Work and Work

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:3,4 ESV)

Work and Work

I have a relative who belittles my occupation.  Because I do not break out in a sweat, he has thought that I do not do any real work.  When we have discussed it, I tend to emphasize the hard mental effort, my emotional exhaustion, and the difficulty of pastoral work.  But we both were looking at it wrong.  Because I can acknowledge the necessity and value in his work.  And he can do the same with mine.

The Disciples did not suggest physical laborers because they were lazy, or even because they looked down on that kind of work.  Instead, they acknowledged that many kinds of work exist.

And they are all useful in God’s kingdom.

We do not need to compete with each other for which kind of work is best.

Instead, we get to rejoice that God enables all kinds of workers for all kinds of work.

We are peculiar, we can ALL work for Christ’s kingdom.

Discipline

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline (Hebrews 12:7 ESV)

Discipline

When our difficulties loom in front of our eyes and hearts, we might wonder what is happening.  Perhaps most often, we assume the Almighty God is punishing us, rightly so, for our rebellions, disobedience, and sin.

But God does not punish His children twice.  And He already punished Jesus for every sin we have committed, are committing, and will commit.

So, what is going on?

God is not punishing us, but treating us like His children.  

Punishment is judicial, discipline is guidance.

Punishment is angry, discipline is hopeful.

Punishment is finished when it is done, discipline has an eternal aim.

Punishment is cold, discipline is warm and loving.

We are peculiar, God disciplines us.

Adopted

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4,5 ESV)

Adopted

The Roman emperors used to adopt the children of their enemies, after war.  It would be interesting to see how successful that was, statistically.  But God does not adopt us to keep us under His thumb or to humiliate His previous enemies.

God adopted us because He knows how much we need Him in our lives.

Not merely in a comforting or provisional sort of way, but by necessity.

In this world of arrogant and ignorant rebellion against God, sins’ effects are devastating and eternal. And the only people who will find true and full relief are the children of God.

So, He adopted us. 

We are peculiar, we are adopted.

Exponential

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way…  (II Corinthians 9:11 ESV)

Exponential

As summer ends, I’ve been thinking about watermelons.  I like watermelons.

But the best thing about a watermelon is the hope found in the seeds.

One watermelon seed can lead to somewhere between 500 and 800 new watermelons!

One watermelon is not only tasty, it is also a potential investment!

God thinks exponentially with the blessings He gives to His people.

Like a watermelon, our blessings have within them the potential to bless others, who can bless others, who can bless others, who can bless others.

It is exponential.

And we can be a part of how God blesses His people, and even the world.

All we have to do is think like watermelons.

We are peculiar, God blesses exponentially.

Sing

And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. (II Samuel 22:1 ESV)

Sing

Towards the end of his life, King David contemplated how much God had done for him.  And he responded to that contemplation with a song.  It was not the first song David had written about God.  It was not the longest song David had written about God.  I am not sure how exactly to evaluate whether or not it was the best song David had written about God, but I like this one.

A song is a good way to respond to God’s work.

You might say, “But I am no musician, or composer, or writer!”

And you might be right.

But God’s work in our lives is worth writing even a poor song.

You do not have to publish it.  You do not have to present it to any human.  You do not have to claim it is beautiful, artistic, or monetarily valuable.

But it will be about what God has done for you.  And that makes it grand.

Music plays a part in our body, mind, heart, and soul.

Go ahead and write that song for God.

We are peculiar, we can sing.

The One

Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”  And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. (Genesis 18:32,33 ESV)

The One

Abraham was arguing with God for the sake of the city of Sodom, or more accurately, for the sake of Abraham’s nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom.  God had declared that He was going to destroy Sodom due to the rampant sin and open rebellion against Him that had become obvious there. 

God would have been just and right to do so.

But Abraham knew God’s Grace and Mercy, and so Abraham asked God to withhold His anger.  Progressively bartering, Abraham asked the Lord to save Sodom if 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally only 10 righteous people were found to be living in sin-engorged Sodom.  And God agreed.

But Abraham stopped too soon.  And perhaps the Lord knew exactly what He was doing as He agreed with Abraham’s begging and every decreasing number.  It was nudging Abraham towards an understanding of how necessary Jesus is.

Abraham could have kept decreasing all the way down to one.  Because God does save the world for the sake of one.  Not just ANY one.  But The One.  The Messiah.  The Christ.  Jesus.

God shows mercy for the sake of His Son. 

That One is why the Lord is merciful to us.

We are peculiar, we know the One.

Patience

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” (Genesis 18:11,12 ESV)

Patience

So, Sarah laughed.  Laughter exists on a continuum that spreads from derision and mockery on one side, to joy and exaltation on the other.

