Overcoming Misunderstandings

Joshua led the nation of Israel to see the fulfillment of the Lord’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Joshua chapter 21, verses 43 to 45 boldly declare that every single word the Lord had promised to Israel had come true. Not one of their enemies had withstood this generation, these children of Egyptian slaves.

These people lived through many battles, and each battle was proof that the God of the universe was with Israel, judging nations and proclaiming his name as glorious throughout the world. Now that the land has been established and allotted by portions to each tribe of Israel, it is time for the people to begin their responsibility of being a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). It’s not time to just kick back and relax. If they thought the battles and the warfare was the hard part, they were wrong. God was the one who primarily defeated all the armies they had fought. They had to show up and believe and act faithfully, but the Lord defeated the armies and conquered the kings. Now that the land has been inhabited, it is the responsibility of the people to love and obey God in a way that is a light to the rest of the world; that the entire world may see what it looks like for God to dwell with man as he originally intended.

The last thing for Israel to do now, is for the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh to cross the Jordan and go back east to the land that has been allotted to them. These are men who have already received their portion of land, but have stuck with the rest of the people and fighting with them. They have left their homes and lands to fight with their brothers who were yet to receive a portion and inheritance. Now that the conquest is complete, they can return home, as they have fulfilled their oath. This is how it plays out in Joshua chapter 22.

Joshua exhorts them to return to their lands in peace and repeats a version of the famous “shema,” the most important verse in the Bible for the Jewish people (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Essentially, it says to love God with everything you have; heart, mind, soul, strength, everything.

On their way back, before they cross the Jordan, they set up an altar on the west bank of the Jordan. A huge altar “of imposing size” (v.10). The rest of Israel hears about this and everyone has the same thought: “after all we went through with those guys, after all they had seen the Lord do for us, they’ve gone and built an altar to foreign gods!” This was everyone’s knee-jerk reaction. No one thinks twice. Everyone gets so upset that they get ready to make war on their own brothers, their own people; all because they assumed that Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh had turned away from following God.

They meet up with these three tribes, ready to kill them all, and ask them why they have turned from God. And then the leaders of the three tribes respond.
“Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, “The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance.” (Joshua 22:21-23 ESV)

I love how their first response is not to defend themselves or get into some kind of debate. I love how their first response is to declare who their God is, and they say it twice, just in case they didn’t hear it the first time! Their response is “it’s all about the Lord, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh.” They declare that their allegiance and faith is in the one and same God as their brothers.

This episode tells me a few things:

1. The hard work of life with God comes after coming to know him. The hard part of life comes after salvation and knowing God; after he cleanses the darkness from your life.
2. There will always be misunderstandings in life, even from your own spiritual brothers and sisters; from those whom you expect to be on the same side as you.

In this episode, both sides were zealous for God, they both loved the Lord and were grateful to him, desiring his glory among the nations; and that zeal caused them to declare his greatness (building an altar), and to declare war on one another. In the end, both sides listened to one another and the matter was resolved; not in a way that one side was proved right and the other side proved wrong, it was resolved by understanding that both sides loved God and were doing their best to love and obey him.

The three tribes built that altar because they wanted the other tribes’ children to know that they were all one people, even though there was a river that separated them all. They built it out of reverence for God, they built it as a witness.

The other tribes got ready for war because they were zealous to protect the name of the Lord. They couldn’t stand the thought of their own flesh and blood so suddenly and foolishly turning from the God who had so powerfully been with them.

Both sides were following God with all their heart, but there was a misunderstanding between them. What matters when we run into misunderstandings with other Christians is to find out where everyone’s heart is. So often we want to justify ourselves and have God back us up and defend our blamelessness; but the issue is a matter of the heart. If both sides are following the Lord with a whole heart, both should rejoice. We will bump and scrape each other along the way, but we shouldn’t be shocked about it. We should expect it. Sometimes it’s hard when other believers offend or wrong us, because we almost subconsciously expect them to know that we’re on the same side. It often hurts the most when pain comes from those closest to us.

The only thing that will heal is if both sides can know that both are wholly committed to the Lord. Both may take different approaches or do things that may seem offensive to one another, but what is the issue of the heart? Where does the heart stand in any given issue? If we cannot resolve the situation based on the character and identity of God himself, we will always be caught on issues of morality and ethics which can be a dangerous snare (although morality and ethics are very important). It’s like having a really bad argument/wrestling match in a really small, confined space; like an epic battle in an empty barrel.

Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). And that love is God (1 John 4:8).

