Lawgiver

 

Today’s Reading: James 4:12

The image of the lawgiver is one that is subject to each individual.  It is based on your background and heritage and your current situations.  When you think of the lawgiver in the United States of America many people would think of the police officer, the lawyers, politicians, or judges.  If you were in ancient Rome, you would consider the lawgiver to be Caesar, or the centurions, or the soldiers.  It deepens on the circumstances that you are dealing with and your status.  These are worldly lawgivers, which have been given authority to help guide and assist us and protect us from harm.  To do the passage of today justice, we must understand the full context of the message of Christ as the Lawgiver.

 James 4: 1-12

                 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are at war within you?[b] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.[d] The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

 God did not create the laws to restrict us, but to give us freedom.   God has loved us continually from before the beginning of time.  He has shown His love in countless ways and only wants us to return this unconditional love.  But we as a people have not been able to fully reciprocate His vast and unending love for us.  We have and continue to turn away from this amazing love for other things: fame, fortune, power, prestige, and lust.  These things that we seek out takes us away from really loving God with our whole heart, mind, and spirit.  It is because of this inability that God has created a template for us to follow and realign ourselves to him.  It is this reason that he has created these guidelines to allow us to fully embrace the richness that he has in store for us.  He is a gentle father and only wants to the best for all of his children.  He gives us these laws to allow us to have a safe and brighter future and life.

This is similar to the guidelines that we as parents give our children. If we didn’t give them the guidelines of staying out of the busy intersection or not to eat a deadly plant, we are allowing them to be vulnerable to chaotic freedom with the uncertainty of life.  But when directed properly we are able to give them compassionate freedom that allows them to explore within a certain set of parameters to ensure their growth and success.

God loves us and wants the relationship with us. Because of the nature of man, we are not able to completely engage with God without the law.  But the original plan did not require the sacrifice to enjoy God’s love.  The current plan doesn’t require that we sacrifice, only if we commit and submit to Him completely. Here are some passages that illustrate this truth.

Psalm 40:6

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.[a]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.

Psalm 51:16-17

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Hosea 6: 6

For I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Going against popular belief, God is not a tyrannical being that wants to place harsh judgment and punishment on all mankind.  God is a just and loving God that has our best interest in mind.  He has created these laws and commandments so that there is a framework for us to work within.  This is to protect our spirit and us and allow us to share His love with others.  When we fall outside of the law, He gently redirects us and bestows compassion on us as well.  God’s love will not be overcomed by anything that is created.  God’s love even extends to those who don’t love, know, or recognize him, even until the moment before death.  This is lawgiver that I am thankful that we have and are able to communicate with daily.  Be blessed.

The End

 

“This is what the LORD says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:  I am the first and I am the last;  apart from me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:6

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:13

I love a good before and after.  That is probably why I can sit and watch endless episodes of Chip and Joe on HGTV.   Watching the two of them transform a house is incredible and awe-inspiring.  Or cooking shows, I love watching a chef go from the before, with 10 or so individual ingredients to a final finished scrumpsish dish.  Or, weightless transformations, the before and after pictures are amazing.  Or finally,  first and last day of school pics.  Of course this school year is ending in a way that no person could have predicted so we may not see as many of the photos, but the transformation of a child from the first day of school to the last is always dramatic.  

What about God?  How is He the first and the last?  The beginning and the end?  Have you read the Bible all the way through and seen the transformation from living by the Law to the freedom of a Savior?  It is incredible!  

God is eternal.  God is the start of it all.  He is the Alpha, which is the first letter in the Greek alphabet.  And God is the end of it all, the Omega, the last letter.

Since we know that we are far past the beginning of time and because we see that the end has not yet come, then we must live in the meantime, the present.  This means that you and I get to play our parts in God’s great plan.
In the end, it is all about Jesus.  It always has been about Jesus.  It always will be about Jesus.  

The Bible begins with Jesus.  
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1

The Bible also ends with Jesus: 
‘I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End’
Revelation 22:13

The first 5 verses of Revelation chapter 22 tell us how the world will be in the last days.  The language is figurative, so it is not an exact description, but it is full of images of life and blessing.  The Bible begins and ends with a garden, symbolizing God’s life of blessing and his good plan for his people.

The Bible is one long invitation to come to Jesus.  In him, you find the meaning and purpose of your life.  Part of that purpose is to invite others to come, so that they too will find refreshment and fulfillment in the water of life that Jesus pours out on all who come to him. 

God is the before, the now, and the forever after.  He will never end and never leave us.  He is the only constant within our lives.  He is the only constant beyond our lives.  

