Feb 8 - Do You Love Me?

Feb 8

Do You Love Me?

John 21:15 ….Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me …

Yesterday we looked at the same event and focused on the unending mercy of God. Even after Peter denied Christ three times he was forgiven and restored to fellowship.  But there is more to this event.

Today we will look at the three times Christ asks if Peter loves Him to see what additional lessons we can learn.

     Christ does not berate Peter and ask “Peter why did you deny me?” or remind him “See, Peter, I told you. When will you learn to trust me”  Instead of providing an opportunity to make excuses, Christ went to the heart of the matter.  Before Peter denied Christ he had said;

Mt 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be

 offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.  

Therefore Christ asked Peter “Lovest thou me more than these?” But Christ did not call him Peter, but Simon, his name before Christ had called him to follow.  Simon, are you still filled with pride so you think you are the most faithful?  Peter will not now brag about how humble he is. Instead he appeals to Christ’s omniscience. Thou knowest!  The love Christ asks about is the highest form of selfless love (Agape)   Peter does not trust himself to answer in kind, but only with the love that is a lower form. Brotherly love (Philos)  He is told “Feed my lambs.”  The word for feed here is to just provide fodder.

     The second time Christ asks Peter he uses the highest form of love again and Peter’s response is “I love you with brotherly love. This time he is told to feed My sheep. The word used here is more than just feed – provide fodder. It is used of someone who is in charge of doing everything to nurture the sheep and keep them fed, healthy and safe. Shepherd my sheep!

      Christ has asked “Do you have superior love for me” and then “Any love at all”, and this last time he asks “Do you even have affection for me?” The third time Christ asks Peter He uses the same form of love that Peter has responded with. Simon, do you have brotherly love to me – are you fondly affectionate to me? When Peter heard Christ ask “Are you even fond of me?” he was grieved. 

Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? …

Again Christ tells Peter to feed my sheep.  Peter has learned a very hard lesson. The great physician has cut into Peter’s heart and though a painful procedure for Peter his prideful heart has been repaired. He has been forgiven, restored and healed of his pride.

Why did Christ say to feed my sheep?  He was talking to fishermen, his miracle that night resulted in the Apostles catching a large number of fish, and he had originally called them to be fishers of men?  So why not talk about “fishing for men”?  It was because salvation is just the start of the Christian life. Christ wanted Peter to be a shepherd, a pastor, and care for the flock.

 I was once in a church where they announced 1500 people had been saved the previous year. There were about 450 people in attendance that morning. I wondered where the 1500 were? The pastor had created a church which was only focused on salvation. Please forgive me if I am skeptical that everyone who repeated the sinner’s prayer and were never seen again in church had actually experienced salvation.  Salvation is important, but this portion of scripture is not so much about salvation (fishing for men) as it is about new born babes (lambs) being brought to spiritual maturity.

Also note that Christ’s response to Peter was always about “my” sheep.  Christ is the great Shepherd and they are His sheep. The under-shepherd may forget that and begin to believe that the sheep are his. His church. His flock. That kind of thinking may lead to neglect. 

Christ wanted to know that Peter loved him before he would let him care for Christ’s flock. Men who do not love Christ will not be diligent in the care of Christ’s flock.  Pastors who do not call, do not study diligently, and make little or no attempt to bind up wounds, seek those who have strayed, or work at their calling might benefit by Peter’s example here in John 21.  Do they love Christ? That is not a question I will ask or answer.  Christ can ask them.  How will they answer?  What evidence will they present as proof? 

Too many churches today have professional pastors. They have a vocation. A job! They have attended college and been given the head skills to be a minister.  But do they love Christ and have the heart of a pastor? 

There are hard working, Christ loving, self denying pastors across America. They love their people, do the work of a shepherd, care for Christ’s flock and lead exemplary lives. Unfortunately there are too many who do not!  If some pastors cared for real sheep the way they care for Christ’s flock they would be arrested by animal control agents for neglect.  Before we condemn any of them let us ask ourselves if we love Christ. What is your proof?   

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Feb 7 - Incomplete Failure

Feb 7

Incomplete Failure

 Joh 21:15 …Simon, son of Jonas,

lovest thou me more than these?...

