The Old Testament Revealed in the New - Day 86 Through the Bible

Photos: Fresh Organic Produce - Farmers Market; Our Middle School Drama Department's 2011 State Overall Best Actor and Actress, Mountain Heritage High School Eco-Club Students rafting down the South Toe River, Toe River Arts Council Chamber Ensemble and Toe River Community Chorus, OakMoon Farm and Creamery local handcrafted goat cheeses, Ayles Creek - all from the area around Mt. Celo Church.

Parallelism Between the OT and NT Commands - After wars where God called for the destruction of the wicked people around them, now God calls for the proper care within His people and in relation to other nations.  Moses and John the Baptist give similar commands - to bear good fruit, to be blessed: 1) be just 2) be merciful to the poor among you 3) be forgiving of a long debt/ the Lord's release (from debt or sin) 4) remember what God has done for you.  The Deuteronomy reading is filled with portents for America today:  1) "You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you" (15:6).  The promised consequence of this:  God's blessing. 2) "You shall appoint judges and officers...and they shall judge the people with just judgment.  You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.  You shall follow what is altogether just (16:18-20)  The consequence of this:  "that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

Reflection:  Augustine of Hippo said, "The Old (Testament) is in the New (Testament) revealed, the New is in the Old concealed."  We are without excuse.

Psalm and Proverb Readings with a Warning for the Righteous:  Not all will appreciate and honor this righteous living called for in Deuteronomy and Luke.  Psalm 37:30-36 warns:  "The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom and justice...has the law of God in his heart...none of his steps shall slide.  BUT..the wicked watches the righteous and seeks to slay him.  Promise:  the Lord will not leave the righteous in the hands of the wicked or condemn him when he is judged".  Our Call:  1) "Wait on the LORD; 2) Keep His way.  Promise:  He shall exalt us to inherit the land; we will see the wicked cut off.  Proverbs 12:17-19: He who speaks truth declares righteousness...promoting health...shall be established forever, but a false witness, deceit...like the piercing of the sword...is but for a moment."

John and Jesus - I used to skip over or just skim the list of lineages in the Bible.  Now I understand how important this remembrance is to God - just as He commands us to remember Him, he remembers us.  These are no longer just arbitrary listings, but these names are now keys opening up rooms in our minds that hold the miraculous stories of interventions of God in the lives of ordinary men and women - to bring us into a relationship with Him.  And...each name leads to the next corridor and life story and the next...bringing us to this great culminating moment in God's Plan - the new Elijah preparing the way for His beloved Son.  The bold, no-nonsense Forerunner begins his fade from popularity to "decreasing self" so that Christ may increase (John 3:30).  When asked if he was the Christ, John replied:  "I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier that I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

My Lessons / Applications:  Jesus said that no man born of woman was greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11).  Yet this man of God, having such a great following in his day, humbled himself totally to the will of God - giving all glory and honor to Jesus - and even giving his life in order to stand firmly, speak boldly of the truth of God - even to a king.  Do I do this?  Do God's messengers today (the ministers, evangelists, laymen and women) build up Christ or self or family?  Am I willing to bear the cost of discipleship for His name and His glory?

"It is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence- "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory."

-   Charles Spurgeon