Courage

 April 7, 2021

“Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart.” Whenever courage is called for, I want to feel strong enough to face the music; unfortunately, that’s not the way things work. God wastes nothing, and doesn’t give strength to those who aren’t willing to go out on a limb for him. 

Courage doesn’t come from strength, it precedes strength. It isn’t a feeling; it’s a commitment to act in the face of danger. too often, we want to feel courageous while doing nothing. We want God to strengthen us, to make us feel confident before actually doing anything. But as I said, God wastes nothing. We only receive necessary strength. Strength isn’t necessary until after we have taken the first step toward a challenging task. Too often, we play it safe, attempting only what looks possible. God on the other hand, wants us to attempt that which is impossible apart from him.

Courage to act comes from waiting on God (Isaiah 40:31). In his presence we learn what he wants us to do, and when we decide to do it, we find the wait has strengthened us. We are week because we get up from our knees too soon, forfeiting the courage we need to accomplish the miracle we want to see. I’ve often lacked the strength to accomplish great things because I lacked the courage to accomplish great things. I lacked the courage because I didn’t linger in prayer long enough to hear God’s voice encouraging me to step out beyond what I believed I could do. I am thankful for Scripture which reveals the root of the matter and prayer which shows me what the next step should be.

Remembering

 April 6, 2021

In his old age, John Newton, the former slave trader who came to Christ, became a minister of the Gospel, and wrote the lyrics to “Amazing Grace,” spoke of how often God had reached out to him, “but I forgot.” Over his desk he had the word “Remember” carved. The Scriptures repeatedly call on us to remember...where we were, and what God has done for us.

The tote in my closet has a stack of old journals with years of reflections in them; I’ve never reviewed any of them. Some contain confessions and prayers I wouldn’t want to see the light of day; funny how easily I remember the failures but cannot recall the successes. Whenever he fills up a journal, before starting another, my son reviews it to recall what the Lord has done. Maybe I should do that, too. Looking only in the rearview mirror isn’t a good way to drive, but it is good to glance at it occasionally, especially if backing up. It’s not good for navigating the future, but can give perspective on the past.

The first entry in my last journal was for August 8, 2020; not that long ago. We were in the throes of the pandemic by then, in full lockdown. Even without my journal, I can remember many of my thoughts and reactions to the limitations being imposed. “Two weeks to flatten the curve” was our governor’s deceptive mantra. That first entry was a commentary on Romans 12:1-2, about conforming to this world. Genuine nonconformity is harder than it looks, and I didn’t always do well at it. As St. Paul said, it takes a renewed mind to be a non conforming one, which requires we spend more time in the Word than in the world. It’s taken the entire 365 days since the pandemic began for me to actually let it go, and even now, it’s a struggle. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, we are instructed to “take every thought captive to Christ.” My thoughts keep wanting to escape and run wild. As soon as I rope one in, another breaks loose. The only corral strong enough to keep them where they belong is the Word of God. So I keep reading, prayerfully, remembering God’s unceasing mercy, and thankful for his continual grace which keeps drawing me back, reeling me in.

Tasting God

 April 5, 2021

“O taste and see that the LORD is good!” —Psalm 34:8. COVID robbed me of my sense of taste and smell for almost two weeks. I guess I’m fortunate; some have gone for six months or more. Food had no appeal to me; texture was the only difference between a noodle and a pretzel. A gourmet meal would have been waste on me. The good part is that going back for seconds was pointless. I only ate till I was moderately full—good for the waistline.

Some children are notorious for not wanting to try new foods. I didn’t grow up that way. Mom never cooked special meals; we had two options: take it or leave it. Actually, we had only one option. We had to try everything set before us, maybe just a taste, but refusal was not an option. Some kids never outgrow that pickiness; I on the other hand, will eat whatever is placed before me. Except sushi. I like my fish cooked, thank you. The lessons learned as a child has served me well as an adult traveling to other countries and eating whatever is placed before me. I remember old time missionaries who modified lyrics to the old hymn: “Where he leads me I will follow/What he feeds me I will swallow.”

it isn’t enough to admire the place setting,to marvel at the presentation of a meal. At some point, we must lift the fork and dig in. The psalm says to “taste” God—all the marvelous nuances of flavor, from honey sweet to bitter herbs. When we treat God like a buffet, taking only what is appealing to us, our diet gets unbalanced and our health suffers.