 This last chapter of John used to seem a little odd to me.  Christ appeared on the shore with breakfast for the 7 who had been fishing. After they had eaten, Christ asked Peter the same question three times and told Peter to feed sheep. I just didn’t get it??  I do now and it contains huge lessons for Peter and for us today.  There is a lot here!   Follow in your Bible to grasp it all.

In John 18:17-27 Peter denied Christ three times. In John 21 Christ reminded Peter of his three denials by asking him three times if Peter loved Him. The purpose of the questions is to let Peter know he was forgiven, reestablished as an Apostle and worthy to care for the flock.

But there is so much more here. To grasp it all we need to compare scripture with scripture.  In Luke 5:4-7 we read of the call of Simon (Peter).  The similarities with John 21 are worthy of notice.

In both accounts Peter was there with other men who would become Apostles. In both they had caught no fish. And in both Christ directed where to cast their nets and in both they caught a multitude of fishes. Read these two sections to fully appreciate their similarities.

After Christ’s resurrection he appeared to 7 Apostles on the same Sea of Galilee, (here called sea of Tiberias) and Peter must have had a sense of dejavu (been there before).  It would have reminded Peter and the others of the excitement when Christ called them to be fishers of men. Then all they desired was to follow Christ and learn of Him. But that was about to change.

Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land,

they saw a fire of coals…

Only a few days earlier Peter had stood by another fire of coals.

Joh 18:18 And the servants and officers… had made a fire of coals

; …and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

It was by that fire Peter had denied Christ.  The presence of the breakfast fire would have been a sad reminder of Peter’s failures when he denied Christ three times.

      We are not told if there was any “table” talk around the fire. Since all of them had forsaken Christ the fire may have been a reminder of that night before the Crucifixion. It may have been a silent meal. We are not told. But after they had eaten and were warmed and refreshed Christ began the healing process for Peter.

      “Simon, son of Jonas (John) do you love me more than all these other guys?”  Peter could not miss why Christ had used those words. After the last supper Christ said they would be offended. Peter had said “No Lord, everyone else may be offended but not me”

      Mt 26:33 Peter answered …Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

He also realized Christ had not called him Peter but used Simon, his name before he was an Apostle.  Had Peter’s betrayal of Christ cost him his place with the Apostles? The memory of Peter’s proud boastful words must have been painful. But the Great Physician knew He needed to cause Peter pain to heal him.  Now humbled, Peter does not even trust himself to answer what is in his heart. He depended on Christ to know and could only manage “Yes Jesus I am very fondly affectionate toward you.” (different Greek words are used for love)

The second time Christ asked a similar question and received the same response.

The third time Christ used the same word Peter was using. “Peter are you fondly affectionate toward me?”  Peter wanted to say it stronger but did not trust himself. He had learned his lesson. Christ responded to each of the three answers by declaring Peter was fit to carry on the work with Christ’s lambs and sheep. Far from elevating Peter to some lofty oversight of the church as some maintain, a disqualified Apostle was forgiven and reinstated. It was done before six other apostles to demonstrate the unfathomable mercy of God to forgive them as well.

Oh dear brother or sister, if you are laboring under a great failure for Christ, rejoice that God’s mercy is unending. Confess your failure, forgive yourself, and enjoy the presence of our merciful and loving Father.  Do you think you have out done Peter’s repeated denials of Christ?  Your failures are not greater than God’s ability to forgive and cleanse you.  For those who have no crippling sin burden, may you learn humility, and be thankful for God’s mercy. Let us thank God that it is only by His Grace that we stand at all.     

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Feb 6 I don't Know

February 6

I Don’t Know

Ac 8:30 And Philip …. said, Understandest

thou what thou readest? 

It is a good thing to read a passage of Scripture every day, or try to read through the Bible in a year. It is even better if you understand what you just read.  Have you ever read the Bible and then wondered “What was that all about?” You are not alone. Would you like to understand more about what the Bible is saying. You do not need to learn Greek or Hebrew, nor go to a Bible college for 4 years. But you will need to acquire a couple reference books.  The most essential book is a good dictionary. I use Merriam-Webster Collegiate -11^th edition.  The second book you need is a good Bible Dictionary. I prefer Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Mine is about 30 years old so there may be newer and/or better ones but it still serves my purpose very well and I have yet to be disappointed when using it. The Internet is also a good reference tool, if you can separate the truth from the chaff.

