“If you say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way… his blood I will require at your hand… but if you warn him, you will have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 7:18-19). 

In one of the most powerful questions posed anywhere in scripture, Cain asked God a very penetrating question. After murdering his brother Abel, the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother, Abel.” To which Cain responded, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) It’s clear that Cain’s answer was intended to deflect his responsibility for what he had done to his brother. He simply did not want to assume the responsibility for his actions; thus, he told the Lord that he was not his brother’s keeper.  

Now as I’ve considered what Cain said, my thoughts turned to what Ezekiel wrote in the passage cited above. Look at it again. In its entirety, the passage describes Ezekiel’s responsibility to “speak to or warn the wicked from his wicked way.” That leads to an important question for each of us. To what degree is it our responsibility to speak to or warn those who are sinning? In other words, does God expect us to serve as our brother’s keepers; and if so, what does that look like on a day in and day out basis? Can you agree that this is no small thing for Christians to consider? 

Well, as I’ve contemplated what it means to “warn the wicked,” my thoughts turned to what Paul wrote to Timothy; “Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).  

Note there are two aspects to what Paul said. First, our words are to be an example. That includes speaking words to turn sinners from their ways. We have a genuine responsibility to speak God’s truth into the lives of those who are sinning against Him. That may involve a measure of risk, especially of being considered judgmental. Yet nonetheless, I don’t believe the Lord intends for us to sit idly by as we say nothing in the presence of obvious sin. But second, we are to warn sinners not only by our words, but by our “conduct”. That means that our lives are to be a consistent testimony to God. Thus, our words and our actions serve to “warn the wicked.” 

I’m guessing that you are grieved by at least one person in your experience who claims to be a Christian, yet who is not living in a Christ-like manner. Further, you’ve been wondering if you should say anything to them. Perhaps you haven’t due to fear of being perceived as judgmental. If that describes your situation, my counsel to you is simple. First, make sure your life is an example of Christ living in you. Then ask God for the courage and the timing to speak a loving word of encouragement (warning) to the one who God has laid upon your heart. Cain sought to avoid his responsibility as his brother’s keeper. I don’t think we should follow his example, do you? 

“Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves” (Job 11:6).
 
As I meditated on what Job wrote in the passage quoted above, I could not help but think of the words of John Newton; “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” Yes truly, God’s grace is an amazing thing to receive and experience. It manifests itself in many ways, but certainly one primary way in which God extends grace to us is that he does not require of us all that our sin deserves. Let’s talk about that for a minute.

Certainly the ability for us as sinful men to comprehend what it means to be perfectly holy is something we can never fully grasp. Yet from cover to cover, the Bible makes it clear that the God of the Bible is perfectly holy in all he is, does, decrees, and brings to pass. There is no action he initiates, no aspect of his personality, no judgment he renders, nor providential sovereignty he exercises, that is anything less than perfectly holy in all respects. Given our limited and man-centered mindset, we will never be able to figure out, let alone understand such perfect holiness.

Now compare the concept of God’s holiness to our sinfulness. The gap between his holiness and our sin, his perfection and our imperfections, his purity and our impurity, his excellence and our wretchedness is so great and immense that we can never understand it. From that perspective, one might suggest that there is simply no way a perfectly holy God could ever see anything in us, based on our merit, that would make him love or accept us. 

Yet he does love and accept us precisely because of what Job came to understand; “God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.” So the question becomes; on what basis does God require of us less than we deserve? How does a perfectly holy God extend grace to us?

Now understand that one aspect of God’s perfect holiness is his perfect justice. Thus, only a perfectly holy substitute might satisfy his perfect justice. That’s where Christ enters the picture. Jesus is the perfectly holy sacrifice (the only sacrifice) that satisfies God’s requirement for perfect holiness. Thus, when one places their faith in Christ as savior, the just and holy requirements of God are met. That alone is the basis upon which God comes to “require of us less than our guilt deserves.” 

