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"I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments that you may clothe yourself" (Revelation 3:18a)
We have all by now seen those television commercials which urge us to "buy gold" as a deterrent against the shrinking dollar, beloved. Company after company seems to be stepping up and inviting us to invest in gold as that commodity you can trust. After all, it has been said of gold that "it has never been worth nothing"!
Jesus Himself, as Head of His body the church, spoke to the Laodicean church members through the pen of the Apostle John on Patmos and urged that lukewarm and self-centered congregation to "buy gold" from Him so that they could become wealthy in what really matters - in a genuine relationship with Him by grace through His shed blood. It should be obvious to even the most casual reader that it is the gift of salvation by grace that is the "gold" about which Jesus speaks.
Jesus' words to the Laodiceans are strangely reminiscent of something that Jehovah spoke to His people Israel through their prophet Isaiah.
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isaiah 55:1)
Instead of gold, however, the Lord offers to them "wine and milk" - the basic necessities of the people of Judah in that day. "Milk" for the infants and the joy of "wine" for the adults beautifully parallel the "gold" which Jesus offered in such abundance to the Laodiceans. But what means the invitation to "buy without money and without cost"? Is not God's salvation still a gift of His grace given freely to all who will receive it in true repentance? Indeed! I believe that the call to "buy" emphasizes here, beloved, a valuing on the part of the receiver, something that becomes so important that he or she must have it whatever it takes. Nothing must stand in the way of procuring this greatest of all treasures.
The pages of God's Word seem to echo with this same call to "buy" what is real, to gain for ourselves what is most important in life.
"Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding" (Proverbs 23:23)
My son and I were briefly discussing this same verse from the Proverbs just this week as he was preparing a video message to be broadcast to the students on the satellite campuses of their church. The "truth" here is clearly and only God's truth - specifically and primarily the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. People of Solomon's day desperately needed divine truth by which to live, as did the people of Judah during Isaiah's ministry to them as their prophet. And in end times, those times in which we are living right now, that smug and self-deceived visible church will have as its only hope the "gold" found in Jesus Christ. So it has been and so it will be, beloved. We must have the "wine and milk" of the gospel, the "gold" of Calvary, the "truth" of God's redemption in love and of His plan for this world and for our lives. And once we do have it, really have it, we would not trade it for anything for we come to understand that when a man has Christ, he truly does have it all!
Ron
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Let's Be Reasonable!
"'Come now, and let us reason together,' says the Lord, 'though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool'" (Isaiah 1:18)
"Let's be reasonable!" How many times have you heard that plea, beloved, either from someone else or possibly from your own lips? Unfortunately, most of the time when these words are used, it is a cry for folks to come back to the "middle," to forsake some perceived radical position or viewpoint. It is an urging in the direction of a more "middle of the road" approach to whatever issue is at stake. In so many such cases, the "truth" is commonly sacrificed for an easier path, a less troublesome way of dealing with the situation.
Most followers of Jesus Christ have read their Bibles often enough to be at least generally familiar with the words which God spoke to His people through their prophet Isaiah. What may not be understood, however, is that never does "reason" or "reasonable" to God mean meeting Him in the middle or taking the smoother way out of or through a set of circumstances. What does it mean, then, when Jehovah invited Israel to come to the table and "reason" with Him? The Hebrew word yakach (yaw-kahh') contains the notion of something "reciprocal" going on, but definitely not in the sense of equals meeting to reason together. It is clear, beloved, that both "reason" and "justice" are on God's side of the equation. Note simply His willingness to cleanse and forgive the undeniable sinfulness of man.
Thus, to "reason" together with God, beloved, is to submit ourselves willingly and completely to the standard which God lays down for us. As Edward Young has noted:
"That which is reasonable is reasonable only because God Himself has declared it to be so" (The Book of Isaiah, I, 76).
So to "reason" together with God is to acknowledge His sovereign rule and to obey His commands. In God's sight, nothing less than total obedience is "reasonable."
