Hard Lessons and Precious Faith---Day 333 Through the Bible

                                    Traces of snow are still visible on a hillside on South Toe.

Our faith is only between us and God. Peter calls it "precious faith . . by the righteousness of God" (2 Peter 1:1). "It takes two to have a marriage" is a common saying when a relationship fails. God is perfect in His part of our relationship.  "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these (we) may be partakers of the divine nature" (v. 4).  Our faith is based on our relationship with the Creator God is "precious" and His promises to us are likewise "precious".

We have just celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States. Psalm 136:1-9, begins with the phrase "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever".  This passage describes the only real God "who by wisdom made the heavens" (v. 5).  All 26 verses in this chapter include the words "For His mercy endures forever".  When I think of God, the truth that He is loving and merciful ought to trump any other thoughts I have about Him.

The wisdom of Proverbs for today, "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back" (29:11).
(Nothing to add here!)  Foolish versus wise.

In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image in the plain of Dura.  At the sound of the music--"the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music"--everyone was to "fall down and worship the gold image . . .and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (v. 5-6). It was reported to the king that "certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon:  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego" had not regarded the king nor worshiped the gold image (v. 12).  The king called them into his presence and warned them that if they did not bow down they would be cast immediately into a fiery furnace "And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" (v. 15).  This was their answer to the king: "we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from you hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (v. 16-18).  This did not go over well with the king!  He then commanded the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual and the three men be bound and thrown into the furnace immediately.   The Bible says they "were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments", and were cast into the furnace.  The furnace was so hot "the flame of the fire killed those men" who cast them in.

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished. . .'Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? . .I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the forth (I love this part!) is like the Son of God'." (v. 24-25).  The king called the men to him out of the fire and "they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of the head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.  Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!'" He then admitted, "there is no other God who can deliver like this" (v.29).

Nebuchadnezzar possessed an element of pride and gloried in Babylon. Twelve months following his vision, he was glorying in what he had accomplished when he encountered the power of the God of Israel. "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?  While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: 'King Nebuchadezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!'"  Nebuchadnezzar would "graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth" (v. 15), as he had seen in his visions--"till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (v.25).

In Daniel 4:34, after the vision was fulfilled, Nebuchadnezzar gave this powerful testimony, "And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation, all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?' . .And those who walk in pride He is able to put down" (v. 35-36, 37).  Are we more willing than Nebuchadnezzar to recognize God's power and might in the earth before having to be taught it the hard way?

Where the Battle is Won or Lost – Day 332 Through the Bible

“Paul” by Kenneth Wyatt of Tulia, Texas - 1 of a series of paintings of the apostles.  Wyatt used people he knew as models (and if I remember correctly) whose personalities resembled that of the particular apostle being painted. Wyatt is a Methodist minister and a gifted Western and Christian artist.  Paul (Simon of Tarsus) was a Pharisee taught by Gamaliel and the author of 14 books of the NT.  Though not one of the original 12 Apostles, Paul and Peter are considered to be the leaders of the Apostolic Age.

My Meditations on Today’s Readings

(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)

Key Words/Phrases: dreams, visions, purposed in his heart, would not defile himself, counsel, wisdom, shepherd the flock of God, submission, humility, steadfastness

Purposed in His Heart – Daniel 1 and 2 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) Judah has been taken captive to Babylon.  By Order of the King: Nebuchadnezzar has commanded the best and brightest, the most handsome, gifted and wisest of the young men to be brought to court to learn to serve him.  They are to be fed the king’s delicacies and wine, learn the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Daniel’s Dilemma: Eating the king’s delicacies and drinking his wine were considered as defilements within the Jewish dietary law, evidently.  Therefore, Daniel (and this is the key to obedience)…purposed in his heart...that he would not defile himself.  His self-chosen diet of vegetables and water was allowed as a test.  He and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego so prospered on this diet that all the young men were changed to the same diet.  Dreams and Prophecies:  The king has disturbing dreams that he commands his soothsayers, astrologers and magicians to interpret…without telling them the dream…on penalty of death.  They can’t, but Daniel assures the king that the God of Israel is…”the revealer of secrets”…and can give both the dream and the interpretation.  The 4 Jewish friends…”seek mercies of God concerning the secret.”  God gives Daniel the dream and the interpretation in a night vision.  The Dream:  This is prophecy of the latter days in the form of a great, splendid, awesome image.  The head was of gold and represented Babylon.  The chest and arms were of silver representing a lesser kingdom; he belly and thighs were of bronze, the legs of iron, the feet of a mixture of iron and clay.  A stone made without hand crushed the image and the parts blew away as chaff.  The stone became a great mountain that filled the earth.  The Interpretation/Prophecy: Each part made of a different element represents a mighty kingdom that will follow Babylon, the head of gold.  The kingdom of iron will crush the other 4 kingdoms.  The kingdom of partly clay and partly iron will be divided, and will be partly fragile and partly strong.  “They will mingle with the seed of men, but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.  And in the days of these kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom… 1) which shall never be destroyed, and 2) the kingdom shall not be left to other people.  3) It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms…and 4) it shall stand forever.  This is the stone…made without hands…that will crush all the other kingdoms.  “The great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this.”  The king promoted Daniel as ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief administrator of all the wise men of Babylon.  His 3 friends were set over the province of Babylon.”  Principle: Deciding…purposing…in our hearts…what we will do…is the precursor to both holy obedience and sinful choices.  We must come to the point of commitment before God in private before we will be steadfast in living out our faith in obedience in public – regardless of the consequences. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Purposing in Our Hearts – 1 Peter 5 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) The commands have been given by Jesus, reiterated by Paul, Peter, James and the disciples of how we are to live as God’s elect people.  We must…purpose in our hearts…and then follow with obedience.  Elders: are reminded to shepherd the flock…which is among you…as overseers, 2) willingly…not out of compulsion, 3) not for dishonest gain, but…eagerly, 4) not as lords over those…entrusted…to you, but… being examples to the flock, 5) and when…the Chief Shepherd…appears, you will receive the crown of glory which does not fade away.  Younger People: 1) are to submit themselves to their elders.  ALL of us: 1) are to be submissive to one another, 2) to be clothed with humility, 3) to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God…that…He may exalt us in due time. 4) Cast all our cares upon Him…for He cares for us.  5) Be sober…vigilant…because…our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  6) Resist him (the devil)…steadfast in the faith…knowing…that the same sufferings…are experienced by our brotherhood in the world.  Principle:  We know the commands.  We must commit to them before God and then live them out – regardless of the suffering – following in the footsteps of “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2)

