My New Year's Resolution: To Lead By Following (Christ)

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed Him."
Matthew 4:18-20

The start of another calendar year always seems to usher in a wave of unspoiled hopes and dreams. It bears a time to begin anew. To try something never done before, or revamp a habit, hobby, or a fellowship that has long suffered from neglect or underutilization. From this mindset flows a host of resolutions. Some commit themselves to exercising more, and eating healthier entrees so that they can be viewed in a new light (from without and from within). Some commit themselves to relinquishing destructive (spiritually or physically) patterns in order to feel better and be perceived as improved. And some commit themselves to making positive strides in family and communal relationships so that they can enjoy unity rather than disunity. And while all of these pursuits are good, provided they are generated with the right motive (for God's glory rather than self glory), I find myself holding onto one firm desire: to lead others, specifically in my home, by following Jesus.

This may sound like an understood goal that I should have already obtained as a mature believer, but as I grow in my knowledge of God's Word I realize how far from I am from fully relinquishing control of my life to Christ. Yes, I surrendered a Jesus-centered confession many years ago as a teenager, recognizing Jesus is my Lord and Savior, Who alone can reconcile me to God through His sacrifice at Calvary. And this glorious declaration secured my eternal residence in heaven. But faith goes beyond an internal, or external, proclamation of Christ's divinity. Faith, in its purest, truest form, should comprise an all-encompassing, unyielding desire to let God have the reins of my life. It should exhibit humility, honor, and holiness. It should be motivated by giving, not taking. It should be total, unadulterated allegiance to God. In other words, faith seeks to bring the Lord praise through personal unbending service. And I admit this type of faith, although present at moments in my life, is not yet the default state of my heart. And this is why I want to lead by following Jesus, genuinely and wholeheartedly.

And so when I read a passage like Matthew 4:18-20 I am convicted because I question whether or not I possess the same type of "all in" heart that the disciples displayed when Jesus called them to go and follow Him into the great unknown. Picture the scene. Peter, Andrew, James and John were examining their nets. It was an ordinary day for these anglers, a profession that can be grueling and competitive (after all there are only so many fish in the sea). They spent hours daily performing the same task. Cast then retract. Cast then retract. And sometimes the wear and tear on the fishing nets required patching for any weakness in the net would threaten to lose a precious haul of fish. Their work was the very manner in which they provided for their families and supplied for their pressing, legitimate needs. Obviously, fishing was their very livelihood. And as they were looking over their nets on a presumably average day, preparing the next cast, a stranger walked up to them, dressed in ordinary, everyday attire, and asked them to come and follow him. His words were few, and his promise was rather vague. Yet something was clearly different about this individual. His voice, tone, and spirit all conveyed a depth, a spirituality, that was unlike any demeanor that Peter, Andrew, James, or John had ever experienced from a rabbi in their synagogye  Peter and Andrew dropped their fishing nets and followed. James and John did as well, but also left their father behind who was fishing with them. 

Clearly, obedience is not some feeble step toward God. It is an all-in, here is my life kind of faith-based sacrifice. Each day we must choose to place God above everything in our lives. We must let His will guide us and lead us. But notice a few elements to these few short verses. One, the initiation. Jesus initiated the communication and the conditions regarding the opportunity for discipleship. Just as God called out to Moses from a burning bush in Exodus 3 so Jesus called out to Peter, Andrew, James, John, and eight others (to be His students and future servants). This is how it has always been. God, as the Creator, finds us when He determines we are ready for His work. We are made in His image, which is a continual reminder that we are not put on this planet for our own adoration and legacy. We are here to advance God's legacy. And when God calls out to us we would do well to model our response after that of the disciples: to drop our figurative nets (that which affixes us to this our self-focused world) and go wherever He leads.

Two, the invitation. Jesus invited the disciples to follow Him. He did not say, at first, what that choice would entail (persecution, death, and exile). But that was not the point. The flesh is consumed with the "hows and whys" of such situations. What are the conditions and requirements we will be subjected to? But faith chooses not to dwell on the details, or anticipated hardships to the brink of falling away. No, faith chooses to see the beauty of the holy invitation and partake of God's inclusiveness. When the Lord offers the opportunity to serve we should serve without hesitation or reservation. 

Three, the inheritance. Jesus pledged to make the disciples fishers of men. This was a pledge packed with divine implications. As Scripture would later confirm, the disciples (minus Judas Iscariot) were among the first to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit fulfills many roles in the lives of believers, including the guarantee of eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:5). So as Jesus stood before the disciples and told them to join Him in His mission He was pledging a supreme inheritance, an everlasting inheritance. An inheritance that would rescue humanity (for those who find Christ's redemption) from despair and desolation. And so with all of this being said my new years's resolution, better yet my earthly lifelong resolution, is to lead, in my home, church, and community, by following Christ. He initiated my calling, invited me into forever fellowship, and gave me a wondrous inheritance. How can I deny His love and not follow Him, wherever that leads?

Father I pray that I would follow You in sincere and utter devotion. That the words of my mouth, the desires of my heart, and the actions of my life would resonate with complete, total allegiance to You. Help me not to exhibit a divided mind. Help me not to be consumed with selfish ambition, or corrupted values. Help me not to walk away from Your great and glorious purpose. When You call may I be ready and willing to go, without hesitation or reservation. Thank you Lord for Your love and Your grace. And thank You that You would allow me, a weakling, a wretch, into Your eternal kingdom through the sacrifice of Christ. May Jesus be the Lord of my heart and the passion of my soul. May my life be the proof of Your amazing love. Amen.  

                

An Amazing Christmas Story

"and she (Mary) gave birth to her firstborn, a son (Jesus). She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room in the inn."
Luke 2:7

Sometimes I struggle to envision the story of Jesus' birth as it really was. I, like so many, revert to images that are often portrayed in church musicals or religious presentations. Many of you can relate to the traditional Christmas productions. Jesus, an adorable baby, is neatly wrapped in linen cloth, and sweetly held in Mary's tender grasp. Joseph happily, and silently, looks on, trying to take the whole scene in. Then there is a little bit of hay spread out on the ground. Perhaps a few shepherds and some wise men enter the scene to look upon the Messiah. But that is about the extent of it. So often such church Christmas productions are offered from the comfort of a plush, carpeted stage, making it difficult to grasp the type of grimy, dirty surroundings that Jesus really encountered when He entered this world in the form of a tender child. In other words, it is hard to contemplate, or acknowledge, some of the undesirable aspects that Mary and Joseph endured in welcoming Jesus here on earth, specifically the setting, surroundings, and sacrifice.

What was the setting? Bethlehem, home of David. There was nothing wrong with Bethlehem in and of itself. But Joseph and Mary were from Nazareth in Galilee (Luke 1:26-27). This meant that Mary gave birth to Jesus some eighty miles from home, equivalent to a four day journey in the ancient world. Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem because a census was issued by Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1), requiring everyone to return to the traditionally-held epicenter of their lineage. But to go into labor in a place so far from where one currently resides is a major burden and strain for anyone, let alone someone so young as Mary probably was. Apparently Joseph and Mary had no close relatives in Bethlehem, which only added to the state of hardship, because the couple did not secure lodging in another's home. Even when they tried to stay at local inns they were turned away. The setting for Joseph and Mary was a foreign one, and yet this was the location God ordained for Jesus to be born, as prophesied in Micah 5:2.