My Lamp

One of the new pastimes I’ve been trying my hand at in quarantine, like many others I’ve seen, is gardening. My parents put together a small group of herb sprouts as a birthday gift for me back in March, and we’ve been working on diligently growing and maintaining our little sprouts into a small garden. Granted, it’s only a few tiny plants in a planter on our tiny apartment balcony, but it’s a nice process to witness and help along. Plus, hey, someday soon we’ll have a bunch of fresh herbs!

Reading David’s Song of Deliverance in 2 Samuel 22, one line reminds my meek little plants reaching desperately towards the sun overhead for life. In all of David’s trials in becoming king, in the war and bloodshed, fleeing from friends & family alike for his life & years of both suffering and countless victories, the Spirit of the Lord was with David & delivered him through everything. In acknowledging this and offering his praise, David says in 2 Samuel 22:29: “For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness”.

I love David’s inclusion of this line in how the Lord enables us to overcome impossible feats and achieve unthinkable things. Like those minuscule herbs depending on the sun for sustenance, David describes God as the source of light which has guided and provided for him. It must have seemed wild to those around David that any hope remained after being targeted for death by Saul and the tragedies that followed his family and friends. But when the Lord spoke to David, David listened and obeyed. Even in his moments of weakness when he sinned, David repented and accepted his punishment as God’s righteous justice. So when the world around David sought to destroy him, he found hope again and again in God’s promises. David doesn’t hesitate to admit in this chapter that he would be lost and crushed by his enemies without God. But it required being faithful and believing that God chose him to lead His people, and would see His decrees through no matter what the moment held. Like a lamp that must be kept burning in order to see your way, this faith must be held close and maintained as we navigate our way through life as our source of hope.

The world around us continually throws its worst at us; from global crises and the world itself seeming to fall apart around us, to people who delight in slandering, denigrating, and demeaning the faith of those who look to Christ. But as Psalm 119:105 also says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When we keep God’s word in our heart, He sees us through the worst a broken world can offer. His promises of eternal life give us hope that war, persecution, threats of murder, and worldly despair can not extinguish, even to the ends of our own earthly lives. The light of hope, that baffles those who have tried and failed to find hope in the fickle things of this world, burns brightest when we trust God and live for Him.

So in this time, what does that look like to you? What does obeying God’s word and being faithful look like in your life? From simple words of positivity and encouragement, to donating your time, money, and skills to helping those in need; from patience and trust to the leaders in charge of our country right now, to simply being able to smile and look forward to what tomorrow brings; now more than ever, acting out your faith speaks volumes. When God’s presence guides you through the hopelessness that perplexes those fixated on this world, you tell them of a God who offers greater things than the fear and anguish around us. We each need God’s word, the lamp that lightens our darkness, that lights our path, more than ever; and the people of this world need us to shine that light for them more than ever. How will you let God’s light shine in your life and for the lives of others today?

Lamb of God

Today our words to describe Jesus are “the Lamb of God” as we read He’s called by John the Baptist…

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:29

We know going all the way back to the book of Leviticus that the Israelites offered animal sacrifices and commonly for the forgiveness of their wrongdoings. Of course, we also know about the sacrifice of a lamb and blood on the door to keep their firstborn from being killed during the infamous Passover while the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians before being freed. John the Baptist was also likely referring to the words of Isaiah which most all Jews he was speaking to would have known.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgement he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

Isaiah 53:7-8

When we think not only about Jesus sacrificial death the cross, but also how He handled the moments leading up to it from being captured in the garden, to going before the Pharisees, and then in front of Pilate and the crowd…I don’t know if there is a better way metaphor than the ones Isaiah used or much better of a way to describe what He represents than the Lamb of God as John the Baptist refers to him.

I could try to write more on this topic, but I really feel like I can’t expand much more on this than the picture John and Isaiah give us.

I will say I don’t often refer to Jesus in prayer or in words to others by this name, but every time I hear the song Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) by Hillsong I do get the mental picture of Him going to the cross for you and me like a lamb to slaughter and the room suddenly always gets really dusty somehow causing my eyes to water.

Can you see the love in His eyes?

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me, oh
I once was lost
But now I am found
Was blind but now I see

Oh, I can see it now
Oh, I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying yourself down
Raising up the broken to life

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me, oh
I once was lost
But now I am found
Was blind but now I see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyYoe678yI

Knowing

 

 

Psalm 139

 

Would you describe yourself as a person that is an open book? Are you quick to share yourself with others, do you make friends easily, finding connecting points with just about everyone you meet? Or do you find that you hold your thoughts and opinions tighter? Do you need to be with longtime friends to open up and share your emotions? I think that all of us are a little bit different and feel comfortable at different levels of friendship with others. No matter where you find yourself on the spectrum, there are times when we don’t let people get too close because we are afraid that they will discover something about us that they don’t like. We are scared that too much honesty on our part will bring judgement or changed opinions of us. Let’s be honest, we all like to control our reputations and our personas. We like to present the good and downplay the ugly.