My Lessons and Applications:  Have I so “firmed” my faith before God, so purposed in my heart to obey Him, that when I am faced with the test in public I will stand steadfast?  Am I careful with even my thoughts…filtering them through the tenets of faith handed down to us from the Father and our Lord and Savior?  “May the words of my mouth…and…the meditations of my heart…be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Where the Battle is Won or Lost

Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.

I should never say, “I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test.” Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.

In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Responding to the Orchestra Conductor---Day 331 Through the Bible

                                                  Snow on the laurel leaves in Western NC.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  The God of Israel, Creator, and our Heavenly Father is busy.  In Psalm 135:8-14, we read these action words about Him—“He destroyed”, “He sent”, “He defeated”, “And gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people”.  And, in verses 13-14, “Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations”.  God is involved in bringing about His plan and He is involved in our lives—especially when we ask Him to be involved.  I think we mistakenly picture God on His throne as an observer.  Thankfully, God is more like an orchestra conductor and He sustains the universe and commissions angels to go here and there for ministry.  He is involved in governments and nations, but especially in the body of Christ, the Church. (He loves and cares for us so much!)

We have come to know God better during our study of His word this year.  Hopefully we have come to a greater realization of His love, His patience, mercy, and forgiveness.  We have come to see His judgment stems from love and concern for us and His desire to set us on the right path. We hopefully understand better what it means to “glorify God” and how important this is to God. 

I Peter 4:10-11, reveals that God gives us “gifts” and we are admonished, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. (Ministering to one another may be a new concept.) Our speech should be “as the oracles of God”.  And, “if anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen”.  Peter goes on to say that we should not be ashamed to suffer as a Christian. “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (v. 16).  The focus is not on us, but we are to be focused on bringing glory to God.

In Proverbs 29:9, the focus is on “peace”.  The writer says, “If a wise man contends with a foolish man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace”.  It’s a no win situation where peace is concerned.  We need to use discernment before engaging in a dispute, asking ourselves first whether a peaceful outcome is possible.  If not, is it really that important?

Now to Ezekiel and the river of living water!  “And there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east” (Ezekiel 47:1).  Remember, the temple is the place where Jesus told Ezekiel in chapter 43, “this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever” (v. 7).  In Revelation 22, we read about this same scenario—“a pure river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (v. 1-2).  Compare this passage with the one in Ezekiel.

“The division of the land shows that in God’s Kingdom there is a place for all who believe in and obey God (see John 14:1-6)”—The Life Application Study Bible.  God remembers faithfulness and rewarded these priests accordingly. “It shall be for the priests of the sons of Zadok, who are sanctified, who have kept My charge, who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray” (Ezekiel 48:11).  The Levites (Ezekiel 43:12-14) would be forever forbidden to minister before God as priests because of their idolatry and their part in causing Israel to “fall into iniquity”. (We might consider whether there is something we are doing that will negatively affect our reward—not our salvation—but our reward.)

As God’s people, He wants us to be taught the difference between what is holy and unholy, and to be able to discern between the unclean and the clean (see Ezekiel 44:23). Hopefully, we are learning the difference as we continue to read and study God’s word!  “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’.”  Good advice to end with and hope you are blessed on this day of Thanksgiving—remember that thanksgiving and worship go together!

