Joy

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.  (James 1:2 ESV)

Decoder Glasses

We think of Eeyore is being depressed, sorrowful, and full of shadows.

Sometimes we might relate to that way of thought.

But one of the Fruits of being a Christian is that we can have joy.

Eeyore does have joy, actually.  He can see that reason for joy exists.  It is a matter, sometimes, of perspective.  For instance, he has noted “thanks for noticing me…” instead of observing that other animals are being rude to him.  He sees there is something good, something deep, something pleasant going on.

 From the bottom of some cereal box, I once had a secret decoder lens.  A piece of paper from the same box would have inscribed on it a strange and illegible spaghetti-map of lines and squiggles.  But when I held up the decoder lens, I could see a message.  Probably something like, “eat more cereal.”  But a message, nonetheless.

Christians have knowledge that enables us to understand what is happening in the world.  Non-Christians see weather, war, and worldliness as troublesome and terrible.

But we have the decoding lens found in this verse (and other places) : And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 ESV).

And that is the source of joy.  God is up to good.

And knowing that gives us joy.

Yes, the storm still ruins crops.  Yes, the war still ruins lives.  Yes, the world scoffs, laughs, and opposes God’s people.

But like Eeyore, we have joy, because we know what is going on.  God is at work.  And that can lead to joy.

Because joy is a fruit.

Love

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (I John 4:8 ESV)

The Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Yes, love is a command.  Jesus, in fact, summarizes all of God’s law with the command to love (Matthew 22:34-40).

Yes, love is a choice. We are told to love one another (Romans 12:10).

Yes, love is a feeling (I Corinthians 13:3).

But love is also a result of being loved by Christ.  Non-Christians do not know what love is, although they imitate it.   Those who have not known the only true source of love, God, cannot know what love really is. 

But we DO know!  And more than that, we actually can love.

It is often hard to express, act, and feel in a loving way.  We do not want to, preferring selfishness as we do.  We do not want to, preferring to be loved rather than love.  We do not want to, preferring inward focus to outward focus.

But we can love.

It is a fruit of being a Christian.

And I find that there is love in Christians, even when it is not easy to see.  Even in ourselves.

Look under the leaves and find it.  See, and rejoice, when you can choose, even a little, to love your annoying, hurtful sibling.  See, and rejoice, when you can choose, even a little, to love your scoundrel spouse.  See, and rejoice, when you can choose, even a little, to forgive, to laugh, to enjoy, to help, to enable, to challenge, to encourage, to listen, to speak… to do all of those (and more) love things.

You can love, if you are a Christian.

Because love is a fruit.

Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (Galatians 5:22,23 ESV)

Fruit

I was around eleven years old when I discovered the joys of fruit.  My mom had planted some ugly, scraggly, brownish plants behind the garage.  I had helped, a little bit.  But mostly those plants were put in the ground, and other than an occasional spray with a garden hose, were left alone.

I was shocked, pleased, and amazed when raspberries appeared one week.  Those berries had been growing for a while… but they were hidden behind leaves, in shadows, or simply unnoticed by my flitting and unobservant mind.

I asked, “Why?  Where did THESE come from?”

I was told, “They are raspberries… and these are raspberry bushes.”

No matter how much I might have wanted cherries instead, or pears instead, or kiwi instead… the bushes had raspberries.  (Yes, I know some of those are not technically, “fruit…” but you know what I mean.) Not because I had gardened a particular way, or worked particularly hard, or planned successfully.  But because raspberry bushes get to have raspberries.

The commonly labeled “Fruits of the Spirit” are easily misunderstood.  They are not commands, ought to’s, Christianity tests, or obligations.  The Fruits of the Spirit are results of our relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

They happen.

And they are wonderful.  Even better than raspberries.

We judge ourselves and others, though, as lacking when we do not observe those Fruits.  But like my raspberries, those Fruit are there.  Perhaps hidden.  Perhaps unnoticed. Perhaps unsought.

But we get those fruit!  For the next few weeks, we will examine those tasty fruit, those healthy fruit, those fruits that come not from work, or effort, or even knowledge… but from who we ARE in Christ.

The Fruit of the Spirit come from Christian bushes.

