“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.

Growing older is not the same thing as growing up.

As we all know, growing older is not an option. Yet growing up is an option. Spiritual growth in Christ is not automatic. It comes as a result of conscious choices we make on a daily basis. If we make the right choices, we grow. If we make the wrong choices, we remain immature baby Christians for our entire lives. I see far too many baby Christians who are growing older year after year, yet who never grow up.

Perhaps Peter said it best when he said, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). There are two parts to Peter’s command. First we are to grow in grace. Simply put, we are to be consciously aware that God’s grace is enough for any and every situation in which we find ourselves. His grace sought us; his grace saved us; his grace sustains us; and it is in his grace that we stand moment by moment. Grace is his operating principle in our lives. Live in it and half of Peter’s command is fulfilled. 

Yet there is more to what Peter said about growing up. We are to “grow in knowledge” as well. This is where we must exercise our option to follow Peter’s instructions once again. In I Peter 2:1, he tells us to “long for pure spiritual milk.”  Babies crave nourishment. We are to crave the type of nourishment that comes only through regularly feeding ourselves the Word of God. Many “older” Christians I know simply snack on God’s Word instead of eating richly and drinking deeply. The choice is ours to make. Snack and stay anemic. Eat richly, live in grace, and the result is that we will grow up. 

Now here comes the fun part. In I Corinthians 3:6, Paul tells us that “God gives the growth.”  In other words, I don’t have to strive for growth. The growth is God’s job.   The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. That’s what I call growing up! I don’t know about you, but growing up is certainly the desire of my heart. It is a wonderful comfort to know that as long as I live in grace and feed on God’s nourishment, God will effect the growth. God wants us to grow up! Let’s partner together in taking Peter’s command seriously.  

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

No doubt peace is an elusive commodity in our day. There are few places in the world that we might suggest are truly peaceful. Although achieving world peace is spoken of constantly, with many solutions offered as to how it might be attained, it has never been fully realized. Everyone has an opinion, yet no one has achieved it. Our day is not that much different than what world history tells us about man’s quest for peace over the centuries. Man is forever seeking peace, yet always failing to find it.

Now in addition to our quest for peace among nations, it’s clear that men are constantly seeking inner peace as well. You be the judge as to how we are doing in that regard. The numbers are staggering as it relates to what the absence of inner peace does to men and to women. The mental health profession has never been busier than in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. We live in a world where peace between nations and peace in the heart is elusive. Why?

Well, in light of what the prophet Isaiah wrote, it appears that the answer as to why peace is not a reality is that men seek it in the wrong place. In other words, peace between nations and peace within the heart is not achievable unless men find it first in God. Take a look at the text of the passage above to see what I mean.

First, note who provides the peace spoken of in the passage. The word “you” refers to God. Thus it is God alone who provides peace. Second, note how God’s peace is quantified. His peace is “perfect” peace. Perfect means that there is no default or blemish attached to God’s peace. But note as well how such peace becomes available. It comes only as one directs his mind toward the Lord, as one trusts in God. That becomes the true key to achieving perfect peace. It comes as one focuses on the Lord and trusts him fully in all circumstances.

In that light, can you see why peace is unattainable among nations? In rebellion against God, the nations refuse to focus on the Lord and place their trust in him alone. The result is disharmony, destruction, discord, disagreement, dissension and disunity. On the other hand, the proper focus, a focus that places its trust in the right object, results in harmony, agreement, accord and “perfect peace” as Isaiah wrote.

This has very practical implications for those among us who yearn for peace. If that describes you, I would ask you to consider what you are focusing on and in whom you are trusting. To focus on anything other than the Lord or to trust in someone other than God will bring a lack of true and lasting peace. Perfect peace comes from having the right focus and the right object of trust. May we consider these thoughts as we seek peace.

 “As you do not know the way the Spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything” (Ecclesiastes 11:5).