The "red" which God mentions to Israel through the prophet does not seem to refer in any way to anything redemptive, but rather to the color of sin. And that understanding is confirmed by the "white" which we may become when we repent of our sins and receive God's forgiveness by grace. God would not regard His people's sins as "white" apart from their genuine repentance, nor will He extend that same offer to us today.
So the next time you hear someone say "Let's be reasonable!" think about what "reasonable" is to God and remember that it is only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and our own repentance and acceptance of that gracious gift that what is "red" in us can be made "as white as snow"! Thanks be to God for His glorious gift!
Ron
"Let's be reasonable!" How many times have you heard that plea, beloved, either from someone else or possibly from your own lips? Unfortunately, most of the time when these words are used, it is a cry for folks to come back to the "middle," to forsake some perceived radical position or viewpoint. It is an urging in the direction of a more "middle of the road" approach to whatever issue is at stake. In so many such cases, the "truth" is commonly sacrificed for an easier path, a less troublesome way of dealing with the situation.
Most followers of Jesus Christ have read their Bibles often enough to be at least generally familiar with the words which God spoke to His people through their prophet Isaiah. What may not be understood, however, is that never does "reason" or "reasonable" to God mean meeting Him in the middle or taking the smoother way out of or through a set of circumstances. What does it mean, then, when Jehovah invited Israel to come to the table and "reason" with Him? The Hebrew word yakach (yaw-kahh') contains the notion of something "reciprocal" going on, but definitely not in the sense of equals meeting to reason together. It is clear, beloved, that both "reason" and "justice" are on God's side of the equation. Note simply His willingness to cleanse and forgive the undeniable sinfulness of man.
Thus, to "reason" together with God, beloved, is to submit ourselves willingly and completely to the standard which God lays down for us. As Edward Young has noted:
"That which is reasonable is reasonable only because God Himself has declared it to be so" (The Book of Isaiah, I, 76).
So to "reason" together with God is to acknowledge His sovereign rule and to obey His commands. In God's sight, nothing less than total obedience is "reasonable."
The "red" which God mentions to Israel through the prophet does not seem to refer in any way to anything redemptive, but rather to the color of sin. And that understanding is confirmed by the "white" which we may become when we repent of our sins and receive God's forgiveness by grace. God would not regard His people's sins as "white" apart from their genuine repentance, nor will He extend that same offer to us today.
So the next time you hear someone say "Let's be reasonable!" think about what "reasonable" is to God and remember that it is only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and our own repentance and acceptance of that gracious gift that what is "red" in us can be made "as white as snow"! Thanks be to God for His glorious gift!
Ron
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Going Home with Sinners
"When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, 'He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner'" (Luke 19:7)
Ask any kid (especially the grown-up kind!) and they will tell you that Zacchaeus was "a wee little man" and that he climbed into a sycamore (fig) tree in order to get a good look at Jesus. I just had the privilege of preaching on this passage of Scripture last night at church and by the time I got home I had decided that this would be the subject of this week's devotional. You see, beloved, Zacchaeus that day had a divine date with destiny!
Now we all know the story. Jesus stopped under that very fig tree and told Zacchaeus to hurry down because He had to go home with him. That was the divine appointment! And when Zacchaeus came out from his encounter with Jesus, he promptly repaid every person he had ever cheated 400%, and then gave away half of his estate to help feed the poor. Clearly that divine appointment had led to a transformation of life! That is precisely why Jesus said later, "Today salvation has come to this house" (v.9).
But did you ever take time to notice what the multitudes were saying that day about the whole thing? Read the focal verse above again. In simpler terms, they said about Jesus that "He has gone home with a sinner." And they were right! Check out the gospel narratives about the life of Jesus, beloved, and you will find that Jesus was always going home with sinners. That was just what He did. What is so tragic about the people that day, though, is that they never realized that if Jesus had gone home with one of them instead of with Zacchaeus, He would still have gone home with a sinner!
