February 25, 2010

The Still Big Voice
Numbers 17-18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

I often talk to my students about the importance of tuning into the still small voice of God. That’s how He chooses to speak to us most of the time – in the quietness of our spirit. But we sometimes forget how powerful that voice is. The psalmist reminds us with metaphors of thunder and lightning, breaking cedars and shaking deserts. Right after we read about His thundering voice being “over the mighty waters” (2-3) we see that vividly illustrated in Mark 4.

After ministering all day, Jesus had earned a little shut-eye on the boat-ride back across Galilee. He was rudely awakened, however, not by the crashing waves, but by the panicked disciples. With an almost irritated reflex action, as quick and casual as you and I hitting the snooze button on our alarm clock, He calms the wind, the waves, and His disciples with three simple words: “peace be still”. While He’s fluffing His pillow to return to dreamland, His disciples look at each other: “Who is this? Even the winds and waves obey Him” (41).

Who is this indeed? No wonder Aaron was to consider the priesthood a gift (Numbers 18:7). To represent this amazing Jesus, our High Priest, is a privilege. Speaking His words and bringing peace in the middle of rebellion, plagues, and any other storm we might face is a high calling. Aaron’s budding rod is an illustration of authority that brings life.

So often those who have been given authority abuse it. Power and pride can corrupt and the leader can create waves instead of calming them. Lord, our roles as “priests”, your representatives, is a gift. The big voice behind ours has limitless authority, but only when the words we speak bring peace, not strife - reconciliation, not retaliation.

February 24, 2010

Too Little Too Late
Numbers 14-15; Mark 3

Sometimes I underestimate the importance of quick obedience. I know God is merciful and full of grace so I have assumed on occasion that I can disobey initially then change my mind and everything will be okay. Not so, as I can attest from personal experience and as we can see with the rebellious Israelites in Numbers 14.

Ten of the spies return with a faithless, fear-filled report and the people buy in big-time. They doubt God’s ability to help them overcome the enemies occupying their promised land. They say their fear is for their children: “our little ones will become plunder” (14:3). Interestingly enough, it was their children who would defeat these same nations 40 years later: God noticed the irony and was happy to point it out: “your children, however, whom you said would become a prey – I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness” (31-32).

Naturally when Israel hears that they say, and I paraphrase, “well when You put it that way, we’re sorry! Why wait to die – we’ll go now!” Too little too late. God warned them that they had missed their chance and anything they do after the fact they do on their own. Well they did just that, heading into battle “heedlessly” without Moses and the ark (in other words, without God) and they came running home tripping over the tail between their legs.

Sometimes there’s no way to redeem lost opportunities. Lord may we hear You the first time and do what You ask when You ask. Our reading in Mark 3 reminds us that to be a member of Your family we must be quick to do Your will (35)!

February 23, 2010

When God’s Got Your Back
Numbers 12-13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

Moses had mellowed over 80 years. Had Miriam challenged him when he was younger, things might have been different. At 40, Moses killed an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew “brother”. He was a gangster then, backing his boys in the hood. But 40 years of herding mangy sheep around the backside of the desert taught him about humility. What looked like misspent years uniquely prepared him for the demanding job of herding 2 million bleating Jews through another 40 years in the desert.

When Miriam questioned his authority, Moses apparently said nothing in his own defense. But God had his back: “he is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth… why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” (12:7-8). If that wasn’t enough to make Miriam’s face turn white, the leprosy that followed sure did! Fortunately, Moses, with a compassion that only comes from working through his own rebellion, looks past Miriam’s insubordination and asks God for mercy. No doubt he remembered how his older sister had his back when he was just a baby in the bulrushes.

Joshua and Caleb had the same confidence God would have their back when the Israelites moved into the Promised Land (13:30). Even the giants that the other ten spies saw everywhere (it was really only the sons of Anak) were dwarfed in comparison to the God who covered their backside against Pharaoh. We see the same power in Jesus, who when questioned about His authority to forgive sins, healed the paralytic as proof (Mark 2:9-12).

