On Your Side

In contrast, I was always on your side. (Amos 2:9 ESV)

On Your Side

A few years ago, I stood in a courtroom, representing myself in a minor motor vehicle situation, and watched another poor man attempt to deal with the law on his own.  He failed.  The judge made mincemeat out of him.  And when it was my turn, the judge looked me in the eye and asked, “are you sure you want to do this without a lawyer?”

I was afraid, because no one was on my side.

But God speaks through Amos, speaking about Jesus.

No matter what trouble you are in, no matter what difficulty you are facing, no matter how many tears fill your eyes or blisters cover your fingertips… HE is on your side.

It is even better than you might expect.  Jesus is not only on your side when your problems are not your fault.  He is on your side always.  He is on your side when you see it, and when you do not.  He is on your side in the darkness and in the light. 

If you are a Christian, He speaks to you in Amos’ words.

We are peculiar, we are never alone.

Warnings

And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and will cause their people to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life. I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth. And I will make this city a horror, a thing to be hissed at. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its wounds. (Jeremiah 19:7,8 ESV)

Warnings

The brightly lit sign declared, “Construction Ahead.  Be Prepared to Stop.”  But the car in the next lane either did not believe the sign, or did not notice it.  And while I easily and safely avoided the danger, that other guy had to screech his brakes, twist his car, and probably scream at the top of his lungs. 

I stopped in plenty of time.  He barely made it.

Warnings are good things.  We may find them annoying, or distracting, or over-stated… but heeded warnings lead to less accidents.

In these verses God warns the Judeans that trouble, due to their disobedience, is coming.

Spoiler:  they did not listen.

But if you are a Christian, you did!  Being a Christian is really little more than realizing that there is eternal danger ahead, heeding the warnings, and clinging to the only solution… Christ Himself.

When the warnings look scary today, realize joyfully that you have heeded the warnings.  If you have not, then you have reason to be afraid.

But we are peculiar, we have heard the warnings.

Noble

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (I Timothy 3:1 ESV)

Noble

Some tasks are more noble than others.  But what makes them so?  A task is not noble because it is profitable.  A task is not noble because it is popular.  A task is not noble because it is fun.  A task is not noble because it is enjoyable.

As Paul writes to Timothy about the task of being an elder, he calls that task noble.

It is noble because it is self-sacrificing.  It is noble because it aims people’s lives towards Jesus. It is noble because it is a clear opportunity to love.  It is noble because it is always done directly under the authority of the most noble person in the universe: Jesus Christ.

And while we can nod our heads, thinking of some elder we once knew, I believe Paul is also giving us a hint of how to make more of our tasks noble.

Any task we perform (whether occupationally, recreationally, or casually) becomes noble when it is done sacrificially, when it points people towards Jesus, when it is done in love, and when it is done to the glory of God.

We are peculiar, we can be noble.

Examples

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (I Thessalonians 1:6,7 ESV)

Examples

I recently heard two students discussing the proper way to close an overhead garage door.  “Grab the handle,” one said, “never press against the door and pull down.  You might get caught in the crack between the panels.”

I looked down at my hand and smiled.  Those students had heard my woeful tale of finger-mangling when improperly closing my garage door. 

And when feeling sorry for myself because of the ongoing pain, I sometimes wondered why God had let that wound happen.

And now I think I know one reason.  As an example for others, like those students.

I do not absolutely know this, of course.  God has not revealed His holy purpose to me… but God does declare in these verses that often the reason for our triumphant affliction is so that the Holy Spirit can use our stories to help others know Jesus.

We are peculiar, our struggles become examples for the Gospel.

Folly

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (II Timothy 3:8,9 ESV)

Folly

Lies are horrible.  Whether about us, our loved ones, or the gospel, we hear lies and we get angry.  We want to correct those lies.  We want to stand up for truth.  We want to fix the folly!

But Paul reminds us that the folly of fools and liars will be made clear.  Not because of our articulation or Sword-skill…  but because God guarantees that fools will fall.  All lies of self-importance, false-accusation, truth-corruption will be revealed as what they are… lying lies and fooling follies.

The fullness of God’s truth lays bare the emptiness of God-denying lies.  And it happens because it is in God’s nature to make it so.  

We are peculiar, we do not need to fear folly.