Before I turn this devotional/Bible study into a 5^th grade book report we should move on. My reason for mentioning these reference books is because you miss so much great humor and deep meanings when you read something and shrug your shoulders. “Huh, wonder what that was all about.”

Let’s look at one of those passages that are of little meaning until we dig below the surface.

Amos 4:1 ¶ Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria…

First you need to know that Amos was not a prophet, but a farmer. He was a farmer that was concerned about the direction his country was going.  The nation was becoming more and more ungodly. Rich people lived the life of luxury while the poor went without.  The government was corrupt and ran on bribes. God was being squeezed out of the country although some of the celebrities made a show of religion from time to time. But there was no repentance for sin.  God gave Amos a message to proclaim against the nation of Israel.

     In the first two chapters he mentions ungodly nations that were to the north, south, east and west of them and declares God’s judgment on them.  That message was most likely well received. “Finally those bums are gonna get what’s coming to them. Those people deserve to be wiped out!”

     In chapter three the spotlight is shifted to them. The nation of Israel. And in Amos four we read the phrase “Ye Kine of Bashan…”  Kine is an archaic word for cows. It is a plural word like we say deer for a herd of deers. (OK I know it isn’t deers!) Cows were female. Bulls were male. Young bulls were bullocks and young cows were heifers.

      Amos was a farmer and knew agriculture.  North and east of the sea of Galilee was an area of rich volcanic soil, abundant rainfall, and ideal farming conditions. It was known as Bashan and was the breadbasket for much of the area. They grew large, fat, livestock.  

     So when Amos called them kine (cows) he was addressing females. And when he compared them to the kine of Bashan he was essentially saying “Hear this word you big fat cows in Samaria”.  Samaria was a long way from Bashan, and he wanted these luxury living, self-indulgent women to know the message was for them. How do you think some of our modern day jet setting female celebrities would respond if Amos had called them big fat cows?  Amos continues his insults.

Am 4:4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning,

and your tithes after three years:  

They brought sacrifices every morning?  What kind of sacrifice?

Am 4:5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you,

O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Their offerings were contaminated with leaven. They bragged about how much they had given. (Ha, the widows two mites were more!) And nowhere in this chapter do we find they had a sin offering!

When I read the book of Amos I cannot help but think of the age we live in today.  It bothers me that celebrities (rich people who are in the spotlight) too often lead ungodly lives. What is worse is the masses agree and follow them.  Then to top it off, the US Government too often passes laws contrary to Biblical principles and too often demands that the Bible and Christ be excluded from our culture.  

          Dear reader, let us confess our sins to God. Let us seek His face. May we be obedient to His will for our lives and perchance God will be merciful to our nation.  I can see no other remedy.

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from

heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  

Feb 5 - Jesus Singing

February 5

Jesus Singing

 Mt 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out

 Robert T Ketchum was a great servant of God. He died in 1978.  He wrote at least three books, all of which I own.  One of them contains a marvelous sermon entitled The Death Hymn of Christ  which deals with the verse before us today.  I can still remember having him in my home for Sunday dinner where he signed the books he had written.

OK, what about this verse and the singing of a hymn?  Right after they had shared the cup at the last supper, which was the Jewish Passover, Christ and His eleven disciples  (Judas was off betraying Christ) sang a hymn. Afterwards they went out to the Mount of Olives, which was just outside the east wall of the city.

Do we have any idea what they sang?  We know it wasn’t “the Old Rugged Cross”  or “Amazing Grace”.  They most likely sang the traditional Passover song that was sung after they had finished the cup. The Jewish nation referred to the singing as the Hallel.  Sometimes known as the Egypt Hallel.  They had no need of a hymnal because they would have sung the familiar words since they were children. The Hallel was sung at more than just Passover.  It would be like our singing some of the Christmas songs we sing. We are all familiar with the words… well until we get to the second verse!