Lord, that is our desire: to know Your will and to do it, in our personal life and ministry. Thank You that no matter what giants lay in wait ahead of us, you are bigger, and You’ve got our back.

February 22, 2010

Kill Me Now Lord
Numbers 10-11: Psalm 27; Mark 1

Moses is a funny guy, I’ll give him that. He could be as sarcastic in his complaints to God as the people were with him: “11 Moses said to God, "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? 12 Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? 13 Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, 'Give us meat; we want meat.' 14 I can't do this by myself - it's too much, all these people. 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here" (11:11-15). God not only humored Moses during these rants, He referred to him as a friend, one He was willing to talk to in person, “mouth to mouth” (12:8).

David, “a man after God’s own heart”, had the same kind of open and honest relationship with his Lord. In today’s psalm he is again complaining about his enemies and their false accusations. But as usual he comes around to acknowledging God’s goodness and his own determination to wait for the Lord (13,14).

However, in the Mark 1 reading, Jesus seems to be much further along in His relationship with the Father. Here we see Him slipping away quietly before dawn to pray (35). We don’t know how or what He prayed, but I doubt it would have the same level of desperation (and sarcasm) you hear from Moses or David. Jesus faced the same kinds of problems with His disciples as they did with their subordinates, but those quiet times away with the Father seem to keep Him on a more even keel. No where did He ask for God to kill Him, but when that later became a possibility He quietly prayed “not my will, but Thine be done.”

Lord, we need that kind of quiet, calm resignation to Your will to characterize our prayer life. But in the mean time, thank You for Your patience when we complain like Moses and for a lot fewer reasons (150 Bible college students versus 2 million Jews). And if we ever say “kill me now” please don’t take us seriously!

February 21, 2010

Clouded Vision
Numbers 8-9: Acts 28

What was the significance of God leading His people with a cloud by day and a fiery cloud by night? Why not something more illuminating, like the Bethlehem star or lightning from Sinai, or a cute little sunbeam/moonbeam? A cloud seems foggy, uncertain, maybe a little depressing (like most days in Vancouver). Is that really the metaphor God wants us to associate with His presence and His leading in our lives?

Apparently so. And His people had to keep their eyes constantly on that cloud, day and night, to make sure they moved when it did (9:21). It wasn’t a matter of God being with them; it was about them being with God. This idea flies in the face of our me-centered theology today. We like to think of God as a personal valet we bring along wherever we go to make sure we have a sunny day, a warm, fuzzy feeling, and a parking place close to the mall entrance.

The uncertainty of following a cloudy vision, that can move us out of our comfort zones at any moment, is unsettling to say the least. Paul is living proof. He knew Rome was next on his list of must-see cities in his plans to travel the world, but I’m sure he didn’t plan on being under arrest for two years in Caesarea, getting shipwrecked and spending three months on Malta, or spending at least two more years under house arrest in Rome. But he was following the cloud.

Lord, it’s not always clear where You are leading us, but if You’re moving we’re going too. Fear is not a factor as long as we’re with You, but it sure would be if we were left behind.

February 20, 2010

Fear Is Not A Factor
Numbers 7; Psalm 23: Acts 27

When we step into the realm of faith (yesterday’s devotional), fear is no longer a factor. Even when we walk through a dark valley, with no idea where we are going and the shadow of death engulfing us, there’s nothing to worry about (Psalm 23:4). God is with us.

Recently Sargon and I walked through the college singing an impromptu duet: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Yes, it was both a strange sight and a strange sound and the students had a good laugh at our expense, but it was also significant in other ways. We represent two completely different people from opposite places in the world (Sargon is from war-torn Iraq) singing together because of the peace we now share in knowing Jesus.

I can imagine Paul singing the same kind of song while his ship was being torn apart off the coast of Malta. He knew he was going to arrive in Rome in one piece so nothing along the way seemed to bother him. Even the poisonous asp hanging off his hand (I read ahead to ch. 28) had no effect on him (quite literally).