Is

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! (Psalm 135:3 ESV)

Is

One of the useful things about the World Series of Baseball, is that when the season is done, folk can know who the best team in baseball was that year.  It might not be your favorite team, but the record and series are pretty good evidence for superiority.  Someone might argue that their team would have won if that particular player had not pulled a hamstring, or tore an ACL.  But the fact is that player did, and so the team did not.  Great expectations are not as declarative as end results, in baseball.

Mighty Casey often strikes out, even though we do not like it.

So praising baseball teams is conditional.  It is results oriented.  And it is often opinion generated.

But not so, God.

He is great, but not because we have so reasoned or observed.  Rather we reason or observe because He IS great.  He is praiseworthy, and so His people praise Him.  He is not praiseworthy because we shout loudly. 

He Is Wondrous, amazing, awe-inducing, perfect, beautiful, and glorious.

Therefore we give Him glory, alone.

Good Bragging

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. (Romans 3:27 ESV)

Good Boasting

I have bragged about my intelligence, and then failed a test.  I have bragged about my driving skills, and then slid off the road.  I have bragged about my guitar-playing, and then forgot to change keys.  I have bragged about my country, and then watched her slide.  I have bragged about a church, and then felt her selfishness.  I have bragged about so many things… that have not been worthy of bragging.

But God is always worth bragging about.  The Father is magnificent.  The Son is wonderful.  The Spirit is delightful.

We humans like to boast, or brag, or praise, or lift up.  But every single thing I know eventually is not ultimately a good brag.

There is only One… and oh, is He ever!

Being bragged about is also unsatisfying, embarrassing, and dishonest.  We know that no one should brag about us.

But The Lord is worth bragging about!

Bost about Him every chance you get.

God’s glory alone.

Center

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36 ESV)

The Center

The center of the contiguous 48 American states is Lebanon, Kansas.  But that is not the center of the Universe.  When I figure out faster-than-light travel I would like to go to the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, a huge cluster of boiling and roiling star matter.  But that is not the center of the universe.  I like my newly remodeled kitchen, it is becoming the center of our home.  But it is not the center of the universe.

When the Romans stated, “All roads lead to Rome,” they were not describing a road map.  Rather, they were stating that in their view, Rome was the center of the Universe.

They were wrong, and it was no accident that Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Rome.

Giving God glory is nothing more or less than declaring that He is the center of your Universe.  There is a wonderful security in knowing that the absolute best in the Universe is your focus.  That you can connect to and praise the only One who really deserves constant and unreserved praise.

All this has taken too many words to say, “give God glory.”

God’s glory alone.

Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60:21 ESV)

Behind It All

Yes, God loves His people.  Yes, God is gracious and merciful towards His people.  Yes, He even killed His Son on our behalf.

But God did not do those things for us.  He did them for His glory.  If we acted like that, others might call us self-centered.  But God is not unrighteously self-centered.  He IS the center of the Universe, of life, of everything.  There is no one else He could work for!

Every part of the story of our salvation, as wonderful as each part is, leads to God, and His glory.

It is not just Amazing Grace, it is Amazing God who gives that grace… glorify Him!  It is not just Precious Faith, it is Precious God who grants us Faith, and accepts that Faith from us… glorify Him!  It is not just the Savior Jesus, it is the Savior God, who put the whole plan into being, and saves us… glorify Him!  It is not just the Holy Bible, it is the Holy God who gives us that Holy Bible… glorify Him!.

God’s glory alone.

Why?

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

Why?

My uncle John was a ham radio operator.  He had built an elaborate short-wave radio that had cost him cash, time, and energy.  A couple of times I went over to his home and huddled in the basement, and we searched the radio waves for ham radio operators all over the world.

Many years later I wrote him an email asking if he still played around with his hobby.  And while he still owned all of the equipment, he had not used the radio for decades.  When I asked him why, he grumbled that all the reasons he had been a ham radio operator had evaporated.  The internet had made world-wide communication easier.  His children were not at all interested in taking up the hobby.  The friends he had made had all quit.  He had no reason even to turn the radio on.

He was knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced.  But ultimately, he had no reason to continue with his radio.

Our hope and our salvation come only through God’s Grace.  He gives us that Grace only through the means of Faith.  That Faith is only Faith if it is Faith in Christ Jesus.  We only know of such things in only one place, Scripture. 

But why does this process matter?  What is our reason for clinging to grace, learning faith, knowing Jesus, and studying His Word?

According to Paul, there is one reason to do everything and anything that we do.  The prescribed purpose, motivation, and intention of all that we do, even our salvation itself, is to bring glory to God.