I’ve come to realize that one of the most frustrating things we face in life is when stuff is happening all around us and we just can’t figure it all out. Sometimes in retrospect we can make sense of it, but there are times when we must settle into the realization that the events we may have just experienced have no satisfactory explanation, at least to us. You see, if you are wired like me, you want to know what’s going on, why, and the overall purpose of what is transpiring. We are all like that, aren’t we?

Well, I think you would readily agree that there are times when life unfolds in a manner that affords us little if any indication of what is taking place, why, and what the purpose is. That’s very frustrating. Even during difficult seasons, we seem better able to bear up if we have some understanding of what’s going on and why. But when difficult things happen and we can make no sense whatsoever of them, it’s easy to become discouraged. Somehow knowing there is a purpose in pain makes it easier to bear.

If you have ever felt frustrated because you simply could not understand what was going on around you, you are in very good company. You see, the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, experienced the same thing. The verse cited above reflects his confusion at the events he recorded in chapter 11 of the book of Ecclesiastes. Ultimately,” after pondering deeply on things he could not explain, he came to the place of saying, “Rejoice and let your heart cheer you. Remove vexation from your heart.” In other words, pursue joy in God and cease from tearing yourself apart trying to figure out all that’s taking place around you. That’s good advice; would you agree?

Now how does this apply for you and me? Well, I know that as our lives progress, there are many things we simply do not understand, no matter how much sense we seek to make of them. Solomon reached the place of affirming that “God makes everything.” Thus, as the author of everything, God never initiates the events of our lives without having his purpose in mind. Did you hear that; “his purpose in mind?” Consider this; where does it say that God is obligated to explain his purposes to us as he oversees the events of our lives?

So, God makes everything, as Solomon affirmed. There are times we do not understand all that he initiates. Nonetheless, as the initiator of everything, our posture must be to find comfort and joy in his sovereignty and his actions, regardless of whether we understand or not. How might that apply to the confusing events you are living through right now? Good question!

“See this alone I found, that God made man upright but they have sought out many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). 

This morning we begin a new series of messages entitled, “What the Bible Says About…” Over the course of the next six weeks, we will examine what the Bible says about sin, salvation, sanctification, security, prayer and the church. Each of these topics is important for us in our day. 

As I prepared this series of messages, it struck me that many Christians today do not possess an understandable and applicable base of information about these topics. I trust that each topic will inform and challenge you to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

In that light, the passage I cited above is quite instructive for us as we seek to understand how we were originally created, and what’s gone wrong since then. King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, made it clear that at the time of creation men were created “upright.” The word literally means “straight, correct or level.” However, due to Adam’s sin against God, man’s nature was radically changed, corrupted. The result is that ever since Adam’s sin, mankind has sought its own way, devoid of seeking God. Men have invented devices or schemes of one sort or another to substitute for a relationship with the true God. Because of Adam’s sin, men have forfeited any hope of reconciling with God based on their own merit or worthiness. What a dilemma; would you agree?

Yet God, in his mercy and love for his creation, has created a way for men to be reconciled to God. That means is through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. Once so reconciled to God through Christ, men are free to live in a manner that is set apart (sanctified and holy). A sanctified relationship with God through Christ is secure. Nothing can take it away from us. And as a means of growing deeper in our relationship with God, he has given us the freedom to interact with him whenever we desire (prayer). Further, he has created a living entity (the church) to serve as the vehicle through which the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the entire world. 

Can you see the wonderful wisdom in God’s plan? Man is sinful, utterly separated from God, totally helpless. God has taken the initiative by making a way for men to be saved. Once saved in Christ, God makes his children holy (sanctified) in his sight. This newfound relationship with God is protected by God. It is safe and secure. Further, God invites us to interact with him regularly through prayer as we join with others in worship, learning and witnessing of the gospel (church). If we understand “what the Bible says about” these topics, our lives will be enriched, Christ will be exalted and our joy will be magnified. I’m looking forward to this series of messages. I trust you are also!

