Word of Beard

'Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.' 2 Chronicles 19:7

Jehoshaphat appointed judges among the Israelites and called them to a terrifyingly healthy fear of God in light of their divine responsibility. The apostle Paul does the same in the N.T. assuring us that righteousness only comes through a healthy fear of the Lord and especially those in leadership who carry a heavier burden.

God is never wrong. Never forgetful. Never unjust, unfair or curmudgeonly. He is Holy. Period.

Paul & Piper

John Piper, in his blog, discusses the paradox of man's choice/Gods will in Philippians 2:12-13 - we work while God works.

This is a spiritual mystery we're actually capable of practicing in real time. We may not understand our role in salvation and sanctification as designed by God but Paul models it and the Spirit guides it...so we can faithfully trust this paradox and live it.

God powerfully works in us. (1:6)
We fearfully work towards Him. (2:12-13)
Paul divinely models it. (3:10-14)
His sovereign will is fulfilled eternally: past, present and future. (Rom. 8:28-30)

Starflyer, My Son & the Kingdom

My son ran into the kitchen the other day ridiculously excited about finding a toy saxophone. In and out of every room. Under the couch. Beneath his bed. Digging deep within a toy-box...and there it was.

He earnestly sought after it.

We had been listening to a favorite band of mine - Starflyer 59 - and he wanted to partake. He wanted to contribute to the song.

His excitement and joy reminded me of my own passion to be a part of what God is doing right here and right now. That I get to be a part of His story, His people, His work here on earth and into eternity. His song of creation, redemption, kingdom.

I don't always hear the song. It dissipates amidst clanging symbols, anxious groans and my own music charts. My son heard the music.

I don't just want to hear the music either. Like my son, I want to be a part of the band.

Paths

One of the most terrifying chapters in the Bible is found in the Book of Job. Bildad, in an attempt to crush Jobs apparent pride, describes the fate of the man who rallies against God, flounders in sin and falls short of righteousness...he will be:

snuffed out, the light in his home will burn out, weakened, his schemes ensnare him, calamity is hungry for him, disaster is ready when he falls, death's firstborn eats at his limbs, he will be marched off to king of terrors, burning sulfur engulfs his home, roots dry up, he is forgotten, driven to darkness, no survivors or offspring, to the East and West men are appalled by him...a trap lies in his path. (Job 18)

Job, however, is prepared in heart and soul and mind for such torment. He knows that 'the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger.' (Job 17:9)

He is faithful and in turn is confident - not prideful - of his righteousness before God. The wicked may stumble along their path toward the 'King of Terror' - but Job will follow divine suffering down the path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is a horrifying yet convicting chapter to read. Impossible to bypass without reflection on my own journey...my own path. I might ask you as well:

1. What path are you on? Do you walk by faith or by your own strength? (2 Cor. 5:7) - Not all 'paths' lead to the same destination. There are only two: that which Bildad describes and that which Job holds on to.
2. Are you in constant terror from the evil one?
3. As a believer you will suffer, yet have no reason to fear torment...Do you know that He protects you before and behind. (Psalm 139)
4. Cry out for Jesus. Repent. Seek Truth. Ask for divine justice and protection with an honest heart. (Romans 10:9-10) - And then rest in His salvation.

A Great Job

'My witness - advocate - intercessor - friend...'

Job is confident that his friends sitting with him in ash and dirt trying to comfort through confrontation are in the wrong. He's also confident that in the heavenly realms there is One who is working to right the unimaginable wrongs he is suffering through.

He doesn't abandon his faith because God has already proven Himself. He mourns, cries-out, pleads his case, defends his sinlessness, even hopes for death...but he doesn't abandon what he's known to be true.

As the apostle Paul said - there is One God, One Mediator between man and God...Jesus Christ, the One who is, was and is to come. The second person of the Trinity worked on Jobs behalf and is now interceding for us. For the good of all those who know Him and have responded to His call!

This is our God...a God who never changes.

From Job 16:19-21 NIV/NKJV

Word of Beard

'You will call and I will answer You; You will long for the creature Your hands have made.' Job 14:15

Through the incarnate Christ God called us , making us a new creation (new creatures) - He reconciles us to Himself as we confess with our mouths that 'He is Lord!'

Turning Courageous

What brought the Apostle Paul to a point in his life where being imprisoned, with the possibility of execution, simply meant another opportunity to glorify God and speak courageously about the resurrection and salvation of Jesus?

'To live is Christ and to die is gain.' (Philippians 1) - what a mantra!

Was it his miraculous conversion: a blinding bright light, the voice of the recently deceased, resurrected and ascended Messiah?

Or was it an opening of his spiritual eyes to the reality of Gods new work. An experiential knowledge of the new dispensation of Spirit and Grace upon the earth.

Many of us have witnessed pretty miraculous things: preserved life after a natural disaster, brutal car-crash survivors, mysterious healing of a terminally ill family member, random rent check in the mail...

How many hold onto that miracle as life-changing from that point onward? I would like to believe that if Jesus opened up the sky and told me to serve Him 100% that I would do so without fail...I've experienced that power in different ways and I still flounder at times.

Paul responded with zeal. He passionately took up his new calling, his new faith and never turned back.

Have you turned back? Have you doubted relentlessly, turned back and found yourself frozen in your tracks? Then PRAY. Pray for a renewed vision for your life, a tenderized heart for His Holiness and your neighbors lostness, a breath of fresh spiritual air found in the Word and written on your soul. You and I can be like Paul.