 Instead of Frosty the Snowman they sang from the psalms. If they followed traditional Jewish customs it would have been psalms 113-118.   Sometimes part of the people would sing a phrase and be answered back by the rest, as can be seen in the first 4 verses of Psalm 118.  There the phrase …”for his mercy endureth forever”  would have been the response.  

Now just imagine you were in that room with those 11 disciples and Christ as they sang (or chanted)  John may have had a soft voice. Peter’s voice would have stood out as he sang loudly, off key, off tempo and certain in his own mind that he sang the best. Think over who was there and their background. What would a tax collector or fishermen sound like? As individuals they may have sounded a little like your neighbor’s dog howling at the moon.  But collectively, with Christ’s unifying voice they must have sounded marvelous.  Christ would be crucified within a few hours, yet he sang.  Take a few moments and turn to psalms 113-118 and read some of the verses that Christ sang.  While you read listen to the sweet sound of the Savior’s voice singing.

Ps 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

Ps 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Ps 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell

gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.  

Ps 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Ps 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Just imagine hearing the Savior singing some of these verses. Many contained prophetic references to His coming, death and resurrection glory.  What a glorious privilege to have been part of that choir.  We are also encouraged to spend time singing.  We have much to be thankful for and the melody we should have in our hearts cannot be contained and must break forth in singing.

Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

After they sang they went out to the Mount of Olives. Christ went to spend some agonizing time in prayer at the very place where He would be betrayed with a kiss, kidnapped by religious leaders who abused Him before turning Him over to the authorities.  In the Garden Christ prayed and then came to his disciples and found them sleeping three times during the night.  These were the men who only a few hours previously had assured Christ they would die for Him but could not manage to even pray for Him. They were asleep. “Could you not watch with me one hour?” Christ asked them. Then they all went back to sleep. He returned to find them asleep again. Finally he returned from praying and found them asleep a third time. “Lord you can count on us! We would all be willing to …ZZZZzzzzzzz”

          Let us sing with Christ, making melody in our hearts.  I doubt that I need to say much about sleeping disciples.  When we have examined ourselves and renewed our devotion to Christ during communion we sing a hymn and then go out. But do we go out like the disciples and spend our time asleep.  Our world grows worse by the minute and too many Christians consider the evils of the world, knowing their family members, neighbors, friends and people in their community need to hear of Christ but   ZZzzzzzzzzz.  Some of us need to shake off our desire to snooze and do the work we are called to do.  Or would you have stayed awake and prayed while Christ was in the Garden?  Take heed, lest ye fall.

     

 

Feb 4 - No Jesus - I won't.

February 4

No Jesus, I won’t

 Mt 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

All four gospels record Peter’s denial of Christ. (Mark 14 ,Luke 22 and John 13) There must be some great lesson for us to learn. Before you condemn poor Peter for his conduct be careful you are not a partaker of his pride. “What was Peter thinking? I would never have done what Peter did!”  It is an easy mental trap for us to fall in. I am thankful I was not in his place. 

Immediately after the last supper Christ told them that they would all be offended because of Him that night.  Peter responded  “No Jesus, I won’t”  

 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men

shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Poor Peter. His actions and mouth got him into a lot of trouble.  There are some lessons in humility poor Peter needs to learn. Christ does not argue with Peter but simply responds.

 34 “That this night, before the cock crow,

thou shalt deny me thrice”.

 

(Peter…stop…don’t say anything!...Oh Oh too late!!) 

Peter responded “No Jesus, I won’t”

Mt 26:5 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee,

yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

 Peter had been following Christ as a disciple for three years and had not learned the lesson of humility.  What was going through Peter’s head when Christ said something and Peter corrected,  nay, contradicted the Son of God.  Christ said something would happen and Peter said no it won’t. Christ responded that the proof would be “Peter, you are going to do something” to which Peter immediately disagrees and responds “No I won’t!  Not even the threat of death would make me do that. No Jesus you are wrong.”   

