Word of Beard

'Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!' Psalm 107

Six times within this psalm this phrase is repeated almost directly. Six times we're told that in the midst of pain, hunger, stormy destruction, wandering in wastelands, distress and darkness, rebellion, distance from God in our souls, etc...Six times we're reminded that in these conditions His love is yet unfailing and eternal.

His wonders are apparent in the sand and the trees and your children and the existance of, awareness of and desire for...love. His love endures forever - Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

Go Ahead...Point that Finger

'Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?' Job 40:8

'If this God allows ________ to happen he is clearly not a God I want to follow.' Many of us have heard or even said this regarding some offense or pain that affects us personally, philosophically, emotionally. That God is unfair, unjust or simply blind and ineffective in real life...this is usually our own attempt at making sense of life yet in the process putting our wisdom and worldview far above the Eternal God.

My view of justice is based on 30 years of life in Midwest America, a democratic-republic, ideas of equality, tolerance, rational explanations and a loving God in a naturalistic environment. I have one legal, cultural, social, religious point of view in world full of views. Who am I to corner the market on justice? Who am I to stand outside creation and point a finger, scolding the Lord for living out to a system I don't fully understand?

But our thoughts are not like His. Our ways are not like His. (Isa. 55:8)

We will never understand each and every action taking place upon the earth and beyond. Though when we're united with Christ our minds/attitudes/hearts/worldviews are renewed and can begin to fathom His total sovereignty over the good and the bad, the righteous and the evil.

'Good teacher,' says a young man to Jesus who immediately corrects him, 'No one is good - except God alone.' If no one is inherently virtuous but the Lord can we really justify our imperfect actions and thoughts and beliefs in light of perfection? Now if you don't believe in God then who cares about justification right? But if there is a God, as all of creation signifies, then discrediting His righteousness is a far more dangerous undertaking.

Aaahh - 'to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.' (Tim. 1:17)

Word of Beard

'Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?' Job 40:8

This is the Lord's thunderous response to Job and his friends.

He either is or He isn't sovereign over the universe and all it's happenings. If He is then He is perfectly just in all His ways, he makes no mistakes, falsely accuses no one and yet is wise in how He allows pain and suffering to affect our lives. If He isn't...

Good ole Christian...

'Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.'

Knowing your Bible isn't simply what every good Christian should do is it?

Paul says that 'skillfully dividing the word - handling it rightly' tests and approves us as faithful, unashamed disciples. It shows whether we are on the right track, speaking truth in context, not wavering or babbling fluff. He reminds Timothy of the Gospel he taught, he reminds him to beware false teachers, he even passes on a 'trustworthy saying' and all this before challenging him (us) to handle the Word of Truth with eternal care.

Jacob Neusner explains how Jewish students wrestle with the word, 'This one proposes, that one disposes. This one forms a proposition in response to what the Torah says, and that one says why this one is wrong...' and so on to form a symphony of students attempting to handle the Scriptures carefully.

Peter understood this wrestling and challenged believers to remember, 'If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God' (1 Peter 4:11). Be a student of Truth. Handle the word well. We all teach it the moment we share it with one, one-hundred or one-thousand people.

So continue doing your best with skill.
Constantly present yourself to God for service.
Live daily with an attitude defined by the grace and truth of Christ.
Pray continuously that you may proclaim it clearly, as Paul eagerly desired.

2 Timothy 2:15
Judaism's Theological Voice - Jacob Neusner

Word of Beard

'If I have put my trust in gold - if I have rejoiced over my great wealth - if I have highly regarded nature so that my heart was secretly enticed to worship...then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.' Job 31:24-28 RDV

Yet, when our trust, wealth and worship are His and His alone...How ridiculously good are even the worst of times because we know that He Is, He Was and He Will Be.

Total Loss...

The words, 'I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ...' Those words hit hard as I read them again.

Several years ago we experienced a fire in our apartment building that destroyed 100% of our neighbors goods and over 50% of our own.

We experienced loss of belongings, memories, overall a sense of safety. My wife and I along with our one year old were at a loss.

Our ministry director, the director of the camp where this took place, was eternally gracious. Our church body was infinitely gracious as well. Friends were equally gracious. Families were a blessing. Individuals we hardly knew were like shining stars.

However, one young lady in particular comes to mind always when reading the above passage. A twenty-something single woman, having been saving for a vacation the sum of around $600 chose to consider her vacation a loss compared to loving Christ.

The Spirit prompted her to think, 'How can I save for vacation when they don't even have a place to call home?' So her vacation fund became our rebuilding fund.

Knowing Christ is knowing the body. Her act of devotion and compassion in response to the Spirit will always goad me into going to Jesus with open hands and returning to His people with helping hands. I came into the world naked and I will leave that way...nothing is mine.

Everything is a total loss, burned in fire, compared to knowing Christ.

Philippians 3:7-14

God-Man-Morality

'I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.' (Leviticus 11:44)

The breath of God in His creation of man imparted the Holiness of God into His new creation. Paul confirms that the moral law of God truly is written on our hearts. This is wild! Knowledge and experience of holiness is within each of us and has been all along.

All of nature speaks of Gods revelation of Himself, His will, His kingdom and His holiness...everyone is left without an excuse. Regardless of culture, time period, race, gender...there are clearly acts that are good and those that aren't, period. On that note Peter, the trustworthy and imperfect disciple of Christ, speaks to the church:

'As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do...' (1 Peter 1:14-15)

And so that no one can brag saying they've become holy due to their own efforts, we know that, 'we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all' (Hebrews 10:10).

God is the standard that never changes. This isn't legalism, you and I are welcome to do as we please, we're free to conform to the worlds standard. However, what pleases us doesn't become the standard. God is holy and holiness doesn't change. Our standards are to be transformed into His.

The Truth of the moral freedom within each of us didn't develop through time via monkey-men, although it's reality has been slowly revealed by the Spirit and set in Scripture. It was instilled in us from the beginning of time, before time began. It was revealed to man as man moved about.

In Christ truth was codified eternally through his sacrifice on our behalf and our breathing in and out of this reality awakens our hearts, souls and minds to Truth as it was, is and will be.