Unbound

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! (II Timothy 2:8,9 ESV)

Unbound

The extent to which my dog is stupid is boundless.  We had a pretty complex week.  We have had overwhelming reasons to feel sorrow, stress, anger, fear, compassion, exhaustion, and tension.  But my dog does not seem to be aware of any of it!  He prances when I come home, he wags his tale at ANY voice, no matter how difficult the words, and always smiles in his doggish way.  He is above and beyond all our complexity.

While I hesitate to compare my dog to the Word of God, there is at least one similarity.   God’s Word is not bound by our situation.  God’s Word does not hide when times are tough.  God’s Word does not disappear when we are confused.  God’s Word does not, in fact, react to our struggles or successes… but rather our struggles and successes react to God’s Word!

Paul notes that even though he is in chains, God’s Word is powerfully free, liberatingly free, comfortingly free, and challengingly free.

God’s Word is above and beyond our circumstances.

We are peculiar, we have something always unbound.

Grief

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope (I Thessalonians 4:13 ESV)

Grief

One of the feelings that we sometimes deny Christians should feel is grief.  We are all ‘supposed’ to be cheerful, happy-faced, giddy, and in denial of anything sorrowful.

But that is NOT what Paul says about grief.

Grief (sorrow regarding situations, relationships, pain, suffering, or any of sin’s effects) is a normal thing… a natural thing… even a Biblical thing.

But our grief is not like the rest of the world’s.

Because anything that produces grief WILL be fixed by Christ’s ever-establishing kingdom.  As my favorite hymn puts it: Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure.  And heaven, in that hymn, is not referring to some off-in-the-future existence… it refers to God’s rule.

Christians’ grief is different, because every grief we experience is an opportunity to discover Christ’s hope again.

Christians’ grief is different, because we have hope that we will understand what God is doing in our oft sorrowful lives.

Christians’ grief is different, because while real, deep, and painful, our grief is temporary.

We are peculiar, we have a different grief.

Celebrate

Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love! (Song of Songs 5:1 ESV)

Celebrate

We humans grasp, at times, reasons to celebrate.  Celebrating birthdays seems to ignore the trials of the last year.  Celebrating graduation does not seem to note the difficult choices, hard work, and insecurity of tomorrow’s job market.  Celebrating military victories might be forgetting the loss, the tears, and the terror of war.

But God’s people, Christians, have something to celebrate.

We celebrate love.  First, God’s unconditional love of His people.  He alone truly fully completely loves, and He loves US.  Second, our Savior’s sacrificial love.  He loves us without reward, without benefits, without even notice sometimes.  Third, God’s people imitate Him.  We can love as we have been loved.  We can love as we have been taught.  We can love because we have been changed.

We are peculiar, we have reason to celebrate, always.

Entertainment

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. (I Timothy 4:7 ESV)

Entertainment

What is an irreverent, silly myth?

Myths, acknowledged as myths, are not lies, but educational metaphors.

Imaginative stories are not automatically wastes of time, but can be creativity made manifest.

Goofy tales filled with humor and lightheartedness are not necessarily immature, but can be expressions of joy.

But an irreverent, silly myth is something that denies God’s truth, laughs at His sovereignty, inflates our self-importance, and is useless to direct our hearts and minds towards God and His Christ.

Avoid such things.

Even if they are fun.

We are peculiar, we can have true entertainment.

Source

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights (James 1:17 ESV)

Source

I do not trust packages or letters with an unfamiliar return address.  We all know there are crazy people out there! 

But we know that every GOOD thing comes from our heavenly Father.

That can be comforting.  At times, we mistrust His good gifts.  Sometimes, we are suspicious of His blessings.  Occasionally, we try to second guess His work in our lives.

But we do not need to. 

Our Father gives good and perfect gifts… and He gives them to US!

We are peculiar, we get good gifts.

Fair

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven (Colossians 4:1 ESV)

Fair

I’m no medical doctor, but I am pretty skilled at removing slivers and splinters.  You see, I have had a lot of them.  I know what it feels like to have a sliver, to remove a sliver, and to recover from slivers.

And that same concept should make us fair in any situation in which we have authority.  And we all have authority somewhere.  There is an old Appalachian saying, “the youngest child kicks the dog.” 