Let us learn a great lesson at this point. Christ said you all will all be offended this night and Peter thinks he knows better and said “No Jesus, I won’t!”  And as if that was not bad enough when Christ told Peter you will deny me three times before morning, Peters response is “No Jesus, I won’t”

There are several lessons here. Perhaps the greatest one is

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

When the Holy Spirit lays something on our heart do we respond like Peter “No Jesus, I won’t”? When our hearts convict us and the Holy Spirit points to something and tells us we should remove that from our lives is our response. “No, Jesus. I won’t stop doing that”   When the Holy Spirit says “do this” do we reply “No, Jesus. I won’t do it!”?  Before we shake our heads at Peters outrageous conduct, and his excessive pride we need to be sure we are not partners with him in having overconfidence and pride. 

Peter was told all would be offended but he was certain that did not include him. Dear reader are you so over confidant that you think you can continue in some sin but be unaffected by it. Though other men get tangled up in this sin I can still do it but not be affected. I am stronger in my faith and I need this little secret thing. It might be the downfall of others but it won’t affect me that way.  Lot thought that way and moved into Sodom with no thought of being affected by the inhabitants. He was just window shopping for sin, certain it would not affect him but wound up homeless and living in a cave with his two pregnant daughters.  

Or are you too prideful to do something that the Holy Spirit lays on your heart.  I fear we too often hear the Holy Spirit speak to us and we say “No Jesus, I won’t”.  Oh gentle reader, let us all examine our hearts and ask what errand has the Master asked us to run? What chore has been assigned to us? We may know what it is but excuse ourselves because it is not something we want to do.  “No Jesus, I don’t like doing that”  

Or again the Spirit may have gotten it wrong and spoken to our hearts about something we are not good at, or are fearful of doing.  God would not ask us to do something we were not good at would He? That would require our depending on Him and not doing it in our own strength.  The excuse is sufficient for us to say “No, Jesus I won’t because I cannot” 

That was the excuse Moses used when God told him to go lead the people out of Egypt. 

Ex 4:10 ¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, ... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

 

May we all teach ourselves the need for humility so that God does not have to teach it to us in His woodshed!   May we strive to have the mind of Isaiah.  Who did not respond to the voice of the Lord with “No Lord, I won’t. “   His response was “Here am I send me” 

Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Then said I, Here am I; send me

Feb 3 - Shadow Boxing

February 3

Shadow Boxing Christians 

1Co 9:26… so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 

The winter Olympics will start soon in Russia. According to Olympic.org, the ancient Olympics were started about 776 BC in Greece on the plains of Olympia. They were developed to honor the gods of Olympus, especially Zeus.  The games continued nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 A.D. that all such "pagan cults" be banned.  When Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth he used metaphors taken from sporting events.  The Corinthians could easily identify with those sports and understand what Paul was saying.

There were lots of problems in the divided church at Corinth. Paul addressed those in 1^st Corinthians and in chapter 9 gave them some examples how he prepared himself for proper Christian living. Even when Paul knew his execution was at hand he compared his life to sports.  

2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

Paul saw this life as a struggle against ungodliness.  Here he compares it to a fight.  He also knew it was a long continual struggle when he says I have finished my course.  And with all the fighting, and enduring he assures the Corinthians he has kept the faith.  Few Corinthians could claim the same thing. Most of them were not fighting against evil, but one another.  Few, if any, finished the course but stopped along the way. Other than their salvation, many were not even in the race.  Faith was in short supply at the First Church of Faithfulness in Corinth.   

Php 2:16 ..that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,

that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

When writing to the Philippians he expresses hope that he has not run in vain. He wants them to get the idea that the Christian life takes preparation, effort and has direction and a goal. 

Ga 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you

that ye should not obey the truth? 

In Galatians he reminds the churches of that region that they started well.  He asks what hindrance did they have that they could not continue running well.   

1Co 9:24 ¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,

but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Paul asks the people in Corinth if they have forgotten how a race works. Did you forget that everyone in a race is running.  They are aware that only one will come in first, but that doesn’t discourage them so they are satisfied with being last.  No, they have trained and prepared and are doing their best to win.  You Corinthians should all be running for the spiritual prize.  

1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery

is temperate in all things. 

The people who strive to win prepare themselves. They watch what they eat, how they workout, what they do, and how they spend their time. They are careful about everything all the time. 