What were the surroundings? Scripture does not provide us much in the way of details. Maybe it was a cave. Perhaps it was an animal pen of some sort. But whatever it was it was probably not the ideal setting to deliver a baby. The ground was likely rough. The supplies were certainly limited. After all, Joseph and Mary were on the outskirts of Bethlehem.  Why do I say this? Because angels appeared to shepherds in fields nearby, indicating Joseph and Mary had some separation from the immediate Bethlehem residential area. I wonder what it would be like to care for a baby when the air is thick with the stench of livestock. Of what it would be like to cradle a child when the environment requires crude candle light just to see a few feet in front of you. But this was presumably the surrounding that Joseph and Mary were forced to accept. 

What was the sacrifice? Joseph and Mary's lives would never be the same. Why? Because they had the Savior of the world in their care, and this entailed great responsibility, as well as great risk. We see this reality manifested quickly after Jesus' birth for Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod's wrath (Matthew 2:13). Yet again, Joseph and Mary were relegated to packing up their meager belongings and journeying to a place that was not home, but would have to become home for a time. All the angelic visits and all the supernatural dreams that Joseph and Mary experienced confirmed that Jesus would be no ordinary child, but this also meant that Joseph and Mary were charged with an obligation to rightly care for the promised One, the Redeemer of the world.

When I review the setting, surroundings, and sacrifice of Jesus' birth in this light I find a wholly different perspective on the Christmas story. I see beauty, but not the worldly definition of beauty, which is marked by superficial, external markers. I see wonder, but not the worldly definition of wonder, which is characterized by feats of strength and success. I see grandeur, but not the worldly definition of grandeur, which is referenced with majestic landscapes or artistic contributions. I see a God Who chose to bless Joseph and Mary with the honor of raising Jesus because they had refinable, humble hearts. They were willing to accept the harsh setting. The arduous surroundings. The immense sacrifice. In short, Joseph and Mary revered God, so-much-so that they were willing to forego the comfort and pre-conceived direction of their lives for the sake of being vessels for God's glory. What an amazing Christmas story.       

The Cherishment of Christ

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Luke 2:19

Have you ever experienced a defining moment where you knew you would forever remember it, and forever cherish it? A moment that was so spectacular, so exceptional, that it continually causes you to sense joy every time you reflect upon it? A wedding day perhaps? Or maybe the birth of a child? Or the day that you, or a loved one, encountered salvation in Jesus? Beth Moore would call such moments "God stops". Moments that compel mankind to stop and recognize the Lord's holy, divine influence, and how He majestically works in this world. "God stops" are essentially the intersection of self and Sovereign. And the Sovereign Lord's goodness and greatness are so powerful, so incredible, that it leaves us in a state of awe and wonder.    

I myself have had several incredible confirmations of God's presence. And as I have aged I have found it beneficial to catalog them in some written fashion. Let me provide an example. A few short years ago my wife and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. In the months leading up to the anniversary date I began to reflect on the amazing blessing that our marital relationship had become. My wife and I had spiritually matured so much and sensed God's benevolent mercy strengthening us, and drawing us closer to Him. I was flooded with gratefulness as I thought about the years my wife and I had experienced in our marriage. Gratefulness for my wife, who was, and is, an wonderful life-mate. She motivates me and cares for me beyond anything I can nobly express. She is tender, kind, and wholly affectionate. I also sensed gratefulness to the Lord, Who orchestrated the manner in which my wife and I  met each other so long ago (it was at church - not very original I know). 

I started to go through some pictures we had collected in our relatively short span as husband and wife. And one picture kept drawing my attention. It was an impromptu snapshot my Mom had taken. We were standing on the front porch of my parent's home. I don't recall the conversation, but we all began to laugh. My wife leaned in and hugged me, and that is when my Mom snapped the photograph. The picture conveys such happiness and joy. And it symbolized how I felt being with my wife, particularly in regard to how warm and genuine her embrace is. A few days later I decided to write a poem inspired by that image, which I later had framed with a copy of the poem. I am the first to admit I am not skilled with rhythmic prose, but I was so adamant about finding a way to uniquely express how appreciative I was to be married to my wife that I penned the following poem:

It's such a mysterious thing
To experience the warmth of your embrace
To be enveloped by arms that supply love
And overflow with grace

Impromptu hugs
Which I treasure and hold so dear
Offer me an affectionate shelter
Every time you draw near

With each tender touch
You affirm a heart that is genuinely true
And daily remind me
Life is fuller sharing it with you

I know the beauty of your smile
And the curves of your face
But nothing has captured me
Quite like the warmth of your embrace

This personal account highlights, to a degree, the state of Mary's heart in Luke 2:19. Luke 2:8-16 tells us that some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. An angel appeared to them and informed them that a Savior, the Christ in fact, had been born that very evening. Just as they were trying to absorb the message a great company of celestial beings appeared and praised God. The shepherds were obviously overcome with curiosity and rushed to Bethlehem to find the Messianic child. And when they found Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, the shepherds recounted everything that had just happened. Luke 2:19 then reveals that Mary treasured the news, and pondered it in her heart.

Luke 2:19 denotes the seriousness of Jesus' purpose on earth, and how Mary wisely perceived it. Mary understood, in some fashion, the weight of Christ's purpose on earth. She was more concerned with honoring the Lord than she was with achieving notoriety for herself or her family. The apprehension that she was part of God's collective work and will was being forged in her heart. Through Luke 2:19 we find that Mary was reposed and respectful. And she was astutely aware that the Lord was doing something magnificent with Jesus' coming, which would eventually be instrumental in changing the world.

The heart is the seed of emotions. It is how humanity can behold the grandeur of life. And through the heart Mary dwelled on the tremendous honor she had been given. She was the vessel God chose to bring forth Jesus into this planet (in human form). Mary did not boast about her position in history. Did not brag about it. Probably did not consider herself to be worthy of the privilege. Instead, she humbly pondered the meaning of the unfolding events surrounding Jesus, and treasured the baby supernaturally formed in her womb. In other words, Mary cherished Christ. And this consideration has valuable meaning and application today. Do we as Christians acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Messiah? Do we recognize His authority and glory? Do we choose to embrace His legacy and ponder it in our hearts daily? In short, do we cherish Christ, cherish Him as Mary did?  


    

The Word Made Flesh

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by Him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind…Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw His glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.”
John 1:1-4; 14

For the better part of nineteen months this blog has focused on journeying through Scripture in a chronological fashion. There have been some slight deviations here and there, but the bulk of the writing since April 2012 has slowly and systematically worked through the Old Testament. Considering the Old Testament comprises two-thirds of the entire Bible it has required a significant amount of time to review its assorted passages. But with this entry we now make our way into the New Testament, which only amplifies the amazement and wonder of God’s eternal presence, position, and power that was set forth in the Old Testament. 