We know that.  We recite that.  But I wonder if we understand what that means.

For the next few days, we will examine what God’s glory is, and how we can aim our lives at it.

God’s glory alone.

Wow

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:8,9 ESV)

Wow

The Bible is not simply a good book.

God tells Joshua, while the Bible was still very short, some of the things the Bible, as God’s Word, will do in us, for us, and through us.

The Bible is the only way to know God’s expectations.  Without the Bible, we would be guessing what God wants from us.  And the ultimate expectation is not amazing obedience, but is obeying God by trusting in Jesus.  The only place to learn that is in Scripture.

The Bible is the only way to find prosperity and success.  The University System will not lead to prosperity and success.  A Trade School will not lead to prosperity and success.  The School of Hard Knocks will not lead to prosperity and success.  Those things might give temporary, earthly prosperity and success.  But the only place to learn about eternal prosperity and eternal success is in Scripture.

The Bible is the only way to be courageous.  Courage based on our abilities, our good friends, our national protections, or good wishes is a courage that is not reliable.  Courage that comes from an understanding of Who God is comes from Scripture.  Courage that comes from trusting Jesus’ love comes from Scripture.  Courage that comes from seeing God’s path comes from Scripture.

Scripture alone.

Clarity

Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Clarity

I would not read a cookbook to find the fingering for an obscure guitar chord.  I would not read The History of French Nuclear Scientists to better understand Hawai’i’s pineapple industry.  I would not read a clothing size chart to determine the best time to plant onions in my garden. 

There are better places to look.

When determining, discerning, or detecting what to do with our lives, it is easy to read the wrong book.

While the Bible might not have a verse detailing which brand of car to buy (although the Tribes did FORD a river or two) it does give us necessary principles of stewardship. While the Bible might not have a verse detailing how many children a family should have (although the Patriarch Jacob had twelve) it does instruct that children are a blessing, not an obstacle to happiness.  While the Bible might not give specific guidance regarding career choice (although lots of Biblical people were shepherds) it does remind us that our true employer is God Himself.

Christians have a reliable guide when walking through the minefield of life: The Bible.  Christians have a reliable guide when navigating the storm-wracked seas of life: Scripture.  Christians have a reliable guide when the power is out on a cloudy dark night: God’s Word.

Read it.  Read anything else in the light of what Scripture teaches.  Read everything else, in fact, with better understanding because of Scripture.

Scripture alone.

Effective

… so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 ESV)

Effective

I have a flashlight, a favorite one, that does not work.  But for some reason I keep it.  I kept an old pickup truck long after it stopped running, because I chose silly hope.  Recently I threw away four laptop computers that no longer computed, because I had thought I could figure out a fix.

We have a lot of things around that do not do what they are meant to do.  Clocks gain or lose time.  Ovens cook unevenly.  Fish bait does not attract the best fish.  Cell phones act weirdly.  Shoes do not fit just right. 

But God’s Word does what He intends it to do.

We doubt, at times, because God’s Word does not do what we think He intends it to do.  God does not intend His Word to make us content with our lazy devotion.  God does not intend His Word to condemn our neighbors, but placate us.  God does not intend His Word to give us power, give us self-sufficiency, give us self-confidence, or give us good feelings.

God sent His Word to bring His people to Himself, through Jesus Christ.

And the good news in Isaiah’s prophecy here, is that the Good News works.

When seeking for the Jesus that you need, you will find Him through Scripture, doing it’s job.

Scripture alone.

Knowing

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  (I John 5:13 ESV)

Knowing

We know a lot of things, it seems.  I know my favorite TV show (Star Trek) and food (bacon). I know where I live (rural Kansas).  I know my age (redacted). I know that I prefer smiles to tears. I know that tomorrow is Thursday.  I know that gravity is consistent.

But my favorite TV show and food have changed many times.

But I have lived in at least nine other communities.

But my age changes regularly.

But sometimes tears are necessary, and smiles are painful.

But tomorrow, tomorrow will be Friday.

But sometimes gravity seems stronger, and I stumble.

Knowing is not really knowing, it seems.

But the word John uses in I John 5:13 does not mean guess, or deduce, or figure, or reckon, or think, or hope, or have some confidence… it means absolute sure knowledge.  Knowledge that is more sure than any other knowledge our senses attain.  Knowledge that is more sure than sunrises, electrons, rocks, or anything.

