Clarity

Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Clarity

I would not read a cookbook to find the fingering for an obscure guitar chord.  I would not read The History of French Nuclear Scientists to better understand Hawai’i’s pineapple industry.  I would not read a clothing size chart to determine the best time to plant onions in my garden. 

There are better places to look.

When determining, discerning, or detecting what to do with our lives, it is easy to read the wrong book.

While the Bible might not have a verse detailing which brand of car to buy (although the Tribes did FORD a river or two) it does give us necessary principles of stewardship. While the Bible might not have a verse detailing how many children a family should have (although the Patriarch Jacob had twelve) it does instruct that children are a blessing, not an obstacle to happiness.  While the Bible might not give specific guidance regarding career choice (although lots of Biblical people were shepherds) it does remind us that our true employer is God Himself.

Christians have a reliable guide when walking through the minefield of life: The Bible.  Christians have a reliable guide when navigating the storm-wracked seas of life: Scripture.  Christians have a reliable guide when the power is out on a cloudy dark night: God’s Word.

Read it.  Read anything else in the light of what Scripture teaches.  Read everything else, in fact, with better understanding because of Scripture.

Scripture alone.

Effective

… so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 ESV)

Effective

I have a flashlight, a favorite one, that does not work.  But for some reason I keep it.  I kept an old pickup truck long after it stopped running, because I chose silly hope.  Recently I threw away four laptop computers that no longer computed, because I had thought I could figure out a fix.

We have a lot of things around that do not do what they are meant to do.  Clocks gain or lose time.  Ovens cook unevenly.  Fish bait does not attract the best fish.  Cell phones act weirdly.  Shoes do not fit just right. 

But God’s Word does what He intends it to do.

We doubt, at times, because God’s Word does not do what we think He intends it to do.  God does not intend His Word to make us content with our lazy devotion.  God does not intend His Word to condemn our neighbors, but placate us.  God does not intend His Word to give us power, give us self-sufficiency, give us self-confidence, or give us good feelings.

God sent His Word to bring His people to Himself, through Jesus Christ.

And the good news in Isaiah’s prophecy here, is that the Good News works.

When seeking for the Jesus that you need, you will find Him through Scripture, doing it’s job.

Scripture alone.

Knowing

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  (I John 5:13 ESV)

Knowing

We know a lot of things, it seems.  I know my favorite TV show (Star Trek) and food (bacon). I know where I live (rural Kansas).  I know my age (redacted). I know that I prefer smiles to tears. I know that tomorrow is Thursday.  I know that gravity is consistent.

But my favorite TV show and food have changed many times.

But I have lived in at least nine other communities.

But my age changes regularly.

But sometimes tears are necessary, and smiles are painful.

But tomorrow, tomorrow will be Friday.

But sometimes gravity seems stronger, and I stumble.

Knowing is not really knowing, it seems.

But the word John uses in I John 5:13 does not mean guess, or deduce, or figure, or reckon, or think, or hope, or have some confidence… it means absolute sure knowledge.  Knowledge that is more sure than any other knowledge our senses attain.  Knowledge that is more sure than sunrises, electrons, rocks, or anything.

We can know that we have eternal life.

Because God’s Word says so.

Scripture alone.

Purpose and Joy

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11 ESV)

Purpose and Joy

The Bible is not filled with harsh commands intended to keep us from happiness.  It might seem like it, when we seek happiness in unrighteous ways, but Jesus states very clearly why He has spoken, both to His disciples and in His Word, the Bible.

Jesus speaks to give us joy.

Joy is not happiness.  Happiness is focused on our immediate circumstances, which are often tough.  Joy focuses on the One True Living God, who is always up to something good (Romans 8:28).  Joy comes from a trusting contentment, that does not naively deny the pain, but rather hopes and sees that God’s good trumps our struggles.

Joy seems hard to come by, sometimes.  Troubles, trials, and tribulations are our constant companions.  Life hurts.  Life is hard.  Life is disappointing.

But rather than try harder to achieve success, personal peace, and happiness, Jesus offers a better path.  He says His Words are the way to Joy.

This is quite logical, actually.  We can trust God more than we can trust our senses.  We can trust God’s Word more than we can trust our thoughts.  We can trust His Joy more than we can trust our sorrow.