God, in absolute authority over us, is fair.  More than that He is gracious.  He has acted this way towards us because He really, really, really loves us.  And also so we can get pretty good at being fair, ourselves.

Just like slivering makes me a good sliverer, having a great Master makes us good masters, too.

We are peculiar, we understand, ‘fair.’

Glue

Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. (Hebrews 13:1 The Message)

Glue

From the United Nations to Rodney King, humans want to get along.  From kids in a playground to nations moving tanks, we see the need for better relationships.  From bad drivers on the highway to annoying early-morning-mowers, we want peace and unity.

And our bookstores and internet shopping locations are filled with suggestions.

But there is only one method that works.

We can only be held together by love.

And love only comes from God, through Jesus.

We have what the world needs!  Even though sometimes we forget to slather that glue on ourselves.

We are peculiar, we have lovely glue.

Job Description

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV)

Job Description

I once hired someone to do some housecleaning, and it did not turn out spectacularly.  When I have considered what went wrong, I realize that at least part of the problem was my failure to completely, thoroughly, simply describe what my expectations were.  I was too vague, complex, and broad in my description of the work I wanted done.

I sometimes think if we cannot summarize our expectations in one sentence, we aren’t done describing, yet.  We should be able to say, “You have one job…”

And our Triune God is the best boss in the universe.  He has told us our one job.

Fear and obey Him. (I know, it sounds like two, but it really is one.)

And when we fail, He gives us Jesus to fear and obey on our behalf.  And when we ask details about how exactly to do that, He gives us His Word and Spirit.  And when we are too full of ourselves to try, He nudges us, pushes us, and wounds us until we hear Him.  And when we get lost in the details, He gives us this verse.  And when we are too broadly focused, He draws us back.

We have one job.  And He has told us what it is.

We are peculiar, we know our job.

Compact

Compact

Until last week, I was confused about the Lunar Eclipse.  I had never chosen to observe one, because a Lunar Eclipse occurs when the earth forms a shadow on the surface of the moon, right?  Just like every day!  Just like every monthly lunar cycle, right?  Why get out of bed and watch the moon looking like it does at any given moment on any given night?

But I watched it.

And the difference is amazing.  Rather than take a month for the shadow to traverse the moon, like usual, at a Lunar Eclipse the shadow moves across the moon in seven and a half minutes!  I admit, shamefully, that I had never thought of that.

And that timing makes all the difference.

Luke wrote to Theophilus for the same reason.  Sure, there were lots of reports, stories, and discussions about the life of the Messiah, Jesus.  But now, because of Luke, Theophilus got to read it all in one brief, intense, powerful, focused sitting.

This is how God often speaks to us, His children.  He teaches us, guides us, informs us constantly.  But sometimes, in His Word particularly, He gives us a pointed, indisputable, brightly lit message. 

And that makes all the difference.

We are peculiar, God’s message is compact.

Listen

Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens.  (Jeremiah 10:2 ESV)

Listen

Sometimes the multiplicity of television channels (or internet sites, or radio commentators, or books, or magazines) is overwhelming.  So many messages.  So many claims of truth.  So many loud voices.

And this is nothing new.  Jeremiah acknowledges that nations and nature have a lot to say.  Nations have a ‘way.’  And the heavens often seem to portend doom. 

But God has truth.  His truth contrasts with national philosophies.  His way as THE way.  His truth contrasts with an empty study of nature and It’s lessons.  His way is THE way.

The multiplicity of voices do need to frighten us, intimidate us, de-faith us, or deceive us.  We have God’s way.  Embrace it with your ears and heart.

We are peculiar, God tells us truth.

The Whole Story

And he (Samson) judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. (Judges 15:20 ESV)

The Whole Story

God is a better story-teller than we are.  When we think of Samson, we remember his failures.  And his failures were memorable!  He disrespected his parents, he disobeyed God’s marital commands, he was merciless when mercy was desirable, he forgot his vows, and he trusted his pagan girlfriend more than he trusted God.

But as God writes the book of Judges, He gives a profound summary.  Samson was Israel’s leader for 20 years. 

We remember failures more than faithfulness.

But God remembers both.

Samson’s failures, like ours, are covered by Christ’s sacrifice and obedience.

And God seems to have, in light of that, summarize Samson’s service with that in His mind.