We can know that we have eternal life.

Because God’s Word says so.

Scripture alone.

Purpose and Joy

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11 ESV)

Purpose and Joy

The Bible is not filled with harsh commands intended to keep us from happiness.  It might seem like it, when we seek happiness in unrighteous ways, but Jesus states very clearly why He has spoken, both to His disciples and in His Word, the Bible.

Jesus speaks to give us joy.

Joy is not happiness.  Happiness is focused on our immediate circumstances, which are often tough.  Joy focuses on the One True Living God, who is always up to something good (Romans 8:28).  Joy comes from a trusting contentment, that does not naively deny the pain, but rather hopes and sees that God’s good trumps our struggles.

Joy seems hard to come by, sometimes.  Troubles, trials, and tribulations are our constant companions.  Life hurts.  Life is hard.  Life is disappointing.

But rather than try harder to achieve success, personal peace, and happiness, Jesus offers a better path.  He says His Words are the way to Joy.

This is quite logical, actually.  We can trust God more than we can trust our senses.  We can trust God’s Word more than we can trust our thoughts.  We can trust His Joy more than we can trust our sorrow.

And such Joy is found in the Words Jesus says.

When next you need Joy… slowly read some of His Words.

Scripture alone.

Forgeries

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)

Forgeries

I saw a fake ten-dollar bill once.  When I held it in my hand, examined it closely, and even sniffed it, I could not tell it was a forgery.  But when I held it next to a REAL ten-dollar bill, the differences were more clear.

We are told a lot of lies these days.  Whether presented by the media, by public speakers, or deceiving folk, often the untruths seem reliable and trustworthy.

The only way to detect them, is to compare what we are hearing to the Word of God.  This is what the Bereans were doing when they heard Paul preach. (Acts 17:10-12) They heard eagerly, and then double checked.  Note, they did not distrust Paul, His calling, or His knowledge.  They were so glad at the news of the gospel, that they wanted to read it for themselves.

Rather than attempt to discern truth from fiction based on something else that we’ve read, or something else that we want to be true, or something else that we have simply always thought… check out ideas from trustworthy friends by comparing it to the Word of God.   Because God’s Word alone is fully trustworthy.

In our world of forgeries, but ill intentioned, and well intentioned, we need something dependable.

Scripture alone.

Disagreements

“For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:16,17 ESV)

Disagreements

Sir Patrick Stewart is an actor who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek.  I have read interesting articles that claim he is a noble man, much like the part he plays.  I have even heard that Sir Patrick is a closet Christian, charitable, kind, and gentle.  But recently I spent some time with a man who actually KNOWS Stewart.  And he assures me that despite my wishes, third-hand observations, and reading-between-the-lines, Sir Patrick Stewart is none of those things.

There is always an expert.  We draw our own conclusions, we make our own educated guesses, we know what we think we saw… but experts know more than we do.

Disagreements about theology can be good things.  But when our conclusions come from our own background, our own wishes, our own perceptions, our disagreements are light and fluffy… and though fun, at times, are meaningless.

When it comes to God’s Truth, there is an expert.  And that ‘expert’ is nothing more or less than God’s Word.  Even the great Prophet Isaiah points out that no one finds saving faith by listening to Isaiah’s words… but God’s Word alone IS that which moves us, convinces us, molds us, motivates us, convicts us, and shows us what to believe.

Admittedly, though, many of us hold on tightly to OUR views and support them by some proof texts.  But that is not what Paul urges us to do.  Start from Scripture… let Scripture interpret Scripture… cast off things that you believe just because you’ve always believed them…

Knowing about God, and knowing God start with His Word, conclude with His Word, and depend on His Word.

Scripture alone.

God's Thoughts

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

God’s Thoughts

Many books and articles have been written acknowledging that it is hard to understand other people.  Men do not understand women, and women do not understand men.  Old folk do not understand whippersnappers, and youngsters do not understand the elderly.  Democrats do not understand Republicans, and Republicans do not understand Democrats.  Pepsi drinkers do not understand Coke drinkers, and Coke drinkers do not understand Pepsi drinkers.