And such Joy is found in the Words Jesus says.

When next you need Joy… slowly read some of His Words.

Scripture alone.

Forgeries

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)

Forgeries

I saw a fake ten-dollar bill once.  When I held it in my hand, examined it closely, and even sniffed it, I could not tell it was a forgery.  But when I held it next to a REAL ten-dollar bill, the differences were more clear.

We are told a lot of lies these days.  Whether presented by the media, by public speakers, or deceiving folk, often the untruths seem reliable and trustworthy.

The only way to detect them, is to compare what we are hearing to the Word of God.  This is what the Bereans were doing when they heard Paul preach. (Acts 17:10-12) They heard eagerly, and then double checked.  Note, they did not distrust Paul, His calling, or His knowledge.  They were so glad at the news of the gospel, that they wanted to read it for themselves.

Rather than attempt to discern truth from fiction based on something else that we’ve read, or something else that we want to be true, or something else that we have simply always thought… check out ideas from trustworthy friends by comparing it to the Word of God.   Because God’s Word alone is fully trustworthy.

In our world of forgeries, but ill intentioned, and well intentioned, we need something dependable.

Scripture alone.

Disagreements

“For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:16,17 ESV)

Disagreements

Sir Patrick Stewart is an actor who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek.  I have read interesting articles that claim he is a noble man, much like the part he plays.  I have even heard that Sir Patrick is a closet Christian, charitable, kind, and gentle.  But recently I spent some time with a man who actually KNOWS Stewart.  And he assures me that despite my wishes, third-hand observations, and reading-between-the-lines, Sir Patrick Stewart is none of those things.

There is always an expert.  We draw our own conclusions, we make our own educated guesses, we know what we think we saw… but experts know more than we do.

Disagreements about theology can be good things.  But when our conclusions come from our own background, our own wishes, our own perceptions, our disagreements are light and fluffy… and though fun, at times, are meaningless.

When it comes to God’s Truth, there is an expert.  And that ‘expert’ is nothing more or less than God’s Word.  Even the great Prophet Isaiah points out that no one finds saving faith by listening to Isaiah’s words… but God’s Word alone IS that which moves us, convinces us, molds us, motivates us, convicts us, and shows us what to believe.

Admittedly, though, many of us hold on tightly to OUR views and support them by some proof texts.  But that is not what Paul urges us to do.  Start from Scripture… let Scripture interpret Scripture… cast off things that you believe just because you’ve always believed them…

Knowing about God, and knowing God start with His Word, conclude with His Word, and depend on His Word.

Scripture alone.

God's Thoughts

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

God’s Thoughts

Many books and articles have been written acknowledging that it is hard to understand other people.  Men do not understand women, and women do not understand men.  Old folk do not understand whippersnappers, and youngsters do not understand the elderly.  Democrats do not understand Republicans, and Republicans do not understand Democrats.  Pepsi drinkers do not understand Coke drinkers, and Coke drinkers do not understand Pepsi drinkers.

I wonder if you have found, as I have, that conversation can bridge that gap.  Not shallow cliché-filled words thrown at each other, but deep, honest, open conversation helps us understand the ‘other.’  Although I still do not understand how anyone could enjoy Pepsi…

If those differences are found between people, how much deeper is the chasm between human and divine?  God writes in Isaiah 55:8, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Is it possible for us to understand God?  Knowing God’s ideas and plans for salvation are not merely a good idea… but such knowledge is necessary.  How can we bridge that gap?

We can deduce, we can infer, we can think big thoughts, but the only way for us to know God’s thoughts is for Him to give His thoughts to us.  And that is exactly what the Bible is.

The Bible is not yet another book about religion.  The Bible is not a set of essays intended to help us feel better.  The Bible is not blind human authors reaching into a scary cavern, trying desperately to find safety.

The Bible is God’s thoughts, recorded for us by divinely inspired human authors.

It bridges the gap.  It reveals Who He is, really, in terms we an understand.

It is the only way to know Him.

Scripture alone.

Five Golden Streets

On the Fifth Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21 ESV)

Five Golden Streets

I admit the number does not really match here. 