In that light then, there is a crucial question that each of us must deal with; how are you going to deal with the guilt (judgment and condemnation) you justly deserve? Remember; he exacts less of us solely on the basis of Christ. Thus, you can stand alone before a holy God or choose to allow Christ to stand in your place. It’s the latter that extends grace, thereby requiring of us far less than what our sin deserves.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Isn’t it instructive to know that the human condition, our shared experiences of suffering, pain and loss, is something that’s common to all men for all time? Read again the words of the prophet Habakkuk. Those words were written almost 2600 years ago. Life has not changed much, has it?

Now I want you to pay particular attention to the specific things he referred to in light of the culture of his day. Note he made reference to fig trees, fruitful vines, olive trees and fields of produce, as well as flocks and herds. In his day, those things represented the core and essence of what made his society function. In other words, the absence of such things meant total devastation for the people. No culture in ancient times would survive should it lose the things he mentioned. 

With that in mind, the question arises as to what lesson we can learn from what he wrote. Well, as I have meditated on his words, what I’ve come to see is that Habakkuk learned a valuable lesson, and it’s this. Joy is possible even in the midst of total ruin. Don’t miss his absolute commitment to joy when he said, “I will rejoice in the Lord.” That simply tells me that he made a conscious choice to rejoice in the Lord in the midst of the loss of all the things that provided stability for the people of his day. 

How does that impact our lives centuries later? I recall two conversations with real life Habakkuks. One individual lost everything that was dear to her. In her words, she was “utterly alone.” The other individual faced the most difficult of medical conditions with the future totally uncertain. Now understand; the outcome of their situations is not the issue. As we know, not everything has a happy ending based on our definition. 

Yet as I reflect on my conversations with them, what impacts me yet today is their joy. They were joyful because they followed in the path of Habakkuk; “I will rejoice in the Lord.” Their joy was predicated on the Lord, as opposed to the absence of or relief from the difficulties they faced. On the surface, such joy seems impossible. Yet I’ve witnessed it first hand as it radiated in the lives of two people who impacted me deeply by their joy. 

Let me ask; how are your fig trees, vines, olive trees, fields, flocks and herds doing? But even more importantly, what is the status of your joy? It was only as Habakkuk focused on the Lord, the God of his salvation, that he obtained a joy that was immune to the ups and downs of life. Yes, it is possible. Yet it is a choice. What choice will you make? Will it be Habakkuk’s nor not?  

“And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds” (Ezekiel 20:44).

I don’t know about you, but I am eternally grateful that God does not treat me as I deserve to be treated. Not only does he give me what I don’t deserve (that’s his grace), he doesn’t give me what I truly deserve (that’s his mercy). As Christians, we are constantly bathed in the mercy and grace of God. If it were otherwise, we would be miserable, alone, lost and utterly hopeless before a perfectly holy God. 

Perhaps it’s helpful to think of his mercy in this way. The mercy that God showers on us daily has nothing to do with us. That’s right. There is no one at any time in their life, regardless of how good they might be, how active in church or in serving others or any such thing, who merits God’s mercy. It is entirely God’s prerogative to treat us with mercy, or to withhold it. It is his to do with as he pleases. 

The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote; “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy… so then, he has mercy on whomever he wills” (Romans 9:15, 18).

Now with that in mind, the question arises: Why does God choose to extend mercy to us? Perhaps your first answer is that he extends mercy because he loves us. That’s not a wrong answer by any means, but it’s not what Ezekiel wrote. Take a look at the verse again. The Lord extends mercy to us “for his name’s sake.” 

I don’t know about you, but in my mind that’s a staggering thought. It tells us that God’s mercy is extended to us for the sake of his name, which is the same as saying for his glory. Thus, when God does not give us what we deserve, his dealings are according to his desire to spread his fame to all who know Christ as their savior. Wow—God extends mercy to me for his name’s sake; not because I deserve it, merit it or am worthy of it! 

With that in mind, we must consider this: How should God’s desire to magnify his name in the extension of mercy change how we live? There are several things that come to mind for me in that regard. First, it should keep us humble before a holy God. We deserve nothing, yet for the sake of his name he dispenses his mercy towards us. Further, it encourages us to be free in showing mercy towards others, even when they appear undeserving. Then finally, it makes us grateful for a God who gives us what we don’t deserve so that he might withhold from us that which we truly deserve. How good is that?