I recall vividly the day that Jesus "went home with" a 7-year old boy in Clarksville, Tennessee. I was attending Vacation Bible School at the church in which my parents were involved and which we attended regularly. In my 2nd grade class, a sweet white-haired lady who had a heart for boys and girls who did not know Jesus used her flannel graph board to show us how our hearts are "black" because of sin, but how Jesus can make them "white" when we let Him apply the "red" blood of His sacrifice to our hearts. That day Jesus "went home" with me and I was wonderfully transformed just like Zacchaeus!
There will always be grumblers in the church who complain about you "going home with sinners." Don't listen to them. Jesus didn't. He just kept going home with sinners and lives were transformed as a result. If you are going to serve Jesus Christ today, take a lesson from Zacchaeus and start going home with sinners. After all, that's why we're here wearing His name.
Ron
Ask any kid (especially the grown-up kind!) and they will tell you that Zacchaeus was "a wee little man" and that he climbed into a sycamore (fig) tree in order to get a good look at Jesus. I just had the privilege of preaching on this passage of Scripture last night at church and by the time I got home I had decided that this would be the subject of this week's devotional. You see, beloved, Zacchaeus that day had a divine date with destiny!
Now we all know the story. Jesus stopped under that very fig tree and told Zacchaeus to hurry down because He had to go home with him. That was the divine appointment! And when Zacchaeus came out from his encounter with Jesus, he promptly repaid every person he had ever cheated 400%, and then gave away half of his estate to help feed the poor. Clearly that divine appointment had led to a transformation of life! That is precisely why Jesus said later, "Today salvation has come to this house" (v.9).
But did you ever take time to notice what the multitudes were saying that day about the whole thing? Read the focal verse above again. In simpler terms, they said about Jesus that "He has gone home with a sinner." And they were right! Check out the gospel narratives about the life of Jesus, beloved, and you will find that Jesus was always going home with sinners. That was just what He did. What is so tragic about the people that day, though, is that they never realized that if Jesus had gone home with one of them instead of with Zacchaeus, He would still have gone home with a sinner!
I recall vividly the day that Jesus "went home with" a 7-year old boy in Clarksville, Tennessee. I was attending Vacation Bible School at the church in which my parents were involved and which we attended regularly. In my 2nd grade class, a sweet white-haired lady who had a heart for boys and girls who did not know Jesus used her flannel graph board to show us how our hearts are "black" because of sin, but how Jesus can make them "white" when we let Him apply the "red" blood of His sacrifice to our hearts. That day Jesus "went home" with me and I was wonderfully transformed just like Zacchaeus!
There will always be grumblers in the church who complain about you "going home with sinners." Don't listen to them. Jesus didn't. He just kept going home with sinners and lives were transformed as a result. If you are going to serve Jesus Christ today, take a lesson from Zacchaeus and start going home with sinners. After all, that's why we're here wearing His name.
Ron
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Scrapbook Thankfulness!
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
Is it just me, beloved, or does it seem to you as well that often God's sweetest blessings come to us in the most special and unique ways? Let me cite an example of what I mean. Recently my sister brought by some photos from the past - my past - as it turns out, scenes from days gone by in which I found myself in the presence of various family members or pastoral ministry situations. I think that my favorites were those that showed me with my mom and dad since they have both been with the Lord for some years. As I gazed fondly with reminiscence at those precious memories, it was as if a virtual "scrapbook of thankfulness" had been opened before my eyes.
At the bottom of that stack of photos lay one last picture, a shot taken of me in grade school. I almost did not recognize that young boy, primarily because he had a full head of hair! The photo had not been dated and labeled in Mom's special way, though it was obvious that it too had come from her own collection. As I sat there looking back through time by staring into that boyish face, I realized that he at that early stage in his life had no idea of the blessings which God would unfold before him. He could not possibly have yet fully appreciated the blessing of godly parents with whom God had already so bountifully adorned his life, a mom and a dad who would as a powerful spiritual team raise him and his sisters in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Nor could he possibly have yet imagined the blessing of a beautiful and godly wife whom God would one day send his way. He could not have known of the three wonderful children and nine absolutely gorgeous grandchildren that would fill his adult years with joy and happiness. And none of that is to mention two fine sons-in-law and a beautiful daughter-in-law who would light up his life. No, that little man had no way of knowing any of that!
