Enough Rope

Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (I Samuel 8:7-9 ESV)

Enough Rope

God loves us enough to let us see the effects of our bad choices.  He could simply arrange things so that we never have to learn about pain, sacrifice, or suffering.   But instead, as the saying goes, He often gives us just enough rope to hang ourselves.

The tribes of Israel wanted a king like other nations had.  God warned them of what kind of king that would be, but they persisted.  So God gave them what they wanted.  He gave them Saul.

And they suffered.

If that was the end of the story, we would wonder what God was doing.

But the story goes on to David.  After they had endured Saul, God gave them a king after God’s own heart, David.  They learned the hard way.  And God gave relief.

But the story doesn’t even end there.  David was not perfect.  Subsequent kings were tragedies.  Because God was still giving that rope… so that eventually they (we) would realize just how much we need the One True King, Jesus.

And we are learning that lesson, yes?  When we trust in other things, like our money, our government, or our abilities, it ends usually like Israel and Saul.

But then, we get to turn to Jesus… again and again.

He gives us enough rope… and He continually saves us.

We are peculiar, God gives us enough rope, and then saves us from our choices.

Helped

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. [1]

(Hebrews 2:18 ESV)

Helped

A few months ago I stopped by a friend’s house who was working on his riding lawnmower.  Parts were spread around his driveway, and his grimy hands were scratching his grimy hair as he attempted to diagnose the machine’s trouble.

I am no trained mechanic… but I have repaired my lawnmower enough times to almost call myself a professional.  He described what was wrong, and I knew immediately what the problem was.  I offered advice, an extra not-yet-grimy hand, and help.  And his demeanor brightened.

We receive a lot of advice from folk who do not have experience.  And sometimes it still helps.  But nothing beats someone who has adjusted those brakes, fiddled with that fuel line, reconnected that clutch, and walked in these shoes.

And Jesus has done those things.  When He offers to help with our sanctification, our maturing, our understanding, our suffering… we can trust Him because He walked as we walk.  Particularly, He has suffered the same temptations, only successfully!

In fact, we really need no other help than His.

We are peculiar, our savior can help.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 2:18.

Yearning

From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.  (I Samuel 7:2 ESV)

Yearning

When I have a can of Vernor’s Ginger Ale, I want more.  When I have a handful of popcorn, I want more.  When I watch an advertisement for Doctor Who, I want to watch a whole show.  When I take a nap, I want a night’s rest.

That is what the Israelites experienced.  The Ark of the Covenant had been returned by the Philistines.  But not all the way home.  And not yet to it’s true home, the temple, as yet unbuilt.

But the joy of the presence so near whetted their appetite for more.

And that is a good appetite to have whetted!

Christians today experience the same thing.  Our taste of God’s presence in the Lord’s Supper increases our yearning for Christ’s full presence.  Our joyful worship of the One True Living God increases our yearning for eternal worship of Him.  Our Holy Spirit aided prayers increase our yearning for direct obvious full orbed communication with our God.

The taste of the little, gives us an appetite for the complete.

We are peculiar, we yearn for what we WILL have.

Bold

…we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. (I Thessalonians 2:2 ESV)

Boldness

When I was picked on in elementary school, I wished I had a gigantic, fanged, ferocious dog.  When I was caught in a sudden squall out on Silver Lake, I wished I had a 350 hp engine instead of our much smaller one.  When the economy threatens to fall I have wished I had a billionaire friend.

Boldness really does not come from within.  Boldness comes from something outside of ourselves that we can depend on… something powerful, reliable, personal, and present.

Paul declares that he is not simply bold, but He is bold in our God.  That tiny word, “in” is unfortunately small. Paul is bold because He knows God.  Paul is bold because God knows him.  Paul is bold because God enables him.  Paul is bold because God is stronger than any enemy.  Paul is bold because Paul walks with God.  Paul is bold because God surrounds him.  Paul is bold because Paul is on God’s side.  Paul is bold because God has pulled Paul into Himself.

All of which is true, wonderfully and only because of Jesus Christ.

That is why we Christians can be bold.  Not because of self-worth, our knowledge, our skill sets, our wisdom, or our experience.  The world finds boldness in those things and will always fail.

We are peculiar, we have boldness in God.

Understood

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 ESV)

Understood

I had a bee in my car.  I had grown up believing that I was allergic to bee-stings, and so usually, when I saw a bee, I darted in another direction.  But in my car, my dart-choices were limited.  I tried to watch the road and bee, while manually rolling down my window.  With so many things to keep track of, is it any wonder that I stopped watching the speedometer?

The policeman by the side of the road was watching my speed, though.

And he pulled me over to discuss it with me.

When I told him what had happened, he nodded sagely.  “I hate bees, too.”  He declared.  “I understand.  Go on your way, young man.” 

He understood, because he had experienced the same trouble.  It felt wonderful to be understood like that.