1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly;

 so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 

Paul  reminds them of his running style. He is prepared and is not just running with neither purpose or goal. He has both. His running is with certainty, not uncertainly.  Then he describes how he fights. I don’t know what kind of fights the ancient Olympics had but Paul tell the Corinthians that when he fought the good fight of faith it was for real. He did not go through the motions. He did not fight against shadows, or poke holes in the air. He was engaged and the fight was real. Too many of the Christians in Corinth were going through the motions without accomplishing anything.  They were shadow boxing.   

Heb 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

In Hebrews 11, that great Faith chapter, some of the great men of faith are listed; Able, Enoch, Adam etc.  In Hebrews 12 these men of great faith are the “great cloud of witnesses.  Those who would run are encouraged to not carry any weights with them.  They are cautioned not to let their feet get entangled in sin. Lastly they are told to patiently continue running in the race God has set before them.

And one final sports related verse you will have no trouble understanding.  No blood, no Foul! 

Heb 12:4 ¶ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

The application from these sports related verses is not difficult.  How are you running the Christian race?  How do you prepare?  Are you temperate in all things?  Are you even in the race?  Maybe you started strong and stopped along the way? What hindered you?  OH, maybe you are trying to run with weights, like a heavy conscience, or bitterness, or anger.  Those will all slow you down or even stop you from being faithful effective runners for God.  Oh dear, are those sins that are tangled around your feet? Shake them off and watch where you run. 

Oh, by the way. I have a full box of band-aids if you have gotten bloody resisting the sins of this world.  Oh, you don’t need any?  Not many Christians do.   Bless you as you learn to run better.  Perhaps we all need to spend more time in God’s gymnasium. I’ll meet you there. I’ll be the sweaty guy on the treadmill, learning to walk.  

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 

 

 

 

 

Feb 1 Transgressions in Antwerp

February 1

My Transgression in Antwerp

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered. 

When I rode a bicycle through six European countries I learned about cultures and customs I was not familiar with. But when I was in Antwerp, Belgium I transgressed.  Before you imagine some sinister thing I was guilty of we need to understand what the word transgression means.  My Webster’s defines it as “..passing over a boundary: violating some restriction or command”.  Knowing what a transgression is I must plead guilty; I did indeed violate a restriction, but not intentionally.

  I found the large and beautiful post office building downtown Antwerp. I wanted to send a post card to a lovely girl (now my wife) who lived in the United States.  A line of 15 or 20 large cast iron mail boxes lined the sidewalk in front of the post office. I had no idea which one was for foreign mail.  Then at the end of the line of green painted boxes I saw a red one. Yes, that must be the one for overseas mail.  There was a sign with about 5 inch high letters describing what kind of mail box it was.  A large red cast iron ball was attached to a long handle which opened the slot for mail. When I reached for it I knew at that moment I had transgressed. I also knew exactly what the sign said, even though I did not read Flemish.  It said “Wet Paint” and my hand was covered with fresh red paint.  Yes I had transgressed.

In the verse in psalm 32 we find two words that seem to say the same thing, transgression and sin.  They are similar but I think there is a difference that we should understand. A transgression is to pass over a boundary – to violate a command – in plain words it is doing something we should not do.  Like ignoring a wet paint sign!  Or as in the psalmist case, murder and adultery.

Sin is a broad and encompassing word. But one meaning of “sin” is to miss the mark. We are told to do something and we do not.  We might come close but we miss the mark. So the two words cover both commission (don’t but we do) and omission (do but we don’t)  With that understanding we can better appreciate psalms 32:1.

This psalm of David was written after he had been forgiven his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.  His twin transgressions were great, awful and vile, but not beyond God’s mercy and grace.  No wonder he felt blessed.  Psalm 51 records David’s confession and plea for forgiveness. 

Ps 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

David had known the agony of sin. For a year he had tried to cover his sin, but his bones waxed old, his joy was gone, his sin was ever before him, and his conscience roared within him. Finally after a year of hiding his sin, he turns to God in a great confession and feels the joy of a clear conscience as God lifts the sin burden from him. No wonder he starts the psalm by saying “Blessed” (double happy) is the person whose sin has been pardoned. 