As I stared at those photos with such fondness, the words of Scripture in a promise which God made to His chosen people came clearly to mind:
Is it just me, beloved, or does it seem to you as well that often God's sweetest blessings come to us in the most special and unique ways? Let me cite an example of what I mean. Recently my sister brought by some photos from the past - my past - as it turns out, scenes from days gone by in which I found myself in the presence of various family members or pastoral ministry situations. I think that my favorites were those that showed me with my mom and dad since they have both been with the Lord for some years. As I gazed fondly with reminiscence at those precious memories, it was as if a virtual "scrapbook of thankfulness" had been opened before my eyes.
At the bottom of that stack of photos lay one last picture, a shot taken of me in grade school. I almost did not recognize that young boy, primarily because he had a full head of hair! The photo had not been dated and labeled in Mom's special way, though it was obvious that it too had come from her own collection. As I sat there looking back through time by staring into that boyish face, I realized that he at that early stage in his life had no idea of the blessings which God would unfold before him. He could not possibly have yet fully appreciated the blessing of godly parents with whom God had already so bountifully adorned his life, a mom and a dad who would as a powerful spiritual team raise him and his sisters in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Nor could he possibly have yet imagined the blessing of a beautiful and godly wife whom God would one day send his way. He could not have known of the three wonderful children and nine absolutely gorgeous grandchildren that would fill his adult years with joy and happiness. And none of that is to mention two fine sons-in-law and a beautiful daughter-in-law who would light up his life. No, that little man had no way of knowing any of that!
As I stared at those photos with such fondness, the words of Scripture in a promise which God made to His chosen people came clearly to mind:
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord"
So a little boy in grade school even then had his life firmly held in the loving hands of his heavenly Father. And the man whom that little guy became can today look back in thankfulness for the working of God's limitless grace in his life. God is so good!
That God has a divine plan for each of us is one of the most clearly taught principles in all of Scripture. That He has a life of service laid out for us is one of His greatest gifts to us. As someone has wisely observed, what we do with such opportunities will determine the extent of our gift to God. Only as we choose to walk in the works He has beforehand ordained (Ephesians 2:10) will we know the fulfillment and richness that life is meant to be for us, that "abundant" life that we are promised in Jesus Christ.
How about your own life, beloved? Any "scrapbook thankfulness" that you would like to express to the Father? Memories are such a wonderful gift from God! Just to know that He has held us in His hands through it all (whatever "all" involves!) is a glorious blessing. Thank you, Father, for those "scrapbooks" of thankfulness that we can offer to you for your goodness to us!
Ron
That God has a divine plan for each of us is one of the most clearly taught principles in all of Scripture. That He has a life of service laid out for us is one of His greatest gifts to us. As someone has wisely observed, what we do with such opportunities will determine the extent of our gift to God. Only as we choose to walk in the works He has beforehand ordained (Ephesians 2:10) will we know the fulfillment and richness that life is meant to be for us, that "abundant" life that we are promised in Jesus Christ.
How about your own life, beloved? Any "scrapbook thankfulness" that you would like to express to the Father? Memories are such a wonderful gift from God! Just to know that He has held us in His hands through it all (whatever "all" involves!) is a glorious blessing. Thank you, Father, for those "scrapbooks" of thankfulness that we can offer to you for your goodness to us!
Ron
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What to Do for 'Flat' Faith
"And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6a)
I have no earthly idea what "flat hair" is, beloved, but I learned today that there is a remedy for it! I had recently told my wife that I needed to get some shampoo and her response was to give me a bottle that she already had. Imagine my surprise this morning in the shower when I grabbed the bottle and read that it was formulated especially for something called "flat hair." In fact, the bottle advertised that its contents were decidedly "anti-flat"! Now I know what you are thinking, at least those of you who know me personally or have seen my photo on line: "You don't need something for flat hair, Ron. You need something for no hair!" Cute! Really cute!