The promise of Psalm 23 is true – when God is with us, goodness and lovingkindness follow us every day of our lives. Our greatest fear, the shadow of death, has no effect when we realize death is just a doorway to “the house of the Lord” where we will dwell with Him forever (6). Our worst case scenario, dying, is our best case scenario, being with Jesus forever. Thank You Lord that wherever we follow You, fear is simply not a factor.

February 19, 2010

The Faith Factor
Numbers 5-6; Psalm 22: Acts 26

Reason will only take you so far. Paul was a logical thinker and a convincing speaker. After his defense to Agrippa, the king was almost persuaded to become a Christian (28). Festus, on the other hand, thought Paul was crazy (24). Reason, logic, intellect will only take you so far – eventually faith must become a factor. When we take that leap of faith and actually become a believer, it all begins to make perfect sense.

Notice I said “begins”. I’ve been a Christian for over 40 years, but I’m still not ready to explain the significance of the jealousy ritual in Numbers 5 or the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6. I am, however, far enough along in my faith journey to appreciate the incredible prophecies in Psalm 22. David likely has no idea that he is prophesying a blow-by-blow description of Christ’s crucifixion. He thinks he’s just complaining about another one of his bad days, but the Great I Am, who sees the future as if it’s the present, places words in his mouth of undeniable detail describing His death.

We know Jesus had something to do with this Psalm because He quotes it while hanging on the cross: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (1). Then David includes these incredible insights:
- Despised by the people (6)
- Scorned and mocked by a gaping crowd gathered around (7,12,13,16)
- Poured out like water (water and blood flowed from His side) (14)
- Bones out of joint (effects of the crucifixion) (14)
- Incredible thirst (15)
- Pierced his hands and feet (16)
- Bones unbroken (17)
- Casts lots for His garment (18)
- The eternal effects of His death and resurrection (24-31)

This description could not possibly apply to David, but it vividly describes the last hours of the Messiah to come through his seed.

Once we include the faith factor it all makes so much sense. The capacity of our Jesus to describe the details of His death more than 1000 years before He even appeared on planet Earth as the Babe in Bethlehem is mind-blowing. Lord, may we never doubt that You know exactly what’s going on and how it’s all going to turn out in the end. Fear should not be a factor, but faith sure is!

February 18, 2010

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Numbers 3-4; Acts 25

Few people know this, but no one is surprised when I tell them: I was president of the chess club in junior high school. It may have sealed my official “nerd” status, but it also taught me a lot about life. I learned early on that I could win the war by conceding a few battles along the way. While my opponent was deliriously distracted by taking my occasional knight or bishop, I was concentrating on the bigger picture. While pretending I was retreating, I was actually maneuvering my castle and Queen in on his king. And just when he was feeling completely superior, comparing his p.o.w.’s to mine, I would crush his spirit with the completely unexpected “checkmate”.

That’s why I love being on God’s side in the war of good vs. evil. Paul’s story is like so many of the great table-turning tales of the past: Moses and Pharaoh, Mordecai and Haman, David and Goliath. Just when you think Paul is done, God, the ultimate chess player, gives him an audience with some of the most influential men of the Roman world and arranges an all-expenses-paid trip to Rome. He maneuvers Paul into the next key city of His master plan to evangelize the known world with the gospel. And Paul is the perfect man for the job - a natural-born Roman citizen, highly educated, and articulate enough to command the attention of Rome’s elite: Commander Claudius Lysias, Governors Felix and Festus, King Agrippa, and finally an appeal to Caesar. In God’s chess match, even p.o.w.’s are still in the game.

I call it the Calvary factor. Satan’s greatest weakness is his pride – he is deluded enough to think he can win the war. He can get so caught up in winning a few skirmishes that he loses sight of the big picture: “the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood, for if they had understood it they would never have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Jesus snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Golgotha with the words “it is finshed”. Translation – “checkmate”, or in the words of A-Team’s Hannibal Smith, “I love it when a plan comes together!”