The starting point for this New Testament study is the book of John, one of the four gospel accounts. It is interesting to note that each of the gospel records presents a unique perspective on the lordship and legacy of Jesus. While there are correlating and matching stories, the text reads and flows slightly differently in all four books. Consequently, each gospel account opens in a distinctive manner. Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus (likely from Joseph’s line) and then lists details regarding the miraculous birth of Jesus (through immaculate conception, conceived by the Holy Spirit). Mark begins with the work of John the Baptist, who spiritually paved the way for Jesus’ ministry. Luke begins with the history of John the Baptist’s conception, which itself was supernatural, and then reveals the relational connection of John the Baptist’s mother (Elizabeth) to Mary, the mother of Jesus. And finally John begins in a theological style rather than a historical style, and provides one of the most impactful treatises on Jesus in all of Scripture. 

Where some authors opted to open their gospel accounts with the genealogical connection of Jesus to the Hebrew lineage, thus calling attention to Christ’s humanity, John the apostle opted to convey the holy nature of Jesus, thus calling attention to His divinity. In other words, Jesus was God in man, or the God-man. As the late, great British preacher and author Charles Spurgeon once observed, “Remember Christ was not a deified man, neither was he was a humanized God. He was perfectly God, and at the same time perfectly man.” And this theme is readily apparent in the first few verses of John’s gospel. 

The literary imagery that John captures in chapter 1, verse 1, (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God…) takes us back to the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1 it states that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And a little later in verse three of Genesis 1 the text declares that “God said, ‘Let there be light.’ And there was light.” Therefore, God was able to abstractly imagine something that had never existed (like light, sky, stars, and humanity) and then literally speak it into existence with a spoken word. Such holy power is unparalleled and unmatched. God is so omnipotent that He can generate life and beauty with merely an expressed thought. Furthermore, light, sky, stars, and humanity have an origin through God, but God has no origin, no beginning point, for He has always been and will always be, And this reflection and knowledge bring us to a realization of the Lord’s supremacy, a recognition that is reaffirmed in the opening lines of John’s gospel. 

So when John says the Word became flesh (John 1:14) in Jesus he is confirming the overarching sovereignty of God. Jesus, like God, has always been and will always be. He was integral in the creation of man, and He was integral in the salvation of man. Mankind, as a whole, has struggled to fully grasp the splendor and majesty of Christ, let alone God. But John’s initial contemplations harken us to surrender praise and passion to Christ’s incredible redemptive work. And you cannot wholly appreciate what Jesus did through Calvary until you identify His eternal position, presence, and power. Yes, Jesus performed an amazing feat on earth, but that ministry is enveloped within His everlasting divinity.

It is remarkable to consider that Jesus donned human skin to rescue human souls, know He was stepping into hostile territory where He would be mistreated and maligned. And still to this day many are resistant to the message of Christ and denounce the name of Jesus. But to the followers of Christ we must proclaim the Word, the light, the name of Jesus. After all, from Christ’s abundance comes one glorious blessing after another (John 1:16). Therefore, let us not be silent. Let us not be stubborn. Let us be spirited. And let us rejoice that Jesus came to this world to redeem the otherwise unredeemable. He is full of grace and truth. To Jesus be the glory forever and ever.              

Hope for Today; Hope for Tomorrow

“But for you who respect My name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall.”
-Malachi 3:2

I write this entry with a burdened heart. Recently, I was contacted by a friend who informed me that his wife had suddenly passed away the previous weekend. The details in which the young woman’s life ended were truly saddening. There is no benefit in elaborating further into the particulars of this massive tragedy, but sufficed to say the death was unforeseen and unexpected. As I talked to my friend I tried to offer some measure of comfort to him, but what words can ever satisfy in the aftermath of an episode like this? After our phone conversation ended, I was overcome with grief. I called my wife, who was away from home at the time, and began crying uncontrollably. My words were fragmented. I could not utter complete phrases due to the deluge of sorrow. My wife, who knew the deceased young lady too, began weeping too. Neither one of could process the circumstances and the outcome. Our families periodically fellowshipped with one another via dates and concerts. At one point, we even attended the same church. In other words, we had relational history with each other. What happened that would necessitate the sad state that ultimately transpired?

I have seen my share of death, having lost a few extended family members throughout my youth. But those deaths, for the most part, were attributed to the end result of the aging process. Difficult as they were to absorb they seemed to be explainable as there is a given, inherent life expectancy. But the death of this thirty year old woman, a friend, was hard to accept. So many thoughts initially rushed through my mind. What will the upcoming funeral service be like? How will my widowed friend raise three young children now? How will the immediate family heal, and stay united for years to come? 

Clearly, the scope of genuine pain and burden encompasses more people than we can ever comprehend. Hardship has a tendency to cast a large net. But God’s strength is greater than our weaknesses and His love is more powerful than our misery. The Lord is amply able to mend broken hearts and restore shattered lives. And this regenerative ability of God is readily apparent in the book of Malachi. Passage after passage in the Old Testament highlights that the Lord took exception with the rebellious behavior of the Israelites, and God’s followers in general. And Malachi is one such biblical narrative that rightly calls out superficial obedience. In Malachi 1:6 – 2:9, God levied a rebuke on the Jewish religious leaders for their role in desecrating worship. In Malachi 2:10 – 4:6, God levied a rebuke on the community of faith for allowing a fake devotion to the Lord to become so commonplace.

But within the scathing reprimands in Malachi are spiritual banners of hope. And one such spiritual banner of hope is found in Malachi 3:2. God said that if His name is respected, which implies a consecrated effort to yield unwavering allegiance, it will usher in a state of spiritual peace. In fact, the Lord likened having a dedicated trust in Him to calves being set free from confined, limited spaces in stalls. In other words, the corresponding liberation and joy that believers can experience in God is incredibly encouraging and reassuring. It can motivate us to praise through the pain. It can help us rely on faith more than our feelings. It can renew us, even when every physical and emotional fiber of our being is on the cusp of breaking down. 

The message in Malachi 3:2 is just as applicable to the modern-day culture as it was at the time Malachi was penned. This generation, like the ancient world, faces fierce challenges every day, including the sudden and swift loss of loved ones. But as great as the daily challenges are there is still a prevailing hope that remains: God. Everything about Him. His love. His affection. His comfort. His nearness. His Word. His aid. His discipline. His redemption. All of it tarries on regardless of the passing of time, treasure, family, and friends. Only God endures. Therefore, let us continue to revere and respect the name that is above all other names for it reflects the only One Who can offer real, lasting hope for today, as well as tomorrow.  