Too often we suffer from spiritual COVID, unable to taste due to the virus of sin raging through our souls. It is no way to live—insipid, tasteless, bland. Digging into the Word of God, persevering in prayer, stepping out in faithful witness can make our spiritual taste buds explode with flavor. “TASTE and see that the LORD is good!”

Three Women

 April 4, 2021

Three ordinary women trudged through the half-light of early morning, carrying jars of anointing oil, their hearts laden with grief. The man who had delivered one of them from the demonic oppression that had haunted and controlled her for years had been executed in the most cruel and heartless manner the authorities could devise. Circumstances had prevented a proper burial, so they were determined to finish the job, unpleasant though it would be. Approaching the tomb, their worst fears rose within them, lodging in their throats—grave robbers! They were to be denied this last gift of gratitude they hoped to offer.

Hesitantly they approach, afraid to look upon the scene they knew they would find; closer they moved, tentatively, eyes darting back and forth between them, trembling with each step till they were almost at the entrance. A flash of light and suddenly a man was sitting on the stone that had been rolled across the doorway. “Don’t be afraid! You’re looking for Jesus; he isn’t here. He is risen as he said!”

Three ordinary women were the first to hear this strange message. They were just women—in those days, their testimony would have been considered irrelevant, unreliable; just foolish women-talk. But from those three, the message has spread all around the world, mocked and scorned by many, but believed by many more whose lives have been transformed by it. Despair gives way to hope, sin yields before grace, and death bows to life as one by one, people hear and believe that message. Even today, tears of sorrow mingle with tears of joy as believers lay their loved ones in the ground, longing and looking for the day when every ear will hear his voice and rise from graves to glory. “I am the resurrection and the life...because I live, you shall live also!” (John 11:25 & 14:19) Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Psalm 34

April 3, 2021

We’ve prayed for over a week, pleading with our God to heal our brother. He is being buried tonight. There are so many questions we have that go unanswered; why this effective pastor should be taken in the prime of his life and ministry, why he must leave behind a grieving wife and children, why the prayers of thousands of people from all over the world should be denied. The skeptic would throw this up in our faces: “There is no God, or if there is, he certainly doesn’t care for you; he won’t even answer your very reasonable prayers.” In the dark night of our souls, it is tempting to listen to those whispers of the Enemy, but they only lead to despair.

This morning’s reading was from Psalm 34. It begins, “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Before I had heard of our brother’s passing, these words spoke powerfully to me. He says, “I WILL bless the LORD at all times...” Praise and thanksgiving is a choice we make; we don’t always feel like doing so, but it is only when we choose to do it that we find strength and comfort. He says he will bless the LORD at all times, not just the good times. It is harder to do in the dark, but it is more necessary then.

He continues: “O magnify the LORD with me...” We do it better together. When something is magnified, it doesn’t get bigger; it just looks bigger. When God’s people gather to praise him, he becomes bigger in our hearts; we see him more clearly; he is magnified. When we go through dark valleys, the presence of others worshipping God can strengthen our own worship as they hold us up in prayer. Years ago when we were going through some difficult times in the church, I told our district superintendent that if he moved me like some people were urging him to do, I was done with ministry. I didn’t have the energy to start over in a new congregation, but here, though there were many difficulties, I had people who stood by me, supported me, prayed for me. They literally held me together when I was falling apart. They magnified the Lord so I could see him when my own eyes of faith were failing.

The psalm goes on to say, “They looked to him and were radiant.” No radiance comes from looking at our circumstances. There is no light there. Only by looking to Jesus do I find the light I need when my way is dark. In 2 Kings 6:17, the city of God is surrounded by enemies, and the servant of Elisha is frightened. Elisha prayed that God would open his eyes, whereupon the servant looked and saw the hillside filled with chariots of fire surrounding the enemy. “There are more with us than with them,” Elisha explained. Note that these were chariots of fire, lighting up the mountains. At first, the servant couldn’t see them. His entire vision was limited to the enemy surrounding him. But as the psalm says, “the angel of the LORD encamped around those who fear him.” We only see them by divine revelation when God miraculously opens our eyes and gives light. But they are there, and we are kept in his care.