But the picture of heaven that John describes here is one intended to amaze us.  Whether the golden street is symbolic of beauty, value, and purity… or whether the golden street is more literally something John saw in His vision (I lean towards the latter) I can’t wait to see it, to tread it, and to live on it.

The week of Christ’s life between the Triumphal Entry and His Resurrection are not events for the sake of events, or descriptions for the sake of descriptions, or lessons for the sake of lessons.

Christians, God’s people, are heaven bound.

Christ came to Jerusalem that week so that we can come to heaven.  Christ endured suffering and pain so that we can have heavenly absence of suffering and pain.  Christ died a sinner’s death so that we will not actually die, but instead enter heaven.  Christ arose so that we will arise!

I rejoice that God has paved those streets.

Four Gospel Accounts

On the Fourth Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 ESV)

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. (Mark 15:37 ESV)

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 ESV)

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 ESV)

Four Gospel Accounts

I have twelve biographies of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a man I find fascinating.  I have seven biographies of Winston Churchill, a man I find fascinating.  I have six depictions of Custer’s Last Stand, an event I find fascinating.  I chose multiple perspectives on those historical things, because I learn from different viewpoints.

It does not surprise me that as God wrote His Bible, He inspired four depictions of this week.  There are not many events that are found in all four gospels.  Even the incarnation is only really in two, Matthew and Luke.

But THIS week is the knot at the center of the bow tie of Christ’s life.

And the four viewpoints, unlike my biographies and histories, are all absolutely true. 

Why not read them all today?  What better thing do you have to do on a Thursday evening?

I rejoice that God has given us four pictures of this week.

Three Persons

On the Third Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (II Corinthians 13:14 ESV)

Three Persons Involved

Our salvation was paid for by the willing sacrifice of the Second Person of the Trinity.  God Himself, the second person of the Trinity, left heaven, was incarnated, lived, suffered, and died for God’s plan of salvation to be accomplished.  When we think about our salvation, that is the person we usually think of.

But God the Father was also involved, necessarily.  He accepted the sacrifice on our behalf… it did not just happen.  We could claim it all day long, but if God the Father did not say, “THIS is the way of salvation,” we would not be saved.

And the Holy Spirit was also involved, necessarily.  The Holy Spirit’s task in this part of our salvation is bringing the atoning work of Christ on the cross into our individual hearts.  It is not that we reach out and take the proffered salvation from the shelf where God the Father put it… but rather the Holy Spirit applies the Salvation to us. 

We should, along with the crowds at the Triumphal Entry, cheer Jesus Christ.  Look what He did for us!  But we should also cheer God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. 

It does not take a village to save us… but it does take the Trinity.

I rejoice that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have saved His people.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

This Week, we remember and celebrate a very historical set of events… a very important set of events… a very meaningful set of events. 

A set of events that are all about Jesus.

Often called Passion Week, we gather at Jubilee:

Tuesday 4/4  at 7:00 PM to examine, “Why Jerusalem? And other details of that week.”

Wednesday 4/5 at 6:00 PM for seder-ish dinner and, and “What Jesus was doing in the Last Supper.”

Thursday 4/6 at 7:00 PM for the Lord’s Supper: deeper and deeper

Friday 4/7 at 7:00 PM Good Friday

Saturday 4/8 at 7:10 am Men’s Bible Study rescheduled

Sunday 4/9 at 7:30 am for a Resurrection Service, followed by breakfast.

Two Natures Needed

On the Second Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (Colossians 2:9 ESV)

Two Natures Needed

Jesus was the only sinless man who ever lived.  For fairness’ sake, when Jesus took our place on the cross, that sacrifice needed to be paid by a human being.  The animals of the Old Testament sacrificial system were symbols of THE sacrifice that was coming at the end of this week.  A perfect human, and ONLY a perfect human can take the place of a sinful human on that cross. 

It is necessary that Christ be human.

But one human, no matter how perfect, can only take the place of one other human.  It’s like a heroic person giving up their seat on a lifeboat to save someone else.  No matter how noble the intention, that hero could not ‘save’ more than one person. 

And so, Christ also needed to be divine.

