disputed nor ignored indefinitely. Children will overlook many things, but hypocrisy is probably not one of them. They instinctively know what (or who) is important to us, and whether or not the God we espouse is truly real to us.

         It has always been assumed that Timothy was raised by his mother (and presumably his grandmother) without the benefit of a father being present. What was probably rare in those days is commonplace today, even in our churches. We have no way of knowing what kind of help, financial or otherwise, young Eunice may have had, but we can be sure it did not come from a government program. We do know, however, that her faith in God, which came down to her through her own mother, was so real that it enabled her to raise a man for God. The same generational faith that sustained a mother and grandmother sprang forth in the life of a son and grandson; man of God whose faith impressed even the great apostle, Paul.

         By the way, this is not just a Bible story; it’s a life story I have seen played out in our own family. In this case, it was not only a “Timothy,” but also a “Joseph” and “Nathan.” It’s not the ideal way to do it, as the Word of God has told us, but it can be done. It does not require great faith—just faith that is the real thing.

                      Faith makes things possible, but not always easy.  

 

 

 

 

Tailor-Made Trails

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

         Our temptations and trials, says Paul, may be unique; but they are, nevertheless, tailor-made, in this sense: they suit us personally at any given time in our Christian lives. Just as a wise parent disciplines individual children by different, yet fair, means, God the Father fashions trials for His individual children in ways appropriate to their particular needs and temperaments, according to His long range plan for their lives.

         Each testing is custom made to help develop character and maturity. What would strengthen a seasoned Believer might very well break a young one. But, on the other hand, a seeming roadblock to a spiritual “babe” would probably only amount to a speed bump to a mature Christian. Notice the verse promises that we will not be tempted to any greater extent than we personally are able to bear. God is aware of our distinctive temperaments, doubts, and secret fears. This is why when you or I look at another Christian and ask, “How can he or she withstand this?” that same individual may be wondering the same thing about us. 

         The important thing to remember is that this personalized treatment comes from a loving Father, Who can always be trusted to provide us with a perfect fit…even in the matter of trials.

                  This is my valley

                  I will not complain

                  I know it’s good for me

                  To suffer tears and pain

                  This is my trial

                  I will do my best

                  To stand each trial and test

                  This is my valley.

                                                      — Dottie Rambo

"Do-Gooders"

“...they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” (Jeremiah 4:22)

         How good are you at doing good? That may sound like double talk, but it’s still a good question. Oh, I know; none of us is good (Rom.3:10); but that shouldn’t keep us from striving to do good. Even a broken clock is right twice a day! Sadly, this verse in Jeremiah says there are people who have mastered the art of doing evil; but remain clueless when it comes to doing good. Why is that, do you think?

         Well, the first prerequisite, it would seem to me, would be the ability to know the difference. Not always as straight forward for some as one might think (Isa.5:20). And simply knowing the difference does not always ensure that one will make the right choice between the two. Case in point: Eve got a “taste” of both good and evil; but it didn’t do her (or us) a bit of good. In the final analysis, all she really needed to know was God. He is the only one truly able to list good and evil, right and wrong, in their proper columns for us. No one else can be trusted to always have this kind of discernment.

         Then, the way to proficiency in any activity is practice. As the old hymn says, “Each victory will help you some other to win.” You have heard, I’m sure, of “Miss Goody-Two-Shoes.” Well I’m here to say, sometimes she gets a “bum rap.” I’m not extolling the virtues the self-righteous, hypocritical sort, of course; I’m simply championing the kind of woman who jumps in with both feet when it comes to doing good.

         Lest we take this commendation too lightly, I would remind you that Peter described our Lord, in Acts 10:38, as a Man who “went about doing good.” Not an especially regal description of the King of Heaven, to be sure; but a clear indication, says Peter, that “God was with him.” And would it not indicate the same thing in us?

         You and I, as believers, could do far worse than to have someone carve on our tombstones, the simple inscription: “He (or she) went about doing good.”