And somewhere in the middle, I think, is Sarah’s laughter at the repeated promise of childbirth from the Lord.  She was tired of making excuses for the Lord.  She was tired of hearing His Words, but never seeing any physical proof.  She was frustrated that her schemes with Hagar had not born acceptable fruit.  She was frustrated that Abraham did not join her in her doubting.  

Perhaps she even laughed in a way that was cynical, arrogant, and safe.  She had stopped believing, and looked down on those who still might believe.

But she could have laughed with hope.  She could have laughed with expectation.  She could have laughed with knowledge of God’s grace towards her.  She could have laughed, using laughter as God intends laughter to be used.

It would have required patience, when Sarah had understandably run out of patience.

But God was patient enough for both of them.  He kept His promises in His time, as He knew all along He would.

And then later Sarah did laugh correctly.  In Genesis 21: 6, she laughs in humility and joy, as the promised son, Isaac, was born.

It is not merely our sorrow that He will turn to laughter He also, if we wait on Him, turns our laughter into better laughter. 

We are peculiar, God is patient for us, too.

Family

It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” (II Samuel 19:1,2 ESV)

Children

David was called a man after God’s heart. (I Samuel 13:14) And while we often look for signs of that heart when considering the life of King David, we see it here perhaps most clearly.

Absalom was hateful towards David.  Absalom tried to have David killed.  Absalom was a political, familial, and emotional rebel.  Absalom took and took and took from David, taking advantage of David repeatedly.  Absalom hated David.

But David did not seek revenge.  In fact, while most of the nation rejoiced at the rebel Absalom’s violent end, David grieved.  David wept.  David mourned.

And in the story of this event, we are Absalom, and God is David.

When we rebel, and suffer the consequences, God grieves.

When we take advantage of God and suffer the consequences, God grieves.

When we laugh at God, scoff at God, ignore God, disobey God, rewrite God in our image, mistrust God, put God on the sideline or in our pocket, God should and could join all of Israel in rejoicing when we fall.

But instead, He sent Jesus Christ to die in our place.

Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s sacrifice as our own.

Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s punishment as our own.

Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s death on a tree, like Absalom’s, as our own.

David’s heart was like God’s because David was compassionate towards a rebel, unconditionally loving towards His children, merciful and gracious to those of His people who oppose Him.

That’s some amazing grace.

We are peculiar, we are like Absalom and God like David.

Blessing

and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2 ESV)

Blessing

God does not bless His people spiritually, emotionally or physically simply because He loves us.  He does not bless us in those ways as a reward.  He does not bless us in any way because He is obligated to us. 

In fact, God does not bless His people for any reason that has to do with them, particularly.

God blesses us so that we can bless others.

Now of course, God does love us, care for us, and enjoys our enjoyments that come from Him.

But the purpose of them, just like the promise to Abram, is for the blessings to multiply.

If you are a Christian, God has given salvation to you so that you can introduce Jesus to others.  God has given you emotional peace, hope, and joy so that you can help others find those states.  God has given you physical blessings like money, land, possessions, and food so that you can bless others with them.

We do not have to hoard any of them.

We get to use them for those around us.

We are peculiar, we can be a blessing.

Wisdom

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.    Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. (Proverbs 4:7,8 ESV)

Wisdom

Our society thinks wisdom is applied experience, but that is difficult to gain.  Our society thinks wisdom is common sense, but that is uncommon.  Our society thinks wisdom is earned, fought for, or acquired, but that is a difficult process.

Wisdom, according to God, is simply choosing to do things HIS way.

That is why children, in the Bible, can be wise.

That is why inexperienced, uneducated, and humble people can be wise, in the Bible.

Wisdom is a found in a simple decision.

Say, “yes” to Christ. Say “yes” to God’s way.

We are peculiar, we know what wisdom is.

Ahead

That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.  (II Corinthians 5:6,7 The Message)

Ahead

Long car trips can be miserable.  Cars are cramped, smelly, too warm or two cool,  Even with pleasant views out the window, it would be better to be AT the scenic spots than driving past.  Even with pleasant company, it would be better stretching our legs than sitting far too still.  Even with tasty snacks, it would be better to eat at a table, or in front of the television.

But what makes it okay is the destination.

Whether the drive ends with a sporting event, a friend’s residence, a new home, a historical wonder, or the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota, we can put up with a lot for a grand destination.

That is Paul’s point, here.  Christians are heading Home.

Jesus is preparing that place for us.

Where we are going gives light on our present shadows.  Where we are going gives hope in our present fears.  Where we are going gives rest for our present labors.

Because Jesus is there.

We are peculiar, Ahead is grand.

Reliability

For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6 ESV)

Reliability

God’s people have not been faithful.  And if God words meant as little as our words often do, God’s people would be in serious trouble.

But God has promised to be our God.  Not because we are so cool, but because Jesus Christ is willing to take our sin on Himself. 