Empty Praise

“‘Yet even now,’ the Lord says, ‘return to me with all your heart – with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your garments!’”
Joel 2:12

A theme that resounds throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament is the propensity of man to practice shallow, or hollow, worship. And sadly this issue is just as relevant today in the modern-day church. The simple truth is that Christians are called and commissioned by God to live a set-apart lifestyle. We are to forego the old ways, categorized by selfish pursuits and carnal beliefs, in order to embrace a new mindset, which is fundamentally transformed by the message and mission of Jesus Christ. And within this spiritual metamorphosis is the expectation that believers will daily strive to exhibit honorable traits, and engage a noble purpose. But how many of us really actively strive for this standard? 

In my life there often exists a dichotomy. Like the apostle Paul, I struggle to let the Holy Spirit reign and direct me in His glorious will. When I choose to ignore divine direction I stumble and walk into a pitfall of horrendous decisions. A string of folly ensues. There tends to be an interconnected nature to unwise, unspiritual choices. Anger, jealousy, malice, and greed are but a few of the attributes that become amplified and overwhelm me when I reject the Holy Spirit in favor of my fleshly tendencies. This, in part, plays into the vicious cycle of empty praise and shallow worship.

The book of Joel has a thing or two to teach us about the fallacy of hollow adoration. This short biblical book is yet another stern reminder that the Lord does not tolerate apathetic, lifeless praise. God wants our full allegiance, and He wants us to relinquish the desire to exercise a divided heart. And throughout the lecture-style exposition of Joel we find that God is serious about His creation, and cherishes us with an intense, unyielding love. But implanted within the text of Joel is a very powerful, humbling verse: Joel 2:12. In this verse God calls attention to the fact that many within the ancient community of faith were quick to fast and weep, but slow to let the underlying motivation be generated through intrinsic contriteness and sincerity. People tore their clothes in public displays of sadness, seeking God’s blessing, but many were not willing to let their hearts be guided and molded by the Almighty Lord.

External conformance to religious or cultural customs in and of itself does not please God. In fact, Jesus rebuked many religious leaders for falsely believing that outward acts alone signify one’s loyalty to the Lord. To adequately serve God is to surrender everything. Heart and hand. Mind and mouth. Attitude and activity. And this can, and should, be an inward incentive, not a superficial intention. To this end, I recall a candid illustration of empty praise. Many years ago, a member in our church, at the time, had become good friends with me and my wife. He stopped us one Sunday in a hallway before the morning worship service. Firmly in his grasp was a very delicious-looking cake, neatly adorned with vanilla icing. My wife and I inquired as to what the dessert was for, and the friend responded that it was a teaching tool for children’s church. Noticing our inquisitive look, the man then proceeded to tell us that the cake was actually filled with broken eggs shells and dispersed yoke. The lesson that day for the children was about genuine worship, and how the Pharisees in the Gospel accounts were guilty of yielding hollow worship. The cake was a great visual display of the principle that what looks good on the outside does not always indicate what is good on the inside.     

That application of that cake has stayed with me for quite awhile. And it often causes me to self-evaluate my motives. Through Scripture it is apparent that God has set a high bar for His believers. And the divine instruction beckons followers of God to find the righteous life as the desirable life, which means repelling the acceptance of empty praise. If we declare with our lips amongst fellow believers that we revere God, but in the privacy of our homes or cars succumb to foul speech and profane thought is that genuine worship? If we wear Christian-themed apparel out in public, but in the company of coworkers in the office setting refuse to provide evidence of our earnest affiliation with the Lord is that genuine worship? If we hold a stellar church attendance record, but do not correlate a devotion to God inside the home and in the community, where faith is most needed, is that genuine worship? May Joel 2:12 continually remind us that genuine worship originates in the heart, and no where else.  

The Mercy and Movement of God

"Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother..."
Esther 2:7a

The biblical account of Esther is stirring on many levels for it overflows with God's mercy and movement. The story candidly reveals that humanity is not without the Lord's affection, nor are we ever apart from His divine aid and authority. God's command over earthly affairs is undeniable. He masterfully orchestrates events and people to accomplish His glorious will. In Esther, the Lord's will was for the Jewish people in Susa and abroad to circumvent a pending onslaught. And to confirm that nothing is impossible for Him God key's agent to carry out this incredible plan was the most powerful, and thereby the most unapproachable, leader in the world at the time: King Xerxes. 

The overarching theme of Esther reveals God's ability to utilize seemingly insignificant and unrelated events together in harmonious fashion. A eunuch's liking of Esther yielded a comfortable stay in the palace, as well as invaluable insight into Xerxes' preferences, which was pivotal in Xerxes' choosing of Esther to become queen. Mordecai's promotion as a palace official, and his reporting of an assassination plot against the king, proved to be instrumental in earning favor with Xerxes. And the king's incapacity to find sleep the night before Haman intended to kill Mordecai affirms God's wisdom, power, and incomparable skill in drawing circumstances together to accomplish His ultimate desire. 

The narrative in Esther provides so many fascinating considerations regarding its prime characters. Persia's king, Xerses, was a prideful man. He was prone to fits of irrational anger, deception, racism, and wholly unwise counsel. But in the end, he perceived the unseen, but very undeniably real, hand of God at work. Esther, otherwise known as Hadassah, was an adopted child who went from obscurity to royalty. Her willingness to risk her fate to save Jewish people was noble, brave, and epic. Mordecai, a God-fearing man, was shown to be a man of integrity, faith, and courage. And his devotion to upholding loyalty and allegiance to God, despite pressure to abandon Hebrew traditions in a pagan land, was truly courageous. 

And it is Mordecai who I want to consider in greater detail. Esther 2:7 states that Mordecai took Esther into his own home, and welcomed her as if she were his child after the death of Esther's parents. I find this to be highly exceptional, and speaks to Mordecai's sensitivity's to Esther's loss, as well as his innate sense of compassion. Furthermore, Mordecai's adopting of Esther was not for personal gain, nor was it generated by an ulterior motive. It was rooted in love. Mordecai was willing to absorb additional emotional and financial responsibilities in order to ensure that Esther, his cousin, would be raised in a setting where she was adequately cared for, and made aware of God's power and presence. And little could he know that when he opened the doors of his house to Esther how crucial this act of kindness would be for the betterment and preservation of the Hebrew people.

How many opportunities do we have every day to to extend goodness and love to others around us? And how many times do we let those opportunities pass right by us without opting to engage the heart and character of God? Very little is written about Mordecai in Scripture, but what information is provided validates that Mordecai was not only attune to the mercy and movement of the Lord, but he was eager to channel it in the community. I have mentioned in previous blog postings that an open heart leads to an obedient heart. Perhaps we could add that an obedient heart, in turn, helps foster open hands, and, when needed, an open home.   

The Hardness of Man; The Holiness of God

"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?" 
-Ezekiel 34:2b


"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
-Ezekiel 36:26

The account of Ezekiel is an exhaustive, complex study. After all, this biblical chronicle is filled with unorthodox displays and acts, displays and acts that were instituted to jolt the covenantal people of Israel out of a state of spiritual apathy. The record of Ezekiel contains many sad examples of Hebrew rebellion, idolatry, and false prophecies. And many within the covenantal community did not accept responsibility for their wrongdoing. By and large, the people of Israel refused to admit that they had engaged in deplorable behavior. Humanity often tries to deflect blame and avoid accountability. And through Ezekiel's divine proclamations the Lord laid to rest the notion that His holy justice was not warranted or needed. And even though the reckonings of God may not always make sense, within every movement of the Lord is a divine purpose and reason.