-fortissimo-

Clap your hands, all peoples!
                Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
        For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
                a great king over all the earth.
(Psalm 47:1-2 ESV)

I love how this text says to rejoice in God so much that you clap your hands and shout, singing loudly with joy. And why are we told to do this? Because the Lord is to be feared. There’s no misinterpreting that!

Are we to have great joy in the Lord?
Yes.
Are we to shout and sing loudly?
Yes.
Are we to fear God?
Yes.
In fact, a healthy fear of God is what brings the joy and the clapping and the shouting.

Sounds confusing? Hey, at least it’s not one-dimensional!
Love is simply complicated.

The important thing to take from this is that we are not commanded anywhere in Scripture to only clap and shout and sing; and we are not commanded anywhere in Scripture to only fear the Lord.
Just another indication that a relationship with the Lord is grounded in reality.

We can’t properly rejoice in God if we do not fear him, and we can’t properly fear God if we do not rejoice in him.

Seeing Jesus

Tonight, just the fact that Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:1 that he has seen Jesus Christ totally blows me away (“Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?”).
There’s nothing wrong with reading the Word and coming away with a simple awe like this.

Paul actually did see Jesus! Most likely, while Jesus was alive, but not in a personal way. What Paul is probably referring to is his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, where Jesus appears to him as blinding light. Paul would later write to his protege Timothy that God dwells in “unnaproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16), most definitely speaking out of first-hand experience.

It’s also thought that during his early conversion, Christ revealed himself to Paul personally (Galatians 1:12).

I’m just overcome with the thought of actually seeing Jesus. I know we’ll see him in the end. But Paul saw him during his own lifetime. It just makes me wonder what I would do if I could see Christ in my own lifetime.

Check Your Price Tag

In 1 Corinthians 6:20, Paul tells the Corinthians that “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” In this context, he’s talking about avoiding sexual immorality. A follower of Christ is a temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19), and so we must seek to glorify God in what we do with our bodies (that is, keeping it pure and free from sexual immorality). In this sense, we should remember that we don’t have authority over our bodies, God does, since he has paid a price and purchased us. God has ownership of us, body, soul, every single piece of us seen and unseen.

Later in 1 Corinthians 7:22-23 Paul says, “He who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” Here, Paul urges the Corinthians to live the lives God has called them to. If someone is a slave and is called by God, they should remain a slave (but realize they are free in Christ); also, if they are able to gain their freedom they should look into it. If someone is a free man when called by God, he should not seek to become a slave, but realize that he is now a slave of Christ. It isn’t outward signs or status that mean anything, but everyone must realize they are changed because of Christ; everyone is equal at the cross. At this point, Paul again reminds us that we are bought with a price, and so we should not seek to live a life contrary to the one God has called us to live.

Two different examples to stress one main point: We are Christ’s not because we chose him, but because he chose and purchased us; he has the bill for all his sheep and it is permanently stamped “Paid in Full.” This is so important to know. More than that, it’s so important to really let it sink in because our salvation can easily become a distant memory, and we can forget just how much it cost to purchase us. If I live in a way that is not always aware of the price Jesus paid for me, I won’t live as if I am a temple of the Holy Spirit and I won’t be content with my calling in life.

The price Jesus paid for me was his blood. Not just some drops; he willingly gave up his whole life for his sheep. The eternal Son of God actually died. His value wasn’t just a mortal life, it was also an infinite life. It basically means that the exchange for the blood and life of the Son of God is “infinity dollars.” On every follower of Christ is a price tag that shows what price we were bought for, and it reads, “infinity.” That’s expensive.

I look at some things in this world that I’ll just never be able to afford. I marvel at the prices of some things and I can’t comprehend how some people can walk into a place and pay in full for some really expensive things. My wife and I have iPhones. I marveled at the price of two smart phones (and the ensuing phone bill; no disrespect, AT&T).

Yet if I really take a look at myself and check out my price tag, the one that Jesus looked at and said, “I’ll pay that”, how can I not desire to give God glory in what I do with my body? How can I not desire to look at all I have been given and not be content? Jesus paid it all. When I get an expensive gift, or if I buy something expensive, I treat it with greater respect and care. It’s on my mind more than cheaper things. I’m concerned about it. Is this how I view my savior who purchased me? Oftentimes, no. Maybe it’s because I don’t value myself at an infinite price tag. But the point is not to continue and encourage myself or anyone that we are all worth so much. Just because our price tags read “infinite dollars” doesn’t mean we focus on ourselves and say “Wow, I’m worth so much to God!”

