Psa 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
What a wholesome resolve. Not only passionate but intellectual – “I will,” yet not only intellectual but passionate – “my reins.” And there is no other way to please God then to remain passionately tied to the word of God in the dark times. Yet this is often when Christians make excuses by appealing to the frailty of our humanity, and are emotionally turned to self-preservation rather than divine dependency.
The wise counsel of God is not as much for day as it is for the night seasons. What need is there to turn to other alternatives in the blissful season? What new source of light is sought in the brightness of day? Temptation dwells in the night, in the uncertainty of the wilderness experience, and in the presence of pain without apparent remedy.
Night seasons are unpredictable and they call for unpredictable behavior. And there is for the believer light in darkness, joy in sorrow, and assurance in uncertainty. Is not counsel given by God, a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path? The word of God instructs us when the day becomes dusk and dusk becomes dark. When what to do is no longer evident and obvious, when everything one thought would help is exhausted, and when all other advisors are at an impasse, what one knows of God remains reliable, stable and sure.
One may have at points blessed his own wisdom. One may have at points blessed his own ingenuity. One may have at points blessed his good friends. All of these bear some level of appropriateness. However, in the night seasons it is time to bless the Lord and Him alone.
The night seasons are not times to turn to the right or left. The night seasons are not times to doubt what God has said. The night seasons are not times to conclude that it’s more than you can bear. The night seasons are not times to conclude that God has forsaken you. The night seasons are not times to fall into fleshly consolations.
In the night seasons, one may have to know like Abraham that the Lord will provide a sacrifice in the place of your son. In the night seasons, one may have to say like the three Hebrew children, “If the Lord will not deliver me from the fire, I still won’t bow.” In the night seasons one may have to do like David after the death of a child, “arise from the earth, and wash, and anoint himself, and change his apparel, and come into the house of the LORD, and worship.” In the night seasons one must be informed by God’s counsel and driven by an unwavering attachment to the same.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
He Put His Hands Again Upon His Eyes
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. Mark 8:25
A blind man, subject to the sight of others, dependent on their interpretation and explanation of the world; he can provide no leadership or guidance to others, for he has no visual discernment, and perception. Jesus rhetorically asked, “Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
This is not the only blind man healed by Jesus. John accounts another episode of blindness in the ninth chapter of his gospel. All cases of blindness indicate a lack of divine wisdom, yet there is dissimilarity in the two accounts. John broadly conveys the “characteristics” of blindness and sight, while Mark narrowly focuses on the “progressive nature” of a man coming to see. The former posits that “seeing-men” are opposed by “blind-men”; the latter teaches that “seeing-men” do not look to “blind-men” any longer.
Mark’s telltale term is that he saw men as “trees” walking. If one understands that the word “trees” is loaded with meaning and symbol, one then understands that this man, like Eve, “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise.” Yet there is a reversal: In the Garden all the trees were good for food except one; now only one tree (Christ) is good for food.
There are other subsequent touches by Christ which are just cloaked in different paradigms. One man cried out, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”, in which the distinction is made between general faith in Christ and faith for a specific situation. After first raising Lazarus from the grave, Jesus says, “Loose him, and let him go,” demonstrating that one raised from the dead still needs to be freed from a dead man’s mentality through the body of Christ.
The miracle of the two touches is fleshed out later in this same chapter. Peter says, “Thou art the Christ Son of the living God!” He had the first touch and yet he needed a second touch. WHY! Because in attempting to rebuke Jesus only moments later, Jesus clearly stated, that Peter had in mind “not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”
The point of the two touches is that the same Jesus who justifies also sanctifies. So it is that every Christian needs a second touch. How often it is that sinners are converted, yet they come to the church with the belief that the church operates by the same premises as the world; it is not that Christ has not touched them; it is that they need to be touched again. Or what of that person who believes that after coming to Christ his problems are all over; it is not that Christ has not touched him; it is that he needs to be touched again. Or what of that person who thinks that the church is supposed to be perfect; it is not that Christ has not touched him; it is that he needs to be touched again. Paul aptly stated,”if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” Where one sees men as trees walking, he is indeed in need of another touch for discernment, for clarity, for truth, and yes indeed, to see “every man clearly.”
A blind man, subject to the sight of others, dependent on their interpretation and explanation of the world; he can provide no leadership or guidance to others, for he has no visual discernment, and perception. Jesus rhetorically asked, “Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
This is not the only blind man healed by Jesus. John accounts another episode of blindness in the ninth chapter of his gospel. All cases of blindness indicate a lack of divine wisdom, yet there is dissimilarity in the two accounts. John broadly conveys the “characteristics” of blindness and sight, while Mark narrowly focuses on the “progressive nature” of a man coming to see. The former posits that “seeing-men” are opposed by “blind-men”; the latter teaches that “seeing-men” do not look to “blind-men” any longer.