Powerfully embedded within the rich text of Ezekiel is a contrasting theme: the hardness of man and the holiness of God. Ezekiel 34:2 provides us one example of the callous nature of humanity. In the latter half of Ezekiel 34:2 God declared that the shepherds of Israel had refused to care for their flocks. The usage of the term shepherd reflected many roles of great influence within the Jewish nation at the time, such as priests, prophets, and princes. And God candidly called attention to the fact that the shepherds of people had neglected the needs of the people. Instead, the societal elite had chosen to use their positions for expansion of personal profit and expansion of personal power. 

But not too long after God rightly pointed out the despicable lack of mercy or compassion flowing from Israel's leaders the Lord revealed the nature of His benevolence. In Ezekiel 36:27 God stated that he would take the national heart of stone and transform into a heart of flesh. Matthew Henry once wrote, in effect, that the changing from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh denoted a disposition metamorphosis. Stone is rigid and is therefore not malleable. It cannot receive an imprint from an external source. But flesh is sensitive to outside forces. It is tender and soft. It is receptive to impressions and injection from without. The working of God to reform and revive dead hearts is undeserved. Just as the return of the Israelites from exile to Jerusalem was without human merit so too God's supernatural refashioning of the heart is not due to even the best of human efforts. No amount of good we could accomplish could ever eradicate all the bad we have done. But God's grace lovingly flows from His heavenly throne and because of this hearts of stone can become hearts of flesh.     

I can’t help but correlate this vein of thought with a passage I recently read in Acts. Per Acts 3 a crippled man was daily carried into the temple grounds in Jerusalem. Handicapped from birth, and now over forty years old, the debilitated individual was continually brought into the Jewish worship complex where he begged for money, supplies, and overall assistance from people on their way to and from Hebrew praise observances. In this we learn that the crippled man was wholly reliant on the generosity of others within the covenantal community to sustain his life. He had likely known despair and destitution for a long time. But one day the apostles Peter and John journeyed to the temple for a prayer service. As Peter and John approached the temple gate the handicapped beggar called out to them, seeking a monetary handout. Scripture states that Peter stopped and asked the handicapped beggar to look at him. The crippled man then locked eyes on Peter, fully expecting to receive silver or gold. In other words, he sought something material to help make it through another day. But Peter declared that he did not have silver or gold to give. Instead, he was prepared and ready to offer a miraculous blessing. In the power of the name of Jesus Christ, Peter told the crippled beggar to stand up and walk. 

And here is where a point of divine intersection occurs. The handicapped man, who had only known a heart of stone was given an opportunity to know a heart of flesh, and a life of faith. When Peter stretched out his hand to help the crippled individual to his feet he essentially invited the beggar to become spiritually revived and refreshed. The courage it took for the man to accept Peter’s hand and help was immense. It required deep trust to believe that Peter’s offer was no cruel prank or joke. It required deep trust to believe that Peter had been granted supernatural authority and ability. And the Bible seems to indicate that it was only upon extending his hand in faith that the crippled man became crippled no more (Acts 3:7). Believe then receive, not the other way around. 

The beggar in Acts 3 had to break away from over forty years of discouragement and despair. He had to break away from forty years of shame, embarrassment, and ridicule. He had to break away from forty years of debilitating thoughts, thoughts that had likely consumed and plagued him relentlessly. He had to break away from his former life, and embrace life anew in Christ. He had to lead, not with his feet, but with his heart. And as a result, a heart of stone was transformed into a heart of flesh. And a heart of flesh can tenderly and gratefully discover the knowledge of God’s great and awesome power. 

Meaningful Marriage

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."
-Genesis 2:24

There have been numerous topics on my mind lately. National leadership. Personal, and corporate, accountability. Industrious labor. And so forth. But one of the issues that I cannot seem to shake is achieving and maintaining a meaningful marriage. My goal every day is to serve and sacrifice for my wife, and my family in general. And though I fail at this aspiration miserably some days, I still recognize that marriage is not about what I believe I am entitled to; marriage is about finding God-glorifying companionship through sincere and spiritual communication, connection, and commitment. Sadly, I do not get the sense that many other people, Christian or not, hold this as the standard anymore. I continually witness husbands emotionally scar their wives through coarse conversations and dismissive attitudes. I continually witness wives berate their husbands and seek to diminish the marital role of husbands through criticism and belittlement. So once again, I am deviating from my biblical chronological blog entry format and devoting some time to a discussion that I submit is relevant and needed. In short, I want to reinforce the notion that marriage should be meaningful. 

Many marriages today are defined by bitterness, unfaithfulness, and out-and-out hurt. Consequently, divorce rates are continuing to climb. That is the worldly direction of an ordinary, everyday marriage. I don't want that for my marriage. I want an exceptional, meaningful marriage. After all, marriage is an institution that God set forth in Genesis 2. It is a covenant - a covenant that requires fidelity, mentally and physically, to another person. And within this covenant lies a host of responsibilities, responsibilities that should not be slighted or forsaken. Sure, there will be conflict in relationships, especially marriages, but the relationships that are hopeful and long-lasting are the ones in which both parties agree to resolve differences and exercise patience, forbearance  grace, and love. 

As is often the case, Scripture offers some insight and inspiration on this matter. Let me highlight a few applicable passages. 

Proverbs 31:23

“Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.”

Proverbs 31 reveals some characteristics of a godly wife and mother. And when I read Proverbs 31:23 I sense that the writer is saying that a noble wife has such a strong, upstanding character that everyone in town respects her. As a result, the husband reaps the benefit of having a wife who is involved, considerate, compassionate, humble, genuine, and loving. To put it another way, a husband who has a moral, good-hearted wife draws respect, not disgrace, from the community.  

Proverbs 31:25

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

A noble wife is one who has an inner, humble strength. She is able to face adversity and setbacks because her faith is grounded in a victorious God. She is able to maintain joy in heartache and she is willing to take the harshness of life in stride, and not let it steal her joy, or negatively affect her daily behavior or outlook on life. A godly woman's desire is to work on the real beauty, a righteous character, rather than the external veneer, or outer form.          

But what about husbands? 

Ephesians 5:25-26a

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy...."

Here the apostle Paul laid down the ground rules for how husbands should relate to their wives. Paul implored husbands to serve their wives, as Christ served all of humanity. Husbands should bear the burdens of their wives. Husbands should advance their wives' needs above their own. Husbands should daily practice humility and love, not intimidation or domination. To husbands Paul emphasized the model of Christ who exercised His authority by saving humanity from evil. He supplied goodness to His creation. Therefore a husband should strive to protect and comfort his spouse, who will then more cheerfully follow her husband's spiritual leadership. Husbands are to be leaders, not lords – meaning they lead through surrender and sacrifice not through supposition and stature. In other words, husbands should live by the same expectation bar that they internally set for their wives.   