Believe it or not, as I looked at my new bottle of shampoo, the thought occurred to me that we as Christians sometimes experience a spiritual phenomenon that we might call "flat faith." Somewhere along life's way we lose the joy of Jesus. The thrill is gone and living as a Christian becomes as mundane and ordinary as paying taxes or having a root canal done. We do what we do because it is expected of us, not because it thrills us to do so. I believe with all my heart that local churches today are filled with such believers, always in the proper place at the proper time, but deep inside with "flat faith."
The solution to flat faith, according to what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, is for us to "kindle afresh" what God has given to us as a sacred deposit. The Greek word anazopureo means to "make fire alive again" in the sense of rekindling something that was burning at one time, but now no longer is. What we need to note here is that it is our own individual responsibility as Christians to keep the fire burning in our lives. And the only way that I know to do that, beloved, is to live every moment of every day with Jesus Christ ruling as Lord in our lives. It is so very simple! Walk away from Jesus Christ as your ruling Sovereign and you walk away from the presence of all the joy that God has to give you. Seek the world and its enticements and all the thrill you will know will be whatever temporary "blip" on the excitement meter whatever it is that you are chasing has to offer. Live for self and you will find no solution for flat faith!
But release every thought and word and deed into the hands of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and you will need to fasten life's seat belt, beloved, because you will be in for the ride of your life! Remember that this is the Jesus who declared that He had come to give "abundant" life to all who follow His lead. This the Jesus who has such a glorious life planned for you that you can't even imagine it all.
Got flat faith? Try God's "anti-flat" solution! Why not breathe a prayer right now and turn it all over to the King? Life doesn't get any better than that!
Ron
I have no earthly idea what "flat hair" is, beloved, but I learned today that there is a remedy for it! I had recently told my wife that I needed to get some shampoo and her response was to give me a bottle that she already had. Imagine my surprise this morning in the shower when I grabbed the bottle and read that it was formulated especially for something called "flat hair." In fact, the bottle advertised that its contents were decidedly "anti-flat"! Now I know what you are thinking, at least those of you who know me personally or have seen my photo on line: "You don't need something for flat hair, Ron. You need something for no hair!" Cute! Really cute!
Believe it or not, as I looked at my new bottle of shampoo, the thought occurred to me that we as Christians sometimes experience a spiritual phenomenon that we might call "flat faith." Somewhere along life's way we lose the joy of Jesus. The thrill is gone and living as a Christian becomes as mundane and ordinary as paying taxes or having a root canal done. We do what we do because it is expected of us, not because it thrills us to do so. I believe with all my heart that local churches today are filled with such believers, always in the proper place at the proper time, but deep inside with "flat faith."
The solution to flat faith, according to what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, is for us to "kindle afresh" what God has given to us as a sacred deposit. The Greek word anazopureo means to "make fire alive again" in the sense of rekindling something that was burning at one time, but now no longer is. What we need to note here is that it is our own individual responsibility as Christians to keep the fire burning in our lives. And the only way that I know to do that, beloved, is to live every moment of every day with Jesus Christ ruling as Lord in our lives. It is so very simple! Walk away from Jesus Christ as your ruling Sovereign and you walk away from the presence of all the joy that God has to give you. Seek the world and its enticements and all the thrill you will know will be whatever temporary "blip" on the excitement meter whatever it is that you are chasing has to offer. Live for self and you will find no solution for flat faith!
But release every thought and word and deed into the hands of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and you will need to fasten life's seat belt, beloved, because you will be in for the ride of your life! Remember that this is the Jesus who declared that He had come to give "abundant" life to all who follow His lead. This the Jesus who has such a glorious life planned for you that you can't even imagine it all.
Got flat faith? Try God's "anti-flat" solution! Why not breathe a prayer right now and turn it all over to the King? Life doesn't get any better than that!
Ron
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