The lesson for us is obvious.  Are you blessed of God?  Or as we talked of David’s sin did your conscience spring to life and force you to think of some transgression or sin that lingers in your life? Have you become a transgressor, rebelling against some limit or boundary?  Or does sin cling to you because you miss the mark, fall short of what God wants for you?  If so, welcome to the crowd.

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The remedy for all of us is the same. Confession.  We must stop trying to cover, hide, and deny our sin and transgression. A guilty conscience is a heavy burden.  

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

May the blessing of God be upon you today.  Happiness is a gift from God.  “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

              My sin! Oh the bliss of this glorious thought

              My sin, not the part but the whole

              Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more

              Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Oh my soul.

 

 

 

 

Feb 2 - Groundhog Day

February 2

Ground Hog's Don't Complain 

 

Ps 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,

which lifteth up the waves thereof.

Today is Groundhog Day in the USA.  Will he see his shadow and scurry back into his burrow? Will that mean 6 more weeks of winter.  It seems ironic that in our modern world of warm cozy homes, heated carriages to ride in (cars),  and fewer farmers we are more and more concerned about the weather.

Several years ago, while waiting for people to arrive for prayer meeting, the conversation turned to weather. It had been “bad” sort of like this winter (2013-14) has been. The complaints about the weather continued until time for us to pray and thank God for His merciful blessings. It started me thinking. Where does our weather come from? 

Really man’s a fool.

When it’s hot he wants it cool

When it’s cool he wants it hot.
He always wants it what it’s not!

Does God send good weather?

Does Satan send bad weather?
What is good weather?
What is bad weather?

That is an easy question. Snow storms are bad…if you have to drive on slippery roads.  But if you own a ski resort or love to snow mobile or ski then snow is good weather. It depends.  The people planning a Sunday school picnic and the farmer raising corn have different views about rain. I knew a man who commuted 90 miles to work and drove into the sun in the morning and again when he returned home. He loved cloudy days. 

     The Bible mentions weather often. Who sends it?  Does God make it rain?

Ps 147:8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth,       

Rain is mentioned often. Sometimes when it is sent and sometimes when it is withheld. OK. God sends rain but what about thunderstorms?

Jer 10:13 …he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Yep, sounds like a thunderstorm.  Does God frost your windshield and put snow in your driveway?

Ps 147:16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Freezing rain is very destructive. Ice covered roads have got to be the devils work.

     Ps 147:17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?

Psalm 147  says we should sing unto the LORD with Thanksgiving. It then lists list why and it includes his sending snow and ice and cold.  Brrrrrrrr! Oops..I meant to say "Selah"!

If you raise a garden you know about frost. Would God really send frost on your tomatoes?

Job 37:10 By the breath of God frost is given: …

But what about the stormy sea when they had to awaken Christ as he slept?  Did the devil send that storm to kill Christ?

Mr 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

This verse indicates that Christ can still stormy seas. But who sent the storm?

Ps 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Ex 9:23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

It sounds like God sends storms but I wish there was a verse that just said that.

Jon 1:4 ¶ But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Yes, I guess there is a verse or two that says God creates storms that are so bad they nearly break a ship apart.  OK, but does Satan also have that power? Wasn’t it Satan who sent the storm we mentioned in Mark 34:6 when they had to waken Christ and he stilled the storm?  Was Satan trying to kill Christ in that storm?  In psalms 107:21 We find a description that sounds very similar to the storm in Mark 4:39.

Ps 107:23 ¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.  25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.  26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

But that still does not answer the question. Does Satan have control over any part of the weather, even in a limited way? I don’t know. I do know that the devil cannot do anything that God does not want done. 

          What lessons should we take away from today’s devotional?  I can think of four.

1.    Stop complaining about the weather. “I sent you some weather!" – "Yeah I know! But listen God, I hate the weather you sent me. “  

2.    Stop telling God how to do things.  “Dear Lord send rain on Friday for the lawn, sunny on Saturday for the church ballgame and cool on Sunday because church is not air conditioned.”

3.    Develop an obedient spirit which accepts,- no,- which prefers what God sends our way.

4.    Let walk = talk.  Out of the same mouth we bless God (Praise God from whom all blessings flow) and curse  the weather. (it’s just too danged cold!!)

Jas 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.