All this to say, marriage can be meaningful and exceptional when it is pursued and handled in a way that patterns itself after the edification of Scripture and the example of the Savior (Jesus Christ). If self-serving, egocentric vantage points reign in the hearts of spouses then their marriages will never figuratively provide the water the roots every healthy marriage requires to deepen and tether itself into firm, solid ground. I routinely find myself needing a holy "wake-up call". If I am not careful, I can easily allow casual complacency to seep into my marriage. I can lower the standard for myself, and cast any number of excuses to justify my unwillingness to do what I know I should do in my marriage. But praise be to God that through the Holy Spirit I am continuously prompted to engage in behavior and beliefs that enhance my marriage, not undermine it. After all, God wants me to have a meaningful life, and a meaningful marriage.     

  

Praise in the Midst of Pain

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

It is truly a hard matter to muster the will to praise God when we are mired in pain. The emotional and spiritual agonies of this world can tempt us to surrender joy. To surrender hope. To surrender trust in the Lord's sovereign rule. The stark reality is that God has never failed to uphold His Word, which ensures us that He will see us through hardships and not abandon us, no matter the outcome. And yet somehow that reality escapes us when we find ourselves engulfed in sorrow. The biblical book of Lamentations has much to teach us in this regard. This Scriptural account was penned after the kingdom of Babylon had overrun Jerusalem, which meant that many of the people of Judah were either killed, displaced, or forced to remain in a territory now under foreign rule. Tradition has it that Lamentations was likely authored by the prophet Jeremiah.

The overarching tone of Lamentations is replete with regret, sadness, and a state of shell-shockness. The writer recognized that Jerusalem's fall, and that of God's people in general, was brought about by disobedience. But the writer struggled to grasp how God could allow King Nebuchadnezzar to tear apart the holy city, the jewel of Judah's territorial crown, so-to-speak. Therefore, the words of Lamentations are bathed in raw emotion, and evoke sentiments of fresh, deep despair. It is an account that acknowledges wrongdoing and its subsequent punishment, but it also relays the human challenge of coping with pain. Although the first few chapters of Lamentations outline Judah's faults, as well as the fierce response of God's righteous anger, chapter 3 comes along and communicates immense confidence in God's leadership. In fact, Lamentations 3:23 speaks of God's unwavering love. Bear in mind, this statement was proclaimed at a time when destitution was impacting the remaining families in Jerusalem. The capital of Judah's land resembled nothing like it once did under David and Solomon's reigns. Jerusalem was now battered, barren, and broken.    

The writer's ability to convey solace in the Lord despite horrible conditions in the community, better yet the nation, revealed the writer's submission to God's governance and glory. He understood that the Lord's plan and purpose are superior to man's. God will always do what is right and best. And the author of Lamentations exercised the faith to believe it, even in the dark days of tragedy and turmoil. God works in incredible ways, and His ways are mighty, mysterious, and magnificent. Though heartache is difficult we can find the tremendous benefit of maintaining assurance and conviction. We fail the Lord, but He does not fail us. So let us take in this knowledge and rejoice in God like never before. 

When I was college I was required to take a freshman orientation class. The course proved to be very beneficial. But one of the lasting experiences of that class was an opportunity to spend a morning overcoming outdoor obstacles. The thrust of the endeavor was to teach the students about teamwork and to develop, or foster, friendships through trust. One of the events included climbing a telephone pole and then walking across a plank some thirty feet in the air. From the ground the telephone pole did not look that high. But the moment I ascended to its peak it gave me a completely different perspective. All the preconceived strength I had disappeared in an instant. Fear swept over me and I froze. I became unsure as to whether or not I could even take the first step onto the plank, which led to a zip line. Seconds seemed like hours. My heart rate accelerated, and it reverberated in my head. Even though I had a safety wire harnessed to my back, the thought of falling was utterly terrifying.

Finally, one of my classmates from below cheered me on, telling me I could do it. Soon other students started to encourage me. The external support gave me the motivation and willpower I lacked. I took my first step, and then another, and then another. Not long after, I was racing down the zip line having the time of my life. In a way, that experience embodies life itself, at least for Christians. We, as believers, will find ourselves travailing treacherous paths. We will get mired in undesirable situations. Like the author of Lamentations we will someday stare at the remnants of a battered, barren, broken dream. We will grieve. We will weep. But there is support in God. There is exhortation in God. And there is company in God. Whether in a valley or on a mountaintop the Lord will not leave us. He will not forsake us. Great, great is His faithfulness. So let us praise even in the midst of pain for our Lord lives. Our Lord loves. And our Lord tarries with us through each and every affliction.  




  

Watching and Warning the World

"Who has been instructed by the LORD and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross? The LORD said, 'It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. Instead they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their fathers taught them.'"
Jeremiah 9:12-14

The past few weeks have provided some intriguing considerations and conversations, mainly because America was, by and large, obsessed with the highly ineffective, mean-spirited political discourse that took place in Washington D.C. in relation to the federal budgetary process. Polls and media stories centered on which political party, or representatives, should bear the brunt of the blame. Accusations were made, insinuating that various political factions were attempting to hamper the negotiations because of either a misplaced sense of civic duty or a misguided frame of mind. Horrendous labels and references were employed to make the political opponents look worse in the eyes of the public. I myself became consumed with the daily developments for a time. And I too became emotionally swept up in the political drama, attempting to mentally justify my perceived determination of culpability for the governmental dysfunction. 

But the real crux of the matter is that the issues that plague America, and the issues that plague other nations as well, are not really political in nature. The national state of impairment and gridlock are symptoms of the underlying problem, which is spiritual in nature. And this truth is apparent in so many sections of Scripture, particularly Jeremiah 9. In this passage God explained why Israel (and Judah) would eventually be overrun and overcome by foreign powers. Why Israel (and Judah) would see a large portion of its population exiled to distant lands. Any why Israel (and Judah) would momentarily be stripped of its prosperity and peace. So why did it occur? Because it was the collective punishment for the personal accumulation of disobedient lives. Israel and Judah had become a people consumed with idolatry, wealth, sexual promiscuity, and alliances with pagan powers. None of this revealed a devotion to remain true to God, or rely on Him for wisdom, blessing, or protection.   

Clearly, there is a spiritual boomerang effect portrayed in Jeremiah 9, specifically verses 12-16. In other words, if we, as the cherished creation of God, expel immorality and wickedness we should not expect to receive reward or favor, but rather disarray and misrule. If we dispel carnality we will be sure to take in chaos. This same vein of thought is reflected in Paul's epistle to the Galatians, a principle sometimes referred to as the law of the harvest. In Galatians 6:7, the apostle wrote, "A man reaps what he sows." A person cannot plant tomato seeds and presume that it will yield something wholly different, like cucumbers or carrots. Likewise, if mankind spiritually plants depravity we cannot assume it will produce delight and purity. And this knowledge, though easy to cognitively acknowledge, is difficult to accept for it forces humanity to realize that our attitudes and actions have consequences. 