He does that for us, too.

We are peculiar, God knows our whole story.

Grateful

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14, 15 ESV)

Grateful

This verse makes a lot more sense than you might think it does.  The sense of it starts, actually, in the middle, with the declaration that we are children of God.

That is the foundation of who we are.  We are not Americans, Kansans, Republicans, middle-classers, bacon-eaters, well-educated, attractive or nice folk.  We are children of God.

That means we trust Him, like children.  That means we accept His decisions about our lives, whether we understand them or not.  That means we do not argue with Him, resent Him, or desert Him.  THAT is how Paul is referring to us as blameless.  We are obviously sinners, wearing Christ’s sinlessness like a robe… but particularly we are blameless in our acceptance of His work in our lives.  Like our big brother, we say, “nevertheless, Your will be done.” (Luke 22:42)

The rest of the world might be crooked and twisted, but we shine as lights NOT because we are perfect or sinless, but rather because we are in submission to Him.  Both in our salvation AND in our acceptance of the lives He weaves us into. 

We are peculiar, our trust lets us live gratefully.

A Plan

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

A Plan

Many years ago, when first attempting to meet my wife, I pushed open a door into her face, and knocked her to the ground.  It was embarrassing, painful, and the Worst Event of the Day. 

But while I did not do it purposefully, it caused a conversation.  Which led to another conversation.  Which led to working in the kitchen at a church soup social event.  Which led to a ride to a concert.  Which led to a date.  Which led to commitment.  Which led to, “I do” times two.

Paul in prison understood that even difficult things like time in prison are part of King Jesus’ plan to spread His gospel.  There is always a plan, in the mind and action of THE true planner. 

While others might wonder about hard times… we know there is a plan.  We know there is a gospely plan.  We know that King Jesus is at work, even in an embarrassing door moment, or a thunderstorm, or a lost job, or a down-turning economy, or a political defeat, or a bad day… or even in a good day!

We are peculiar, King Jesus has a plan that includes us.

Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1 ESV)

Grace and Peace

When I leave the house, I make sure I have keys, mints, my wallet, and insulin.  Because I have learned over the years that I need those things.  Maybe your list is different, but you do probably have a list of the bare necessities.

In every one of his letters, Paul speaks of Grace and Peace.  Perhaps because he knows we need those things.

We need grace every day because we sin every day.  We are unrighteous every day.  We are self-focused every day.  The day is coming when we will no longer need that daily gracious grace from God, wherein He purposefully attributes our sin onto Jesus, and Christ’s perfectness onto us.  But that day is not today.  We need grace to survive in a world deserving God’s wrath, when we ourselves also deserve wrath.

We need peace because we worry.   We do not merely ‘tend’ to worry.  We do not merely ‘lean towards’ worry.  We do not merely have a bad habit of occasionally worrying.  We simply worry. And God’s peace is the answer to worry.

And so Jesus, when Paul was writing his epistles, makes sure his readers have those two necessary things.  And He makes sure we have them, too.

We need grace to deal with our sin.  We need peace to deal with sin’s effects.

We are peculiar, we have what we need.

Leaning

From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,

       “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,

        and the slope of the valleys

       that extends to the seat of Ar,

       and leans to the border of Moab.”  (Numbers 21:13-15 ESV)

Leaning

Our high school principal used to glance at us teenaged boys sort of casually lining the hallway and ask us sarcastically, “doing your part to keep the walls standing?”  As he passed, we would momentarily stand straight… and then lean again after he left the area.

I wonder if those high school walls actually DID stand longer because we were doing our inadvertently purposeful leaning.

Camping might seem like vacation, or at least rest, for the wandering Israelites.  But even as they camped, they understood that a purpose undergirded their resting.  The last phrase of the song describes them as leaning, yes.  But leaning into the next obstacle, the antagonistic nation of Moab.

The rested, not just to catch a few z’s.  But they rested in preparation for the next task.

Sometimes responsible folk feel like resting is a waste of time.  But it is not.  It IS rest… but it is rest in preparation for work.  Think of Jesus in Gethsemane.  Think of Jesus in the wilderness.  Think of Jesus between Friday and Sunday.

Our rest is not wasted, either.  It is a part of God’s good work in our lives.

We are peculiar, we can lean.