“And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43).

The story of how God used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore the people to obedience is instructive for us in many ways. Throughout the process of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah proved himself to be a man of courage, determination, passion and faith. He was the right man, at the right time, for the right job. Under his leadership, the people of Israel regained their sense of God’s purposes for them as they followed Nehemiah’s leadership and rebuilt the walls.

Once the wall was completed and their enemies thwarted, Nehemiah dedicated the walls to the Lord. This was no small accomplishment and was possible only as God enabled them and as Nehemiah led them. The result of their accomplishment is recorded in the verse cited above. Their joy was so outrageous that the sound of joy was “heard far away.” 

Now on the surface, it appears that their joy was based solely on the completion of the walls. But I wonder if there was more to it than that. Yes of course they were joyful that their task was completed, but the completion of the task proves something equally important. You see, God blesses his people when they follow his designated leaders. That is to say that God leads through his leaders; thus when God’s people follow God’s leaders, the result is joy. In that light, I believe part of their joy was due to the fact that they faithfully followed Nehemiah’s leadership. 

With that observation in mind, the question arises, “How does that apply for us in our day?” Well, one of the things I’ve come to see, particularly in the context of the church, is that God blesses his people proportionally to the degree to which they submit to the leaders God places in their midst. I speak to far too many people who have had difficult church experiences somewhere in their past. And although I am not in a position to judge, in many instances the fault lies with the leader and/or the people. Churches seldom struggle due to outside influences. Rather, churches struggle because they do not have the right leader, or else the people are unwilling to follow. 

What’s apparent in Nehemiah’s story is that God blessed the people because he was God’s chosen leader and the people followed faithfully. In that light, I must tell you that you as a congregation have been faithfully submissive to the leaders God has placed in our midst. It is no small blessing to be part of a local church characterized by God’s leaders leading God’s people. I believe that what we are experiencing in our midst is quite similar to the people in Nehemiah’s day, with one minor difference. “And the joy of [Wausau Alliance Church] was heard far away.”

“Listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you and do them. Take care and keep your soul diligently. Watch yourselves very carefully lest you act corruptly” (Deuteronomy 4: 1, 9, 15).

Without doubt, Moses is one of the greatest leaders in human history. The story of his life, from his birth until the Lord himself buried him in Moab, is filled with examples of Moses’ faith, obedience, courage and leadership over God’s people. As I’ve read and re-read Moses’ story, one of the things that always impressed me is his desire that the Hebrew people remain faithful to the Lord’s commands. After all, it was Moses to whom the Ten Commandments and all of God’s law were delivered. As a result, his passion was that God’s people remain faithful to God’s law. 

There are many examples of Moses reminding the people of the need to remain obedient and faithful. In the passage of scripture cited above, Moses once again encouraged the people to obey. His words contain several things that I believe are equally instructive for us in our day as well. 

Note the very first word in the text; “listen.” In the original language, the word means to hear and to perceive. In that sense, the listening Moses had in mind involved more than the operation of the ear as a means of getting sound to the brain. It involved understanding and perceiving what was being said. Lots of people hear; fewer perceive. But he went further. Not only did he desire that the people perceive, as proof of their full understanding, he commanded them to obey what they perceived. 

Pay attention to the words he used in commanding them to obey. He used the following words and phrases:  do; take care; keep your soul diligently; and watch yourself. Those are strong and directive, are they not? I believe Moses was intent on communicating to the people that the proof that they truly listened was the degree to which they were intentional, active and consistent in obeying what they perceived to be God’s law.

I have a quote in my personal journal that says, “True learning does not occur until there has been a change in my behavior.” As Christians, listening to God’s truth is not enough. It is important to be sure, but it is not enough. The truest measure of listening is the degree to which we focus on paying attention to what God says so that we might do what he instructs us to do.

Are you a listener, a perceiver or a doer? My prayer is that I may be a doer as opposed to a listener. Join me in “keeping your soul diligently” as an obedient follower of Jesus Christ.