Multiple Christians’ multiple sins over multiple days and years were paid for by One God.

I rejoice this week that God knew what He was doing when He gave the Messiah two natures: human and divine.

One Exchange that was Made on the Cross

On the First Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

This week between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Day is the knot on the bow tie of Christ’s life.  All of his 33 years aim at this week.  Everything that happens afterward has its foundation in this week. 

So here is a song… it is based loosely on the twelve days of Christmas, but we’ll only be doing five days here.

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 ESV)

One Exchange that was made on the cross.

The last few weeks of Christ’s earthly journey were spent being obedient for us.  Every obedient act was performed perfectly to replace every imperfect disobedient act in our lives.  A deal was made, an exchange was made, a trade happened, where Christ’s perfection becomes ours as we wear His robes, and our sinfulness became His as He obeyed, was punished, and even died on our behalf.

I wonder which of my sins He replaced during that week.  I wonder which of my punishments He took during that week.  But without wondering, I know He died the death I deserve.

That exchange is the essence of Salvation.  The sins that keep me hell bound and separate from God are erased by Christ’s blood.  The requirement of perfect holiness that I could not offer, was offered by Jesus on my behalf.

The exchange hardly seems fair.  My nothing for His everything.  His everything for my nothing.

But I rejoice this week that He made the exchange.

Scripture Alone

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (II Timothy 3:16 ESV)

Scripture Alone

Our hope and our salvation come only through God’s Grace.  He gives us that Grace only through the means of Faith.  That Faith is only Faith if it is Faith in Christ Jesus. 

Where do we learn all of these things?

While creation teaches us wonderful things about the One True Living God, creation only teaches us about Him with the guidance of Scripture.  While creation and our experience teach us about our need for Grace, only Scripture teach us that Grace actually can be found.  While creation, experience, and logical reasoning can teach us a vague understanding of Faith, only Scripture effectively teaches us what Faith really is.  While creation, experience, logical reasoning, and history can teach us facts about Christ Jesus, only Scripture is able to introduce Him to us.

We need Scripture, we need the Bible, we need the Word of God.

Not simply because we enjoy it.  Not merely because it gives us feelings we need to experience.  Not only because it is classical literature.  But we need it to understand Grace, to experience Faith, and to know Christ Jesus.

For the next few days (after an active intermission regarding the week between Palm Sunday and Easter) we will dig into Scripture itself, comparing Scripture to the other voices to which we listen.

Scripture alone.

Imposters

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:5 ESV)

Some of my favorite stories are those which tell of an imposter who infiltrates a community through imitation. From Invasion of the Body Snatchers, to Cold War spy tales, detection of fakes, imitators, disguises, and deceivers is intriguing.

Jesus warns us of false Christs.  But how do we recognize them?  The Philippian jailor was told, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31) But does just any belief count?  These days, it seems there are as many understandings of who Jesus was as there are popcorn shells in the bottom of a box of movie popcorn.

Which Jesus is the Jesus who deserves our belief?

This is a list, of course, and not very ‘devotional.’  But it is a list worth noting.

1) Jesus Christ is the Son of God;

2) Jesus Christ is genuinely human;

3) He never sinned;

4) He is equal to Yahweh God;

5) He died on the cross as our substitute in order to pay the penalty for our sins;

 6) He rose bodily from the dead;

7) He gives everlasting life to all who trust Him and Him alone for it.

Christ alone, but THIS Christ alone.

Self

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)

Self

There are two kinds of people in the world… those that trust in Christ, and those that trust in themselves. 

All false religions are actually a choice to trust in our own understanding of reality instead of in Christ Jesus.

All decisions that we make that ignore or oppose God’s Word are actually a choice to trust in our own experience instead of in Christ Jesus.

All hopes that we cling to that are not built on God’s Way are actually a choice to trust in our own dreams instead of in Christ Jesus.

All heroes that we raise up that are not Christ Jesus are actually attempts to dethrone Christ Jesus and replace Him with our own choices.

Faith in anything else is faith in self.

The great news is that all of those other religions, decisions, hopes, and heroes are weak, finite, and sure to fail.  But we get to follow the One sure choice… the One absolutely loving choice… the One choice that is eternal, unchanging, and powerful. 