Mark’s telltale term is that he saw men as “trees” walking. If one understands that the word “trees” is loaded with meaning and symbol, one then understands that this man, like Eve, “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise.” Yet there is a reversal: In the Garden all the trees were good for food except one; now only one tree (Christ) is good for food.
There are other subsequent touches by Christ which are just cloaked in different paradigms. One man cried out, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”, in which the distinction is made between general faith in Christ and faith for a specific situation. After first raising Lazarus from the grave, Jesus says, “Loose him, and let him go,” demonstrating that one raised from the dead still needs to be freed from a dead man’s mentality through the body of Christ.
The miracle of the two touches is fleshed out later in this same chapter. Peter says, “Thou art the Christ Son of the living God!” He had the first touch and yet he needed a second touch. WHY! Because in attempting to rebuke Jesus only moments later, Jesus clearly stated, that Peter had in mind “not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”
The point of the two touches is that the same Jesus who justifies also sanctifies. So it is that every Christian needs a second touch. How often it is that sinners are converted, yet they come to the church with the belief that the church operates by the same premises as the world; it is not that Christ has not touched them; it is that they need to be touched again. Or what of that person who believes that after coming to Christ his problems are all over; it is not that Christ has not touched him; it is that he needs to be touched again. Or what of that person who thinks that the church is supposed to be perfect; it is not that Christ has not touched him; it is that he needs to be touched again. Paul aptly stated,”if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” Where one sees men as trees walking, he is indeed in need of another touch for discernment, for clarity, for truth, and yes indeed, to see “every man clearly.”
Friday, November 7, 2008
I Was Blind, Now I See
He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see (John 9:25)
What an undesirable condition, to be blind. We may attempt to minimize this condition by touting the by-product of heightened awareness in the other senses; however, there is no virtue to blindness, but only social dependence, constant darkness, and visual depravity. We have assumed that one cannot miss what he never had; however, even this born-blind man wanted to see.
Yes, this man was born blind and wanted sight, but what of us who have sight but seem to prefer blindness? Can you imagine having sight but acting as though you are blind: asking people to lead you around, walking and tapping a stick on the ground, utilizing a seeing-eye dog? Can you imagine not responding to that which is obvious, bumping into walls that are apparent, stumbling over things in the floor that are in plain view?
This man was born blind by no fault of his own, nor the fault of his parents, yet his blindness comes through his parents as a result of the Adamic rebellion. However, for us who have already come in contact with Christ, our blindness is not a matter of malfunctioning faculties, but of covering our eyes with fleshly obstruction. It is an issue of doubt, obstinacy, and refusal to consist with a clear view of the Savior.
Yet it is human tendency to love darkness rather than light. To thoughtlessly be led around by others: choosing the non-contentious ease of worldly conformity, giving in to the persistence of peer pressure, or the fuzzy warmth of compromise. Perhaps believing the personal accountability that the virtue of sight ultimately requires can be avoided. Sight ushers one into unquestionable realities, undeniable responsibilities, and unavoidable worldly resistance to the wonderful truths of God.
How often it is that the eyes of parishioners are opened by sermons and bible studies and that the truth of God is communicated with incontrovertible clarity? The faithfulness due our savior amid His enemies is plain. The righteous answers to those who oppose our Christ are made obvious.
We have received sight but continue to trip and stumble as though we cannot see. We have been healed by the master and yet persist in denying the realities, shucking the responsibilities, and fearing the worldly resistance that our faith fosters.
What an undesirable condition, to be blind. We may attempt to minimize this condition by touting the by-product of heightened awareness in the other senses; however, there is no virtue to blindness, but only social dependence, constant darkness, and visual depravity. We have assumed that one cannot miss what he never had; however, even this born-blind man wanted to see.
Yes, this man was born blind and wanted sight, but what of us who have sight but seem to prefer blindness? Can you imagine having sight but acting as though you are blind: asking people to lead you around, walking and tapping a stick on the ground, utilizing a seeing-eye dog? Can you imagine not responding to that which is obvious, bumping into walls that are apparent, stumbling over things in the floor that are in plain view?
This man was born blind by no fault of his own, nor the fault of his parents, yet his blindness comes through his parents as a result of the Adamic rebellion. However, for us who have already come in contact with Christ, our blindness is not a matter of malfunctioning faculties, but of covering our eyes with fleshly obstruction. It is an issue of doubt, obstinacy, and refusal to consist with a clear view of the Savior.