I still don’t understand, but I trust, and I pray for my sister and her children, for Jose’s extended family, and for his congregation which now has to face life without their pastor. Their way is dark, but it was dark for the disciples as Jesus was laid in the tomb. Good Friday and Holy Saturday do not have the final word; tomorrow is Easter—Resurrection Sunday! Jesus lives, and so do those who have put their trust in him. He is the firstfruits, and the day is coming when Jose and all those who sleep in Jesus will rise again and we shall forever be together with the Lord.

 

Good Friday

 April 2, 2021

It’s been years since we last had one. Good Friday was the one day each year that the churches in the Valley worked closely together. The old three-hour service running from noon till three was the order of the day, with each pastor preaching on one of the seven words from the Cross, and individuals and choirs from each of the churches providing music for their time slot. 

Most who attended only came during the time scheduled for their pastor, but there were those who stayed for the adjacent slots, and a few who sat through the entire service. These were solemn and holy times. I got to hear the preaching of fellow pastors, something that rarely happened since we all were preaching on Sundays. The music consisted of many of the old hymns of the cross: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Man of Sorrows,” “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” “In the Cross,” “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” and others. 

There was no frivolity, no casual conversation, just people silently filing in and out, sitting quietly, singing softly, bowing before the awful glory of the Crucified One. Three hours to reflect, to remember, to ponder the depth of our sin and the magnitude of God’s love. I haven’t heard of anyone sponsoring such a service in years. I suppose it’s our post-Christian culture and our fast-paced life that demands a shorter, less intensive service, if one is to be had at all. I’ve never understood how anyone could celebrate Easter properly without first going through a Good Friday service. How can there be a resurrection without there first being a death and burial? 

We will soon join our brothers and sisters in our congregation’s Good Friday service. I need the structure, the discipline of gathering together. The day so far has been busy, filled with work such that I feel cheated, even though the day’s activities have been of my own choosing. It’s as if Jesus is asking me the same question he asked his disciples as they snoozed in the garden while he battled in prayer: “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” For three hours he hung on that cross till the sun was blotted out and the ground rent by an earthquake; I went about my day’s work. His work was finished; they laid him in a tomb and waited, for there was no more to be done. Tonight I will sit and wait. I will pray and prepare for what I know is coming, but which was to the disciples the unspeakable and joyous surprise of Easter.

Pure

 April 1, 2021

Pure. Years ago, Ivory advertised its soap as being 99 & 44/100% pure. We didn’t necessarily know what that meant, but we did believe it was pretty well devoid of impurities. After all, that’s what pure means—unadulterated with stuff that shouldn’t be there. Pure gold is gold unmixed with other stuff. Pure water has no chemicals or sediments in it. but what about a pure heart? Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me,” while Proverbs 20:9 asks the necessary question, “Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”” Who can say they are 100% for God...all the time? 

And yet, purity is what we long for, what we need. Psalm 24:3-4 delineates the problem: “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Apart from a pure heart, we cannot hope to stand before the Presence of a holy God, and no one can claim a pure heart. 

I’ve been rendering beeswax. In the course of working bees, when we extract honey, a certain amount of wax gets cut from the comb, and often old comb needs to be culled from the hive. There are always impurities; propolis—the glue bees make from tree resins, bits of dead bees, and other stuff that works its way into the hive in the course of a year. It looks pretty ugly—dark, lumpy, and not at all what you might envision in a taper or mixed with other components to make lip balm or furniture polish. Rendering requires melting the wax and impurities in water, straining the impurities, letting it cool, then repeat, often two or three times before we get the beautiful, pure light yellow we’re looking for.

God’s process of rendering a human heart to make it pure is not too dissimilar from what I am doing with the beeswax. He puts us into hot water, strains us through a medium that catches the impurities, lets us cool down for awhile, and repeats. All of this is done so the purity of Christ can shine in all its glory. I don’t like the heat, nor am I particularly enamored with the straining; I would like very much if God only had to put me through it once, but he isn’t satisfied with partially pure any more than I am satisfied with the dull dark yellow of a partially rendered cake of beeswax. God has in mind purposes for our lives far more glorious than we would imagine, and will not stop the purifying process till we meet his standards. 

I can easily see the difference between beeswax fully rendered and that which is only partially so. I don’t as easily see the difference between a heart fully purified and one partially so. But God does, for which I am grateful tonight. He sees. And he keeps the heat on till we pass his inspection and are ready for holy purposes of which we may know very little.