Paranoid

He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” (Jonah 1:12 ESV)

Paranoid

A joke I laugh at: “Just because I am paranoid does not mean people are NOT out to get me!”

Do you ever feel like all the troubles of the world are aimed at you?  Jonah understood the God he was running away from well enough to know that troubles WERE aimed at him.  He caused the storm.  He was a threat to the sailors.

Because Jonah knew that God disciplines, chastises, and guides His people.

He does not punish us, because He punished Jesus instead.

But He knows where He wants us to go, and sends storms to get us there.

So be sensitive to troubles.  Do not despair in them.  But wonder, consider, ponder, is God lovingly getting me to go to Damascus?

We are peculiar, we understand our bad times.

Children

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.  ( I John 3:1 ESV)

Children

Out of all of my hats and labels, one that is particularly comforting is that God calls me, “child.”  Not because I pout, need help getting things from the top shelf, or have an early bedtime.  But it is a thing of joy to be called a child for at least three reasons.

First, I am dependent on my Father.  That means worrying is not only unnecessary, but it is silly.

Second, I am welcomed by my Father.  Children are usually unconditionally welcomed, embraced, and given gifts.  That is why we think of Christmas as a child’s holiday.

Third, we are graciously forgiven.  In a way, standards are lower for children than for CEOs.  We smile lovingly, shake our heads, and even when disciplining, we do not treat them as they deserve.  And that is why God loves to be merciful to me… to us.

We are His Children.

And that is peculiar.

Peacemakers

The people came to Samuel then and said, “Where are those men who said, ‘Saul is not fit to rule over us’? Hand them over. We’ll kill them!”  But Saul said, “Nobody is going to be executed this day. This is the day God saved Israel! Come, let’s go to Gilgal and there reconsecrate the kingship.” (I Samuel 11:12-14 The Message)

Peacemakers

Revenge does nothing but continue our conflicts.  When Saul was appointed King of Israel, quite a few people saw his faults and questioned Samuel’s choice.  And logic and political savvy would dictate that Saul take the opportunity of his spectacular military victory to win even bigger, to win in other arenas, to ride the wave of victory to the humiliation of all of his enemies.

But surprisingly, especially in the light of Saul’s later decisions, Saul does not seek revenge.

He celebrates his victory, attributes it to God, and goes home to forge unity.

I do not see this attitude these days.  Part of what polarizes our society is our apparent need to carry every victory as far as we can.  We kick our enemies when they are down.  We remember injustice and previous revenges, and we escalate our conflicts rather than seek peace.

Yet Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9)

But don’t hear His words as angry condemning commandments.

Instead, hear Jesus’ words like Saul appears to have heard them.

Rather than continue the cycle of revenge after revenge, we get to have peace.

We can choose unity.

Personally, politically, and in our families.

We are peculiar, we can have peace.

Dependence

 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:16 ESV)

Dependence

Yes, independence is grand, but it is sometimes an illusion.  Wile we might have great ability and opportunity to build houses, sculpt sculptures, run a business, harvest beetroots, broadcast on radio-waves, or attach band-aids on children’s knees, we are not independent in the most important thing of all.

The state of our eternal souls.

People do not have the ability to undo our sinful acts caused by our sinful hearts.  Only God can.  Only God does.

We are dependent on Him.  And joyfully, gratefully, humbly, we relish the fact that He has had mercy and grace to save, all because of and all through Christ Jesus.

We are peculiar, we are dependent.

Independence

But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. ( I Thessalonians 4:10-12 ESV)

Independence

In the film, The Princess Pride, a character uses the word, “inconceivable” a lot, in situations that are very conceivable.  So finally, someone else tells him, “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”

Independence is a similar word, today.

It seems these days that ‘independent’ means free to let someone else work on our behalf, pay for our desires, and do the heavy lifting in actions, words, and deeds.  But that is not independent.

Paul reminds us that independence, politically, economically, and socially means being able to do what we believe needs to be done.

