Secretly

How open are your beliefs?  I toss mine out publicly every morning for others to see.  Others don’t.  That does not mean their beliefs are not as strong as mine. I was reminded of that a couple of Sundays ago when the pastor’s scripture reference was in John 19.

The message was on ministry, and how it often was not what we expected.  Sometimes it’s not pretty.  It was a very good sermon and I have notes to look back to John 19 and other scriptures he used in explaining the subject.  But I also saw an anomaly in service.

Remember there had been twelve (now eleven with Judas’ death) men who traveled with Jesus for most of three years. We see one of them at the cross:

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:26-27 KJV)

The others who openly followed Him are not mentioned.  Only the Marys are.  The ones who followed Him secretly, though, are mentioned.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews,

Such a reversal!  Those who followed openly before are now hidden. One who followed in secret, out of fear, is now the one to care when the dream has died.

besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. (John 19:38 KJV)

He had more to lose now than before.  Before there was hope for an earthly kingdom where Jesus’ followers would be powerful.  Here the hope died on the cross, yet Joseph approached Pilate and asked permission to bury his Lord.  And, he was not alone.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. (John 19:39 KJV)

Another who sought Jesus in secret, yet in death ministered to the Lord openly.  How these two men must have cared for Him.  To provide a gravesite, take the body there along with His prophetic gift of myrrh, wrap His body in linen and prepare the tomb.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. (John 19:40 KJV)

Can we minister for our Lord when it appears all hope is gone?  Can we continue to serve when it appears there is no one around who cares?  Can we give of our time, donate our belongings, when things seem to be at an end?

Joseph and Nicodemus did, and not in secret, either.

They Wed

There were several things about Saturday’s wedding that made it special.  First of all, we were invited to join a family in witnessing the marriage of their children.  They could have opted to be married by a justice of the peace.  They could have eloped.  They could have simply moved in together, for a night or a longer shack up (his pastor reminded us of that, too.)

They chose first to remain pure for their spouse.  They made a promise years before to keep themselves physically and spiritual prepared to wear white.  They both did, and wore white.  They chose to make their commitments before God and a large cloud of witnesses. 

She returned her purity ring to her pastor, trading it for the one offered by the man promising to fulfill his commitment to her and his Lord:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28 KJV)

What did they lose by waiting?  Nothing, except for opportunities of regret and worries about HPV or STD.
 
What did they gain? The respect of their family, friends and peers. The knowledge of their spouse’s faithfulness, dependability and stability.  Compliance with God’s commands.  What a trade!!!

They chose to share the moment with others, an open invitation to family, friends, church members – and many of us accepted. We wished to celebrate this day with them, and to let them know that difficulties ahead can be overcome, leading them to their own golden anniversary.  “Only fifty more to go and you’ll catch up with us,” I told her.

All of this took a lot more work, and money, than heading for a court house.  They chose God’s house.  Their vows were before Him, taking into consideration His expectations for marriage as well as their treatment of each other for the rest of their lives.  God is central in their marriage.  As they grow closer to Him, they grow closer to each other.

Next week bills will arrive, meals will need to be prepared, vacuuming (or ‘hoovering’ as my English friend says) will be required, schedules met.  Life will be lived.  The same for all of us!

Saturday we all were a part of their following God’s will:

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (Matthew 19:5 KJV)

Blood

A simple cut on a finger.  We’ve all had one at one time or another. It hurts, too.  Since we use our hands so much, they usually reopen or take a long time to heal.  The blood is necessary to heal, too.  It provides the covering scab for protection. 

We give blood to help others.  Well, most of us can.  Those of us who have had specific diseases are no longer acceptable as donors. Blood from umbilical cords can be used later to help the child. Blood is necessary for us to live.  Yet, blood has given us so much more.

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28 KJV)

Paul, when speaking to the church elders, states that the church was purchased with blood:

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:26-28 KJV)

We must never forget that we are not our own, but have been bought with Christ’s blood, and this was God’s plan.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:23-25 KJV)

“Remission of sins that are past,” are not my words, but from the Bible. Some understand this to mean that future sins will again separate us from God.  Believe that backsliding creates unremitted sins.  Move forward with me into the next chapter:

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:7-8 KJV)

As Paul, I have faith that God is even more capable of forgiving me way past seventy times seven, capable of keeping me with Him:

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)

I count myself among those redeemed – would love to have you join in:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7 KJV)

Comforter

This morning I woke up with the hymn “Heavenly Love” running through my mind.  As I read my e-mails, there was a devotional a friend sent that included: 

“The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path.”

That brought to mind this verse:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)

What do the three things have as a common thread?  God’s love guides those who hear Him, through the Holy Ghost who reminds us of God’s love.  It is a never ending circle that begins with God’s love (John 3:16) and our love for Him (1 John 4:19).

It is that bringing into remembrance that provides comfort to me.  When I wake with a remembrance of His love, I face what the day brings wrapped in the peace Jesus left us holding:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 KJV)


And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 KJV)

Facing each day’s wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famines, disease and natural disasters will eventually take its toll, without hope.  Even though we cannot see the future holding peace, plenty, health and stability, God gives us the very substance of things hoped for.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

Many times I been asked about – and I have written how to gain – that faith:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

It’s not only the world’s troubles that press in upon us – we each face daily pains and sorrows similar to but yet unlike anyone else’s.  The friends we would turn to have problems of their own. When no one else is around, we turn to Him, which brought to mind another old hymn, “Where Could I Go But To The Lord.”