“And I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen” (Exodus 14:17-18).

I am constantly amazed by the way the Lord takes the forces aligned against him and uses them for his glory. There are many examples to consider. Let me share a few. 

If you recall, Joseph’s brothers were the ones who sold their younger brother into slavery. As God exercised his sovereignty over Joseph’s life, it was ultimately Joseph who facilitated his father’s move to Egypt, thereby affording the Hebrew people the time and safety to grow as a nation.  

Then 400 years later, as Pharaoh sought to destroy the Jews, God used an exile, Moses as the means whereby the Jews were delivered from Egypt. Instead of annihilating the Jews, God fulfilled his purpose in freeing them and exalting his glory before all the Egyptians. It was Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen who were destroyed, not God’s people. 

Further, Daniel was exiled to Babylon as a young man. God ultimately placed him in a position of power and influence. In addition, Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king. God overruled his lowly position and used him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

There are more examples to be sure, but the preeminent example is that of Christ. Satan thought he had defeated God’s purposes when he incited the Jews to kill Christ. Yet God used the very instruments of his enemy to be the vehicle through which his glory might be displayed. Who but God is able to take that which is aligned against him and his purposes and turn them to be the very means of his victory?  

Can you see the practical implications of that for us? Yes, of course some of us are facing things that appear insurmountable. Health, job, financial and relationship issues engulf us at times. The enemy is constantly seeking to distract our gaze from Christ to the problems we face. But the fact remains, God is able to take the apparent source of our defeat and turn it into the vehicle for our blessing; and all of that for his glory and honor. Such remarkable victory may not come when we want, or even in the form we might prefer. Yet nonetheless, if God does anything well, he takes that which appears hopeless and uses it for his glory and our good. 

I don’t know how that might apply to your current situation, but at the very least, let the drowned chariots and horsemen of Egypt serve to encourage you faith when it appears that Pharaoh is about to overtake you.

“With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. When my spirit faints within me, you know the way” (Psalm 142:1-3).

Question: When is the last time you found yourself hiding in a cave in the middle of nowhere, fleeing for your life? My guess is that the answer to that question is “Never!” Few of us have ever had to flee for our lives, particularly from someone who we had not wronged, someone we loved, someone who had loved us as well. Yet that’s the situation David found himself in; cowering in a cave, alone, frightened and wondering what God was doing in his life.

As I’ve meditated on this passage, it struck me that there are four things David did in the dark recesses of the cave. Take a look at the passage again. We learn that he cried out, pled, poured out, and told his trouble to the Lord. That speaks to me of David’s unashamed, direct, even blunt communication of his situation in the midst of his troubles. There is, I believe, something very important for us to learn from what David did.

What I’ve come to see is that God is big enough to handle our most fervent, passionate, direct and desperate cries. David’s words follow in a long line of others who have cried out in such strong terms. Moses wondered if it might be better for the Lord to kill him, as opposed to bearing the burden of leading God’s people. Jeremiah wanted the Lord to remove him from being a spokesman because of the rejection and persecution he experienced. Jacob wrestled for an entire night and would not give in until the Lord blessed him. At the end of their wrestling match, Jacob demanded that the Lord bless him. These are examples of people who had intense interactions with God. They were unwilling to hide any part of what they were feeling. 

Now the reason why this speaks to us is because I often observe that we are reluctant to be as blunt and forthright with God as we might like or need to be. You see, it’s entirely possible to do what David did. Such communication does not convey a lack of respect towards God whatsoever. It’s quite the opposite. I think the Lord longs to hear the deepest cries of our hearts, even the desperation we feel during the most difficult times. 

Can you see how this becomes very practical for us? Let me explain. Some of us are in the midst of intense pain right now. We may not be hiding in a cave, but perhaps we wish we were. David audibly cried out as he pled for release from his situation. He held nothing back, fully confident that God could handle the intensity of his cries. Yet, David followed his pleading with the following: “You know my way; you are my refuge, for you will deal bountifully with me.” David cried out, pled, poured out and told God of his troubles. But even more importantly, David trusted God. A good lesson for us as well!