In Jeremiah 9:13-16 God points out that His covenantal followers refused to wholeheartedly commit themselves to His Word and ways. Instead, they embraced the worship of false gods and erroneously forged ideals. They chose the misleading desires of their heart and paid a steep, steep price. This episode confirms that God demands loyalty and will settle for nothing less. So why is this relevant to America, or the world? Because America, like other countries, is building and strengthening a government that enforces depravity, and believers of God cannot presume that a nation that advocates despicable behavior will ever enjoy God's blessing. The modern day examples where the sum total of a commonwealth's belief system has been corrupted utterly abound. For instance, abortion, the murderous prevention of a baby's birth, is recast as a woman's right to choose, which omits the gory, grisly details of its underlying brutality. Pornography, the vile rendering of the nude human form, is often made readily available across the Internet and on television programming, and its accessibility is so routine that society says little-to-nothing about its harmfulness and unscrupulousness. Debt, the dangerous enterprise of committing oneself to accepting more expenditures than a corresponding income can cover, is performed at the individual and corporate level without fear or negative outcome or concern. 

All this to say, there is a lot of topsy-turviness occurring at the national stage, not just in America but across the globe. And the impactful lesson Jeremiah 9, along with other biblical passages, would teach us is that a nation that sows nefarious, offensive conduct will not experience a wellspring of God's blessing-filled hand. Christians must be the watchmen and women. We must observe the destructive road our fellow citizens are embarking upon and warn them. We must recognize danger and sound the alarm. We must be willing to take up a mantle of responsibility and help change the world for the better. We must call out, in love and compassion, unwholesome habits of people and principalities. We must voice the Word and will of God.

As the older chorus "Knocking on the Door of Heaven", written by Matt Redman and Steve Cantellow, states:

"We will give ourselves no rest 'til Your kingdom comes on earth. We've positioned watchmen on the walls. Now our prayers will flow like tears for You've shared Your heart with us. God of heaven on our knees we fall.

Come down in power, reveal Your heart again. Come hear our cries, the tears that plead for rain.

We're knocking, knocking on the door of heaven. We're crying, crying for this generation. We're praying for Your name to be known in all of the earth. We're watching, watching on the walls to see You. We're looking, looking for a time of breakthrough. We're praying for Your Word to bear fruit in all of the earth. All of the earth."

The real strength of any nation, America or otherwise, is not in the size or scope of its government. Rather, it is measured by the spirituality and sacrificial character of its people. And the real effective form of governance outlined in Scripture teaches us that a community led by the doctrine of God functions much better than a community led by the decisions of godless men. According to Jeremiah 9, the people of Israel (and Judah) were doomed because they had forsaken God. Forsaken reverence of the Lord. Forsaken the desire to cherish and honor His Word. There is a cause-and-effect relationship to our decisions, both individually and corporately. And we would do well to ensure that our hearts are fixated on the will of God.  

Father, my heart aches for America. We, by and large, have chosen to turn to the reign of man for direction, rather than You. We have internally replaced "In God we trust," with "In government we trust". We have allowed the slaughter of defenseless babies to become commonplace. We have legally and culturally prevented the freedom to exercise God-based faith in schools and numerous other public forums. We have become a people consumed with wealth, status, blame, and borrowing. We ignore the underlying plague of personal sin, but attempt to ratify its symptoms with costly civic programs and institutions. In short, we have entrenched ourselves in the belief that government can, or should be, the source of satisfaction and prosperity. God, break us. Intervene and help us return to a recognition that You are the eternal King. And You are the true source of knowledge, truth, and wisdom. In short, may the people of this nation rekindle a passion to live for You. To know You. To serve You. To honor You. To allow You to reign over us. To restore balance in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our leaders. Father, may our hearts be receptive to Your Word, will, and ways. For Your glory God, not ours. Amen.

Pursuing a Pure Passion for God

"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
Mark 7:8a

If you have followed this blog for any length of time then you know that thus far it has worked through the Bible in a chronological fashion. Even though this weekly effort has been in place since April 2012 I have yet to make it past the Old Testament. Frankly, there is so much fascinating and relevant content that the need to trod through the rich inspiration in Scripture requires a steady, patient pace. But the exception to the chronological review pattern occurred four months ago when my wife and I welcomed the birth of our third child: Elizabeth (Ellie) Grace Orr. I was so moved by the stirrings of that event that I momentarily departed from the sequential biblical posts. I mention this because I am moved to temporarily deviate again. And the reason this is the case is because of the convergence of two events.

Event #1: Less than a week ago I read Mark 7 as part of my morning quiet time. It is an account that is pretty familiar to many Christians. Some Pharisees, law-quoting and law-toting religious leaders, and teachers of the Hebrew canons attempted to portray Jesus as a spiritual lawbreaker because He did not chastise the apostles for eating meals with unclean hands. Bear in mind, this tradition of washing hands before eating was not a God-mandated ordinance; it was an ordinance instituted by Hebrew elders. Christ blasted the hypocrisy of the religious establishment because there were numerous examples of where the spiritual leaders had willfully chosen to ignore the very basic tenets and instruction as outlined in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Jesus would go on to state that what goes into a person's body is not what makes him or her unclean, but rather what comes from within that makes him or her unclean. In other words, the human heart is the real source and indicator of wickedness and carnality, not the breaking of self-imposed societal standards.   

Event #2: A few days ago my wife asked me to help console our newborn daughter. It was getting close to Ellie's bedtime, but not so close that we could lay Ellie in her crib for the night. My wife had done her fair share of cuddling and cooing with Ellie so it was my turn to see what I could do to keep her entertained for a little while. On a whim, I decided to pull my guitar out of its case and perform some worship songs for Ellie. I placed her in a bouncer seat so that she could be close to me, but the moment I put her in the bouncer seat she started to fuss. Determined to see this through, I started to strum the guitar and sing the chorus "Just As I Am" by Travis Cottrell. Within seconds, whines turned to smiles. Ellie's tiny feet kicked in delight as the anthem continued. I was amazed. In all, I went though some thirty minutes of God-centric praise songs. And Ellie was riveted for the duration of the "concert".

It may seem odd to pair these two events together. After all, one is negative and one is positive. But I have coupled these two events together because there is a temptation to reduce Christianity, faith and fellowship for kingdom work, to external measures, or benchmarks. In all honesty, it is hard to achieve a spiritual purity through dedicated activity. What do I mean? Let me put it this way, believers know how to "look the part". We can speak the religious words. We can attend the ceremonial church functions. We can associate with the godly crowd. But if our heart is not wholly committed to honoring the Lord, or holding tightly to His commandments with tender, pure motivation then we are missing the impact, the power, of fellowship with God. Holiness is from the inside-out, not vice versa. The external activity we engage in can have false motives. But if we truly surrender our allegiance, our belief, to God's sovereign control then we will find a pureness in our endeavors. In our thoughts. In our conduct. In our disposition. 