Lord, you are the chess master, not any of us. Sometimes we don’t see the big picture either, but as the master planner, You do. We’re okay with just being pawns as long as we’re on Your side and in Your hands!

February 17, 2010

Never Wish for Numbers
Numbers 1-2; Acts 24

The book of Numbers delivers on the promise of its title: it begins by numbering the tribes of Israel. While this may not be spell-binding reading, there’s much to see between the lines. There were 600,000 fighting men, so likely well over 2 million altogether, including women and children. This must have been the biggest campsite any of us have ever seen, including Woodstock!

And we know they weren’t all happy campers – these were Jews who love to complain and who had very good reason: constant setting up, tearing down, moving out, and then repeating the cycle ad infinitum (sounds like a typical Sunday at NorthRidge!); wandering in a barren desert with nothing interesting to see or do; keeping children distracted from their constant hunger and thirst; trying to avoid wars with bloodthirsty barbarians while trespassing on their land; and knowing there’s more of that ahead when they finally get to the “Promised Land”. How would we do with no kitchens, bathrooms (not even an outhouse), televisions, water coolers, air conditioners, shopping malls, or transportation options – for 40 years!

Then there’s their fearless leader. Moses was an octogenarian when he started this parade to the Promised Land, and then he outlives them for another 40 years in the wilderness. I’m thinking retirement, a little golf, some puttering in the workshop, and a lot of Lazy-Boy action would be all I could think about when I turn 120! Try leading 2 million complaining Jews through the worst possible conditions with little idea where you’re going and what you’ll find when you get there. Then try to do that without a P.A.system and a good worship team to set the mood.

So often I’ve aspired to see numbers grow, as a youth pastor, associate pastor, college president, and now senior pastor. But Lord, I’m no Moses, and I now would rather focus on quality than quantity. I’ll stay concerned with building big people; You can deal with building big groups!

February 16, 2010

Prosperity Thinking
Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23

I love it when there’s harmony between my daily Old Testament and New Testament readings, where each enhances the other. But I’m also starting to love the rare occasion where there’s apparent incongruence between the two, like today, because it’s in that search for connection that deeper truths are revealed.

Leviticus 26 is about God’s blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The blessings seem to imply prosperity: fruitfulness (4), health (5), freedom from enemy oppression (6-8). The Word-Faith teachers love this stuff! But when we fast-forward to Paul, we see him faithfully following God’s will and being persecuted by everyone, from Jews to Romans to fellow Christians. The Word-Faith teachers seem to have problems with Paul. I remember one article in the Voice of Victory magazine blaming Paul for his chronic “thorn in the flesh”, because he prayed three times instead of claiming his answer the first time.

So are Paul’s difficulties the result of a lack of faith, or worse, disobedience? That’s where the deeper study proves helpful. My devotion yesterday settled the ownership question already: prosperity is not about our wealth, health, or comfort. Fruitfulness is about saving souls, not stock options. Some prosperity teachers measure your spirituality by the size of your Cadillac or the cut of your Armani suit, but even if you are buried in both neither will arrive with you in heaven. Paul understood that prosperity was advancing God’s Kingdom, not building his own. God was allowing Paul’s enemies to provide free transportation and access for Paul to evangelize Rome (11) – now that’s true fruitfulness, freedom, and prosperity.

Lord, may we never measure our understanding of your will by our degree of comfort. The prosperity of Your Kingdom is the true and lasting reward of obedience.

February 15, 2010

God’s Perfect Economy
Leviticus 25; Psalm 25-26; Acts 22

I learned a biblical principle from my brother that helped me earn hundreds of thousands of dollars. It wasn’t my brother the pastor; it was my eldest brother, the businessman. He discovered while buying rental houses that the economy went through 7-8 year economic cycles, coincident with the Sabbath year.