“The Lord God has given me a tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” (Isaiah 50:4).

What gets you out of bed each morning?  Is it your alarm, your kids, your internal clock or something else? Well, for the prophet Isaiah it appears that he was awakened each day by the Lord. But there is more. Not only did God awaken him from sleep, it was for a specific purpose; “to hear as those who are taught.”

Now I know that some of us are morning people and some are not. I happen to be a morning person, so getting up in the morning is not a difficult thing for me. I feel most alert, energetic and motivated during the morning hours. I get my best work done early. I suppose that’s a good thing (at least for other morning people.) But I want you to see what took place in Isaiah’s life, how his morning routine operated.

It appears that Isaiah understood that the purpose for which the Lord woke him early was so that he might be taught by the Lord in order to “sustain with a word him who is weary.” In other words, the Lord got Isaiah out of bed so that he might learn something to use in sustaining others. That’s quite instructive, don’t you think?

That observation leads me to a simple question. How do you spend your early hours? How do you invest your time at the start of your day? Is it in a semi-alert state as you seek to fully waken? Or have you sought to be as alert as possible so that you might listen to the voice of God, thereby enriching your heart, thus giving you a word to “sustain the weary”? 

One of the things I am more and more convicted about is how I use my time, and particularly how much time I waste. I’m certain each of us can relate to how frustrated we become due to our unwise use of time. Now I am not suggesting that we monitor every second of the day seeking to determine if we are using it wisely (although some measure of that might be helpful). But in line with what we have read about Isaiah, I am suggesting that perhaps selected segments of our day should be targeted, focused and devoted to things that better equip us to speak into the lives of others. 

For Isaiah, that targeted time was early in the morning. His posture was that of a learner; his teacher was the Lord. God cared so much about Isaiah that he woke him daily to teach him. Perhaps we might get ourselves out of bed at an early hour so that we might be similarly taught. From personal experience, I can tell you it works. Try it!

“And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:13).

No doubt one of the hardest lessons for us to learn is when to speak and when not to speak. Each of us has learned from situations when we said something we should not have said, or when we have not said something we should have. For me, it’s always a challenge to know the right words to say when someone is struggling with the hard things of life. That’s when what we read about Job’s friends is instructive to us. Let me explain.

By the time we are at the end of the second chapter of Job, he has learned of the death of his sons and daughters. He has also lost most of his livestock and the majority of his servants. And if that’s not enough, he’s been struck with “loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.”  I’d say Job is in a world of hurt as a result of his circumstances. Oh, and if that’s not enough, in Job 2:9 we read, “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die’ ” (not the best thing to say to someone in utter anguish, would you agree?).

Now what lessons might we learn from what was said and what was not said to Job? Well, as I’ve considered the entirety of Job’s story and the many things that were said to him, I’ve come to several conclusions.

First, calamity comes apart from anything done by the one experiencing it. Job was an upright man. He walked closely with the Lord, yet he knew great anguish, loss and suffering. Later in the book, his friends suggested that what he was experiencing was his fault, due to his sin or pride or something. That’s clearly not the right thing to say. Later, in response to their semi-accusations, Job told them to “mock on.” In essence, he’s telling them that suggesting that what he’s experiencing is his fault is the same as mocking his pain. How unfair!

Second, in the midst of such pain, the only things worth saying are things that come from the heart of God. Nothing provides the comfort needed by those in pain more than words of scripture.

Then finally, there is nothing wrong with silence. There are situations when no words are suitable or needed. Initially, Job’s friends sat with him in silence for an entire week. Have you ever just sat alongside someone who was in extreme pain and suffering? In such instances the presence of another person in far more comforting than the words that might be spoken. 

Friends, you and I will likely have an opportunity to be used by God in the life of someone in pain in the year ahead. There are things not to say, just as there are things to say. But perhaps best of all may be to sit in silence as we bring solace to those who are suffering.