The point is to look at Jesus and marvel that he would willingly, in love, pay the price. It’s all about what he paid, not how much we cost.

So from day to day, moment by moment, check your price tag. Don’t ascribe the amount to yourself, just marvel at the God who paid it.

Not Judges, Servants

        [5] Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
        [6] I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
(1 Corinthians 4:5-6 ESV)

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Here, Paul is talking about the ministry of the apostles in opposition to what is happening in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church was divided over many things, one of them being that there were different factions or groups who boasted in one apostle over the other (specifically, Paul and Apollos - ch.3:4). This division and boasting Paul rebukes as complete foolishness and “merely human” (ch.3:4).

Certain people in the church (and not just the Corinthian church) have judged Paul to be inferior to Apollos and other apostles, especially in his speaking ability (1:17, 2:3-4, 4:18-21). Paul reminds them that apostles must first be servants of Christ and stewards of his mysteries, with a requirement that they be found trustworthy in all they do (4:1-2).

He then reminds them that upon Jesus’ return, he will bring to light the purposes of all hearts, and judgment belongs to him alone. Specifically, he mentions not to “boast in favor of one [minister/teacher] against another” (v.6 AMP). In today’s church, I see so many of us treating pastors and teachers like superstars or baseball cards. It seems everyone has their pool of favorites, and all other teachers don’t matter because they’re not as good. I am guilty of this myself; and isn’t this exactly what Paul is talking about? Thank God that by the Holy Spirit, this letter written to a church almost 2,000 years ago, is also written to us.

Simply put: the judging must stop. I am not allowed to compare or contrast pastors, teachers, or ministers anymore. It must end today. If I (we) do, it is sin and ungratefulness. We should all be extremely grateful that there are many examples we can point to in our culture who are shepherding churches and teaching the Scriptures and leading people to Christ. If they are false teachers, that’s another story, but extreme care must be placed on our judgment of others. When Jesus returns, I should not be at all surprised that some people who were harshly judged by many will be revealed to have been among the most trustworthy servants; and others who were highly praised may be proven to have been not very trustworthy at all.

Also, it moves me to search my own heart and ask myself the questions: “Are you a good servant? Are you a responsible steward? Are you trustworthy?”

Lord, CHANGE ME! I see the foolishness of my ways and desire to be as you want me to be. By your grace, my commitment and my faith, may there be great changes made in my heart.
In Jesus’ name.

Already a Winner

Galatians 5:24
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

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Paul says here that anyone who belongs to Jesus (anyone who has come to be known by God [4:9]), are people who have crucified the flesh and its works (a partial list is given in verses 19-21: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies). Those who belong to God have put these things to death and left them behind, and they have been raised anew, living by the Spirit of God.

It means that if I belong to God, I have already done this act and am living under a new reality. As I was reading this, I wondered, “If I still struggle with living in the flesh, do I really belong to God? Have I really been raised anew in the Spirit?” The point Paul is making is not that everyone who knows God is now perfect and doesn’t struggle with their past identities anymore, but the key is to “walk by the Spirit” (5:25); to live a daily life with God, struggles and all.

I need to be reminded that I am able to continue putting my struggles behind me because I have already crucified them. What I am struggling with is not a full-blown relapse, but a residue of wanting old, familiar things.

It’s not by my efforts that the things I desire and struggle with are conquered, it’s only by faith through Christ that I am justified. It’s all about him, not my struggles. Lord, help me to live with this victory at the forefront of my mind today; to live as one who has been adopted by you, not as a slave, but as an heir.

Resting in God

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
(Deuteronomy 5:15 ESV)

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In the first announcement of the Ten Commandments, there’s a different reason as to why Israel must observe the Sabbath than this retelling in Deuteronomy. “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:11).
In Exodus, God tells Israel to observe the Sabbath day because it is a reminder of God’s work in creation. Here in Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people to observe the Sabbath because they need to remember they were once slaved in Egypt.

In both cases, the focus is on an act of God. He creates, and he rescues. The principle is to take one day of intentional rest to remember the Lord, that because of who he is, we need to take one day out of the week and rest in the presence of this awesome God who has the power to create all things and the love to show mercy to the lowest of people.

The focus is on God, not the abstaining from work. It’s all about him. It’s about setting your mind to remember your God and all he has done. I’ve honestly had a hard time doing this, because I tend to just remember all the busy and crazy things that happened throughout the week, and I reflect on them and rest from my work. But I need to use the sabbath day not to rest from being a workaholic, rather, I need to rest in God and commit myself to considering who God is and all he has done. That’s how to rest in worship, rather than relief from work.