But with God, there is no “presenting” for us to do. God already knows EVERYTHING about us. He watched as we were being formed in our mother’s wombs. Every day of our lives was recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. He knows when we sit or stand, when we travel or are home. He knows our thoughts and He knows what we are going to say before we even say it. If we went to the heavens He would be there, if we went to the farthest oceans He would still be there to guide us and support us. Darkness cannot hide us from Him, we can never escape His presence. He knows and loves us completely and He still accepts us. God is with us through every situation and in every trial…guiding, loving and protecting us. His love is so different than the love we are capable of. We are mostly only able to love with conditions and expectations. God’s love is vast, all encompassing, ever present, generous, sacrificial, lavish, helpful, perfect, overflowing, unconditional and mighty.  David says, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them, they outnumber the grains of the sand”.

The beginning of Ps 139 starts with David saying. “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” Then David finishes this chapter with, “ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” David knew just as we do that God knows everything about us. So he asked God to point out the areas where David was lacking or choosing his own thoughts over God’s thoughts. It takes some maturity and a lot of trust to ask the One who knows every thought you have and every motive in your heart to examine your heart and point out any offenses. The truth is that God is already there, He already knows and sees all, but sometimes we act like children and pretend that we are keeping things from Him. We tell ourselves that our thoughts are private and only known to us. Isn’t that the only way we can live with ourselves some times? Maybe it’s time to get real about what God knows. Maybe today we should focus all day on how aware we are that He knows everything. We could ask God to point out to us where we are not being honest with ourselves, where we are trying to cover and hide our messes. Are you brave enough to ask Him to point out your offenses today?

 

(If you are too scared, maybe go back to the end of the second paragraph and reread the ways that he loves us. The purpose for His pointing out offenses to us is so that we can change for good, not so he can zap or punish us. He loves us and wants the best for us. Him turning a blind eye and letting us continue on a sinful path doesn’t help us. He knows this and loves us too much to let us lie to ourselves if we are seeking His truth.)

Kinsman-Redeemer

 

Ruth 3:9 “He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer”.

Who has been a redeemer in your life? Who has taken you out of the darkness? Who has cared for you above all else?

On my worst days, I find myself thinking that I am all alone. In college, I struggled with a high amount of anxiety and depression. I kept seeking and attempting to find something that wasn’t there. I turned to the emptiness of sin to find satisfaction and meaning in my life. At this time, I didn’t depend on God, and I wasn’t searching for Him at all. I had a relationship with God, but I was fighting Him every step of the way.

I asked myself the question above, “Who can redeem me from this place that I am in”? I knew that God was always there for me and cared for me no matter what happened, but at the end of the day, I didn’t think He should. I thought that He shouldn’t love someone like me. I wasn’t good enough to be loved and cared for by a Savior.

Sin is rooted deeply into all of our lives. Our flesh gives into sin naturally. However, there is One thing that can redeem us and save us from this…our kinsman-redeemer Jesus. In the story of Ruth, Ruth’s husband passed away and she was left with her mother-in-law, Naomi. In this time, it was extremely difficult for women to survive without a male family member. The one way one would be able to survive, and flourish was through a kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman redeemer would restore the rights and freedom to oneself. Ruth found herself in one of the worst situations, but then God redeemed her through her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. Even in our worst situations we can be redeemed.

No matter how we got into a terrible situation, through our own sin or external circumstances, Jesus, our kinsman-redeemer, redeems all of it. For me it was my direct sin and anxiety that brought me to depend on Him. Ruth, however, was given a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. Jesus paid the ransom that we may be with Him forever!

The King of All Kings

When you hear the word king, what does it mean to you? Webster’s defines “king” as “a male monarch of a major territorial unity who hold a position, especially one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life or a paramount chief; one that holds a preeminent position, especially: a chief among competitors.”

History tells us that kings have not always been the greatest men.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. – Lord Action

Has there ever been a king that served their people with selfless devotion? Has there ever been a king that was a perfect person, without sin? Has there ever been a king that died and rose from the dead, for their people?

Jesus is our King and He was perfect. He loves everyone, sinners and all. He modeled unconditional love and devotion during His time on Earth. He witnessed with reverence and care for His people. He carried the burden during His ministry, knowing He would ultimately be persecuted and murdered by the very people He was sent to save. Has mankind ever seen a greater demonstration of love?