Yet it is human tendency to love darkness rather than light. To thoughtlessly be led around by others: choosing the non-contentious ease of worldly conformity, giving in to the persistence of peer pressure, or the fuzzy warmth of compromise. Perhaps believing the personal accountability that the virtue of sight ultimately requires can be avoided. Sight ushers one into unquestionable realities, undeniable responsibilities, and unavoidable worldly resistance to the wonderful truths of God.
How often it is that the eyes of parishioners are opened by sermons and bible studies and that the truth of God is communicated with incontrovertible clarity? The faithfulness due our savior amid His enemies is plain. The righteous answers to those who oppose our Christ are made obvious.
We have received sight but continue to trip and stumble as though we cannot see. We have been healed by the master and yet persist in denying the realities, shucking the responsibilities, and fearing the worldly resistance that our faith fosters.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
When Jesus had Ended These Sayings
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: (Mat 7:28)
How does one respond when Jesus is finished speaking? Does one relegate his words to a place of optional suggestions? Does one regard his speech as we regard so many others: hear but don't hear, into one ear and out the other? Or are His words properly regarded as the only foundation on which a worthwhile life may be build?
A man tends to live in a house that is comparable to his career - to his life's work. A house says something about a man; its size, its location, its composition, its content, all of this speaks volumes about the man who calls this place his abode. Yet what good is it if a man builds his house out of the most expensive wood, gold, silver, and precious stone; however, all his time, efforts, and expense is placed upon an untrustworthy foundation.
Befittingly so, Jesus ends the last three chapters which comprise the Sermon on the Mount with a warning encapsulated in a parable of two men, two houses, and two foundations. No doubt, the wise man looked at the foolish man and wondered how he could finish so quickly; the foolish man looked at the wise man and wondered what was taking him so long. Wisdom informed the former, while foolishness left the latter ill-informed, ill-equipped, and ill-prepared. It seems that the wise man understood the inevitability of the storm; and that the place wherein he would live was worthy of some diligent response to that consideration.
I've heard a popular song rooted in word-faith theology saying, "I told the storm to pass; storm you can't last." The failure in this thinking is that it is God that sent the storm. The storm will pass; because, every storm passes anyway. The challenge is what the storm does while passing, thus the issue is preparation. So the important thing is not speaking to the storm, but speaking to yourself about what Jesus said before the storm comes.
The fact is that there are only two choices in life; one is to live according to the words of Christ and the other is not to live according to the words of Christ. The former is a life that is built sturdy, stable, and strong; the other is a life that is weak, wavering, and destined to certainly come crashing in on its resident when he is most dependant on it to stand. What a lesson! As the storm came to both houses, judgment is certain. Thus the great issue of any person's life is preparation. And adherence to Jesus' words are the only proper preparation for the coming judgment.
How does one respond when Jesus is finished speaking? Does one relegate his words to a place of optional suggestions? Does one regard his speech as we regard so many others: hear but don't hear, into one ear and out the other? Or are His words properly regarded as the only foundation on which a worthwhile life may be build?
A man tends to live in a house that is comparable to his career - to his life's work. A house says something about a man; its size, its location, its composition, its content, all of this speaks volumes about the man who calls this place his abode. Yet what good is it if a man builds his house out of the most expensive wood, gold, silver, and precious stone; however, all his time, efforts, and expense is placed upon an untrustworthy foundation.
Befittingly so, Jesus ends the last three chapters which comprise the Sermon on the Mount with a warning encapsulated in a parable of two men, two houses, and two foundations. No doubt, the wise man looked at the foolish man and wondered how he could finish so quickly; the foolish man looked at the wise man and wondered what was taking him so long. Wisdom informed the former, while foolishness left the latter ill-informed, ill-equipped, and ill-prepared. It seems that the wise man understood the inevitability of the storm; and that the place wherein he would live was worthy of some diligent response to that consideration.
I've heard a popular song rooted in word-faith theology saying, "I told the storm to pass; storm you can't last." The failure in this thinking is that it is God that sent the storm. The storm will pass; because, every storm passes anyway. The challenge is what the storm does while passing, thus the issue is preparation. So the important thing is not speaking to the storm, but speaking to yourself about what Jesus said before the storm comes.
The fact is that there are only two choices in life; one is to live according to the words of Christ and the other is not to live according to the words of Christ. The former is a life that is built sturdy, stable, and strong; the other is a life that is weak, wavering, and destined to certainly come crashing in on its resident when he is most dependant on it to stand. What a lesson! As the storm came to both houses, judgment is certain. Thus the great issue of any person's life is preparation. And adherence to Jesus' words are the only proper preparation for the coming judgment.
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