I wonder if you have found, as I have, that conversation can bridge that gap.  Not shallow cliché-filled words thrown at each other, but deep, honest, open conversation helps us understand the ‘other.’  Although I still do not understand how anyone could enjoy Pepsi…

If those differences are found between people, how much deeper is the chasm between human and divine?  God writes in Isaiah 55:8, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Is it possible for us to understand God?  Knowing God’s ideas and plans for salvation are not merely a good idea… but such knowledge is necessary.  How can we bridge that gap?

We can deduce, we can infer, we can think big thoughts, but the only way for us to know God’s thoughts is for Him to give His thoughts to us.  And that is exactly what the Bible is.

The Bible is not yet another book about religion.  The Bible is not a set of essays intended to help us feel better.  The Bible is not blind human authors reaching into a scary cavern, trying desperately to find safety.

The Bible is God’s thoughts, recorded for us by divinely inspired human authors.

It bridges the gap.  It reveals Who He is, really, in terms we an understand.

It is the only way to know Him.

Scripture alone.

Five Golden Streets

On the Fifth Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21 ESV)

Five Golden Streets

I admit the number does not really match here. 

But the picture of heaven that John describes here is one intended to amaze us.  Whether the golden street is symbolic of beauty, value, and purity… or whether the golden street is more literally something John saw in His vision (I lean towards the latter) I can’t wait to see it, to tread it, and to live on it.

The week of Christ’s life between the Triumphal Entry and His Resurrection are not events for the sake of events, or descriptions for the sake of descriptions, or lessons for the sake of lessons.

Christians, God’s people, are heaven bound.

Christ came to Jerusalem that week so that we can come to heaven.  Christ endured suffering and pain so that we can have heavenly absence of suffering and pain.  Christ died a sinner’s death so that we will not actually die, but instead enter heaven.  Christ arose so that we will arise!

I rejoice that God has paved those streets.

Four Gospel Accounts

On the Fourth Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 ESV)

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. (Mark 15:37 ESV)

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 ESV)

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 ESV)

Four Gospel Accounts

I have twelve biographies of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a man I find fascinating.  I have seven biographies of Winston Churchill, a man I find fascinating.  I have six depictions of Custer’s Last Stand, an event I find fascinating.  I chose multiple perspectives on those historical things, because I learn from different viewpoints.

It does not surprise me that as God wrote His Bible, He inspired four depictions of this week.  There are not many events that are found in all four gospels.  Even the incarnation is only really in two, Matthew and Luke.

But THIS week is the knot at the center of the bow tie of Christ’s life.

And the four viewpoints, unlike my biographies and histories, are all absolutely true. 

Why not read them all today?  What better thing do you have to do on a Thursday evening?

I rejoice that God has given us four pictures of this week.

Three Persons

On the Third Day of Passion Week, my true love gave to me…

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (II Corinthians 13:14 ESV)

Three Persons Involved

Our salvation was paid for by the willing sacrifice of the Second Person of the Trinity.  God Himself, the second person of the Trinity, left heaven, was incarnated, lived, suffered, and died for God’s plan of salvation to be accomplished.  When we think about our salvation, that is the person we usually think of.

But God the Father was also involved, necessarily.  He accepted the sacrifice on our behalf… it did not just happen.  We could claim it all day long, but if God the Father did not say, “THIS is the way of salvation,” we would not be saved.

And the Holy Spirit was also involved, necessarily.  The Holy Spirit’s task in this part of our salvation is bringing the atoning work of Christ on the cross into our individual hearts.  It is not that we reach out and take the proffered salvation from the shelf where God the Father put it… but rather the Holy Spirit applies the Salvation to us. 

We should, along with the crowds at the Triumphal Entry, cheer Jesus Christ.  Look what He did for us!  But we should also cheer God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. 

It does not take a village to save us… but it does take the Trinity.

I rejoice that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have saved His people.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

This Week, we remember and celebrate a very historical set of events… a very important set of events… a very meaningful set of events. 

A set of events that are all about Jesus.

Often called Passion Week, we gather at Jubilee:

Tuesday 4/4  at 7:00 PM to examine, “Why Jerusalem? And other details of that week.”

Wednesday 4/5 at 6:00 PM for seder-ish dinner and, and “What Jesus was doing in the Last Supper.”

Thursday 4/6 at 7:00 PM for the Lord’s Supper: deeper and deeper

Friday 4/7 at 7:00 PM Good Friday

Saturday 4/8 at 7:10 am Men’s Bible Study rescheduled

Sunday 4/9 at 7:30 am for a Resurrection Service, followed by breakfast.