Enough! Day 330 Through the Bible

”Andrew” by Kenneth Wyatt of Tulia, Texas - 1 of a series of paintings of the apostles.  Wyatt used people he knew as models (and if I remember correctly) whose personalities resembled that of the particular apostle being painted. Wyatt is a Methodist minister and a gifted Western and Christian artist.
 (“Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and brought his brother, Peter, to Christ.”)

My Meditations on Today’s Readings

(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)

Key Words/Phrases: Enough! Remove violence and plundering; Stop dispossessing My people; execute justice and righteousness, have honest scales; Praise the LORD, your conduct, a quiet and gentle spirit, that your prayers may not be hindered; suffering for doing good

The Mystical Temple – Ezekiel 45 and 46 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) The Millennial Temple: The measuring and description of the mystical temple – thought to be the prophesied Millennial temple – continues.  The land is now apportioned and set apart for each of the 12 tribes, the prince, the workers, and the priests.  The Warning: The sternest admonition goes to the prince.  (When the people first insulted God by asking for a human king, they were warned that a king would take their property, their sons, their very lives. 1 Samuel 8:10-18).  This warning ends the tyranny of the usurping princes/kings of Israel at the ushering in of the Millennial Kingdom:  “No more shall My princes oppress My people, but they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.  Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Enough, O princes of Israel!  Remove violence…and plundering…execute justice…and righteousness…and stop dispossessing My People.’  You shall have honest scales.” God then delineates the offerings of sacrifices, observance of the feasts and holy days, and the specific allotment of the land between the tribes.  Principle:  God’s promises and warnings to His people are fulfilled, both for blessings and for curses.

Blessing God in the Temple – Psalm 135:1-7 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) The Sacrifice of Praise:  “Praise the LORD! Praise…His name…O you servants of the LORD…who stand in the house of the LORD…in the courts of the house of our GOD…for…He is good…for…He has chosen Jacob for Himself…Israel for His special treasure…whatever the LORD pleases He does in heaven and in earth.  Sing praises…to His name…for it is pleasant.  Principle: This is the sacrifice that pleases the LORD.  “Therefore...by Him...let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15.  It is also the greatest blessing to us because praise brings God near to us:  “O, Thou, that inhabiteth the praises of Israel.”  (This is both the spiritual and physical Israel) Psalm 22:3

We as the Temple – 1 Peter 3 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) Believers as the Temple of God: As the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 6:19-20), Peter is admonishing us to behave as such – for our own peace and well-being, as a witness to others, and for the honor and glory of God:  How Then We Should Live: 1) Wives are to be submissive to their own husbands…even those that do not obey the word…so that…by the conduct of the wives…when they (the husbands) observe…their chaste conduct accompanied by fear…they may be won.  2) Our adornment must not be outward only, but inward…the hidden person of the heart…with the incorruptible beauty…of a gentle and sweet spirit…which is very precious in the sight of God.  3) Husbands are to dwell with their wives…with understanding…giving honor to the wife…as being the weaker vessel…and…of the grace of life…THAT…their (the husband's) prayers may not be hindered. 4) Refrain your tongue from evil…from speaking deceit.  5) Turn from evil and do good.  6) Seek peace and pursue it.  FOR…the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous…and His ears are open to their prayers.  But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil. 7) Be willing to suffer…for righteousness’ sake, if God so wills, and you will be blessed.  8) Sanctify…the Lord God in your hearts, 9) Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…with meekness and fear…having a good conscience…that…when they defame you as evildoer…those who revile your good conduct in Christ…may be ashamed. (10) For Christ…also suffered once for sins…the just for the unjust…that…He might bring…us… to God…being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit. Principle:  This is the outward working of the inward reality…the difficult path of discipleship…that may include unjust suffering…for the sake of righteousness…to honor God and bring others to Him.

My Lessons and Applications:  God’s warning of “Enough!...violence…plundering…dispossessing My people…unfair weights and scales” mirrors our own cries in this corrupt world.  And these are God’s chosen princes doing this to His and their own people!  Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?  There WILL come a time when this will end…that the corruption will be exposed and brought down by God.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not pray for this time to be now.  Note the very careful ordering of the physical temple.  For 7 chapters, God has been delineating every detail of how His holiness is reflected within His temple.  Note the equally resounding call to the careful ordering of the spiritual temple within us - to fairness, justice, equality among the tribes and between them and the princes of the land, of a life that draws others to Christ and sanctifies God.  Note that same clarion call to the spiritual  temple within us as Peter delineates how we should be holy…Christ-like…heirs together…of the grace of life. Am I answering this call to His glory?  Is my spiritual house - His temple - in order?

For Contemplation

“What would happen in our spiritual lives if we spent as much time working on our souls as do on our bodies?  Our bodies are not unimportant, but they will die; our spirits, however, will live forever.”

Charles Stanley commentary on today’s NT reading: Life Principles Daily Bible, pg. 1438

“It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing.  Alas, it is worse that that.  When they stop believing in God, they believe in anything.”

Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990), British author, journalist, satirist, spy, soldier quoted by Charles Stanley in “Answers to Life’s Questions: Does It Matter What You Believe?” – pg. 1439 Life Principles Daily Bible