The wonderful peace about our faith as Christians is that our King is the “King of all Kings.” Jesus was sent to Earth to save us from a broken world. Our King died for us.

Psalm 74:12 says “For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.”

Even at our worst, God loves us. He created us and wants us to love Him. That is why He sent us Jesus, our King, to save us through His crucifixion and resurrection.

One of my favorite Christian songs is “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship. Please take a few minutes and listen to the song. My favorite lyrics are the last line of the song.

By His blood and in His Name
In His Freedom, I am set free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me.

Jesus is the ultimate King, who used His ultimate power for our ultimate good. Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit, three in One!

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the ultimate King. I praise you for your selfless gift, to give your life for us. I know that I am a sinner and that I don’t deserve that gift. But, I thank you and praise you for your love for me. Please help me feel your presence and influence in my life. I want a relationship with you. Thank you for my salvation. Amen.

Kind, Kind Father

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

He is Kind to the ungrateful.

Am I kind to the ungrateful? Or do I mostly love those that love me back? Do I extend mercy to others, the same mercy that God extends to me? When I think of the mercy he has shown me, wow. He is a kind, kind Father. 

This week’s passage challenged me, and I spent time taking inventory of my relationships (especially the tough ones), and what they would look like if my kindness matched our Father’s.

The world says “fake it till you make it”…I have a friend that says Faith It Till You Feel It. What a great approach to showing kindness to those that can’t repay it, blessing those that say bad things about us, or praying for those that mistreat us. We can take that step in faith to show love and kindness, and ask God to change our hearts, the situation, all of it. C.S. Lewis says it this way in his book, Mere Christianity: Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”

A lot of relationships are complex and need help, healing, and boundaries. A small act of kindness can be a place to start. It won’t fix everything, but it just might align our hearts to be more like the Lord’s.

Key-Holder

Unemployment is a major topic in the news today instilling fear. Someone else holds the keys to our employment, and our fears directly correlate to situations beyond our control.

Several of my prior posts talked about the excitement and pleasure that came from interviewing people. Getting to know humans in various candid ways, building new relationships, applying filters, and praying over making the right choices. It is extremely rewarding to bring new team members into the family and work alongside them as they grow and thrive.

With the downturn in the economy, many leaders are faced with difficult decisions related to the teams that they hand-picked. The budget and math dictate: Some can stay, some must leave.

How does one choose the fate of another? Keep the new guy because he shows promise? Retain the wisdom of the more experienced team members? The one with the good attitude but lacks experience? The one who costs more than the rest (but is the best worker)? The one who is the sole income provider for his/her family?

The point is, these decisions can be clouded with subjectivity. One person is often the key-holder to the fate of another’s job.

What about our spiritual fate? Is there a quota for Heaven and Hades? A budget? How do we know if we are “good enough”?

Unlike our Earthly subjectivity, the Heavenly, God-authored and perfect plan is not subjective or measured by how someone feels about us. Even better, it is not measured by how bad (or good) of a person we are. Our worst sins, our worst days, our deepest darkest secrets do not matter – that is, if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ.

Someday we will all fall at his feet as he alone has the keys. We need not fear because even though he died a physical death, he arose alive and remains alive forever.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18)

Losing a job or our fortunes is one thing, losing your life eternally is another. Faith in the economy, careers, our abilities, our plans ultimately results in futility. If you know Jesus today, know him better. If you don’t know him or are indifferent, please do not let another day go by before you kneel before him eternally. He loves you and he is seeking you right now. You are not reading this post accidentally. I pray that God opens your heart right now in this moment to see the truth, the only truth that matters. Which door have you been knocking on and which door will your key open?

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5-11‬ ‭NLT)

Keeper

I started my preparation for this post by typing the word “keeper” into Google to see what it returned.  My screen was quickly filled with links to the Keeper Password Manager.  Have you ever used this app?  I have not, but based on reviews it sounds pretty great.  Here is how users describe it:

  • The world’s most trusted and downloaded password manager solution
  • Protects your passwords and sensitive information
  • Works on all popular platforms and browsers
  • Offers unlimited password storage

I can see why, if they wanted their password manager to be the most relied on solution, developers named their software “Keeper”.  The Bible describes Jesus as our keeper.  Turns out the reviews above can also be used to describe God, the keeper of our lives.  Let’s take closer look at each one:

  • He is trustworthy

Blessed be the Lord!  For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him (Psalm 28:6-7).

  • He protects

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one” (John 10:28-30).

  • He is available to anyone

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)”

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

  • His capacity is unlimited

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:3-8).

Someone who is completely trustworthy, will protect me from evil, is always available and has a unlimited capacity to watch over my life is definitely someone I want on my side.  Jesus, my keeper.