The principle of the Sabbath is not just to revitalize the land as it lays fallow for a year: the changes in buying and selling that year also revitalize the economy. Without that intentional correction, the economy will adjust itself – the hard way. Spiraling inflation ends in a minor or major recession. If you time it right you can sell one house high and buy the next one low, which both of us did for serious profits.

The Sabbath of Sabbath years, the 50th year of Jubilee, cancelled all debts, returned all property to its original owners, and allowed for the emancipation of all slaves. Nowhere in biblical history do we hear of Israel actually doing this, but the concept is brilliant. Chronic poverty, long-term debt, exploitation of workers, and so many other social problems connected to ownership and greed would be eliminated. The principle was a reminder that God owns everything and that we are only stewards of His property.

Lord, this foundational truth must undergird everything we do on this planet. We’re not here to make a living and acquire things; we’re here to manage Your resources and serve Your purposes. That’s when we’ll experience the jubilee that comes from true rest and complete freedom!

February 14, 2010

Celebrate Good Times, C’mon!
Leviticus 23-24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Christians often think of Old Testament law like nonchristians view the church, boring and oppressive. But the church today, just like the Israelites of old, should be party central! The emphasis on the Sabbath and the annual feasts remind us of the abundant life we are supposed to be enjoying. Five of the seven national holidays were to be times of celebration with the family and community of believers. Sprinkled throughout their description are reminders of the Sabbath, when everyone should cease from “laborious work”. Rest and recreation are vital in living life to the fullest.

We live in a stress-filled, sleep-deprived world. Greed and materialism are ripping people off of a good night’s sleep, a good week’s rest, and true holiday celebrations. TV and the internet are stealing our sleep, Sunday shopping has replaced the Sunday family dinner, and holidays have become exhausting.

Christians are not much better. It may not be greed that drives us to an early grave, but even our desire to serve God can become an excuse for workaholism. You may have heard, “it’s better to burn out than to rust out!” Hey, there is another option. The most effective evangelists are the people who’ve learned how to enjoy life. They stand in attractive contrast to the road-weary, bleary-eyed, sad souls looking for a better way to live.

Lord, may we keep the balance You so clearly established in Your Word. It is Your will that we sleep sweetly, rest regularly, and party hardy!

February 13, 2010

Aversion to Perversion
Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

When God has a sex talk He holds nothing back. Leviticus is not a bedtime story for children. It seems like God wants to warn His people about every conceivable sexual sin, from threesomes with a mother and her daughter to orgies in the barnyard, with the livestock! Where’s the parents’ advisory on these chapters?

The point of these details on immorality is to alert His people to the kind of perversion they will encounter among the pagan Canaanite nations: “you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them …. I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples” (20:23, 24).

Satan cannot create – only God has that kind of power. So the devil takes what God has designed for good and twists it, or “perverts” it, to be used outside of God’s intended purpose. He has done just that with music, dance, and, most insidiously, sex. The most sacred expression of loving intimacy between a husband and wife has been debased to animalistic lust.

God’s graphic descriptions should make us as angry as it does Him. It’s that hatred of sin that will keep us from being sucked into the vortex of perversion that is as prevalent now as it was then. It angers me when I see the twisted thinking of the world creep into our churches and even our Bible colleges. It’s what Paul warned his new converts about (20:30). Sometimes we need to be shocked out of our complacency. For example, I encourage young men bound by the subtle lure of pornography to see its ultimate effects in the soulless eyes of an emaciated streetwalker.

God help us to hate the sin in our world as much as we love the sinner. We live in an upside-down world, but You came to set things right-side-up. What can we do to help, starting with our own lives, in our family, and on our campus?

February 12, 2010

Who are You?
Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

Talk about your identity crisis. The seven sons of Sceva were so impressed with Paul that they all tried to be like him, attempting to cast out evil spirits in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches. The demons saw the incongruity: “we know Jesus, we know Paul, but who are you?” (15). Add one more “s” to the alliteration and you have the seven streaking sons of Sceva. When you don’t know who you are, you have good reason to be running scared and naked!