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... Behold I am coming soon... Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”(Genesis 1:1; Revelation 22:12, 20).

I wonder if you have ever paused to think deeply about all that’s contained between the opening words of the Bible and its concluding words; from creation to the end of the age as we know it. I spent some time meditating on that over the past few days. It is a daunting experience to say the least. Yet nonetheless, I found it a profitable thing to do for several reasons. Let me explain.

The first thing it did for me is to humble me, to put me in my place. By that I mean that as I considered all that’s contained in scripture, I could not help but wonder; who am I that I should consider myself as any more than a speck of dust in God’s sight? Realizing that God has orchestrated all we read in scripture for his glory means that even individual people, specks of dust like you and me, are ruled by a sovereign and providential God. He cares about the dust he created, and that’s good.

Second, I marvel beyond words at how effortlessly God brings about that which he purposes. There is not a single event recorded in scripture that was not part of God’s purposes. From cover to cover, all that we read in the Bible fulfills that which God purposed. That applies to each of us as well. He has a purpose for us as the redeemed; and as we obey what he calls us to do, we are privileged to join alongside him in fulfilling his plans and purposes for us.

Third, I stand in awe of what God has prepared for us once we enter his presence in eternity. The concluding chapters of Revelation make it clear that what we will experience is beautiful beyond words or description. And the best part of it is that it will never end.

Fourth, I see anew how comprehensive God’s wisdom is. There is not a single circumstance in life that’s not dealt with in scripture. His counsel is unsearchable, exhaustive, and penetrating; and best of all, it is freely available to us. How good is that?

Now there are many other things that came to mind as I meditated on all that’s contained between Genesis and Revelation. But that’s for another time. What I would encourage you to do this week is to look for yourself at the passages I cited above. See if you are as moved as I was by the enormity of God, the scope of his actions, the depth of his wisdom, and the sovereignty of his purposes. And don’t forget as you do so that he loves the “dust” so much that he orchestrated the entirety of human history in order to sweep the dust into his kingdom. Awesome! Simply awesome!

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

As you know, this past week we hosted our annual Western Great Lakes District pastors’ conference. There were over 150 delegates here from around the state, and our main order of business was the election of a new district superintendent. All of the business aspects of the conference went well, as reflected by the wonderful unity present among our pastors. However, as blessed as I was by our unity, I received an even greater blessing by hanging out with other pastors, particularly those who have been in ministry for a long time. Let me explain.

I have been meditating recently on the passage I cited above. In the text, we are instructed to “run with endurance.” Now in the New Testament, the word “endurance” refers to a person who does not swerve from his deliberate purpose and constancy of faith, even in the midst of opposition and trials. In other words, the one who endures remains steadfast over the long haul in serving the Lord, no matter the trials and obstacles he faces. In that light, I had the privilege of being around a handful of men and women this past week who are models of endurance.

With that in mind, here is what I set out to do as our days together unfolded. I made it a point to visit with those who I know to have been in ministry for decades. I’m talking about those precious people perhaps 70 years of age and above. At present, they may not be serving full time, yet they continue to serve in one fashion or another. As we talked, I asked them about their ministry lessons, trials and blessings. Even though some of them had been through seasons of difficulty, there was not a hint of fatigue or weariness as it relates to their continued service to Christ. What a blessing!

Now how does this apply to each of us? Well, it seems to me as if we live with a “retirement” mindset. That is to say that we structure our lives so that the day will come when we will step back from our primary vocation for a season of diminished busyness and activity. I have no problem with that. However, can I tell you gently that there is no such thing as “retirement” as it relates to serving the Lord? There should never come a time when we assume that we are done serving others in one form or another.

Those I interacted with this past week were perfect models of running with endurance the race that was set before them. Are you running in such a fashion or are you more concerned with stepping back to rest? The overwhelming impression I received from my “senior” colleagues is that ongoing service energizes their hearts, fuels their love for Christ and keeps them young.

I don’t know about you, but that’s clearly the type of person I want to be when I grow up! Join me, would you?