Christ alone.

=-=-

Names

… and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26 ESV)

Names

When living in Tasmania, our town had a group called, “The Devonport Football Club.”  I assumed this club met to talk about a popular sport in the region, Australian Rules Football.  I became mildly interested in learning about this sport, so I attended a couple of meetings.

We never mentioned Australian Rules Football, or any other sport.  I found it strange and deceptive to have a label that was inaccurate, irrelevant, and meaningless.

When we Christians consider our priorities, it is worthwhile to remember our name.

As precious as Scripture is, we were not called in the book of Acts, Biblians.

As desirable as obedience to God is, we were not called in the book of Acts, Worksians.

As valuable as God’s family is, we were not called in the book of Acts, Churchians.

We were called Christians.  And as wowza is Jesus actually is, that’s a pretty good name.

Christ alone.

No Mixing

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6 ESV)

No Mixing

In chess, there is a way of moving pieces that has always seemed magical to me.  It is called the Sicilian Defense, even though it has nothing to do with the mafia.

But even though I like it, I often do not fully trust it.  And so I do not fully commit to it.  I have lost many games that way, starting out with the careful positioning of pawns that form the Sicilian Defense, but adding in a few innovations of my own, just to play it safe.

But it is not safe.

Adding other bits, because I am not confident in the Sicilian Defense, causes the defense to fail.

If it is not the Sicilian Defense, it is not the Sicilian Defense.

So, too, is Christianity.  Christ is the way, not Christ and pragmatism.  Christ is the truth, not Christ and the internet.  Christ is the life, not Christ and experience.

Adding other innovations, ideas, plans, or bits of attractive religions to ‘play it safe,’ does not lead to the Father.

Christ alone.

Self Evaluation

Well done, good and faithful servant; (Matthew 25:23

Self Evaluation

I do not know if I am a good sculptor.  The few times I have attempted such art, I have stared at the finished work and wondered.  At times I look, and think, “wow, that looks pretty good, Penning!”  But two minutes later I look, and think, “Is that a giraffe or the Prophet Jeremiah?”

It is easier to evaluate others’ work… but very difficult to evaluate my own.  I am either over critical, or overly kind.

The same is true when evaluating our own actions, words, and thoughts.  We easily become (unfairly) our own worst critics, or we easily become (unfairly) our own biggest fans.

If we had to evaluate our hearts, souls, and minds, we would not be able to ascertain accurately whether we fit into “well done, good and faithful servant;” (Matthew 25:23) or “I am a worm.” (Psalm 22:6)

But God sees Christians completely clothed in Christ’s robes.  Our analysis of ourselves is irrelevant, and usually not accurate.  While we might find value in understanding ourselves as honestly as we can, ultimately our standing before God, our adherence to His standards, our place on the “well done” to “worm” continuum does not determine our eternal, or present, fate.

Because only Christ does.

God’s Grace is given to His children without regard to exactly where we are on the continuum.  We all fail, we all fall short, we all flunk out… but God, with almost disregard for our standing, gives Grace to His people.

Do not get lost in the maelstrom of self-evaluation.  Such efforts and attentions are, as the Preacher says in Ecclesiastes, vanity.

Christ alone.

Close

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

Close

In earlier days of American history, distance was a real thing.  Wagon Training across the Great Plains meant a separation from loved ones, loved places, and loved security.

Carrier pigeons could be eaten by hawks, mail could fall out of the pony express riders’ pouch, smoke signals did not survive windy weather, and the US postal service was expensive.

Distance meant being apart.

Today, we are astonished to learn that communication from Earth to Mars takes around 20 minutes.  That seems so far away, that most of us will decline becoming immigrant astronauts.  (Probably for some more reasons, too…)

But distance means nothing to Christ.  He is physically in heaven, on His throne, but He is also with us.

Nothing and no one else is like that.

We need Him from sunset to sunset.  We need Him from sunrise to sunrise.  He covers our sins constantly, allowing us a relationship with our Holy God.  He carries out His plans on our behalf, overcoming our failures, ignorance, and selfishness.  He loves us perfectly, when no one else does.

He alone does this things.  He alone is Who we need.

Christ alone.