We can only discover who we are when we know the One who created us. He alone knows us fully - past, present, and future. He is our Way, our Truth, and the Source of abundant Life. Sceva’s kids represent those who know about God, but have never taken the time to know Him personally. They are posers, hitchhikers on the road of life, relying on someone else’s faith to make things happen.

David, a man after God’s own heart, knew how important it was to stay connected to the source of His identity. When he felt separated from God, his enemies, like the demons of Acts 19, “exalted over him” (Psalm 13:2). But when he trusted in God’s lovingkindness, he experienced salvation (5). God says to His people, in the Leviticus reading, that the “only way to truly live is my way – I am the Lord” (18:5). That phrase is repeated over and over again. The “Great I Am” has no identity problem. When Jesus declared He was the “I Am”, the power behind that declaration knocked His enemies on their backsides (John 18:6).

Lord, we long to know You more, and to discover more about our own identity in the process. It’s not about who I am; it’s about whose I am, and about who’s “I Am”!

February 11, 2010

A Reasonable Faith – part 2
Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18

The reasoning continues in Acts 18, this time passing from Paul to Aquila and Priscilla, and then to Apollos (4,19,25,26,28).

The tedious task of stitching tent canvas allowed Paul many hours of training with fellow tent-makers, Aquila and Priscilla. On a side note, notice how they were introduced to us with the husband’s name first (2), in typical Jewish fashion, but then later on by the wife’s name first (18; Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:19) – very atypical! Priscilla apparently developed a prominent teaching gift and became more active in ministry than her husband. So much for the view that believes Paul discriminated against women in ministry. The strength of Priscilla and Aquila, like Paul, was sound, reasonable teaching.

Naturally they were drawn to Apollos, who was known for teaching about Jesus “accurately” (25), though he was limited to John’s mentorship. After P & A finished enlightening him “he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ” (28). How does one prove Jesus is the Christ? Frank Morrison, an agnostic lawyer, set out to disprove the resurrection of Jesus. He was so changed by the overwhelming evidence for it that he became a Christian. The book he finally wrote, entitled Who Moved the Stone, presents compelling arguments that prove the historical accuracy of Christ’s death and resurrection.

In sharp contrast to that kind of reasonable thinking is the way the Jehovah Witness community has misinterpreted today’s Leviticus reading on eating blood. A recent scenario saw the B.C. government step in to save some of the sextuplets born to JW parents who refused their much-needed blood transfusions. The command in Leviticus clearly concerns “eating blood” and the reasons are physical (health concerns) and spiritual (this was a ritual from the pagan idolatry of Israel’s enemies). To allow innocent children to die unnecessarily over faulty exegesis is not only unreasonable, it’s criminal. And it unfortunately brands every other Bible believer with the inaccurate notion that we are mindless and superstitious.

Lord, may we follow the pattern set by Paul, Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos in presenting a reason for the hope we have within us. It is a hope based on truth that is both reasonable and irrefutable.

February 10, 2010

A Reasonable Faith
Leviticus 13-14; Acts 17

Christians often appear as mindless fanatics to our sophisticated world: “I live by faith – don’t confuse me with the facts.” While I’d be the first to admit there are times when God’s mind exceeds the capacity of my own mind to understand it, I also think that faith, if it’s based on truth, should be reasonable. That’s why I am teaching my students this semester about science and the Bible. I want them to be able to give a reason for the hope they have (1 Peter 3:15).

Paul felt the same way. He reasoned with these very intellectual Jews and Greeks (2,17), proving to them Christ died and rose again (3). So convincing was he that many of them were “persuaded” to come to Christ. Of course people come to faith through a spiritual decision, not an intellectual one. But for the message to penetrate the spirit, it has to get past the defenses people build into their thinking. This is particularly true with Westerners, Europeans, and others from intellectual and sophisticated societies.

Fortunately, the Bible is truth, and bears up under scrutiny. I saw a reader-board sign outside a United church that said “The Bible: Infallible – no; Inspirational – yes”. That doesn’t work for me. If something is not fully true, then how can it transform my life? Jesus said to all the Genesis skeptics and evolutionists out there, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (John 3:12). The Bible must be true in its history and science if we are to believe its spiritual principles.