And God reliably keeps that promise.

God does not say, “I will forgive your sins because of Christ’s death, but I might forget, so keep worrying.”

God does not say, “I will adopt you as my children, riding on Christ’s coattails, but I might stop caring.”

God does not say, “I will welcome you into the perfection of heaven, using Christ’s ticket, but I might change my mind.”

We are peculiar, God’s reliability is a grand thing for us.

Outrage

The Glory of the God of Israel ascended from his usual place above the cherubim-angels, moved to the threshold of the Temple, and called to the man with the writing case who was dressed in linen: “Go through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of everyone who is in anguish over the outrageous obscenities being done in the city.” (Ezekiel 9: 3,4 The Message)

Outraged

Outrage is preferable to passivity.

But I have been outraged about some silly things.  I was outraged when a referee made a bad call and my beloved Cincinnati Reds lost a key game.  I was outraged when Walmart stopped selling caffeine-free diet coke.  I was outraged when a hurried driver changed lanes at an inconvenient time for me.  I was outraged an author stopped writing a series that I enjoy, before it was finished.

And I ended up feeling silly.  Being outraged is certainly better than passivity, but outrage comes with it’s own dangers and troubles.

But God’s people know there are things to really be outraged about.  And outrage based on injustice according to God’s standards is not silly.  Outrage based on open rebellion against God, not merely against a nation, is not silly.  Outrage based on a holy fear of the Lord, rather than on fear of physical loss is not silly.  Outrage based on the triumph of evil, rather than on the triumph of an idea we do not like is not silly.

We see a lot of things that make us outraged.  But outrage based on God’s Word is worthy. 

We are peculiar, we can avoid silly outrage.

Variety

And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:9 ESV)

Variety

Babel was a place of grand human accomplishment.  More than just a tower, Babel displayed human unity, human communication, and human focus.

But from Noah’s time, God had something else in mind.  He instructed Noah, after the flood, to, “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (Genesis 9:1 ESV) Community is good, unless it narrows our minds.  Banding together is good, unless it stops us from growing.  Being with folk who are like us is pleasant, unless we forget that there is beauty outside of ourselves, too.

I can relate to those Babel-folk.  I like to stay home, I like to be with like-minded people, I like to have absolute unity.  But God knows how He made us… and broader is better.

Without a steady rock to stand on, though, being in the midst of wild ideas and new concepts is dangerous.  I think the Babel-tower was being built to give the newly forming society something solid to look at, and to feel a false safety.

We do not need a tower to steady us in the midst of variety.

We do not need a tower to lean against when spreading out feels uncomfortable.

We do not need a tower because we have a Something better.

This is what the Psalmist has in mind when He tells God, “for You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” (Psalm 61:3 ESV)

It is good to explore new ideas, locations, and people, as long as we have our feet planted on God and His Word.

It is good to spread out physically, socially, and emotionally, as long as we have our hearts planted on God and His Word.

It is good to be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, as long as our tower is the One True Living God.

We are peculiar, because of our Rock, variety can be exciting and safe.

Our King

Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness. (II Chronicles 9:8 ESV)

Our King

The Queen of Sheba was very impressed with King Solomon and the nation of Israel.  She saw the wealth, the power, the knowledge, and the Wisdom, and if ancient languages had a word for, “WOW,” she would have shouted it.

But when we read her words today, we wonder.  We know how Solomon ended up.  We know that Solomon, among Israel’s greatest Kings, failed to be great. 

God did that for a reason.  He gives great kings warts, so we hope for someone better.  He gives great nations troubles, so we hope for something better.  He gives great people thorns, so we hope for that One person… who has no failings, warts, or thorns.

Of course, I am talking about our real King, Jesus.

Every failure of leadership, knowledge, institution, or personality is displayed to us to point us towards Jesus.

Every success of leadership, knowledge, institution, or personality is displayed to us to point us towards Jesus.

Are we looking?

We are peculiar, we understand failures and successes.

Prayer

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.  (Acts 1:14 ESV)

Prayer

I suppose it is one of those chicken-and-egg things.  But unity and prayer are intertwined.  The apostles were united as they prayed.  It does not really  matter whether they were united because they prayed together, or prayed together because they were united… they were both praying and united.

Our churches struggle with a lack of unity.  Both within individual congregations, as well as between churches and denominations.  Churches in general are also not well-known for praying publicly.

Maybe the answer is found in upping our prayer game.

Within our churches, and among our churches.

This modern world emphasizes division and separation.  This modern world emphasizes individualism and self-sufficiency.  This modern world says “I” matters more than “us.”

Unity is a grand thing.  And God has given us a way to accomplish it.  Prayer.

Prayer is a grand thing.  And God has given us a way to improve it.  Unity.