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12).

Who among us has not spent time reminiscing about past pleasures. We take pictures, make videos, and in general do a variety of things to assist us in recalling pleasant times, places and people. All anyone in my family has to do is mention the months we lived in Africa. Just the reminder of Africa evokes memories that we share with one another whenever we can. That’s a good thing to do. 

Yet in that light, I wonder how often we consciously and intentionally recall past deeds of the Lord, past examples of his work in our lives. I think we are wired to forget such things far too quickly. That’s not a good thing. For you see, our joy is significantly magnified as we practice what the psalmist spoke of: “I will remember your wonders of old.”

Here is what I am learning as I make a practice of remembering the deeds of the Lord. First, recalling his past deeds reminds me of his faithfulness in always working for my good. No matter how hard I might try, I simply cannot identify a circumstance when I can’t look back to see God’s hand at work for my good. 

Further, every time we recall his past faithfulness, it serves as a guarantee of his future faithfulness. That is to say that God will be no less faithful to us now than he has been in the past. There is a wonderfully comforting mechanism at work in that. You see, when challenges come, we have a choice. We can focus on the obstacle or on the past faithfulness of God, his “wonders of old.”  When we recall his wonders of old, our concerns become less threatening in light of his never-ending work on our behalf.

In addition to that, recalling his wonders of old gives us a wonderful expectation of how the present situation we are facing will one day result in something we recall as a wonder of old. In other words, today’s obstacle will become tomorrow’s mighty deed, something to be recalled. That sets up a never-ending process of recalling God’s work. Such a mindset prepares us for unexpected challenges and brings great blessings at the same time.

Here is what I suggest you consider. Perhaps even write this down. List the two top life issues you are facing right now. I am referring to those things that cause you a measure of concern. Then just below that write down two examples of God’s mighty deeds from your past. Think about them, remember them, and ponder them. My guess is that whatever level of concern you had about the first things you wrote down will be lessened as you “meditate on his mighty deeds.”

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (I Timothy 3:12).

One of the things that pastors do when they meet together is tell “war stories” of one sort or another. For those who are heavily engaged in the lives of others, there is a “community of ministry” that’s present when pastors gather. I was privileged to spend two days with fellow pastors last month. In such a gathering, it’s only natural that we share the joys and challenges of ministry.

In that light, it never ceases to amaze me when I am reminded of the correlation that exists between effective ministry and persecution of one sort or another. In many instances, when pastor friends share seasons of ministry blessing, it is often accompanied by unique ministry challenges as well. That’s what drew my attention to what Paul wrote to Timothy in the passage cited above. What Paul was trying to say is quite simple. Holy living (effective ministry) will most certainly meet with opposition of one sort or another. As Christians, we don’t need to go looking for such challenges; they come as we live as Christ would have us live.

Now for those of us in ministry, what Paul spoke of rears its head in various ways. I wish I could tell you how many times pastor friends have related experiencing a very difficult week just prior to preaching a life-changing message. I’ve known a measure of that myself. At other times, major distractions come just prior to ministry opportunities. What I’ve learned when such things come is to expect ministry fruit in proportion to the challenges faced. Can you see how that principle applies to each of us? Here is what I mean.

If at present you are feeling pressed by life circumstances of one sort or another (the list is endless), and at the same time you are seeking to walk close to the Lord, I believe you should anticipate a measure of blessing in the way God may choose to use you in the life of another person. I spoke with someone recently who experienced a really bad day. Near the end of the day, God put this friend in a conversation where they were able to share the gospel with a co-worker. Upon reflecting on what had taken place my friend said, “I guess I should have expected God to use me, since I had trusted him as my day unfolded and everything went wrong.” That’s what I am talking about!

Let me make this very practical for you. No matter what you are facing, if you view it as reflective of the degree to which God may choose to use you for his glory, there is a joyous anticipation of how it may turn out. That means you have a choice to make. You can focus on the challenge or the impending fruit. That’s your call. I’m learning to anticipate what God might do in spite of the challenge I’m facing. Expect the fruit. It makes a huge difference.