I Know my Redeemer Lives
(NRSV) Job 19: 23 “O that my words were written down!
O that they were inscribed in a book!
24 O that with an iron pen and with lead
they were engraved on a rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;
As much as I love the Bible, there are some books within its covers that are difficult for me to read. Job is certainly one of those books. The human tragedy found within Job can be more than we can bear. Unless—unless we read through to the end.
The central truth offered in Job is not to inform us that bad things happen to good people. We know from experience that life is neither easy nor what we consider fair. Instead, I see this life as a proving ground, but not a place where new theories or equipment are tested, but where we are given multiple opportunities to learn God’s will and grow in His grace. Job is an example of a faith-filled man who, rather than giving in to self-pity or blame, responded by saying, “should we accept only good from God, and not adversity?”
We can know, believe, and understand that our Creator cares for us as recorded in 1 Peter 5:6 -7, “Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps. 55:22.]”
May our faith be made strong by relying on God during every difficulty, so that we can say, like Job, I know that my Redeemer lives.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our God who Walks Beside us
(NCV) Daniel 3:20 Then he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown into the blazing furnace while still wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes. 22 The king’s command was very strict, and the furnace was made so hot that the flames killed the strong soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace. 23 Firmly tied, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was so surprised that he jumped to his feet. He asked the men who advised him, “Didn’t we tie up only three men and throw them into the fire?”
They answered, “Yes, O king.”
25 The king said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire. They are not tied up, and they are not burned. The fourth man looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out! Servants of the Most High God, come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
We all learned the story of the three Hebrew boys and the fiery furnace. The Chaldeans had conquered Jerusalem and taken some of the best and the brightest young men to become assimilated into the Babylonian society. Among these young men were Hananiah whose Babylonian name was Shadrach, Mishael’s was Meshach, and Azariah’s was Abednego.
When I was a child, I devised a plan to save myself if I were ever in the same predicament as the Hebrew boys. My idea was to do whatever the Hebrew captives were expected to do, bowing down before false gods, eating food offered to idols, but in my heart I would remain true to my God. Problem solved!
Except, I could never divide my loyalties like that—God requires all of my worship. The young Hebrews did not know whether God would deliver them from the flames or walk beside them in the fire. They only knew that their allegiance was to the God of their fathers. How can we do any less?
May we cling to the faith that has sustained us, regardless of our circumstances, knowing that God is our Protector. Jesus told us in Matt 10:28 not to fear those who can kill the body, but instead fear the One who can destroy the body and the soul.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pureness of Heart
(KJV) Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas,
and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?
or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Often when I read this psalm I focus on God’s sovereignty. After all, when you start with a declaration that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” where else would you go? But today I wanted to talk briefly about the way David believed we should approach God.
David says we should have clean hands and a pure heart in approaching God. All Christ followers should strive for righteousness, which is right standing with God. We are not born righteous. I think of it as putting on the coat of righteousness—at first the coat may be a little oversized, but the longer we follow Jesus, the better the coat fits.
But it is important to understand that there are many times when we are not righteous, but instead we are broken, seemingly beyond repair. Yet God, the great Architect, is able to put us back together because God takes us where He finds us, but He does not leave us there.
May we seek out and indeed strive to put on God’s righteousness every day, and may we know, believe and understand that it is by approaching God that our brokenness can be exchanged for righteousness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Undying Love
(NIV) Eph 6:2 With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Love. Songs have been written about it, poems have extolled its pleasures, and crusades and wars have been fought, all in its name. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul ends by asking for their prayers, first for all of the saints and then for himself. Notice how Paul was specific in his prayer request. Otherwise, his friends would have surely prayed for his deliverance.
But Paul knew his imprisonment could work to the good for those listening to his voice. His prayer that God would give him the words to say should be the prayer of all Christ followers as we reach out to those we meet. For many years my morning prayer has included the request that God send someone across my path that I can help. And I ask that God prepare their heart, and He does.
Paul’s mention of “undying love” served as encouragement to these new Christians to keep their faith. There were many distractions and outright obstacles to the faith, but it was imperative that the Ephesians, and indeed that Christ followers today, keep their love pure and focused on Jesus.
May we learn from the early churches the need to “turn our eyes upon Jesus,” and may we, too, ask God for the words to say as we share Jesus with all we meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Call to Easter People
(NIV) Phil 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death —
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus there’s just something about that name. Written by Bill and Gloria Gaither in 1970, this song captures the essence of the power behind the name of Jesus. Certainly, the name “Jesus” was popular during the time of our Lord, but it was only when the name was given to the Son of God that it was able to change people’s lives.
Yesterday, we celebrated Easter and today we are called to live like Easter people. What St. Augustine meant by the term “Easter people,” was simply this: their faith in Jesus Crucified and Risen must be lived by imitating Him in daily life by the way they spoke, thought and acted. So today it is our responsibility, and indeed our joy, to live in the power of the resurrection as Easter people.
May we awaken from our slumber to a new day of having true joy in the Lord and the power of the Resurrection. .
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 