Even the details of the health and spiritual limitations on diet and cleanliness in our Leviticus readings are reasonable. That’s why the Israelites were so far ahead of the pagan nations around them. Lord, thank You that Your Word is true, on all levels. It has withstood the scrutiny of skeptics for thousands of years and becomes more recognizably reasonable and reliable with each scientific discovery.

February 9, 2010

Invincibility
Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

I’ve always wanted to be superman. As a kid, I thought flying would be cool; as a teenager, x-ray vision intrigued me; but now that I’m pushing 55, invincibility seems to be the ultimate superpower. Who wouldn’t want to see bullets bouncing off your chest. It’s even more dramatic than Neo freezing them midair (I like the Matrix movies too). As we keep reading the adventures of Paul, it seems like he believes he has superman’s capacity to defy death.

Acts 16 is a classic narrative on how to follow the leading of the Spirit. Sometimes circumstances block our way (6,7); sometimes it’s a vision that calls us in a different direction (9,10). Sometimes things you can’t control take you out of commission for awhile (22-24). But Paul and Silas knew enough about following God that they didn’t seem the least perturbed about being stripped, beaten, and chained up in the deepest, darkest, and dankest part of a Philippian jail. Paul had already survived a stoning at Lystra – he was invincible! That he was still alive was reason enough to sing God’s praises (25).

After the earthquake shook the doors open and rattled the chains off their feet (a perfect illustration of the power of praise), Paul and Silas stayed right where they were. If it had been me, I would have used my “get-out-of-jail-free” card as fast as I could, but they had this sense that nothing outside of God’s will could hurt them. Because they stayed, the Philippian jailer and his household were saved and the church of Philippi was born. Paul’s letter to that church is filled with the same joy they felt that night in that rat-infested prison.

The reading in Leviticus illustrates that the only Kryptonite we need to fear is disobedience to the Source of our superpowers. Aaron’s sons thought they knew better than God and found out quickly how mortal they were without Him. Lord, thank you that we am truly invincible when we’re walking in your will. Even death for the believer is just a doorway to eternal life – now that’s true invincibility!

February 8, 2010

A Higher Standard
Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

While I haven’t been journaling about my readings in Leviticus, it’s not because I think its content is boring. Quite the opposite; I am always intrigued and amazed at the meticulous details God required of His priests and the sacrifices they offered on behalf of His people. When they do things right, God sends His fire down from heaven to consume their sacrifices and the people rejoice in His mercy (9:23-24). If they do it wrong, that same fire could consume them. No wonder only the Levites had the guts to step forward and act as God’s representatives. There’s definitely a higher standard imposed on “priests” and, in our case, church leaders.

I noticed how the priests were to lay hands on the sacrifices before they were offered to illustrate their identification. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus, took our sins on the cross, not His own. Then the blood was applied to each priest, to their right earlobe, thumb, and big toe. The right side represents privilege and authority and the applied blood reminds the priests to be consecrated in what they hear, what they touch, and where they go. These rituals were only required for the priests, not the average Israelite.

Our students sometimes wonder why we impose on them a higher standard than even their churches require. Our purpose is to prepare them for church leadership. We get a glimpse of the challenges leaders face from our reading in Acts 15 and the deliberations of the Jerusalem Council. Coincidently, they were dealing with church standards for the new Gentile converts, deciding not to impose the same circumcision ritual they had all experienced. The apostles had a wider constituency to deal with, ministering to both Jews and Gentiles. They often had to go far beyond others in their personal disciplines to make sure there were no impediments to the gospel.

Lord, it’s that high calling and higher standard that allows for the presence of Your Holy Spirit to accompany spiritual leadership. The conclusion of the Jerusalem Council says, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” We will gladly live up to the standards you’ve called us to if it means Your presence and wisdom will flow through us.