Now, when we do get to this point, where we turn our lives over to our Lord in faith, hope and love, He provides one of the greatest comforts I’ve ever known – people of faith.  Those with troubles of their own that have found the Comforter and will fellowship with us through trials and tribulations, sorrows and sadness, even health and happiness.

There is nothing quite like Christian fellowship.  Join in.

Prosperity?

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38 KJV)

The subject in verses before this is forgiveness and mercy.  Yet some “prosperity ministries” quote this verse as promising financial increases.  Quite often such ministries ask for funds to continue their ministry from luxurious surroundings.

We might remind them that the man who spoke those words did not have a place to lay His head that was not provided by the kindness of others.

I’ve also read we deserve financial prosperity based on:

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV)

Paul wrote this.  A man who worked along side Aquila and Priscilla making tents.  A man who understood that Jesus left all His riches for a while, and asked Paul to follow Him.  A man who did follow, becoming dependent on churches to provide for his missionary work, and thanked them for it.

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; (2 Corinthians 9:12 KJV)

Maybe we need to spend some time in Matthew 19, where the young man asked the question so many of us do:

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16 KJV)

Jesus’ answer tells me several things.  First, the young man addressed Him insincerely, using ‘good’ when he didn’t mean that he thought Jesus was of God.  Second, Jesus knew the young man was aware of the commandments.  Third, he wanted to shorten them, because he asked “Which?”  Finally, Jesus knew the treasure of the young man’s heart when He said:

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21 KJV)

Give up prosperity now, acquire eternal treasures in heaven.  The young man made the choice so many of us do today, he opted to retain his riches, tossing heaven aside.

Does any of this mean that only the poor can be saved?  No, even when Christ’s disciples question if anyone could be saved, Christ explained:

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:25-26 KJV)

Peter voiced the question that remains in the minds of those who want their cake and eat it, too:

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? (Matthew 19:27 KJV)

“What’s in it for me?” Are we still asking that question before we serve Him? Read the next verses for Christ's answer.

For The Mature Christian

Fast Food collage from Wikipedia, but the link isn’t fast food!!

Remember yesterday’s post?  If not, go ahead a take a look at it.  While checking in on Second Daughter’s progress, I mentioned that I used her migraine in a blog.  We talked about it, and I explained that it was directed more toward mature Christians than the newborns. That the mature Christians should be offering milk to newbies, and she mentioned that in many instances, Christians aren’t getting meat. She and I had a couple of verses in mind. 

I was thinking of:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV)

Here Paul was explaining why he was giving small increments of lessons for new Christians that still had a carnal spirit, just as he would give milk to babies who could not digest meat.

She was thinking of:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV)

Here the writer of Hebrews was decrying the fact that mature Christians should be long past the milk stage, able to digest the difficult principles spoke of God.  Instead, they are requiring the full attention of teachers instead of teaching others.

Second Daughter put it down to our society being so used to fast foods that we expect the same in our churches.  Run in on Sunday morning for the worship service and that should hold us for the entire week, right? If not outright milk, at least a milkshake, not meat.

Wrong!

We all know what happens to people that eat only fast food – and weight loss at Subway is NOT what we had in mind.  There are empty calories there, just as keeping John 3 as the only chapter or 1 John 4:8 the only verse would be empty for a Christian.

The mature Christian must be able to handle the hard to understand.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)

If, as a mature Christian, you only receive only milk in services – go seek the meat, at another church, Bible college or in prayerful Bible study as you read through it.

For the new babe in Christ, seek out a teaching mature Christian and learn from them.

Painful

This graphic from Wiki Commons doesn’t do justice to the fluorescence I see in those jagged lights that accompanied my migraines, and that I still experience about once a year.

I no longer suffer from the pain of a full-blown migraine headache, but for over twenty years I could testify to the pain.  Mayo Clinic defines it quite well:

A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.

I remember reading that nothing short of terminal illnesses and childbirth compare to that pain.  My Second Daughter experienced one last night.  In addition to the “dark, quiet place to lie down,” she and her husband considered an ER – she does not have these often at all, and that is a kindness.

Thinking about that comparison, childbirth, brought to mind a verse that is very familiar to every Christian:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 KJV)

Nicodemus, the other participant in the conversation, did not understand the analogy, and made his confusion very plain.  Jesus didn’t give a much longer explanation, other that He spoke of a spiritual birth:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:5-7 KJV)

Why then do we think becoming a Christian is easy?  Babies experience pressure during birth.  Babies are thrown into an unfriendly environment at birth.  Babies cry right after they are born, even when handled by professional, competent caregivers – as well as loving, yet untrained, parental mentors.

Why do we look upon the cries of new Christians as inappropriate?  Why do think they should be taking meat when we understand fully that newborns require milk before solid foods.  The analogy Jesus gave is so very accurate.

Surely those of us who love Him and have grown in His word can take these newborns and provide a loving family that will aid their growth. Along with them, we can put Peter’s advice to good use, giving God the glory:

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 KJV)