Even better, our Jesus understands our temptations because He was tempted, too.

So He understands.  So He cares.  So He hurts alongside us.  So He is on our side.  This is something He does for His people.

We are peculiar, we are understood.

Home

But always he (Samuel) would return to Ramah, where he lived, and preside from there. That is where he built an altar to God. (I Samuel 7:17 The Message)

Home

I like cathedrals.  I like well-built and beautiful sanctuaries.  I like the worship of the One True Living God to be done in a place that is appealing and wonderful.

But Samuel knew something.

God also is in the homes of His people.

Christians do not suffer God’s absence until Sunday morning when they can enter God’s presence.  Christians are not far from God other than during formal Sunday worship.  Christians are not alone, empty-hearted, and lost, other than in church.

God simply IS where His people are.  In fact, that is part of what makes our houses our homes.

We are peculiar, God is in our homes.

Part of the Plan

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to go. (Luke 2:1,2 ESV)

Part of the Plan

We do not know much about those 72 folk that Jesus sent out.  He gave them specific instructions about what to take along, how to act, who to speak to, and how to accept hospitality.  We also hear their joyful report, upon their return to the Master. 

But the best part of those 72, is the ripple-in-the-pond effect.  Because the people they spoke to are probably the foundation of the group that gathered at Pentecost in Acts 2.  They probably were the people who formed the core of the New Testament church.  They probably were the folk who ended up sending out Paul and Barnabas and the rest of the Missionaries in Acts.

Jesus attempts to give them the bigger picture when He says, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20 ESV).

We get excited about the food on our plate right in front of us… often for good reason. But we also get to be excited about the feast of being part of God’s BIG plan for His Kingdom.

We are peculiar, we are part of the plan.

Reasons

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, (I Peter 4:1 ESV)

Reasons

I am reading a book by a Chess Grand Master that examines one of his chess games, move by move, step by step, plan by plan.  The unique beauty of this book is that it does not merely study the moves, but the author declares his thoughts, his motives, his understanding of what was happening.

When Christians study Christ’s life, we have the same advantage.  Not only can we read about His actions, obedience, miracles, and relationships… but we also can read about why He did those things.  And that enables us to follow in His steps.

Not only acting like Him but thinking like Him. 

And this gives power to our sanctification, impetus to our obedience, and heart to our love.

We are peculiar, we know Christ’s reasons.

Repetition

The Book of Deuteronomy

Repetition

The more you love, the more often you repeat important things.  That is why mothers appear to nag.  That is why our nerd-tech friends continue to warn us about internet firewalls.  That is why good friends say, “Merry Christmas” more than once.  That is why old men tell stories again, and again.

There is no love like God’s love for His people.  And one thing He does that shows that love, is repeating His messages to us.

Deuteronomy literally means, giving the law again.

God wants us to know who He is, what He loves, and what He expects.

So much so that He repeats Himself.

We are peculiar, God repeats to us.

Listen

Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” (I Samuel 3:4 ESV)

Listen

I used to envy that little boy, Samuel.  God spoke to him!  Laying next to the Ark of the Covenant, Samuel heard God’s voice.  And while it might seem to us that such a thing would be clear, trustworthy, and amazing, Samuel was not sure what he had heard.  So, he went to Eli and asked for advice.  This happened, in fact, more than once.  Even though young Samuel audibly heard the voice of God, Samuel was unsure of God’s message.  He was smart enough to know that things are not always what they seem.  Eventually, encouraged by his mentor, Eli, Samuel listened.

But we have no reason to envy Samuel.  Because we have clearer messages from God.  We have more messages from God.  We have messages that we are absolutely sure are not our imagination, manifested desires, or last night’s turkey dinner.

We have the written Word of God.  It is a physical book that we can read, understand, and love.

And that is God calling us.

We are peculiar, God speaks to us clearly.

Punishment

But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do You want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9:53-55 ESV)

Punishment

James and John wanted to punish the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.  They wanted to control and aim God’s wrath on Christ’s behalf. The were righteously angry and wanted to help Jesus by getting rid of those pesky nay-sayers.

But Christ surprised them.  He does not allow them to bring fire from heaven.  He does not consume them.  He does not punish their sin of rejecting Him, which is the worst sin of all.

I believe He did not act in wrath at that moment because He was on His way to take all of God’s wrath on Himself.  He was probably disappointed or angry at those folk who were rejecting Him.

He is disappointed and angry at every sin.

But He does not bring any wrath from heaven because God’s wrath was about to powerfully and profoundly flash down from heaven at the cross.

God, even Jesus Himself, always punishes every rebellion, every sin, every transgression, every unrighteous thought, word, and deed.

But He punishes Jesus instead of the ones who deserve it.

That’s the gospel.

It might be the most peculiar thing of all.

We are peculiar, God’s wrath came on Jesus instead of us.

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.