The Happy Heart

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance…” (Prov. 15:13) “…he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” (Prov. 15:15) “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov. 17:22)

         One preacher has observed, “God is not some ‘cosmic kill-joy’ who frowns when we smile.” I agree. These verses, and others like them, say as much. We are all aware that in much of life, attitude determines outcome. As you can see from the cited texts, a merry heart is mentioned three times in the book of Proverbs, each time telling us a benefit we receive from having one.  

         First, a merry heart will make you better looking (15:3). Oh, I know; it may not change your features, but it sure will make you easier on the eyes! There is nothing beautiful about a hard, sullen, or pouty face, no matter how symmetrical the features; but the beauty of a cheerful countenance is unrivaled in its drawing power. I have always known that any compliments I have received in life had more to do with my attitude than my appearance. It’s the only “beauty secret” I possess. 

         There are very few truly poker faces. As Charles Bridges, in his commentary on Proverbs, points out: “A man’s countenance is the index of his spirit.” A cheerful countenance is not the same as an idiotic grin or a conspiratorial smirk. These indicate mindlessness in the first case, and maliciousness in the second. Cheerfulness is a heart matter, says the verse. It’s an inside job that is not oblivious to circumstances, only aware of the extenuating circumstances—God. It comes from that “joy that passeth all understanding.” And to quote Bridges again, “In the sensation of joy, the heart sits smiling in the face, and looks merrily out the windows of the mind.” (Don’t you love that?)

         Then, a merry heart will turn your life into a banquet (15:5). That’s saying a lot, isn’t it? Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). Being “filled with the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19) will curb any heart hunger for this world; but allowing the Holy Spirit to infuse us with His enthusiasm for the life in Christ, can change a “square meal” into a veritable feast! Are you following me here?

         Finally, is it any wonder then that the result of all this is that a merry heart will give you a shot in the arm, physically, as well (17:22)? Everybody knows exercise is good for you and laughter has been called, “internal jogging.” It’s both a stimulant to a fainting heart and a sedative to a nervous soul. When the oil of gladness is poured over a gaping wound, healing commences.

         So let the merry-making—or rather, the merry-living--begin! Let it not be the hollow hilarity of this world, but let it be the resounding joy of the Redeemed. The Puritans were not known for their frivolity, but when it comes to fellowship, I agree with the famous pastor and author, Richard Baxter, who wrote: “Keep company with the more cheerful sort of the godly; there is no mirth like the mirth of Believers.”

         Amen! and Woo Hoo!

In a Good Place For a Good Purpose

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) 

         You will never know, or delight in, the will of God until His law is “within your heart.” The fact that that it’s written anywhere else has little to do with its application in your own life. It is not the “hearers” (or the readers) of the law who are justified, says Paul in Romans two, but the “doers.”

        We used to sing a little chorus in Sunday School that said, “In a good place for a good purpose/ I will hide God’s Word in my heart.” (“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against God” Psl. 119:11). We may use this verse to encourage memorization of the Bible, but rote does not automatically translate into reality. I know the Ten Commandments, but it doesn’t always keep me from coveting; and I don’t know about you, but quoting Romans 8:28 hasn’t kept me from asking, “Why?” plenty of times. It’s the Word of God hidden—and housed—within our hearts that generates authenticity and much more.

        By his own testimony, before his conversion, C.S. Lewis made the decision to make a study of the claims of God and the Bible; and as it will be with any truly honest questioner, he found those claims to be true. He had thought that simply finding the truth would be sufficient; but, alas, knowledge alone did not bring peace. In fact, it was just the opposite. He was convinced that becoming a Christian would lead to a life of joyless misery. But finally, he says, he reluctantly (his word) committed his heart and life to Jesus Christ for now and all eternity. It was then, when the law of God took root in his heart, that to his surprise (his word again), his soul, heart, and mind were all filled with …joy!

        His word—and mine!