And Christians uniquely understand that, because we understand the delegation of authority and opportunity.  We are not self-made people, we are God-made people.  And therefore we can know our capabilities, opportunities, and obligations.  And we can do them, independently, not expecting anyone else to do them for us.

We are peculiar, we are independent.

Wed

 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Confidence

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 ESV)

Confidence

My granddaughter swings like a wild animal.  When recently she visited our back yard, she gleefully ran out to our swing, mounted up, and with a “WEEEEEE” defied gravity, centripetal force, and all common sense.  She was swinging in circles, twists, and bumpy change of direction, and I panicked.  I reached out and grabbed the swing and asked her, “Why were you swinging so wildly?”

She smiled at me and said, “I knew you’d catch me.”

Her confidence, although perhaps misplaced, was similar to the confidence that the author of the book of Hebrews displays.

We do not approach God’s ruling throne with self-confidence.

Rather, the very throne is here called the throne of GRACE.

Undeserved favor.

God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

And confidence in God’s willingness to be gracious and merciful is confidence indeed.

We are peculiar, we can have confidence.

Life of the Party

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7 ESV)

Life of the Party

I am rarely the life of the party.  I do not know enough jokes, I am not a conversation-master, I am too much of an introvert, and I am just not that fun. 

But we Christians ARE the life of the party going on in heaven.

Because we are sinners who have repented, are repenting, and will repent.  And so heaven is rejoicing.  Because of us.

My sin and sinfulness cause much sorrow in the world, my community, and myself.

But strangely, wonderfully, amazingly, because of Christ’s life and death and life… heaven rejoices because of me.

And because of you, Christian.

We are peculiar, heaven rejoices over us.

God's Hand

I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city… declares the Lord. (Amos 4:7,8 ESV)

God’s Hand

Some days are pretty bad.  Some weeks are pretty bad.  Some months are pretty bad.  Some years, too.

And if we lived in a universe that was a battleground between good and evil, we might be afraid, discouraged, and despairing.  If God is so powerful, we might ask, why doesn’t He just win the battle?  Why does a good God allow horrible things to take place under His throne?

But we do not live in that kind of universe.

We live in a universe that is absolutely under God’s control.  He alone is sovereign.  He alone is ultimately behind every scene.  He alone is God.

Somehow, in ways that I do not claim to fully comprehend, God is at work both in rain and rain’s lack.  God is at work in both sunshine and storm.  God is at work in both bountiful blessings, and lesser blessings.

And while I do not understand His ways… I trust Him.  I trust His love.  I trust His vision. I trust His plans.  I trust His work.

While the rest of the world fears an unseen imbalance in the cosmos, Christians can know that the good God holds the reins. 

We are peculiar, we know His hand.

The Voice

Have any of these prophets bothered to meet with me, the true God? Bothered to take in what I have to say? Listened to and then lived out my Word? (Jeremiah 23:18 The Message)

The Voice

In the latest reboot of Superman, we observe Clark Kent when his superpowers begin to manifest.  Suddenly, inexplicably, he has too many sounds, voices, and noises filling his super-ears.  He can not make sense of them.  And sometimes, maybe we can relate to young Clark.

We have so many voices clamoring for our attention, telling us ‘truth,’ giving us advice and commands, and demanding compliance.  The information overload is filled with contradicting reports, contradicting advice, and contradicting hopes.

And it is not only enemy voices.  Even preachers, good teachers, and worthy advisors overwhelm our open minds. 

But Jeremiah tells us something powerful.  We have the Word of the One True Living God.  Given to us through, and by, and because of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The things He has said are foundational, absolutely true, reliable, and clear. 

Our cacophony is only the result of our interpretations, not the result of any inadequacy in His Word.

Our confusion is only the result of our adding too many layers as if our layers of interpretation are on the level of His Word.

Our sense of being overwhelmed is only the result of our listening to other voices than His Word.

“Be still and know that I am God,” He says in Psalm 46:10.

We are peculiar, we can hear the right Voice.

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.