So how does this line of thinking pertain to my experience with Ellie a few days ago? I was obviously elated and encouraged with her response to the worship music. So-much-so that I started to mentally give myself kudos for not only finding a way to emotionally soothe her, but introduce gospel messages to her through music. But as I began to stay in that state of self-appreciation it was as if the Holy Spirit kicked out the pedestal I was internally standing on. I recalled the passage in Mark 7 and realized that if I wanted to be a spiritually effective father, husband, believer then I have to be willing to give more than superficial service. For example, if I sing worship songs with the children in the car, but then let out profane words the instant I sense another driver on the road is being reckless what kind of example am I being for the kids? Or if I tell my family the recent Sunday morning service was very impactful, and then immediately turn around and spew anger and malice over some insignificant event what kind of leader am I being for my family?

Spiritual duplicity is not something God wants in the lives of His believers. Having an inspirational message with an intolerant mind does not honor God. Having a splendid word with a stingy wallet does not honor God. Having a loving essence with a lazy  ethic does not honor God. Simply put, looking the part is not good enough. We should desire serving the Lord's great purpose with a pure passion. And as I think about the kind of man I want to be for my family, for my church, and for this this world, I want to be one who lives to serve God from the inside-out. 
   

     

Principled Purpose

"Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: 'Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king."
Daniel 1:19b-23

It is not easy to become, and stay, principled in our daily endeavors. It is not easy to walk the straight and narrow in a world that is replete with crooked paths. It is not easy to establish divine pursuits when unholy internal, and external, spheres of influence seek to draw us towards selfish, and sinful, desires. Sadly, God's believers often tend to settle for a character, or lifestyle, that is less than ideal. We excuse this sub-par spiritual behavior with weak justifications, hoping that somehow the ruse will ease our conscience. But a principled purpose should continually be at the forefront of our heart, as evidenced in the life of Daniel.   

There are several individuals in Scripture who exemplified a spirit of unyielding perseverance and dedication to God. Individuals who held firm to their faith, especially when enemies aligned against them and sought to impugn, besmirch, or ultimately destroy them. Joseph, Elisha, and Daniel come to mind. Of course, Joseph, Elisha, and Daniel paled in comparison to Jesus Christ, Who personified absolute moral and spiritual perfection during His ministry on earth. None-the-less, Joseph, Elisha, and Daniel were devoted followers of the Lord who grasped a fundamental truth: allegiance to God entails a principled purpose, and that purpose is to bring glory to the Lord in everything.

A God-centric principled purpose is difficult for the flesh to grapple with for it necessitates a willingness to allow the Lord's corrective word and righteous discipline to be absorbed in one's life. There is no denying God's ability to penetrate the ears and rattle the souls of humanity. But what we choose to do after the Lord's message thunders in our inner core will determine the effectiveness we have for God's kingdom work. And so we enter the book of Daniel with this underlying tenet: the Lord is glorified in us when we are wholly committed to Him.

Daniel is an intriguing character study. He was exiled from Judah to Babylon in his youth. Shortly thereafter, he was conscripted to serve in the Babylonian government, which included a rigorous three year training program focused on learning the language, culture, and history of the Babylonians. Daniel 1:17 indicates that God's supernatural hand was on Daniel, and three of his Jewish brethren (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah). The Lord provided Daniel a keen mind, which quickly absorbed the influx of information presented to him. Furthermore, God granted Daniel the ability to understand dreams and visions, as well as their application.

Although Daniel was clearly blessed his role as a servant of a foreign regime was a stinging reminder that Judah had, on the whole, forsaken God. But rather than wallow in "could have beens" or "should have beens" Daniel accepted his fate as an exile and did not let his indentured servitude negatively affect his appreciation of the Lord, or the administration of his God-ordained fortunes. Daniel labored diligently, and he lived devoutly. Daniel portrayed a spiritual resoluteness, a steadfastness that was not beholden to compromise or corruption. And this was amplified in the crisis outlined in Daniel 2. One night, King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream. And he was so terrified by the dream that he demanded the meaning of it be offered to him by his counselors. But the royal leader placed a truly difficult stipulation on the request. He asked the kingdom's wise men to recount the substance and significance of the dream without providing any of its inherent details. Apparently King Nebuchadnezzar wanted some level of assurance that the feedback and interpretation was from a higher power. For if the king relayed the content of the dream then his academically-trained and articulate advisers might be able to produce a plausible explanation, an explanation that would likely have sounded good but not been right. That wasn’t satisfactory to King Nebuchadnezzar because he wanted absolute certainty that the  importance of the vexing dream could be revealed. 

The wise men of Babylon went into a state of panic because they believed King Nebuchadnezzar's request was impossible. But there was at least one man who believed otherwise: Daniel. Daniel enlisted the help of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and together they prayed fervently for God's aid. This act alone highlights three critical aspects of Daniel's principled purpose: passion, patience, and petition. One, Daniel's passion for God's instruction and intervention was so strong that his first impulse was to channel the adversity directly to the throne of God. Daniel was dedicated to the Lord, and his immediate, continual response to both hope and hardship was to take it all to God. Two, Daniel exercised patience in choosing to rally godly men around him and wait for guidance from the Lord. In his flesh, Daniel could have pursued an exit strategy of some sort. But he stood his ground and relied on God to make His will and word known. Three, Daniel exhibited a desire to petition God, and God alone. Later passages in the book of Daniel affirm that prayer was a daily spiritual discipline in Daniel's life (reference Daniel 6:10). Daniel understood the real, necessary benefit of seeking God's counsel through prayer and petition.

Principled purpose was the framework that formed and shaped Daniel's activity. And his disposition was forged by his trust in God's might and majesty. He knew that he had a great ally and authority in the Lord, and thus Daniel was convicted to surrender allegiance to the Maker of heaven and earth. Living with principled purpose is not without challenges or complication. The compulsion of the human soul is bent towards mischief and malice. Even in the conduct of the followers of God a duplicity can exist, a duplicity that allows a righteous spirit (the Holy Spirit) to reside in an unrighteous host (mankind). In that vein of thought, I have been burdened for someone who works in my office. This individual emits some rather undesirable traits, including: a practically non-existent work ethic, vile speech, unprofessional behavior, and a willingness to lie, or mislead, to prop up a false image in front of supervision. And the prevailing reason why I feel burdened for this individual is because the person privately professes to be a devout Christian, and regularly attends a weekly church fellowship. The individual has referenced Scripture in personal conversations, and can fluently talk through the beliefs and precepts of Christianity. 

But where is the evidence of a principled purpose in my coworker's life, other than regularly going to church with family? Where is the eagerness to engage in industrious labor? Where is the above-reproach behavior? Where is the honorable tongue? Where is the motivation to glorify God in every aspect of life? But even as I write this I am convicted to admit that I am certainly not without fault. I rarely honor the Lord as well as I should. Both at work and at home, I strain to avoid acting in ungodly fashion. But this passage in Daniel compels to give more than a halfhearted effort. In fact, it compels me to dig deep into Scripture. To drop to my knees in prayer. And to determine to live a life that is characterized by a principled purpose. In short, to live a life like Daniel's.