We are peculiar, we can pray together.

Leviathans

Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? (Job 41:1,2 ESV)

Leviathans

I used to wonder what a Leviathan was.  I remember reading that a Leviathan was a dinosaur still lurking in the ocean’s depths, coming up occasionally to swamp the Israelites’ ships and cause nightmares.  I remember reading that a Leviathan was a demonic creature, huge and impossible to tame.  I remember reading that a Leviathan was a mythical creature conjured in ancient children’s tales to frighten disobedient kids towards obedience.

But I do not wonder these days, because I have experienced frightening things enough in my life.  Whether it was a near car accident, a terrible storm, an angry terrorist on the news, or the howl of a beast somewhere in the nearby woods… in a way, those things are all Leviathan for me.

I have no influence or control over those things that might frighten me.   But God reminds Job that we do not have to control them.  Because our God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, does.  Those things are nothing to Him.  Because He made them, whatever they are.  Because He uses them, whatever they are.  Because He makes them appear (and be!) tiny compared to Him.

It is not that scary things are not scary.  It is that our Jesus is bigger.

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

Names

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. (I Corinthians 16: 17, 18 ESV)

Names

Who were Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus?  We do not really know.  They are some folk that Paul and the Corinthians knew.  And Paul showed he knew them by recognizing them.  I imagine that they felt pretty good in the coming years, when they saw their names at the end of Paul’s letters, that already then were a part of God’s written Word.

Recently, I was able to be involved in the production of a film.  And it was pretty fun.  But for me, one of the best parts was watching the credits, where my name was listed in cast, crew, and even my land.  It felt good to be recognized.

Christians, like Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, are recognized by God!  He knows your name, He knows who you are, and He knows you.

Individual Christians are not merely part of a group.  We each matter to Him.  He loves His church, and He loves each of us in her. Paul knew those three names, and demonstrates that.  God knows our names and will demonstrate it throughout eternity.

We are peculiar, God knows our names.

False Dependencies

And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. (Zechariah 13:2 ESV)

False Dependencies

Theodore Roosevelt was a tricky politician.  As soon as he attained power, whether as police commissioner of New York, ranch owner in North Dakota, or President of the United States, the first thing he did was sideline anyone who seemed to want his position, power, or praise.  In that way, he was known to get rid of Senators, cabinet members, postmasters, and dog-catchers.

But Roosevelt was an amateur compared to God.  And even more importantly, Roosevelt did those things selfishly, ambitiously, and cruelly.  But God, when He removes His opponents, does so because God loves His people.

We, as God’s people have always done, struggle with false Gods.  Whether it was the tower of Babel, or Baal, or the Roman emperors, they found it too easy to slip into trusting the wrong thing.  And so do we.

And God promises Zechariah that one of the ways God helps us is to remove those other things we trust.

That is wonderful and scary at the same time.  It is wonderful because it shows how much He loves us.  He not only took away the sins of God’s people through the cross, He also works to take away those false things we falsely trust.

It is scary because we do not want Him to take away the things we trust.  When we lose what we have been trusting in, it hurts.  We miss that thing.  But God is saying, you do not need THAT.  You have me.

When we depend too much on our money, He not only forgives our falseness… but He takes away that money.  When we depend too much on a form of government, He takes away that form of government.  When we depend too much on our health, He takes away that health.  When we depend too much on our abilities, He takes away those abilities.

And He replaces them with Jesus.

That is a good trade.

We are peculiar, God takes away our false dependencies.

Dismay

Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay. I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment. (Ezekiel 4:16,17 ESV)

Dismay

God’s people were in trouble.  And here He tells Ezekiel that troubles were going to come.  And it might seem that God was punishing them for their disobedience.  But He was not punishing them, as we usually think of punishment.

He was about to make them suffer.  But not simply because they had done wrong.  Rather, He was sending them troubles so they would finally learn to look to HIM instead of anything else.  He would make them hungry so they would learn to seek sustenance from Him.  He would make them afraid so they would learn to depend on Him.  He would take away their comfort so they would learn to take comfort in Him.

From, on, and in Him.  Alone.

Because God knows that He was what they need.  Because God loves them enough to push them into what they really needed.  More Him, less everything else.

And He continues to do that.  We will face troubles in life whenever we start to depend on something other than Him.  We can count on Him taking away our false hopes, our false crutches, our false providers.  So that we will look desperately to Him.

This is not punishment, even when it is a direct result of our sins.  Because Christ has already taken our punishment on His back.

But when it happens, our troubles are God getting our attention.  Our troubles are God removing what we are depending on instead of Him.  Our troubles are God saying, “Come to me… Come to Jesus… Come to what you really need, and you will be astonished at how GOOD life in Him is.”

We are peculiar, our dismay is a step on the way to peace.